This is not the typical scene for two college-level automotive technology instructors, yet that is just what we have here.  With ace technician and automotive instructor Bob Stockero (right), here we're sharing a moment of humor for this photo.

The actual scene is not pretending to be diagnosing an engine, but rather a break from seminar sessions at the California Automotive Teahers' (CAT) conference in Southern California.  The all-day CAT conferences allow automotive technology teachers to converge to exhange new-car service highlights and updates in the vocational-educational realm.

In addition to ongoing work as a radio / TV / print journalist, I have considered it a welcomed privilege to be able to work as a part-time automotive technology instructor at the community-college level.  The fact that staying involved with teaching gives the reward of helping share my enthusiasm for cars with new and promising younger folks is a bonus on top of the learning that I keep getting.

Bob Stockero is a top-level ASE Master Technician and a great instructor or advanced automotive technology.  As a student of his a number of classes, I credit Bob with the best of the training and updating that I've received on newer cars -- and found his teaching style exceptional.  With ace techs like Bob in today's automotive classrooms, our national techs are getting the best training -- even if he's willing to put a 40,000-volt spark plug wire up to his ear!