SuniTAFE’s VETDSS (Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students) were introduced to the world of Drag Racing with a trip to the Sunset Strip on the Friday before Round Two of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship which took place on March 12 and 13.

Twenty-four Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation (AUR20720) students took part in the excursion that aimed to give them an insight into how the skills they learn at SuniTAFE relate to everyday life.

SuniTAFE Automotive teacher Rodney Sparrow said students got the chance to hear first-hand from former SuniTAFE students Sunraysia Drag Racing Association president Kingsley Kuchel, and Top Fuel Dragster assistant crew chief Ben Patterson, as well as from Supercharged Outlaw Funny Car driver Tim Stewart.

“Kingsley spoke about running the race track and what was involved and as well as discussing taking street racing off the road and into the safe environment of the race track and how a speeding ticket compares to entry fees,” Mr Sparrow said.

“Ben Patterson spoke to the students about the mechanical aspect of a Top Fuel Dragster, the costs involved as well as what teams look for when recruiting new team members and employability skills.

“Tim mainly spoke about drag racing history, along with his own personal racing history and business history.”

Mr Sparrow said the three speakers were selected in order to give students a “well-rounded discussion and make the most out of their time at the track”.

“The students were all very engaged and enjoyed all aspects of the day. There was a lot of good questions,” he said.

This was the first of what is expected to be multiple excursions throughout the year. Each aiming to give students a different insight into various automotive environments.