Every day, Americans spend one hour behind the wheel on average, which accumulates to 93 billion hours over the course of a year. Automobiles are by far the primary mode of transportation for Americans, accounting for 86% of passenger miles travelled in 2023. Accordingly, the school’s Auto Technology pathway, containing the Auto Technology and Auto Engine Performance classes, prepare students for a practical, real-world background needed for a career in this field. Torrey Pines High School is one of two schools in this district that offers an Auto Technology pathway. San Dieguito Academy also offers this pathway, which Neubauer taught at before coming to Torrey Pines.
“We’re all gonna be around cars, whether you’re riding them or driving them,” Eric Neubauer, Auto Technology and Auto Engine Performance teacher, said. “Your first car is your first large purchase, and typically it makes or breaks you. Having a good education about what is smart to buy and maintain, and how and why you maintain it, will save you tenfold in the future.”
This school’s auto technology pathway leads into college and career preparedness, meaning a student’s next steps could be to receive a higher level of education in that field, begin working or both.
“The reality of the number of kids that … go into the industry … [is] pretty amazing,” Neubauer said. “I have kids from the basic level … through guys at dealerships … to guys [with degrees] that are in the automotive engineering field, doing high level engineering tasks … and are now working at very successful careers.”
Neubauer has past students go into all levels of the automotive industry, including the company Fox Racing and the monster truck industry. He noted that currently, numerous heavy diesel shops pay technicians $400 to $500 per hour, contrasting the common misconception that autotech careers are just “dumb mechanic work.”
“A lot of the appeal of working on cars is solving problems,” Neubauer said “[When you have to] diagnose a relatively advanced problem and [then] … solve it … it’s such a good feeling.”
The class is designed to be interactive and self-paced, attracting numerous students. Kyle Busby (12) will complete the Auto Technology pathway and is currently enrolled in Auto Engine Performance. Working with cars was always a passion of his.
“I know twice as much as I knew before,” Busby said. “Before, I thought I knew a lot about cars. Now I know so much more. The things that I’ve learned about are things that everyone should probably know about.”
Busby believes that Auto Technology is “one of the most unique classes on campus” and is “such a joy in [his] days.” Students learn essential techniques for automotive care, such as replacing a flat tire and changing oil, as well as practical skills to safely operate on vehicles in the event of an emergency.
“It’s been really interesting and fun to learn more hands-on stuff, versus, the other classes in school where you’re learning more [standard subjects],” Cassian Corrie (11), an Auto Technology student, said. “This class is all hands-on … [and I’m] really enjoying [it].”
The class rotates through a fleet of donated shop vehicles, though Neubauer encourages students to bring in their own cars, as many students begin to drive in their sophomore or junior year. Students in Auto Technology, the prerequisite to Auto Engine Performance, are eligible to receive four units of transferable college credit articulated with MiraCosta College, while students in Auto Engine Performance are eligible for two units of college credit.
“We’ve had half million dollar Ferraris,” Neubauer said. “We’ve done collision repair on Teslas. We’ve done battery replacements on Prius’s … [People think] you have to take it to a dealership, and it’s not true. We can literally do it all.”
