Tune-up clinic sees another successful year

 CSU-Pueblo held their semi-annual Tune-Up Clinic Saturday.

The Automotive Booster Club Jr. B-3 sponsored the event to raise money to fund program related trips, said Cathi Robbe, assistant professor of the Automotive Department.

The Tune-Up Clinic was scheduled to start at 8 a.m. Students and instructors met at 7 a.m.

Between 25 and 30 students and instructors showed up to lend a hand. It was the biggest turn out yet for technicians, said David Airington, vice president of the booster club.

Robbe said that by 7:50 cars were already waiting to get in. Those who got there before 10 a.m. were given the early bird special and saved $5 on services.

By 10 a.m., twelve customers had arrived.

President Joseph Garcia was among the first to have his car serviced.

Many of the students who worked on the vehicles were Automotive Industry Management majors, including freshman Lori Fields.

Saturday was her first Tune-Up Clinic.

The clinic is scheduled at least once per semester. The club would like to have two per semester.

Fields had done “minor” repairs like changing a starter, replacing a water pump and removing the engine of a Ford F150.

“I know a little about cars,” she said.

Ibukun Alao, senior, is considered an expert by his peers. He worked at many of the clinics hosted by CSU-Pueblo. He could not remember how many.

The students did tune-ups, checked lights and performed winterization checks, according to Alao. There were a lot of coolant and radiator flushes.

“People are getting ready for winter,” Alao said.

For one customer students changed both front and rear brakes and inspected the entire brake system, George Fosu, engineering major, said.

Students finished most cars in less than two hours, due to the waiting time for parts to be delivered. Customers who had made an advance appointment took about 30 to 45 minutes, according to David Tomlinson, president of the booster club.

A separate classroom was set up as a waiting area. However, most customers dropped off their cars and came back for them, Airington said.

By 3:30 p.m., students began turning customers away so they could finish working on the cars already in the bays by 5 p.m.

Along with Robbe, automotive instructors Paul Sefcovic and Ron Darby helped with the clinic.

Ben Bourgeault with Kingdom Construction sponsored the event. Performance Auto Parts donated parts required for tune-ups, such as oil and filters, Robbe said. Students ordered specialty parts directly from dealers.

Although the booster club serves mainly AIM majors, anyone on campus can join the club, according to Tomlinson.

The booster club is planning other fundraisers throughout the semester. The next Tune-Up Clinic is scheduled for early November.

Women’s AutoRobics is scheduled for Oct. 13.

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