Last Day At Blogger.com!

It's here! Today is the day we go live with our new website. We launched our new website just a few minutes ago, and now we can host this blog and two other automotive-related blogs directly on the website. Go to www.tomorrowstechnician.com
to see the new website, and to post your photos and videos and comments. Hope you like what you see! Take the time to browse it thoroughly. I'll tell you right now, we have a few kinks to work out, but we are working through them. We just couldn't wait any longer to let you see our new baby!

Trading Places

Coming Soon! I mentioned just a few weeks ago that we are working on a new design for the Tomorrow's Technician website. The graphic you see here is just the header from the new website. We go "LIVE" tomorrow, so I urge you to take one last look at the old version today at www.tomorrowstechnician.com. Then come back, same address, tomorrow, and tell us what you think. I can give you an idea of what you will find tomorrow - first of all - a lot more color and graphics! We are launching on a new platform that allows us a great deal of flexibility in the design and functionality. One exciting aspect for the students is that we have a spot specifically where they can upload their videos and photos and share them with the world. For instructors, we hope you'll like the training center and career center. Most importantly, we hope you use the website as another tool in your toolbox as you teach, train, and educate tomorrow's professional technicians.

Also - just so I know someone is alive out there and actually reading this, won't you take 4 seconds to cast your vote on the survey to the right?

Last Chance to Apply for ACDelco Scholarship

New for 2007, ACDelco will award four (4) lucky high school seniors with a $2,500 scholarship for their first-year expenses at an accredited vocational or trade school, college, or university.

In order to win, you must include a personal essay titled, "What Winning the $2,500 ACDelco – Harold Martin 'Pros Who Know' Scholarship Would Mean to Me", along with the scholarship application, your high school transcript and a letter of recommendation.*

The ACDelco TSS Advisory Council and Harold Martin will make the final selections in November 2007, and winners will be notified in January of 2008.

Deadline for Submission
Applications will be accepted from March 9, 2007, to October 15, 2007.

Any scholarship application postmarked after October 15, 2007 will not be accepted.

It's free to apply. Financial ability and GPA (as an indicator of potential success) will be considered; however, eligibility is not based solely on either. So what are you waiting for? If you are determined to succeed in a career in automotive service, click here for more information and to download the application for the ACDelco – Harold Martin "Pros Who Know" Scholarship program.

No purchase or order necessary to apply.

Good Luck!

*See official rules for complete details.

Code of Responsible Automotive Servicing Practices

This came in from ASE, in response to a piece I wrote in TechShop on the automotive technicians code of ethics. Seems like it would make good sense to think about these practices as you begin your career, as well as later in life:

This establishment subscribes to the following code:
1 Recommend corrective and maintenance services and explain to the customer which of these are required now to correct existing problems and which ar for preventive maintenance.

2 Offer customer a price estimate for work to be performed.

3 Obtain prior authorization for all work done, in writing or by other means satisfactory to the customer.

4 Make every effort to keep customer informed about appointments and completion deadlines.

5 Furnish an itemized invoice for parts and services, priced fairly, which clearly identifies any used or re-manufactured parts. Replaced parts may be inspected upon request.

6 Furnish or post copies of any warranties covering parts or services.

7 Exercise reasonable care for the customer's property while it is being serviced.

8 Fix the customer's vehicle right the "first time."

9 Maintain a system for fair settlement of customer's complaints.

10 Cooperate with established consumer complaint mediation activities.

11 Uphold the high standards of our profession and seek to correct any or all abuses within the automotive industry.

ASE offers this in a frameable, poster size. You can contact them for a copy for your classroom or shop.

I have to say, I have used dealerships and independent repair shops for the past 20-some years for service work on my vehicles. Every one of them has adhered to this code. If not, I never went back.

Hope you can use this!

Just Some Interesting Stuff

October Checklist
October is Be Car Care Aware Month. Are you preparing your class to participate? If you would like information on Be Car Care Aware, go to www.carcare.org for a list of activities you can promote within your classroom.
Crime Prevention Month: Outside doors should have deadbolt locks. Keep spare keys with neighbors you trust, not under the mat or under a potted plant.
Fire Prevention Week: October 7 - 13. Take part in the Great American Fire Drill by encouraging your students and their families to practice a home escape plan. More info can be found at www.nfpa.org.
Enjoy the Weather: Take time to enjoy your surroundings. Go out for a bike ride with friends or family. Take a walk around the block and notice the changes in the air. Take a 48-hour getaway trip.

AAA Knows How to Avoid Car Crashes

AAA, that great American driving institution, has provided us with 12 Ways to Avoid a Car Crash. In a recent interview with Bottom Line, William Van Tassel, PhD, manager of driver-training ooperations at the AAA's national office in Heathrow, offered up some timely advice.

You should consider two things when driving safely: 1 - your own driving strategies, and 2 -dangerous drivers/vehicles.
1 - Your personal driving strategies - What can you personally do to reduce the risk of being in a car crash?
A - Stay off the roads between midnight and 3 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings. That's when many drunk drivers are out, and when you are most likely to be tired. During the week, most crashes happen during rush hours, but they tend to be less severe than those caused by drunk drivers.
B - Know the routes that have left-turn green arrows, and use them. This is especially helpful if you live in a region with lots of older people. For some reason, they get confused about oncoming traffice, and turn left without enough time to clear approaching traffic.
C - When roads are wet, brake and accelerate on the straightaway. Brake before you enter a turn and don't accelerate until you've completed the turn. This will reduce the chance that you'll skid.
D - Keep your headlights on, event during the day. Everyone in Florida knows this works! Lights on means other drivers are more likely to see you!E - Look through the car ahead of you. You need to watch cars ahead of you and anticipate. You will have better time to react if you see what's going on several cars up the road. (my editorial - don't tailgate! You lose a lot of time to react.)
F - Use your brake lights to alert people behind you. If you are stopped at a light and see another vehicle coming behind you, tap your brakes. It helps them see you better, especially if they are driving into the sun.
G - Position your hands on the wheel at 8-9 and 3-4 o'clock. The old standby of 10 and 2 o'clock positions have been found to cause arm fatigue on long drives, and a reduction in drive reaction time in emergencies.

2 - Dangerous Drivers and/or Vehicles Avoid them as best you can.
A - Stay away from vehicles that are towing trailers. Inexperienced drivers frequently underestimate the amount of time it takes to slow down and stop their vehicles when they are towing extra weight. This can lead to rear-ending the car in front of them. Another thing I've seen is someone who is towing a trailer change lanes like he doesn't have a trailer behind him. Very nervewracking!
B - Let aggressive drivers pass. If some crazy driver behind you flashes their lights, tailgates, or makes erratic lane changes - get out of their way and stay out of their way. They are an accident waiting to happen and you don't want to be anywhere near them.
C - Be extra careful in reverse. Parking lots are the scene of many minor accidents. Always turn your head and upper body to the right to look directly out your rear window. Don't rely on your rearview mirror for the whole picture. Take your time.
D - Keep an eye on the drivers to your sides, not just their cars. Drivers (like Cleveland Browns quarterbacks) frequently "telegraph" their next move. If you notice someone that keeps looking in your direction, it may mean he wants to get into your lane. If you see someone speaking on a cell phone (or even worse - TEXTING), put some distance between you and that driver.
E - Avoid driving near trucks. Crashes involving large trucks are often fatal. When following a truck, stay far enough back so you can see their side mirrors. The sign on the back of the truck that says, "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you" is accurate! Also, when passing a truck, don't be a part of a long line of cars. Let the other cars pass the truck, then quickly pass it yourself (following all speed limits of course.) Make sure there is plenty of room between you and the truck before you pull in front of it.

