Student members of the NDSU Society of Automotive Engineers placed 39th overall in the Society of Automotive Engineers Baja competition May 19-22. Held at Western Washington University, the competition featured all-terrain vehicles designed by teams from around the world.

The NDSU vehicle is the senior design project of mechanical engineering majors Lee Kersting, Tim Hertsgaard and Mike Denow.

“The competition was a lot of fun, and we were happy with how we did,” said Kersting, who is the treasurer of NDSU’s chapter and from St. Cloud, Minn. “We competed in every event and finished the endurance race. It was a good learning experience. We have some good ideas on how to improve our car, and we are excited for next year.”

According to the Baja 2010 Web site, the competition simulates real-world design projects and related challenges. Engineering students design and build off-road vehicles to survive severe punishment from rough terrain and capable of overcoming obstacles such as rocks, mud and water.