Beyond The Competition

Get ready for Baja SAE Ohio 2026 with everything you need to know before arriving at Briarcliff!

Mike Sorg is joined by Baja SAE Program Manager Damon Andring, event organizer Adam Houston, and Dynamic Events Lead Simran Singh for a complete preview of the competition. The crew covers registration and wristbands, the updated engine check process, technical inspection, paddock procedures, site safety, food planning, and what teams should expect when they arrive.

They also preview this year’s dynamic events and endurance course, including how the Briarcliff motocross facility will be incorporated into the competition. Plus, hear about sponsor and recruiting opportunities, the Empowering Women in Mobility panel, Mini Baja, the return of the Sunday endurance livestream, and the special Baja SAE 50th anniversary heritage display featuring historic cars, photos, videos, and more.

Whether you’re competing, volunteering, supporting a team, or coming to watch, this episode will help you arrive prepared and make the most of Baja SAE Ohio 2026.

What happens when the lessons learned building and competing with a Baja SAE vehicle carry over into a professional engineering career?

On this episode of Beyond the Competition, Mike Sorg and Scott Schultz are joined by Baja SAE Program Manager Damon Andring and members of the Oshkosh Corporation team to explore how the Baja SAE experience prepares students for the engineering workforce.

Todd Cimermancic, Zac Hassman and Jake Gates share their experiences with SAE University Programs, including their journeys from student projects and competition weekends to engineering careers with Oshkosh Corporation and JLG. They discuss how skills such as problem solving, communication, teamwork, design iteration and project management translate directly into professional engineering environments.

The conversation also explores Oshkosh Corporation's continuing involvement with Baja SAE, its memorable custom competition trophies, the new “Hammered Back” endurance award and the importance of building genuine relationships between students and engineers at competition.

Plus, the group looks toward the future of mobility and engineering with discussions about autonomy, active safety, connected equipment, electrification and the technologies today's students may soon be developing themselves.

For students preparing for their own careers, the message is simple: get involved, ask questions, talk to the engineers around the paddock and make the most of every opportunity Beyond the Competition.

Recorded live during Formula SAE IC 2026 at Michigan International Speedway, this special panel discussion brings together accomplished leaders from across motorsports, automotive engineering, mobility technology, and manufacturing to share their career journeys and lessons learned along the way.

Featuring Brooke Bond, Laura Klauser, Alba Colón, Emily Anthony, Mary Bellino, Vismita Sonagra, Laura Luna, Rebecca Vollmann, Amber Hoppe, and Amy Chambers, the conversation explores how Formula SAE helped shape their careers, the value of mentorship, overcoming adversity, leadership in technical environments, and the importance of building strong teams.

The panel also answers audience questions on mentorship, team motivation, imposter syndrome, communication, leadership, and navigating the transition from student engineer to industry professional.

Whether you're involved in Formula SAE, pursuing an engineering degree, or looking to build a career in motorsports or automotive technology, this discussion provides practical advice and inspiration from professionals who have successfully navigated that path.

Topics include:

Career development in motorsports and engineering

Recorded live at Formula SAE IC 2026 at Michigan International Speedway.

In this episode of Beyond the Competition, hosts Mike Sorg and Scott Schultz sit down with three engineers who have taken different paths from university engineering programs into industry careers. Joining the show are Ben Baize, Controls Engineer at Pratt Miller, Evan Wiedemeier, Rotational Engineer at Oshkosh Corporation and former AutoDrive Challenge student, and Land Barnum, Electrification Engineer at Oshkosh Corporation.

The conversation explores how hands-on student competition experiences—and in Land's case, a more traditional engineering path—helped prepare them for careers in vehicle development, electrification, controls engineering, autonomous systems, and commercial vehicle innovation.

Key Topics

One additional correction from the transcript: the company name should be Oshkosh Corporation, not "Ashkosh," throughout all descriptions.

As teams prepare for Baja SAE New York 2026, Mike Sorg sits down with Baja SAE Program Manager Damon Andring and event organizers Steven Shurski and Andrew Beckmann to discuss everything competitors need to know before arriving at Hogback Hill.

From registration and Fast Track Rosters to engine check, technical inspection requirements, and event safety expectations, this episode serves as your essential "Know Before You Go" guide for Baja SAE New York. The team covers important reminders about Tech Sheet Revision C, proper documentation, sponsor engagement opportunities, weather preparation, spectator safety, and how teams can make the most of their competition weekend.

The conversation also highlights the value of the sponsor tent, career networking opportunities, and some local Rochester attractions and food recommendations for teams traveling to Western New York.

