After earning gold in a regional competition last week, a 琉璃神社 resident says he is excited to represent B.C. when he competes in the Skills Canada Nationals next month.

Kurt Breton, a level 4 apprentice at Okanagan College, earned first in the Automotive Service category during the Skills Canada regional championships, held April 5 at the Tradex Centre in Abbotsford.

The 24-year-old said he鈥檚 been tinkering with toys for as long as he can remember.

鈥�(I remember being) five-years-old playing with Hot Wheels in the driveway (and growing up) taking apart my first bike and tinkering with that and ripping apart the frame and figuring out how it goes back together,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淎s I got older I moved up to ATVs and snowmobiles and the smaller engine stuff and then I got my car and kind of got addicted to racing. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty much what I do 24/7.鈥�

The regional competition had six different stations ranging from building a break-line to diagnosing a check engine light.

鈥淚t was pretty in depth,鈥� said Breton.

Performing a wheel alignment was challenging to Breton because the tool the competition provided was old school, 鈥渒ind of like a leveler, and I鈥檝e never seen that before. So I went into that one completely blind,鈥� he said.

But he felt confident when it came to diagnosing a check engine light.

鈥淚 was excited when I knew there was a check engine light there. That鈥檚 the most exciting part for me in this trade.鈥�

The vehicle was leaking gas fumes and Breton was able to find two leaks.

鈥淚 think everyone else only found one so that put me ahead,鈥� he said.

One day, Breton plans to own his own shop but for now he鈥檚 finishing his apprenticeship, working at RPM to complete his hours.

He hopes to continue working at RPM 鈥渁s long as they keep me,鈥� he said.