At Black Hills Tire, Weston and Tenise Chapman have built a place where people matter. Their culture is no accident; it’s steady, intentional and deeply rooted in care. Here, technicians don’t just fix tires and engines — they treat customers like family, take pride in craftsmanship and hold safety as sacred. “We believe in growing our own,” Weston said. That simple belief shapes everything they do — from how they hire and train to how they cheer on young talent stepping into the trade.
From this belief, something remarkable was born: Camp DRIVE. The Chapmans dreamed of igniting a spark in young minds — a hands-on, high-energy adventure where kids could experience the thrill of working with tools, figuring out how things work and feeling the pride that comes from building or fixing something with their own hands. “The goal for us was not to try to convince anybody of anything,” Weston explained. “We just want them walking out of there thinking, ‘That was fun. Working with my hands is fun. Welding is fun. Electronics are fun.’”
Over two unforgettable days, forty kids ages 12 to 15 rotate through eight hands-on stations, each led by Black Hills Tire’s mostly younger technicians — the cool, enthusiastic twenty-somethings the campers naturally gravitate toward. But Tenise knows seasoned perspective matters too. “I have one tech over the age of 40, and everybody else is mid-20s,” she said. “So it’s really nice having that older, calming influence to assist and keep things grounded.”
Phones go into a basket at the door, and the kids dive in with wide-eyed focus — learning welding, brakes, electronics, tire changes and more. “It’s amazing how engaged the kids are,” Weston said. “We absolutely don’t have to work to keep their attention.”
Between stations, laughter and excitement fill the air with tire-racing contests, bean bag tosses, visits from police and firefighters and even tool-truck walkthroughs. Each camper leaves with something they crafted themselves — a tangible reminder of their new skills and confidence. At the welding station, one technician, Caine, guides kids in creating their own motorcycle sculptures — sturdy, creative works that some campers proudly entered at the Central States Fair, winning top ribbons. “They won grand champion prizes and everything,” Tenise said, her voice filled with pride. “It was really neat to hear about.”
Camp DRIVE is more than a fun experience — it’s shaping the future of Black Hills Tire and maybe even the broader auto tech industry. One of the very first campers joined the team, jumping in as soon as he turned 16. “He was 13 when he came,” Tenise said, smiling. “The day he turned 16, he came to work for us. He runs from his pickup to the shop every day because he’s so excited.”
For the Chapmans, Camp DRIVE isn’t a separate program — it’s the heartbeat of their business. Black Hills Tire has always been about serving people well, growing local talent and giving back to the community. Camp DRIVE is simply the next chapter in that mission — passing the torch, one spark at a time.
Pictured, inset, left to right: Tenise and Weston Chapman
2223 Jackson Boulevard
Rapid City, SD 57702
blackhillstire.com
campdrivebht.com