Youth Spotlight: Blake Tracey
Wednesday, 2 July 2025
Youth Spotlight – Blake Tracey
Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication (MEM31922)
Blake Tracey isn’t your average TAFE student. Between working in the family business and competing in a national motorsport series, he’s also studying the Certificate III in Engineering (MEM31922) - Fabrication at Wodonga TAFE - and somehow managing to balance it all with a quiet confidence.
Growing up around tools, machines, and motors, Blake was always drawn to practical work. When the time came to choose a path, a fabrication course felt like a natural fit, something that would not only support the work he was already doing with Twin City Roller Doors, but also complement his passion for racing.
Blake attends TAFE one week a month, swapping the racetrack for the workshop. It’s a full-on schedule, with each day running from 8 to 4, packed with theory and hands-on training. At first, the heavy-duty equipment was a bit daunting - plasma cutters, guillotines, welding rigs, but that didn’t last long. Blake picked it up quickly, finding satisfaction in learning how to build and repair things from the ground up.
The rest of the month, he’s working alongside his dad, taking what he learns in class straight onto the job site. Welding gates, reinforcing roller doors - real work, with real responsibility. And Blake’s favourite part? The problem-solving. Figuring out how to fix things when they don’t go quite right the first time or thinking through better ways to get a job done. No two days are the same, and that keeps it interesting.
Earlier this year, Blake’s hard work and determination caught the attention of the community. A local news reporter who had been covering his racing nominated him for the 2025 Joss Young Achiever Awards. Before he knew it, there was a video crew filming his story and celebrating the journey he’s on - both as a tradesman and a motorsport competitor.
Racing has been a big part of Blake’s life since he was eight years old. What started with go-karts has grown into a spot on the Trans Am Series grid, driving powerful cars with a support crew and sponsors backing him all the way. Race weekends are intense but rewarding, and for Blake, they’re what he lives for.
Now nearing the end of his qualification, he’s got one eye on the finish line and another on what comes next. If the racing career keeps moving forward, that’s the dream. But he’s also thinking long term. One day, he’d like to start his own business - take everything he’s learning now and build something of his own.
Blake Tracey is proof that with a bit of drive, a lot of passion, and the right training behind you, there’s no limit to what you can do. Whether it’s on the job, in the workshop, or out on the track, he’s definitely one to watch.