Palatine High auto students eyeing national challenge

Automotive technology students at Palatine High School are competing with peers at four other Chicago-area schools for the chance to take part in a national competition that could win their schools prize money and students a trip to a Mecum Auction in Texas.

Online voting taking place now through Sept. 27 will determine which school will represent the Chicago area in the Quaker State Best in Class Challenge, which pits auto shop classes across the country in a competition to restore, tune and customize a used car into a showroom-ready, creative representation of their school.

Competing with Palatine High are Simeon Career Academy on Chicago; Proviso East High School in Maywood; New Trier High School in Winnetka; and Lyons Township High School in LaGrange. Votes can be cast at popularmechanics.com/qsbestinclasschallenge.

The school with the most votes will move on to a 6-week competition, with prizes including AutoZone gift cards of up to $2,000, tools for their school, a spread in Popular Mechanics magazine and the opportunity to attend and participate in the Dec. 11 Mecum Auction in Austin, Texas.