A two-member team of young auto mechanics from Iowa is ready to take part ina national car-fixing competition this morning. 18-year-olds Nathan Jungckand Jacob Strait, both of Perry, will try to figure out what’s wrong with avehicle that’s been intentionally messed up. 49 other vehicles will beparked in the long line with 49 other teams trying to fix their bugs.Daron Van Helden is spokesman for Triple-A/Iowa, which is co-sponsoring theStudent Auto Skills National Finals. Van Helden says the two Perry teens wonthe state competition under similar circumstances. They were handed the keysto a car & were told “It’s dead. Make it run.” The first tool a modern mechanic reaches for may no longer be a wrench orscrewdriver — but a diagnostic computer. Van Helden says it’s important toencourage these young mechanics. The competition in Washington D-C is slated to begin around 8:15 a-m, Iowatime. The various teams will have 90 minutes to find and fix the bugs.
