Gilroy High Shop Class Gets Ford Freebie To Dissect

GILROY, CA -- We all know how auto enthusiasts love to tinker. Some never tire of it.

Take Tyus Kline, an 18-year-old senior at Gilroy High School who takes an auto shop class at Gilroy High School and never seems to get sick of the activity. The way the teenager describes the activity, it's like therapy.

"It's a part of my life. It's pretty much what I do in my free time," Kline told Patch.

The Ford Store in Morgan Hill has geared a donation for people like Kline. The Ford dealership provided this month the Gilroy High School Automotive Department with a 2016 Ford Focus so the shop class can tinker with and learn from the mechanics of the car.

The new initiative is part of a project called Ford ACE, an Automotive Career Exploration program. Ford ACE is intended to ensure enough trained auto technicians will meet the growing demand of technologically-astute mechanics. Students trained in the latest vehicle technologies will enter a job market eager to put them to work.

Kline believes the whole idea of working on cars involves the latest tech, along with the basics. After all, he tinkers regularly on a 1958 Chevy pickup and 1979 Chevy Blazer. His vehicles are parked on a few acres at his aunt's house.

It's all in the family. Leaning over an engine is how he bonded with his grandpa.

"I'm into older stuff," he said. Crossing over to Ford isn't an issue as he's "always pulling things apart."

"I'm glad the school has (the program). Not a bunch of schools do," he said with gratitude.

Kline plans to use the knowledge to open his own trucking company someday.