NMCC students take to speedway
LOUDON, N.H. — Four Northern Maine Community College automotive technology senior students and their instructor had the rare opportunity to compete at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway last Friday.
The school was selected to participate in the first-ever “GearWrench Racing Speed Challenge” in Loudon, N.H. and the team managed a third place overall.
Contributed photo
TRIKE RACE — Members of Northern Maine Community College’s team work to assemble their tricycle during that component of the competition during the “GearWrench Racing Speed Challenge” in Loudon, N.H. From left, John Gardner of Millinocket, Hal Cushman of Wytopitlock, Joshua Bragdon of Ashland and Derek Finnemore of Mapleton came in second place in assembling their tricycle, completing in just three seconds behind the winning team. The four automotive technology seniors traveled to New Hampshire with instructor Dan Boyd to represent the college in the competition.
The race was set as a warm up leading to both NASCAR events on Saturday and Sunday but there was a catch. Unlike the racers who rounded the oval over the weekend, the NMCC students, and their counterparts from four other New England colleges, competed on three wheels instead of four, and top speed was be determined by a very different kind of pedal power and pit crew effort.
That’s because the students raced using an adult size Schwinn tricycle provided by GearWrench and the tool company’s Maine product distributor, Bangor-headquartered N.H. Bragg. Before requiring fast footwork on the part of the students, the challenge was first to put to use some of the technical skills they are learning to assemble the tricycle that was be broken down in various parts and components.
The NMCC team consisted of Hal Cushman of Wytopitlock, Joshua Bragdon of Ashland, Derek Finnemore of Mapleton and John Gardner of Millinocket. The foursome, under the guidance of NMCC automotive instructor Dan Boyd, went head to head with similar size teams from two sister Maine Community College System campuses – Washington County Community College and Eastern Maine Community College – and one school each from New Hampshire and Vermont.
“This was a great opportunity for the students, the college, and our program to gain some exposure,” said Boyd. “This event gave these students a chance to display their skills, have a good time, and win some tools, as each of the five schools invited to participate won GearWrench tools in varying amounts based on how you place.”
In the breakdown by category, NMCC came in second place for assembly, with a time of 1 minute 48 seconds, just three second behind the winning team; second place for appearance; and third place on the track.
In addition to the more than $1,000 worth of tools provided to the team by GearWrench for the team to use in assembling the bike, the NMCC team won a $250 gift certificate from GearWrench.
