19 RPM Hagerty July-August - Just Plain Driven (Gracie Hackenberg)

JULY | AUGUST 2019

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T H E S E R V I C E D E P T. RPM: Restoration. Preservation. Mentorship.

T H E S E R V I C E D E P T. RPM: Restoration. Preservation. Mentorship.

Gracie Hackenberg embodies

Then he sawthe the McPherson College tent maxim that you make your at the Art of the Car. Talking to the school’s own luck.

Alongside Brian she is learning to on rep, Peters hadDonovan, his revelation.

He stayed keep old cars ticking.

When in at St. Luke’s and continued his education she’s not racing her Spec Miata human resources at Kansas in themanagement SCCA, she’s trackside City’s Parkvillewrenching University.

But in his spare on Team Donovan’s time, he looked at jobE-types. options in the collecJaguar tor-car world.

He also entered his Galaxie at the Art RPM Foundation provides of the Car thescholarships, following year.

There he met formal training, RPM Foundation president to Diane Fitzgerand mentorship the next generation automotive ald. “She encouraged myofdecision to enroll restorers andbridged at McPherson and andmarine find a career that preservationists. Learn more my human resources and recruiting experiat rpm.foundation. ence into something in the car-hobby restoGracie Hackenberg ration world.”

At 34, Peters headed off to McPherson Gracie Hackenberg embodies the and its Automotive Restoration Manageembodies the maxim Gracie that Hackenberg you embodies the ment program, a full-time curriculum that maxim that you make your own maxim that you prepares students for running a shop-based make your own make your own luck. Alongside luck. Alongside business. He landed an RPM scholarship and luck. Alongside Brian Donovan, Brian Donovan, in the summer of 2015 traveled to Tacoma, she is learning Brian Donovan, she is learning to keep old cars Washington, for an RPM internship at Leshe is learning to keepticking. old When cars May—America’s Car Museum. she’s not racing RPM Foundation to keep old cars ticking.her When Spec Miata provides scholAt McPherson, Peters quickly realized he in the SCCA, ticking. Whenarships, formal she’s not racing had a thing for interiors and, specifically, she’s trackside she’s not racing her Spec Miataon training, and wrenching upholstery. Aside from the engine compartTeam Donovan’s mentorship to the her Spec Miata in the SCCA, Jaguar E-types. ment and paint job, he says, a car’s interior next generation of in the SCCA, she’s trackside is the thing that draws the most attention automotive and she’s tracksidemarine restorers wrenching on at shows. onand preservationTeam Donovan’s Center—hadwrenching “I love the look and feel of classic Hackenberg’s dream beyond school wasupholto work some vintage cars.

“I remember berg did she learned by watching DIY videos leading to exciting opportunities and It’s also a hands-on restoration and service ists.

Learn more at Team Donovan’s Jaguar tion, E-types. as a mechanic in NASCAR or Formula 1.

It was tinkering with him in his garage and always loving stery,” he says.

“I like figuring out patterns on YouTube. “I ended up building that car a reexamination of her goals. shop for all things vintage European. Hackrpm.foundation. her that of captured themachine attentioninof carsprograms, from a Jaguar Hackenberg withdetermination the gentle hum a sewing “Through RPM Imechanical met a lotE-types. of standpoint,” without a lift or any real automotive tools. enberg served an internship with Donovan the Street Journal and, soon after, the RPM “Butincluding it wasn’tmy until 16 andher went to year racing people in the says. industry, idol,I wasduring But the mechanical engineering program at senior and started full time the Wall background.” that I decided wantedafter to make it a career.”

Smith allowed me to tailor my coursework to Lyn St. James.school She’s become a mentorIand graduating in 2018. Foundation, leading to exciting opportunities and a Peters graduated in 2017 and took a job has given me a lot of career and life advice.” what I really wanted to do.” The team raised “Working with Brian onreexamination vintage cars of her goals.

