Teams

Lake Washington Tech All-Stars

Garage Headquarters: Seattle, WA

Driver: Shelby Stong

Mechanics: Matt Levy, Dan Potampa, Frank Monte Calvo, Keith Kenealy

Nuts and Bolts:

It’s not difficult to figure out what is the common thread for this crew. It’s Seattle’s Lake Washington Technical College. Or as LWTC student Matt Levy puts it: “Random bunch of tinkerers and eccentrics, all with the urge to do things a little differently.” LWTC teaches students to be mechanics and machinists among other professions, so it is safe to say these All-Stars know how to build things. Plus, they bring a little attitude with them. “My team is sooo hardcore that we drink Red Bull just to calm us down!” explains team video and photo specialist Keith Kenealy.

They certainly are hardcore Seattleans. “We tried to make something that the rest of the country will relate to Seattle,” team captain Shelby Stong writes about their soapbox craft. “Starbucks and Boeing are overrated, and “grunge” music is hard to put into a car, so we stuck with some landmarks.” To accompany the craft, their skit plans to make tongue-and-cheek nods to Seattle icons, music, and nostalgia. Think Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Sir Mix-A-Lot. Think fish throwing at Pike Place Market. “We aim high,” Stong stresses.