Agoura High School students Michael Amodio and John Theodosiou have always loved to tinker with all things mechanical.

Amodio, a senior, loves taking things apart and learning how they work, while the junior Theodosiou enjoys fixing the family cars.

Amodio and Theodosiou followed their love for cars and mechanics and signed up for John Andersen's auto technology class at the high school. The pair proved to be a good team and finished in first place at the annual Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association auto tech competition in February.

The win landed them a spot at the National Auto Tech Competition April 10-11 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center during the New York International Automobile Show.

"It's going to be my first time on a plane, so I'm really excited," said Theodosiou, 16. "I've been into cars as long as I can remember, and I was finding out a lot more about cars when I took automotive class. It's very challenging."

About 30 schools from the Los Angeles area competed in the event at Cerritos College.

The association promotes careers in the retail automotive industry through scholarships, competitions and internships. The association includes auto dealerships and corporations in the Los Angeles County area.

During the competition, students were tested on their knowledge of cars' electrical, chassis and body functions. Competitors had about 20 minutes to diagnose "bugs" or problems in vehicles at different stations and used their problem-solving and deductive-reasoning skills to diagnose the cases, said competition coordinator Shirley Albana-Schwarz.

The national competition also involves written and hands-on problem solving.

Andersen said competitions like this encourage students to use skills they learned in the classroom and apply them to real-life experiences.

Andersen, who has taught auto technology for 34 years at Agoura, said many high schools have phased out their auto technology classes, leaving few options for those students interested in auto mechanics or those who want to jump into the work force after graduation.

Students not only learn the inner workings of the vehicles, but also develop problem-solving skills and learn about the newest computer technologies, he said.

"Competitions like this really tests their skills against other people the same age," Andersen said. "It's neat when they get tested like this and they come out on top. It brings them confidence, and maybe they can see themselves as building a career."

Albana-Schwarz said auto technology classes in high schools and competitions help highlight career opportunities for students who might decide to go into computer technology, engineering, vocational schools or straight to a career in the automotive industry.

"There is a dire need for automotive technicians," Albana-Schwarz said. "Our association is involved in all things that will help car dealers locate and follow growing talent."

Entry-level technicians can make $24,000 to $30,000 a year depending on their skill level, Albana-Schwarz said.

At the New York City event, Amodio and Theodosiou and others will compete for more than $3 million in prizes and scholarships.

If they win the national competition, Amodio, 18, said, he plans to take the scholarship money and apply to UC Irvine and pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. Theodosiou hopes to study physics and open a custom auto body shop someday.

"It's all pretty awesome," Amodio said. "And it will be my first time in New York so I'm excited."