Mini Baja (Baja SAE) Anahuac, six years and counting

I cannot believe it. It was six years ago on a Thursday September 27th that we held the first ever meeting of the Mini Baja Anahuac Team.

It seems like a far memory when we first gathered around in a classroom and start discussing the idea of having a team dedicated to building a car to compete in the USA. It was un-thought at that time to have that kind of project in our University, some have tried to but never succeeded.

After that meeting, we began our attempts to design a car and enroll more team members. It wasn't until a couple of months later when we got funding from the University and the Ford Company that things started to look clearer.

In February 2002 we took some persons that were interested in participating in Mini Baja to a competition in the city of Queretaro. That was all we needed to convince them. They got hooked up and the rest is history.

Along these years I have been the Captain and now Faculty Advisor of the Team. Lot of people have gone through the team and I hope that it has changed them. We have built some cars, participated in a few competitions, and have lots of fun.

Right now the team is struggling to survive (yea I know, again!), let's hope that it succeeds and keep alive what has come a tradition in the Engineering Faculty of the Universidad Anahuac Mexico Norte.

I leave you with some numbers that reflect what has happened in these 6 years of Baja:

• 6 years;
• 3 cars built (and one more in construction);
• 10 competitions (2 in USA, 8 in Mexico);
• 12 competition entries;
• 1 test first place;
• 1 disqualification;
• 4.83 average grade of all entries;
• 6 Captains;
• 2 Faculty Advisors;
• 2 broken transmissions;
• 1 guy with blue face ("the smurf");
• 1 guy temporarily blind (less than a day);
• An unknown amount of lost tools;
• About 5 rollovers; and
• ONE TEAM

That was a long post and it could be longer. Remembering the Tlacaelel, Homer, and Coyote.

1st place in maneuverability in MBM 2006 and other results

It is about time that I inform you of our results of Mini Baja Mexico 2006.

As you can see from the title we are very happy for achieving our first ever podium in any test. It is a very nice podium, first place of maneuverability, because we have always had problems with this test. And let me congratulate the team on this achievement and also congratulate the driver that did this feat, Primo (a.k.a. Juan Carlos, Nauj).

Now the next part of the results. We did "relatively well" on the first day of dynamic tests. We got 7th place on the hill climb and pull tests, we got 8th place on acceleration (determines the endurance starting grid). On the Endurance test we finished 10th.

Overall we managed to get ourselves on the top 10 teams, getting to the 9th place. This place is "good", but not near what we were expecting. Got to work harder for the next Baja SAE event.

MBM 2006 is Live!!!

The date has finally arrived and the Anahuac Baja SAE Team is already on site for the first event of the season, Mini Baja Mexico 2006. Today will be security check (our team has already passed it) and braking; tomorrow acceleration, hill climb, maneuverability, and pull; and on Sunday the endurance test. It would be nice seeing some of you at the event.

And root for Universidad Anahuac!! Go Coyote, Go!!!

09 days for MBM 2006

It is just 9 days for Mini Baja Mexico 2006. Like I promised a couple of weeks ago I post here some more  information on the event.

MBM 2006 will take place from Friday November 17 to Sunday November 19. There are two venues for the event, Friday events (static events) will be held on the ITESM Campus Toluca. Saturday and Sunday events (dynamic events) will take place on the skirts of the Nevado de Toluca, specifically on the 18th km of the Toluca-Valle de Bravo Highway. You can find the map to the Saturday and Sunday venue @ http://www.saemex.org/minibaja/mapa/2006mb_map_large.jpg

 The best day for enjoying a Mini Baja event is on the day of the endurance test (Sunday November 18, 2006). Commonly referred to as "the race" it is a gruesome four hour ride along an off-road track. This event is the one that award the most points on the event. The day begins at 9.30 hrs with the formation of the starting grid, the endurance test begins at 10.30 hrs and finishes at 14.30 hrs, the end of the day is marked by the awards ceremony held at 15.15 hrs.

You can also enjoy the events on the Saturday, this events include the acceleration, hill climb, pull, and maneuverability events. They are good events, but as the cars have two opportunities to each event it can be a long day and a little tiring for the spectators. These events are held throughout the day from 8.30 to 17.00 hrs.

You can find the whole program and more information on the event website @ Mini Baja Mexico 2006.

Well that's all for this post, hope to see you around MBM 2006 rooting for car No. 100, the Coyote from the Universidad Anahuac (tip, it is a red car).

Less than a month for MBM 2006

Is less than a month (24 days exactly) for Mini Baja Mexico 2006. This will be the 12th competition of the Baja SAE Anahuac Team, it is also the first one of this season.

MBM 2006 will take place near the base of the "Nevado de Toluca" just outside of Toluca (well, about 20 minutes from it). The official website of the Mexico event is located @ Mini Baja Mexico 2006, there you can find information on the event.

We will be competing with one car, the 2005 model Coyote.The team is currently working on some improvements and repairs on the car, and we are hoping for a good performance on the event.

I'll publish a map later so you can go and see this cars in real life.