Marquette Eagle Racing, an off-road racing team organized by Marquette’s chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), is at full throttle this academic year with two races already completed and more races and campus events on the road ahead.
From Oct. 2-5, 14 students represented Marquette at the Baja SAE 50th anniversary race weekend in Gray Court, South Carolina. The event marked the debut of team’s newly designed Eagle 4 (E4) car, which successfully completed the competition’s four-hour endurance race with a rotation of student drivers. Beyond the driver’s seat, students contributed as pit crew members, photographers and logistics coordinators managing the team’s success during the multi-day, out-of-state race weekend. Away from the dirt track, Marquette students also competed in a business plan competition and had the opportunity to network with professionals and students from across the country.
On Oct. 18, the team returned to the track at the Backwoods Baja, hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. At this event, the team raced both the E4 car and their legacy Eagle 3 (E3) car, proving that the engineering of now-graduated Marquette alumni continues to perform.
While Eagle Racing’s efforts often culminate at racing competitions, much of their work centers on creating hands-on learning and community-building experiences for students in engineering and beyond. In addition to designing, building and upgrading their vehicles, the team includes students focused on marketing, budgeting, project management, branding and more. This semester, Eagle Racing has 50 student members working across a wide range of subprojects and initiatives.
Looking ahead, the team plans to compete in Michigan Tech’s Winter Baja in February, with additional races planned in 2026.
Students interested in learning more or participating are encouraged to visit the organization’s general body meetings on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in Olin room 202. Supporters can also follow the action on the team’s Instagram page (@mu_eagleracing).
Eagle Racing’s success is made possible by generous sponsors, including Milwaukee Tool, Harley-Davidson, Tankcraft, Hayes Performance, and Almaga Composites.
