Southwestern students place third in Pedal Car Challenge

Southwestern Community College students came home with a third place finish in the Summit Racing Pedal Car Challenge at the World of Wheels Car Show in Omaha, NE, from March 15-17, 2019.

Southwestern’s project was a collaboration between the auto collision repair/refinish, automotive repair technology, and welding programs. The object of the project for all participating teams was to create an award-winning customized, fully finished and painted pedal car.

Students at SWCC worked in four distinct teams — welding fabrication, non-structural, refinish, and electrical. The SWCC teams were made up of the following students:

Electrical team - Dylan McDonald, freshman, automotive repair technology student, of Chariton; and Travis Sobotka, freshman, automotive repair technology student, of Creston.

Non-structural team - Evan Ouverson, sophomore, auto collision repair/refinish student, of Byron, MN; and Riley Smith, high school auto collision repair/refinish student, Clarke High School, of Osceola.

Refinish team - Artemio Sanchez, high school auto collision repair/refinish student, Clarke High School, of Osceola; and Sergio Sandoval, high school auto collision repair/refinish student, Clarke High School, of Osceola

Welding fabrication team - Lance Thompson, sophomore, welding student, of St. Charles; and Greg Moore, sophomore, welding student, of Clarinda.

According to Jeff Magneson, SWCC auto collision repair/refinish instructor, the teams learned the value of compromise, teamwork, communication, and individual talents. Magneson said automotive teams are growing in popularity in dealerships, franchises, collision centers, and independent shops.

The welding fabrication team was under the direction of Micah Elefson, SWCC welding instructor; the electrical team was led by Jeff Sorensen; and Magneson headed up the non-structural and refinish teams. Students delivered the pedal car to the competition during a day-long field trip of all students in the automotive programs to the World of Wheels Car Show and B Street Collision Center on March 15, 2019.