2026

Car: Phil

Events: Oregon, New York, Ohio

Project Manager: Tom Gilbert

Chief Engineer: Max Hortop

Team Leads: Alexander Aljets, Andrew McNally, Arjun Patel, Daniel Adragna, Emma Lutrey, Garrett Sibley, Griffin Silbert, Jacob Schreiner, Jonah Killebrew, Lucas Sabadin Zampieri, Maeve Collins, Max Joyce, Michael Grimminger, Michael Yucha, Myles Shoham, Nic Todorov, Rigdon Freker, Ryan Tanzer, Tenichi Gordon, Xavier High, Zach Clatterbuck, Zach Greenberg

Phil carries forward improved drivetrain packaging prioritizing reduced weight and a lower CG, with increased structural durability to withstand a full competition season. An improved and lightened suspension system further improves handling while maintaining durability. Phil achieved an impressive 5th in maneuverability, 6th in Acceleration, 8th in Hill climb, and 12th Overall at the New York competition.

2025

Car: Keith

Events: Maryland, South Carolina

Project Manager: Jacob Greca, Courtney Crews

Chief Engineer: Max Fried

Team Leads: Andrew Nguyen, Enzo Ouriques Magalhaes, Gabe Guter, Garrett Sibley, Grant Hubard, Jacob Schreiner, Kylie Keller, Kody Simmons, Luis Carlos Avalos Medina Lucas Sabadin Zampieri, Max Hortop, Max Joyce, Michael Grimminger, Nic Ho, Nic Todorov, Rigdon Freker, Robert Crouse, Sydney Agius, Tenichi Gordon, Tom Gilbert, Xavier High, Zach Clatterbuck

Keith is a significantly refined improvement upon our priorly developed architecture from 2024. With substantially lighter suspension, powertrain, and chassis, Keith is more maneuverable, faster, and more competitive. Keith achieved an impressive 6th in maneuverability, 10th in S&T, and 10th in Hill climb at the Maryland competition.

2024

Car: Chuck

Events: Pennsylvania, Michigan

Project Manager: Jacob Greca

Chief Engineer: Max Fried

Team Leads: Jackson Rayer, Jack Whitcomb, Lochlann Dunlavey, Jacob Greca, Max Fried, Nic Ho, Kylie Keller, Tom Gilbert, Max Hortop, Rigdon Freker, Eli Carey, Julio Dam Ferdinez, Shahab Khorasanizadeh

Chuck introduced a new selectable 4WD system that significantly enhanced its maneuverability in tight corners. The suspension was retuned for a smoother, more comfortable ride, and its geometry was re-engineered to boost long-term durability. Lightweight aluminum front halfshafts also reduced the vehicle's weight in the front. Thanks to these upgrades, Chuck achieved an impressive 6th place finish in endurance at Williamsport and 7th place in maneuverability at the Michigan competition.

2023

Car: Jolly

Events: Wisconsin, Ohio

Project Manager: Jack Hannon

Chief Engineer: Max Fried

Team Leads: Jackson Rayer, Jack Whitcomb, Lochlann Dunlavey, Jacob Greca, Jack Hannon, Max Fried, Nic Ho, Austin Tait, Miles Klapthor, Kylie Keller, Tom Gilbert

Named after the MSU Jolly road shop, Jolly featured the new competition-spec Kohler engine and a continuation of the previous year's 4WD system. It had a lightened front differential and seat while sporting new aluminum rear uprights and larger shocks. Overall Jolly achieved top 20 at Oshkosh, demonstrating one of the most reliable 4WD systems at comp. Jolly proved to be one of the best vehicles MSU Baja has ever made during the Ohio competition, finishing 3rd in the 4hr endurance race and earning MSU Baja its first trophy in over 10 years! The reliability of Jolly proved to be its best feature, lasting the whole race without issue, only pitting for fuel and tear-offs. In the end, Jolly achieved a 13th place finish overall at Ohio.

2022

Car: Walter

Events: Tennesee, New York

Project Manager: Max Stull & Jack Hannon

Chief Engineer: James McDonald

Team Leads: Kyle Langlois, Delano Dalfonsi, Nick Demeester, Spencer Labuda, Jack Hannon, Max Stull, James McDonald, Chris Pope

Walter was ground-up powertrain redesign and featured a brand new four wheel drive system. Walter utilized a chain-driven powertrain with an open custom front differential. Walter was also designed to be as light as possible; weighing in at 350lbs. Walter proved to be a great lightweight base for future vehicles such as Jolly.

2020

Car: Chungus

Project Manager: Zachary Brei

Chief Engineer: Brian Fedewa

2019

Car: Luna

Events: Tennesee, California, New York

Project Manager: Zachary Brei

Chief Engineer: Hana Irvine

Team Members: Zac Brei, Brian Fedewa, Hana Irvine, Charlie Tappan, Josh Peckens, TJ Singh, Andrew Aziz, Cameron Brantz, Chris Pope, Emily Kulkis, Jacob Morrison, Max Stull, Tariq Salim

2018

Car: Envy

Events: Maryland, Kansas

Project Manager: Zachary Brei

Chief Engineer: Luke Crompton

Team Members: George Poliakov, Mitchel Morin, Zac Brei, Adam Bolyard, Brian Fedewa, Matt Strzalkowski, Hana Irvine, Ethan Dublin, Jacob Khodl, Sam Greenwald, Luke Russell, Oscar Scheier, Ray Renaud, Luke Crompton

2017

Car: Nyx

Events: Illinois, Kansas, Winter Baja

Project Manager: Oscar Scheier

Chief Engineer: Jacob Khodl

Team Members: He Yan, Hana Irving, Eric Martin, Chris Johnson, Matt Strzalkowski, Jacob Khodl, Sam Greenwald, Austin Payne, Oscar Scheier, Luke Crompton, Hardy Huang, Lil Tom Sheldon, Ray Renaud, Michael Holland, Luke Russell

NYX was the lightest vehicle MSU Baja had ever made. Thanks to NYX's light weight, it was also the fastest accelerating car we had built. Speed wasn't the only thing the team focused on however. Agility is a huge factor in Baja competitions and thanks to lead suspension designer Ray Renaud, Nyx implemented a coilover suspension which helped cornering and stability.

2016

Car: Ace

Project Manager: Michael

Chief Engineer: Raymond Renaud & Thomas Sheldon

Team Members: Zachary Brei, Luke Crompton, Oscar Scheier, Hannah Irvine, Brian Fedewa, Raymond Renaud, Thomas Sheldon, Eric Martin, Aaron Smith

2015

Car: Black Betty

Events: Tennesee, California, New York

Project Managers: Trevor Laskowski & Briita Wanhala

Chief Engineers: Evan Boyers & Brad Labaere

Team Members: Thomas Sheldon, Trevor Laskowski, Briita Wanhala, Evan Boyer, Brad Labaere, Eric Martin, Jacob Khodl

Betty was built over the course of the 2014-2015 school year. Betty's highlights included a custom built gearbox, a completely new chassis design, and a new rear suspension configuration. Betty competed in Auburn, Maryland, and Oregon. In Auburn, Betty placed 54th after having to withdraw from the endurance race, in Maryland, she placed a season high 25th overall, and in Oregon, 35th place. One particular highlight was that in Maryland, Betty completed the endurance race without anything breaking, and never having to leave the track other than for fuel.

2014

Car: Cerberus

Events: Tennesee, California, New York

Project Manager:

Chief Engineer:

Team Members: Danielle Christine Miles, Brad LaBaere, Eric Peters, Kevin Lalko, Michael Holland, Angel Begov, Briita Wanhala, Nathan Gill, Thomas Dionne, Evan Boyers, Trevor Laskowski, Tom Sheldon, Troy Christian and Christopher Baldwin.

