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Specifications of #166 "OverKILL" 4130 "Chromoly" chassis Weight: 754 lbs. Awards/Placing Out of 139 registered teams, S&T placed: OverKILL was the first Baja car to compete since the team suspiciously ended in the early 80's. Without knowing the characterstics of the Baja cars that compete at competition, the team opted to build the car to suit every person on the team (anyone from over 6' tall to 350 lbs.!) In the end, the car ended up weighing over 700 lbs. However, the car was easily drivable by anyone who sat in the seat. Once the team finally arrived in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, the Missouri S&T members quickly establish great comradery with the other Baja teams. Fascinated with the other car designs, the team began brainstorming for next years design. Technical inspections opened at 6 a.m. and being skeptical for the first time, S&T was the first in line. The inspections began with making sure the roll cage was built to proper specs. Then the team moved down the line as the inspectors looked over various aspects of the car making sure it was safe to drive. For the most part, the car was good to go. However, the second to the last checkpoint of the inspections call for a driver evacuation drill. The inspectors choose the heaviest/tallest driver to sit in the car fully geared and all safety harnesses strapped. The driver must evacuate the car in less then five seconds! With a smirk on his face, the inspector chose our 350 lb. driver. As the inspection area silenced and other teams and inspectors gazed upon our driver being strapped into the car, our team looked away and hoped for the best. "Go!" said the inspector and as our driver frantically unhooked the safetly belt and squirmed his way out, he completed the drill in less than three seconds! The entire inspection area applauded. The team walked the car back to the pit area and performed any modifications needed to completely pass the inspections. By the following day, S&T had successfully passed the inspections and prepared for the dynamics events. 6 a.m., the gates open at the MDC testing grounds. The team first approached the mud bog event, then rotated to the maneuverability course. The team had some troubles negotiating the maneuvrability course due to the locked rear axle, but luckily enough we had the reverse option on the car. Next, the team completed the acceleration and chain pull events. The team had some traction problems since it had rained all day before the events and caused the ground to become excessively muddy. However, the team kept their chins up and readied for the endurance race. The team started mid pack (about 60th) for the endurance race. Time grew closer and the team readied the driver and car. Once the cars began pacing the track, an inspector flagged us to pull over and fix our restraining harness (the harness was fixed for one sized driver but we had another sized driver for the endurance). By the time the team fixed the problem, S&T was almost a lap behind. Over one-hundred teams on a two mile course was a spectacular sight to see. "Cars literally drove over me," said Wes Thomas, 2006 chassis leader and driver. This is how tight the course can get at times. #166 managed to keep a steady pace throughout the race. Every hour the team would switch drivers and refuel the car. They had to make a few stops to adjust the clutch, but otherwise, the car was doing fine. In the end, the team managed to successfully complete 25 laps. Quite an accomplishment for the team's first year. "Our goal was not to break at competition," said Tim Turner, senior member and founder of the Missouri S&T Baja SAE team. For a first year attempt, the Baja SAE team successfully accomplished that goal.
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rev. 4/07