That summer class at Portland International with SMS in Portland, $1800 and managed to compete against colHackenberg also met Brian in Donovan who, offered has changed my whole perspective,” saysAuto “Through RPMFabrics programs, I met a lotOregon. of people Raceway Oregon professional Servicing of every make and model leges withby fullPatric automotive programs. after reading instruction about Hackenberg’s Smithof track Hackenberg.

“I’m still racing in my Miata, butowners the industry, including my idol, Lyn St. James. and plenty time.

It satisfied Photos Daly tion, leading to exciting opportunities and d by watching DIY videos It’s too, also aeven hands-on restoration and service College racing team in the WSJ, followed her speed.

Hackenberg’s dream beyond school I want to race Jaguars,to and build car of domestic from the on,me SMS hasof She’s become a mentor and 1930s has given a lot Hackenberg’s need for Fast forward leadinga vintage to exciting opportunities and It’sEuropean. also also a hands-on resto did asshe learned by watching DIY wasbuilding to work athat mechanic or results and videos then offered hergoals. ation, job. of my own. for I’ve found a true ded upberg carin NASCAR a reexamination of her shop all things vintage Hackcareer and life advice.”

Hackenberg met Brian Smith College where, as a student ofracer mechanical America’s largest selection of original autoFormula 1.IT It was her“Idetermination thatbuilding Donovan Motorcar Service in Lenox, passion in vintage racing, a sport that’s not WHEN COMES TO AMERICA’S BEST on YouTube. ended up that car a reexamination of her goals. shop for all things vintag Donovan who, after reading about Hackenberg’s engineering, she purchased a 1999 Mazda Miata ny realcaptured automotive tools.

“Through programs, I met aabout lot status of but how enberg served an internship Donovan mobile vinyl, leather,with and upholstery.

Massachusetts, is best known for building the ofmechanics, the Wall Street important thesecarpet, old schools for attention aspiring Smith CollegeRPM Smith College racing team in the WSJ, followed and modified it“Through to compete inare.”—Bob theprograms, Grassroots without a lift or any real automotive tools.

RPM I met a lot of enberg served anherinterns Journal and, soon after, the RPM FoundaJaguar engines for vintage racing E-types. cars Butz editor@hagerty.com “If we don’t have the original in stock,” appears on no one’s top-10 list.

The elite l engineering program at people in the industry, my idol, Hackenberg duringresults her senior and full time and thenyear offered her started a job.

Motorsportsincluding $2017 Challenge. he Donovan says, theduring ability to reproduce women’s liberal arts institution in Northampton, people infirst theracing industry, including my“we idol, mechanical engineering program Motorcar Serviceherinsenior Lenox,year an andatherbecome team—Smith’s which Lyn St.focus James.

She’s a mentor andteam, after o tailorBut mythe coursework to for graduating inhave 2018.

132 Massachusetts, knownWHILE its strong felt his career clock ticking. All this time, their PeSEVEN YEARSis AGO, TAKING INon Hackenberg cloth in any pattern for nearly every AmerMassachusetts, is best known for building Jaguar founded—eventually shipped Lyn St. James.

She’s become a mentor and after graduating in 2018 Smith allowed me to tailor my coursework to d to do.” raised on has given me a lot career andtoalife advice.”

“Working withWeBrian onE-types. vintage cars environmental sustainability and social justice— the The cars team and motorcycles display at the tersof had more than casual interest ican classic. even produce custom door for vintage racing It’s also a retrofitted creation a Florida trackintoclasrace engines not automotive mechanics and certainly not racing. what really wanted to do.”

The team raised given me awho, lot of career and life advice.”

“Working with hands-on restoration and service shop for all Brian Art of Ithe Car Concours on Hackenberg the grounds of also sicmet cars.other Hehas grew up working with hisindustryfather panels.” against American colleges in the Brian Donovan d to compete against colhas changed my whole perspective,” says It wasn’t on Gracie Hackenberg’s list, either. sponsored competition. things European.