Cerberus competed at Baja SAE Kansas, and Illinois. Some of Cerberus's notable accomplishments are a 14th place finish in sales in Kansas, as well as a 13th place finish in Design in Illinois. Cerberus was the first car since 2010 to finish the entire four hour endurance race. The engine delivers power to the wheels via a belt-driven continuously variable transmission and a Dana Spicer transaxle. Cerberus was the first car in MSU Baja history to use a transaxle, which incorporates the gearbox and an open rear differential in one self-contained unit. The front suspension was a short long arm suspension that is custom designed to withstand the harshest off-road terrains. The front suspension features knuckles and hubs that were student designed. These designs incorporated multiple iterations of FEA with force data taken from vehicle testing to ensure strength and weight reduction in unstressed areas. The rear suspension was a trailing arm suspension system that incorporated an anti-roll bar to reduce body roll during cornering. The chassis was comprised of TIG-welded 4130 Chromoly steel tube selected for its high strength-to-weight ratio. The unique shaped chassis was designed to safely transmit forces under severe driving conditions and keep the driver comfortable during long drives. The body panels and safety guarding are constructed out of lightweight carbon fiber.

2012/2013

Car: Nadia

Project Manager: Katie Worley(12')-Erik Dudek(13')

Chief Engineer: Nick Kuuttila(12')-Austin Tokarski(13')

This vehicle delivered power via a belt-driven continuously variable transmission and a high-low range gearbox with driver input. The chassis was comprised of TIG-welded 4130 Chromoly steel tube selected for its high strength-to-weight ratio. The body panels and safety guarding were constructed out of lightweight carbon fiber. She featured an open differential to transfer power to the wheels that is used in turn with a cutting brake for maximum power transfer for increased maneuverability through tight corners. Nadia was our second car to incorporate a rear multi-link suspension.

2011

Car: Athena

Project Manager: Jelena Paripovic

Chief Engineer: Trevor Deland

Athena was all about being light and nimble, weighing in under 370 pounds. The vehicle delivered power via a belt-driven continuously variable transmission and a high-low range gearbox with driver input. The chassis was comprised of TIG-welded 4130 Chromoly steel tube selected for its high strength-to-weight ratio. The body panels and safety guarding are constructed out of lightweight carbon fiber. She had a custom limited slip differential to transfer power to the wheels. Athena was our first car to incorporate a rear multi-link suspension that reduces weight, flex from loading, and better suspension dynamics.

2010

Car: Rhonda

Project Manager: Trevor Deland

Chief Engineer: Andrew Cawood

Rhonda placed 9th overall at the water world challenge at the east competition hosted by RIT. Rhonda delivered power via a belt-driven continuously variable transmission and a custom planetary gearbox that can be taken apart in minutes. She had an open differential to transfer power to the wheels that was used in turn with a cutting brake for maximum power transfer for increased maneuverability through tight corners. The chassis was comprised of TIG-welded 4130 Chromoly steel tube selected for its high strength-to-weight ratio. The body panels and safety guarding are constructed out of lightweight carbon fiber.

2008

Car: Willy

Project Manager: Emily (Duszynski) Khouphongsy

Chief Engineer: Ken Maisonville

Willy was the team's first four-wheel drive vehicle. An electronically-engaged shaft-driven front differential allowed the driver to select between rear or four-wheel drive with the flick of a switch. The vehicle delivered power via a belt-driven continuously variable transmission and a high-low-reverse gearbox linked to a driver-controlled shifter. All of these components offered a plethora of power-train configurations to match the varying conditions faced during a Baja race. Every aspect of the car had been engineered to minimize weight without compromising strength. The chassis was comprised of TIG-welded Chromoly steel tube selected for its high strength-to-weight ratio. Body panels were constructed out of lightweight carbon fiber, able to absorb impact without breaking.

2007

Car: Four

Project Manager: Ben Usher

Chief Engineer: Jacob Schulz

Car 4 finished 8th place in the Midwest comp and 4th place in the East and West Comps. Car 4 delivered power via a tuned Polaris continuously variable transmission and a Polaris gearbox. The chassis was comprised of TIG-welded 4130 Chromoly steel tube selected for its high strength-to-weight ratio. The body panels and safety guarding were constructed out of lightweight carbon fiber. Four featured an independent rear suspension with an anti-roll bar to increase stiffness for cornering. Four also used an open differential with a cutting brake for increased maneuverability.