Building Character And Faster Machines

Respect for others and respect for your work is another issue that we attack. I have had students come in my class using the F word like it's no big thing. There are many other examples as well, such as talking while I'm giving a lecture, horsing around in the class, eating and sleeping in class, and so on. These are things that they are told are not permitted in the classroom. It's up to me to correct it and direct it.

So, what I do is tell them the rules again every three weeks (each class is 3 weeks long), then I tell them that if they hear me say it or see me do it then it's alright for them to do it. I don't swear or play around in the classroom. I wear my safety classes and show them that I'm very detailed about my engine building and repairs. The first week I get some slackers, but by the end of that we start to gel. I tell them stories about my racing experiences working for endurance race teams (the big money ones) and the personal and work ethics required to be on that kind of team.

The rewards of the long and hard hours are not always money. At the end of three weeks the students are starting to follow my lead, and we come together as a team. Some of the students are very fast, catch on to what is happening and are happy to be treated with respect. Consequently, they respond in like manner to the instructor and to others. We have a saying here at UTI that we change lives, one at a time.

This is the best tech school out there for having a balanced program for entry level tech's. If the student follows the program and leaves with a clean driving record, they can be invited to a manufacturer program like Mercedes, Toyota, Ford, etc. This gives them more training that will add to their resume, and also give them more marketing skills.

I have worked with several race teams, and inform the students that they only get out of the program what they put into it. So, if they are interested in working for a race team then they need to develop these skills and have a teachable attitude, or they'll be watching the race from their TV, not from the pits.

As you can imagine, some students are harder to reach than others, so I work hard to get their attention and motivate them in ways that are meaningful to them. One thing I've found to be very effective is keeping various parts from the racing world on display. These parts serve not only as useful training aids but also as eye candy for the students. It keeps them excited and helps train their brains to think outside of the box.

The parts that we use for this program have been donated to us by racing teams from across the country, and we're grateful to those who share our dedication to inspiring, motivating and building the character of the next generation of hot rod enthusiasts. If you'd like to help with this program, we can use engine parts from race cars like pistons, rods, cams, heads, etc. - anything that's race related. Even used or broken parts serve as useful training aids and help to fire the imagination of our students. If you have any questions or would like to help the program, you can email me anytime.

Like any other career in the world, a strong work ethic and commitment to a higher standard of personal behavior are the true secrets to success. At Hot Rod U, we build more than fast machines. We build character. As all of you who serve as role models already know, there's nothing more important than making a difference in the lives of the next generation.