I’ve got a great job. Really, I do. Everyday is a reminder of things that are important. Here’s what I mean; Last week I was doing an interview with USAC Sprint Car driver Mike Spencer. We were talking about Sprint Car driving tips. One of Mike’s tips was to find a mentor. Someone that you respect and want to learn from. The seriousness and sincerity in Mike’s voice as he talked about finding the right person to learn from was, quite frankly, a learning experience for me.

Keith Dorton stays busy with his shop and helping writers with technical publications, but you can still have access to him through technical conferences.

I get to talk to some of the brightest people in the automotive industry on a daily basis. That’s my job and it’s easy to take that for granted, especially if you are just doing a job. But…here’s the reality of the situation. Everyone reading this right now has the same opportunity to talk to the same talented people that all of us in the media do.

Sure, I make contact with Marketing Directors and Vice Presidents of Advertising often when researching an article. But more often than not, these leaders of industry direct me to their technical department for specifics on the parts or components. When I say Technical Department, what I mean is the people that staff the tech lines at the company. Yup, you heard right, the same people that answer the phones when you call the tech lines.

The people that are manning the tech lines are not the receptionist types, sitting behind a computer, asking what year, make and model car you have like the clerks at your local parts stores either. These are very talented racers and car builders that companies have brought in to take care of very specific technical questions that their customers have. Make no mistake about it; these people are very talented and we all have access to them. Anyone can get great technical advice for just the price of a phone call.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some of the biggest and brightest minds in the business that are harder to get in contact with. People like Doug Yates, Keith Dorton, Dr. Dean Hill, Ron Shaver and Gary Stanton. Understandably, these folks are a little more difficult to talk with because their time is rapidly absorbed with running businesses and developing new products.

Think about sitting down with someone like Dr. Dean Hill, whose work in chemistry and fuels has taken him from Bonneville and acting as the fuel checker for all of the NHRA National Meets to consulting for NASA on the Apollo Project. Dr. Hill knows about “cheater fuels” and how they work. Do you think that you could learn a trick or two from him? I did.

Dr Dean Hill knows more about fuel than anyone else on the planet. His love is racing but he has been a consultant to NASA on the Apollo Space Program. Dr. Hill is a wealth of information and can tell you all about "cheater" fuels.

One of the best kept secrets in racing is the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) that is held in-conjunction with the PRI Tradeshow in Orlando. Yes, there is a charge for the conference, but for what experiences you are exposed to for the three days, it is worth the money and time. You get to hear these industry leaders talk in depth about their personal experience with different theories and parts. There are luncheons and breaks where you can talk one-on-one with these heroes and everyone has equal access.

What is most impressive about these types of conferences is that the speakers check their egos at the door and you converse with them as peers. Trading thoughts and sharing ideas. This year’s AETC conference is scheduled for November 28 through the 30th in Orlando. You can go to their website at www.aetconline.com to find out more about it.

The point here is not to be overly promotional about a specific conference or company but to point out how easily information that can help your racing program can be accessed. Simply pick up the phone and talk to the experts on the tech lines. If you are like me and have hero worship from a Master Technician like Keith Dorton, then find a conference that he will be speaking at and schedule to attend. You will be amazed at what you can experience and how fast your learning curve will advance by doing this.

In case your were wondering, yes, I did attend last year’s AETC conference. My understanding of Racing Engine Technology advanced by light years because of what I learned there. There were some speakers that I had limited knowledge of prior to the conference. For example, Dr. Andy Randolph gave a presentation on the advanced science of NASCAR Cup engine optimization which completely changed my thoughts on combustion. I had very limited knowledge of Dr. Randolph prior to that presentation but walked away understanding how much fun fire and combustion can really be. I mean, we all love fire, but Dr. Andy takes it to a whole new level.

Dr. Andy Randolph is the Technical Director for Earnhardt Childress Racing with a degree in chemical engineering. A true "firebug", Dr. Andy specializes in combustion. Attending a seminar where Dr. Andy is speaking should be on everyone's bucket list.

Don’t miss an opportunity to learn, especially if you have a question or problem. Pick up the phone and talk to one of the tech experts. Treat yourself and go to a conference. Talk to the heroes at your local track. With any luck, I’ll see you there as I’m gathering information for myself.