In August 2022, Louis Loiselle was forwarded a post on Facebook by a friend. The post was an invitation by WGA’s Auto Mechanic Supervisor, Jeremy Smith, to send in items that could help make the interior of the campus auto shop more visually interesting.
“I was new in my job here and had just finished re-organizing the shop,” recalls Jeremy, “The walls were kind of bare so I asked my friends on Facebook if they had any signs or car memorabilia to donate to spruce up the place. Next thing I knew, I got a message from Louis asking if we wanted a Formula 500 race car.”
The timing couldn’t have been better for Louis, who was downsizing and considering a move down south. He’d raised his family decades earlier and enjoyed seeing his sons competitively race in their growing years.
“When my boys were young, they were involved in Microd racing,” says Louis. Microd, short for Micro Hot Rod racing, is a form of youth automobile racing unique to Central New York state through which drivers compete on a 1/10 mile dirt or paved oval track at speeds of between 20 to 50 mph.
“I’d cared for the [Formula 500] car for several years with the intent of racing it, which we did for 5 or 6 years. Over time the boys developed interests in other things, like ATVs and motorcycles. By the time I looked to get back into racing, my wife and I were planning to move to Florida. I thought if I was really serious about it, I’d have to cut down on other hobbies.”
So he made the decision to donate his car to WGA’s Auto Tech program, which was eager for the opportunity to work on a special restoration project.
“Since we’ve had it, the car has garnered a lot of excitement in the shop. It’s been a great teaching tool for diagnostics, mechanics, and auto-body work. For patience, planning and creativity too. A lot goes into restoring a car,” says Jeremy.
Once road-worthy again, the car will serve as a show piece representing WGA and what youth in the WGA Auto Tech program are capable of. The hope is that it will be ready in time to join in the 2024 high school graduation parade on campus.
From Louis’ perspective, the car represents so much of what is great about racing, and what can lead to greater opportunity and success in life.
“Racing is about building memories. It’s a very controlled, disciplined, structured environment. Race teams are made up of highly educated engineers and business men. There are always rules and parameters. Every phase of it is very disciplined. Whether you’re looking for sponsors or what to build, it teaches about discipline and how to work in the parameters you’re given.”
Louis, who retired from the Cortland Fire Department after 30 years in March of 2023, has a good understanding of WGA’s mission and vision.
“WGA offers hope to at-risk kids,” he says. “It gives them a chance to get back in the right direction. I’ve seen overdoses. I’ve seen the worst of the worst as a firefighter. I think there’s always hope. You hate to give up on anybody.”
Louis hopes his donation helps spark a curiosity in other areas of the auto industry beyond mechanics.
When he attended TST Boces auto program, Louis recalls “all we learned about was mechanics. I didn’t want to be a mechanic, though I did work awhile as one. There are so many other facets to the auto industry beyond repair. Repair can be a gateway to developing a lot of other skills that can be used in other areas.”