NWTC Dune Buggy Project

By Melinda Barton
Northwest Technology Center

Can you imagine the fun of zipping around driving a dune buggy in addition to the accomplishment that you'd feel for helping build it?

This is exactly the feeling of the students in Northwest Technology Center's welding technology and automotive technology programs this spring. They constructed a dune buggy.

The project took about two and a half months to complete.

"Our automotive class and our welding class worked together to build a dune buggy from scratch!" said Bobby Watson, automotive technology instructor. "My class built the engine, plumbed the brake lines, did the wiring and built the steering and suspension.

“This was a great project for us because those are some of the major areas that we cover in our automotive curriculum. It was fun for the students to go from a pile of parts to a finished vehicle. We hope to build one every year."

According to Delbert Moore, welding technology instructor, putting the body together was an interesting experience.

“The students had to learn to build something without a print or a drawing,” Moore said. “This was challenging for them and we all had to do a lot of research, looking at pictures and so forth."

"I enjoyed working on the engine and wiring the lights,” said Zach Zahnow, Fairview High School senior and NWTC automotive technology student. “The hands on part of the program and the instructors were great. Auto is a great class for people who are interested in making money working on cars. Next year, I plan to go to OSU Okmulgee and work in the general motors program."

Local area businesses also helped out.

"We have had a lot of help from B&S in Waynoka," stated Watson. "They sand blasted and powder coated the framework. We appreciated their help!"

Northwest Technology Center students Jason Wallace, Zach Zahnow and Kyle Stinnett and NWTC's automotive technology instructor Bobby Watson show off this semester's dune buggy project. The vehicle was built as a joint project between NWTC's welding technology and automotive technology programs.

Kyle Stinnett, Aline Cleo High School junior and a student in NWTC's Automotive Technology program, said that putting the engine together was fun and a real learning experience – and something he had never done before.

"I learned the applications of many different types of welds,” Zack Blackwell, a junior at Ringwood High School and a NWTC welding student. “This was interesting and putting the framework together for the body was lots of fun."

Call 580.227.3708 for more information or access the school's website at www.nwtechonline.com.