Most high schools don’t want their students to let their minds drift in class. At Shawano Community High School, the practice of drifting is encouraged — in automotive class, anyway.
The Shawano Community High School Drift Club recently completed modifications to a Legends race car, which is now a drift car on display at The Automobile Gallery, 400 S. Adams St., Green Bay.
The club formed when Patrick Polk, track manager at Shawano Speedway, approached high school automotive instructor Jeremy Hodkiewicz about starting the program and modifying a race car for drifting in 2016. One of the most popular forms of racing, drifting is an “on the edge” style of racing that traces its roots back to Japan in the 1970s. Drivers force the car into a controlled slide through corners with a combination of speed, style and showmanship.
By its second year, the drift club had expanded to 15 Shawano students. Club members and their parents purchased a used 5/8-scale, 1930s-style Legends race car. The students spent months stripping down the car, making minor repairs and performing the necessary refinements to turn it into a drift car. Among them, the front end was widened by 3 inches, and 1 inch of wheel space was added, as was a hand brake for controlled sliding. A 1200cc Yamaha FJ motorcycle engine completed the package.
With financial support from local businesses, the SCHS Drift Club has graduated to the intermediate track and is sanctioned for the national INEX racing series.
Green Bay’s Automobile Gallery is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educate, inspire and share the passion of the automobile with the community and U.S. car enthusiasts. Vehicles from all eras are on display in their showroom. For hours and information, call 920-437-9024 or visit theautomobilegallery.org.