Alfred State College
Brandon Melendrez
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Allan Cohn
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StudentMatteo Chacon
My name is Matteo Chacon, and I was born and raised in Whittier, California, where I currently reside. I am a senior at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, majoring in Political Science, and I work at Mustang Country International, where I first learned about the Great Race. Cars have been a constant part of my life; I grew up working on them alongside my father, and that early exposure turned into a lifelong passion. When I heard about the Great Race, I was immediately drawn to the challenge of building and running a car capable of enduring such a demanding event. Unlike traditional racing, which often focuses solely on speed, this race emphasizes reliability, precision, and coordination. It tests not only mechanical skill, but also teamwork and strategy, transforming a group of individuals into a unified team working toward a single goal. After graduation, I plan to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy and then serve our country in the United States Army. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Great Race and truly look forward to the experience.
StudentTrey Pedersen
My name is Trey Pedersen and I am a junior mechanical engineering student at The University of Kansas. After I graduate, I I hope to work in the automotive industry helping to design cars. I have loved old cars since I was young and three years ago got the opportunity to rebuild a 1966 mustang fastback with my dad. This helped me to get involved with a local shop called Mustang Country where I worked helping the head mechanic to repair early year mustangs. This grew my passion for cars greatly and I got the opportunity to meet friends of the shop that have raced in years prior. They gave me the chance to work on a team and I instantly said yes.
Aaron DeAnda
My name is Aaron De Anda, and I go to Cerritos College to study Administration of Justice. This can also be referred to as Criminal Justice, and I hope to have a job in the future as a law enforcement officer. I am currently looking to become an officer with the California Highway Patrol, and for now I go to school and participate in the Explorer Program at the CHP Post 550 in Santa Fe Springs, CA. I have been in the program since my senior year of high school, and I plan to apply as early as I can the moment I turn 20 years old this November, as that is the earliest you can apply.
Back when I was about 10 years old, my father purchased a 1965 Fastback Ford Mustang, and from that point on I fell in love with cars. Any car from any place, whether it’s American muscle, JDM, or European cars, from classic to modern, I found myself appreciating them all.
After knowing the team down at Mustang Country for a quite significant chunk of my life, I eventually started to work there for a short period of time. I had previously worked on other generations of Mustangs, mostly Foxbody Mustangs, but I also found myself working on some of the first-generation Mustangs and the SN95s. At Mustang Country, I learned to shift my focus to purely classics. It helped me get a basic understanding, and I found my skills improving over time.
The Ford Mustang will always hold a special place in my heart, so when I was offered the opportunity to participate in the X-Cup in a Mustang, I was thrilled. I truly am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a team and a once-in-a-lifetime experience like this.
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