KOTARA High's bid to bring the band KISS to the school may have hit a speed hump, but it has received the next best thing: a visit from Penrite racing team drivers David Reynolds and Anton De Pasquale and a KISS car.
The Newcastle Herald previously reported that school principal and KISS mega-fan Mark Snedden had asked students to participate in a secret video project.
Eight students put their hands up to help create a video asking the band to visit the school around its now-cancelled Saturday performance at the Newcastle 500 Supercars.
Mr Snedden said the video had more than 150,000 views.
"We were a little disappointed [about the cancellation] but the whole notion of the video was just a lot of fun," he said.
"To do a project with students and staff - teaching and non teaching staff - how often do you get to do that in a school?
"We got so much support, the community was amazing.
"For Penrite to contact us and say 'We want to bring a car and drivers to school' was fantastic."
He said Penrite would also take two teachers and 20 students on a private pit lane tour on Friday.
Student and self-confessed rev-head Callan Squires helped create the video and said it was a "way of showing what we can do as a school community when we work together towards something".
He said while students were "bummed out" about the cancellation, they still felt a "sense of accomplishment" about the video's reach.
"The cancellation is something we had no control over, so you can't be too upset," Callan said.
"I still have a sense of pride for the school about the video and am happy for Mr Snedden, I felt we were making him proud."
Student Cooper Thompson said "we still got this [Penrite visit] out of it, which is pretty great".
"I thought the video would get 500 or 600 views and then fizzle up," he said. "It's been surreal. I never expected it to happen."
Reynolds and De Pasquale answered questions from students, including about their pre-race routines, on-track enemies and tips for L-platers.
De Pasquale recommended a defensive driving course.
Mr Snedden said he'd be surprised if KISS didn't reschedule. He said if there is another tour, he hoped the band has time to visit the school. "We haven't given up yet."
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