Chipola College automotive instructor John Gardner is now nationwide as the host of a new television show, “Tech Garage,” presented by Advance Auto Parts and airing Saturday and Sunday mornings on Discovery’s Velocity Channel.
“Tech Garage” is an automotive how-to show focusing on theory, operation and diagnostics of vehicle systems. The series airs at 8 a.m. (EST) on Saturdays, and replays the same time on Sundays. More than 52 million American households (45% of households with television) receive Velocity. The show is also available online at www.velocity.com.
The lineup of programs includes: March 7-8, Undercarriage: Suspension/Drive Trains; March 14-15, No Catastrophic Damage: Accessory Belts/Timing Belts/Hoses/Lines; March 21-22, Stretching Fuel Dollars: Fuel and Emissions; and March 28-29, No Fear Electrical: Basics/Troubleshooting.
Past shows included Fuel Systems & Exhaust: Turbo and Supercharging; Highway Nightmares: Cooling/No Start Diagnosis; Driving Safe: Steering/Lighting/Wipers; Riding Comfortable: AC/Power Windows and Door Locks; and Where’s the Engine: Engines/Emerging Technologies;
Butch McCall, executive vice president of Masters Entertainment Group, led a crew that filmed the first 13 episodes in Chipola’s Automotive Technology shop.
Gardner is no stranger to the camera. Since 2013, he and fellow automotive instructor Chase Vlieg have been the national faces for Advance Auto Parts’ team member video training series used by thousands of employees.
The Chipola Automotive Technology program utilizes an industry-based curriculum in partnership with local shops, and an advisory committee to provide students with the competitive edge in the ever-changing, high-tech training environment. The program has excellent job placement rates and is accredited by The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF).
