James Bennett, Faculty Senate chair and professor of economics, got an associate’s
degree from Northern Virginia Community College so he could maintain his antique
vehicles, a 1955 Chrysler New Yorker St. Regis Deluxe, a 1956 Imperial, and a
tricolored 1956 Chrysler New Yorker St. Regis, “the most beautiful car ever
manufactured in the United States,” he says. |
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Antique Cars Send Faculty Senate Chair Back to School
By Jeremy Lasich
It’s no surprise that many students transfer to George Mason from Northern
Virginia Community College (NVCC). What is surprising is seeing someone who has
an advanced degree earning an associate’s degree at NVCC. James Bennett,
Faculty Senate chair and professor of economics, fits into this unusual category.
In fact, he recently graduated summa cum laude from NVCC, 32 years after earning
his Ph.D. Along with his Ph.D. diploma, Bennett’s associate’s diploma
in applied science in automotive technology now hangs on his office wall next
to his automotive electrical technician certificate from NVCC and his certifications
from the Association for Service Excellence.
Bennett began taking night classes (6 to 11:45 p.m.) in May 1999 because he
wanted to learn how to work on the antique cars he owned at the time, a jade green
and yellow 1955 Chrysler New Yorker St. Regis Deluxe and a 1956 Imperial. In 2000,
Bennett also purchased a tricolored 1956 Chrysler New Yorker St. Regis, “what
I think is the most beautiful car ever manufactured in the United States,”
he says. He even built his own heated and air-conditioned shop at his house to
store and maintain the cars.
“If you want something done right today, you do it yourself,”
Bennett says. “I knew very little about working on cars so I decided it
was high time for me to get busy and learn what I need to know. I discovered it’s
like being a doctor, except your patient is made out of steel, fabric, and plastic.”
Through his education at NVCC, Bennett now knows there are four components
of being a good technician: knowing how to diagnose the problem and fix it, having
the right tools to avoid turning a trivial problem into a nightmare; knowing the
tricks of the trade, and luck.
What started as a hobby has turned into a passion for Bennett. He is a member
of the Chrysler Products Owners Club, he participates in car shows all across
the country, and he spends much of his spare time on the Internet and phone talking
with other car enthusiasts. “The Internet has changed the antique car hobby,”
he says. “Now there is an abundance of mailing lists to ask and answer questions.
At first, I was always seeking advice. Now, I’m giving it.”
Bennett bought his first car in December 1994 after seeing an ad for the 1955
Chrysler, which brought back the memory of his uncle driving up to his house in
the same vehicle in 1955. In 1996, he purchased the Imperial, and two years ago,
he flew to Seattle to buy the 1956 Chrysler.
Two of his cars, the 1955 Chrysler and the Imperial, have been featured in
the Auto Weekend section of the Washington Times. In Vern Parker’s
“Out of the Past” column, Bennett calls the Imperial “the coolest
car ever built,” in part because of the “magnificent warp-speed taillights.”
Bennett drives all three of his antiques at least 25 to 30 miles each week,
noting that the worst thing that can be done to any car is to let it sit. But
the cars don’t go out in rain, snow, or bad weather, and they aren’t
driven to work. “They aren’t meant for that,” he says. “These
cars hate to be driven in town. They want to be taken on the highway to let the
engine heat up.”
Even though Bennett has earned his degree, he still plans to continue at NVCC.
He will soon be a certified automotive machinist, and he eventually wants to learn
how to weld. Besides being able to maintain his cars himself, he mentions another
benefit of all this work. “The nice thing is it has absolutely nothing to
do with what I do at the university,” he says. “I thoroughly enjoy
the change of pace.”
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