Saskatoon Tech Wins ACDelco 2003 Technician of the Millennium III Competition

David Wiebe, of Crestview Auto Service, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan beat out five United States and two other Canadian finalists in what each contestant referred to as an incredibly challenging final competition at the 2003 ACDelco Technician of the Millennium III competition. Weibe took home a Chevrolet Silverado SS pickup as the top finisher. All eight finalists had advanced in the competition against 2,500 other technicians. An audience of nearly 5,000 attended the competition, which was held Oct. 24 at the Venetian Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The Technician of the Millennium III finals were a much bigger deal than I envisioned they would be when I entered the competition last fall, and the title is also a big deal,” Wiebe said. “I had a feeling of satisfaction I never dreamed because I have wanted to be a technician since I was a kid, and feel I have become so much more.”

All technicians were provided with identical tools, parts, computers and diagnostic equipment, which they used to diagnose and repair actual vehicles in a timed, hands-on skills demonstration.

The top-10 scoring technicians in each region advanced to the eight regional hand-on competitions, where they were judged on their ability to diagnose and repair vehicles.

Runner-up Charles (Lee) Murphy, Russel’s Automotive, Hampton, Ga., received the equivalent of a $5,000 gift certificate with the Exclusively YOURS Rewards Card and a Dell notebook computer with Vetronix Techview Pro Software. Second runner-up Curt Field, B and T Auto Repair, Butler, Pa., received the equivalent of a $2,500 gift certificate with the Exclusively YOURS Rewards Card and a Midtronics Micro 500 XL tester. Other finalists included:

Jeffrey Taylor, Eccles Service Center, Dundas, Ontario

Bruno Bellavance, Auto Diagno Centre Inc., Quebec, Quebec

Ricky Kelley, Buck’s Automotive Inc., Tucson, Ariz.

Scott Hager, Scott’s Auto Service, Troy, Mo.

Edward Robertson, Davis Auto Care, Northville, Mich.

All eight finalists received an ACDelco-sponsored vacation for two, a Snap-on Special Edition Technician of the Millennium III toolbox, a Vetronix MTS 5100 engine analyzer, a subscription to GM Service Information, an SPS Pro Reprogramming System, a Fluke 87 DVOM, SPX tool package and various other prizes and gifts.

“This competition was awesome and a huge boost to the image the public has of technicians. Now they can see the other side of the profession and that makes me happy,” Wiebe said. “In addition, it reinforces our image with our customers as having the ability to repair their vehicles right the first time using high-quality parts and up-to-date know-how to fix their cars and trucks quickly and accurately.”