For most teens, the thrill of a car derives from driving it, not fixing it.
But on Friday, 16 Arizona high school juniors and seniors raced to identify and repair intentionally bugged cars in the Ford AAA Auto Skills Competition.
The students - half of whom attend Tucson-area schools - were faced with mechanical and electrical problems. They were judged on the quality of their work, their ability to identify and correct the problem, and a written test.
"As an advocate for the motoring public, AAA recognizes this is a vital field," said Michelle Donati, a AAA spokeswoman. "We hope students can jump start their careers through this contest."
The Sahuaro team of Shane Blasdel and Taylor McDaniel took second place in the competition. They were fourth to finish working on their car, a 2010 Mercury Milan, and got a perfect score from the judges.
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"The competition really got my adrenaline going and I just wanted to get our car done," McDaniel said. "It was tough, but I learned that if you pay close attention to what you're doing, you'll be fine."
McDaniel and Blasdel practiced daily on intentionally tampered vehicles in their automotive class, McDaniel said.
Their hard work paid off, earning scholarships to take part in Ford technical training programs, a set of tools and a trophy.
The first place winner, Centennial High School in Peoria, will go on to represent Arizona in the national competition next month.
Centennial students CJ Henggeler and Chad Wait were the first to finish working on their car and also got a perfect score.
The Flowing Wells team of James Woods and Jordan Stetson placed fourth in the competition. They nearly had a perfectly repaired car, except for a fuse cover that was not properly re-attached.
Still, the experience was valuable, said their instructor, Jerrad McMurrich.
"This allows the students to network with like-minded individuals and with employers and there are scholarships on the line," he said. "Plus, competition is good for the soul."
The other two Tucson-area schools that participated were the Mountain View High School team of Craig Mack and Michael Thorpe, which placed fifth, and the Sahuarita High School team of Alex Molloy and Daniel Ybarra, which placed seventh.