Coming Soon - the Updated Tomorrow's Technician Website

We are fast approaching the launch date of the new T2 website. It will incorporate many of the things you see in the magazine: technical articles, graphics, student and classroom projects, and many new new things we can only provide via the internet. A couple of sections I think you will find interesting include the training center and the career center. In the training center, we will include white papers, videos, powerpoint presentations - anything our advertisers can make available to students and instructors to make the educational process easier. There will also be a career center. This section will include current job postings, as well as articles on how to write resumes, and other helpful tips when job hunting. New to our site will be our Pics and Flicks section. Pics will include student and class photos - we want our readers to "populate" this section. The Flicks will include videos - again, send us your best. We will also include several blogs from our editors and we will be updating the news on a regular basis to keep everyone up to speed on industry news that could affect you. And occasionally, we'll include fun surveys and contests. Check out the website today, then mark your calendar to check again in a couple of weeks. You won't believe the changes. And we would love to hear what you think! E-mail me at bskove@babcox.com.

New Scholarship Opportunities

This just in from AMN and the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium:

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC -- The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship Committee has announced that the Automotive Aftermarket Association Southeast (Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi) will be collaborating in creating an online scholarship resource for students planning to pursue careers in the automotive aftermarket.
This industry association cooperation will allow students interested in aftermarket careers to submit one application for 2008 scholarships online at www.automotivescholarships.org and receive consideration for the following scholarships: Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Carolinas and Tennessee (AAACT), Automotive Parts & Service Alliance (APSA), the Breslow Foundation, California/Nevada Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) and Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). Applicants must meet the individual scholarship qualifications to be considered.

“This is a valuable resource for students seeking careers in the automotive industry. We are pleased to have APSA of Illinois as part of this important effort to promote this investment in our industry’s future,” said Pete Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee.
“We appreciate very much the efforts of Mr. Kornafel and the GAAS organization in offering this great opportunity for intra-industry cooperation and communication. Those interested in furthering their education and looking to a career in the automotive industry, along with the industry itself, will be the real winners here,” said Randal Ward, CAE, president of AAAS. “I know that is the number one objective of each individual organization involved in this effort. Speaking for Foundation Chairman Jimmy Edwards of A-1 Auto Parts in Philadelphia, MA, I can say we are very happy and proud to be part of this team,” he added.

The GAAS scholarship program awarded 142 scholarships in 2007. Including this year’s awards, GAAS has presented more than 1,300 scholarships and more than $1.3 million since it was formed. Details about the GAAS scholarship program are available at http://www.automotivescholarships.com/.
Over its 13-year history, the annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) has become the premier industry conference for senior-level aftermarket executives. All of the net proceeds from the event go toward funding industry scholarships. The 2008 event is slated for Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Chicago. Speakers and registration details will be available soon at http://www.globalsymposium.org/.

Teen Drivers and Accidents: Top Three Tips for Safe Teen Drivers

I thought this information would be relevant to our readers, because it's relevant to me! (How's that for self-absorption? And we thought only teens and pre-teens believed the world revolved around them.) Last Tuesday, I was hit by an SUV and my car was seriously damaged (to the tune of $4,600 and change). It was a classic situation of a young driver, headed for an accident: 20 years old, male, with two passengers in the vehicle - one was 19, the other was 21. Fortunately neither drugs nor alcohol were involved, and even better, no one was seriously injured, though all three were transported to the hospital. It was very unnerving to hit another vehicle at a decent rate of speed, and then watch as the other vehicle swerves and rolls.

I found the following article on the Ask Patty website (mentioned earlier this year).
By Yvonne T Williams
A recent OECD Global report on young drivers entitled ‘Young Drivers: The Road to Safety’ found what most of us instinctively know - that young drivers are over represented in crashes and road fatalities. The report also stated that road crashes are the single greatest killer of 15 – 24 year olds in the industrial world. In the USA 5,699 kids in the 16 – 20 age group were killed on the roads in 2005, so we are not immune to the global trend affecting young drivers. The OECD report made a number of important recommendations. Supervised driving hours were highlighted – the OECD recommends an extension of pre-license practice for teen drivers of 120 hours supervised driving.In countries such as Australia, where they’ve already adopted extended supervised driving hours, crashes involving newly licensed drivers in the 2 years following introduction of such changes, reduced by 40%. With thousands of new teen drivers hitting the US roads in 2007 we must spare a thought for all the Moms and Dads who will be taking on the role of driving coach for the first time. Make no mistake, being a driving coach for your child is one of the most important and difficult jobs you will be called upon to do. What you teach your teen drivers will have a major influence on how they behave on the road when they eventually get their license.What you may not realize is that your kids have been ‘driving’ since they were in their baby seats. They’ve picked up every good and bad driving habit that you have and will take your driving style with them when they get out on the road.The first important piece of advice we can give every new Mom and Dad driving coach is to take a very long, hard look at how they, themselves perform as a driver these days. Bad habits creep into our driving without us even being aware of it. If we talk and text on cell phones while driving, if we don’t wear seat belts - or if we run amber lights, or play loud music while the car is full of passengers and un-restrained pets, then how can we expect our teens to stay safe when they start to drive.
Like most parents, you’re leading a hectic life these days, but the hours you spend with your teen supervising their driving, will pay you back in so many ways. Give your young drivers the best chance they can get at staying safe on the roads by trying just a couple of our coaching tips.
1. Give them at least 120 hours of supervised driving under all sorts of conditions. They need practice on freeway driving, country driving, night driving and in difficult conditions like rain, fog or snow. Driving to school or the supermarket is important, but they also need to clock up their hours in a wider variety of driving situations.

2. Driver distraction and inattention is the number one driver killer. Whenever you and your learner get behind the wheel – switch on your attitude like a racing driver and be ready for anything.

3. Teen drivers need to concentrate at all times so make sure you never have loud music, pets or passengers in the car while they’re practicing.Always do the right thing and set them a great example – you are a vital role model in this critical but exciting phase of your teen’s life.

If you have any questions or issues on coaching teens you can always contact the Coach a Rookie help desk at http://www.coacharookie.com/. We have driving instructors, advanced driver trainers and road safety educators available to help you with any driver training issues.

Yvonne is a road safety educator and member of the Australasian College of Road Safety. She is also a freelance journalist and co-founder of a global road safety education web site – http://www.coacharookie.com/. She has two grown up children Yvette and Tristan and a husband called David. They just love cars and motor sport of any kind and they are really into V8 Super Cars in Australia and the US Nascar Series. Yvonne is a motoring writer for a number of newspapers and web sites so she is passionate about driving new cars and writing road tests.

Federal Mogul Celebrates 100 Years of Champion Spark Plugs

Extensive New Print, Online Ad Campaign Invites Millions to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Champion(R) SparkPlugs --
Innovative Campaign Featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr. Expected to Generate Nearly 120 Million Brand Impressions

SOUTHFIELD, Mich--Aug. 9, 2007--Federal-MogulCorporation (OTCBB:FDMLQ) has introduced an extensive new print and online advertising campaign that invites millions of vehicle owners and maintainers to join the celebration of the Champion(R) spark plug brand's 100th anniversary. The innovative "Always a Champion" campaign, featuring NASCAR Nextel Cup superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr., invites do-it-yourselfers andautomotive professionals to experience the advantages ofperformance-driven Champion products. Each ad also invites consumersto visit the new virtual-reality AlwaysAChampion.com Web site, wherethey can explore the Champion Garage, enter the "Performance-DrivenSweepstakes," play the "Crew Chief Challenge," look up Champion sparkplug listings, and earn anniversary prizes. The campaign features a series of ads highlighting Earnhardt'soff-track passions - including his Corvette, all-terrain vehicle, dirtbike and boat - that are powered by Champion spark plugs. Championplugs are offered for virtually every type of vehicle: two or fourwheels, on or off the track. The program is expected to generate nearly 120 million brand impressions. "Champion is one of those rare brands that defines an attitude and a lifestyle," said Garth Cole, director of marketing, Aftermarket,Federal-Mogul. "Millions of enthusiasts, including Dale Jr., have embraced the Champion brand because they understand the value of performance-driven technologies. Our new ad campaign - and every element of our 100th anniversary program - celebrates the extraordinary bond between Champion and today's consumers." Champion is the "Performance Driven" brand of spark plugs and other leading automotive products from Federal-Mogul, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of original equipment and aftermarket solutions. Established in 1907, Champion is celebrating its performance-driven heritage by looking forward to the next generation of innovative products. The brand's iconic red-and-black bowtie logo is a familiar sight for racing fans and millions of other consumers and is displayed at professional and amateur racing venues; in service garages, parts stores and national retail locations; on car and truck windows and fenders; in video games and movies; and in leading automotive collectibles catalogs. This unusually strong brand presence has led to the introductionof a growing range of performance-driven Champion-branded products,including automotive specialty performance additives and lubricants,batteries, starters and alternators.

About Federal-Mogul: Federal-Mogul Corporation is a leading global supplier, serving the world's foremost original equipment manufacturers of automotive, light commercial, heavy-duty, agricultural, marine, rail, off-road andindustrial vehicles, as well as the worldwide aftermarket. The Company's leading technology and innovation, lean manufacturing expertise, as well as marketing and distribution deliver world-class products, brands and services with quality excellence at a competitive cost. Federal-Mogul is focused on creating value and satisfaction for its customers, employees and stakeholders. Federal-Mogul was founded in Detroit in 1899. The Company is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs45,000 people in 35 countries. Federal-Mogul's aftermarket products are sold under a variety of brands, including but not limited to, AE(R) engine products, ANCO(R) wipers, Champion(R) spark plugs and wipers, Fel-Pro(R) gaskets, Ferodo(R) brake pads, Glyco(R) bearings,Goetze(R) piston rings, Moog(R) chassis products, National(R)wheel-end components, Nural(R) pistons, Payen(R) gaskets, SealedPower(R) engine products and Wagner(R) lighting and brake products. Visit the company's Web site at http://www.federalmogul.com/.

I checked this website out this morning, hoping to play the Crew Chief game and review all the gizmos and gadgets within the webpages. I experienced a few problems. Portions of the website were slow to load, some never loaded. I presume they'll get all the bugs worked out within the next few days. Overall, it's not a bad website. They have "virtual" rooms within shops and I found it a little weird to see people walking by throughout the website. Overall - I'd recommend you take a peek.

AYES Announces 2007 Instructor of the Year Finalists

AYES announced its 2007 Instructor of the Year (IOTY) finalists. They are: Randy Baker from East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, AZ, Bruce Harris from A.E. Smith Career & Technical Education High School in Bronx, NY, Michael McGhee from Arlington Career Center in Arlington, VA, Michael O'Hara from H. B. Ward Technical Center in Riverhead, NY and David White from Parkside High School in Salisbury, MD.
"All of our AYES instructors work very hard, not only to educate and prepare their students but on their own continued education and certification," said AYES President Larry Cummings. "We are proud to be able to have the opportunity to recognize some of the very best instructors in the AYES program."
The IOTY award is based on several contributing factors, including, intern placement success, school and instructor certification and compliance with AYES guidelines. Instructors are responsible for educating students in the classroom and helping to place them in internships, as well as continually communicating with the student and his or her mentor while they are working in the dealership.
A team of AYES management staff reviewed the self-nomination forms to determine the finalists and winner. This year's 7th annual IOTY award was announced at the farewell dinner during the instructor's conference on Thursday, July 19. The IOTY received his award from AYES President Larry Cummings, and SPX representative, Gina Tuttle, Vice President, OEM Programs and Daily Support Services NA.

Forza v. Dirt: Which Would You Drive?

Here's something cool I found from the Associated Press:

Car wars: FORZA outclasses competition
By LOU KESTEN, Associated Press WriterWed Aug 1, 2:29 PM ET

Just a few years ago, it was somewhat of a surprise when a NASCAR driver said he used video games to get ready for real-life races. Nowadays, virtual racing is a standard element of the training regimen of professional drivers, particularly the young guns who probably learned to drive on a Nintendo long before they got behind the wheel of a stock car. Elliott Sadler, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards are just a few of the NASCAR drivers who have acknowledged a debt to video games. As graphics get more realistic, a virtual track can provide good practice for the pros while letting the rest of us feel what's it's like to do a few laps at Daytona._"NASCAR 08" (EA Sports, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99; PlayStation 2, $39.99): The first 360/PS3 version of this franchise includes vivid recreations of just about every track in America, from the basic oval at Bristol, Tenn., to the twisting road course at Watkins Glen, N.Y. Most of the time you're racing against more than 40 other cars, so you really get a feeling of claustrophobia along with a sense of the strategy required to make it to the front of the pack.Unfortunately, to pull off that strategy you need really sharp steering. The controls in "NASCAR 08" feel so loose that you have to keep adjusting them even when you're just trying to drive in a straight line.The "Chase for the Cup" mode is frustrating as well. It starts you off with small challenges, like learning how to pick up speed by closely following another car, and works up to full-blown Nextel Cup events. It's a good way to learn the sport's intricacies, but many gamers won't have the patience to endure all the tests that are required before entering a career race. Two stars out of four (but add a star if you're a NASCAR fan)._"Forza Motorsport 2" (Microsoft, for the Xbox 360, $59.99): The second edition of Microsoft's flagship racing franchise offers a lot more breathing room, mainly because you're usually racing only seven other cars. It also has a wider variety of courses, ranging from California's sun-splashed Laguna Seca to a fantasy track in the middle of Times Square."FM2" lets you pick a car (from more than 300 models) and jump into a race right away. There's no messing around with tutorials and licensing tests; instead, novices get some on-screen assistance and are pitted against slower opponents. Eventually, you'll make enough money to buy a new car or upgrade your old one, and there are so many ways to calibrate a car's performance that you could spend a couple of days in the garage alone.There's a lot to love about "FM2," from its gorgeous graphics to its incredible attention to detail. But its most impressive feature is its driving physics; it simply feels more realistic than any other racing video game. Three-and-a-half stars._"Dirt" (Codemasters, for the Xbox 360, $59.99):

"Dirt," the latest in Codemasters' "Colin McRae Rally" series, is in some ways the opposite of "Forza." Instead of zipping around slick, paved tracks, you're slogging your way across bumpy, muddy terrain; endurance and brute force are more important than speed and slick steering. But "Dirt" goes head-to-head with "Forza" in one respect: It's one of the best-looking racing games on the 360."Dirt" has a decent selection of off-road vehicles, from nimble buggies to lumbering trucks, and a good variety of events. Sometimes you'll be racing solo up a hill; other times you'll be swapping paint with your opponents on courses that abruptly shift from paved to unpaved.Most of the courses are rocky enough to make your teeth rattle, but the controls don't always feel spot-on. At times it feels like you're floating around curves, and the cars almost feel too responsive given all the abuse they're going through. "Dirt" is fun and pretty, but doesn't feel realistic. Three stars.__On the Net:_"NASCAR 08": http://www.easports.com/nascar08/_"Forza Motorsport 2": http://forzamotorsport.net/_"Dirt": http://www.codemasters.com/dirt/

More Photos from the Ford/AAA 2007 Championships

We were pleased to be one of the sponsors of this year's competition. In addition, Ed Sunkin, Andrew Markel, and I were honored to judge three different teams in the blazing Dearborn sunshine.

50 states were represented by 50 teams of two. At the sound of the starting bell, all teams were off their mark in a shot, running to their respective Ford vehicle.

Ford/AAA National Auto Skills Competition 2007

And the winner is....

Austin Castro and Daniel Lehmkuhl

from Grover Beach and San Luis Obisbo.

Congratulations!

Opportunities for Female Students in September

Second Automotive Aftermarket Women's Career Day at THE MONSTER MILE!
Building on the success of last year's Women's Automotive Career Day, the Car Care Council Women's Board Industry Relations Committee is pleased to announce its second event! To showcase the career opportunities within the automotive aftermarket, the WB will be visiting the Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. on Friday, Sept. 21, 2007.

Participants will hear guest speakers from all facets of the automotive aftermarket and racing industry. Lunch is included and the day will be topped off with an on-site garage tour! The event is open to female students ages 18-34.

To register a student or for more information, contact Kimberlee Berry at 240-333-1026 or e-mail kimberlee.berry@aftermarket.org. A full agenda and more information will be available soon at http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=31826202&sid=2551150&m=338156&u=AutoAfterM&s=http://women.carcare.org.

7101 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1300, Bethesda, MD, 20814

AYES Conference Opening Session Inspires Instructors

Samuel Brenton, Kansas State University student, opened the AYES Conference with the Lee Greenwood hit "Proud to Be an American", set to video. He recently graduated with a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Vocal Performance. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Brenton spoke of the impact an automotive teacher had on his life. Brenton had been home-schooled for most of his life, but at one point began to go to public school. His automotive teacher, Mr. Shoemaker, took the time to get to know him and he inspired Brenton to greatness in everything he did. He "helped me understant that manufacturing was my niche and encouraged me to get involved in SkilsUSA. I have been to the National SkillsUSA conference 5 times now and it is the highlight of each year. " From Mr. Shoemaker, I learned to never stop showing my passion. I urge you (meaning the instructors in attendance) to never stop showing us your passion. You have made an amazine impact on the lives of many. Your service leads to our success.

Tim Lawrence, of Skills USA had this to contribute, "You have students that you lift up and challenge and inspire every day. You truly inspire, you truly are the greatest people in this country that inspire students and move them along in life." At that point, a representative from Snap-on Tools presented a check for $83,000 to Skills USA for the student travel fund, to help develop student leadership across the country.

2007 AYES Training Conference

The 2007 AYES Training Conference is upon us. Tomorrow's Technician editor, Ed Sunkin, and I will be headed north this afternoon to join the rest of the Conference attendees at the beautiful Dearborn Hyatt Regency. The Conference began yesterday with a computer lab from 5 p.m. to 10 pm, as well as an Instructor Troubleshooting Competition from 7 pm to 9 pm. AYES provides a full week of opportunity for instructors to update their education, as well as network with each other and other automotive industry personnel. Today, from 8 a.m. to 5.15 p.m., they have two separate training sessions. One is Automotive Technology Technical Training and will include instruction on Brakes, Engine Performance, Electrical/Electronics, and Steering/Suspension. At the same time, there will be a full day of Collision Repair and Refinish training, led by PPG, DuPont, Akzo Nobel, Sherwin Williams, and BASF. AYES is serious about educating the educator!

This evening we'll attend the Manufacturer Welcome Dinner, sponsored by General Motors Corporation, followed by a few hours of hospitality. Last year, the dinner featured several interesting speakers from the major supporters of AYES. The hospitality provided us with a great opportunity to mingle with the instructors and school administrators. Generally, discussion centered around the kind of information you want us to provide with Tomorrow's Technician. We received a lot of great feedback and Ed and I are looking forward to another productive evening in Dearborn tonight.

Tomorrow and Thursday the training will continue. Wednesday's focus will be on AYES Model Training, and Thursday features Enrichment Training. I admire the AYES model because (from what I have seen) it provides a strong platform upon which each school can build a robust automotive program, and ultimately bring well-trained repair technicians into the automotive repair world. It seems as though they provide a lot of materials and support for both the instructor and school administrators.

The Rump Guard

Not exciting, but a great idea. I saw this on Toolmonger.com and had to share it. My apologies for not coming up with something original today. But I saw this, loved it, and loved the price. (Had to edit to remove bad language, this is a PG-rated blog spot, and I think Toolmonger.com can get a little more colorful in their commentary.) But, this looks perfect for new technicians and mature technicians, anyone who uses tools professionally or a DIYer.

Despite owning tool belts and tool aprons, for some reason my tools always seem to end up in my back pocket, inevitably poking holes through my jeans and into my bum. Duluth’s Rump Guard looks like a possible solution. Think of it as a bullet-proof pocket protector for your a__: it’s made from denim and Kevlar – a 73% cotton / 21% polyester / 6% Kevlar blend.
Its snap loop connects to your belt, allowing you to position its handy pocket protector for maximum comfort. It also more than doubles the capacity of your jeans pocket, adding numerous additional compartments for tools and gear, plus a dangling hook to carry tape.
Plus, its street pricing of $13 is a lot cheaper than torn-up jeans — or worse yet, torn up you.
Kevlar Denim Rump Guard [Duluth Trading]
PS: Does anyone else feel like Duluth Trading is like the J. Peterman Company of tools, complete with their witty descriptions and hand-drawn illustration?

And the Winner is.....

SOURCE: Auto Club of So. Calif.Jun 26, 2007 15:10 ETSan Luis Obispo High School Students Win 2007 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills National ChampionshipDEARBORN, MI--(Marketwire - June 26, 2007) -

Two students from San Luis Obispo, Calif. beat students from 49 other states to win the 2007 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills National Championship today. The competition, sponsored by Ford Motor Co. and AAA, is designed to find the most talented young auto technicians in the U.S.San Luis Obispo High 2007 graduates Daniel Lehmkuhl and Austin Castro took just 49 minutes and 6 seconds to repair their bugged Ford Fusion at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. They were coached by San Luis Obispo High Industrial Tech Instructor Jeff Lehmkuhl, also Daniel's father, and accompanied to the contest by the Auto Club's Motor Sports Manager Rick Lalor. The California team was one of eight teams that perfectly repaired the deliberately bugged cars. They also took a written exam which was part of their final score."We're really pleased," said Jeff Lehmkuhl. "We went to make California proud and we're pretty happy now. We were sweating it out when the kids took about 10 extra minutes to fix a couple of bad window switches, but the higher written scores on the exam carried us to the top."When asked if the win was that much sweeter because he was coaching his son, Lehmkuhl, 44, replied, "I'm thrilled. Daniel's been helping me in the auto shop at the high school since he was about 5 years old. And this is also a huge victory for Austin as well. He'll get a full scholarship to attend a technical institute or college."

Each member of the first team receives numerous scholarships and awards from today's championship, including a $2,500 general education scholarship from Ford Motor Co. and AAA; full tuition scholarship to the University of Northwestern Ohio; full tuition scholarship to the Lincoln College of Technology; full tuition scholarship to Universal Technical Institute; full tuition scholarship to Ohio Technical College and a school trophy; and an opportunity to earn-as-they-learn at a Ford-Lincoln-Mercury dealership.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. AAA sponsors the skills contest as part of its educational efforts to attract and train more young people to the automotive professions."This win really puts our program on the map nationally," said Jeff Lehmkuhl. "I hope that this win will attract more interest from students, and speaking as a teacher, point them in a direction that's positive and into a field that's rewarding, needs good people and also pays well."

As vehicles become more advanced, Ford and AAA have partnered to assure that the new generation of automotive technicians is well educated to service the public's motoring needs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the auto industry will have an average of 34,000 job openings per year through 2014, based on growth and net replacement needs. More than 7,500 students from all 50 states vied for a chance to be in the final national competition."For Daniel and Austin today is the result of months of hard work and determination," said Lalor. "It's important that the automotive industry attract talented and driven young men and women to the field to keep the motoring public safe in their automobiles."I

n May, the San Luis Obispo High team earned the California state competition by achieving the highest score among the 10 two-student teams at Irwindale Speedway, as well as beating the scores of 10 two-student teams who were competing simultaneously in Northern California. The San Luis Obispo students each won multiple college scholarships, tools and a powertrain package for finishing on top in the California competition.Lehmkuhl has taken San Luis Obispo High student teams to the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills National Championship in previous years where they finished 2nd, 4th, and 20th. His 2007 team logged 80 hours preparing for their state competition and simulated and corrected vehicle problems, reviewed numerous text books and pored over a donated vehicle to prepare for the national championship.The top five finishers in today's national competition were: California, Michigan, Colorado, No. Carolina, and Virginia.

Congratulations to all who participated! All 50 teams were tops in their state. I had the honor to be a judge for the North Carolina team. Kyle and Evan - You did a great job! Evan Martin and Kyle Wishlinski are graduates of Lake Norman High School, and their instructor was Martin Page. Absolutely wonderful team of technicians!

Ford/AAA National Auto Skills Competition 2007

Tomorrow's Technician Editor Ed Sunkin, Brake and Front End Editor Andrew Markel, and I will be driving up to Dearborn, Michigan on Sunday to help judge the Ford/AAA National Auto Skills Competition. Last year was my first time as a judge and it was a great experience. It is inspiring to see enthusiastic young men and women come together to compete against each other as they try to become national champions. They are all so enthusiastic and nervous, yet they are very well-prepared. They are all required to wear a uniform as they work through the mechanical side of the competition. Last year Ford provided 50 beautiful, brand-new mustangs for these young men and women to tend. As part of the competition, the students are also given written tests. The combined written and mechanical scores determine the national champions.


How the Competition Works
This is a nationwide competition for 11th and 12th grade students in secondary schools and colleges (serving local high schools) that offer courses in automotive technology and have at least one full-time or part-time automotive instructor. Schools may enter a team of two to ten 11th and/or 12th grade students per full time automotive instructor, but each instructor must apply individually.
Each participating instructor selects his best 11th or 12th grade auto technology students to take the state qualifying exam which is taken on line and administered by a test administrator at the school
The combined score of the two highest scoring students from each school becomes the team score and counts 40% in the state finals.
In most states the ten teams scoring highest on the state qualifying exam then move on to the "hands-on" state finals scheduled each year in late April or early May.
In the "hands-on" competition, new Ford Motor Company vehicles are uniformly "bugged" so that each team has identical malfunctions to diagnose and repair. The competition requires repairs to be made with the highest quality workmanship in the lowest total time.
The winning two-person team from each state and their instructor are provided expense-paid trips to the national finals in June.
At the national competition, each member of the 50 state teams will take a written exam. Errors on the written exams are converted into time demerits that are added to the team's time on the "hands-on" mechanical competition in both the state and national competition.
Each vehicle in the competition is supervised by a team judge who supplies new parts upon request. When a team believes it has returned its vehicle to normal working order the hood is closed, signaling the timer to stop the team's clock. The team and its judge then take the vehicle on a short road test.
The team may then return the vehicle to its work area for further diagnosis and repair, or proceed to final judging.
The team with the fewest quality-of-workmanship demerits and the best combined total score of repair time and written exam will be declared the winner.

What Do You Know about Women?

In the United States:

Women account for 85% of all consumer purchases - and 65% of New Car purchases

Women are 50.7% of the population

Women are 46.4% of the labor force

Women are 50.6% of the managerial/professional specialty positions

Women are 16.4% of the corporate officers and executive managers

1 out of 3 women earn more than men

1/3 of all respondents in a nationwide survey of women homeowners said they would rather receive a dozen tools than a dozen roses.

According to AskPatty.com, a website dedicated to providing excellent automotive advice for women, many dealerships are missing out when they approach a woman in their parking lot. I thought I would share this information with you, as you consider how to work with women in the future.

The top two things women want in a vehicle are safety & reliability. Women represent 73% of facility repair customers. If you are not training your students to be good communicators with women, you should consider it for the future. It is likely that women will represent an even larger portion of the repair-buying market. It is also equally likely that women will represent a larger percentage of working technicians as more women enter automotive education courses.

From The Real World, May, 2007 Issue of T2

Anything Is Possible, If You Follow Your Dream.

When the Permatex Follow A Dream Racing team captured its first race championship at the 2005 O’Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston, TX, it was much more than a national win in the NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car Series. It was a phenomenal victory in the pursuit of a dream that, on paper, stood little chance, if any, of coming true.

That’s because, Follow A Dream is different than most race teams. It operates as a non-for-profit foundation and its owner and crew chief, Jay Blake, is totally blind. That’s a heck of a combination in today’s ultra competitive world of professional motorsports. But it works, and Blake’s team wins. So far, Follow A Dream has earned three first place trophies in NHRA national events and is rated as one of the top ‘funny car’ race teams in the world.

The driving force behind Follow A Dream is Jay Blake, a determined man with a different kind of vision. Instead of seeing adversity as a roadblock, Jay sees it as an opportunity. Why else would he embark on such a difficult challenge under circumstances that would have caused most people to pack it in?

Jay Blake started Follow A Dream racing eight years ago, just two years after a horrific accident cost him his eyesight and his career as a successful auto tech. He was severely injured when a forklift tire he was working on exploded in his face and sent him flying across the shop. In addition to his vision, he also lost his sense of taste and smell.

Once he recovered, Jay was determined to make the best of his situation, for himself and his family. He went to the Carroll Center for the Blind and learned to live life all over again. He was also able to dream again. Jay had always wanted to own his race team and decided to give it a go.

Jay was always a very good technician and had a lot of experience. He worked at several car dealerships, had a couple of stints with heavy-duty trucks, worked in welding equipment and supply business, and even managed a national muffler franchise. With his technical and managerial capabilities in place, Jay set out to learn the other skills he would need to run a successful race team such as fund raising, public relations, promotion and soliciting sponsorships. He was soon able to attract the interest of Permatex, an industry leader in automotive chemical tools, and the Permatex Follow A Dream team was on its way.

As a crew chief, Jay’s schedule is both demanding and rewarding. As he puts it, “Its lot of responsibility and hard work, but it’s lots of fun too.” A typical week for Jay can include ordering parts, dealing with sponsors, public relations, crafting new ideas for promoting the car, taking care of fans, booking speaking engagements and getting the car ready for the next event.

Most people presume that Jay tunes the car, but that critical task falls to Tom Howell, and may be one of the reasons why the team is doing so well. Jay explains, “We’ve come a long way and at our level of competition, we need someone much better than me to do the job. Besides, my hands are full managing our eight-member team and busy race schedule.”

While Jay clearly enjoys the business end of the race team, his true love is and always will be to physically work on the racecar. Jay gets to the car at night after everyone has gone home, turns on some classic rock and roll, and takes the car apart so it’s ready for the next race. Says Jay, “There’s nothing sweeter.”

Figuratively speaking, Jay has never looked back from that faithful day in 1997 when, as he expresses it, “he was forced to retire.”

“These past 10 years have been the most remarkable and most enjoyable years of my life,”Jay said. “ I’ve never felt more alive or more fulfilled. If given the choice to have my eyesight and go back to the way things were, I wouldn’t trade it for what I have today.” While he was building his team, Jay Blake never forgot the importance of encouraging others to overcome adversity. So, for the past seven years, Jay has toured the country as a motivational speaker at hospitals, rehab centers, corporations, and Vo-tech schools, encouraging all types of people to believe that they can rise above any calamity and achieve their life’s goals.

The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, sponsors of the New York Auto Show and the National Automotive Technology Competition, recently honored Jay Blake as the 2007 Outstanding Supporter of Automotive Education. Jay spoke to an audience of the nation’s top high school automotive students at the awards dinner for the 2007 National Automotive Technology Competition in New York.

In his keynote address, Jay offered both advice and encouragement, telling the students that they can accomplish anything they want if they have the will and determination to make it happen. Jay also stressed the importance of staying in school and continuing one’s education. Using a metaphor that every technician can relate to, Jay asked the students to view their life as a ‘tool box’ and suggested that they fill it with five essential tools: A positive attitude, strong basic skills and education, passion, self-determination and the ability to work as a team player.

Jay offers a heartfelt message for the future automotive technicians of America, “Dreams are obtainable. You must be willing to believe in yourself and have the determination to stay the course. It may not be easy, but it is possible. So follow your dream.”

Jay Blake’s 5 Essential Tools for Your Life’s Tool Box

1 A Positive Attitude - Everyday you have a choice to make it a good one or a bad one. Be positive.
2 Strong Basic Skills and Education - Learn everything you can. Polish your basic skills and most importantly, continue your education.
3 Passion – Believe in our dreams. Your passion is the fuel that will drive you towards achieving them.
4 Self-determination - Believe in yourself. Seek out those who have knowledge of what you may be trying to achieve. Don’t listen to those who say you can’t do it.
5 Teamwork - Don’t go it alone. Learn to work as a team member. In a group, strengths come together and weaknesses fall to the side

Favorite Websites

With the school year drawing to a close, I thought I'd share some favorite websites of our Tomorrow's Technician readers:
streetglow.com: It's a garage, it sells products, it lists events, there's lots going on with this website, and it's all about cars!
streetfire.net: My absolute fave, lots and lots of video clips of cars going faster! It also features a lot of just plain funny video of cars involved in funny situations.
pittspeed.com: They say it's Pittsburgh's only car enthusiast website. It's Pittsburgh, what can I say?
summitracing.com: a local parts supplier who supplies parts nationally. Huge. My brother-in-law loves them
autotrader.com: the name says it all
howstuffworks.com: pretty cool site. You can find out all kinds of stuff, from car engines to lockpicking. Our Brake & Front End editor, Andrew Markel, was even published on their site.
allaboutmud.com: again, what else do you need to know besides the name? Photos and videos of dirty, muddy events, also a blog and some other stuff. fun.
lowrider.com: they're low to the ground. This website features pictures, videos, and photo galleries submitted by readers.

And I would be remiss if I did not mention some of our advertisers (whose websites were picked by our readers). These are in random order:
nascar.com
alldata.com
mitchell.com
tooltopia.com
We've listed more in the 2007 planner, look in the month of August.
Enjoy!

Fuel Savings Secrets

Everyone has a tale of woe to tell these days about the impact the ever-increasing cost of gas has had to the wallet. Yesterday in NE Ohio, gas was $3.29 a gallon, today it is back down to $3.19. There is no rhyme nor reason to the fluctuation.

I've done a little internet research and found there are many ways to improve a vehicle's gas mileage. Many methods do not require a special tool or any special knowledge. You just need to know.

So share this information with your students, and they can be a hero at home before we all enjoy the upcoming long weekend.

I recently saw this undocumented, unverified, unscientific analysis of one car owner's gas mileage improvement plan. His claim was, "I'll tell you secret ways to double your gas mileage that the gas companies don't want you to know". Of course I had to watch the video, with that sort of an introduction. After watching it, I know first-hand that some of his ideas work, and others I verified with other reliable sources.

Three of his recommendations:
1 - Make sure the vehicle tires are inflated to the correct air pressure. This is almost always the number one thief of good gas mileage. Can improve gas mileage by 1 - 5 mpg. (Note to self - check air pressure in scooter.) Consumer Federation of America says up to 25% of cars on American roads do not have properly inflated tires
2 - Check your air filter and replace if necessary. Can improve gas mileage by 1-2 mpg. CFA says this can save as much as $.28/gallon (that really depends on the cost of the gallon).
3 - Turn off your car's engine if you are idling for more than 30 seconds. I generally turn off my car whenever I'm stopped at RR tracks for more than a minute. This action invariably moves the train out of my way in 1.2 minutes. End result, I don't think I save much gas.

Here are some other savings ideas from the Consumer Federation of America :
Alignments: Wheels that are properly aligned can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%.
Tune-up the Engine: A properly tuned engine can improve gas mileage by up to 4% ($.11/gallon).
Gas Cap: 17% of cars on US roads are missing gas caps. This can cost the consumer up to $.02/gallon.
Clean out the trunk: Save 1-2% for every 100 pounds you can clear out.
Drive Slower - It's tough to sell this to a customer, but if a driver reduces their speed from 70 mph to 65 mph, they will save 7%, or as much as $1.17/gallon.

R134a - For Professional Use Only?

On page 32 of the May issue Of Underhood Service, Editor, Ed Sunkin, asked readers the following question regarding a sidebar we ran on CARB Proposing a Ban on Refrigerant to consumers. Feedback: We’d like your opinion. Do you think that DIYers or non-certified technicians should be banned from buying R-134a refrigerant? E-mail us your comments at esunkin@babcox.com. Here is a response......It’s good to see a tech addressing the environmental issues.------

Forwarded MessageFrom: Jim Toddy Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 14:00:44 -0700 (PDT)To: Subject: R134a sales
Hello, Having been a technician for the last 15 years, I believe that the sale of R134a should be restricted to licensed individuals. I am pretty sure Wisconsin has already banned sales to the public, California is considering it, and the whole country should do so. The average car owner who will attempt repairs is likely to vent the gas to the atmosphere, they will likely overcharge or undercharge the system which will cause them to try and add more. The owners, for the majority, do not understand the theory and operation of mobile a/c systems so the car may not even need refrigerant, but they will try anyway. I see it as just bad things happening when people who don't know try to do things, and that goes for untrained techs also. Yes, people think that this is too much government intrusion and going to cost more to get a car fixed, but consumers are going to pay one way or the other, if companies on factories are slapped with more environmental controls, the cost of goods is surely going to rise. R134a, with a GWP of 1300, isn't nearly as bad as R12, but people need to limit the damage to the air, and future generations on earth. Licensed technicians are required to capture R134 when servicing a/c systems, and have the training, and equipment to do the job, and as the old line goes - 'leave it to the experts'. Jim Toddy CMAT-L1 Bay Village Monro---
--- End of Forwarded Message
I thought this was an interesting commentary, and one you might share with your students. The value of an education is lifelong.

Tool Testing Event

I saw this posting recently on toolmonger.com. It's a fun website that covers all kinds of tools from every angle, not always automotive.
"Our friends over at Make are working hard today to get Maker Faire set up and running, and it looks like it’s going to be an incredible event. If you’re in the Bay Area and you miss this, you’re going to kick yourself.
This year’s Faire is at the San Mateo Fairgrounds, and gates open this Saturday at 10 a.m. You’ll find us in the pavillion conducting a drill/driver test — which you can help with! — so be sure to stop by and say hello. And, if you have time, we’ll be at The Page in San Francisco Friday night at 8 p.m. for a meetup to shoot the bull about tools, drink some cheap beer, and distribute a few free Maker Faire tickets.
The picture above, by the way, is of Make’s own fire truck which is already parked at the Faire. After seeing it, Sean and I have concluded that we must own a fire truck at some point. We’re already on the WiFi looking for one. If you have any leads, drop us a line via the contact page. (It doesn’t even have to run. In fact, our favorite deal would be the “haul it off special.”)

It's a GAAS!

Where does the automotive industry come together to discuss the future? At the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. Also known as GAAS, this is the group that has provided more than $1.5 million in scholarships to technician students over the past 12 years. This year, the Symposium was held in Chicago. The symposium featured excellent speakers from across the spectrum of our industry: from technicians and shop owners, to CEOs and Presidents. The overall theme was "Survival in a Changing Aftermarket". Topics included a multinational perspective on the global aftermarket, the changing face of the automotive consumer, and the change in culture in automotive training.

Unfortunately, I am leaving town again early tomorrow, so I can't go into much depth today. Be sure to check back next week. I will be updating regularly with my take on the global perspective of our industry's movers and shakers!

More Business Etiquette-The Job Interview

I've received several e-mails and phone calls regarding the topic of my last blog. It seems everyone has a story to tell about rude cell phone behavior - though thankfully most of them occur in grocery stores and airports. I have not yet heard a story about cell phone abuse in an automotive situation.

As the school year draws to a close, I presume many of T2's readers will be in the process of looking for employment, if they are not already working. Here are just a few tips to remember as they go on that first or second, or last interview.

1 - Shake the hand of your interviewer with a firm, but not overly tight grip. Look him or her in the eye when you say hello, nice to meet you. Be sure to smile.

2 - Do not sit down until you are asked to have a seat.

3 - Do not arrive with gum, a cigarette, or chewing tobacco in your mouth. If you smoke, make sure you don't arrive smelling like burning ash.

4 - If you are interviewing for a technician position, you should wear dress slacks and a nice shirt (either a polo shirt or button down for men, or a nice blouse for women). If you are applying for a service, office, or counter position, you should dress a little nicer. Under no circumstances should you apply for a job wearing jeans. Regardless of how informal the position may look, please, don't wear jeans.

5 - Bring a resume and references. They may not ask for either, but it is always good to be prepared.

6 - If you have a cell phone - TURN IT OFF or LEAVE IT IN THE CAR. Trust me on this one. Same for a pager (if anyone still has one of those).

7 - Be sure to bring something to write with.

8 - Speak in complete sentences. Try to refrain from using words like um and like. Also, keep slang out of the conversation.

9 - Be prepared to talk about yourself: your interviewer will want to know a little personal information, a little bit about your education, and a little bit about your goals and aspirations.

10 - Try to be relaxed and open. Be yourself.

Student of the Year - Where Are You?

This is mostly for instructors, but students, feel free to give us your thoughts and comments as well. We are considering launching a Student of the Month recognition program, which will culminate with a Student of the Year Award.

Each month, we would like to recognize an outstanding Student of the Month, as nominated by their instructor. At the end of the year, we would review the winners by month, and determine a Student of the Year. What do you feel the judging criteria should be? On what basis should the instructors make their nominations? (grades, completed work, skills, combination of things)? We look to you to provide us with some guidelines.

We would like to be able to generate some scholarship monies for the Student of the Year, to be awarded in late April, 2008 and published in the May issue of Tomorrow's Technician.

Let us know what you think! Please respond directly to this blog, or e-mail Editor Ed Sunkin, at esunkin@babcox.com

Thank you!

Student of the Year - Where Are You?

This is mostly for instructors, but students, feel free to give us your thoughts and comments as well. We are considering launching a Student of the Month recognition program, which will culminate with a Student of the Year Award.

Each month, we would like to recognize an outstanding Student of the Month, as nominated by their instructor. At the end of the year, we would review the winners by month, and determine a Student of the Year. What do you feel the judging criteria should be? On what basis should the instructors make their nominations? (grades, completed work, skills, combination of things)? We look to you to provide us with some guidelines.

We would like to be able to generate some scholarship monies for the Student of the Year, to be awarded in late April, 2008 and published in the May issue of Tomorrow's Technician.

Let us know what you think!

Business Etiquette: Is it still being taught in America?

I hate this guy. He is in every airport. He talks loudly. He drives too fast or too slow or keeps his turn signal on too long. Yet, unfortunately, I have to see him every day.

What does this have to do with business etiquette you ask? Plenty, because from my perspective, the cellphone, text messaging, and e-mail are three of the biggest threats to good business etiquette.

Cellphone use: Should cellphones be allowed in class? Should they be allowed in schools, period? How about in a business environment? Let me paint a scenario for you. Please discuss it with your students and get their feedback.

I recently was in my local Target. I turned a corner and came upon two Target employees (I knew they were employees by their red vests and Target name tags.) Both, let me repeat, BOTH were on cellphones, talking. In less than a minute, they were joined by ANOTHER employee, on her cellphone. To your students - is this right or wrong? Is this correct business behavior or is it poor business behavior? If they were the store manager, how would they resolve this?

I've had the unpleasant experience of being waited on by a counterperson, as they talk on their personal cellphone. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. It makes me feel invisible, and I don't like giving them my money. Usually, I resolve to never shop there again. It is not proper business etiquette, and should not be tolerated. Young people need to be taught that personal behavior while in an employment situation reflects on themselves and their employer. Are young employees still being taught what behavior is right and what behavior is wrong in a work environment?

Then there's text messaging and e-mail. Students should understand that business e-mail should not be treated the same way personal text messaging works. Wrds shud be spld out. LOL and cul8tr are generally taboo. Again, they need to understand that e-mail is a business tool and the way they write represents themselves and the company for which they work. The other important aspect of e-mail is the quick response. Many older people in the business hide behind e-mail and do not respond quickly. Teach your students that a quick, professional response is always better than no response or a late response.

Please discuss some of these topics (and other etiquette issues) with your students and let me know what they think. I am interested in hearing from them.

Technician Shortage - Still?

Here's an interesting take on the never-ending technician shortage discussion I ran across in the AMI Instructor's blog (Automotive Management Institute). If it doesn't come right up, go to April 4, 2007 - Handling Personnel Crises.

I think it's got some good information to share with your peers and students, especially this time of year when the students are thinking about finding a summer job or an entry-level position in their chosen field.

May Cover - Camaro from Florida

Well. Once again the blog monster has attacked my photos. This Camaro is actually a vibrant ORANGE, so you will have to check out the real cover when the magazine comes out next month. My apologies to Jessica Chamberlain for this lousy image.

Here's the info on the Camaro: Jessica Chamberlain, a student at Inlet Grove High school in Rivera Beach, FL, is the proud owner of this blazing hot 1970.5 Chevrolet Camaro. "The car is a project car my dad started on back when he was 17 years old," Jessica said. "He got me in to racing when I was about four years old. Ever since then, I have been interested in cars."

The Camaro racer features a 454 Big Block V8 engine with a quick shift that throws down 450 hp at 5600 rpm, with torque listed at 500 at 3600 rpm. The car can travel a 1Ž4-mile in 13.7 seconds at a speed of 103 mph. Jessica said she uses 101 octane fuel for the car that¹s contained in a 15 gallon fuel cell. The following are some of the changes, modifications and enhancements that Jessica and her father made to the Camaro. Most of the mods to get the Camaro race ready for an afternoon on the strip include solid lifters with four-bolt mains, forged steel crank and connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons and Mickey Thompson slick tires. To make the car safe for the track, a six-point roll cage was installed and five-point safety harness/racing seats were added.

The Weak Signals

Later this week The Weak Signals Remote Control club will be hosting the 53rd Annual Remote Control Model Show in Toledo, Ohio. Babcox editors, Ed Sunkin and Andy Markel will be covering it for Tomorrow's Technician. They will be checking out the 1/4 scale working gasoline powered engines. Check our website next week for video of the show.

