AXC Open House

I’ve been touting the fine points of the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts (AXC) for five years. In that time we’ve seen the school grow from teaching auto mechanics to underprivileged high school students in the open air Fairplex parking lot to the newly christened 7000SF “Robert E. Petersen Garage Home of AXC.”

On Saturday evening of the Father’s Day weekend, AXC supporters gathered to celebrate by staging an open house event showcasing the new headquarters located at the Fairplex in Pomona, California. It was attended by a broad range of industry players, car enthusiasts, AXC students and alumni.

AXC has accepted contributions from a broad base of funding—some known fondly as the friends of AXC. These are the local and distant car enthusiasts, and local businessmen who realize the importance of reviving high school auto shops. The group also includes our friends at SEMA and, notably, the Margie & Robert E. Petersen Foundation. “Gigi” Carleton, president of the Petersen Foundation, was on hand to help celebrate naming the new, larger facility.

The school offers two year programs, permitting students to extend the necessary skills and hands-on experience to enter the automotive industry. The program includes basic skills in mechanics, analysis and service, and is also designed to prepare students for continued study in college and not just the workplace.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of a donation for $10,000 to AXC from SEMA. SEMA President Chris Kersting noted, “The $10,000 was allocated based on a generous donation from Omix-ADA, which allowed the purchase of a Jeep that was modified and presented at the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. AXC students would contribute to the build, which would take place at the SEMA Garage. Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development programs would serve as program manager.”

Also on display was the LA Roadsters 50th Anniversary Hiboy deuce roadster, which was built in collaboration with industry sponsors, AXC volunteers (spear headed by Jim Karls) who all worked tirelessly on the project, and AXC students. The roadster will be auctioned at the Barrett Jackson Scottsdale Auction in 2016, with proceeds benefiting AXC.

---