Latest news with #ChrisLehde
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bryan High Unveils Student-Built Mini Monster Truck
Buda, TX (FOX 44) — After nearly a year of hard work, long hours, and teamwork, Bryan High School finally revealed their completed mini monster truck build. Friends, family, and community members gathered together for the final project. The team told me it was a bittersweet feeling being able to finish the project. 'All the support I'm having from my friends and family, and just seeing all the people here showing their interest in the project I had a part in,' Junior, Juan Daniel said. 'It feels amazing. It feels great.' This Saturday, the team will showcase their mini monster truck at Monster Truck Jam in Austin. 'We'll get to show it in a packed arena where people are there to see monster trucks, and they'll get to see the one we built,' Graduate, Nate Surley said. Nate Surley said working with his close friends made the experience special. 'I've known a lot of them since middle school, and just being able to hang out with them while also working on a project that means a lot to all of us,' Surley expressed. 'It was really fun, and it made it a lot more fun.' According to welding instructor, Chris Lehde, the last few weeks before the deadline were hectic. 'The last few weeks, while we were finishing up on a one-third scale monster truck, we were doing touch-ups on paint and getting the paint done,' Welding instructor, Chris Lehde said. 'We were fine-tuning everything.' The project was made possible through Northern Tools Plus Equipment's Trades Program with Monster Jam. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Built from the Ground Up: Bryan High's Monster Trucks Progress
Bryan, TX (FOX 44) — Bryan High School's creation for the Monster Truck Jam project is close to completion! After working hard for six months, the Bryan High School welding team is finally putting the final touches on their monster truck project. Twenty-eight hands have built a mini monster truck from the ground up. 'I'm very proud,' Senior student, Nate Surley said. 'We started with obviously just materials. We've bent metal, we've learned and done stuff we never have. We put new things to use that we have never done. It's very close to the edge of running, driving like an actual truck.' What's a challenge without a little trial and error? 'We ran into an issue that the fuel pumps were both busted on the machine, and we got two new fuel pumps put onto it,' Welding Instructor, Chris Lehde said. 'It's running, it's mounted, and we've got the chain hooked up. We have not test-driven it yet because we're kind of having an issue with our high RPM kicking in the gear.' The team put blood, sweat, and tears into the project, and says they are excited to show the school their truck as well as compete in the long-awaited Monster Truck Jam. 'It gives us a chance to show off like the months we were putting into the project,' Surley said. 'All like the hours staying after school, the weekends we put into it. That's a really big thing to look forward to.' Chris Lehde, Bryan High School's welding instructor, said this project has brought the welding team closer. 'It's been an amazing experience,' Lehde expressed. 'Really, no downsides to it at all. they've worked together. I'm seeing them now way more as a team. They know the time crunch is on, getting things done. The pressure is on, they're working great together.' The team will debut their final project on June 7th in Austin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bryan students' Monster Jam Project is coming along
Bryan, TX (FOX 44) — Back in September, Bryan High School welding students got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a mini-monster truck. For the past five months, the students have been working on their Monster Jam truck project. With the help of their welding teacher and Monster Truck Jam mentors, the students are starting to become the masters. 'The progress on the mini monster builders is going pretty well, I think,' Bryan High School welding instructor Chris Lehde said. 'For the timing that we've received materials and what we've worked on, we're almost complete with frame and chassis, for everybody fixing to move on to the suspension and make it into a rolling chassis.' Everyone who's been a part of building this masterpiece has put in lots of time while learning new skills. PREVIOUS STORY: Monster Jam helps Bryan High School students build monster truck 'I've helped with the pipe fitting,' Bryan High School junior Zaine Nelson said. 'I've done a little bit of welding, everybody just does a little bit of everything. Some a little bit more than others, because they've had more time. But I've done just about everything.' A big project like this comes with challenges. 'Mechanically making everything like a square,' Bryan High School senior Nate Surley said. 'If the frame isn't perfect, then everything else on is going to be warped or lopsided. Just to make sure every little thing is square and perfect. It's kind of annoying, but it has to get done.' But the question is…where do you begin when building a monster truck from the ground up? 'We just started with a frame, a rectangle frame onto it, or it was designed,' Lehde said. 'We have a girl, Alandre Cruz, who is on the team, and she drew out the body shell when we came up with just a design of what we wanted to do, the color scheme for, and then it kind of went from there.' The team hopes to have their mini-monster truck finished around final exams in May. After finals, their next stop is Austin – where the students' monster truck will make its debut at Monster Jam's event! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
