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.