Speedster Update: And the Grant Goes to. . .

... Northwest Vintage Car and Motorcycle Museum

Eight lucky students from Roberts High School in Salem , Oregon get to build a Model T Speedster this year at the Northwest Vintage Car and Motorcycle museum. A husband and wife donated the chassis, and a museum member secured the Speedster body.

Other groups of students will work on projects related to building the Model T. One group will take digital photographs to create a parts catalog. Another will create a newsletter, and another will create a Power Point presentation. In addition to using their English skills, students will also study history from the 1920’s and 30’s. Some of the project will be completed at the museum, and curriculum will be undertaken at the school.

Roberts High School is an alternative high school. “Teachers have more latitude in their projects,” explains Doug Nelson, Board Chairman of the museum. “Kids can come to the museum from 9 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon,” he says.

Nelson explains. “We want to raise self-esteem with a positive project. They can say ‘I built this, now I get to drive it.’”

The students will show their completed project at Salem area shows in 2009, including the Portland Roadster Show and an all-high school show. “It’s a great experience for the kids,” Nelson says.

This is a pilot project. “We’re pioneering here,” says Nelson. The idea was born when the Model T Club of America published an article in its national magazine about connecting with high school shop classes. Around the same time, Roberts High School approached the museum and asked to attend the museum’s car show. “But none of the kids had cars,” Nelson explains.

So six members of the museum held a mini car show for the students. “We let the kids get inside the cars and steer,” Nelson recalls. “It was really popular and successful. So we combined those two ideas. Kids could come to the museum and build a Speedster with mentor help.”

Nelson reports that in the Salem area, automotive repair businesses are having a difficult time finding recent graduates for automotive or technical jobs. Nelson hopes that such businesses can connect with Roberts graduates who acquire automotive skills through the project. Nelson also hopes some of these graduates can get a scholarship to the local community college.

Roberts High School is focused on providing students with a path to career development. “We’ve got to have these kids do something besides flip burgers after high school,” Nelson says.

“We want to integrate them into the business community,” Nelson says. The project receives several sponsorships from local businesses, who purchase items such as overalls for the students.

“I speak to many car clubs,” Nelson says. “I always hear ‘How do we get more young people involved in the hobby?’ It’s a graying hobby. We want to spark interest in car clubs, work with young people, and get more young people involved.”

For more information, please visit www.nwcarandcycle.org.