AAA Texas Auto Skills Competition Will Determine National Competitors in Washington, D.C.; Quest to Find the Best Young Auto Technician

--AAA Texas

What:     A state-wide competition leading up to the AAA/Ford Student 
          Auto Skills National Finals is a fast-paced hands-on 
          competition to diagnose and repair deliberately "bugged" 
          vehicles.

Who:      High school juniors and seniors from around the state 
          enrolled in high school automotive technology courses.

When:     Saturday, May 21, 2005
          Start:  9:00 AM  (Hands-On Competition)

Where:    Space Center Houston
          1601 NASA  Road 1  (Houston, TX)

Why?      Industry reports indicate a shortage of 32,000 auto service 
          technicians nationally. A U.S. Department of Labor report
          indicates over 690,780 automotive technicians are employed 
          and estimates that up to an additional 20 percent increase 
          will be needed by 2012.  With increasing integration of 
          computer technology into today's vehicles, computer skills 
          and a high level of understanding of electronics are 
          necessary to perform successful vehicle service and repair 
          operations.

History:  Last year, more than 6,000 high school juniors and seniors 
          in all 50 states competed in the 2004 competition.

Goals:    The goal of this competition is to encourage young men and 
          women to continue their education in automotive technology 
          and to view the automotive field as a promising career.  
          The student team that wins the state competition will 
          advance to the national finals in Washington, DC, for a   
          chance to win scholarships to further their education.

AAA Texas, an affiliate of AAA National, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas' members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance service, insurance and financial products, travel agency, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' web site at www.aaa-texas.com.