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The Lucas Oil Automotive Technology Program
Palo Verde College began its new semester with a new technology building and a sponsor for its automotive program. The automotive program is now the "Lucas Oil Automotive Technology Program."
Lucas Oil Products, Inc., which has sponsored races at the Colorado River Country Fairgrounds for the past five years, entered into an agreement with Palo Verde College for the naming rights to the automotive program.
In a letter to George Walters, PVC's occupational education manager, Lucas Oil's executive vice president and general counsel, Robert Patison, wrote: "On behalf of everyone at Lucas Oil Products, Inc, I would like to thank you and the Palo Verde College staff for the honor of the naming rights to the Automotive Technology Center. This is a first for Lucas Oil and something of which we are extremely proud.
"As consideration for the naming rights, Lucas Oil will provide products to Palo Verde College for the Automotive Technology Center and for the college fleet of vehicles. Lucas Oil will also provide educational and technological support to Palo Verde College. Such support will include, but is not necessarily limited to: training seminars conducted by Lucas' technicians, laboratory analysis of lubricants and fluids, race team involvement to enhance academic courses, access to certain Lucas Oil research and development information."
Walters said, "This is part of PVC's effort to encourage participation by business and industry in guiding career and technical education programs."
Palo Verde College (PVC) first became involved with Lucas Oil two years ago when Walters approached Lucas' special events coordinator, Greg Scheidecker, about the possibility of PVC automotive students preparing some cars for competition at the Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway. Scheidecker liked the idea, and students enrolled in the PVC program have prepared a total of eight cars during the past two years under the direction of Henry Rinaldi, PVC automotive professor, who has been active in building and racing dragsters and other specialty cars for a number of years.
Lucas Oil Products was founded in 1989 by Forrest Lucas and his wife, Charlotte. His experience as a truck driver and their experience as owners of a long-haul trucking fleet led them into seeking out better lubricants and fuel additives to maintain their own trucks.
Since then, the company has continued to improve and expand its product lines. These include a heavy-duty line of products for industrial and agricultural markets, consumer automotive products and products for the racing industry. According to company information, Lucas has been "directly involved in the American racing industry through multiple vehicle sponsorships and racing event promotions at all levels… Lucas racing products have proven themselves on NASCAR, NHRA, IHRA, USHRA and ATPA tracks across the country."
The company is now international. Its corporate office is in Corona, Calif., and a second US office is located in Indiana. International offices are located in Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, Korea, Taiwan and Australia.
Photo special to the Times/IVAN MURRAY
Lucas Oil Products executives personally delivered the first batch of supplies to the new Lucas Oil Automotive Technology Center at the Palo Verde College campus in Blythe.
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