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from left, Chris Mullins, Brad, Cody Turman, Zach Wilson, Chris Overfelt, Chris Dooley, Grey Patterson, Justin Wilson, Chase Smith, and Spencer Morgan.

After four years of fundraising, planning, and building, Chris Overfelt' Motorsports Technology Class at the Burton Center for Arts and Technology, is ready to take their completely rebuilt 1928 Roadster to the Charlotte Z Max Dragway Friday and Saturday April 24 and 25.

"Nothing was pre-built or pre-done on this car, period," Overfelt said. He also teaches the school's welding class which fabricated most of the custom parts for the engine, chassis, and transmission.

The funding for the car came slow at first, he said, but multiple local businesses and the community have donated services and raised money for the program's first drag car. The class -- which includes several students from Cave Spring and Hidden Valley -- also purchased a towing vehicle for $10,000 and completely refurbished the inside and tuned it up for $5,000. The county bought them a used trailer for transport that was reworked, too.

The bodywork and fiberclass was crafted by the students, AAR on Shenendoah did the paintwork with paint donated from Jay Keaton with Finish Masters Paint on Salem Avenue. Renaissance Contract Lighting donated the work to powdercoat the chassity, David Fielder with Mountain Level Machine helped get the engine assembly and machining done, and Curtis Sowers at MNS Automotive in Salem donated the transmission.

Local Bojangles owner Stan Semore has given them opportunities like selling coupon booklets, he purchased them pop-up tents for the track along with other donations, and he has contracted the program to put up railings at his new Peters Creek store, and other donations.

Sponsors also included other folks and businesses in the community who were willing to donate at least $100. The students' artwork and maintenance/automotive projects also fund the program - an art vendor across Route 11 from Hollins University sells preying mantises and other outside metal sculptures with all the profits going straight to Burton.

"It taught the kids how important it is to raise money," Overfelt said. "It's important to know how much money it takes to actually do these things."

Employees with Roanoke County Schools maintenance donate their time, energy, and often their vacation days to help out at the shop with the students, including Jerry Martin and Dickie Hall.

The sixteen students that are slated to go each raised $60 for the bus, lodging, food, and for the track.

A long checklist on a large piece of paper hung on a bay door, with most of the items crossed off. On Wednesday they were making sure everything was ready for transport and were putting the final touches on the grill and other small mechanical systems.

Even though the car took four years to build, the fundraising was a gradual process and the garage time was incremental - 180 days in a school year with 90 minutes per class.

"You figure that up and you see what these young men can do in a small amount of time," Overfelt said.

They tested it first last month at Elk Creek in Wytheville and then again two weeks ago in Bristol. Its fastest time so far is 10.18 seconds in a quarter mile. The car will have to place in the top 32 out of 520 cars - with five test runs, three Friday and two Saturday - to enter the field of contestants racing for the top prize.

"The odds of us getting picked are slim, but the whole reason behind them going is to see what they can do," Overfelt said. "But if we win something, we'll be putting it back into the program for next year."

Next year, plans are in place for the rebuilding of not one, but two front-end dragsters.