100 Auto Savvy Teens Battle for the Top Tech Crown in Henry Ford's Hometown

2006 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition June 27 in Dearborn

50 Two-Man Teams From Across the U.S. Will Race Against the Clock to Get the Deliberately Installed 'Bugs' Out of 2006 Mustangs and Win $6 Million Worth of Scholarships and Prizes

DEARBORN, Mich., June 14 -- WHEN:     Tuesday, June 27, 2006
             9:15 a.m. -- Starting gun
             Instructed to "start your engines, if you can," students clad
             in red and black "pit crew" uniforms will run to their
             assigned, identically bugged red, white and blue Mustang
             convertibles.

             9:15 - 10:45 a.m. -- Competition
             The fastest time to diagnose and repair the cars, then drive
             across the finish line + the best written score determine the
             2006 champions.

             11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. -- Trophy Presentations to Top 10 Teams

  WHERE:     Ford World Headquarters, Dearborn, Michigan
             One American Road -- Michigan Avenue and Southfield Freeway

             Free parking and refreshments available on site.
             Video feed and photos available following competition.
             Opportunities for interviews with student competitors and
             officials.
             Please check in at Media Tent, near American Road.

  WHY:       Skilled auto technicians are in growing demand from consumers
             and the automotive industry.  Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills
             showcases the nation's best young technicians and encourages
             and enables them to pursue careers in the profession.  Winners
             receive scholarships to help further their education and
             training as auto technicians and engineers, with the potential
             for substantial incomes.  More than 6,000 students from all
             50 states vied for the chance to be in the final competition.