I just finished my certificate for welding but I took a few manual machining classes as well, working my way up to a CNC cert. But I hate CNC its just so boring and... soulless
Stormer, they hold top speed events in Maxton, OH on an old airstrip. I think its standing mile, but thatll get you up there I'm sure. Hot Rod covers the first event each year, Im sure the dates are floating around somewhere