When it comes to teaching Boy Scouts about working on cars, these Oregon Chapter volunteers are always prepared.
In February, eleven BMW CCA Oregon Chapter members met at Tyler's Automotive in Tigard, Oregon, to teach 24 Boy Scouts about all things automotive. The BMW CCA volunteers presented a one-day Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge event at which the Scouts learned about everything from brakes and tires to fuel injection and suspension.
The full day of instruction started at 8:45 AM and continued until 5:00 PM with more than six hours of instruction spread throughout the day. The organizers established six different teaching “stations” where Oregon Chapter members taught about the different systems in a car. The Scouts were assigned to small “patrols” that rotated through all six stations over the course of the day. Chapter member Gary Burke described the boys’ expertise as ranging from “budding enthusiasts” to “complete neophytes.”
The instruction was fast paced, but hands-on. Scouts were taught basic actions such as changing oil, checking belts and hoses, and changing tires, to more advanced skills like adjusting toe settings on the suspension.
Assistant Scoutmaster Larry Morris observed, “I've never seen our boys as focused or interested in working on a Merit Badge.” Scoutmaster Jamie Laflin had a slightly different take on the event saying, “I can't believe my car still runs after the Scouts got a hold of it.” Perhaps he was joking.
Gary Burke used his own E9 1973 Chamonix 3.0 CS Coupe to instruct the Scouts on ignition firing sequences. Vince Manley discussed the suspension and steering on his Silver Grey E46 M3 Convertible.
The group learned about combustion, belts, and jump-starting from chapter member Kelby Mazella. Dave McIntyre taught safety and cooling. Mark Koepping was the instructor for brake systems, while Sash Kazeminejad took the lead on fuel injection.
Oregon Chapter Vice President Buck Bailey covered instrument panel metrics and awareness while Chapter President Dan Hones explained alignment and tires. Members Janette Teevan and Drew Lagravinese served as photographers for the event. Member Dan Sides was the lead organizer from the Oregon Chapter for the event and is also an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 419.
The Oregon Chapter members also took the opportunity to present their Bimmers in an informal car show in the parking lot. While the Scouts wolfed down pizza for lunch and ogled the BMWs, the chapter members did what BMW CCA members everywhere do—they talked about their individual cars and did their best to convince the boys that BMW is the most prestigious marque on the planet.
Drew Lagravinese is a former Assistant Scoutmaster and said of his combined interests in BMWs and Scouting that it was “fun to be able to mix the two together for a day and see how well one meshes with the other.”
This was the third Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge event hosted at Tyler’s Automotive, but it was the first time that owner Tyler Ellensen partnered with BMW Car Club of America members for the Troop 419 event. Tyler’s shop has nine lifts and more than enough room for the six teaching stations. Tyler and his sons Tanner and Trever—who are both former Eagle Scouts—also helped with instruction.
Hosting a Boy Scout Merit Badge car-related event might be a new idea for many BMW CCA chapters, but it would certainly qualify as a worthwhile, community-service oriented one. Any Club members who may be interested in their chapters working with the Boy Scouts on a similar Merit Badge project should feel free to e-mail Dan Sides at drsides@gmail.com. —Dan Sides
[Photos courtesy of Dan Sides.]
