Susanville Students Win CA State Auto Repair Championship

16 May 2000

Winning Time of 25:37 Puts Lassen High School in National Finals

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.--A team of two students from Lassen High School in Susanville combined detailed knowledge of high-tech automotive repair and fast-paced teamwork to win the state finals of the FORD/AAA STUDENT AUTO SKILLS contest.

    Jess Lattin and Brian Bliss, both 18 years old, won the state auto repair championship on May 12 in Sacramento. They will compete for the national title against two-person teams from every other state on June 19 in Washington, D.C. The students earned spots in the Ford Motor Co.'s ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) program, including scholarships to associate degree automotive technology programs. They also won a Ford vehicle for use by their school's automotive technology program. The team's instructor is John Crosby.

    Steven Gabbard and Michael Rudmekin, both 18 years old, from DeAnza North Regional Occupation Program in Cupertino, took second-place honors. This was their follow-up to the highest score on the California written examination. Their instructor is Les Schoob. Anthony Giannini and Charlie Paping from Terra Nova High School in Pacifica placed third. Their instructor is Patrick Davis.

    The state championship was determined by the combination of a written qualifying exam and the teams' performance in a hands-on competition to quickly diagnose and accurately repair a deliberately disabled Ford vehicle.

    "These students exemplify the technicians of tomorrow," said Bronwyn Hogan, AAA spokeswoman. "They have high-tech skills and understand the importance of old-fashioned hard work and dedication."

    The contest illustrates the need for automotive technicians to develop the high-tech skills required to service increasingly advanced automobiles. Currently, more than 85 percent of the functions on a new vehicle are computer-controlled and cars are becoming more complex with each passing year.

    The California contest was one of the 50 state competitions held this month. The FORD/AAA STUDENT AUTO SKILLS contest will award approximately $10 million in scholarships and prizes nationwide and is held to encourage students to pursue rewarding career opportunities in automotive service.

    Established nearly 100 years ago, AAA offers a wide variety of automotive, insurance, travel and financial services for its nearly 4 million members. The California State Automobile Association, with members in Northern California, Nevada and Utah, is the second-largest regional affiliate of the national AAA organization.