For over 40 years, Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with SAE International, a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries, and the Baja Collegiate Design Competition. While the company has been providing engines for use in the design competition for many years, this year is the first the company provided the Vanguard commercial 10-gross HP engine to Baja SAE teams.
Briggs & Stratton first became involved in 1976 when Frederick P. Stratton Jr. partnered with SAE to provide dependable engines for the new Baja Collegiate Design Series. The competition series has since expanded to include about 2,000 active university programs around the world. In addition to providing Vanguard engines, Briggs & Stratton provides technical and engine expertise.
Baja SAE competitions are structured to simulate real-world engineering projects. Teams of engineering students design, build, test, promote, race and develop financial support for their vehicles. Each team’s goal is to create a prototype single-seat, all-terrain vehicle that will survive the severe punishment of rough terrain in dynamic events, including acceleration, braking, hill climbing and maneuverability.
The competitions also incorporate planning and manufacturing tasks associated with the introduction of a new product line to the consumer recreational vehicle market. The main objective is to develop a viable production model to be selected by a fictitious firm. Each year, international engineering, automotive and racing companies attend the highly competitive events to recruit top engineering students.
This year’s Baja SAE Collegiate Design Series competitions were held in Gorman, Calif.; Pittsburg, Kan.; and Peoria, Ill.
*All power levels are stated as gross horsepower at 3,600 rpm per SAE J1940.
