"Schooling" the #28 Coupe

[vnmsss]

Spent the day with a great group of Kindergarten students (and their awesome teachers) at one of our elementary schools last week. We were invited to share our race car as part of their unit on wheels and things that go 'round....;.) Thanks to all the students in Mr. Thompson, Ms. Denz, Ms. Perez-Anderson and Ms. Becktell's classes for making us feel so welcome!

We fired the car up at recess time (we were in the parking lot and the kids were on the playground safely behind a fence), and there was a collective roar from 950+ kids shouting with glee and jumping up and down as the engine came to life.....Ahhh....It's great to be a kid!!!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/snkbtn/Romoland/MesaView1.jpg

(Could be off topic, but decided to post here)

[xlr8or]

Not off topic at all Karen. Very cool to share with the kids and help the next generation appreciate the cars the way we do.

[riptide motorsport]

Way too cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1Steven

[Garry Bopp]

Karen,

Way to go!! Like you, I hope I never "grow up!" Thanks for bringing smiles to all those kids' faces.

Garry

[Russ Thompson]

Start them early is what I say! :-) Sounds like a great day Karen.

[John Tongish]

And I thought it was only us big kids that you taught how to drive. As always Karen, you never cease to amaze me. Great job.

[CheckerFFR]

This is soooooo cool!! I am so glad to know there are schools out there still welcoming "fun" and WAY COOL stuff! I bet the looks on the kids' faces were priceless when the car started up. This Coupe has endured many adventures so far and I can't wait to see the development and outcome this year! Go #28 and Team Thunder Valley Racing!

[Dave Smith]

There are very few people in the Factory Five Community who don't know Karen. This is typical of her and another example of why she is quite simply one of the most loved here! A great driver and racer, a great friend, a positive, ever-smiling example of the kind of person we all want to be like! AWESOME job Karen... Those are the things kids remember forever and with luck maybe years from now that little girl in the crowd will be running full speed, racing thru the darkness in the early hours of 25 hrs Thunderhill, like you were doing last November, or maybe applying that love and passion that was kindled at an early age, to helping the American car industry lead the world!

last thing... What a country we live in where teachers are doing such events! Totally STOKED!

[cozmacozmy]

There are very few people in the Factory Five Community who don't know Karen. This is typical of her and another example of why she is quite simply one of the most loved here! A great driver and racer, a great friend, a positive, ever-smiling example of the kind of person we all want to be like! AWESOME job Karen... Those are the things kids remember forever and with luck maybe years from now that little girl in the crowd will be running full speed, racing thru the darkness in the early hours of 25 hrs Thunderhill, like you were doing last November, or maybe applying that love and passion that was kindled at an early age, to helping the American car industry lead the world!


last thing... What a country we live in where teachers are doing such events! Totally STOKED!

Amen that that!!!

[frankeeski]

I have to say Karen that I am PROUD to be able to call both You and Andy dear friends. As I read your post I started to reminisce about my own childhood and remember having both the local fire engine company along with the local police visit my elementary school in, I think, the 3rd grade. Those memories flooded back just now and I do remember the impact the fire engine and the police cars made on me at that young age. The funny thing is I still remember the faces of the firemen and policemen that presented them. So just know, those kids will not just remember the car that you brought and exposed to them but the personality and animation that you yourself presented it with. You are probably the Coolest Teacher I know. Job well done. Frank

[John Tongish]

After reading Dave Smith's and frankeeski's comments about the impact our cars have on kids in general and Karen's coupe in particular, I offer the attached photo. To me, this pic captures the wonder and excitement our cars can inspire in a young person. I see the anticipation and pleasure on this young girl's face every time I start my roadster, and it only gets better. I am actively passing this mystique on to my grand children. Thanks Karen for giving us a focus.

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff463/tongish1/IMG_4504.jpg

By the way, the young lady in the photo is sitting behind the wheel of Karen's #28 Challenge car.

[Mustang Man]

Certainly not trying to steal any of Karen's thunder (awesome job too BTW!) but wanted to post. I've brought our Roadster to the Great American Teach In last couple of years and left quite an impression on the little ones as well. They see cars like these and when you add in the "stay in school" and "be a good person" and you too can own something like this one day it really hits home with them how important an education is.

http://image.mustangandfords.com/f/editorials/great-american-teach-in/31398888/great-american-teach-in-2009.jpg

Once again, great job Karen, and remember, these kids will take care of us old farts some day! LOL

Mark

[vnmsss]

Dave, Mark, Frank, John, Garry, and everyone.....Your kindness is truly humbling.....As Mark and John's photos and everyone's great posts reveal, there are many, many giving people within our community, with countless untold acts of kindness happening every day. As an educator, it's been my life's work to help young people find and follow their dreams, and the good folks I've met through these forums truly live the "paying it forward" mantra every day. Big kudos to everyone that invests themselves in our children's future, and special thanks to everyone that provides advice and support to our fellow "car guys" who are building their dreams. It's an honor to share this great site with all of you.

Karen
"Serpents in the Garden,".... Descanso Gardens, LaCanada, CA....June 2009
Brought to you as the brainchild of forum members John Tongish and Dan Ziol, and made possible by so many of our generous fellow members here:
http://www.ffcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220426&highlight=serpents+garden

[68fightenfordfan]

I have to say Karen that I am PROUD to be able to call both You and Andy dear friends. As I read your post I started to reminisce about my own childhood and remember having both the local fire engine company along with the local police visit my elementary school in, I think, the 3rd grade. Those memories flooded back just now and I do remember the impact the fire engine and the police cars made on me at that young age. The funny thing is I still remember the faces of the firemen and policemen that presented them. So just know, those kids will not just remember the car that you brought and exposed to them but the personality and animation that you yourself presented it with. You are probably the Coolest Teacher I know. Job well done. Frank

Lol, I wish I had a FFR come to my school when I was a kid, heck I would have taken the fire truck. We got a big green John Deere, well I guess that's what happens when you live in farm land.

Imagine how many parents were upset they didn't drop off lunch or pick their kids up from school that day, I'm sure there were some jealous parents when they ask what there kids did in school that day.

Great job totally awesome.