Eric Medlen-Terra Success

From starting college
to the starting line

As a student at Terra Technical College (now Terra Community College), Eric Medlen wasn't taught how to drive 300 mph.  But he did learn the principles behind building a machine that could travel that fast.

The 31-year-old has parlayed the knowledge he gained at Terra and later as a machinist into a successful career behind the wheel.  As a member of the prestigious John Force Racing Team, he finished fourth in the 2005 National Hot Rod Association's (NHRA) Powerade Championship standings in the Funny Car division while driving the Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang.

"My mechanical engineering background and AutoCAD have really helped," Eric said.

Just how did this California native find his way to Northwest Ohio and Terra?  Eric's father, John worked on a racing crew in Indianapolis and then took a job as the plant manager at Callies Performance Products in Fostoria, Ohio.

"I could have gone to Purdue and they have a great mechanical engineering program but I picked Terra because it was a smaller school and I could get more one-on-one attention," he said.

"Anyone can learn from a book, but at Terra, it was more of a family atmosphere where the teachers help you understand why you're doing what you're doing."

Eric took a job as a CNC programmer working alongside his father at Callies.  John Medlen now serves as the crew chief on Eric's car.

Not surprising, Eric's career in drag racing began more on the engineering side.  What he and his father brought to the John Force team was the mindset and skill to build their own parts.  Starting with a Fanuc CNC machine, Eric and the John Force Team have developed their own full-blown machine shop.  Quality parts are essential in any motor sport, but especially in drag racing.

"Terra is a big part of it," he said.  "All of those classes.  You don't realize when you're doing it, but classes like biology that you don't think you'll ever use, you do.  Now I know they make you take it for a reason.

"Terra gives you all the tools you will need to succeed in life as well as your profession.  That is what separates them from other schools.  It was always a joy to go to my classes.  The teachers always had an interest in helping you."

Eric's personal best in the quarter-mile is 4.69 seconds at 330 mph.  Success on the track takes hard work, attention to detail and teamwork which in many ways mirrors life.

"Enjoy your chosen field and live the studies," he said.  "Terra gives you everything you need.  "There is nothing better than doing a job you love.  That is how you will be sure you are the best."

** Eric Medlen was killed in March 2007 when his vehicle hit a guardwall during a test session at Gainesville Raceway in Florida.

Added to the web 3/18/08