Dragster races at Potter Jr. High signify end of school

Potter Jr. High School students David Armet, left, and Patrick Maes, right, set up C02-powered dragsters for a race on May 23 just prior to summer vacation that celebrated the culmination of a research and development Paxton/Patterson career lab in Julie Hinkhouse

Potter Jr. High School student Caleb Smedley proudly displays his C02-powered dragster.

Potter Jr. High School teacher Julie Hinkhouse and student Patrick Maes get dragsters ready for a race. Students researched and designed concepts for the dragsters with a particular emphasis placed on automobile design. They learned how vehicle designers use crash testing to develop safer cars.

David Armet inserts a CO2 cartridge into dragsters at the starting line. With those cartridges, the cars can reach speeds of 10 miles per hour.

A dragster races down the track toward the finish line.

Patrick Maes repairs a fishing line used to anchor the dragsters to the track.