Superintendent Joseph Mastrocola
250 Pawtucket Boulevard,
Tyngsborough, MA 01879
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jessica@jgpr.net
Greater Lowell Tech Students Place Third in Pedal Car Challenge
TYNGSBOROUGH — Students from the Greater Lowell Technical High School Automotive Collision and Repair program took home third place in the 2019 Pedal Car Challenge.
Sponsored by Summit Racing, participating schools receive a pedal car and are then tasked with customizing the body style, interior, wheel base and wheels, turning out a fully finished and painted project.
Vehicles were judged on customization and detail during the World of Wheels event in Boston on March 22-24.
The competition also included a career day for students, who got the opportunity to meet industry professionals, speak with exhibitors about their vehicles and take an up-close look at the hot rods on display prior to the start of the show.
This is the first year Greater Lowell Tech participated in the challenge, with 20 students attending the event in Boston. Students first received their pedal car in October and worked over several months to apply their technical skills to this hands-on project that involved planning, design, creativity and resourcefulness.
By the end of the project, students had completely transformed the car, adding new features (like a trunk compartment that opens and closes, a custom seat cover and bumper) and repainting the vehicle.
To help trick out the car, Automotive Collision and Repair worked collaboratively with their peers in a number of technical areas of study. CADD students made a motor, exhaust pipe and Gryphon hood ornament to represent the school’s mascot. Metal Fabrication cut out a windshield for the vehicle, while carpentry students made a one of a kind Poplar wood steering wheel.
“This was a great collaborative project for students that really allowed them to bring together everything they’ve been learning in their technical shops while taking pride in their work and their school,” said Automotive Collision and Repair instructor Richard Sauro said. “I’m extremely proud of everyone who took part in this project. Their hard work really paid off.”
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