Documentary set to premiere February 15 in Kansas.
“Pebble Beach is all about turning heads. And some heads were turned that day. A student entry had never placed in this elite competition. Could they do it? Better yet, how did they even get here? There’s a ten-year long story behind their short drive to the reviewing stand. And it started 47 years ago,” said Leno to kick off the documentary.
The 28-minute documentary will premiere at a special invitation-only event in Wichita on February 15 at Mark Arts. A special “sneak peek” for the public will take place in McPherson on February 13 at 7 p.m. at the McPherson Opera House. Admission is free with a ticket that can be obtained on the McPherson Opera House website. Future viewing opportunities will be announced at a later date.
You can view the documentary trailer here: http://tinyurl.com/d7z6s5cz.
McPherson College, a Kansas liberal arts college, is best known for its one-of-a-kind Automotive Restoration Technology degree program, offering America’s only four-year degree in restoring classic cars from Mercedes-Benzes to Ferraris. The program has received national acclaim and earned the support of car collectors, including Leno, a noted car collector and enthusiast and a long-time major supporter of the program.
In 1997, Leno established the Fred S. Dusenberg Scholarship and the Jay Leno Popular Mechanics scholarship, both of which continue to provide financial assistance to students interested in studying classic automotive restoration.
In 2023, McPherson College’s 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet – restored entirely by students of the college’s Automotive Restoration program – secured second in class at the 72nd Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The victory marked the first time in Concours history that an entirely student-restored car has ranked in the top three in class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
“We’re so appreciative of Jay for lending his time and talent to document our historic journey to Pebble Beach, but especially for his continued support of our Automotive Restoration program, which has helped shape the future of our students,” said McPherson College President Michael Schneider. “We can’t wait to show ‘The Path to Pebble’ and showcase our students, alumni, and faculty that poured their heart and soul into this project to make our lofty, bold, and audacious goal a reality.”
About McPherson College
McPherson College offers more than 30 undergraduate degree programs to its more than 800 students, representing 33 states and seven countries. Its nationally renowned Automotive Restoration Technology degree program has earned the support of car collectors, including icon Jay Leno. In August 2023, its students competed and won second in class in the Postwar Luxury category at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, one of the automotive world’s signature events.
Contacts
Tina Goodwin: goodwint@mcpherson.edu, (785) 821-2567
Jacob Scott: jscott@vectisstrategies.com, (412) 445-7719
