ADVISORY/Automotive Students to Pop Hoods and
Vie for State Auto Repair Championship
--Automobile Club of Southern California
WHAT: The Southland's finest high school auto technology students
will square-off to diagnose and repair identically bugged
Mercury Mountaineers at the 2003 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills
Competition at Irwindale Speedway on May 9. (Northern
California has an identical contest the same day.)
The highest scoring team will become the state champion
representing California in June's Washington, D.C., national
finals. At the national event, students will compete for $10
million in scholarships. The Auto Club (AAA) and Ford sponsor
the Southern California contest as an education outreach to
encourage students to pursue careers in the automotive
industry.
WHY: Trained automotive technicians are among the most
sought-after and highly paid professionals in today's job
market, but many high schools have reduced or eliminated
automotive programs due to lack of funds or teachers. Demand
for qualified technicians to work on today's sensitive and
sophisticated vehicles exceeds supply by about 60,000
annually, with salaries ranging from $35,000-$75,000 a year.
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 9. Awards presentation
will be at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale (605 Freeway at Live Oak Avenue)
WHO: Southland's top high school automotive technicians (two-
student teams) representing:
High School City
Agoura Agoura Hills
Arroyo Grande Arroyo Grande
Arvin Arvin
Cabrillo Reg/OCC Program Lompoc
Hemet Hemet
Lompoc Lompoc
Morro Bay Morro Bay
Ontario Ontario
Paso Robles Paso Robles
Poway Poway
Ramona (two teams) Ramona
San Clemente San Clemente
San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo
Sultana Hesperia
Onsite/phone interviews of students or organizers are available prior
to 9:45 a.m. and as contestants finish the competition.
