LCOC to Join March 29 Shifting Gears Car Rally and Winery Visit to Benefit IGNITE Academy

LCOC members, family and friends are cordially invited to join fellow car buffs on Saturday, March 29, 2025, for the museum’s 2025 Shifting Gears Rally benefitting the museum and the academy.  This is a win-win activity—having fun and ensuring continuation of our wonderful collector car hobby.   Whether you drive your classic or a daily driver, rev up your engines LCOC!

The rally is a scenic drive and poker run through beautiful San Diego wine country, starting at IGNITE Academy, 8630 Argent St., Santee, and ending about 38 miles later with a car show at Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum, 29013 Champagne Blvd, Escondido, CA 92026. Along the way, you’ll participate in a fun-filled poker run, where the best hand wins an exciting prize. The adventure culminates at Deer Park, featuring a vibrant car show, delicious food, and vendors. 

Cick here to register for the 2025 Shifting Gears Rally – Presented by Wilsey Asset Management!  Registration: $75 per car (includes 1 driver and 1 passenger)

Event Highlights:

Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025

Time: 7:30 am – 3 pm

Starting Location: IGNITE Academy – Santee Campus

Ending Location: Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum

 Activities: Scenic rally, poker run, car show, raffle, food vendors

Can’t join for the entire day? Come to the Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum at 11 am for the afternoon festivities.

The auto museum at the winery will be open and wine tasting options available.  Attendees cars will be judged at the own mini car show.

Proceeds from the Rally directly support the Museum and its programming, including IGNITE Academy, our innovative education program that equips underserved San Diego youth with technical skills, mentoring, and pathways to career success in the automotive industry and beyond.

IGNITE Academy is a transformative educational experience that aims to Inspire, Guide, Network, provide Internships, Train, and Educate students in the automotive industry. The Academy focuses on developing skills and providing industry-relevant training while also offering mentorship, financial literacy, and assistance with job placement through internships. IGNITE’s ultimate goal is to break the poverty cycle by empowering young people to pursue careers in the automotive sector and make a positive contribution to their communities and society.

To boost the Academy’s growth and success, the Apprenticeship Volunteer Committee was created and spearheaded by Stephen F. Hamilton, a distinguished professor emeritus at Cornell University. In addition to several youth and apprenticeship publications, Stephen spent a few years at Mercedes Benz in Germany, studying their apprenticeship program, which began in 1890.

Steve examined their program and brought his knowledge back to America, participating on a committee of like-minded individuals who created a curriculum and advised the Department of Education on executing successful apprenticeships for youth.