The NMIMT SAE Baja Team has returned safely from the Tennessee SAE Baja Competition in Cookeville Tennessee.  As always, it was a grueling test of perseverance but the team held together and despite setbacks pulled together and made it though.  The international event hosted 91 collegiate teams and involved four days of technical inspections, design presentations, dynamic events, and an overall endurance race.  The competition team consisted of Brock Williams (Team Lead), Sean Harrington, Caleb Vigil, Tristen James, Darren Marcelino, Michael Taylor, Daniel Guzman, and Quinten Wood.  The team was also joined by four volunteer members consisting of Michael Lucero, William Jackson, James Sandusky, and Zachary Hughes.  Team members that were unable to make it to the event but put in a tremendous amount of effort to get the car ready for competition were Darby Stirrup, Hunter Belcher, Michael Prothero, and Patrocinio Flores.  

Static Events

Sales Presentation                          Place:  31^st

Cost Event                                          Place:  67^th

Design                                                  Place:  19^th                                         

Dynamic Events

Acceleration                                    Driver: Brock Williams                    Place: 54^th

Maneuverability                             Driver: Brock Williams                    Place: Did not complete

Tractor Pull                                       Driver: Caleb Vigil                           Place: 23^th

Suspension and Traction              Driver: Brock Williams                    Place: 41^st

Endurance Race

Drivers:                Brock Williams and Caleb Vigil            

Laps:                      13 Laps

Place:                    46^th

During the Endurance Race, the team experienced several setbacks including a broken throttle cable, brunt CVT belt, drive shaft failure, broken transmission shaft, damaged front suspension, and another broken transmission shaft.  Despite the setbacks the team never gave up and persevered to keep getting the car back into the race.  At one point they even rebuilt a transmission shaft and re-fielded the car.  The team performed well under very stressful conditions.  Although they did not take home the gold, they worked extremely hard and represented their school with a professional and competitive die-hard attitude.  Despite all of their obstacles and setbacks the team placed 43^rd Overall.