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| Cal State L.A. Finishes Mini Baja West Los Angeles, CA-April 28, 1999-Continuing its exceptional achievement in competitive engineering contests, California State University, Los Angeles (car #38) placed first overall at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International 1999 Mini Baja West competition for the third time since 1996 by outperforming 60 other teams representing half of the United States. The three-day event, which concluded on April 17, was hosted by Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. The Cal State L.A. car also won first place awards in endurance and acceleration, and received second place for maneuverability. It finished ahead of vehicles from Rochester Institute of Technology (5th), University of Michigan (43rd), Washington State University (11th), and every other CSU (Cal Poly SLO, CSU Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona and CSU Fullerton) plus UC Santa Barbara (52nd). The University of Central Florida placed second overall and Le Tourneau University placed third overall. The Cal State L.A. students who participated in this year's competition were: Mechanical Engineering major Jaime Garcia, team captain, Los Angeles; Mechanical Engineering major Eric Gama, co-captain, Los Angeles; Mechanical Engineering major Rogelio Ramirez, Baldwin Park; Electrical Engineering major Daniel Pena, City Terrace; Electrical Engineering major Christopher Gonong, Los Angeles; Mechanical Engineering major Mario Salomon, Montebello; Electrical Engineering major Rafael Martinez, Los Angeles; Mechanical Engineering major Raul Vallejos, Los Angeles; Mechanical Engineering major Ubaldo Medina, frame/driver, Inglewood; Mechanical Engineering major Jose Barragan, Los Angeles; Mechanical Engineering major Efrain Gonzalez, Los Angeles; Electrical Engineering major Jose Mendoza, Sun Valley; Mathematics major Ignacio Villa, driver, Los Angeles; and Electrical Engineering major Oscar Garcia, Los Angeles. The team's advisers were Mechanical Engineering professor Richard Roberto (Alhambra resident) and technical staff member Dan Roberto (San Gabriel resident). Each Mini Baja team was assigned to design, build, promote 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. SAE corporate sponsors for the 1999 Mini Baja West competition include: Briggs & Stratton, Case, Cessna, Funk Power, Goodyear, Caterpillar, and Briggs Auto Group, Inc. The Mini Baja West is one of eight annual student design events that SAE sponsors as part of the Collegiate Design Series. For more information on the Mini Baja West competition, call (323) 343-4490. For photos or interviews, call the Public Affairs Office at Cal State L.A., (323) 343-3050.
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