Congrats to you and all your students!
As a Spridget racer for over thirty years (and former Bugeye owner), I *know* how these simple little cars can be great fun as well as a wonderful learning tool.
And by the way, as a teacher, I think your work in project-based learning is exactly what we need more of in education.
I am the collegiate technical mentor for
~FIRST Robotics Team # 11~, one of the most successful teams in the history of
~FIRST~..
The team-oriented learning process that is part-and-parcel of any type of technical group project (whether it involves restoring an old Bugeye, building a robot...or whatever), will stick with these kids for the rest of their lives.
In 1973, I began renovating a '61 Mini after school with a gang of my auto shop students. About six months ago, by compelete accident, I ran into one of the fellows who worked on that project...and he was driving an old, restored Mini! We spoke for several hours and he went on to tell me how that project in '73 had influenced him and affected his life in a positive manner....yada, yada, yada.
Over the years, I've run into other former-students who've said similar things.
Sometimes we don't get to hear about how we influence our students...but when we do, it's great!
Here is a webpage that covers some of the stuff my high-school students did.
https://npmccabe.tripod.com/otherprojects.htm
Next year, with my college kids, I am hoping to enter the
~$2007 Grassroots Challenge~. Three of my kids got 5th place in the $2004 GR Challenge.
Anyway, just want to say, keep up the good work!