Grove City College’s Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) will host the fifth annual Baja Butler Bash on Saturday, Oct. 18, featuring cars designed and built by students to compete in SAE Baja events around the country.
This year’s competition at SwitchbackMX on Route 8 outside of Butler, Pa., will be the biggest put on by the College’s SAE chapter, with 12 teams and 31 cars on the track. Baja SAE cars are single seat, open-design off-road vehicles built around a 10hp engine that are intended to run at around 30 mph.
The Baja Butler Bash is free and open to the public. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. and the action begins at 11:30 a.m. with a hill climbing contest and continues with an endurance race that starts at 1:30 p.m. Spectators are advised to bring a lawn chair and a hat or umbrella for the sun.
Grove City College Racing has two cars in the competition. Number 70, known as Red October, is the College SAE chapter’s workhorse, having been in use since it was originally built in the 2020-21 academic year. Number 74, the Grey Goose, was finished last spring in partnership with a nine-member senior design team of mechanical engineers and debuted this summer at a national competition in Maryland.
The other teams hail from Ohio Northern University, Liberty University, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Northeastern University, Western University, University of Akron, Cleveland State University, John Hopkins University, Ohio State University, Miami University, and Case Western Reserve University.
The Baja Butler Bash is not a sanctioned SAE competition but follows, for the most part, national rules. “In contrast to the one car per team rule of a national race, we allow multiple cars per team, which allows teams to have fun driving older cars and gives more opportunities for drivers to gain experience,” June Lee, secretary for the College SAE chapter, said.
“Butler Bash is great because it’s made to simulate a nationals race, but without the stress of a major competition. Instead, it is a chance for Baja teams to come test their cars and have fun with other teams,” she said. It is also a treat for spectators. “We have a super open track with great viewing spots, and we are expecting a lot of action on the track,” Lee noted.
Baja SAE racing allows students to implement practical and technical skills and learn to take greater responsibility. For mechanical engineering majors especially, this is a way to put into practice the skills learned in classes, which are highly attractive to employers.
Many students competing at a national race will bring their résumés, as a number of company recruiters are present at the competition and promising students may even be hired on the spot. Several Grove City College SAE veterans have found jobs in recent years at leading car companies. Three of the Bash’s sponsors, Komatsu, BPMI, and FS-Elliott, will have recruiters at the race.
While Grove City Racing primarily involves engineering majors, the SAE chapter is open to students with other skill sets, including graphic design, marketing, and business, to advertise, promote, and “sell” vehicles to panels of judges at national competitions.
Lee said alumni are also key to the Bash’s success. “The SAE club also owes a debt of gratitude to our club alumni, as we receive a number of connections through them – some of which have even led to our current sponsorships. A number of them will also be returning to the race to help us as volunteers,” she said. She also noted that the support of sponsors, which also include Valvoline Express Care of Grove City, Pizza Joe’s, Kenson, and GMN, is essential to cover track rentals, medical support, and free admission for the public.