A nonprofit enterprise is fueled by donations of old Mercedes cars

In March of 1987, realtor Christine Hannah and her husband Stewart began the process of moving their 17-year-old auto repair shop from Germany to the United States. Classic Cars, a repair and retail shop, got up and running by 1995, and served the North Bay until Stewart’s death in 2003.
Soon after, with the help of her son Mark, Hannah established a nonprofit educational corporation partly devoted to the education of high school students interested in learning the mechanic’s trade. At her ranch on Devlin Road in Napa, Hannah and her son give monthly classes to virtually anyone interested in learning how to work under the hood.
“We get kids from as far south as San Jose who attend the classes,” said Hannah. “Most are in high school but some are already out. I feel like we help direct them towards an enjoyable hobby or possibly a career that might interest them.”
“It’s a great thing when young people get to come together and freely practice acts of creativity and individuality. I mean, a mechanics class might not seem like the premier venue for such a thing, but it’s also about educating interested participants about choice,” added Hannah.
Hannah also teaches a course for the owners of diesel-engine cars interested in turning their vehicle into one that runs on biodiesel or straight vegetable oil (SVO). The four-hour class takes the owner through the process of turning their diesel engine into a biodiesel/SVO engine through a filter and hose modification process. “I’d say a typical diesel engine will get you 35 miles to the gallon, and the biodiesel or vegetable oil is comparable,” she said.
By definition, biodiesel is a cleaner-burning alternative energy fuel derived from vegetable oils and animal fat. Any machine that runs on #2 diesel can run on biodiesel. It can be blended with regular diesel to create optimizing blends. Due to the solvent effect of the fuel’s natural ingredients, small modifications can be pursued in order to minimize the wear and tear of the base additives.
“We show them everything they need to do to successfully modify  their diesel engine.”
Hannah’s nonprofit corporation is still relatively unsettled and small. “We have been looking to find a space big enough to pursue larger projects, but for now we hold all the courses on the ranch.”
The corporation is mainly funded by proceeds generated through the sale of cars, mostly old Mercedes that have been donated by charitable citizens. “We have cars for sale, a lot of older Mercedes, some of which have already been converted and some that have not. And of course the person who donates the car will get a tax deduction,” said Hannah.
“This whole process is not just simply about creating a venue for young adults to pursue their creative or mechanical sides, or just about providing education to people interested in helping curb global warming. In the broad picture it is about educating people about the choices we have as individuals as well as a community with respect to issues at hand.”
For more information about the free classes offered or donations, Christine Hannah can be contacted at 707.257.6000.