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Saturday, December 22, 2007
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Hope gets a tuneup Donated auto gets overhaul' in BHS shop class Staff Writer It's not a brand new Lexus with a red bow on the top, but the 1992 Volkswagen Jetta will probably be one of the best presents a local family could receive this holiday season.
A Brainerd High School teacher donated her old vehicle to Bridges of Hope to be given to a family in need. However, the Jetta needed a little work before the teacher felt comfortable donating the old car.
So students in Jim Hahn's automotive service class at Brainerd High School South offered their help in fixing up the car so it could be donated. Four students, BHS juniors Logan Winterowd and Jeremy Anderson and seniors Dale Ranney and Jared Steininger, worked on the car during the past two weeks. They replaced the brakes, did some engine work and gave the car a tuneup, along with some electrical work and some minor body repair on the exterior. They also detailed the interior and balanced the tires.
"It was fun, I'd never worked on a VW before," said Steininger.
Anderson said the most difficult part was replacing the brakes.
"There were a lot of challenges," said Hahn. "I strained their brains a bunch, that's for sure."
Steininger estimated the vehicle was worth about $1,200 after the repairs. It has 172,600 miles on it and gets good fuel mileage, the teen said.
Hahn, who has been teaching automotive classes for 33 years with six years at BHS, said the course offers students an opportunity to explore real-world situations and solve problems they'll have to deal with as adults - like figuring out what's wrong with their car.
"Even if they don't go into the automotive repair industry, it's good information for them to maintain a company vehicle or their own vehicle," said Hahn.
Tami Lueck, executive director for Bridges of Hope, said on average they receive about three donated cars a year and those are then given to families in need who either don't have a vehicle or don't have a reliable vehicle. She said vehicles donated to the charitable nonprofit organization do need to be in working condition since they are given to families, rather than sold.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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