March 10, 2009

Cranking workshop wrenches, flying sparks and clattering tools are the sounds as UAB students work to assemble the vehicle they will enter into the Baja SAE 2009 real-world engineering design challenge. The off-road vehicle is being designed to survive rough terrain and other extreme elements.

The nine-member Blazer Motorsports student team from the UAB School of Engineering will be available March 11-13 from 1-3 p.m. at the UAB Business-Engineering Complex, Engineering Wing, 1150 10th Ave. South.

The object of the Baja competition is to provide participating students with an out-of-the-classroom project in which they plan and manufacture a viable product that could be sold to consumers. Student teams design, build, test, promote and race their vehicle within the limits of the rules while generating financial support for their project and competing to have their design accepted for manufacture by a fictitious firm.

Some 100 universities from all over the world will participate in the Baja SAE challenge April 16-20 in Auburn, Ala. This is the fifth year of UAB participation. Blazer Motorsports members have worked late nights and weekends throughout the year to finish the construction of their Baja vehicle by race weekend.