Second Annual Bodywork Bowl Another Huge Success

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

Ding! Ding! Ding! For the second year in a row, the NORTHEAST Bodywork Bowl Collision Repair Skills Competition proved to be the main event! This fun and friendly competition once again exceeded expectations, drawing in 70 competitors who showcased their skills in welding, painting and estimating while attracting crowds of spectators all weekend! 

Azam Rahamat (Anderson Auto Electric Co.; Waterbury, CT) has been coming to NORTHEAST for at least 20 years. This year, he left with a first place title in the welding competition and took home a MIG welder donated by Chief Collision Technology/Collision Equipment Consulting. The win took him completely by surprise, and he humbly expressed the belief that “there would be others out there who are better welders than I am.” 

Doug Begin (Vendetti Motors; Franklin, RI) walked away from his first trip to NORTHEAST with a first place title in the estimating competition, taking home the top prize of $500 cash. “I learned about the competition while taking an educational class, and I figured why not sign up. A lot of people competed, so I was really surprised and happy to find out I won!” 

Ricardo Ludena (Gifford Auto Body; Manville, NJ) took home the first place $500 cash award in the painting competition. “This was my first time taking part in this competition, and I am really excited [about winning],” Ludena expressed. “I saw the competition and said why not try it out? I attended the show with my boss who won last year’s estimating competition. This year, it was my opportunity.”

Multiple vendors donated equipment and prizes, helping to make the competition such a huge success! CCC Intelligent Solutions provided the estimating equipment and a swag bag to the second place winner for the estimating competition. In addition to providing the virtual spray paint equipment for the contest, AkzoNobel donated a smart TV to the second place winner and a Dave Kindig swag bag to the third place winner in the painting competition. Welding equipment was sponsored by Metropolitan Car-o-Liner, Chief Collision Technology/Collision Equipment Consulting, Solidus Equipment and Spanesi Americas. Spanesi Americas also donated a TV to the third place winner in the welding competition. 

Winners:

ESTIMATING

1st place: Doug Begin

2nd place: Rene Molina

PAINTING

1st place: Ricardo Ludena

2nd place: Xavier Molina

3rd place: John Stavina

BODY/WELDING

1st place: Azam Rahamat

2nd place: Chris McFarland

3rd place: Darwin Gualoto 

Want more? Check out the April 2024 issue of New Jersey Automotive!