The similarities are certainly there. When Donald Carter was in high school, he took an auto mechanic class, began participating in dirt bike races and soaked up as much information about car engines as he could.

His son, Matthew, a senior at the Burton Center for Arts & Technology (BCAT), is currently a member of Team Vibrant Performance, the school’s Motorsports Engine Building Team.

“My dad and I are similar in so many ways. It’s because of him that I’ve been into racing and competing in different ways. We were born with racing in our blood, and it’s stuck ever since,” Matthew said. “Because of my dad, I have been around engines my whole life. If it wasn’t for him drag racing for those years, I’m not sure exactly where I would be at in this point in time. He has taught me so much from engines to racing, farming and just being an all-around great person.”

Matthew joined the school’s engine building team because he enjoys competing, maximizing his talents and earning scholarship money for college. In the last two years, he has earned approximately $28,500.

Last month, Team Vibrant Performance participated in the Annual Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Building Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana.

While there, Coach Chris Overfelt and the team took a written test with automotive questions, prepared for the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show and made memories that will last a lifetime.

“This year’s team set several goals: win PRI, win nationals, have the highest written score and have the fastest perfect build. They did everything they set out to do, plus finished with the number one seed in the nation,” said Coach Overfelt. “Words can’t describe just how proud I am of them. They worked extremely hard for everything that they accomplished.”