Chipola College Automotive Technology instructor John Gardner is now filming Season 3 of “Tech Garage,” which will air on Discovery’s Velocity Network in January 2017.
The series, which has aired since 2015 at 8:30 EST a.m. on Sundays, is also available on the web.
“Tech Garage,” sponsored by Advance Auto Parts, includes the how’s and why’s of automotive diagnostics and repairs. This season, Gardner and his co-host Bryan Gregory, along with Chief Technician Chase Vlieg, will be transforming an Acura RSX project vehicle in the “RSX Resurrection.” The RSX will feature the work of local award-winning Williams Paint and Body. Every show this season also will feature a performance angle from Burnyzz Racing and Josh Hart, driver of an NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster.
“We have retained all our vendors and have acquired many new national vendors, strengthening our regional economic development efforts,” Gardner says. “The Chipola Automotive program is still my first priority. We’ve got a full class and our students are benefitting from thousands of dollars in state-of-the art equipment we use on the show and in our classes. I couldn’t do this without support from the college and our business partners.”
Since 2013, Gardner and Vlieg have been the national faces for Advance Auto Parts’ team member video training series used by thousands of employees. Gardner says, “I am very lucky to have so many friends who have helped me in this venture. Chief Tech Chase is a huge part of our success.”
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 high-tech training environment. The program offers excellent job placement rates and is accredited by The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) with Master NATEF Certification in all areas.
The Chipola Automotive Program has been named Florida’s Best Business and Education Partnership by the Bellwether Awards program, and was nominated for an Exemplary Practice Award. In 2015, the Association of Florida Colleges named Gardner its Teacher of the Year.
“Tech Garage” is produced by Masters Entertainment Group.
Follow Gardner on twitter @johngardnertv
For information, visit velocity.com/tech-garage/ and chipola.edu.