Published: August 15, 2008 11:07 am            

Diggin’ auto education

ASHEBORO — The cat in the hat digs automotive education.

Richard Petty, Randolph County’s NASCAR legend, has partnered with Randolph Community College in the expansion of space for the Automotive Systems Technology and Autobody Repair programs. The facility will be called the Richard Petty Academic Center.

Petty and other RCC supporters broke ground last week on a plot of land across Industrial Park Avenue from the main campus. The original 4,800-square-foot building will be buttressed with an approximately 15,000-square-foot addition. The Center will house classrooms, 10 automotive bays, an automotive lab and welding area, storage spaces and offices. Total cost of the construction and renovation is estimated at $1,540,000.

SchenkelShultz Architecture of Raleigh designed the Center and Sterling Building Group Inc. of Greensboro will manage the construction.

Petty said he was honored to be a part of the project.

“The automotive (industry) is growing and growing,” he said. “It’s getting more technical. You can’t be just a backyard mechanic anymore. You’ve got to go to school.”

RCC President Bob Shackleford said the Center will not only double the space for Automotive Systems Technology and Autobody Repair, but will provide state-of-the-art “training for students who are interested in becoming world-class automobile mechanics and autobody repairmen.

“We are particularly proud today to have with us Richard Petty, the seven-time NASCAR champion who won 200 races,” Shackleford said. “He is a native son of Randolph County and represents the winning spirit and professional excellence that will mark our faculty, students and programs that we house in this facility that will carry his name. Richard Petty does not put his name on anything less than the best, and we could not be more honored that he has so willingly partnered with us on this exciting project.”

Besides allowing his name on the building, Petty has agreed to donate some of his racing memorabilia for display in the facility.

RCC purchased the land from United Wood Products several years ago with plans for future expansion.

In the interim, Asheboro Auto Body Shop leased the property and built the present metal shop.

On hand along with Petty and Shackleford to help with the groundbreaking were N.C. Sen. Jerry Tillman, N.C. Rep. Harold Brubaker, RCC Board of Trustees Chairman James Campbell, Randolph County Board of Commissioners Chairman Harold Holmes, Ashley Dennis of SchenkelShultz and Brandin Wrisley of Sterling.

        

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