Media Advisory - Automotive students will show off their mechanical know-how at the Canadian International AutoShow

TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Automotive tech students from 22 GTA high schools will test their knowledge and mechanical aptitude in a high-octane skills competition at the Canadian International AutoShow on Media Day, Feb. 13.

With a record number of schools participating, it promises to be the biggest such skills contest at the show in the 15 years that Centennial College and the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) have organized the competition.

The two-member student teams will have 120 minutes to diagnose and repair 13 new Volkswagen Passats deliberately rigged with identical operating problems by Centennial College's automotive tech instructors. The teams will also shift between five workstations to test their analytical skills in electrical, steering, suspension and brakes, engine measurement and mechanical, and waveform analysis.

The students, all of whom are studying automotive service technology in high school, will be vying for big prizes including scholarships, tools, textbooks and General Motors vehicles for their school shops. The top-ranked team will represent TADA at the National Automotive Technology Competition in New York in April.

Toronto students have been a formidable force in New York: a team from Central Technical School beat all of the U.S. teams and collected prizes worth $250,000 in 2008. A Northview Heights Secondary School team placed second in 2009.

The Toronto Automotive Technology Competition enjoys outstanding support from the industry. Sponsors include: TADA, the Canadian International AutoShow, Volkswagen Canada, General Motors Canada, Snap-On Tools, Consulab, Canadian Tire, Toromont, Auto-Know, Nelson Education, Pearson Education, Goodheart-Willcox, TecMate and Centennial College.

Photo Opportunity

When:		Thursday, February 13 (Media Day), 9 am to 2:30 pm
Where:		Canadian International Auto Show 800 Level, South Building (near the Lincoln display) Metro Toronto Convention Centre

 

SOURCE: Centennial College

Media contact: Mark Toljagic, Communications Officer, Centennial College, 416-289-5000, ext. 7142; cell 416-605-6012/[email protected]