Southwestern Edition Texas Oklahoma Louisiana New Mexico Arkansas Colorado
34
YEARS
www.autobodynews.com ww ww.autobodynews.com
Recent Poll Finds Tie Between Car Driven and Presidential Candidate Supported
Prius owners were more likely to support Ted Cruz and Hilary Clinton than the general population, while Dodge owners favored Donald Trump, and Honda Fit and Subaru Forrester enthusiasts “Feel The Bern,” according to data generated by car-shopping site BestRide and nationally syndicated radio program CarTalk. The findings stem from a poll of more than 10,000 respondents, who were asked what car they drive and which presidential candidate they backed. In a report issued February 23, the following results were determined: Toyota Prius owners were 40% more likely to support Clinton than the general population. Prius owners were 126% more likely to support Cruz than
the general population. Dodge owners favored Trump 50% more than the general population. Bernie Sanders and Clinton supporters registered the highest EPA-estimated fuel mileage, tied at 28.5 MPG. Republican candidates had the lowest average, with Trump supporters at just 23.6 MPG, and Marco Rubio and Cruz-backers tied at 24.7. As for highest MSRP, supporters of Green Party candidate Jill Stein drive cars averaging almost $40,000. They’re also the least likely to drive what most Americans do, with a paucity of Honda Accords, Ford Fusions and Toyota Camrys. Among electric car owners, 86% of responses supported a Democrat and 14% supported a Republican.
Texas State Technical College Student Makes Her Mark at SkillsUSA by Amanda Sotelo, TSTC
Dolores Garza, Texas State Technical College Auto Collision Technology student. Credit: TSTC
SkillsUSA is a professional organization teaching technical, academic and employability skills that help high school and college students See Student Makes Her Mark, Page 16
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
“I was in shock when they called my name,” said Dolores Garza, Texas State Technical College Auto Collision Technology student. “I couldn’t believe I had received first place, the competition was so close. This was definitely a proud moment for me.” Garza recently competed in the SkillsUSA competition for Auto Collision Technology in the refinishing category. She was the only female from the auto collision group to participate and has earned herself a first place win and a spot at state competition in April held at TSTC’s Waco campus.
VOL. 34 ISSUE 4 APRIL 2016
Severe Storms Rip Through Marietta, OK, Leaving Body Shop Owner Devastated by KTEN Texoma staff
“You got roll-up doors sitting on cars, you got cars missing windows, you’ve got an 8,000 pound baler that was moved 10 feet,” auto body shop owner, Ethan Rains said. “I’ll be stuck fixing a lot of stuff,” Rains said. He was surveying the damage after his auto body shop was destroyed by overnight storms. Car windows were smashed after heavy debris blew through the small town of Marietta on the early morning of March 8. Trash pollutes the streets, roof
Ethan Raines, body shop owner in Marietta, OK, recalls the damages after the storm on March 8
shingles have been blown away, and business owners said they are devastated. “Got a lot of stuff messed up, a lot of property damage, a lot of car damSee Marietta shop, Page 18
Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision Technology Program Receives National Grant
Tyler Ashby, 26, of Burleson grew up a wishlist of the program’s equipment needs which will be delivered soon. watching his relatives work on vehi“The faculty will be able to concles. He once worked in a paint and body shop and through all of this, he tinue to sharpen our own skills and discovered he enjoyed automobile then pass that knowledge on to the painting. Ashby, a first-year student at students,” said Ranson Bandy, an Auto Collision Technology instructor. Texas State Technical College, is pur“The better we learn the better we will suing an associate degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology - be able to teach.” Second-year student Robert Lee Refinishing Specialization and a cerPecina Jr., 36, grew up in tificate in Auto Collision ReMarlin and remembered watpair. ching his grandfather run his Ashby and other students own paint and body shop. In will soon get to use new ehigh school he toured TSTC quipment to work on in labs. and saw the Auto Collision TSTC’s Auto Collision TechTechnology labs. Now living nology program recently reand studying for an associceived for the first time a Tyler Ashby is a ate degree in Auto Collision $50,000 Collision Repair Edfirst-year student and Management Technolucation Foundation Makeover at Texas State Grant via the Education Foun- Technical College. ogy– Refinishing SpecialCredit: Daniel Perry, ization in Waco, Pecina said dation. Texas State is looking forward to using “It’s a great idea to have echnical College new air dryer guns. this equipment in the shop,” The program has applied for the he said. Money for the grant was made grant in recent years and though it did not win the top award before now, it possible by Berkshire Hathaway Automotive, Caliber Collision, GEICO, still received gifts in kind such as two Herb’s Collision and Nationwide Inwrecked vehicles for students to repair. surance. Faculty members put together See TSTC Grant, Page 10
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit #2244