Last September, Shippensburg University competed in the 2024 BAJA SAE Michigan competition at Holly Oaks Offroad Park in Holly, Michigan. The competition brings together teams from around the world to design, build and race single-seat-off-road vehicles, putting Ship students’ mechanical engineering and leadership abilities to the test.
Dr. Joao P. Dias, associate professor in the department of civil and mechanical engineering and the Ship SAE BAJA team advisor, offered a few remarks about his team. “The Ship SAE Baja team was created in Fall 2022 with just six members. Since then, we’ve seen consistent growth, with 23 students from various majors, including mechanical, electrical and computer engineering, as well as entrepreneurship and political science.” Dias said.
Despite being a new team, Ship’s BAJA members have made impressive progress. This year’s competition in Michigan was the second major competition for the team, and their buggy passed all technical inspections for the first time and finished in 45th place out of 86 for the four-hour endurance run. “This is an impressive accomplishment for a team with only two years of experience,” Dias added. “It demonstrates how far we’ve come and how much the students have grown over time.”
The Ship BAJA team getting their buggy ready for the competition.
The BAJA SAE competition challenges students to apply a wide range of skills that many of them will need within their future careers. According to Dias, students have excelled at applying concepts within Computer-Aided Design (CAD), fabrication, testing and project management. “These are essential skills that make our students stand out in the job market,” Dias explained. “In addition to technical expertise, the project helps students develop a sense of responsibility, discipline and dedication, which are vital in their future careers.”
The BAJA team faced several challenges leading up to the competition, although with each challenge came future solutions. “The judges expect teams to learn from their mistakes and improve the design of their vehicles each year,” Dias noted. With this in mind, the Shippensburg team has already begun working on improvements for their 2025 vehicle.
“This project enhances students’ understanding of theoretical concepts and how they relate to industry practices,” Dias said. He noted that the club is not limited to only engineering students. “Baja SAE is an inherently multidisciplinary project, involving not just engineering but also business, marketing and communication aspects. Students from any major are welcome to join if they share a passion for cars and engineering in general.”
The student officers of the team, including Ewan Moore, Dan Diehl, James Rettew and Marc DiPiano, shared their experience in this year’s competition. “We learned a lot about the inspection and dynamic event process,” Moore said. “Passing technical inspection for the first time and competing in events like the hill climb and endurance race was a huge step forward for us.”
Professor Dias and Ship BAJA team members
Rettew provided some background information on what it takes to design and test the buggy. “The team is divided into five subsystems: suspension, steering, roll cage/chassis, drivetrain, and electrical,” Rettew explained. “We use SolidWorks 3D modeling software to design and simulate each component, and then manufacture and test everything in the Morgan Engineering Lab.”
The team’s expertise in of the five subsystems made for great teamwork and results, although they still have a long way to go. “We were on the same track with teams that have been competing in Baja for fifty years,” DiPiano said. “The level of research and performance in their vehicles is incredible, and it showed us how much more room we have to grow.”
Looking ahead to the 2025 competition, the team plans to enhance their simulation and testing procedures and obtain more sponsorships for new equipment. Ship’s BAJA club is supported by JLG, a equipment manufacturer based in Hagerstown, Maryland. They are also supported by the SU Foundation, the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering.
“We’re grateful for the support we’ve received, but we’re always looking to build more relationships with local and national sponsors,” Diehl said. Those interested in supporting the team can find more information on the SU Foundation’s website.
The team continues to encourage more students to join the BAJA club. “Our advice is simple: get involved and be eager to learn,” Moore said. “This project offers skills that are essential for academic and professional success, whether you’re in engineering or not. You don’t need to be an expert on cars or 3D modeling—just bring your passion and willingness to learn.”
For those interested, the team can be reached via Instagram @shipbaja, or through flyers posted around the Mechanical Engineering building.
