Where did you guys get your know how?

[MoeBawlz]

I went to UTI for about 3 months, and wasted those 3 months of my life. My high school education was one of the best in the state and showed its value when I attended UTI. After leaving UTI i continued to teach myself new things and went on to a college degree in technology education and manufacturing engineering. I am currently a high school auto shop teacher and love every minute of it.

Aside from automotive knowledge in high school I learned everything on my own in regards to fabrication and use of a lathe, mill, and welder.

[Alan66ss]

Some things that have helped me along the way in my career. When looking for a job don't take no for the answer. If you are interested in working for them - when they say no - ask if you can keep in contact every month or so and check in with them to see if anything has opened up. This will show them you have even more initiative. As far as building skills - just go and do it. Watch others and read as much as you can. I have been a design engineer for years. Never ran a mill or lathe. Bought a mill several months ago so I could learn. Now I am watching others and reading about the processes as much as I can. It is a lot of fun.

Oh and John - only 10% to your employer - man they are getting screwed between the two of us. I probably give 20%.

Alan

[ProTouring442]

1st, on owning your own business... It's kinda like doing cocaine. At first, your feeling great, very motivated, on top of the world. After a while, it doesn't seem to give you the kick it once did, and still further on you decide that maybe it's not so good for you after all. So, in time, you decide to get out of business. In my case, I sold off all of my inventory, and used the funds to put money down on a nice house for my wife and I. Still, just like with cocaine, every day you keep thinking, "maybe just one more time."

As for working for someone else; that sucks too! I've spent the last three years employed. I hated it. I'm too independent, just not a team player I guess. So, although it will be from someone else, I am going back into sales, as a contracted salesman. I set the hours and pay by how much I get out there and sell. I'd love to work for, or own some sort of specialty shop, but I haven't hit the lottery yet!

As for my "knowledge," the first step is to know that you don't know. If you do this, it's not so hard to ask questions and read up on what you want to know. Sounds simple, but I would be willing to bet that 90% won't ask and that at least 505 will try to BS their way.

My great uncle was an engineer... for the Illinois Central Railway! He wasn't much help, although he did get my dad the spot as mascot or some such when they christened the train "The City of New Orleans" back in '42. Kinda cool that my dad was their and then the train became so famous with that song.

Anyway, my dad has always been into cars. My first real brake came when he decided we should restore a '61 Impala. Memories I will hold dear for life. A lot of what we learned we did by trial and error, and a lot of questions and reading. We built him a beautiful 1956 BelAir convertible, and I am now working on my 1972 442 convertible. When I don't know, I ask. It's worked pretty well so far!

I know this sort of rambled on, but hopefully it has helped a little.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"

[jamheg1101]

Well Heres my first post on here.

I went with my father to one of his friends manufacturing shops. Saw they had a tig welder and asked if I could borrow it for a few weeks since they were not using it currently. Got it home, had the electrcian come run a 220 line and played around for a bit with it. Moved outside of philly and someone on the web told me a race shop was hiring. I went and did a weld test and interview and got the job. It was here that I learned to use other tools such as lathes, mills, cnc machines, presses yad yadi yada. Just got to get your foot in the door. As far as working on cars was completely trial and error. It gets expensive.lol

[ProdigyCustoms]

For me I guess it was in my DNA. I worked with my dad, fought with him a lot, so left and went out into other shops. I read a lot and self taught a lot. opened my own shop a LONG time ago. No formal schooling, although there was no WyoTech back then. Now I have young guys work with us, some full time, some part time. 3 of them are going to college or trade school. One is getting his business degree, and over the last few years is becoming a world class painter. Two of the other guys are in BMW school on scholarships, but only here for 9 months. These guys are superstar UTI grads selected by BMW. So while some know nothing about these old cars, they have a track record of applying their selves.

These youngsters in our shop work closely with 3 expert elders, myself, Matt my bodyman is 30, my brother David is with me now, and my son Michael has learned enough to teach others now, while learning.

You do not need to know anything to join our crew. You only need to be able to do as you are instructed (which can be more difficult then it sounds). if your willing to listen, be careful, and do what your asked to do, the way your asked to do it, you will learn and be a real asset to somebody.

And what Mr Quick said, echo!

[toxicz28]

3 expert elders, ....., Matt my bodyman is 30, .....

Are you sure you don't mean welders?
30 is hardly enough to be considered an elder unless the rest of your staff is still in Jr. High.

I know, I know .......