Region 2 students earn accolades for custom paint job

by Staff Pioneer Times
14 years ago

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The future of the automotive painting industry appears to be in good hands.
    Students in Ammie Toby’s Region 2 auto-collision course recently painted a race car owned by Roy Crawford and sponsored by Hogan Tire and the TNT Road Company.
    “We have had many different community projects over the years,” Toby said. “These kids did a really good job on this one and it was the first time they have been recognized for it.”
Contributed photo
BU-CLR-Region2-dcx-pt-22PAINT JOB — Students in the auto-collision course at Region 2 show off the award-winning paint job they did for a race car sponsored by Hogan Tire and TNT Road Company. The car won “Best Looking” in the Fast Four division at Spud Speedway’s opening events at the Forum in Presque Isle. Showing off their work are, from left, Brad Suitter, Ian Gardner, Aaron Eastman, Daniel Bishop, Ethan Foster, Mitchell Vargas, Dillion Farrar and Bailey McGuire. Not pictured are Robert Coutemanche, Julia Ouellette, Kassi Reeves, Dale Barrows and Meghan Long.
    The paint job was awarded “Best Looking” in the Fast Four division during the second annual Motor Sports Show held at the Forum in Presque Isle May 21-22.
    “This project teaches the kids the basic entry-level skills in the auto industry,” Toby said. “For this particular project, the kids get even more satisfaction because this car will be seen in the community. It’s very important to instill this [satisfaction level] in students at this age. Sometimes, they never get that feedback.”
    The students spent about a week preparing and painting the automobile, Toby said. She chose the green and blue color scheme for the car because she felt they “popped off the car.”
    “I enjoy looking at the ‘before’ photos and seeing the work we have done,” Toby said.
    Students in the class who worked on the vehicle include Brad Suitter, Ian Gardner, Aaron Eastman, Daniel Bishop, Ethan Foster, Mitchell Vargas, Dillion Farrar, Bailey McGuire, Robert Coutemanche, Julia Ouellette, Kassi Reeves, Dale Barrows and Meghan Long.
    “It wasn’t really all that hard or any different from some of the other stuff we have done before,” said student Meghan Long. “What was cool was winning the award. It was pretty sweet and nice to know our efforts paid off.”