WHAT: Racing against the clock and each other at Irwindale Speedway, 10 teams of the Southland’s finest high school auto-technology students will work on identical Ford Taurus vehicles to diagnose and repair deliberately placed malfunctions during the state finals of the 2005 AAA/Ford Student Auto Skills Competition. The team with the highest score will represent California in the national finals in Washington D.C. on June 27.
Four teams are from the Central Coast. Two teams are from San Luis Obispo High including Taylor Mohr and Jordan Scott; and Chris Burd and Lucas Grant.
WHY: Trained automotive technicians are among the most sought-after and highly paid professionals in today’s job market, but many high schools are scaling back or eliminating their automotive programs due to lack of funding and/or trained teachers. The annual demand for qualified auto technicians exceeds the supply by about 32,000 and the auto repair industry is predicted to increase in size. The Auto Club sponsors the skills contest as part of its educational efforts to attract and train more young people for automotive professions.
WHEN: 10 a.m. Friday, May 6. Awards presentation will follow at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Irwindale Speedway, 13300 E. Live Oak Ave. Doug Stokes, PR, 626-358-1100.
WHO: Twenty of the Southland’s top high school automotive technicians (two students per team) representing the following:
| School | City |
| Agoura High School | Agoura Hills |
| Arroyo Grande High School | Arroyo Grande |
| Arvin High School | Arvin (near Riverside) |
| Morro Bay | Morrow Bay |
| Paso Robles | Paso Robles |
| Ramona (2 Teams) | Ramona |
| San Luis Obispo High School (2 Teams) | San Luis Obispo |
| Sultana | Hesperia |
Onsite or telephone interviews of contestants or organizers are available prior to 9:45 a.m. and as contestants complete the contest.
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