On June 8, Boothbay Region High School students of Emily Higgins’ AP Biology class were given a crash course in the world of auto racing by Formula 2000 car owner Robert Muzeroll. The appearance by the East Boothbay-based Muzeroll, a celebrated woodworker and racing enthusiast, was the final speaker of the year for Higgins’ class.

The speaker and guest series was developed after the students read “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer” by Siddhartha Mukherjee. The book inspired her class to research professions and what it meant to pursue one's passion in life. The class  Skyped with Dr. Sheila Patek, professor at Duke University, Dr. Kathy Snow of Jackson Laboratory in Mount Desert Island, and had a visit by retired physician Jack Fulmer. The Boothbay area is rich with people who have lived successful and interesting lives, said Higgins.

“My idea is to not only teach content but to encourage curiosity,” said Higgins. “Students feel pressure to say, ‘This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.’ The truth is people can have a varied path. You’re happiest if you are doing the things you enjoy.”

On this day, Muzeroll took over a corner of the BRHS parking lot with his Formula 2000 car.

According to Wikipedia, Formula 2000 is a North American–based open wheel road racing series based on the American variant of Formula Ford, F2000.

For Muzeroll, racing has always been a dream but he didn't begin his career until he was 48 and made enough money to compete,

“I was sick of being just a viewer and wanted to be a participant,” he said.

After training at the legendary Skip Barber Racing School, Muzeroll entered the Formula 2000 series in 2004  and has competed in over 225 events in his 12-year career. On June 8, he told the dozen or so assembled students and faculty that he can make $450,000 in winnings in as little as nine races. His current schedule is roughly 15 races a year, though the purse money is deceptive because most of what he wins is rolled back into the racing team; a skeleton crew of three people, far less than his other competitors who sometimes have $1,000,000 in sponsorship from international companies. He has rubbed shoulders with Formula 1 racing elites. “Even though they have more money, I still can beat them,” said Muzeroll.

During his hour-long, interactive talk, students asked a wide range of questions concerning everything from basic racing strategy to his wildest moments on the track. His mastery of wood working was of less interest — the missing half of his ring finger from a planer accident did bring a question from the students. This fall, Muzeroll will take his carpentry talents to Scotland and help build pop music icon Peter Gabriel’s 35,000-square-foot house. Due to a medical condition caused by a wreck at Watkins Glen International Raceway in New York in 2008, Muzeroll will be retiring this year and has put his entire racing operation up for sale. He invited any interested student to join him this summer — expenses paid — to witness the majesty of auto racing in person.

After detailing his most daunting moments on the track, Muzeroll told the students to value education first and foremost to accomplish their life’s dream.

“Suck it up and get a great education,” he said. “You can do anything you want in life but it starts with knowledge.”