SFA Baja SAE team participates in first-ever national competition

NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– The Stephen F. Austin State University Baja SAE team recently completed its first-ever national Baja SAE New York competition, marking a historic and exciting milestone for the university’s engineering program.

The annual collegiate design competition sponsored by SAE International, formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers, hosted 102 registered teams from across North America who build and race rugged off-road vehicles.

Over the past year, SFA’s team of student engineers designed and built an off-road Baja vehicle from the ground up, culminating in a 3,871-mile round-trip journey spanning seven states.

According to Dr. Dan Bruton, the team’s faculty advisor and professor of physics, engineering and astronomy at SFA, many of the teams have years — and in some cases, decades — of Baja SAE experience and rosters dominated by upperclassmen. By comparison, the SFA team was composed primarily of underclassmen experiencing their first collegiate engineering competition.

“The team’s growth was remarkable,” Bruton said. “They remained resilient under pressure, worked through setbacks, adapted to changing circumstances and represented SFA with absolute professionalism.”

Despite their newcomer status, SFA’s Baja SAE team successfully passed 98 of the 109 items evaluated during the rigorous technical inspection portion of the event.

“For a first-year team composed primarily of freshmen and sophomores, passing nearly 90% of the technical inspection requirements at a national competition is a significant accomplishment and provides a strong foundation for future success,” Bruton said. “If teams were ranked by how much they learned, I would place this group near the very top of the field.”

While the team was ultimately unable to complete the final requirements necessary to participate in the dynamic driving events, reaching this level of technical compliance on their first attempt speaks volumes about their dedication, work ethic and potential.

“Though we might not have been the No. 1 team, what set us apart was our adaptability, the relationships we built, our endless pursuit of knowledge and upholding the highest standards given to us by SFA,” said Chris Lymbery, team captain and first-year mechanical engineering major from Nacogdoches. “We made great friends from other colleges and fantastic memories, but, most importantly, we found that this team is closer to being a family than anything else.”

Lymbery added that the pressure of being the first SFA team to ever attend the event only fueled their drive.

“No amount of stress, broken parts or bad days stopped this team from prevailing with diligence, teamwork and enthusiasm,” he said. “It was a privilege for me to go, but it was an even greater privilege to work with my fellow students who employed such dedication to our team.”

One of the most impactful aspects of the competition was the deep spirit of collaboration among the universities. Throughout the week, the SFA team actively participated in a culture of mutual support — both receiving assistance and stepping up to help rival teams by sharing tools, lending hardware, providing materials and troubleshooting mechanical issues.

The hands-on experience gained in vehicle design, manufacturing, project management and professional networking will directly contribute to building a stronger, faster and even more competitive vehicle for next season.

The team also expressed gratitude for the leadership that made the journey possible.

“We are especially thankful for Dr. Bruton and his wife for their dedication and hard work to ensure we had an amazing experience,” Lymbery said. “That support is what got us through the entire trip up there and back.”

To learn more about SFA’s engineering program, visit sfasu.edu/engineering.