DRIVE One's History:​
DRIVE One was founded as a means to fill the skills gap following the 2008 Recession.
However, over the last six years, DRIVE has accomplished more than such filling-the-gap. Our students have received national attention, building astounding show and performance cars that have left the professionals in-awe. In addition, our students have used the skills learned in our various programs to build careers for themselves in the automotive and manufacturing industries.
As of 2020, over three-hundred high school students have successful completed DRIVE One programs, with 100% of these students graduating high school. After graduation, 84% of DRIVE One graduates have found post-secondary success, including:
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Career Placement in Automotive or Manufacturing
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Service Centers, Restoration Shops, Paint and Part Production, Designers, etc.​
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Enrollment and/or Graduation from a Post-Secondary Institution
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University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH), Lincoln Tech, UTI, Lawrence Tech University, College for Creative Studies, etc.​
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Active or Retired Status from the Armed Forces
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Army, Marine Corp, Navy, Air Force​
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Part of our student's success can also be attributed to our many DRIVE One partners. These partners also invest their time and resources into each individual student's success, including extra-curricular activities and professional training.
Some of the partners include:
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The Suburban Collection and other Metro Detroit Dealerships
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NAPA Auto Care and their individual Centers
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Ingersoll-Rand Corporation
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Axalta Coating Systems
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Stellantis (Formerly FCA)
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RPM Foundation,
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The Dale Earnhardt Foundation and more!
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Finding this type of success didn't happen overnight.
Take a look at how DRIVE and our students got here:
Student Working On DRIVE's first project car: a 1977 Chevy Camaro: July 2012.
The first class for DRIVE One Machining: December 2012.
Students Hang With Indy 500-Champion Simon Pagenaud at the Chevy Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix: June 2022.
Student Working On DRIVE's first project car: a 1977 Chevy Camaro: July 2012.
Timeline:
Founded: May 2012
July 2012:
Thursday Night School Is Held In Four-Car Pole Barn. Only Three Students Attend. Students start work on a 1977 Camaro and 1937 Fiat Twin-Engine Dragster.
2014
February 2013:
DRIVE One students prepare a Twin-Engine Dragster for the Milwaukee World of Wheels Show. The car wins "Outstanding Engineered Vehicle.
August 2013:
DRIVE One is granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
A Welding Program is added to the existing Auto and Machining Programs.
January 2014:
Student-Built '31 Ford Roadster Pick-up competes for the America's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) Award at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California. 25 Students & Staff Travel To The Show With "MadUsa".
July 2014:
DRIVE One recieves a grant from the RPM Foundation to begin restoring a 1981 Pontiac Firebird, With Beginning in October.
May 2015:
Student-Built 1970 Chevy Nova makes professional motorsports debut at Salem Speedway in Indiana. It would go-on to win "Rookie of the Year" in the Great American Racing Series (GARS).
December 2012:
Attendance grows to over 30 students every Thursday night. A Machining Program is added to help with growing numbers and interest.
2013
May 2013:
Machine Shop Students enter projects into the Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society (M.I.T.E.S.) Competition, Capturing 1st-3rd Place Honors.
April 2014:
DRIVE One begins offering Transportation Design Courses in both Rendering and Clay Sculpting.
2015
February 2016:
Three Student-Built Projects (including the '81 Firebird) clean house at the 64th Annual Meguiar's Autorama in Detroit, Michigan.
November 2016:
Ten students travel to North Carolina to tour behind-the-scenes of NASCAR and Restoration Shops.
2016
January 2018:
Concept Cars designed, fabricated, and painted by students from all three programs debut Axalta's "Color of the Year" at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit)
October 2018:
DRIVE One Motorsports and its 1970 Nova crowned "Rookie of the Year" for the Championship Racing Association (CRA).
June 2017:
DRIVE One presented with Manufacturers' Trophy during the Firekeepers 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.
2018
May 2019:
Student-built Dillon Late Model makes its Championship Racing Association (CRA)-JEGS All Stars debut at Birch Run Speedway, finishing 15th.
2020
December 2020:
DRIVE One named "Trailblazer of Future Talent" by Macomb Planning and Economic Development (MPED)
2017
March 2017:
Seven project cars built by students capture honors at the Piston-Power Autorama in Cleveland, Ohio.
September 2017:
The 16,000 sq. ft. DRIVE One TechCenter opens in Roseville, Michigan: DRIVE One finally finds somewhere to call home.
2019
September 2019:
DRIVE One partners with Ingersoll-Rand for its first ever Manufacturing Day.
July 2018:
DRIVE One honored with the 2018 "Legend-Leadership Award" from the Dale Earnhardt Foundation.
September 2020:
DRIVE One Motorsports makes it Automotive Racing Club of America (ARCA) debut at Toldeo Speedway.
March 2015:
DRIVE One Students capture "Rising Star Award" at the Piston-Powered Autorama in Cleveland, Ohio.
October 2015:
DRIVE One crowned "Outstanding Education Initiative" By Automation Alley.
May 2016:
1:5 Scale Clay Models from the Transportation Design Program Are Crowned State Champions at the M.I.T.E.S. State Finals in Lansing.
2021
2022
July 2021:
DRIVE One hold it's first-ever Career Tech Education (C.T.E.) Summer Camp for 7th-12th grade students.
October 2021:
DRIVE One launches it's second after-school program, "Project4Real" through funding from Generator Z and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation
March 2022:
Students debut the program's first Concourse Restoration, the very-first 1974 Camaro, at the 69th Annual Detroit Autorama.
High Honors:
Events + Sanctioning Bodies:
