The car hobby is alive and well in a small garage in suburban Detroit! Local kids are getting an opportunity to wrench on race cars and hot rods, getting their hands dirty and learning valuable technical skills for their future.

DriveOne Detroit was founded by three generations of car enthusiasts and auto tech instructors passionate about giving kids the opportunity to learn by doing. In 1973, Paul Tregembo Sr., a second-generation auto tech instructor in the Detroit area, led his students to a second-place finish at the prestigious Detroit Autorama car show with their student-built 1961 Plymouth Valiant. From that point on, Professor Tregembo would build hot rods and customs with his students and enter them in car shows. Passing on the craft of mechanics, bodywork and everything it takes to build performance cars became a part of the Tregembo family’s life and mission.

Above: Tregembo and his students throughout the years, with their projects.

By 2012, as shop classes began to disappear from public schools, the mission became even more critical. Tregembo’s son, a third-generation auto tech teacher, along with grandson, Joe, launched DriveOne Detroit. A 501(c)3 non-profit, DriveOne specializes in providing at-risk youth with vocational training in areas such as automotive mechanics, machining, woodworking, welding, automotive design, and automotive modeling. In addition, the organization provides free academic assistance to ensure all students graduate while assisting with job placement for students. This program was built by the Tregembo family to fill the gap left by local auto shop classes being cut from the curriculum, and has been a crucial link for young adults looking to turn wrenches.

"DRIVE One opened my eyes to a career I never would have known about. The mentors collective success and support influenced me to pursue a career in the automotive industry.", said Miranda Rumfelt, DriveOne class of 2018. Miranda went on to put her training to work at General Motors as a clay sculptor!

In the last decade, DriveOne Detroit has evolved and changed numerous times, but at its core is the Thursday night shop class hosted at Tregembo’s personal pole-barn workshop. Each week, students from all over the Detroit area gather in the humble shop to learn the ins and outs of working on cars, ranging from a twin-engine dragster, to sprint cars, and even a student-built Ford Focus racer. The three Tregembos lead the students through all facets of auto tech as both teachers and mentors.

Above: Some of the race cars built and prepared by the DriveOne students.

Each weekend in the summer, the group fields sprint cars in local races. The students are tasked with prepping the cars and acting as the pit crew at the events. This gives the aspiring technicians and restorers a firsthand look at working on cars in the high stakes environment that is motorsports . In addition to race cars, students get hands-on experience restoring and customizing classics, such as “MadUsa”, a 1931 Ford pickup, “The Executive”, the first production 1974 Camaro, or “Double Trouble”, a 1937 Fiat twin-engine dragster. Following the tradition that started with the ’61 Valiant, each year the program looks to show cars built by the students at hot rod shows. These student-built projects have been shown alongside cars built by industry professionals, taking home numerous awards throughout the years!

Above: Several award-winning show cars, built by DriveOne students.

The Hagerty Drivers Foundation is proud to support DriveOne through grants that helped pay for tools and equipment such as a four-post lift and other hand tools. The Foundation’s grants have also subsidized travel that allowed DriveOne students to attend and present their project cars at shows such as the Auto-Rama in Cleveland, Ohio. We are excited to partner with DriveOne Detroit, a group of passionate enthusiasts training a rising generation of car enthusiasts, enabling them to explore their potential and keep car culture alive! For more information on DriveOne check out www.driveone.net

Above: Three generations of the Tregembo family keep the engine running at DriveOne.

Above: Some of the equipment DriveOne was able to purchase with the Hagerty Drivers Foundation grant.