THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611020114
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BARBARA WOERNER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 94 lines
WILLIAM FULFORD'S involvement in the adrenaline-pumping sport known as drag racing began back in his high school days when he used to race his 1952 Chevrolet beach buggy. Now, as current owner and driver of the Fulford Family Race Team's Top Alcohol Funny Car, he is in the sixth year of a unique partnership with the Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center.
Fulford's car, a sleek fiberglass racing machine with a '96 Chevrolet Camaro body and a 526 cubic-inch engine with 3,000 horsepower capability, sits in one of the bays of the tech center's automotive area when not in attendance at a weekend drag race or appearing at a community service event. The car's vibrant paint scheme radiates a visual excitement that steals away the attention from other vehicles in the neighboring service bays and lights up the eyes of the students in Mark Maund's Automotive Service Technology class.
``About six years ago, Mark wanted something to motivate the kids in his classes and I took the car over to the tech center,'' said Fulford. ``We kind of got working on it and over time we kind of adopted each other.''
Students taking the auto tech services class and the paint and body class next store learn more than the mechanics of tearing down a racing engine or sanding the fiberglass body.
``The main thing I try to get across to them is that you've got to work hard and stay out of trouble,'' Fulford said. ``We help instill pride and self-esteem in these kids. We do everything on this team in a professional way and we don't allow drinking or drug use.''
``I tell them that you can't get a top notch car ready to compete when you're high,'' he added.
Involving tech center students over the last six years brings a new meaning to the concept of a family race team. The immediate family members involved with the team include Fulford's 28-year-old son, Russell, as crew chief and 18-year-old daughter, Christina, as team promoter. His wife, Sue Ann, is co-owner of the car. Gail Morse, bookkeeper at the tech center, is team manager. More than 40 past and present students have worked on the car and traveled to races and car shows with the Fulfords and add to the extended family concept.
At a recent car show, part of the Norfolk Technical and Vocational School's Autumn Glory Festival, Fulford and Morse were on hand to exhibit the car. In one 15-minute interval, Fulford pointed out and greeted several former students who had worked on the car.
One who stopped by was Keith Baldwin, a '96 graduate who spent many hours working with Fulford and his car and now spends his spare time working with Butch Miller, another local drag racer.
A goal of the Fulford partnership with the tech center is taking as many students as possible to the races and exhibitions.
Fulford competes in the Top Alcohol Funny Car Class within the Sportsman division of drag racing sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association. He races primarily in Division 2 races, known as the Dixie division. At least once a year he runs with the pros in the Top Fuel Class at the Pennzoil Virginia Nationals held in May at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie.
Chuck Abrecht Jr., a current tech center student, is part of this year's Fulford Family Racing Team. He made his first trip a couple of weeks ago to the Chevy Points Meet at Virginia Motor Sports Park. After working at a near frantic pace to prepare the car, he watched the soft-spoken Fulford set down his tools, don a helmet and strap into the car. At the green light, he watched the car fly down the quarter-mile track emitting a roar that was akin to having a jet engine hover 2 inches above your head.
``I actually felt the ground shake,'' said Abrecht. ``I'm still learning this business. We joke around some, but when it's time to be serious we work hard.
``That's one thing I'm learning about this business - that it's a lot of hard work,'' he added. ``I really feel honored to be a part of this team. I hope it goes on forever.''
Fulford is currently in search of sponsors who will enable the team to compete in more races during the '97 season. The car can go more than 230 miles per hour in six seconds. The engine has to be rebuilt frequently. All that takes money.
``I'd like to do the whole East Coast circuit, which is eight or nine races,'' Fulford said, as he wiped off the grease acquired from removing the transmission. He gestured toward the students surrounding the engine. ``If I had room for all of them, I'd take them.''
Besides finding sponsors for the car, he also hopes to acquire sponsors who will cover the expense of taking more students to races. Fulford's heart is big enough but his wallet is not.
``I'll keep our team together as long as my kids and these kids at the tech center are interested,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by BARBARA WOERNER
ABOVE: William Fulford, left, discusses an upcoming paint job with
students Chris Davis and Keith Kapinskis at the technical center.
AT RIGHT: Students Scott Sheffield, left, Matt Beach and Jamie
Thomas help Chuck Abrect Jr., under car, remove the transmission.
Abrect, left, and Fulford work on the engine, while Craig Wolfe and
Thomas observe. ``I really feel honored to be a part of this team,''
Abrect said.
KEYWORDS: EDUCATION by CNB