Pune: It is going to be the battle of the automotive engineers next weekend as Team Nemesis Racing from College Of Engineering Pune (COEP) is all set to compete in BAJA, an inter-collegiate event organised by Society of Automotive Engineers in India (SAEINDA) in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh.
Into its 11th edition, BAJA SAEINDIA provides SAE student members with a challenging project that involves design, engineering, planning, manufacturing, marketing and racing an all-terrain vehicle.
College Of Engineering Pune has been at the forefront and has made a name for itself in this event since inception.
Other engineering colleges from Pune are also gearing up for the event and are busy making sure that their ATVs come back as winner.
“Our vehicle is all set for the competition. Other preparations like packing and related work is going on. The preparations are actually never ending. The schedule is going as per planned. We now have to wrap up with our last minute chores and complete the packing of the vehicle for the event,” Onkar Sarjerao, captain of Team Nemesis told Sakal Times.
Being many-a-time champions, COEP will have tough task to perform and maintain their standard.
“The stakes are always high. It has been like that for the past many years. There is no extra pressure as such this year. We feel this pressure and the rush every year and we make the vehicle to be the best and hence there is a lot of expectation mostly from our seniors and our college, who have also been our constant support and strength,” said Sarjerao.
“We always try our best to stand up to their expectations and try and deliver the best possible version of our car. We always believe that hard work and passion would lead us to victory and that has been our strength, to fight harder and harder and push our limits each year,” he said.
“BAJA SAE India has been one of the best platforms for budding engineers to bridge the gap between the theoretical study and its practical applications. It has help build confidence of many people in exploring deeper into the world of technology and engineering. Working in a team where there are tight deadlines and great pressures to perform makes us strong, not only as an engineer but also as an individual. There’s a complete growth of a student right from the personality to the technical skills,” Sarjerao explained.
Asked to explain challenges the team is facing in the run up to the competition, Sarjerao said: “There were many. The first one was off course to build a vehicle which is both light weight and robust at the same time. Then following the deadline was another challenge in front of us because we had to manage college submission, exam and lab work simultaneously.”
“Many times it happened that we worked all night in the lab and went for a lecture next day from the lab itself. But in the end we are all going to remember these moments rather than college lectures.”
Excitement all around
“The team is super excited for the competition. This is the time we work for the whole year to express ourselves and give the best. Personally with the driving experience of national and international BAJA 2018 events, the testing for 2019 season has went as per the plan and I am feeling confident to come up with outstanding results. I have taken the learning from the previous mistakes and worked on them to ensure that nothing is left behind,” explained Vice-Captain Randhir Chavan, who will be driver too on the final day’s endurance racing.
“The BAJA event is full of learning’s, excitement, thrill and I think it is pure test of temperament. One who holds the nerve well and is patient as an individual and team has the better chance to ace the competition,” he added.
“We think that every team has prepared well from their end. We concentrate more on our vehicle and work according to the plan,” they concluded.
