From Shop Class to the Winner's Circle: Students Forge a Legend

NASHVILLE, TN – June 05, 2026 – After 174 days of grinding metal, wrestling with wiring, and pushing past deadlines that seemed impossible, the roar of a custom engine has replaced the hum of uncertainty. Yesterday, at a Northern Tool + Equipment store in Murfreesboro, 15 career and technical education (CTE) students from LaVergne High School pulled the cover off their masterpiece: a one-of-a-kind, track-ready motorcycle inspired by the legendary Harley-Davidson XR750.

The gleaming machine, born from a brand-new Harley-Davidson Nightster, represents the culmination of a nine-month journey. The project, part of the 'Legends Build: Student Challenge,' paired the teenagers with titans of the motorcycle world, challenging them to transform a modern cruiser into a flat track racer against a ticking clock. The result is a testament to the power of hands-on education and a powerful statement about the future of the skilled trades.

The Build of a Lifetime

The path to the unveiling was anything but smooth. The students, part of LaVergne High’s robust CTE program, were tasked with a project that would challenge seasoned professionals. They had to deconstruct a 2025 Harley-Davidson Nightster, a bike packed with modern liquid-cooling and electronics, and re-engineer it into an homage to the XR750—a raw, air-cooled icon of American flat track racing.

Fabrication challenges mounted, electrical systems proved stubborn, and as the months wore on, doubts began to creep in. The team had to learn advanced welding, custom parts fabrication, and complex problem-solving on the fly. Yet, with every setback, they dug deeper, leaning on each other and their mentors.

"Even though many people thought we couldn't make it happen, we put in the time and effort and got it done just in time," said Talley Barber, a LaVergne High School student and the build team's co-captain. Her words capture the immense pressure and ultimate relief felt by the team, who delivered a show-quality motorcycle that is fully functional and ready for the track.

More Than a Motorcycle: Investing in the Future of Trades

This ambitious project is the latest initiative from Northern Tool + Equipment's 'Legends Build: Student Challenge,' a program designed to address the nation's skilled labor gap by igniting a passion for the trades in the next generation. By putting professional-grade tools from brands like DEWALT, Milwaukee, and Baileigh Industrial into students' hands and providing unique mentorship opportunities, the family-owned company is making a direct investment in the future workforce.

The program has already impacted over 30 schools across the country with previous projects, including a Monster Jam® Mini Build and a Rat Rod Kart Build Off. This motorcycle build, however, represents the most complex challenge to date.

"What these students accomplished is incredible, and proof that the trades can offer dynamic and rewarding career paths," said Frank Crowson, Chief Commercial Officer at Northern Tool + Equipment. The initiative demonstrates a model for how corporate partnership can enhance technical education, providing students with invaluable real-world experience that transcends the classroom curriculum and builds a direct pipeline to rewarding careers.

Mentorship from the Masters

A critical component of the students' success was the unprecedented access to industry legends. The mentorship team was a who's who of the motorcycle world, led by American Flat Track legend Chris Carr and Sons of Speed founder Billy Lane.

These mentors weren't just advisors; they were in the trenches with the students, offering guidance, turning wrenches, and providing encouragement when the pressure was highest. Lane, a veteran of a previous student build, admitted this project tested everyone's limits. "I'm lucky enough to say this was my second Northern Tool Student Build, so far, but will also say, this is the first time I thought the build team wouldn't get it done. It was dicey for a bit," he confessed. "Fast forward to today and I'm so proud of this group of students. They buckled down, got after it and made it happen."

For Chris Carr, who will ride the bike for its inaugural victory lap, the project's value is clear. "It's awesome to see how proud the kids are of what they accomplished! Most adults couldn't tackle this," he said. "I'm truly impressed to see this bike done and am proud to ride it around the track on Saturday."

A Legacy on Two Wheels

The unveiling is just the beginning of the motorcycle's journey. On June 6th, before a sold-out crowd at the Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track, Carr will pilot the student-built machine for a victory lap, officially debuting it to the racing world. From there, the bike's star will continue to rise.

This fall, the entire nine-month saga of challenges and triumphs will be broadcast in a four-part television series on the RACER Network. The motorcycle is also headed to Las Vegas for the SEMA show, the world's largest automotive aftermarket trade show, where it will be displayed in the prestigious Builder Showcase alongside creations from the industry's most revered builders.

Following its exhibition tour, the motorcycle will be auctioned for charity, with proceeds benefiting Northern Tool's Tools for the Trades™ program, Kyle Petty's Victory Junction nonprofit for children with serious illnesses, and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. This final act ensures that the students' hard work will not only launch their own futures but will also help fund the next generation of tradespeople and support the wider community.