NORWICH – For those who don’t know any better it may not look like much, but for one group of BOCES students, the Rat Rod – as it’s fondly known – is a thing of automotive beauty.
Built over the course of the last year, the Frankenstein’s monster-like creation was constructed by students from various parts taken from approximately half a dozen different vehicles. According to BOCES Automotive Technology Program instructor James Foster, the car was truly built from the ground up.
“This started out as a project last year for both junior and senior students, from all school districts,” said Foster of the Rat Rod. “We wanted to start a project we could finish in one year so that the students could see the end result ... so we came up with the idea for a Rat Rod.”
Defined by streetrods-online.com as a name for the “original hot rod style of the early 1950s,” a Rat Rod is “usually a vehicle that has had many of its non-critical parts removed,” one that’s typically finished in “primer or paints that are often period correct” and often a “conglomeration of parts and pieces of different makes, models and after market parts.”
Said Foster, “nothing taught these kids the basics better than the Rat Rod.”
From brake systems to engine work, mechanical to wiring, welding, transmission and suspension, the project “touched on everything in the curriculum,” added Foster, as well as instructing students on the skills and equipment required when constructing a car from scratch.
“I think it’s awesome that we set out with a goal and we reached that goal,” stated Foster. “It was a good effort by the kids, they had a blast doing it and they learned something along the way.”
In fact, laughed Foster, you could almost call the Rat Rod a “green” vehicle, considering all its parts are recycled. All in all, more than 30 students worked on the project, which Foster called “a great learning opportunity.”
For Norwich High School senior and second year BOCES student Tony Vitiello, building the Rat Rod was a fun and educational experience.
“Probably the biggest thing I learned working on this was that you can take a bunch of random parts and actually make something out of them,” said Vitiello, who’s in the process of selecting a college where he can expand his automotive knowledge. “Next year’s BOCES students should be able to do something similar ... it’s a huge learning experience and everyone should get a chance to work on something like this.”
The Rat Rod itself – in addition to Foster and Vitiello – was originally slated for a cross-country trip to Las Vegas and the International SEMA Conference, which runs from Nov. 1- 4. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Rat Rod was unable to be shipped and the trip was canceled, said Foster.
Regardless, said Vitiello, the process and experience was well worth it.
“With hard work, you can pretty much make anything happen,” he added.