KAYSVILLE -- The ground was shaking as the cars drove up, their engines loud and low. The flashy colors -- green, purple, orange, and red -- were enough to grab the attention of any passerby. And that was the general idea. Rocky Mountain Raceway brought cars to the Davis Applied Technology College Saturday to showcase the work of various students from the college. Automotive, diesel, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), and welding students were featured for their work.

So that the event would be even more impossible to miss, hot air balloons were launched into the sky around DATC in the early morning prior to the open house (see photos, p. A1).

Rocky Mountain Raceway is a sponsor of DATC students, so they bring their cars up to the school for the car show every year.

But the open house isn't just a way of highlighting all of the transportation-related students at DATC. It's also a way of attracting people to the school.

Beverly Jacobs, a public relations contact at DATC, said she is surprised that so many people have never heard of DATC and had no idea it was there until the Rocky Mountain Raceway cars drew them to it.

"It's more of a community event," Jacobs said. "We wanted people to come here and see what we offered up here."

With the miniature car show were a barbecue fund-raiser from the culinary arts students, a welding supply show truck, and a rock climbing wall from the Army.