Driven by learning: Flathead High School automotive program navigates into 75th year

The automotive program is cruising through its 75th year at Flathead High School.  

Going along for the ride have been generations of graduates who have gone on to work and own shops and businesses, many of which were and are local.  

One 1992 FHS graduate, Justin Dall, attended the automotive classes his junior and senior year under teachers Arthur “Art” Bauman and competed on a state and national level, which become a family tradition with his sons Mason and Matthew going into the automotive program at FHS and taking first at SkillsUSA state competitions where they advanced to nationals.  

“A lot of kids have the interest and passion, but they don't have the place to experience it. I'm fortunate enough my parents had a garage, and I had hobby projects going on, so I was able to pursue it, but a lot of kids aren’t, who don't come from a family in that field,” Dall said. 

The competition aspect of Flathead’s automotive program afforded Dall a trip to Chrysler headquarters in Detroit. He won a state Chrysler-Plymouth AAA Troubleshooting Contest advancing to nationals. 

“They were in the middle of building a new Chrysler facility at the time and I toured the plant where I saw ’94 Dodge pickups during a redesign — two years before they were released. And I met Caroll Shelby, a huge name in the hot rod industry,” Dall recalled. 

He went on to graduate from Montana State University-Northern in Havre with a bachelor’s in diesel technology and opened Advanced Diesel Works in Kalispell, which he operates with his wife and two sons. 

“When I was 7 years old, I knew I wanted to make that my career path,” Dall said. “My senior year I went to work for Northwest Truck Repair in heavy equipment. I enjoyed that, but I liked more of the light duty stuff — the pickups.” 

He said the automotive program plays a huge role in educating a much sought-after skilled workforce in the Flathead Valley. He remains invested in Flathead's program, sitting on an Automotive Occupational Advisory Council at the high school. 

“It's hard to find a good technician. Some people are looking for a paycheck and then there are those who are passionate,” Dall said. 

Chad Clemons, also a Flathead graduate, attended WyoTech in Wyoming in 1988 and went on to open Exhaust Worx in 2005, eventually purchasing what became Ron's Alignment and Auto Worx. He said taking all the shop classes FHS offered — auto body, auto mechanics, metals, woods and machining led him to where he is today.  

“The auto shop looks like it did when I took classes there,” Clemons said, who also sits on the high school advisory council. 

The auto mechanic shop building located behind FHS looks much as it did when it originally opened in 1950 with the exception of the changing vehicle models, parts and technology and various tools.  

Wallace McCulloch taught automotive classes at Flathead until the mid-1970s, according to current teacher Rob Hunter, who joined FHS in 2001.  

McCulloch was one of 1958 graduate Richard McAdams’s favorite teachers. 

“I give Wallace McCullouch a ton of credit for my success over the years. What he taught, how he kept things organized and clean. He was an incredible teacher. In fact, we became friends until the day he passed away,” McAdams said, adding that Hunter has become a neighborhood friend. 

Students take auto classes for practical knowledge or pursue an automotive hobby or career.  

“I think right now, kids are more serious about a career in this than they were before,” Hunter said. “I've had several go into the field over the years, but there's a bigger trend toward kids exploring, going into this area as a full-time career, compared to before.” 

For many students, high school is the time when teens are getting their driver's permits, first cars and part-time jobs. 

“At 15 or 16 years old, I just liked automobiles,” McAdams said. “Anything with automobiles we did it all — mechanics, engines, body repair, painting.” 

“My first car was a 1940 Plymouth, and I was probably 15 years old, and the second car was a 1951 Ford I had through high school. I overhauled the engine of my car. I overhauled the engine of my mom's Cadillac. Three or four students brought their cars in,” McAdams said. “I was constantly working on cars.” 

After graduation, McAdams joined the U.S. Air Force as a jet engine/aircraft and said the skills he learned from taking auto classes greatly benefitted his work. He continued in aviation, flying, owning and maintaining personal airplanes for 60 years. 

DURING AN Automotive 4 class period earlier this month, seniors Cole Butler and Alan Johnson were working on removing cam bearings from the small block of a Chevy 350. Once removed, the parts will be washed of rust and debris. The motor will replace the irreparable one in a 1965 Studebaker they are rebuilding as their final project. 

“We're going to make it run and then sell it. That's how we make our money for the program,” Butler said. 

Hunter said the automotive program also benefitted this year from the addition of $4,000 worth of tools following a memorial race fundraiser held in honor of Howard “Howie” Spain, a former FHS auto program student and owner of a Howie's Tire and Alignment in Whitefish, who died in 2023. 

Butler said he enjoys working on vintage cars, pointing toward the orange Studebaker. 

“It’s way cooler,” he said. “But that's a three speed on a tree, which is crazy. You don't really see those anymore.” 

While the job is far dirtier and the body is in rough condition it’s a fun experience, said Johnson, who works a part-time job at Penco, a powersports dealership in Kalispell. 

“It's nice not to have to hook up to a computer or [electronic control unit], or anything like that,” he said. 

And technology is probably the biggest change between vintage and modern cars. 

“Even like this Chevy, that’s a ’98 I think,” Johnson said, pointing to a vehicle behind him. “That still has computers in it.” 

