While high school seniors are squaring off in the 2014 NFADA Ron Smith Memorial AutoTech Competition this Saturday, Jan. 18, in Orchard Park, area high school juniors will once again be learning the ropes and taking part in their own competition — a Tire Rodeo. 

Both competitions will take place beginning at 9 a.m. and will conclude with an awards ceremony at approximately 2 p.m. at the Erie Community College Vehicle Technology Training Center, 5885 Big Tree Road, Orchard Park. The event is open to the public.

The Resource Training Center is issuing a special challenge this week to the parents of all teen drivers with a special “5 to Drive” campaign encouraging parents to always set the rules before their teens hit the road.

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens in America. In 2011, 2,105 teen drivers were involved in fatal crashes – with almost half (45 percent) of those teen drivers being killed in those crashes.

Growing up in Niagara Falls, N.Y., Tyler O’Callahan loved to get his hands dirty tinkering with four wheelers and dirt bikes. So when he went on to Niagara Falls High School, it’s no wonder he decided to check out the Niagara Frontier Auto Dealers Association’s Ron Smith Memorial AutoTech Competition.

The local competition is open to Western New York high school juniors and seniors enrolled in a Career & Technical school automotive program. Junior’s get their first taste of the program by participating in a Tire Rodeo, while seniors have a chance to put their overall automotive skills to the test and earn scholarships and other prizes. O’Callahan, now 22, participated in both competitions and in his senior year, went on to win the local competition and earn a spot at the national competition.