By Kristen Bush
Kristen@newsroom.byu.edu
Little boys dream of driving racecars like the pros.
A group of BYU students are fulfilling that dream -- preparing to compete in the Mini Baja West in Manhattan, Kan., April 27-29.
'We have to design and manufacture a prototype of a small off-road racecar,' said Matt Haws, 24, a senior from Spokane, Wash., majoring in mechanical engineering.
Sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Haws said the Mini Baja is a series of competitions between undergraduate college students from North and South American.
Robert H. Todd, faculty advisor for Mini Baja, said this is BYU's third year in the competition. Both the Capstone and junior teams will be sent, he said.
'Everyone has the same amount of power; you have to use your power better,' said Andrew Woodings, 26, a graduate student from Basin City, Wash., majoring in mechanical engineering.
Todd said the Mini Baja was a great opportunity for students to design and build a car from scratch.
'The only thing supplied to them is the engine,' he said.
Woodings said BYU has a good car this year. The design is simpler, lighter and more aesthetically pleasing, he said.
Haws said the highlight of the competition is the two-mile endurance test. The challenge is to run the most laps in four hours, he said.
'It's rocks, logs, mud, water, some dry - it's a pretty crazy course,' he said.
Woodings said he was a driver for the original BYU Capstone team.
'It's a rush because you're driving wheel to wheel against the University of Utah. It's exciting,' he said.
Haws said along with endurance, cars are judged on marketability, design, build and strength.
The Society of Automotive Engineers sets safety restrictions on the cars, Haws said. He said they use a specific engine, and must meet specific size and weight requirements.
'It has to hold a person up to a certain height, 6'4', and weight, 190,' Haws said.
Haws said the first time the team walked the course, they were nervous about damaging the vehicle. Most cars fall apart during competition, he said.
'On the first lap in the endurance race, about half the field breaks down and falls out of the competition. That's pretty normal,' he said.
Woodings said the competition is fairly safe for drivers. There have been rumors of drivers being injured, but he said he has never seen any.
Todd said team members come from various departments on campus. Learning to work on a cross-functional team will be a good skill for students later in life, he said.
'It gives me an opportunity to exercise the things I've learned in engineering,' Haws said.
He said he likes the Mini Baja because his classes do not give him the chance to apply concepts.
'They give you the tools and the basic skills, but they don't tell you how,' Haws said.
Todd said he was impressed with the quality of students he worked with.
'They're going to make an outstanding mark in the world after they finish school,' he said.