SDSU mini baja would like to thank all of our generous sponsors: The Corky McMillin Companies, Fox Racing Shox, Competitive Metals, Vey's Powersports, Trust Real Estate, Duncan Motorsports and CNC Brake components for their continued support.
Our 3 man senior design team worked over 1,400 hours over the last 10 months to complete this design and build durring our senior year. We are 95% done; only axles, bodywork and safety equiptment left to install. Then the fun begins, we will have 6 months to test our design, and tune our shocks and gear ratio. The car came out better than we hoped, in fact, I think the level of fabrication would even impress a few of the "real life fabricators" that frequent this site!
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You might get some trouble from the tech. inspectors from having forward mounted tie-rods.
Why?
Most of the ATV knuckles are set-up that way. . .at least the Yamaha YFZ450R knuckles that we used are. We didn't run them that way because of packaging but it affected our steering.
My new design will have the tie rods in front as well. . .to make sure the ackerman is correct (if I re-use the same knuckles. . .looks like I will have time to design my own knuckles now though).
Cool man. That thing looks relatively light compared to our turd at CSULB. I just joined the build team for our SAE formula build, since I was too late to get in on the baja. Definitely looks like it's going to be fun to test.
Most of the ATV knuckles are set-up that way. . .at least the Yamaha YFZ450R knuckles that we used are. We didn't run them that way because of packaging but it affected our steering.
My new design will have the tie rods in front as well. . .to make sure the ackerman is correct (if I re-use the same knuckles. . .looks like I will have time to design my own knuckles now though).
I know in the past the tech inspectors get a little pissy about forward mounted tie-rods because there is nothing protecting them. I looked in the rules and didn't see anything specifically calling it out. I know last year they made a number of schools add bumpers that were low hanging to add some protection.
This is the first year anyone on this team has competed. There was an SDSU team two years ago, and another team two years before that. Unfortunately, Our school doesn't really get involved in our teams. This one is a self sponsored senior project, so it was up to the three of us to pay for it. Fortunately, we found some help from some awesome in sponsors! Fox hooked it up, so did the Corky McMillin Companies, and Vey's Powersports also. I didn't mention them earlier, but Fibertech was good to us also (but not an official sponsor.)
I have heard that we might get some guff for the front mounted tie rods, but we will have a bolt on "cow guard" in case they give us some trouble.
I know it is heavy, about 100 pounds heavier than our goal, but we ran out of time for optimization of a lot of parts. We decided to error on the side of strong, as there is already plans of getting a four stroke Honda powerplant once June rolls around.
I heard that Fox has been cutting back on their sponsorships because a lot of teams have been "taking advantage of the sponsorship." We are right down the street from the facility here in El Cajon, and we were lucky enough to talk to the right guy. Got some top of the line shocks, their newest technology with internal bumpstops. Cant wait to get 'em tuned in
I know in the past the tech inspectors get a little pissy about forward mounted tie-rods because there is nothing protecting them. I looked in the rules and didn't see anything specifically calling it out. I know last year they made a number of schools add bumpers that were low hanging to add some protection.
That's one area I have problem with SAE tech inspectors. . .they aren't SAE representatives and if the SAE doesn't want front mounted tie rods they need to say so in the rules and not **BAN ME****BAN ME****BAN ME****BAN ME****BAN ME** foot around it. . .
. . .the rules are the rules and if it's not specifically prohibited then it's allowed, that should be the end of the story, but unfortunately there's no arguing with them and you just have to comply or you don't get to compete. . .that's life. . .
Originally Posted by Maxton
This is the first year anyone on this team has competed. There was an SDSU team two years ago, and another team two years before that. Unfortunately, Our school doesn't really get involved in our teams. This one is a self sponsored senior project, so it was up to the three of us to pay for it. Fortunately, we found some help from some awesome in sponsors!
That's how we were last year and this year we couldn't get funding before all the allowed slots were filled so we are starting to work on next year's money now. . .
Originally Posted by Maxton
Fox hooked it up,
That's funnny because I was told that Fox does NOT do sponsorship for the SAE event, but gives all the teams a straight 35% discount. . .I don't mind being told no, but I at least like for people to be honest with me. . .
Originally Posted by Maxton
I know it is heavy, about 100 pounds heavier than our goal, but we ran out of time for optimization of a lot of parts. We decided to error on the side of strong,
We did the same thing last year. . .it was our first year and we erred on strong and not gonna break it. . .we did decent all things considered. We placed 56 out of 95 overall, 30 something in cost and 20 something in design our first year out and we finished all 4 hrs. of the endurance event. . .we would have done better but it took us forever to pass brake tech because of some faulty Polaris rear rotors, they were brand new and turned out to be dished in the middle so the pad was only making contact with the rotor on the it's very edges so we had next to no braking power. . .it was a simple, if not less than ideal fix, but it took us a long time to figure out that was the problem.
Originally Posted by Maxton
as there is already plans of getting a four stroke Honda powerplant once June rolls around.
Why. . .that wouldn't be legal for SAE competition. . .why put a different engine in it, unless it's just for fun after the SAE event.
Originally Posted by Maxton
I heard that Fox has been cutting back on their sponsorships because a lot of teams have been "taking advantage of the sponsorship." We are right down the street from the facility here in El Cajon, and we were lucky enough to talk to the right guy. Got some top of the line shocks, their newest technology with internal bumpstops. Cant wait to get 'em tuned in
They are cutting back. . .as I said earlier I was told the only sponsorship Fox provided to SAE teams was the 35% discount on parts. . .which pretty darn good!
We are looking to have fun with this car after the competition. If it was up to me, I would skip the competition and throw more horsepower at the car right now. But we have sponsor obligations, so we will be in Western Washington for the competition in May. After that, new motor, play with it for about a year then sell it, so we can get some of our money back. How much did you report you spent on your car last year? If we add up the retail cost of just the parts on this car, it comes to around $9,000, plus over a thousand hours of labor.
That Polaris part Issue sounds about right. We stayed away from ALL Polaris parts. All hubs and drivetrain were taken from the Honda trx700xx. From what I understand, Honda is tons better than any other manufacturer. A little more pricey, but Vey's Powersports (Spring valley Ca) hooked us up with parts at their cost
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Originally Posted by Red_beard