In another part of the shop, junior Brady Fried was putting cleaned exhaust and intake valves back into cylinder heads from a 1989 Toyota. 

“We're just tearing it apart, learning about all the different mechanics of it. Making sure that everything's timed correctly, and everything's put back together, so when we go out to do a project at home or in the workforce we'll know [what to do],” Fried said. 

He agreed that working on older vehicles versus new vehicles is easier based on the number of parts, which are mechanical versus electronic. 

"There's about a one to probably, like, 10 ratio of how many parts there are,” he said. 

Across from Fried, classmate Lolita Sattler rolled out from underneath a torn apart 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle she is working on as her final project. 

“I am pulling that motor, so I was double-checking which bolts I have to undo, and which nuts because it is held by four and they're kind of in a tricky spot,” Sattler said. 

She then worked on trying to pry away the thick rubber seal around one of the backseat windows in efforts to avoid cutting it. Helping her was Rodney Bauman of Kalispell, who regularly volunteers with his wife, Marlene. Volunteers are an integral part of keeping the shop running smoothly and providing students with one-on-one help. 

“This is our third year. A friend of ours was already here [volunteering] and he invited us,” Bauman said. “It’s our little way of giving something back.” 

Sattler has set her sights on being a mechanical engineer. 

“It's been a dream of mine to be an engineer, just something I’ve always wanted to do and wanted to learn more,” she said. “[It's] something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid, and I finally have the opportunity in high school to actually learn more about it. [This] is just another step in that direction.” 

Sattler, who describes herself as a kinesthetic and visual learner, learns best with hands-on activities. 

“It's really easy when I'm working with my hands to stay focused,” she said. 

Butler said he's probably not going to pursue an automotive career but said it's great to have the capability to do repairs himself. 

“I use it every year, every day, no matter what. Sometimes you're stuck in the road. You need to change a tire. Sometimes you need to help a buddy out. Sometimes you have to work on your own stuff. It's nice to be able to do it at home and be like, I know how to do this. I know what to do,” he said. 

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com. 

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Walter McCulloch's last name.

    An old photo of a Flathead County High School student changing a tire in the auto mechanic shop on April 10, 1958. The automotive program marks its 75th anniversary this year at Flathead High School. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)

    Former automotive teacher Wallace McCulloch poses with a student in front of a 1939 customized Buick at Flathead High School (formerly Flathead County High School) in this 1952 photo. The auto program marks 75 years at FHS. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    An old photo of an automotive student working on a bus in the auto mechanic shop at Flathead High School (formerly Flathead County High School) on April 10, 1958. The automotive program marks its 75th anniversary this year. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    An old photo of auto students working on a truck at Flathead High School (formerly Flathead County High School) on Nov. 18, 1953. The automotive program marks its 75th anniversary this year. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)

    A photo of the auto mechanic shop at Flathead High School (formerly Flathead County High School) on Nov. 18, 1953. The automotive program marks its 75th anniversary this year. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)

    John Altenburg, Joe Frank and Carlila Guff pose in the auto shop at Flathead High School in this 1967 photo. The automotive program marks its 75th anniversary this year. (Photo provided by Rob Hunter)  

    Flathead High School auto students Dean David, Bob Kelch and Bob Broad participate in a carwash to benefit the Bruce Nielson fund in this 1967 photo. The automotive program celebrates 75 years at FHS this school year. (Photo provided by Rob Hunter)
 

    Flathead High School Auto 4 student Lolita Sattler double-checks which bolts and nuts she has to undo to remove the motor of a 1972 Volkswagon Super Beetle she's rebuilding on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    Flathead High School Automotive 4 students Cole Butler, left, and Alan Johnson, right, work to remove cam bearings from the small block of a Chevy 350 as part of their final project rebuilding a 1965 Studebaker in the shop on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. Once the bearings are out Johnson said the parts will be washed to remove rust and debris. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)  

 

    Flathead High School automotive teacher Rob Hunter, middle, assists Automotive 4 students Cole Butler, foreground, and Alan Johnson, in removing cam bearings from a small block in a Chevy 350 while volunteer Marlene Bauman watches on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    Flathead High School Automotive 4 student, junior Brady Fried, works on putting exhaust and intake valves back into cylinder heads on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. The parts are from a 1989 Toyota. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    Flathead High School Auto 4 student Lolita Sattler double-checks which bolts and nuts she has to undo to remove the motor of a 1972 Volkswagon Super Beetle she's rebuilding on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)

    Flathead High School 2023 graduates Mason Dall, Zach Roker and Brock Sturm attend the Big Shindig car show with the 1928 Model A hot rod they had a hand in helping build in automotive teacher Rob Hunter's class in this Saturday, June 17, 2023 file photo. The car show was hosted by the Glacier Street Rod Association and Desoto Grill to raise funds for Mikayla’s Miracles and Blessings Foundation, a nonprofit that provides assistance and equipment to parents or spouses of individuals with special needs. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)

    The 1928 Model A hot rod Flathead High School students in automotive teacher Rob Hunter's class built over the years was on display at the Big Shindig car show in this June 17, 2023, file photo. The car specifications include a hairpin suspension, dropped front axle, Vega steering box, front disc brakes, 350 CID Chevy engine, TH350 automatic transmission and a GM 10 Bolt rear end posi unit. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)