SRT students Live the Learning with confidence

If there was a motto for street rod technologies students, it would be: have no fear. 

“I think the biggest thing I learned was to not be afraid to rip apart a vehicle because I developed the skills to put it back together,” says Curtis Miller as he reflected on what he and his classmates had learned during the eight-month program at the Vermilion campus. The last day of class was Friday (April 24). 

Repairing the door structure, revamping the cab mounts and supports, fixing the front frame, and replacing the front suspension system were among the changes Miller made to his project vehicle - a 1937 four-door Chevrolet sedan with suicide doors that his grandpa found in a bush on their farm. 

With classes done, Miller hauled the vehicle back to his family’s farm near Alliance. He has a summer job with a person in Killam who owns classic cars. In his spare time he plans to add an engine and transmission to the ‘37 Chevy.

Like Miller, Chase Zweifel has more work to do to the 1972 Chevelle he worked on during the program, but he has no doubt that he can restore the car. “Confidence wise – just getting in there and cutting and fixing – I’ve come a long way. There’s lots of work still to do (on the Chevelle) but it doesn’t seem like it will be that tough. I have a lot of confidence.”

Zweifel’s love of cars compelled him to enter the street rod technologies program.  

“I had projects I tried to work on (before) I took the program but I didn’t really know what I was doing. This program has been awesome. No question was a wrong question,” says the 18-year-old, adding that he learned so much from instructors Stuart Ribey and Matt Newman.

“You have to remind yourself that you’re in school when you’re enjoying it this much,” says Zweifel who hails from Paradise Hill. Also a member of Lakeland’s rodeo team, the saddle bronc rider qualified for the Canadian College Finals Rodeo and also earned a rodeo scholarship to Howard College in Texas where Zweifel hopes to take an automotive course. 

Understanding metal and how it moves is key for creating everything from fenders to flooring, says Tanner Large during a break from refurbishing the cab on his 1967 F100. That’s one of many things he learned during the year. 

“I took this program because I wanted to learn how to restore cars the correct way and this course is perfect for that. I’m surprised by how much we learned this year and how much we built,” says Large, 19. He will be back at Lakeland College in May as a welding apprentice. 

“I took the (street rod technologies) program because I want to do restorations for me and my family. It’s been awesome and I’d recommend it to others – in fact I’ve already recommended it to lots of people,” says Large.

So too has Miller. “I highly recommend this program. I’ve had zero disappointments. The instructors are awesome and super patient.”

Now Miller will have the opportunity to do some teaching as he helps his father restore a truck. “He doesn’t have the body skills to start working on it so he’s itching for me to get home so we can get working on it.”

Photos: Top, Curtis Miller is transforming a '37 Chevy, which was found in the bush on his family farm, into his dream ride thanks to the SRT program. Middle, refurbishing the cab on his 1967 F100, Tanner Large will return to Lakeland next month as a welding apprentice. Bottom, Chase Zweifel works on restoring his 1972 Chevelle in Lakeland's SRT program.