It takes fast hands, impressive skills and lots of practice to win the Oxford High School Brake Competition held Thursday, Feb. 17.
The annual competition is for students enrolled in teacher Dan Balsley’s Auto Technology Class.
Twenty-four students ? twelve teams of two ? participated in the 80-minute competition which challenges teams to completely disassemble and reassemble the rear drum brakes on at least two different vehicles.
Reassemblies are timed by judges with stopwatches. The two best times on two different vehicles are averaged together to determine the winners.
But speed isn’t everything.
‘It has to be done fast and correct,? Balsley said. ‘If there’s anything wrong with their assembly, I void their time because we wouldn’t put it back into service that way. I won’t take it unless it’s done right.?
This year’s first place winners were Alex Grapentin and Ben Bradford with an impressive average time of 1 minute, 16 seconds.
Second place went to Alex Conklin and Adam Neymanowski who’s average time was 2 minutes, 19 seconds. Alex Jahn and Donovan Scott took third place with an average of 2 minutes, 28 seconds.
The winners received a whole bunch of prizes donated by the following generous local sponsors ? Oxford NAPA, Oxford Bank, Rotary Club of Oxford, Wright Tool Co., Oxford McDonalds and Snap-on Tools.
‘This is probably the nicest, smoothest competition I’ve seen,? Balsley told his students afterward. ‘There was good sportsmanship. A lot of people trying, giving it their best. Very, very close finishes. I’m proud of you.?
Balsley started the competition nearly 20 years ago as a way to get his students ‘motivated? about rear brake work, which he admitted can be ‘complicated and dirty.?
He said the front disc brakes are ‘really fairly easy and straighforward to service,? but the rear drum brakes have a ‘lot more gizmos and gadgets? including the emergency/parking brake.
Balsley said he felt ‘frustrated? that students ‘didn’t feel confident? when it came time to roll up their sleeves and actually service a pair of rear brakes.
‘Their understanding was lacking in the practical application,? he said.
However, since starting the competition, Balsley noticed his students ‘aren’t afraid anymore? and are ‘much more comfortable? with rear brakes.
‘They’re much more eager to do it and do it right,? he said.