RPM Great Race X-Cup 2023 Team

RPM’s X-Cup Team Members

The Great Race X-Cup offers automotive students the rare opportunity to travel cross-country in a vintage vehicle while navigating by analog methods and building teamwork and comradery.

This year, both our 2022 student Navigators are returning as Mentor Drivers for our team!  By spotlighting the members of the RPM team, we hope to provide success stories which will inspire greater youth participation in the automotive industry.

Support The Great Race X-Cup student division 

Student Navigators

Noah Jackson - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Organization / School
The RPM Foundation

What sparked your interest in vehicles?
I have always loved everything automotive, I am currently a Go-Kart racing driver here in south Florida.

Why do you want to participate in The Great Race?
I think it is a great opportunity to meet some great people and explore the country in places I have never been before. I also just love cars so something like this really is my happy place.

What are you most looking forward to about the experience?
I am looking forward to seeing all the cool classic cars and meeting great people. I love car shows and events like this but this truly is the ultimate car show.

What do you see yourself doing in five years?
I see myself furthering my career in racing and venturing into sports car racing.

Betty Parrish - Athens, Tennessee

Organization / School
The RPM Foundation

What sparked your interest in vehicles?
I’ve always worked with my family in shops. Seeing what my dad has done and doing it with him and my papa made me want to build my own thing and give people what they have always wanted.

Why do you want to participate in The Great Race?
I think it is a great way to get my name out there and meet the right people to start my career.

What are you most looking forward to about the experience?
The adventure and getting to know people.

What do you see yourself doing in five years?
Owning my own shop and helping people like me.

Mentor Drivers

Olivia Gadjo - Skaneateles, New York

Organization / School
The RPM Foundation

What sparked your interest in vehicles?
As soon as I turned 16 and got my first car I knew that I wanted the car community to be a part of my life. Two years later I went to college for Motorsports Technology where I enjoyed the hands on learning and being surrounded by peers with similar interests. I am now in school for Motorcycle and Powersports Technology and I love that just as much if not more.

Why do you want to participate in The Great Race?
I had the amazing opportunity to be a navigator for the RPM team last year and had a blast so I am excited and honored to be able to be a part of the race again.

What are you most looking forward to about the experience?
I’m looking forward to meeting more people that love cars just as much as me, seeing cool new places, and getting to drive a cool classic car.

What do you see yourself doing in five years?
In five years I will most likely either be a commercial pilot, in the Navy, or a feral mountain woman overlanding with my dog.

 

Kinzie Wilson - Mansfield, Texas

Organization / School
The RPM Foundation

What sparked your interest in vehicles?
My dad. He wanted a son he could take to all the car events he attended and share his love for cars. He was blessed with a daughter instead, and I ended up being more interested in cars than any of his friends’ sons. We attended just about every car event in the area, and I started showing off my skills of recognizing whether an engine was a big or small block by the age of six. My love for cars grew as my dad got new cars and taught me how to work on them. I got the opportunity to buy my own car when I was thirteen years old. Like any sensible kid, I bought a 1996 Corvette knowing I legally wouldn’t be able to drive it for another two years. Little did I know the NHRA added a new class for thirteen to sixteen-year-olds to race, another great opportunity at the perfect time. I immediately took my Corvette to a drag strip and was hooked on racing. I started my racing career by acquiring a competition license and fourteen sponsors. I competed in bracket racing, autocross, and rally cross events. I took home two championship trophies, and was featured in several print and digital publications, all while making appearances at various car shows and encouraging young people interested in racing and cars. Since the start of my racing career, I have joined various car clubs and been involved in different types of racing in a wide range of cars including muscle cars, supercars, and race cars.

Why do you want to participate in The Great Race?
I was a part of last year’s RPM X-Cup team for my first-ever Great Race. While I initially was not 100% sure what I signed up for, it turned out to be one of the best experiences. Not only did I get to travel the country in a gorgeous ’66 Mustang, but I met some of the most amazing people within my team, and along the way. There was not a single thing that I would have changed about last year’s adventure, not even when our car broke down and took us out for the day. Every step of the way, we made life-long memories. I am beyond excited to be able to participate in this year’s Great Race with a new team, new car, new route, making new memories!

What are you most looking forward to about the experience?
I am most looking forward to being a driver this year. Last year I was a navigator, and I loved the challenge that came with that role. However, I can not wait to be in the driver’s seat this year! I’m also super excited to meet the new team members and reconnect with last year’s. Being a part of the RPM Foundation’s X-Cup team connects our team members from all across the country in a setting where we would never meet otherwise, which I think is one of the most special parts of the experience.

What do you see yourself doing in five years?
I see myself working for a Formula 1 team in Europe. I love the culture of Formula 1 and the uniqueness of each track. I also love that it is a worldwide sport that accepts and displays the different cultures that make up our planet. Lastly, it is the most challenging racing series for all involved, and I want a career that pushes me and is different from day to day. After just one visit, I knew that Europe was where I was meant to be. My grandmother was born and raised in Europe, so I take pride in my European roots and think it would be very special for me to return to them. The fact that most F1 teams are based in Europe is the cherry on top!

Many thanks to our RPM X-Cup Team sponsors, Prometheus and the Hilton Head Island Concours, for their support of our student navigators!