Oklahoma Tech Drives Home El Camino in Training Draw

An Oklahoma technician was chosen from among thousands of North American automotive professionals to take home a 1966 El Camino in Federal-Mogul’s Training Excellence Sweepstakes.
Brad LaRue, an automotive technician employed by the City of Ponca City, Okla., won the grand-prize El Camino.
The sweepstakes was sponsored by Federal-Mogul Corporation’s Technical Education Center (TEC) in St. Louis, Missouri.
LaRue’s name was drawn from among thousands of automotive technicians and parts professionals who attended a 2005 Federal-Mogul TEC workshop in St. Louis, an evening field seminar in the U.S. or Canada, or enrolled in the sweepstakes via mail.
LaRue’s grand prize is a classic bright-red El Camino SS with “numbers-matching,” 396-cubic-inch engine, automatic transmission, fully restored body and interior and a rare collection of factory options. The vehicle also features a broad range of technology enhancements installed throughout 2005 by technicians and other TEC students enrolled in the workshops.
“This is an absolutely gorgeous car. I still can’t believe I’m the winner,” said LaRue, who along with his wife, Betty, and grandson, Joseph, was presented the vehicle in a mid-January ceremony in St. Louis.
LaRue is accustomed to making the trip to Federal-Mogul TEC, having attended seven workshops covering chassis and driveline service, brake and advanced ABS diagnostics, and domestic and advanced driveability, since 1999. “The instructors do an excellent job of covering the latest technologies while addressing the unique needs and interests of the technicians enrolled in a course,” he said. “I always return to work with a variety of new skills I can apply to my job.”
Federal-Mogul TEC offers a full range of on-site and field training workshops covering engine, steering and suspension, driveline, brake, fuel system, ignition and automotive electronics. Courses are taught by ASE Master Certified instructors and utilize the latest diagnostic tools and equipment. The Technical Education Center has been awarded the Continuing Automotive Service Education (CASE) certification, joining such leading organizations as General Motors Service Technology Group, Toyota Motor Sales USA and Navistar International as a premier provider of technical training.
“Our mission is to help technicians develop the skills they need to tackle virtually any job on any vehicle make or model,” said Bruce Maize, director, technical service and customer support, Federal-Mogul. “A Federal-Mogul TEC workshop is a great way to become a more productive and valuable part of the success of an automotive or fleet service operation.” Federal-Mogul TEC will unveil plans for a 2006 classic car sweepstakes in the coming weeks.