Department

A message from the editor | Chris Hamilton

By Chris Hamilton

January 26, 2021

Living the Life and Printing the Passion

If your local high school shop teacher told you that dedicating a few nights after class and a couple hard-working weekends during the pandemic would eventually pay off with a chance to compete on a real Pro Touring track, against real professional drivers, in a truck that you built yourself, would you be up for the challenge? For the kids at Chester County high school in Henderson Tennessee, that opportunity was offered, and the few students who jumped on the project and made it through to the end not only competed but placed in the top three of their class during this 2020 Pro Touring event.

…nothing compares to turning a wrench on a weekend with a couple buddies in the garage, some good music filling the air and a race date in your head that you can’t be more excited about…

Over the last six months, this crew of pure green gearheads got really familiar with tools they’ve never seen before and received more busted knuckles than a backyard after-school scrap. You can certainly learn a lot on a YouTube video from the comfort of your couch, but nothing compares to turning a wrench on a weekend with a couple buddies in the garage, some good music filling the air and a race date in your head that you can’t be more excited about. This crew embodied that culture with the guidance of their supportive shop teacher and industry influencers like Arnie from OBS Chevy Racing and GSI Fabrication.

As we move through life, we realize that more important things overshadow our desires of the past. It’s truly exciting to see these young men step up and get excited about the industry we all grew up loving. Whether it’s affirmation, motivation or simply to live vicariously through them, we think you should go online and give this crew a follow to see how far they go in this industry.

Do you know of a local high school doing something similar? Send us some info at chamilton@engaged.media. We’d love to get the story.