From left, Chris Mullins, Brad, Cody Turman, Zach Wilson, Chris Overfelt, Chris Dooley, Grey Patterson, Justin Wilson, Chase Smith, and Spencer Morgan. —Miranda Adkins, special to SWoCo

After four years of fundraising, planning, and building, Chris Overfelt's Motorsports Technology Class at the Burton Center for Arts and Technology, was ready to take their completely rebuilt 1928 Roadster to the Charlotte Z Max Dragway Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25.

"Nothing was pre-built or pre-done on this car, period," Overfelt said. He also teaches the school's welding class which fabricated most of the custom parts for the engine, chassis, and transmission.

The funding for the car came slow at first, he said, but multiple local businesses and the community have donated services and raised money for the program's first drag car. The class -- which includes several students from Cave Spring and Hidden Valley -- also purchased a towing vehicle for $10,000 and completely refurbished the inside and tuned it up for $5,000. The county bought them a used trailer for transport that was reworked, too.

The bodywork and fiberclass was crafted by the students.

Local Bojangles owner Stan Semore has given them opportunities like selling coupon booklets; he purchased them pop-up tents for the track along with other donations; and he has contracted the program to put up railings at his new Peters Creek store, and other donations.

Sponsors also included other folks and businesses in the community who were willing to donate at least $100.

"It taught the kids how important it is to raise money," Overfelt said. "It's important to know how much money it takes to actually do these things."

Employees with Roanoke County Schools maintenance donate their time, energy, and often their vacation days to help out at the shop with the students, including Jerry Martin and Dickie Hall.

The sixteen students each raised $60 for the bus, lodging, food, and for the track.

Even though the car took four years to build, the fundraising was a gradual process and the garage time was incremental -- 180 days in a school year with 90 minutes per class.

"You figure that up and you see what these young men can do in a small amount of time," Overfelt said.

How did they do? With their adventure beginning 5 a.m. that Friday and ending at 4 a.m. on Sunday morning, they made it to the top 64 out of a field of over 520 cars.

"I got too many good comments to count," Overfelt said. "So many pictures were taken of that car, and so many people couldn't get over the fact that high-schoolers built this car."

Next year, plans are in place for the rebuilding of not one, but two front-end dragsters.