Students in Walt Whitman High School’s automotive technology classes got the chance to get a close look at a real race car. South Huntington parent Tom Ross recently brought his 1967 Chevelle to the high school. His daughter, Skylar, is in Whitman’s Basic Auto Care class and asked her dad if he could bring the car in for her classmates to see. Teacher Mike Gargiulo thought it was a great idea. “I want the students to see what racing is all about. That there are cars that you drive on a daily basis, and there are cars that are specialized such that you go on racetracks and that's all you use them for. And there's a whole body of knowledge specific to this,” said Mr. Gargiulo. In addition to getting his students ready for a possible career in the auto industry, he knows that for some it will just be a hobby. 

Auto racing is a hobby for the whole Ross family, and Tom was happy to share his family’s love of the sport with Whitman students. He enthusiastically answered all the students’ questions, and let them get as hands-on with the engine and car interior as they wanted. It was a car Tom first came across when he was 8 years old and knew then that he wanted to own it one day.  That dream came true in 1987 when he was able to track down the car and buy it. Since then, a lot of time and money has been put into the car. “We narrowed the rear end,” explained Tom. “We put a 2-speed power glide transmission in it, which is a high horsepower transmission. It’s aftermarket, obviously, with a safety case on it. It's a 700 cubic inch motor, makes 1200 horsepower, 160 foot pounds of torque.” 

And it’s LOUD! Tom hit the switch and revved the engine for the students. All the classes on the north side of the building probably heard it too! The Ross family races at tracks in Maryland and here on Long Island at the Calverton Executive Airpark which is ⅛ mile drag racing that is NHRA sanctioned.

“I think everyone's gonna take something away from this. If it's just seeing a pretty car, great. But if it's also understanding that the racing feel might be a fit for them, that's even better.  They can work in the auto parts industry where they may be on the service end. They could be working on the machining end where they're creating the systems for the car. They could be driving on the racetrack. There are many parts of this industry,” said Mr. Gargiulo. 

Whitman offers three Automotive Technology classes  - Basic Auto Care (½ credit), Small Engine Repair (½ credit), and Design and Drawing for Production (1 credit).  South Huntington thanks Tom Ross and his family for sharing their experience in the sport of racing with our students.

Students in Walt Whitman High School’s automotive technology classes got the chance to get a close look at a real race car. 

South Huntington parent Tom Ross brought his 1967 Chevelle to the high school and gave auto shop students an up close look at the engine and interior. 

In addition to getting his students ready for a possible career in the auto industry, Mr. Gargiulo knows that for some it will just be a hobby.

South Huntington thanks Tom Ross and his family for sharing their experience in the sport of racing with our students.