Carmel's Concours For a Cause Fuels Automotive Dreams

Carmel-by-the-Sea's Concours For a Cause event on Ocean Avenue was a showcase of automotive excellence, with an array of high-end vehicles from Porsches to Rolls Royces and Ferraris, all gathered to support local nonprofits like the Carmel Rotary Club and its Classic Car Restoration program at Rancho Cielo in Salinas.

Reviving the Lost Art of Classic Car Restoration

Crafting Automotive Masterpieces at Rancho Cielo

At the heart of this event lies the Rancho Cielo vocational training and high school education facility in Salinas, which is home to a groundbreaking new program focused on classic car restoration. As the first of its kind in the state, this program is tackling a critical need in the local community, where the skills required to maintain pre-1982 vehicles are quickly disappearing.Led by autobody program instructor Thomas Forgette, the students at Rancho Cielo are honing their expertise in a variety of classic car restoration techniques, from dent and rust repair to the fabrication of custom parts. Their first project, a 1952 MG TD, has become a symbol of their dedication and the program's importance in preserving automotive heritage."A lot of the skills it takes to work on older cars aren't around anymore," Forgette explains. "Everything has changed so much that the old cars and the new cars have nothing in common." By providing hands-on training and mentorship from local restoration experts, the program aims to keep these invaluable skills alive in a region renowned for its classic car industry.

Rancho Cielo: Empowering Students, Restoring Confidence

The Rancho Cielo program offers a unique opportunity for its students, many of whom may not have had a clear direction in life. "You see these young people who come in here and they don't have a lot of direction of where they are going to go," says Rancho Cielo founder and retired Superior Court judge John Phillips. "They get into a proposed trade that they are interested in and they just take off."This sentiment is echoed by the students themselves, who have found a renewed sense of purpose and pride in their work on the MG TD. "Before this, I didn't have no motivation or nothing," shares student Cristian Vasquez. "But then when they brought this, how we left it, it made me feel pretty good."Fellow student Marco Narez expresses a similar sentiment, saying, "Feels like we actually did something." The transformation of the MG TD, from a neglected classic to a fully refurbished showpiece, is a testament to the power of the Rancho Cielo program to inspire and empower its students.

Showcasing Student Achievements at Concours For a Cause

As the Rancho Cielo students' hard work on the MG TD comes to fruition, the car will be displayed at several prestigious car week events, including the prestigious Concours d'Elegance in Carmel-by-the-Sea. This opportunity not only showcases the students' achievements but also highlights the importance of the Classic Car Restoration program in preserving the region's automotive heritage."No one in the state has a program to teach car restoration, and so it's critical," emphasizes John Phillips. The Concours For a Cause event, with its diverse array of classic and luxury vehicles, provides the perfect platform to celebrate the program's success and inspire others to support this vital initiative.By bridging the gap between the classic car community and the next generation of restorers, the Rancho Cielo program is ensuring that the art of classic car preservation continues to thrive in Carmel-by-the-Sea and beyond. As the MG TD makes its debut at the Concours d'Elegance, it will serve as a symbol of the program's dedication to reviving the lost art of classic car restoration and empowering the students who are shaping the future of this beloved industry.