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Winter Circle Project to launch racing, marketing program at Red Hook High School
Summary
The Winter Circle Project told the Red Hook Central School District board it will bring a hands-on racing and marketing program to the district that combines building a vintage race car, simulator racing and student-led marketing to teach teamwork and career skills.
The Winter Circle Project will expand into Red Hook, bringing a hands-on program that combines building a vintage race car with marketing, simulator racing and classroom pathways to career skills, the group's executive director said.
"We want to build good people," Pas Cra, executive director and founder, told the board, saying the program emphasizes teamwork, problem solving and "reality-based education" that produces students who are hirable and able to meet real deadlines.
School staff and WCP presenters described the program's three core strands: a build team that assembles a car, a marketing and visual communications team that handles storytelling and community outreach, and a simulator race series that awards points toward an end-of-year championship. Matteo, the WCP marketing director, said marketing helps partner schools secure donations, organize car shows, and attract local-media coverage via newsletters and social channels. "It's really a community-first type of project," he said.
A WCP student marketing member described team activities this year — a team-bonding day with John J High School, a fall car show, a trip to BMW headquarters and student-produced media including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and a podcast. "Our main priority was to really implement our community," she said.
Cody Schmidt, WCP racing coach, outlined a monthly curriculum for the simulator program and explained how simulator points, marketing and the physical car build together determine championship standings at Limerock Park, where pro drivers test the students' cars.
Ketchum Racing teachers present described the scale and resources for the build work; one teacher said students are working on a $50,000 vintage car and can get help from technical advisors. Hayden Maloney, WCP content creator, said he produces social media content across schools and teaches students content creation skills.
District staff said Red Hook is the eighth school selected this year; the WCP team described a sustainable model in which cars are auctioned at the end of a season and proceeds are returned to participating schools to seed future builds.
The board thanked the presenters. The district will follow up on logistics and course enrollment limits discussed during the meeting.
