Collision Repair Students Take Field Trip to Local Autobody Companies

The Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing Freshman, along with a few Seniors, took a field trip on January 10th with a morning session to Serkey’s A & R Autobody in Torrington and ending at the Golden Age of Trucking Museum in Middlebury.

 At A & R, the students crowded around Randy Serkey, who is the owner and operator.  Randy explained that he has been in the auto repair business for the past 39 years.  He described himself as a “Tech”, but he says he moves between the floor and the office. Mr. Serkey has hosted many Wolcott Tech groups at A &R over the years, and is very knowledgeable and conversant about the trade.  He even had Wolcott Tech grads Travis Hodge (’00) and Dave Genao (’06) working in the adjoining room.

Randy emphasized to the students the many opportunities existing in the business.  “The cars are much more complex than before,” he said.  Estimating, measuring, color, and matching are all computer driven now.  The office is becoming more important, and I am trying to be in there more than I used to.”  In the paint shop the group was treated to coffee, doughnuts and orange juice.  The students loaded up on refreshments while watching Travis Hodge at work in the paint shop.  At the same time, Dave Genao was busy doing detail masking directly in front of us.  Randy explained the workings of the paint shop and remarked that “Travis and Dave are the best of the best.”  Mr. Ducey explained how Dave was a CWE student and had the job upon his graduation.

Next door in the body shop, we met up with Foreman James Brown and Marcos Falcon, who was doing assembly and bodywork.  James and Marcos took time out from their work in touring the shop and discussing body shop mechanics with Mr. Ducey and the students.  The group gathered in front of A & R for a final photo and thank-you.  “It was pretty cool to see the shop up close,” said the freshman students.  “It gave us an idea of what was possible to do in the AB trade.”  They all agreed that Randy and the guys did an excellent job at A & R.

Travis Hodge finishes a spray paint job

The students were treated to refreshments by A & R

Randy Serkey addresses the group while Dave Genao preps another job

Dave Genao is detail masking

Mr. Ducey with James Brown, Foreman at A & R

Marcos Falcon in the Body Shop

Randy in front of the down-draft spray booth

Mr. Ducey and students check out the Body Shop

Our afternoon activity

The museum houses trucks of all sizes and shapes

Mr. Ducey in front of a 1917 Indiana Model T Stake Bed truck

The museum has hundreds of models and also a gift shop (background)

Seniors Jake, Corrine, and Ryan

Freshman Joe, Justin, and Courtny