New York — The annual National Automotive Technology Competition is a test of skill, a measure of knowledge and a race against the clock all rolled into one. It features hundreds of the nation’s best high school automotive education students from across the country competing for the title of The Nation’s Best Automotive Technician.

This year more than $3 million in prizes and scholarships will be awarded to participating students and schools thanks to the generous support of almost every major automaker, industry suppliers, local dealerships, and dealers associations.

This nationally recognized competition, which was developed in 1990 by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association to help curb the shortage of qualified automotive technicians and raise the level of vocational education standards in the public school system, is celebrating its 22nd year in 2011 as the preeminent competition of its kind.

Leading up to the national finals, which take place at the New York International Automobile Show on April 26 and 27, regional and state contests are being held across the country to determine the nation’s best automotive students. Many of these events are held during automotive shows in the various cities, or at local community/tech schools.

The winning student teams then move on to represent their state at the national finals in New York City.

How the contest works:
Each two-person 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.

In addition, the students’ knowledge of emissions control systems, alignment, electrical test equipment, airbag components, oscilloscope usage and mechanical measurement equipment is tested during a series of intensive work station sessions.

To prepare for the competition, students train with their high school instructors as well as with certified technicians at local franchised automobile dealerships.

Did You Know…
More than $3 million in prizes and scholarships are awarded to participating students, instructors, and schools at the National Automotive Technology Competition. Prizes include full and partial
scholarships to many of the nation’s top post-secondary educational programs, tools, training equipment, and donation vehicles (used for classroom training).

2011 National Automotive Technology Competition Participating Associations
The following are the sponsoring dealership associations for the national event, along with the type of vehicle the students will need to de-bug and repair:

Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association — 2011 Ford Edge
Orange County Automobile Dealers Association —  2011 Honda
New Car Dealers Association of San Diego County — 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
Southland Motor Car Dealers Association —  2011 Lexus RX350
Colorado Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-550 4Matic
Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association — 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-550 4Matic
Central Florida Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Toyota Camry
South Florida Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Nissan Juke
Georgia Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 BMW X5
Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Toyota Camry
Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Lexus RX350
New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association —  2012 Mazda Mazda5
New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers — 2012 Mazda Mazda5
Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Lexus RX350
New York State Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Kia Sorento
Niagara Frontier Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Lexus RX350
Pennsylvania Automotive Association —  2011 Infiniti
Metro Portland New Car Dealers Association —  2011 Honda
Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association — 2011 Ford Edge
Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia — 2011 Subaru Outback
Rhode Island Automobile Dealers Association — 2012 Mazda Mazda5
New Car Dealers Association of Tarrant County —  2011 Nissan Juke
Dallas Fort Worth Metropolitan New Car Dealers Association — 2011 Toyota Camry
San Antonio Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-550 4Matic
Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association — 2011 Subaru Outback
Automobile Dealers Association of Mega Milwaukee — 2012 Mazda Mazda5
Toronto Automotive Dealers Association — 2011 Chevrolet Malibu

For more information, visit www.nationalautotech.com

Editor’s Note: Each month, Tomorrow’s Technician takes a look at some of the automotive-related student competitions taking place in this country, as well as the world. Throughout the year in “Finish Line,” we will highlight not only the programs and information on how schools can enter, but will also profile some of the top competitors in those programs.
Because there are good students in these events, we feel its time to give these competitors the recognition they deserve.

Do you have an outstanding student or a group of students that needs to be recognized for an automotive-related academic achievement?  E-mail us at [email protected].