Under the HOOD
The Newsletter of RPM Foundation • Good CARma!
Message from the President RPM’s Outreach Programs Foster Engagement & Provide Opportunities It’s simply not enough to promote and fund vocational education in the automotive, motorcycle and marine trades; we must also inform, inspire, enlighten, support — and ultimately help guide into the workforce — RPM students so we may sustain the classic car industry for decades to come. We do that through a number of innovative programs that RPM has developed with the collector car community: “Shop Hop” guides groups of students, teachers and parents through real-world commercial restoration shops, giving them a firsthand look at the spaces and meeting their future employers and colleagues where their careers can take flight. Students ask questions of shop owners and technicians, and are exposed to equipment and situations within a working shop. Students often participate in “flash interviews”, some of which have resulted in paid internships and entry-level employment. “Behind the Scenes” exposes students, teachers and parents to the high-energy world of collector car auctions, and all the aspects of work — both under-the-hood and behind-the-desk — that auctions have to offer. The multi-million-dollar auction industry requires extensive knowledge of vintage vehicles in many capacities, and the
program exposes the students to some of the collectors who could become clientele in their future careers. “Off to the Races” is like a Shop Hop at the racetrack. Guided by our own IndyCar racer and RPM Ambassador Lyn St. James, Off To The Races offers day-long access for students, teachers and parents around the race paddock and exposes participants to the unique work environment and specialized skills found in vintage racing. The rewards go both ways — it introduces team owners to skilled, passionate candidates for employment, and fuels interest in the high-octane world of amateur racing. We invite parents to our programs to provide firsthand knowledge of potential compensation, job security and job satisfaction so that they may be active partners with RPM in supporting their child’s career ambitions. It’s part of the larger work to be done in educating society about the high-paying jobs within the restoration fields and overcoming the cultural stigma of careers in the skilled trades. See you along the way,
Diane Fitzgerald, President
RPM President Diane Fitzgerald at Martin Auto Museum in Phoenix, AZ.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Tony Parella by BILL HALL Collector, Elkhart Lake, WI
Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) president Tony Parella has been a lynchpin in aiding the development of RPM’s nationwide support network. Its touring schedule of Trans Am and historic sportscar racing events touch every corner of the country, and count over 90 shops, 11,000 vintage racers and dozens of racing facilities in their extended network. Partnering with SVRA, via Lyn St. James, the RPM Foundation developed Off to the Races with RPM, a behind-the-scenes look at the vintage racing world for automotive and motorcycle trade students with an emphasis on the career opportunities in track support. The rich partnership with SVRA has impacted student lives. “All businesses have an obligation to reach out and help kids get to where they want to go,” said Parella. “RPM fuels my passion for giving these students the same opportunities that I was fortunate enough to have. We’ve already connected more than a couple of students with jobs and internships.” (continued on page 2)
Tony Parella, President and CEO of the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association, SVRA, and RPM Mentor of the Year, shares some insight into the world of vintage racing with RPM students attending Off to the Races - COTA.
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