Automotive Department faculty and staff including Tom Broxholm, Dan Ming, Ruben Parra, Filipp Gleyzer and Nancy Lam, flew down bright and early on Friday morning to attend the fall California Automotive Teachers (CAT) Conference held at Mira Costa College, Oceanside, CA, on October 16 -17, 2015. First day activities included a guided tour to the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum located at Vista, CA. This museum sits on 55 acres of farm ground, exhibiting agricultural, construction, early industrial and farm equipment from 1849 through the 1960’s, the majority of which are still in operating conditions.
Next stop was lunch at Deer Park Winery & Car Museum, located at Escondido, CA. After lunch we were allowed to wander the grounds and explore on our own all the ancient cars on display. The museum has cars from the 1800s all the way through to the 1970s, models ranged from Studebakers, Packards, Pierce Arrow, Crosley and many others. Besides car exhibits, the museum also has household appliances from the 1900s like radios, televisions, washing machines, etc. Most surprising of all the exhibits were the Barbie Doll Collection. The museum is definitely worth a revisit. The day ended with a meet and greet and dinner at Mira Costa’s cafeteria.
Mira Costa College sits on top of a hill and is beautiful and serene; the automotive department threw open their doors and gates and offered a variety of classes throughout the day for the attending teachers to receive their recertification on the subject(s) of their choice. Our retiree, Rick Escalambre, taught two classes – Does Funding Make a Program and ASIAN EVAP Systems.
The CAT Conference is where all the automotive teachers gather and reconnect as well as learn and exchange updated industry information. Spring’s CAT Conference will be in Northern California’s Modesto College.
Article by Nancy Lam
