WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Mini Baja Mania Comes To Auburn University

Mini Baja Mania Comes To Auburn University

On your mark, get set... Go!

Auburn University hosts the Mini Baja East competition for the first time. The event brings engineering students from 55 universities, including in-state rival Alabama.

"We just came out here to try and have fun, especially with the competition being at Auburn this year. We wanted to show up and represent The University," said Wren Keith, an engineering graduate student at UA.

Students prepare for Saturday's 100-mile endurance race by competing in water and land events. The Auburn team normally has to travel long distances to compete in these events, but they're at home for this one.

"We don't have to drive 24 hours or so to get somewhere. We've got a little home field advantage. We also do some testing out here. We weren't allowed on the track, but it's similar terrain," said Carl Schmidt, a senior at AU.

If anything breaks out here, they have to fix them or create new ones. However, they're prepared for that challenge.

"They start every year from scratch. A blank sheet of paper and plain raw materials. There's no set of plans, and there's no kit. It's just entirely their imagination and what they can design into being," said Dr. Peter Jones, AU College of Engineering.

When all is said and done after Saturday's six-hour race, one team will take home a big trophy. Most importantly...

"...Bragging rights, and a little more experience with design and build," said Keith.

Jones said smaller engineering companies hire students right out of these competitions because they can already handle the stress of the job. If you'd like to see the race Saturday, it starts at 8:00 a.m. CDT at the NCAT test track in Opelika.

--Written by: Brock Parker