As an added incentive for these editors, they get to stop at world-famous Tony Packo's for dinner before the drive home. Though Tony Packo's has been around since 1932, they really hit the big time when Corporal Klinger, from the tv show M.A.S.H., talked about it on the show. His character was from Toledo, and he frequently described the delightful Hungarian dishes that Tony Packo's is famous for - including chicken paprikash, stuffed cabbage, chicken soup with dumplings, and of course, their world-renowned hot dogs and chili. For the truly courageous, the Edman recommends their fried pickles and kick-butt chili sauce (do not pour the chili sauce on the pickles). Not to be left out - the Toledo Mudhens were frequently mentioned by Corporal Klinger as well, and his endorsement brought attendance levels to new highs.

That is all.

Springtime Job Hunting

It's April - and that means a couple of timely events are occurring. First of all, if you've earned any kind of money at all in the past year - it's practically tax time. Federal income tax forms have to be postmarked by midnight on Monday, April 16th this year.

Secondly - though most of us have just endured a cold and snowy weekend, it is springtime. And April showers bring May flowers. So we've got allergies to look forward to amidst all the spring warmth and growth. (I say warmth, because I know it's coming back sometime soon!)

Lastly - for many of you - this is the time you start sending out resumes and looking for that summer job, which your parents hope will become the beginning of a well-paid career. Our local paper recently ran an article on best practices for job interviews. To see the article, click on the link, then go to business, personal finance news, and Steps to Prepare for Good Job Interview.

One critical point they made, before you go on your first or last interview or any job interviews in-between, you should ask yourself, "Why should they hire me?" I guarantee your prospective employer will ask that question, so be sure you have a great answer! Think carefully about the value you can offer them.

You can find more information on www.Monster.com.

Another Magazine Cover

You will be seeing this great looking 2002 Honda Civic Si on the cover of Tomorrow's Technician in May. Owned and worked on by 26-year-old Nicholas Mendoza in College Place, WA., Nicholas works in a management position at his local Schucks Auto Supply. He is studying Automotive Technology at the Walla Walla Community College and expects to graduate in June, 2007. His instructors are James Haun and Mike Adams. He tells us he has been working on import vehicles for quite a few years, and looks forward to working in the industry for quite a while. He hopes to open his own performance shop sometime in his career. He would like to thank the guys at CorSportUSA for being an awesome sponsor and team, James Haun, Mike Adams, his friends, family, Heather, and especially his kids for putting up with him.

NY Auto Show - April 6 thru 15

There's another great automotive show coming up and it's just around the corner. Held in the Javits Center, this year's NY Auto Show will feature student teams competing against each other in a two-day event. Next month, UTI will conduct the National Automotive Technology Competition for Vo-Tech students. Vocational schools from all over the country will come to compete in the two day event (competition is held April 10-11, 2007) . The competition will be held in conjunction with the NYC International Auto show at the Javitz Center and will also include an automotive career fair and awards dinner and presentation. It is sure to be a great time, so come out and support your favorite team!

Permatex is a key 2007 sponsor, keynote speaker and award winner at this competition.

The Follow-A-Dream NHRA Funny Car will be the only racing vehicle exhibited at this year’s competition. Jay Blake, Follow-A-Dream founder and crew chief, will attend the competition and speak at the NAT Awards Dinner on Wednesday night. Jay will accept an award on behalf of Permatex and Follow-A-Dream for….. “Outstanding Vocational Tech Student Educational Support”. Permatex will have an exhibit at the event and will officially launch its new Permatex Vo-Tech Training program.

Permatex has been a great supporter of Tomorrow's Technician over the years, so we hope that you'll go out and support Permatex! If any of you attend and have some great pictures to show for it, please forward to me and I'll post them here.

I've Graduated, Now What?

You’re probably thinking you are going to graduate from your school in the spring and go right to a job where you get to work on the coolest problems – hybrid cars, or complete transmissions, or engine overhauls, or custom paint jobs. All interesting projects that will allow you to show off the education you just received. But in reality, these types of jobs are typically given to the professionals with a little more experience, a little more expertise than you’ll be able to bring to the job on day one. Which is not to say you won’t get to work on those types of jobs eventually in your career. If you’re good, it will be sooner rather than later.

But let’s face it, the new kid at the shop always gets stuck with grunt work, including tire repair, oil changes, tire changing, and other relatively mindless tasks, none of which will allow you to shine as a well-educated “expert”. Sometimes you might even be given a broom and told to start sweeping. So now you might be sitting there thinking, “why the heck would I want to go into this business if that’s all I’ll be doing?”

There are a lot of good reasons for you to join the automotive aftermarket. First of all, you already like working on cars and trucks and other vehicles. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be reading this magazine and you wouldn’t be in school learning more about them. Second of all, no one starts at the top. Even Bill Gates worked hard for his first million dollars (and hit a few bumps in the road before then). Third, the experience you get during the first year of on-the-job training will dwarf the formal education you receive, no matter how good of an instructor you may have had. And last, because this industry needs you. The professional technician in the US is getting older and the cars are becoming more and more complex. We need well-educated young people to come into the business and keep it going.

Let’s talk about these points individually. First, you already like working on cars so why not do it for a living? Your parents might want you to join the military or go to college, or do anything else except become a professional technician. Or you might not be aware of all the opportunity that exists. Did you know that the average experienced technician in the US makes $35-$40,000/year, based on location and experience. A good shop manager makes $42,000/year. Besides technician or shop manager, you could work for a dealership, racing crew, autobody shop, parts store, distributor, manufacturer; the opportunities are truly endless. But if you’re afraid there’s not enough money to make a living in this business, let me remind you of a geezer quote, “do what you love and the money will follow”.

Secondly, I said no one starts at the top, including Bill Gates. Did you know Bill Gates started programming computers at age 13? That’s probably about the same age many of you fell in love with cars. Bill Gates continued his education, both formal and informal. You’ve continued your education, both in the classroom and in your own garage. That’s important. That’s critical to your success in this business. You should not underestimate your formal education, nor should you disregard the stuff you find out just by fooling around under the hood of your own car.

Classroom training versus on-the-job, which is more valuable? Can’t say. Won’t say, because they are both important. In school you will learn basic techniques; in the “real world” you will find situations that were never discussed in school. It’s true in the automotive world, it’s true in every field you might pursue (except perhaps accounting). But you should understand that the formal education you are receiving now, is merely the platform for your future education. Be sure your foundation is strong. Use it to grow and learn as you leave school and become a professional technician. It will serve you well your entire life.

THIS IINDUSTRY NEEDS YOU. I can’t say that very loud in print, but if we were in an auditorium, I’d shout it out. The professional technician in the U.S. is getting older and the cars are becoming more and more complex. Fewer people are coming into the automotive repair industry. We need well-educated young people to come into this business and keep it going. It is not a service that can be out-sourced to a newly-named country halfway around the world. People in the U.S. have cars and will need them to be fixed by their neighbor.

Another reason this industry needs you relates to technical skill. Some people still hold the image of a technician as mechanic who can barely string two-syllable words together into a sentence. The truth is, this industry has never needed well-educated young people to come into the business as much as it does now. You and your instructors know cars are becoming more complex. Today’s cars have more computer capacity in one chip than the space shuttle did when you started elementary school. People are more complex as well. And this industry is not just about fixing cars, it’s about dealing with people. So in 2006 (and beyond), it’s not enough to love cars and tools and fixing stuff anymore. To be successful, you have to be an educated technician who loves cars and enjoys helping people.

Make no mistake, if you are that person, we need you. And this industry will be better when you join it.