NASHPORT, Ohio — The University of Mount Union’s Raider Racing team placed 28^th overall in the endurance race at the 2023 Baja SAE Ohio event from September 6-10 at the BriarCliff MX track in Nashport. The event was attended by 76 collegiate teams from the United States, Mexico, Canada and India. 

The Baja SAE Collegiate Series is a competition for engineering students from around the world to design and build a single seat off-road vehicle to survive rough terrain. Teams compete in four dynamic events which culminates with a four-hour endurance race.  The competition simulates real-world engineering with design, build, testing, and racing, as well as engages students with project financial feasibility and marketing skills.

Alongside its 28th-place finish in the endurance race, the Raider Racing team placed 19^th in the maneuverability course, 41^st in the suspension track and 29^th in straight-line acceleration. 

“Partaking in the event was eye-opening, revealing the true challenges of being an engineer on a racing team,” said Michael Schiciano ’26, mechanical engineering major of Willowick, Ohio and president of the Raider Racing organization. “The fast-paced difficulties of adhering to regulations, passing technical inspections and competing against other college teams increased my respect for large race teams in professional motorsport. Being president of Raider Racing has been important in managing the responsibilities of a business and stress, and providing an understanding of leadership and organizational dynamics.”

The team’s home on campus is the Raider Active Design Lab within the Timken Foundation Innovation Center, a $2.7 million dollar building completed in spring 2022 that provides Mount Union engineering and business students the opportunity to achieve hands-on projects in an experiential learning environment. 

The School of Engineering at Mount Union features four ABET-accredited degree programs in biomedical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering and mechanical engineering, alongside a minor in electrical engineering. The School’s programs focus on hands-on engineering, integration of the entrepreneurial mindset and business skills into engineering, a global engineering experience and communication skills, as part of the award-winning Integrative Core general education program. Learn more at mountunion.edu/school-of-engineering. 

Next up for the Raider Racing team is the 2024 Baja SAE season with a race in Michigan. Information about Baja SAE and its 2024 season can be found at bajasae.net.