Baja SAE is an intercollegiate design competition run by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Universities from all over the world design and build small off-road cars. The cars all have engines of the same specifications. As of 2002 the engine has been an unmodified Briggs & Stratton Intek 20 with a power output of approximately 10 hp.
The goal in Baja SAE racing is to design, build and race off-road vehicles that can withstand the harshest elements of rough terrain. The vehicles used in Baja SAE racing are often similar to dune buggies.
Each year as many as 140 Baja cars are entered in the Baja SAE events across the US and around the world. There are multiple dynamic events as well as an endurance run of 4 hours. The dynamic events include hill climbs, chain pulls, maneuverability events, rock crawls, and suspension& traction events. There are also design evaluations, cost reports, and design reports. This is when the teams are judged on ergonomics, functionality, and manufacturability of their cars.
What is learned in the lecture hall and the classroom is manifested within these vehicles. Many employers consider the Baja competitions to be the proving grounds for engineering students, where the competitiveness of the competition brings out the innovation and creativity of the team.