Automotive Technology Students Put Skills to Use Rebuilding Camaro

Road Ready

Automotive Technology students come from many different backgrounds, but they share one thing in common: a passion for cars. So when the idea of building their own high-performance custom vehicle was introduced, students were immediately on board.

"We wanted to build something that would allow students to see another side of the automotive industry—not just dealerships and repair facilities," said Gerrot Jacobson, an instructor in the Automotive Technology program at Hawkeye Community College. "On top of that, we wanted to have a little fun with them, too."

The project began to take shape after a Camaro was donated to the program. That donation paired well with students' interests in racing, leading to a plan to build a drag race car. Every aspect of the project was student-led, from securing donations to deciding who would work on specific components.

"I had some students who really wanted to build engines—it was something they were genuinely interested in," Jacobson said. "I had another group that wanted to focus on the electrical side. Everyone has their own niche."

The majority of the Camaro's components were donated by local, regional, and even national companies. What began as cold-call emails gained momentum when a group of students attended the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, the world's largest annual gathering of motorsports professionals.

"We were able to shake hands, meet potential sponsors, talk with them about the project, and show them pictures," Jacobson said. Those connections led to wide-ranging support from companies across the United States, including donations of equipment, parts, and even time.

"Some of our vendors have put on classes for us," Jacobson said. "We've had them join us on Zoom to teach classes on setting up control modules or transmissions."

Now in its third year, the project has seen many students contribute to the Camaro. Tyler Bartels of Cedar Rapids comes from a family with drag racing experience, making him especially excited to leave his mark.

"For me, it was the wheel grinding, making sure all the tires fit and measuring for the wheels," Bartels said. "It was my first time learning all that. Gerrot would show me what to do, then leave me alone to figure it out. If I needed help, I'd go to him, but I picked it up pretty quickly."

Brock Ruzicka of La Porte City spent most of his time working on suspension and alignment.

"Our main goal is to get this thing straight down the track," Ruzicka said. "We're hoping to get it on a track sometime soon, hopefully in the spring. We want to show how well it performs."

The Camaro has grown into a collaborative, campus-wide project, with multiple programs lending their expertise. Auto Collision Technologies students assisted with paint and body work. Welding and CNC Machining and Tool-Making Technology students helped fabricate parts. Graphic Design students are currently finalizing decal designs for the finished car.

"This hasn't just been an automotive project," Jacobson said. "It's not confined to our building or our department; it involves the entire college."

The popularity of the Camaro project has sparked plans for future builds, including a Toyota 4Runner conversion into a rock-crawling off-road vehicle and a Pontiac Solstice build designed for drifting.

"Every year, there will be something," Jacobson said. "We're not going to sit idle and stop."

Learn more about the Automotive Technology program

Working on the Camaro has given Automotive Technology students an opportunity to put their newly acquired skills to use on a unique and fun project. It's also helped students like Brock Ruzicka discover their hidden talents. "It's kind of that really really warm-hearted feeling," he said. It was one of those moments where I was like 'this is something I can do or a living!'"

Automotive Technology students use AMP EFI Tuning Software to adjust fueling tables on a Camaro equipped with an MS3PRO EVO Engine Control Unit, applying real-world engine management and performance tuning skills as part of a hands-on learning project.

Automotive Technology students attend the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Indianapolis. Students were able to use their time at the show to network with industry leaders and secure donations of equipment and expertise for their Camaro project.