Morro Bay High School Automotive Technology Program’s 1989 Ford Thunderbird race car. Gabe Pascual received a Trophy of Excellence on behalf of the school. Photo submitted
Morro Bay High School’s Automotive Technology Program recently completed a high-impact weekend of learning, community engagement, and competitive motorsports success across two events: the Cruisin’ Morro Bay Car Show and Round 3 of the Santa Maria Karting Association race series.
The weekend began at the Cruisin’ Morro Bay Car Show, where students contributed directly to event operations through volunteer service during registration, assisting with food distribution and supporting the flow of participants and guests. Their involvement highlighted the program’s commitment to community engagement and professionalism beyond the classroom.
Alongside their service work, students hosted a program display booth featuring their 1989 Ford Thunderbird race car and a lineup of student go-karts. The Thunderbird served as a focal point of the display, showcasing ongoing restoration and performance development within the program. Their presentation earned recognition when Gabe Pascual received a Trophy of Excellence on behalf of Morro Bay High School, honoring the craftsmanship and presentation quality of the students’ display.
Throughout the event, students also used the environment as a live training opportunity, practicing pit crew operations and refining race-day procedures ahead of competition.
That preparation carried into Round 3 of the Santa Maria Karting Association series, where Morro Bay students transitioned from exhibition and service into full competitive motorsports participation.
A key entry for the weekend was Copeland Wimmer, a 3rd grade student at Del Mar Elementary, competing in his 2023 Praga Monster Evo3 Cadet kart in the Briggs & Stratton LO206 Junior 1 Pilot class.
Copeland’s race day began with a standout qualifying performance, earning a trophy for fastest lap and securing pole position for Heat 1. He capitalized on that advantage with a controlled launch and disciplined drive, ultimately taking the win in Heat 1.
During Heat 2, Copeland’s momentum was interrupted when kart #660 experienced a carburetor failure while staged on the grid, resulting in a fouled spark plug just moments before the start. With time rapidly expiring, parents and team members responded immediately to diagnose and resolve the issue. The kart was ultimately returned to the pits, where the team worked quickly to restore functionality.
In the paddock, former MBHS auto tech student Sam Ogle assisted with the repair effort in the tech tent, helping install a replacement carburetor supplied through fellow SMKA racer Mark Blackford. The coordinated effort brought the kart back to running condition in time for the Main Event.
Despite missing Heat 2 and being classified as a DNS (did not start), Copeland was able to rejoin the field for the Main Event, starting from 7th position rather than his earned pole position. What followed was one of the standout drives of the weekend.
At the drop of the green flag, Copeland delivered a flawless launch, immediately committing to the inside line into Turn 1. In a decisive opening sequence, he executed clean, aggressive but controlled passes through traffic, moving forward four positions in a single corner to emerge inside the top three before the end of the opening complex.
From there, he settled into race rhythm and quickly closed the gap to the leaders. Lap by lap, he applied consistent pressure, capitalizing on mistakes ahead while maintaining composure in traffic. By mid-race, he had reeled in the front group and positioned himself in contention for the lead.
In the closing stages, Copeland completed the charge to the front and secured his first career race victory, completing a full recovery from grid failure to top step in the same event.
“This weekend showed the full scope of what our students are capable of,” said. Ritchie Wimmer, automotive technology Instructor. “They served the community, solved real mechanical problems under pressure, and then went out and competed at a high level. That’s real-world learning in action.”
The doubleheader weekend reflects the program’s expanding impact in both automotive education and grassroots motorsports, blending service, technical development, and competitive racing into a cohesive learning experience that extends far beyond the classroom.
