I am a student at Texas A&M University at Doha, Qatar.

I am starting an off-road club, mainly because there is nothing to do but play in the dunes, and for our first project we are wanting to do a small single seater mini-buggy. I know there are kits out there but they are expensive and we dont have that much money to start out with.

This little mini project is to get the other members as well as students interested in working with their hands and not just a computer.

Fabbing and welding skills I have.

Does any one have a solution? We have access to a bender and multiple welders.

Thanks

Try these guys for plans.

I have been wanting to build one for awhile.


http://www.edge.au.com/

Check youtube for videos of finished buggies.

Check out this forum...

http://www.minibuggy.net/forum/

the ninibuggy forum has a lot of good stuff

http://www.sinistersandsports.com/

Is another place to look at for ideas.

You should get in touch with your school's SAE chapter.

http://clubs.qatar.tamu.edu/SAEI/

The Society of Automotive Engineers sponsors collegiate mini Baja competition that sounds fairly similar to what you are looking for. The program challenges college students (mainly engineers) to design, build and race these vehicles. More info at http://students.sae.org/competitions/bajasae/ The schools are usually fairly supportive of these types of programs since it can bring a good bit of publicity to the school.

Here are some pics of one of the cars I worked on alot at the races.
http://baja.terpsracing.com/admin/__include/image.php?f=/home/terpsracing/baja.terpsracing.com/files/media/14/14_6a5ff498cf13e27815ca9e5b6cc1eb8bec10219f.jpg&w=600&h=450&q=90

http://baja.terpsracing.com/admin/__include/image.php?f=/home/terpsracing/baja.terpsracing.com/files/media/14/14_7e6b592b7bdea0dcf0f50612bba96974af2bb5af.jpg&w=600&h=450&q=90

You should get in touch with your school's SAE chapter.

http://clubs.qatar.tamu.edu/SAEI/

The Society of Automotive Engineers sponsors collegiate mini Baja competition that sounds fairly similar to what you are looking for. The program challenges college students (mainly engineers) to design, build and race these vehicles. More info at http://students.sae.org/competitions/bajasae/ The schools are usually fairly supportive of these types of programs since it can bring a good bit of publicity to the school.

Here are some pics of one of the cars I worked on alot at the races.
http://baja.terpsracing.com/admin/__include/image.php?f=/home/terpsracing/baja.terpsracing.com/files/media/14/14_6a5ff498cf13e27815ca9e5b6cc1eb8bec10219f.jpg&w=600&h=450&q=90

http://baja.terpsracing.com/admin/__include/image.php?f=/home/terpsracing/baja.terpsracing.com/files/media/14/14_7e6b592b7bdea0dcf0f50612bba96974af2bb5af.jpg&w=600&h=450&q=90



Yeah, I know we have a SAE chapter at our school, but they dont actually do anything. All they do is talk. Since they have been around in Qatar, they have done nothing but have meetings with free pizza. That is all they do. My club is the actual building of projects. The reason for the 1st project to be a small cheap mini baja is to make sure students dont lose interest. As in there are three of us wanting to build stuff. If others come around and actually help, then we will do bigger projects.
The school doesnt want to dump a lot of money and get a half-assed result. I dont blame them. This is why I am trying to find the cheapest kit out there. If a "complete kit" comes and no one wants to help putting it together, then I will and take all of the credit.

Thanks for all the responses, its been a while since I have done any kind of small project like these mini bajas.

i have a single seat mini buggy chassis sittin in the shop. needs suspension.

desertkarts.com is where i bought pans back in JH. ha!

Yeah, I know we have a SAE chapter at our school, but they dont actually do anything. All they do is talk. Since they have been around in Qatar, they have done nothing but have meetings with free pizza. That is all they do. My club is the actual building of projects. The reason for the 1st project to be a small cheap mini baja is to make sure students dont lose interest. As in there are three of us wanting to build stuff. If others come around and actually help, then we will do bigger projects.
The school doesnt want to dump a lot of money and get a half-assed result. I dont blame them. This is why I am trying to find the cheapest kit out there. If a "complete kit" comes and no one wants to help putting it together, then I will and take all of the credit.

Thanks for all the responses, its been a while since I have done any kind of small project like these mini bajas.

I was involved with the Baja SAE program for 5 1/2 years at my school (founding member. We also have a strong Formula team. Neither of us are in any way, shape, or form affiliated with the SAE chapter there. The racing teams are completely separate and individual entities. You should be able to create your own club under the student activities association, or something like that.

Wes Thomas
Missouri S&T
Baja SAE Alumni