In the Camden High School technology department, one of the highlights of the calendar happens in the blink of an eye each February. In Design, Drawing, and Production (DDP) classes, custom-built creations fire out of the starting gate and down a temporary track at speeds approaching 50 miles per hour.
The races come and go in a flash, but in the department’s Carbon Monoxide Dragster unit, the impact can last a lifetime. The challenge is simple - build the fastest possible compressed gas-propelled car from a wooden block, along with stock wheels and axels, to compete in defined weight classes. Competition is held through time trials followed by an elimination bracket to determine champions.
Students use their creativity to explore the limits of what’s possible, and apply skills and concepts from the classroom in ways that benefit them in the next chapter of life. They learn to use tools safely, how to execute a design from start to finish, and how to refine their work along the way.
If they’re especially successful, they just might set the bar for future generations. And that’s exactly what happened in 2026.
Freshman Cameron Calkins set the pace for this year’s unit with a new school record time of 1.019 seconds. The new benchmark eclipses the record set by Alex Lallier (1.058 seconds) back in 2024, and a record-breaking time trial run for Calkins (1.044) On his fastest run, the lightweight class champion clocked a top speed of 46.9 miles per hour in the semifinal round. He defeated Ethan Gilsenan (1.103) in the finals.
In the middleweight (80g-109.9g) classification, Tanner Williams (1.444) defeated Cooper Benajamin (1.517) to claim the title. The heavyweight classification, which was for cars over 110 grams, was won by Jackson Serway (1.823), who defeated Nick Kelly (1.965) in the final round.
New for 2026 was a “Best in Show” award for the best appearing car, as voted on by faculty and staff. An array of visually appealing cars was put up for vote, and were displayed without the builder’s name to eliminate any bias or perceptions beyond the car’s appearance. With 36 percent of the vote, Matt Webb was the “Best in Show” champion. Makayla Wilson was the runner-up with 25 percent of the vote.
Winners went home with a custom 3D Printed Trophy, and a 3D printed Blue Devil logo keychain. If a student wishes, they can race again in the advanced class using the very same machines used to make their awards. The advanced curriculum now includes a 3D printed dragster unit. 
