The Lompoc branch of the Automobile Club of Southern California will celebrate its 50th birthday later in September with a member appreciation and traffic safety day.
“We are proud to mark being part of the Lompoc community for 50 years,” said Chris Olvera, the Auto Club’s Lompoc branch manager. “We encourage members to visit us on our birthday to help us celebrate and allow us to thank them for their membership.”
On Friday, Sept. 30, members are invited to the branch, located at 675 North H Street, 93438 for 50th birthday festivities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to take in a traffic safety event, participate in prize drawings, and meet AAA travel and businesses partners like Enterprise Car Sales. During the traffic safety portion of the event, members may try a driver training simulator that demonstrates distracted driving.
Also, in honor of the 50th birthday, the Lompoc branch is offering passport photos to members for $4 off and to non-members for $11, as well as deep discounts in its AAA BookStore.
The Lompoc branch was established in 1966 by the Auto Club which was founded in 1900 in Los Angeles by 10 horseless carriage enthusiasts. Prior to its current location, the Auto Club Lompoc branch was located for 10 years at 115 N. St., (1966 to 1976). The branch relocated to 816 E. Ocean Ave., (1979 to 2007) and has been in its current location on North H Street since 2007.
The Auto Club’s member magazine, first known as Touring Topics and later Westways, published Lompoc-related stories about local highway bonds (1920 and 1925) and an article about wildflower viewing (1941) for Lompoc’s reputation as the Flower Capital of the World. The magazine also published multiple stories about driving the central coast (1939, 1944, and 1953).
The Lompoc branch started out by offering members maps personalized for members’ trips known as TripTiks®, auto insurance policies and motorist travel information and advice. Roadside assistance for members also was provided. Today, the 15 employees in the Auto Club’s Lompoc branch offer:
- Free DMV vehicle-related services for members
- A full-service AAA Travel Agency
- Maps and travel publications
- Insurance products and services that cover auto, life and property
- Discount tourist attraction and movie tickets
- Discount car buying services
- Recommendations for local AAA-inspected vehicle repair facilities
- Recommendations for local AAA-inspected Diamond-rated hotels and restaurants
For more information on Auto Club membership and services, visit the Lompoc branch or AAA.com. The branch phone number is (805) 735-2731. Branch hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.