More About the Author
Author & automotive authority JEFF SHUMWAY..
Hmmm... how'd I get involved working with cars? Well, I DID really enjoy cars at first... tinkering with Dad's cars in the driveway despite his appropriate "do you know what you're doing?" inquiries. This evolved into enjoying & working on my own vehicles when I was old enough to drive. First car: 1967 Pontiac Firebird Convertible V8 (a beauty!). That was followed by a pavement-pounding 1968 Mercury Cougar with a massive Ford V8 engine (rare 427/dual-4 barrel carbs) sitting under a giant hood scoop, and stunning trick paint all around. OK... admit I MAYBE put fifty miles on the car while I had it: repaired, rebuilt, restored, & customized literally every part & system throughout... a little racing/track action too! Very cool.
This is also the time period (late teens) I immersed myself in learning nearly everything about cars and engines and racing... then immediately applying the knowledge... under the hood!
Then I matured a bit & went sporty: a trio of the sexy Datsun 240Z two-seater sports cars (poor guy's Corvette?!)... and all three seeing horrific endings: off-a-cliff accident: totaled; completely torched (fire): totaled; stolen and recovered blown-up: totaled. OK... got it... no more "Z" cars... oh, well!
Have owned & completely rebuilt & driven on a daily basis a battery-powered all-electric car (no gas engine)... despite it's novelty, and maximum surrounding excitement, THAT experiment was a complete failure.... think hills, extreme weather, & LIMITED DRIVING RANGE (glad I had good walking shoes!!!).
I've always enjoyed race cars, particularly DRAG race cars... and specifically "Funny Cars" (any guesses why?). Have always loved to make car models... the kind out of little boxes from the toy store... always went furthest to ensure mine always looked the hottest & most fun! (Again, any patterns being noticed here?!)
After I started working on cars for a living, I became less enamored with them (less FUN!)... they simply became a means to an end-- making a living, and personally, for solid transportation. Yet something grand has indeed come from the on-going experience: since I have a VERY analytical/engineering mind, in the context of all the cars I've worked on and repaired, I've studied not just WHAT has failed or broken in each instance, but WHY... and that's an extremely important distinction. Addressing "why?" (did this part fail/break/etc), and developing valid theories and answers, is very powerful... and why that makes me quite different than most other car folks. Trust me... most people who work on cars just want to (hopefully!) fix what's wrong with what's in front of them and quickly move on.
Here's my full automotive background: Professional auto mechanic since 1977. Credentialed for decades by the only recognized mechanic certification organization in the United States: ASE in all automotive categories, plus advanced engine performance... "MASTER CERTIFIED" (NOT easy!!) for over a dozen years. Long-time Virginia State safety inspector. Long-time Virginia State emissions inspector. Long-time Certified Virginia State emissions repair mechanic. MACS certified air conditioning technician. Specialty areas: engine performance, vehicle emissions, & automotive electronics.
Charter member of the top automotive technician network in the world:
iATN (International Auto Technicians Network, iATN.net)... we "talk shop" & trade tech tips when the going gets tuff! (Or, no single person or mechanic can possibly have all the auto-repair answers in his/her head all the time!) Factory level dealer experience: GM, Ford, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, VW/Audi, Honda, Toyota, Suzuki.
Have been involved with: more than 50,000 auto service events, including at least 20,000 oil changes, and 25,000 state inspections (safety & emissions inspections); have DRIVEN more than 10,000 different vehicles (nearly every make & model on the planet) under just about all operating & environmental conditions. All that adds up to tremendous experience and knowledge. If it has wheels, I know what it should do, and can probably fix it!
Have owned, driven & completely rebuilt everything from gas-gulping, fire-breathing drag race cars to battery-powered electric cars; extensive electric & hybrid vehicle course work/knowledge/experience.
Career job titles: pump jockey/window washer (#1!), helper, mechanic, inspector, certified mechanic, Master Technician, team leader, certified service advisor, service manager.... even an internationally-acclaimed & award-winning SHOP OWNER: Ecotech Autoworks in Nothern Virginia.
Have taught mechanics on-the-job, and at post-secondary school: Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland.
Have taught consumers how to save money on auto service at: First Class (national chain private Adult Ed), Fairfax County Schools (Virginia) Adult Ed, and at Northern Virginia Community College.
Have written 2 books-- consumer automotive-- and a third book, Cars ROCK! due out in 2010. I love to help and entertain people: automotive-ly!
Please see major FUN & more at: Jeff-Shumway.com
