Old Cars Are Young San Bruno Woman's Passion

From the time her grandfather used to take her cruising in his ‘64 Triumph around Monterey, Candace Jalilie, 21, a 2007 graduate of , has always loved old cars.

She bought her first car, an aqua blue ‘61 Ford Falcon when she was just 17, using money she had saved from weekend and after-school jobs. Now a student at , she’s already earned her associate degree and is currently enrolled in a Skyline certificate program that prepares students for entry-level jobs in the automotive industry.

She’s a member of the Pachuco Car Club, an offshoot of an L.A. club, and the Heart Wrenchers, an all-female car club founded by Skyline automotive students last fall.

We caught up with Candace recently to talk about her interests in cars, her experience at Skyline and how she sees her future.

San Bruno Patch: How did you get interested in cars?

Candace Jalilie: My grandfather was definitely an influence. He always had old cars, and I remember cruising around with him in his Triumph when I was really young. When I got my first car, a '61 Falcon, and my sister got her bug (Candace’s twin sister, Cassie, bought a ‘54 VW Beetle at the same time), he was really excited, and when he came to visit, he said, "Wow, I remember this."

One time when I needed a rim after getting a flat, I called him because I thought, "How am I going to find a rim for a ‘61 Falcon?" He told me not to worry, that he would look at a pick and pull the next day. And the next day, I got a rim from him in the mail.

San Bruno Patch: Tell me about buying the Falcon.

CJ: I had saved up about $1,500, so I typed that number into Craigslist and the ad for the Falcon came up. I couldn’t afford a ‘50s car, so I said, "OK, the ‘60s were cool, too."  The car was rusty, and everyone said, "This is a rust bucket. What are you doing?" But I liked it.

San Bruno Patch: What does your family think about your interest in cars?

CJ: My sister and I live in San Bruno with my grandma, and she really likes it. In my family, we’re all big on working hard. My dad is an electrician and his four brothers all work with their hands. I know my grandma is happy that we’re getting our hands dirty even though she gets irritated when there’s no parking because of all the cars we have.

San Bruno Patch: When you first went to Skyline, did you take auto classes right away?

CJ: First, I focused on getting my English and math requirements out of the way. At the same time, I was going to car shows, fixing up old cars, making them look like they once did. I became tired of going to shows and having guys fold their arms when I asked a question and say, "Why do you want to know about that for?"

I don’t want to be just a passenger and just sit there and look pretty, so the first chance I had, I took a class.

San Bruno Patch: What’s it like being a woman in a Skyline auto class?

CJ: There’s an attitude here that we’re all here to help each other. All the guys are nice. No one gives you trouble. It’s exciting because every day you walk in and you learn something new.

San Bruno Patch: What's with the flower in your hair?

CJ: I started wearing a flower because I love Billie Holiday.  But I wear all kinds of flowers, not just gardenias like she did. Sometimes, instead of a flower, I wear a bandanna wrapped around my head the way Rosie the Riveter did.

A teacher in school told us about her, and my grandfather sent me an article about a bunch of Rose the Riveters in Hayward just to encourage me. I like the idea behind her, a woman being able to say, "Look at me, I can do your job like you or even better."

San Bruno Patch: Who are the Pachucos?

CJ: We’re a car club, a group of about 13 people, three or four women and the rest guys. All the members have cars from the ‘40s or ‘50s. On weekends we go to car shows, have game nights or go cruising down Valencia Street or Mission Street and then over by Pier 39. It’s like a big family.

San Bruno Patch: You’re also a member of the Heart Wrenchers. Who are they?

CJ: The Heart Wrenchers is an all-female car club at Skyline founded by the students themselves. It’s a way for us to come together and support each other.

We’re also starting to implement programs. We’re putting together a low-income car clinic, so people who can’t afford to get their cars fixed can come here and get them taken care of for free. The people will come to us through St. Vincent de Paul or Goodwill.

We’re also setting up a day of workshops for Girl Scouts so that they can learn the basics of car care, like checking the oil and inspecting tires, and earn a badge at the same time. We want to help whomever we can with our knowledge.

San Bruno Patch: Do you still have the Falcon?

CJ: No, I got rid of that and just picked up a ‘54 Chevy. It needs a new starter and bodywork, but I have all the parts. I just have to put them together.

San Bruno Patch: How do you see your future?

CJ: I’m going to transfer to S.F. State in the fall. I want to get a degree, maybe in social services. I always wanted to help people and be that person that listens and that people can depend on. Social services seems to be the perfect fit. But I also want to work in an auto shop. Whatever I do, old cars will always be part of my life.