Twenty-six Oxford High School students worked fast and furiously during the Auto Technology I course’s annual brake service competition held Feb. 26.

Two-person teams went head-to-head to see who could completely disassemble and reassemble two different sets of rear drum brakes in the least amount of time.

The work was timed with stopwatches, and everything had to be done as quickly and accurately as possible. Errors could disqualify a team’s time.

During the 90-minute competition, the teams kept working until they either achieved desirable times or simply ran out of time.

Students Jacob Marvin and Jaden Hooper earned first place with a combined time of 3 minutes, 3 seconds.

“That’s very competitive,” said Auto Instructor Dan Balsley. “That’s right in line with what I would expect for a first place (finish).”

Second place was claimed by students Justin Scott and Zach Jones. They’re combined time was 5 minutes, 38 seconds.

Finishing third was the team of Jacob Purdy and Gabriel Green with their combined time of 6 minutes, 26 seconds.

Each of the winning teams received an array of prizes fit for aspiring young mechanics.

Balsley started the competition years ago because first-year auto students were resistant to learning about brakes and working on them.

“The brakes are dirty and complicated,” he said. “The students would rather not service them. They’d rather do an easier repair.”

Balsley decided to transform what was viewed as a dreaded chore into an exciting, prize-filled competition. That did the trick because now students look forward to tackling the brakes and typically log plenty of practice time prior to the competition.

“It’s a great motivator,” Balsley said. “They have a good time doing it and I think that’s part of effective learning. If it’s drudgery and you don’t like (doing something), then you don’t learn as well. (Because of the competition) they’re enjoying (brake work) and they’re getting good at it.”

This year’s competition was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oxford, Steve’s Oxford Automotive, Wright Tool. Co. and the Oxford McDonald’s restaurant.

For more photos from the competition, check out this week’s Leader for just $1.