Ben Barber students create race car built with local metal supplier

Students at Ben Barber Innovation Academy gain critical metalworking skills by creating a race car, with support from locally owned Metal Supermarkets.

School instructor Timothy Sherwood with Alex Higgs and Josh Hert, lead a team of students to build a Formula 1 type race car destined the Formula Student USA program. High school teams are encouraged to construct their racecar following proposed guidelines – along the way they learn about engineering and technical skills vital to our nation’s manufacturers.

Ben Barber Innovation Academy students have access to a variety of school lab equipment including computer numerical control machine, manual lathe, manual mill, horizontal band saw, iron worker, drill press, various welding equipment and a plasma table.

“We teach them the basics about each aspect of manufacturing,” Sherwood said. “Among the various hands-on training, we offer instruction about CNC manufacturing and welding. Students earn industry-based certifications providing them with the knowledge to venture out into the workforce.”

The school objective is to give students exposure to various equipment before entering the workforce -- building a race car is a focal point of students’ education.

“Most everything on the vehicle is built by the students,” Sherwood said. “Students are instructed to create as much of the race car as possible in-house. The goal is to expose the students to the complete vehicle build process.”

Students use products from Metal Supermarkets Fort Worth as they develop vital skills while building their unique race car.

“Metal Supermarkets was a metal source for me when I was working in the industry,” Sherwood said. “Beyond carrying a large variety of metals including specialized materials, Metal Supermarkets is always quick and responsive with metal cut to size – students really appreciate that.”

For their race car, students work with 1-inch square tubing for the car frame in addition to 1-inch steel tubing, ¾ inch tubing plus various aluminum and various sizes of steel.

The student-led Formula Student USA program ensures they’re involved in the design process, the build process and also the actual racing event. High schools from various regions will gather to race at the event scheduled for May 12-13 at Elkhart Lake, Wisc., at the Road America, Briggs & Stratton Motorplex.

“It’s all about giving students the education they’re going to need in the workforce,” he said. “You don’t necessarily need to go to college to be successful. You can acquire skills for trade work at a co-operative institution and still make a really good living for your life. “

“We’re eager to help these students develop essential skills that will help with their future careers,” said Douglas Gillingham, owner of Metal Supermarkets Fort Worth. “Metal Supermarkets is proud to supply the metal products for these students to learn in a constructive educational environment. This means more to us than just getting a logo on the race car. We’re cheering on the students to victory in this race and in their future careers.”

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