“We invite all of our newer members out,” said Erik Dudek, applied engineering sciences junior and the team’s project manager. “We bring all our cars out here and give (newer members) a chance to drive them around the track. If they break (them), it’s okay — we can fix them.”

Cheadle, who also broke a steering knuckle off one of the four cars at the racetrack, said he joined the team to gain engineering experience.

“I’m hoping that it’ll help get me a position in the auto industry,” Cheadle said.

This year, MSU’s SAE Baja Racing Team added a new lead designer position, filled by mechanical engineering senior Kevin Svacha.

“I just go over aspects of designing the car, all the way from chassis to design through suspension,” Svacha said. “I basically get the car from concept to reality.”

The team, funded by both the College of Engineering and various sponsors from the automotive industry, design and build a new car every year.

Dudek said they have one Louisville, Ky., competition coming up this fall, and an invitation-only competition at Michigan Technological University in February.

However, the three main racing events that can take place in other countries around the world are what the team most looks forward to.

Dudek said he was happy with Sunday’s turnout and is looking forward to a good year.