ADVISORY/Automotive Students to Pop Hoods and Vie for State Auto Repair Championship.

News Editors/Transportation Writers

ADVISORY...for Friday (May 7)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:     The Southland's finest high school auto technology students
          will square off to diagnose and repair identically bugged
          Ford Crown Victorias at the 2004 Ford/AAA Student Auto
          Skills Competition at Irwindale Speedway, Friday, May 7.
          (Northern California has an identical contest the same day.)

          Highest scoring team will be named state champion
          representing California in the national finals at Ford's
          World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., on June 29. At the
          national event, students will compete for $5 million in
          scholarships. The contest is an outreach program to
          encourage students to pursue automotive careers.

WHY:      Automotive technicians are among the most sought-after and
          highly-paid professionals in today's job market, but many
          high schools reduced or eliminated automotive programs due
          to lack of funds or teachers. Demand for qualified
          technicians to work on today's sophisticated vehicles
          exceeds supply by about 60,000 annually, with salaries
          ranging from $30,000-$100,000 a year.

WHEN:     10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 7.
          Awards presentation at 1 p.m.

WHERE:    Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale
          (605 Freeway at Live Oak Avenue).

WHO:      Students, including twins from Sultana High, and AAA Auto
          Specialists serving as judges.

          High School                          City
          Bishop                               Bishop
          Jurupa Valley                        Mira Loma
          Lone Pine                            Lone Pine
          Paso Robles                          Paso Robles
          Poway                                Poway
          Ramona Team A                        Ramona
          Ramona Team B                        Ramona
          San Clemente                         San Clemente
          San Luis Obispo                      San Luis Obispo
          Sultana                              Hesperia

Interviews of students/organizers are available before 9:45 a.m.
and as contestants finish competition.