On Monday, April 19, I’ll offer “Auto Shop 101 for Moms n’ Big Kids on the Go.” The class will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. in Casmalia (west of Santa Maria off Casmalia-Lompoc Road) and will wrap up at 3 for those who have other things they need to do that day, but the rest of us can hang over until all the questions are answered. For those traveling from out of town, you may want to consider traveling down for a weekend campout, or staying over Monday night and enjoying the Central Coast before heading home.
I meet lots of parents, moms mostly, who don’t know how to change a flat tire or check their oil, let alone troubleshoot a problem. Waiting for AAA works most of the time, but knowing these basic skills can save a lot of time. So where does an adult who missed out on high school shop get this education? Do we really have to be at the mercy of expensive auto shops for every last detail? (No offense intended to good, trustworthy mechanics worth their weight in gold.)
This will be a SUPER BASIC auto skills class for Moms, Dads (though I suspect there may be fewer of those in need), and older kids looking toward their driving years. It would be geared primarily toward women because, in my experience, their shop opportunities were more limited, but guys are more than welcome. (I’ve changed more than a few spare tires for helpless guys.)
A lot of women my age were in the first wave of girls allowed to take classes like auto shop in high school. Some of us opted for it. Some didn’t. Some didn’t have time. Some didn’t have interest. I didn’t take shop, but worked alongside my dad for YEARS on his vehicles. Before he signed off on us taking our driver’s license tests, he had us change two tires on each car. (There were two of us getting licenses that week, so this gave him a complete tire rotation on all his vehicles – convenient for him, educational for us.) I maintained my own vehicles for years before ultimately rebuilding my Jeep quite literally from the frame up, so I have more than a basic knowledge (though I wouldn’t tear down to bare bones without him – and his specialty tools).
Topics will include:
- Safety when working on, in, around and under the vehicle in the driveway and in roadside emergencies
- Checking tire pressure (when and how)
- Checking oil (when and how)
- Checking other easily accessible fluids
- Changing a spare
- Checking and changing wiper blades
Other topics may also be included. If there’s something else about which you have burning questions, send me a note in advance and I’ll incorporate all that time allows.
What: Auto Shop 101 for Moms n’ Big Kids On The Go
When: April 19, 2010, 1:30 – 3ish – rain or shine
Where: Casmalia, California (directions provided to paid participants)
How much? $5 per participating adult – due April 10, 2010
Childcare: There is no childcare provided at this farm site and there are dangers inherent to a farm locale, so please plan accordingly. All children must be supervised by a responsible older child or adult. (Have a friend who’s not interested in the class but loves to share the outdoors with your kids? A teen not interested in the class? Bring them along.)
RSVP and details: JenPete AT A OH ELL dot COM
