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Plymouth troubleshooting contest

On a whim, I decided to search for this contest in Google. Sure enough, this topic came up. I have a very long history with this competition and an outcome that still I can't believe it happened to me. I didn't start messing around with cars until I got my first car which was a 1967 Mustang. I didn't take high school automotive. I am from Carbondale Illinois and I decided to go to Southern Illinois University and enrolled in their automotive program. While there, in 1973, the time came for the Plymouth Troubleshooting Competition and I was chosen along with a partner, Rich Pershell to represent the school. Back in those days, Plymouth had two divisions of the contest, one for high school and one for post secondary schools. Rich and I won the Illinois State competition and then went to Boston Massachusetts for the National Finals. There were 113 teams there (some states like California were allowed two teams I believe) and Rich and I won the National Championship in the post secondary division. It was something that I am very proud of to this day. The next year, my school won it again. After 1975 I believe, they discontinued the post secondary contest and only held the high school contest. I went on with my automotive technician career until I was fortunate to be hired by Ford Motor Company in 1979. Later on in my career at Ford, I had worked my way up and was the manager of technical training. Plymouth had partnered for a few years with AAA Auto Club to run the contest until 1994 when Plymouth backed out and Ford Motor Company partnered with AAA to keep the contest going. The name was changed to the Ford/AAA Automotive Competition and it happened to be one of my responsibilities to manage at Ford. It is still hard for me to believe what happened to me in my life and the Plymouth Troubleshooting Contest played a huge part. My partner Rich, also went on to work for Plymouth/Chrysler. Yes, I have the Illinois State Trophy, Championship ring, newspaper clippings etc., and Rich has the National Trophy.
 
David McClain said:
I have the Illinois State Trophy, Championship ring, newspaper clippings etc., and Rich has the National Trophy.
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Welcome to the site. Cool story.:thumbsup:
Would you guys like to purchase some fender covers?
https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopa...troubleshooting-contest-fender-covers.191843/
FD625FF6-FAC4-43D2-ABCD-FC8917D7A531.jpeg
 
I got a 68 via ebay.

But watch them as the prices vary quite a bit, can be as much as $100 difference between the one that sells today and the one that sells tomorrow.
 
The high school I attended in Georgia held this contest in the Auto Mechanics program, on into the later 80’s, (I competed in 1978 & 1980), two contestants from our area went on to the Charlotte NC competing in a regional contest, (I think), winners would move on to a National event.... If I remember correctly, (feel free to correct this info, my memory sux lately), I Love the trophy from way back with the ‘62....very cool!
We received a jacket for making it to the regional, (or whatever it was called), somehow there was a mix up on the jackets, I received a small, which was really small........ I gave that small jacket to a skinny little kid around 1989, who turned out one of the best automotive technicians in the area, who opened his own shop twenty or so yrs ago. He’s a fan of newer MoPars, not so much the older ones, but that’s ok. Those were fun programs back then.
 
I went in '86.

We finished 3rd in the regionals, one place out of the money.

...on K cars!

I don't remember getting a jacket, but I got the fender cover (avatar), patches, and a belt buckle in addition to the trophy which was only a hand instead of a car.
 
YY1 said:
I went in '86.

We finished 3rd in the regionals, one place out of the money.

...on K cars!

I don't remember getting a jacket, but I got the fender cover (avatar), patches, and a belt buckle in addition to the trophy which was only a hand instead of a car.
Click to expand...
 
I’m don’t remember what happened at our regional competition, I vaguely remember it being at a new vocational tech college/school. What I remember most is how the three of us competing must have looked walking into the shop to complete being greeted by General Motors vehicles. Three 1975/76 Pontiacs, with Pontiac 350s, it shocked us for a moment. The judges were also from Pontiac/ Olds, Dealer, looking back, I guess they had to do what they could as the economy was in dire straits, much of our Main Street has already begun to loose Sears, JC Pennys, Western Auto, Economy Auto, not to mention all the local and area dealerships had changed owners numerous times as the large dealerships were built away from the downtown areas, the local Chrysler /Dodge/Plymouth dealership was already history, having only two or three vehicles on the lot, was no secret Mr. McCarson, (McCarson Motors), had cut ties with Ma Mope the year before I think in 77.
I’ve been on a recent search or a mission trying to find any information on any local, or area Mope Dealers Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler/DeSoto, and I remembered our instructor had worked for Chrysler, a service/parts rep which led me to thinking about the jacket...I might have been wrong...I believe our Auto Mechanics instructor might have got those jackets, he did have access to some folks at Chrysler, (except cars obviously ), anyway, I believe it was he, or our school’s Vocational Dept supplied those cool jackets which I never used lol.....just thinking out loud.....
 
I worked at two different Chry-Ply dealerships in Il and in MO from 1969 to 1979, I was a judge at several of these events in the St Louis area. I don't remember where they were held and I didn't save any memorabilia, it was just a job I was asked to volunteer for,,,,
 
Longknife said:
I worked at two different Chry-Ply dealerships in Il and in MO from 1969 to 1979, I was a judge at several of these events in the St Louis area. I don't remember where they were held and I didn't save any memorabilia, it was just a job I was asked to volunteer for,,,,
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I understand..I was a young kid from a tiny town, far from understanding, or appreciating anything, I didn’t fully appreciate the good folks like yourself snd and other who donated their time and expertise for the next generations. Thank you for your time! It’s dad that those programs went away....
 
I was not aloud to compete , due to the level of education/studies.....was a official judge through in the contest's.........Sorry , no award for that. Your post,s have enlighten me very much .
 
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moparman400 said:
I was not aloud to compete , due to the level of education/studies.....was a official judge through in the contest's.........Sorry , no award for that. Your post,s have enlighten me very much .
Click to expand...
A guy I work with just offered me a gold in color 1967 Chrysler troubleshooting trophy with a Barracuda that he has. I thought it was pretty cool. He want $200.00 for it. I however didn't think it was $200.00 cool. What are these worth?
 
I paid about $35 for my '68 via ebay but the next one that sold went for over $100.
 
bee71 said:
I remember just drooling when they would come to our HS and seeing a line of Road Runners parked there.
Click to expand...

Roadrunners ?? In 74 when I did it we had 318 Ply Scamps. Ron
 
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