Despite rainy weather, the South Kitsap High School automotive car show rolled into the school’s north parking lot May 17, drawing in local car enthusiasts, students, and community members for a day of hands-on celebration and fundraising.

The annual event, hosted by the high school’s automotive program, included raffle prizes, trophies crafted by students, and a variety of show cars from local clubs and hobbyists. Participation was down slightly due to the rain, but the turnout was still strong, said Robert Jensen, a substitute teacher who stepped in this spring to lead the automotive program while longtime instructor David Watson recovers from surgery.

“This is my first time running an event like this,” Jensen said. “I do love being part of the community, it’s where I grew up and why I work in this district. Hearing from people how happy they were to be here and how glad they are that this event happens every year really made it special.”

Jensen, who previously worked as a mechanic before becoming a teacher, was tapped to take over Watson’s classes in April. With that role came helping oversee the car show, a major event for the students in the school’s Automotive Technology Club.

A standout tradition of the show is the student-made trophies. Members of the advanced automotive class spend weeks leading up to the event designing and constructing trophies from scrap parts provided by the community.

“One of the community members who helps with the show brings in extra parts from his shop, and I brought in some parts from home,” Jensen said. “The students clean and sandblast the parts and then just let their creativity fly.”

SKHS offers both introductory and advanced automotive classes. In the intro course, students learn basic skills and spend much of the year rebuilding small engines, tearing them down, taking measurements, and reassembling them until they run again. The advanced class delves into axles, drum brakes, tire alignment and engine systems, with students earning certifications such as OSHA 10 along the way.

“For a lot of these students, it’s more than a class, it’s their future,” Jensen said. “Some are going into the trades, working toward apprenticeships or heading to auto tech schools. And for others, it’s just something they love doing.”

The car show itself serves as both a fundraiser and a community-building event. Entry fees from car registrants support the automotive program, while attendees, free to spectate, enjoy the chance to chat with car owners, browse the vehicles, and connect over shared interests.

“The coolest part was the community, people sharing the stories behind their cars, where they found them, how they restored them,” Jensen said. “It was a lot of socializing, a lot of passion, and a lot of pride.”

The event was made possible by about a dozen students in the after-school auto tech club, with several seniors putting in extra effort as they neared graduation.

“They did the heavy lifting,” Jensen said. “I just made sure things got from point A to point B.”