Page 15 - TransTodayWISpring2026

Spring/Summer 2026 Transportation Today Wisconsin™ | 15

Middleton High School’s Racing Team Builds and Races Cars in

High-Pressure Environments

that all teams must start with to assure that all
cars meet the necessary safety requirements,”
Wheeler said, adding there’s room for cus-
tomization.
Wheeler said the team has three cars
staggered in a three-year rotation, noting that
design modifications are usually done during
a car’s second or third year. After three years,
cars are recycled and the parts are used to
make a new one.
In addition to focusing on car fabrica-
tion, team members work on graphic design
and social media marketing for the team.
“The idea is to continually bring in stu-
dents with diverse skillsets so we can do more
and more in-house,” Wheeler said. “It also
creates an opportunity to partner with a wider
variety of local industry partners, which in
turn creates more opportunities for students.”
“Building Racecars Isn’t Cheap”
Wheeler noted two businesses that have
Photo, back row, left to right: Students Mary Gaffaney, Eric Henke, Ian Davey, Issac Zander, Matthew
Lanear, Bechem Davis, Jonathan Laschinger, Ellis McLoughlin. Front row, left to right: Students been key to the team’s success: Marie,” Flores Lanzo said.
Antonio Roldan and Genesis Flores Lanzo. MCPASD leaders Brian Miles, Erin Wheeler, Dr. Barb “Not only have they provided the vast Closer to the end of the school year, the
Buffington, Jerrud Rossing, Shannon Valladolid and Eric Wheeler. Not pictured: Everett Kerkman. majority of our funding over the life of the team will take part in Road America near
team, they have provided students with educa- Elkhart Lake, Wisc., where high schools
Carrie Brooker “I’ve always been interested in motors- tion and career opportunities,” Wheeler said. nationwide compete in a time trial event.
Public Relations Specialist port, specifically Formula 1, and this club felt The businesses have hired several of the “It is quite possibly the purest defini-
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District like a good way to get hands-on experience,” team’s alumni for jobs and apprenticeships. tion of hands-on learning I’ve come across,”
Middleton High School’s Racing Club said Flores Lanzo. “Compared to other clubs, “Building racecars isn’t cheap,” Wheeler Wheeler said.” One constant across all teams
advisor and engineering and technology Racing Club stood out because of how genu- added. “Finding enough funding is always is that everything breaks. I heard one parent
teacher Eric Wheeler is impressed with his inely enthusiastic and dedicated everyone is. a top priority every year as it affords us the say, ‘When the cars stop working, that’s when
students’ ability to create racecars “from a That energy made me want to be part of it.” opportunity to do everything else. In addition the real learning starts.”
pile of raw steel and parts.” Wheeler explained that everything the to funding, it has also been incredibly helpful It empowers students to problem solve in
The team’s car was among the fastest team does is an extension of the classroom. to have experts come in to share their knowl- a high-pressure environment.
at last year’s Formula Student USA National “Every year we either build a new car edge and skills with the team.” “It’s impressive watching them come
Track Day. Formula Student USA is a national from scratch or heavily modify one of the together with a single goal in mind: get the
engineering and fabrication competition for existing cars,” Wheeler said. “Much of the “Purest Definition of Hands-On cars on the track so everyone can have fun,”
high school students that challenges teams to students' time is spent fabricating the many Learning” Wheeler said.
design, build, and test open-wheel style cars. steel components of the car including the The first of the team’s two big annual
Wheeler started Middleton High chassis, control arms, and suspension com- events took place Oct. 29 at Madison Interna- Shaping Students’ Post-High
School’s team in 2021 following a conversa- ponents.” tional Speedway, where schools from across School Paths
tion with a student interested in cars. Wheeler He said students spend a significant Wisconsin converge.
mentioned Formula Student USA, and the amount of time using computer numerical “We don’t even keep lap times,” Wheeler Wheeler said many team alumni pursue
student brought 10 of his friends to start a control, or CNC, machines. said. “It’s purely to get students more time careers in mechanical engineering and motor-
club. “When it comes to the design of the car, behind the wheel and to show new members sports engineering or as CNC programmers.
“We had no plan and no money, but there is a set chassis design and set of prints what the organization is all about. It’s also a “Many of the team’s alumni have also
those 10 kids made up for it with a level of great opportunity for carried their passion into college participat-
energy, optimism and drive that only naive students to talk with ing in Formula SAE and Baja SAE, which are
teenagers can have,” Wheeler said. “We spent people from the indus- the college equivalent of the Formula Student
the next eight months trying to figure out how try about career and USA program that Middleton High School
to start a high school racing team.” continued education Racing participates in,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler said his first team worked opportunities.” “Racing Club isn’t just about cars; it’s
"relentlessly" to raise $12,000 and build a “I wanted to see about teamwork, creativity, and learning real
racecar. how the cars really do engineering skills in a fun, hands-on envi-
“Looking back, that experience with perform in person and ronment,” Flores Lanzo said. “I truly believe
that first group of kids is probably the most how all of the team's anyone who’s curious about design, mechan-
impactful experience of my teaching career,” hard work pays off on ics, or problem-solving will find something
Wheeler said. track, whether it be exciting here.”
The current team of 11 students – four looking at the wheels Follow the team on Instagram to learn
seniors, five juniors, one sophomore and one and thinking about more. www.instagram.com/mhs_racing
freshman – shares a passion for cars. Middle- sponsors, or the body
ton High School junior Genesis Flores Lanzo of the cars designed
is among the new students on the team. by team members like www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us