Hackenberg served anwhole the Kansas Art Jason Peters on the family’s 1972 Chevelle aHackenberg. car Donovan Nowvintage 37,who, Peters has found rewarding work Hackenberg alsoMalibu, met Brian has changed my and managed compete against colmotive$1800 programs. after reading Hackenberg’s Smith “I’m still racing my Miata, but “I wanted to City drive and Institute, buildto race cars.

Smith had about internship with Donovan during herhissenior year From engine work to fabricating a roll cage they took to local shows and cruise-ins.

At had a revelation. that pays well.

He has expanded persona machine and an engineering program reading about Hackenberg’s Smith withshop full automotive programs.

Hackenberg.

“I’m dreamleges beyond school College racing team in theafter WSJ, followed her did I his want to race Jaguars, too, and even buildstill ra started full time after in 2018. and spoiler, much the work Hackenberg she and really didn’t have any career ambition 23, he bought a of 1969 Ford Galaxie 500, al collection of classics,graduating too, to three Edsels but “Inothing automotive.

However, I had the learned “Working with Brian on vintage cars has by watching DIY videos on YouTube.

“I College team in the WSJ,and followed Hackenberg’s dream beyond school I want to racea true Jaguars, t mechanic in NASCAR results then offered her a job.racing a vintage racer ofher my own.

I’ve found opportunity to design a curriculum thatand would in high school,” heor remembers.

“So after first major purchase working a ’78myThunderbird. whole perspective,” says Hackenberg. ended up building that carwhile without a lift orat anythe real changed was to work as a mechanic in NASCAR or results and then offered her a job. a vintage racer of my ow give me the experience to start my career in graduating, I got an associate’s degree in nu- Motorcar hospital. Service hopes have his upholstery and her determination that Donovan inmechanical Lenox, engineering passion“I’m inHe vintage racing, aown not still racingto my Miata, but Isport want tothat’s race Jaguars, automotive tools. But the motorsports,” sheItsays.

Hackenberg’s family didn’t program “I restored that car by the paycheck,” Petrition and wound up working in a local hosdetailing business in the next five years.

“Intoo, and even build a vintage racer of my own.

I’ve racing at Smith allowed me to tailor my Formula 1. was her determination that Donovan Motorcar Service in Lenox, passion in vintage ntion go oftothe WallThey Street is best known for building about status but how important these old the track. didn’t watchMassachusetts, auto racing on TV. coursework a true passion in vintagewant racing, a sport that’s to what I really wanted to do.”$30,000 The team found pital kitchen.”

From home-care to human reters says, and estimates he spent side and out, enthusiasts their cars tohow im Massachusetts, is bestagainst known for building the attention of the Wall about status butcars But grandfather—a retired Jaguar space shuttle and Street engines for vintage racing E-types. after, captured theher RPM Foundacars are.”—Bob ButzbutPeters editor@hagerty.com not about status how important these old joy raised $1800 and managed compete fixing up the Galaxie over 10toyears.

Throughsources, a series of jobsatfollowed at St.Research Luke’s be phenomenal,” says. “I find great flight simulator engineer NASA’s Ames Jaguar engines vintage E-types.

Butz edit Journal soon are.”—Bob Butz editor@hagerty.com colleges full automotive Hospital inand, Kansas City.after, the RPM Foundaout thewith process, he had noprograms. idea for you could get racing in helping them makecars theirare.”—Bob dreams a realiPeters loved the work, but he was 30 and a degree in automotive restoration. ty.”—Bob Butz editor@hagerty.com 132 SMS is an upholstery lover’s dream, with rack after rack of materials for nearly every domestic under the sun. It’s the perfect place for Peters to spend his days.

JUST PLAIN DRIVEN

Engineer, driver, race-car fabricator— Gracie Hackenberg is building her dream.

LIFE’S A STITCH

How a “quarter life” change took one man from healthcare to upholstery.

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RPM Foundation is the educational arm of America's Automotive Trust.

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Photo by Stefan Lombard