Cal Poly Racing’s Baja Team Kicks Up Dust — and Picks Up Trophies — in National Competitions
Following months of preparation and successful competitions in Arizona and Maryland, Cal Poly Racing’s Baja team had to make space for a few more trophies — along with its award-winning off-road vehicle — in the shop.
For 53 seasons, students in Cal Poly Racing have designed, built and raced a single-seat vehicle — known as a Baja car — capable of conquering rough terrain and endurance trials. Students race the car at Baja SAE competitions sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Mustangs compete with teams from around the world in a series of dynamic events that test acceleration, maneuverability, suspension and traction before lining up for a four-hour endurance race that pushes both driver and machine to their limits.
This season, Cal Poly Racing’s car made its competition debut at the Baja SAE event in Marana, Arizona, in early May. After a grueling weekend, Cal Poly earned second place in design, third place in acceleration and maneuverability, and sixth place overall, finishing next to universities like Cornell, University of Michigan, Purdue and Case Western Reserve. The team brought 58 members to the event, including nearly 20 first-time participants who got their first taste of race day.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just about engineering; it’s about creating a place where people want to show up,” said Matthew Shaffer, mechanical engineering senior, team lead and driver of the Baja car. “When members feel supported, they push themselves, they grow, and they actually enjoy the process.”
The season culminated in June with a race at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland, where Mustangs took first in maneuverability, second in acceleration and overall dynamics, fifth in the hill climb event and eighth in design.
Mustangs also claimed the Haas Foundation Manufacturing Award, which honors teams demonstrating exceptional capabilities in machining, fabrication and inspection. The foundation lauded the team’s Learn by Doing approach, which translated into consistent, high-level manufacturing practices across every part of the vehicle.
“[Cal Poly’s] commitment to quality and craftsmanship was evident in all subsystems of their vehicle,” said the Haas Foundation’s representatives when presenting the award. “Even more impressively, their efforts were led and executed by team members themselves, showcasing not just their technical prowess but their holistic understanding of the process."
The team’s success on the track flows from the bonds team members have built behind the scenes through months of preparation for the spring competitions.
“Without culture, nothing matters,” Shaffer said. “We spend so many late nights together in the shop. It’s important that every member feels welcome and supported. That’s when the best work happens.”
Under Shaffer’s leadership, the team shaved 20 pounds off its custom-built vehicle and fostered a collaborative environment that boasts nearly equal numbers of male and female members — something rare in off-road racing circles. While the team aimed for a top-three national finish this year, Shaffer sees the true victory in how the group has evolved.
“I didn’t know anything when I joined Cal Poly Racing,” he said. “But I had incredible people who showed me that you don’t have to know everything. You just have to show up, be willing to learn and be part of the team.”
That culture thrives in the university’s machine shops. With 60 active members and nearly 30 leads, the Baja team brings together students from across engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, computer and materials engineering. The team completes 95% of its vehicle fabrication in-house — handling everything from metalwork and composite layups to CNC machining and 3D printing. Every component, aside from the standardized engine, is shaped by student hands.
Testing runs take place on dirt trails like those at Cuesta College, where the team fine-tunes performance, practices pit stops and prepares for endurance challenges such as mid-race driver swaps. A mock competition helps troubleshoot issues and sharpen communication, ensuring the team is ready for whatever race day brings.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve, whether it’s the car, logistics or how we work together,” Shaffer said.
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