Sam Kilgard-

The rumble of the engine and the rush of adrenaline—this is what the drivers of the Backwoods Baja live for. Every year in Eau Galle, 15 racers prepare for the start line.

What makes this year’s Baja so interesting? “The combination of sand track and forest track,” said Todd Hicke, a 22-year-old studying engineering technology. Hicke has been racing and building for the University of Wisconsin-Stout since his freshman year and has loved every step of the way.

“The races are so exhilarating and fun, it’s hard not to get hooked into something like this.” Hicke said.

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The Backwoods Baja is sponsored by UWStout, which means this race is especially important to the UWStout Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). “Since this is the only Stout-sponsored race, we try and get everyone behind the wheel that we can,” said Mikali Salzgeber, a 20-year-old manufacturing engineer major.

But this fun event goes beyond racing. “At the end of every race we all eat together and talk about the race, as well as get to know each other better,” said Salzgeber. “It really is a community event, and we’re all here to have fun.”

The Backwoods Baja is more than just a race, it is an event where fellow students and competitors can get together and have a great time. “We haven’t had any bad memories from the races we have been to, and especially not from the Backwoods Baja,” said Hicke.

The Backwoods Baja will take place Saturday Oct. 22 starting at 9 a.m.

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