Momentum - September 2020 - 13

STUDENT
GENERATION

The RIT team had to make many
subsystem-level sacrifices to
incorporate a 4WD system into
its car.
to add to the car in order to maximize our testing time and gather as
much data possible for the 2021 vehicle. This system had some serious
flaws, including a reduction in ground clearance and additional drag
and inefficiencies. Overall, I still believe we made the right decision in
focusing our efforts on the simplest possible way to power the front
wheels for our vehicle and manufacturing timeline in order to provide
future teams critical testing data they can use to come back faster and
more durable when we get to race again!"
The only major areas of Michigan Baja Racing's car that did not
undergo change from the previous season were the chassis and aspects
of our rear suspension. "Every other system on the car went through
major redesigns to account for 4WD," said Caplow. "These changes
meant it was often difficult to apply old testing data to the design of our
vehicle and we had to rely on extensive simulations. We are particularly
proud of our brand-new front suspension where we were able to fit
CV Joints and sprag clutches while maintaining many of the handling
characteristics we want from our vehicle.
Like the Michigan Baja Racing team, members of the squad from
Rochester Institute of Technology were determined to get the rubber
meeting the road.
"Even with our impending doom just a phone notification away,
everyone knew that we were not finished until the car was driving," said
Griffin Joslin, secretary and aerodynamics designer for the 2019-2020
team. "In the last few days, with orders to vacate our shop at the end
of the week, we came together as a team in a race against the clock
to complete what we had started. After many late nights machining,
cutting, welding, and even driving 22 hours round trip from Rochester,
NY, all the way to Columbus, Ohio, to retrieve a bearing, we were able to
drive our 2020 vehicle."
Also like the Michigan team, RIT's biggest challenge was
implementing a 4WD system into its car.
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"Just about every subsystem had to make a sacrifice"
for the implementation, Griffin said. "Changes had to
be made to the frame and ergonomics of the vehicle
to fit the propshaft underneath the driver and the
differential in the footbox. To account for the addition
of the front outboard, changes had to be made to the
front suspension, including a redesigned titanium upright
and moving the shock mounting point. Changes had to
be made to the shape of the drivetrain, including raising
the engine to fit the power takeoff unit and disconnect
underneath. Many other minor details had to be adjusted
as well."
"We were fortunate enough to have 18 graduating
team members who have been competing in Baja for
their college years to help with the design and knowledge
transfer of this new system," Joslin continued. "Our team
was ready to step up to this challenge and put the time
and thought into building this system. I think the judges
were impressed with the amount of work we put in with
the time that we had."
Joslin will serve as RIT team manager for the 20202021 season.
By Patrick Ponticel, MOMENTUM editor

September 2020 13

8/19/20 9:24 AM
Momentum - September 2020

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