Kare11
Go kart build-off aims to inspire future trade workers
The program aims to inspire students to pursue careers in the trades.
MINNEAPOLIS — The high cost of college tuition is putting more focus on jobs in the trades, but there’s still a nationwide shortage of skilled trades workers, and more than 3 million jobs are estimated to remain open by 2028, according to Trades Nation.
That’s why experts are trying to get young people interested in hands-on work while they’re young. One such effort is the Tools For The Trades™ Rat Rod Go Kart Build-Off happening between Minneapolis Public Schools and Lakeville North High School.
Minneapolis students are building their go-kart at Roosevelt High School and on Wednesday they started the engine for the first time.
“We’re basically tasked with fabricating a rat rod go-kart from scratch,” Roosevelt senior Luis Torres said. “Driving on the roads, finding things. Old rusty wheelbarrows, a lot of salvaged pipe from old things.”
Behind the build-off is national retailer Northern Tool + Equipment, which started 40 years ago in an Eagan garage. The company launched Tools for the Trades to help address today’s labor shortage by donating professional tools and equipment like engines to schools and connecting students with industry experts like Billy Lane of Chopper’s Inc.
“I have a mechanical engineering degree,” Lane said. “I have a college degree but I chose to be a trades worker myself and I love it, and I’m hoping that I can inspire them to see that, hey, you can go as far as you want to go doing this. You don’t have to follow anybody else’s predetermined path.”
Torres grew up working on cars and bikes with his family and plans to attend technical college for a welding fabrication program after graduation.
“[Lane] welds pipe similar to what I’m doing right now, and he taught me a completely opposite way to do it than what I’ve been doing and it’s been helping me a lot,” Torres said. “This program with Northern Tool helps me prepare for my future.”
The Minneapolis students are also building a car to tow their go-kart to the 50th annual MSRA Back to the 50’s Weekend June 21-23 on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Then in October, go-karts from both schools head to Daytona Beach, Florida, where Lane and NASCAR legend Richard Petty will race them alongside vintage motorcycles. Lane founded the Sons of Speed event.
“I’m really impressed with the work they’ve done so far,” Lane said of the students. “This is a lot of work.”
Thursday, more big names will meet with the Lakeville students, including Thad Moffitt, who is Petty’s grandson, and Greg Steadman, COO of Petty’s Garage. When the celebrities aren’t in town, they video chat with students throughout the school year.
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The road closure is expected to last until about 11:30 p.m. tonight, according to MnDOT.
MINNETONKA, Minn. — Officials have closed the westbound lanes of US Highway 12 starting at I-494 in Minnetonka after a collision occurred on Saturday night.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s 511 Map, the road is closed and there was a “serious crash,” on the highway.
The road closure is expected to last until about 11:30 p.m. tonight, according to MnDOT.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
“It’s amazing how well and good the people are helping out,” volunteer Connie Guinn said.
ELK PARK, N.C. — It’s still difficult for Mike Ellenburg to see the damage Helene left in Elk Park, North Carolina.
“Never in my lifetime, no I have not,” Ellenburg, Fire Chief at the Elk Park Volunteer Fire Department, said. “We had to bring in heavy equipment and open the road up.”
The storm left homes destroyed, trees toppled and cars flipped. It’s left roads near rivers and creeks nearby unrecognizable.
“Used to be a paved road, houses on both sides,” he said. “They’re gone.”
“You’ll see some vehicles down here that are sideways, and they’ll have spray paint on ’em,” Ellenburg continued. “Marking that that vehicle has been checked and that nobody was inside of it or around it.”
Ellenburg says he believes there are four areas around Elk Park in a similar state, damaged and difficult to get into. Despite that, help is still coming, both from the town and the rest of the state.
“We’re just trying to get it organized,” Connie Guinn, a volunteer said, standing in front of pallets of food and water. “Because we can’t find nothing, and neither can anybody else.”
Donations have continued to arrive at the Elk Park Volunteer Fire Department. Ellenburg says some have even come from around the country.
Other agencies, like the Dallas, North Carolina volunteer fire department, have also arrived to help where they can.
“It’s amazing how well and good the people are helping out,” Guinn said.
Ellenburg says it will take time to rebuild their community, but it’s made easier to get through with neighbors like theirs.
“I would only say that I don’t want to live anywhere else but here in Avery County, North Carolina,” he said.
The marathon was canceled because of the heat last year.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Thousands gathered at the Capitol to join in on the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend festivities.
Among them were Noah and Madeline Bleeker, running with their parents at the KARE 11 Family Mile. Noah in particular was rather excited.
“I’m super fast,” he said.
His sister, not so much.
“I just don’t like the part when you get really sweaty,” said Madeline. “I just don’t like that part.”
Either way, they are certainly happy for the weather this year.
Craig Fiedler signed up for his first marathon last year. He flipped through photos on his phone capturing the chaotic day.
“Here I am in the morning with a cup of coffee ready to go,” he smiled. “Then at 5:30 in the morning, I got the email it had been canceled.”
He decided to run it anyway, but he’s excited to cross the finish line this year officially.
“It will be a victory lap,” he said.
Dean Orton is the president of Twin Cities in Motion, the organization behind the marathon. He’s predicting great running conditions.
“It’s great to see it all come together,” he said.
The marathon begins at 8 p.m. tomorrow.
