While many of Oregon’s trade electives like shop and welding have phased out of the offerings over the years, Tillamook High School has been able to keep these programs alive, thanks to dedicated staff like Johnny Begin. He is running the most requested elective at Tillamook HS: the mechanics program. Mr. Begin teaches approximately 200 students in the program and coaches the school’s Drag Racing Team, an elite selection of the top mechanics students.
“Some kids in 2019 wanted to do something extra and a lot of them weren’t involved in extra sports or things, and so they said, ‘Let’s build a race car.’” Mr Begin explains, “And that started the whole project.”
The drag team not only gives students an extracurricular activity and the social benefits of a team, but also helps them to develop professional skills. The goal of the Drag Team is to have the team members become career ready, though Mr. Begin also brings in representatives from technical trade schools to show students how they could continue their education—and many do.
Two of the team’s community partners, Tyson and Jenni Price, who own a mechanic shop, and Roy Ellerbroek, who owns an autobody shop, come to the club every Tuesday evening to volunteer. “They’ve hired multiple students from the program and it’s a great recruiting tool for them,” says Mr. Begin. “They actually get in here and see kids’ work ethics. And help coach them to be job and career ready when they leave the program.”
Besides trades skills, the students are challenged to fundraise for the parts they need to build and maintain the club’s cars, as well as for larger items for the mechanics shop. In previous years, the students brought in $10,000-$20,000 from the local Tillamook community. “A lot of people love that there’s an outlet for kids that’s not a traditional sport, using their hands,” says Mr. Begin.
The amount they bring in through fundraising, determines the team’s spend budget and which projects they do. “Last year, we finished building the safety roll cage and everything on a ‘65 Mustang that was donated to us the year before, and it made its first pass down the track two weeks ago,” says Mr. Begin.
The students will tell you that one of the best parts of Drag Racing Team is going on those trips to the Raceway in Portland to test drive the cars that they’ve built. Students can take a spin in either team car, one that’s throttled to a safe cruising speed, and the ‘65 Mustang that allows the driver (whose parents sign a waiver) to go full speed down the ¼ mile track. However, sometimes the team is let down at the track.
“It’s a two hour drive there and back, and it’s all volunteer time and gas,” explains Mr. Begin, “And we’ve had times where we drove all the way out there and the car doesn’t run. It fires up, but something’s off on it, and it’s hard on the team but very real life…”
Given these kinds of disappointments and the sacrifices that come with the building, testing and tuning of the race cars, Mr. Begin wanted more tools and resources— not only for the 10 members of the Drag Team, but for the 200 students in the mechanics program.
This winter, there is a buzz of excitement at the school’s shop with the arrival of a dynamometer machine. This large piece of equipment will enable cars to be tested on a lift, before towing them all the way to the track. The dynamometer will be able to diagnose problems with any car, right from their shop.
Students, team members, Mr. Begin and the school’s administration worked to secure donations from the community and grants from partners like the Roundhouse Foundation to bring this tool to campus.
We can’t wait to hear how it impacts the class activities and fuels the passions of the Tillamook High School mechanics program.
For more information on Tillamook High School Mechanics Program, visit Facebook.com/THS-Drag-Racing-Team
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New dynamometer at Tillamook High School
