Pub. 5 2016-2017 Issue 4

22 San Diego Dealer Auto Tech Competition O nce each year the top high school automotive tech students fromacross the country gather in the Big Apple at the National Automotive Technology Competition to decide which pair of them are The Nation’s Best Automotive Technicians. Held in conjunction with the NewYork International Auto Show, the competition is“a test of skill, a measure of knowledge, and a race against the clock - all rolled into one.” Each school participating in the competition is selected and sponsored by a local association, and for many years the New Car Dealers Association San Diego County has supported outstanding students from Ramona High School to vie for the win. Under the tutelage of instructor Robert Grace, students Drake Ocampo and Brody Schmitzerle were chosen to represent San Diego at the 2017 edition of this prestigious competition. To prepare for troubleshooting a Subaru Legacy, which the team was assigned, Ocampo and Schmitzerle spent time outside of school hours to train at the Subaru Training Center in Ontario. In addition, the two of them studied online courses through Subaru University and spent time at El Cajon Subaru diagnosing and repairing a Legacy that was bugged for them. At the competition itself, each two- student team must diagnose and repair a number of pre-assigned problems under a car's hood within an allotted amount of time. Each "bug" correctly repaired is worth a number of points, depending on the level of difficulty. In addition, the student's overall knowledge is tested through a series of written tests prepared by the ASE. After tackling some difficult challenges, the Ramona team finished 26th out of 30 teams from across the nation. Although it wasn’t the top ten the team was shooting for, the pair earned tech school scholarships, and as instructor Robert Grace explained:“They both feel that they gained a great amount of knowledge frompreparing and competing in this tournament.” Both Ocampo and Schmitzerle intend to pursue tech careers, demonstrat- ing the real-world benefit of the competition. After high school Ocampo will attend Miramar Community College to study at the Honda P.A.C.T. programwith the goal of becoming a Master Technician and working at a local dealership. Schmitzerle plans on becoming an aircraft maintenance technician in the United States Air Force, with an eye towards a future career as an automotive tech. Ramona High Students Demonstrate Competitive Drive at National Automotive Tech Competition