Arriving in Mechanicsville, Maryland, the GW Baja Team was filled with energy and excitement. They had spent months preparing their all-weather, single-seat, off-road recreational vehicle to undergo a series of grueling tests at Baja SAE Maryland. Throughout this four-day competition, they faced off against 98 teams from universities across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and India.
Mirroring real-world engineering projects, these intercollegiate competitions test students’ design, technical, and problem-solving skills. They begin with an arduous technical inspection designed so that most teams don’t pass on the first attempt.
GW Baja fared reasonably well in the inspection, with one major but fixable concern regarding how the seat was attached to the frame. By making the necessary adjustments overnight, the team successfully passed the next morning before also clearing the four-wheel drive test, cost audit, and a final tech check to earn the required approval stickers for their vehicles.
Seven team members presented their design posters to the judges between these checks. To prepare for this crucial aspect of the event, the team attended the Washington D.C. Auto Show earlier this year, where they presented and answered questions about their vehicle. They demonstrated their knowledge by explaining the technical details of their assigned components clearly and confidently.
After the static events, teams move on to the dynamic portion of the competition, including acceleration, suspension and traction (S&T), maneuverability, hill climb, and a four-hour endurance race. The final step before beginning these events is clearing the brake check, which requires all four wheels to lock during braking.
Between a stubborn brake system, rules unrelated to vehicle performance, and one stringent judge, the team had to repeatedly disassemble, clean, bleed, replace, and reassemble the brake system. This allowed them only 75 minutes to compete in that day’s dynamic events.
Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Amir Barakati, who now serves as the team’s faculty advisor, oversaw the team throughout these challenges. He noted that they handled the pressure well, attempted all four events, and got GW Baja on the scoreboard.
“The challenges were difficult to complete, with a high risk of disqualification or incidents. In the S&T event, our vehicle flipped over shortly after starting, but both the driver and the car were unharmed. In the hill climb, the team came within a few feet of reaching the top,” said Barakati.
The competition ended with a four-hour endurance race, where each team aimed to complete as many laps as possible. GW Baja completed 27 laps on this demanding course, returning to their paddock for fuel, repairs, or adjustments as needed. Four of the team’s drivers took turns racing and managed the course challenges with focus and efficiency.
“Out of the many challenges we faced, one of the toughest was during the four-hour endurance race, when our steering system kept breaking despite fixing it multiple times,” said Jacob Goldberg, GW Baja co-captain. “However, while this was frustrating, what stood out most was how everyone would jump into action and work seamlessly together whenever the car came off the track. Seeing the team come together under pressure demonstrated how far we’ve grown since the start of the year.”
Barakati echoed Goldberg’s sentiment: "What stood out most about the team’s performance this year was their determination and problem-solving under pressure. Despite multiple technical and logistical setbacks, they stayed focused, worked together, and adapted quickly, showing not only engineering skills but real resilience.”
The GW Baja Team, one of GW Engineering’s unique project-focused student organizations, provides students with invaluable academic, professional, and personal experience. Their performance at the 2025 Baja SAE Maryland competition showcased their drive, collaboration, and technical skills, resulting in a commendable 47th place overall despite numerous challenges.
“Being part of the GW Baja club has clearly deepened their understanding and strengthened their hands-on engineering abilities in ways that go far beyond the classroom,” said Barakati.