CAL Doubles as 'Jay Leno's Garage' During Pre-Show Tour

– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor

Leno first toured the restoration and collision repair labs. Here, he inspects the Verrill Wolf Wagon with student guides (from left) Andrew B. Switch, of Lancaster; Joseph M. Kretz, of Plymouth, N.H.; and Sean M. Hunter, of Livingston, N.J.

Leno chats over the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS with Vanessa Mathurin, of Philadelphia.

Sharing a laugh in the lab

With the wind in his hair, Leno tools around campus driving the Scripps-Booth Model D with Robert J. Hiller, of Hawley, as his student passenger.

Collision repair instructor Roy H. Klinger provides some last-minute instructions before Leno takes a spin in the Wolf Wagon with Switch.

A group photo, with the guest of honor in a Bugatti, includes college President Davie Jane Gilmour (right) and Brett A. Reasner, dean of transportation and natural resources technologies (left).

Like thousands of campus visitors before him, the day's VIP discovers a major selling point of Penn College: spacious, clean and well-equipped instructional space.

Reviewing works-in-progress with the students

Hunter shows Leno some of the metallurgy research the students have conducted on the Rolls Royce.

Leno's phenomenal familiarity with automobiles impressed students, as he shared a lot of information (and successfully picked his hosts' brains for more) in a knowledge exchange by the Mustang convertible.

Student tour leaders Kretz (left) and Hunter review a 1932 Buick with their special guest.

Touring the CAL paint lab ...

... before returning, in action-hero fashion, to the restoration area.

Talking shop

Leno takes particular interest in the Scripps-Booth Model D, eyeing up the classic car ...

... before sliding in behind the wheel.

For a renowned car collector, a profile in contentment

Leno parks one vehicle, so as to make room for more.

With a wave to Penn College Police Chief Chris Miller (at left), Leno leaves in the Verrill Wolf Wagon with Switch at his side.

The president gets in on the fun.

An old-school Sunday drive on a high-tech college campus

During car-exchange activity, Kretz and Mathurin oblige a photographer's request.

A modern-day Bonnie and Clyde? No, it's just Mathurin and Jeffrey P. Darocha, of Ardley, N.Y., hanging out in the Scripps-Booth.

Mathurin takes a selife with a readily agreeable celebrity ...

... while backseat driver Hunter captures "the need for speed" on cell-phone video.

Leno flashes a peace sign, apropos a vehicle from the 1970s.

Leno and Kretz prepare to take the Mustang out for a spin …

... on the open campus highway.

Combining "vintage" with "viral," this photo was a well-liked Facebook sensation.

Signing the Bugatti, Leno transitions from hands-on ...

... to thumbs-up!

The students present Leno with a custom-made Bugatti mailbox in Wildcat blue. From left are Patrick O. Stephens, of White Mills; Mathurin; and Jonathan M. Eldred, of Greenwich, N.Y.

The group solidifies the donation with a commemorative photo.

Inspecting the "signature" work of Penn College students

It's the Jay & Jay Show, as Leno dons a Penn College restoration hat presented to him by Jay M. Rhoads, of South Williamsport.

A lasting reminder of a memorable visit

The students, Klinger and Reasner strike a final pose with the four vintage vehicles that Leno test drove, their Bugatti and mini-Bugatti mailbox.

President Davie Jane Gilmour welcomes Jay Leno to campus. He arrived in a 1937 Packard convertible sedan with a custom Dietrich body, driven by its owner, Claude Williams. Herb Seltzer (right) served as the doorman. Williams and Seltzer are members of the Susquehannock Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America, closely aligned with the college's restoration major.

Entering College Avenue Labs, under the distant watchful eyes of the college Baja SAE team

Clearly in his element, Leno signals his satisfaction.