Mini BajaŽ consists of three regional competitions that simulate real-world engineering design projects and their related challenges. Engineering students are tasked to design and build an off-road vehicle that will survive the severe punishment of rough terrain and in the East competition-water.

The object of the competition is to provide SAE student members with a challenging project that involves the planning and manufacturing tasks found when introducing a new product to the consumer industrial market. Teams compete against one another to have their design accepted for manufacture by a fictitious firm. Students must function as a team to not only design, build, test, promote, and race a vehicle within the limits of the rules, but also to generate financial support for their project and manage their educational priorities.

Dynamic Events that each team compete in are:

• Land Maneuverability
• Water Maneuverability
• Suspension and Traction
• Acceleration, Top Speed, and Braking
• Bus Pull

All vehicles are powered by a ten-horsepower Intek Model 20 engine donated by Briggs & Stratton Corporation. For over twenty-five years, the generosity of Briggs & Stratton has enabled SAE to provide each team with a dependable engine free of charge. Use of the same engine by all the teams creates a more challenging engineering design test

At the University of Rhode Island, senior mechanical engineering students can receive course credit for participating in the Mini Baja project. The team operates without direction or guidance from Professors or technicians. This is a unique opportunity for students because it gives them a chance to work and solve problems in a real world, unsheltered environment. Students also get hands-on experience, and follow a project from start to finish. In addition to designing and fabricating a car, students must finance the project through fund raising events, charitable donations, and sponsorships.