For immediate release:

Cal State L.A. is California’s
First-Place Winner at Mini Baja West

Los Angeles, CA — Placing seventh overall, Cal State L.A.’s Mini Baja vehicle (car #23) is California’s first-place winner at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International 2004 Mini Baja West competition. The three-day event (April 22-24) was held recently at the Portland Expo Center and Washougal MX Park, Washington.

Cal State L.A.’s Mini Baja Team ranked third in hill climb, eighth in acceleration, and tenth in endurance, competing against 98 other teams from some of the finest universities in the United States, including Mexico and Canada. Overall, it finished ahead of vehicles from Michigan Tech University (10th), Western Washington University (13th) Utah State University (16th), and every other CSU campuses (Fullerton, Long Beach, Pomona, Sacramento, San Diego and San Luis Obispo) plus UCLA (44th; 50th) and UC Santa Barbara (51st).

The Cal State L.A. students who participated in this year’s competition were: mechanical engineering major Jose Cano, team captain, Oxnard resident; mechanical engineering major David Meyer, co-captain, Los Angeles; mechanical engineering major Kevin Knarr, Los Angeles; mechanical engineering major Akilesh Vedartham, Los Angeles; mechanical engineering major James Hong, Temple City; technology major Stephen Scharer, Los Angeles; technology major Jose Cardenas, Los Angeles; mechanical engineering major Bahram Valiferdowsi, Los Angeles; mechanical engineering major Alberto Luna, Lynwood; mechanical engineering major Artin Margarian, Glendale; mechanical engineering major Noe Torres, South Gate; and mechanical engineering major Orlando Hernandez, Montebello.

The team’s faculty advisor was Mechanical Engineering professor Adel Sharif (Arcadia resident) and the technical staff member was Daniel Roberto (San Gabriel resident).

Each Mini Baja team was assigned to design, analyze, build, and race a prototype of a four-wheel, single-seat, off-road recreation vehicle for the competition. The car had to be accepted for manufacture by a fictitious firm, had to prove it could negotiate rough terrain without damage, and was required to be safe, easily transported, easily maintained and fun to drive.

For more information on the Mini Baja West competition, call (323) 343-4478. For photos or interviews, call the Public Affairs Office at Cal State L.A., (323) 343-3050.

WORKING FOR CALIFORNIA – California State University, Los Angeles: A comprehensive university at the heart of a major metropolitan city. The 175-acre hilltop campus is located five miles east of Los Angeles’ civic and cultural center. Since 1947, Cal State L.A. has been a leader in providing quality higher education. Today, the campus comprises a faculty of internationally recognized scholars and artists, and more than 21,000 students with a wide variety of interests, ages and backgrounds that reflect the city’s dynamic mix of populations. Cal State L.A. is one of 23 campuses in the CSU system.

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