Whether you're a first-time competitor or a returning veteran, this episode will help ensure you're prepared for a successful and safe Baja SAE weekend.

In This Episode:

How does a Formula SAE student go from building aero packages and carbon fiber layups to becoming Chief of Staff at a semiconductor startup? On this episode of Beyond the Competition, hosts Mike and Scott talk with Joshua Kim about his journey from the University of Illinois Formula SAE EV team to leadership at Synergy Research Labs.

Joshua shares how hands-on experience in Formula SAE taught him critical engineering and manufacturing skills that couldn’t be learned in the classroom alone. From CNC machining and composites manufacturing to presenting ideas in design reviews and solving high-pressure engineering problems, Joshua explains how Formula shaped both his technical abilities and his confidence as an engineer.

The conversation also dives into:

Why many Formula SAE programs are consolidating into EV teams

Joshua also discusses Synergy Research Labs’ work developing gallium oxide semiconductor materials and why the company is recruiting directly from Formula SAE programs.

Whether you’re a current SAE student, alumni, or engineering professional, this episode is packed with insight on how student competition programs translate directly into real-world engineering careers.

Get ready for Baja SAE Oregon with this essential “Know Before You Go” episode of Beyond the Competition, the SAE University Programs Podcast.

Host Mike Sorg is joined by Baja SAE Program Manager Damon Andring and Organizing Committee Chairman Tom Paasch to break down everything competitors need to know before arriving in Washougal.

From registration requirements and tech inspection prep to trailer staging logistics and site rules, this episode is your complete guide to navigating the event smoothly. The team also dives into what makes Baja SAE Oregon unique — including its iconic motocross venue, challenging terrain, and fan-favorite dynamic events like rock crawl, hill climb, and endurance.

🔧 In this episode:

Whether you're a first-time competitor or a returning team, this episode will help you arrive prepared, stay safe, and focus on performing your best.

👉 For more competition details, rules, and updates, visit Baja SAE at BajaSAE.net.

📍 Show notes: beyondthecompetition.fireside.fm

In this episode of Beyond the Competition, Mike and Scott welcome Caleb Chamberlain, CEO and co-founder of Oshkut, to discuss how on-demand metal fabrication is revolutionizing the way student engineering teams build.

Caleb shares the origin of his company—from a challenging VR motion rig project to a rapidly growing fabrication platform—and explains how Oshkut is uniquely designed for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. This makes it an ideal partner for student teams working on one-off parts and rapid prototypes.

The conversation dives into how Oshkut supports hundreds of university teams, including those competing in Formula SAE and Baja SAE, offering discounted services and tools that make advanced manufacturing more accessible than ever.

Listeners will also gain practical advice on designing for sheet metal, avoiding common CAD mistakes, optimizing lead times, and leveraging modern fabrication workflows to accelerate development cycles.

If you're a student engineer, team member, or educator looking to push your build further—this episode is a must-listen.

Oshcut Academic Sponsorship: https://www.oshcut.com/academic-sponsorships

Heading to SAE Aero Design West 2026? This Know Before You Go episode has you covered.

In this episode, we talk with students, teams, and SAE staff to give you a full picture of what to expect at competition—from technical inspection and design judging to the real-world challenges teams face getting their aircraft ready to fly.

You’ll hear firsthand experiences about preparation, travel, teamwork, and the lessons learned along the way. Whether it’s your first competition or you’re a returning competitor, this episode offers practical advice and insights to help you make the most of the event.

SAE Aero Design isn’t just about building an aircraft—it’s about collaboration, problem-solving, and gaining hands-on experience that prepares you for a career in engineering.

👉 Learn more or get involved: https://saeaerodesign.com/

In this episode of Beyond the Competition – the SAE University Programs Podcast, hosts Mike Sorg and Scott Schultz are joined by Gretchen Urenek and special guest Bridget O’Connell, president of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Women’s Baja SAE Team and winner of the Max Rumbaugh Outstanding Student Leadership Award. 

Bridget shares her journey from building and innovating on her team’s experimental tracked “tank-style” Baja vehicle to leading a student engineering team through design challenges, competition preparation, and leadership growth.

The conversation explores how SAE competitions shape engineering careers, what it takes to lead a successful Baja SAE team, and how hands-on competition experience helped Bridget land a career as a test engineer at Northrop Grumman after graduation. 

In this episode

Whether you’re a student competitor, engineering leader, or future SAE participant, this episode offers insights into leadership, innovation, and the real-world value of engineering competitions.