Lower Macungie Middle School Technology Education teacher Steve Toth and his Motor Sports Engineering Club members are getting ready to roar.

The newly formed Science, Technology, Engineering and Math based club is busy transforming a donated car into, as stated in Toth’s press release, “a...fully prepped race car to run in Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association events this spring.”

Toth, a Millersville University of Pennsylvania graduate, with a degree in technology education, describes himself as always having been interested in “building and making.” Although he was given the car which serves as the foundation of the project several years ago, the plans did not come into focus until this year.

The East Penn Technology Association’s search for someone to develop a S.T.E.M. project inspired Toth to take on the challenge and establish the LMMS Motor Sports Engineering Club.

According to the group’s blog, accessible at www.hornetsracing.com, “The club operates as a true life race team...Students take on different roles on the team ranging from mechanics working on the car to front office personnel trying to secure sponsorships.”

Interested seventh and eighth graders became involved by applying to work on various aspects of the project. Toth then organized project groups: engine builders, body workers, mathematicians, sponsor solicitors, etc.

The club meets regularly on Thursdays. Whenever feasible, many of the students put in extra time during their team time period.

The East Penn Technology Foundation has supported this initiative with grant money and LMMS Principal Suzanne Vincent has made contributions from the student activities fund. Outside sponsorships are always welcome.

The goal is to have the car ready to participate in the mid-April preliminary races. In order to race, the car must conform to Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association standards, most of which focus on safety equipment. See pahillclimb.org for more specific information.

Toth hopes to interest a professional driver to race the car.

“I’d like to give them [the students] a chance at actually winning,” Toth said.

No matter how well or poorly the car places, the hands-on experience and team cooperation have already made Toth’s Motor Sports Engineering Club members winners.