Baja event in Wisconsin

A few from a recent SAE Mini Baja event at the proving grounds I work at. This is my first time photographing motorsports and I'd love some feedback!

very good, focus/color are all excellent. really like 3 and 4

Nice, great shots! I actually competed in this very event 3 years ago, it was a blast. I drove the majority of the endurance race for the MSOE team, I got very dirty.

I was a participant in 2009. I get goosebumps looking at this set and a fondness for memories like you wouldn't believe. Great set.

Wow cool to hear you guys participated! SamDoe1 I imagine you were at the Wisconsin event as you drove for MSOE but SSChevyManiac were you there too?

Either way, I started working there (MGA Research) just a few months after the event (I graduated in 2009 from Illinois) and competed in Formula SAE when I was in school.

We shared a shop with the Baja guys but I never really understood how their competitions differed SO drastically from the Formula events.

Knowing what I know now, I would've definitely participated in Baja instead. The endurance race was just plain nuts!

PS: The log that Laval is going over in photo 1 is called "Big Bertha" While helping setup the event this year I was talking with the SAE reps that worked the course in 2006 and 2009 and they said that at the time the log was considered too big to go over. We un-burried it from the field and drug it onto the traction/maneuverabili​ty course! About a 20% completion rate.

Pics are ok but any reason why those roll cages were made for 8 foot tall drivers?

wow nice set all round , looks like a messy sport

pappawheely wrote in post #14604143
Pics are ok but any reason why those roll cages were made for 8 foot tall drivers?

You have to meet certain requirements as far as vertical distance from the top of your helmet to the bottom of the frame rails for a safety requirement. Also, the rear firewall has to be a certain area. There are so many safety rules and regulations that need to be met, it's crazy.

Smitty2k1 wrote in post #14603267
Wow cool to hear you guys participated! SamDoe1 I imagine you were at the Wisconsin event as you drove for MSOE but SSChevyManiac were you there too?

Either way, I started working there (MGA Research) just a few months after the event (I graduated in 2009 from Illinois) and competed in Formula SAE when I was in school.

We shared a shop with the Baja guys but I never really understood how their competitions differed SO drastically from the Formula events.

Knowing what I know now, I would've definitely participated in Baja instead. The endurance race was just plain nuts!

PS: The log that Laval is going over in photo 1 is called "Big Bertha" While helping setup the event this year I was talking with the SAE reps that worked the course in 2006 and 2009 and they said that at the time the log was considered too big to go over. We un-burried it from the field and drug it onto the traction/maneuverabili​ty course! About a 20% completion rate.

Yes, I was at the Wisconsin event back in 2008 and 2009.

The endurance race was so much fun. You get so tired just from sitting in that car and racing, it's crazy. I wish I could do that every day for exercise, I'd be the happiest guy around! We also shared the shop with our FSAE brothers, we regularly heckled them that our car could tow and/or drive over the top of theirs. At the end of our senior design presentation, we actually did have to tow their car back to the shop because it wouldn't start.

Also, we did a lot of our design to get over that log. Our car had an upside down V shape that conformed to your legs (the bend at the knee) to prove extra clearance as you go over the top of a hill.

Really cool that you work there now, would be a really fun job. You guys hiring?

SSChevyManiac wrote in post #14603156
I was a participant in 2009. I get goosebumps looking at this set and a fondness for memories like you wouldn't believe. Great set.

Which school did you participate with? It was some of the most fun I've ever had, would love to do it again.

I was there with Penn State Berks. We wound up 47th in 2009. I was fortunate enough to drive the car for the mud bog. I was so incredibly proud just to finish endurance under our own power. We had a shock mount failure early on and a tie rod bracket failure with about 15 minutes left in the event. I had to make an impromptu stereotypical pep speech to get the car back out for two more laps. We were a low budget KISS mindset team but I wouldn't trade those experiences for the world.

SamDoe1 wrote in post #14607504
Really cool that you work there now, would be a really fun job. You guys hiring?

In fact, we (always) are, and I help do some hiring. So if you are really looking to move to rural Wisconsin feel free to PM me your resume.

Great timing on #3!

SSChevyManiac wrote in post #14609013
I was there with Penn State Berks. We wound up 47th in 2009. I was fortunate enough to drive the car for the mud bog. I was so incredibly proud just to finish endurance under our own power. We had a shock mount failure early on and a tie rod bracket failure with about 15 minutes left in the event. I had to make an impromptu stereotypical pep speech to get the car back out for two more laps. We were a low budget KISS mindset team but I wouldn't trade those experiences for the world.

Suspension failure was one of the biggest things that always happened. We lucked out with an inboard design that allowed the front suspension to act on dedicated support members that weren't stressed by other loads. The rear was a miracle it didn't break.

Smitty2k1 wrote in post #14609310
In fact, we (always) are, and I help do some hiring. So if you are really looking to move to rural Wisconsin feel free to PM me your resume.

PMed.