Portland, Ore. — January 11, 2007 — On Saturday, January 20, 2007, 50 students representing 17 high schools throughout Oregon and southwest Washington will compete in the FUTURE TECH COMPETITION, sponsored by the Metro Portland New Car Dealers Association with Carson Oil. These talented, young car buffs will sweat it out to show off their technical prowess by completing the required written Automotive Service Excellence exam, swiftly testing brake systems, executing engine diagnostic exams, pinpointing electrical circuitry faults and much more.

WHAT:
Teams of high school seniors will be pitted against each other in a competition to test automotive repair and maintenance proficiency. The top five schools will be awarded prize money and the first-place winners will also receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York to compete in the National Automotive Technology Competition in April. This trip means much more than a chance to shift gears, as students will be competing for scholarships and enjoy New York in all of its glory.

WHERE:
Clark College, Vancouver
1800 East McLoughlin Blvd.
For Driving Directions and Campus Map to Clark College
http://www.clark.edu/maps/index.php

WHEN:
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Written exam and hands-on technical exams 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
Results and the awards ceremony 3:00 pm
777 N.E. Seventh Ave., Portland, Oregon 97232
P.O. Box 14460, Portland, Oregon 97239-0460
503.223.5044
fax 503.231.4728
www.portlandnewcars.com

WHO:
Competitors will represent the following 16 Washington and Oregon schools:
Aloha High School (Beaverton)
Battle Ground High School (Vancouver)
Benson High School (Portland)
Capital Center High School (Beaverton)
Clark County Skills Center (Vancouver)
David Douglas High School (Portland)
Estacada High School (Estacada)
Gresham High School (Gresham)
Prairie High School (Vancouver)
Reynolds High School (Troutdale)
Sabin Schellenberg High School (Milwaukie)
Sam Barlow High School (Gresham)
Sandy High School (Sandy)
Silverton Union High School (Silverton)
Sunset High School (Beaverton)
The Dalles Wahtonka High School (The Dalles)

WHY:
As part of an ongoing effort to support local high school and community college auto technology programs, the Metro Portland New Car Dealers Association sponsors the local FUTURE TECH COMPETITION and
funds the winning team’s trip to New York. Due to lack of school funding, the number of full-time high school auto programs in Oregon has declined.
To combat the resulting shortage of qualified automotive technicians, the Association provides more than $150,000 per year to automotive education programs.

VISUALS & INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

• Watch students sweat to beat the clock using state-of-the-art hand held diagnostic equipment
• Interview students about their involvement with the program and their plans for the future
• Interview teachers about the program’s impact
• Interview Association executives and Dealership owners regarding the economic impact of the automotive industry on the state and the bright future for technicians
• Witness the final competition results and the awarding of the first place team’s prizes
• Opportunities for women in the automotive industry are endless, several female students will be participating

Currently representing nearly 100 new auto and truck dealers in the Portland metro area, the Metro Portland
New Car Dealers Association has served the local automobile community since 1914 and is a strong supporter
of charitable causes. For more information about the association please visit www.portlandnewcars.com.