By STEVEN JUPITER
LEICESTER—At just 17, Baker LaRock is making his mark. He was given the Vermont Auto Enthusiasts’ Golden Wrench Award last week at Stafford Tech Center in Rutland, where he’s going into his senior year in the automotive technology program.
Founded in 1953, the Vermont Auto Enthusiasts (VAE) are an organization dedicated to the appreciation of vintage and antique automobiles. Every year, VAE chooses one student from the auto program at each of the 13 tech centers in Vermont for its Golden Wrench. A 4.0 student, Baker was chosen to be Stafford’s 2023 recipient even though he’d only been in the program for one year.
“I’m not the most experienced in the class,” he said, “but I think they chose me for my willingness to learn and admit when I’m wrong.”
Baker had no idea that he’d even been nominated.
“Mr. Woodward told me to be in class on Tuesday [May 29],” he said. Normally, he’d have been at his job at Alderman’s Toyota on Tuesday, as part of the co-op program at Stafford. But when Baker got there, Ernie Clerihew of VAE showed up in his 1914 Ford Model T to present the award.
“It felt nice to get the award because I may be lower on the ladder, but I have the willingness to keep climbing,” said Baker.
The award comes with a $500 scholarship that can be applied to any post-secondary education program, 5 tickets to the VAE car show in August, $600 worth of Mac auto tools (with the potential to get 50% off others), and a 1-year membership in VAE.
Baker hopes to continue working with motors after he graduates from Stafford next year. He’s specifically interested in motor sports, such as ATVs, snowmobiles, NASCAR, stock car racing, or even Formula 1 racing.
His interest in cars began as an interest in building things.
“I always liked taking things apart,” he said. When he was younger, he would put Lego kits together, disassemble them, and then try to rebuild them from memory, without the instructions.
As he got older, he began to take an interest in cars.
“I always liked car shows. The way cars looked,” he added. His favorite car is the 1969 Dodge Daytona, which he calls “a strikingly beautiful car.”
Baker ended up at Stafford after hearing a presentation about the program as a sophomore at Otter Valley. He’d never even worked on a car before. But he applied, got in, and now he’s the 2023 Golden Wrench recipient.
When he’s not in school or at Alderman’s, chances are he’s rehearsing with his band, Whoopsie Daisy, which just had their public debut at the Brandon Extravaganza this past weekend. He’d been taking piano lessons since 4th grade, dabbled a bit in the trumpet, and has lately developed a passion for singing, often accompanying himself on piano. He’s got chops, as witnessed by the two times he won “fan favorite” in the 2023 Brandon Idol singing competition.
“My favorite theme was 80s,” he said, referring to the night he wore a purple suit to sing an Elton John song.
He doesn’t see a musical career ahead for him—he doesn’t want to turn a passion into a job—but with his automotive skills, he’s sure to have a lot of options. Congrats, Baker!
