(IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY, Calif., May 5, 2006) — Southern and central California high schools’ best auto technology students will compete in the Southern California finals of the 2006 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition at 10 a.m. today.
The competition takes place at Irwindale Speedway, where 10 student teams will each diagnose and repair a new Ford Escape with planted repair problems like faulty wiring and malfunctioning computer electronics. Sprinting to the vehicles, the 20 teens will pop the car hoods and demonstrate skills required for success as automotive technicians. The automotive industry offers some of the nation’s most in-demand and highest paying careers.
High school teams that were finalists in recent years are returning, including San Luis Obispo and Ramona. Ramona is sending two teams this year. Six years ago, San Luis Obispo finished in fourth place in the national finals.
“The competition requires repairs to be made with the highest quality work in the lowest total time ,” said Rick Lalor, event competition chairman and Auto Club motor sports manager. “Today’s computerized vehicles require technicians with computer, electronics and math skills. Servicing alternative fuel vehicles and hybrid vehicles will also challenge the automotive service industry of the future.”
The Southern California finalists were chosen from a field of 40 teams by earning the highest scores on a two-hour written exam testing automotive diagnostics and repair knowledge. A separate contest for Northern California schools will run concurrently with the Southern California event.
The California team with the highest combined written exam and hands-on contest score will compete nationally for $6 million in scholarships in June in Dearborn, MI. Southern California’s winners receive automotive equipment for their school. State champions also earn a scholarship to the Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Education Training) program — a path to earn two-year associate degrees in automotive service and other scholarships.
Many graduates go on to become technicians at Ford and Lincoln/Mercury dealerships and some progress to management positions. Those with two-year degrees will be able to earn a starting salary of $38,000 annually, with salary growth up to $100,000 or more for master technicians. Industry reports reflect a shortage of 35,000 service techs annually.
Southern California ’s high school finalists and instructors are:
| High School | Instructor | Student | Student |
Agoura | John Andersen | Aaron Kutzin, 17 | Dayner Gilmond, 18 |
Arroyo Grande | Loren Bradbury | Pat Monson, 17 | Tyler Sturgell, 18 |
Bishop Union | Gregg Newcomb | Dan Graham, 18 | Justin Whitman, 18 |
Sultana | Jay Winters | Sam Gordon, 18 | Scott D. Peterson, 17 |
Morro Bay | Jason M. Roberts | Andy Rapoport, 18 | David Tomac, 17 |
San Clemente | Robert McCarroll | Jim Mackerras, 17 | William Horner, 17 |
Ramona | Michael Jordon | Ed Alldredge Waitm, 17 | Mike Funkhouser, 17 |
Ramona | Michael Saavedra | Kory Collier, 18 | Lane Dreier, 17 |
San Luis Obispo | Jeff Lehmkuhl | Dustin Kingma, 17 | Eric Tracy, 17 |
| Ventura | Richard Williams | Evan Funnell, 17 | Sean Dalton, 17 |
Trained automotive technicians are among the most sought-after and highly paid professionals in today’s job market, but many high schools are reducing or eliminating automotive programs due to lack of funding and/or trained teachers. The annual demand for qualified auto technicians exceeds the supply. The U.S. Labor Dept. estimates there is a need for 35,000 additional automotive technicians each year. AAA sponsors the skills contest as part of its educational efforts to attract and train more young people to the automotive professions.
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