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Houston Auto Show Showcases New Technology by Ed Mayberry, Houston Public Media
The Houston Auto Show at NRG Center displayed more than 800 vehicles from nearly 40 manufacturers. That includes electric cars, although dealer Carroll Smith said sales of those re-
main sluggish. “It almost appears as if it is a revolution, but the reality is that today, the average dealer in the United States is only selling one electric vehicle a month,” Smith said. Smith also said
regular gasoline engines are becoming so efficient, it raises questions about taxes. “Our roads are funded by a gasoline tax. As we change more and more, even to fuel-efficient internal combustion, if you see a huge shift to that, where are we going to fund our roads?” Smith said. What is selling? Cars with collision avoidance systems, said Steve McDowell with Infonation, a firm that mines auto sales data.“People coming into this show don’t realize how many autonomous features there are. Collision prevention, which is one very important feature—these are the best vehicles that have ever been built,” he said. We thank Houston Public Media for reprint permission.
Campus Auto Repair Shop Gives TSTC Students Real-World Experience
See Campus Auto Repair, Page 33
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
Texas State Technical College students studying automotive technology put their skills to the test most Fridays, working on cars with real-world problems in a simulated auto repair shop. TSTC faculty, staff and students can take their cars to the on-campus Kultgen Automotive Center, supplying the needed parts themselves. About 250 students are in the class this semester, said Ben Matus, an instructor for the course. “They work on cars with actual problems instead of just school cars,”
Matus said. “They come in here and look up procedures to prepare them. Of course they diagnose the problems first, locate the problem, replace parts if necessary, and then check to make sure it’s operable and correct.” The program, launched about three years ago, has students work on cars with problems that can be solved within a few hours. The real-world experience of the shop includes interacting with customers and filling out paperwork. Luis Reyes, 19, of McGregor, TX, said a desk job just isn’t for him. “Once I got into hgh school, I al-
Change Service Requested
by Phillip Ericksen, Waco Tribune-Herald
VOL. 36 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2018
A Career Painter’s Personal Experience is Cautionary Tale for Others by Ed Attanasio
Back in 1985, the actor Yul Brynner was dying from cancer when he told a television audience on “Good Morning America” that what he really wanted to do was film a commercial that said, “Now that I’m gone, I’ll tell you this: Don’t smoke. Whatever you do, just don’t smoke.” When he died several months later, his wish came true when a public service announcement was produced telling the world to quit smoking. Today, it is one of the most memorable anti-smoking statements ever made and is often re-broadcasted all over the world. In life, we learn from others’ mistakes so that we don’t repeat them. In this story, a career painter has sage advice for painters and techs who don’t wear proper gear when painting cars.
Alex Alonso and his wife, Andrea, on the beach in Florida. A former painter/tech, Alex has stage 4 kidney cancer and wants other collision professionals to be aware of the hazards associated with not wearing the proper gear on the job
Alex Alonso is 52 years old and originally from Bronx, NY. His father, Jesus, was born in Uruguay and came to the U.S. to eventually open a twoSee Cautionary Tale, Page 12
CIC Industry Meetings Discuss CCC’s Changes to ‘Secure Share’, Retains Interest in EMS Format
file rather than requiring the use of the newer “BMS” data export file, reducing development costs or forced Changes that CCC Information Services recently announced related to its timelines for third-party providers to “Secure Share” data-exchange program gear up to receive BMS files. were a frequent focus of discussion at CIC Chairman Guy Bargnes said the CIC task force that dethe Collision Industry Conferveloped early last year to adence (CIC) and other meetdress concerns related to ings held recently in Palm Springs, CA. Secure Share successfully CCC in December anfulfilled CIC’s mission to nounced that it was dropping bring industry stakeholders plans for a 50-cent-per-estitogether to “discuss issues, mate fee for third-party enhance understanding, find Dan Risley providers (such as rental car common ground and comcompanies, shop management system municate possible solutions.” providers, CSI services, etc.) wishing “This is a really great example of to receive estimate data from CCC the difference that CIC can make ONE users. It also eliminated regis- when everybody is working together tration fees for those third-parties, for a common goal,” agreed ASA Exand said it would continue to allow ecutive Director Dan Risley, one of such data transfers to be done via the three co-chairs of the CIC task force. See CCC’s Changes, Page 32 commonly used “EMS” data export by John Yoswick
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