There are numerous reasons that people enjoy attending the Pomona Swap Meet and we are happy that everyone can enjoy a day doing what makes them happy, whether it be shopping, selling, showing a vehicle or just getting together with car club members, friends or family.

It is especially pleasing to know that for some, the swap meet is a resource for education and educational tools. And when I say educational tools, I mean it literally. Thanks to their ROP Auto Shop instructor David Le, the Rancho Alamitos High School (Garden Grove, CA.) students have found a place to buy much needed tools for their classroom, as well as numerous parts and accessories for class projects. Tools and parts that the class could not afford to buy new under the tight constraints of school budgets. Students also get to meet other car builders, see their projects and pick their brains for ideas and information.

David Le is as enthusiastic about classic cars and teaching future generations about cars as anyone I have ever known. He really lights up when given the chance to talk about his students’ participation in an engine building competition or progress on vehicle build. David’s enthusiasm and love for cars is being passed on to his students and it’s obvious that he really enjoys that. Well, he should be proud.

The Rancho students don’t build your typical auto shop class projects, either. These teenagers are building classic cars and hot rods, building and adapting engines for vintage bicycles and are even honing their fabrication skills on a 1947 Tourette teardrop trailer restoration. One recent project is a ’28 Ford Roadster on ’32 rails. It’s powered by a 350 Chevy small block and 350 Powerglide, both of which were found at Pomona for $150.00. The car sports some rare and unique parts like the ’36 Auburn Boattail windshield and 1919 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost aluminum hood. At the October 20, 2013 event, the group bought a 1938 Hiawatha bicycle, which they fitted with a Briggs engine and were riding within a weeks’ time. “The Pomona Swap Meet has played a huge part in building our projects. The tools that we buy are affordable for us as teenagers in high school. We’ve had some great finds at the swap meet,” states shop student, Tony Tellez.

When they aren’t building vehicles they concentrate on projects for various competitions around the region. At the Toyota competition, in Cypress, CA, two Rancho students finished 1st and 3rd against the back-to-back national champions. That was no small feat, given they were also the youngest to compete, as a freshman and a sophomore. The class entered a gocart they built in the UCI Invitational fuel efficiency competition, where they received several awards including; Most Track Ready, Safety Award and Rookie of the Year. Competing in the annual Edelbrock Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge, in Torrance, CA, their team of five, consisting of Colton Rees, Jonathan Avila, Sergio Payan, Jose Campos and Tony Tellez, placed in the top 3 qualifying spots and will be competing in Indianapolis, IN, in December.

This group isn’t afraid to tackle any project and it’s inspiring, as an auto enthusiast, to see auto shop students with such drive and determination, at a time when many shop classes are disappearing around the country. It’s encouraging to see that there is a next generation of knuckle busting car builders ready to apply their education to something they love. They do an unbelievable job with the resources available to them, but they could always use additional help. If you would like to donate to the program, contact the Rancho Alamitos Alumni Association, which has a website set up allowing you to donate directly to the auto shop program.

We’ll keep you posted on future Rancho Alamitos student projects and event participation.

 If you are an auto shop instructor and would like to plan a class trip to be our guests at a future Pomona Swap Meet, contact Matt Zarzana at 714-538-7091 or email.

-Matt Zarzana