108 GEARS October 2007

A.T.R.A.Going Strong in Australia

Being a shop owner and rebuilder has its challenges as we all know. Being a Technical Trainer in transmis-sion repair is also a challenge. You must be able to relay the proper informa-tion in the correct fashion in order to assist technicians in performance of their trade.

John Sollazzo from Precision International received a request from ATRA Australia at the 2006 Expo in Orlando and asked if I could put a seminar together for Australia. Little did I know when I said “yes” to Mr. Ken McIntrye’s (ATRA Australia) request to come to Australia and give some training seminars that I would be doing six seminars total in less than 10 days!! This covered the entire conti-nent which is 24 hrs from my home by plane!! After several months of e-mails between myself and Ken McIntyre, I fine-tuned a seminar for Australia.

Mr. McIntryre wanted the best possible seminar for his membership. The parent organization for ATRA in Australia is I.A.M.E (Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers) whose president is Mr. Frank Burgess. He also wanted the best possible train-ing for his membership.

The trip was to start in Brisbane on the northeast coast, proceed south to Sydney, go inland to Canberra, travel south to Melbourne, travel west to Adelaide, and travel all the way west to the foot of the Indian Ocean to Perth. Then upon completion, I flew back to Sydney back to Los Angeles, and then back home to New York. All this took place in under 2 weeks time. Almost every day I was on a plane or giving a seminar or visiting a shop and talking with the technicians.

As you can see by the pictures I made it! Tired and worn down, yet with a great feeling inside. Technicians

and shop owners, just like me, thou-sands of miles from my home were going through the same things that I see in the USA…trying to fix vehicles properly and professionally. Jobs that I left in my shop in New York I saw the same units in Australia!

Before and after every class, there were conversations among the techs about how they were tackling tough jobs, with the ATRA and I.A.M.E. rep-resentatives in each city making it pos-sible. I met some exceptional people from the I.A.M.E. staff: Frank Burgess and Maria Alessi. From the ATRA staff,

I met Ken McIntyre, Manuel Busaca, Kym Page and Stu Bailey to name a few. I hope you enjoy these pictures and if you see someone from Australia at this years Expo in Las Vegas say “hello”. We are all closer than you think.

All the bestJohn ParmenterPrecision Internationaltechnical@transmisionkits.com

ATRA NEWS

110 GEARS October 2007

Over the last few months we start-ed to offer you a more intimate look at some of the guys who spend their days helping ATRA members dig through those tough technical troubles. Here are the next two on our list: Mike Brown and Pete Huscher.

Mike Brown Technical Advisor

Mike Brown got his first taste of the auto repair business when he was just a kid: His father used to buy used cars that needed repair, and he and Mike used to fix them up for sale, long before Mike got his first drivers license.

His brother, Ken “Racer” Brown, rebuilt Allison transmissions for the city, and fixed transmissions for cus-tomers on the side after work. Mike would remove transmissions on the driveway after school, and his brother would rebuild them when he got home.

Those early years must have had a profound effect on Mike: His first job out of high school was in a local repair shop. He began as a general technician, doing brake work, engine repairs, and so on. He worked there for nearly 16 years.

Back then, Mike’s brother would tell him, “One day I’ll open my own shop, and you’ll come to work for me.” Ken opened Brown’s Transmissions, and true to his word, he asked Mike to join him. That’s where Mike got his start with automatic transmissions. And it really was “Brown’s Transmission” — at one point everyone working there was a member of the Brown family.

Mike continued working with his brother until he injured his shoulder. During rehab, a career councilor asked Mike what he’d like to do with the rest of his life. That’s when he remembered seeing an ad in GEARS for the ATRA HotLine. The councilor set up an inter-view, and soon after Mike went to work for ATRA.

Since coming to ATRA, Mike has written a number of articles and bul-letins, and is currently working on a

rebuild book for the Toyota A761E transmission. He’s also planning for his first seminar at this year’s Expo. His topic? Toyota’s A750E 5-speed, and the lightest 6-speed automatic in the world: the A761E.

Probably his greatest sat-isfaction comes from help-ing other technicians when they’re having trouble. “I love being able to work through transmission problems, and helping find ways to make them last longer,” he says. “Working for ATRA is like living my dream.”

The rest of his dream comes true when Mike goes home at night to his family. He and his wife Vicky have been married for three years. His baby daughter Ashley just celebrated her first birth-day, and he has a 13-year-old stepdaughter named Haley. Mike says he and Haley have a terrific relationship.

Mike loves to play golf, and is an avid NASCAR fan. He’d like to go to Bristol, Tennessee to watch a NASCAR race. “It looks like a great track,” he says.

He used to spend much of his free time restoring his 1956 Chevy; he bought it for $1800, and sold it five years later for $15,000. “It was a basket case when I bought it; I put it together

myself by hand… painted it myself… it was really something to see what it turned into.” But he swapped that to become a dad; “I traded up,” Mike says with a chuckle.

And there’s little doubt that he means every word.

Meet the ATRA HotLine!

Mike Brown

The New Transtar

Transtar Industries, Inc., headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is the leading worldwide distributor of OE quality transmission parts to the aftermarket motor vehicle repair industry. Transtar distributes a comprehensive line of Automatic and Standard Transmission Rebuilder Kits, Torque Converters, Electrical Products, Hard Parts, Specialty Tools and Service Items, and other driveline products.

We all know that the transmission industry has gone through many changes and evolutions throughout its history. However, one constant has remained: Transtar’s commitment to offer the highest quality parts and service.

ServiceTranstar delivers more than just parts to our customers—we deliver success. Our combined team represents the most knowledgeable and experienced group in the industry. With Sales Reps who know exactly what parts you need for your quality rebuild, and the technical expertise of our expanded group of Product Managers, we can provide our customers with the best possible service. They not only make sure you get the right part the first time, but that you get it on time.

ProductTranstar provides the most comprehensive product line in the industry. Our inventory represents the highest quality array of products in both Original Equipment and Aftermarket products. In addition, we have added RECON™ brand torque converters and hard parts to our product line. RECON remanufactured torque converters and hard parts lead the industry in quality and dependability.

PresenceIt goes without saying that having more locations gives us the ability to provide better, faster service. With our merged locations, we are able to serve approximately 90% of the top markets in North America with same-day delivery. Best in class service from a world-class company!

Transtar, The One.With all the quality products you need, outstanding service, on-time delivery, and the knowledge to help keep your business running smoothly, Transtar is the first and last word in transmission parts supply.

Toll free: (800) 359-3339E-mail: info@transtar1.comWeb Address: www.transtar1.comCorporate Headquarters: 7350 Young DriveCleveland, Ohio 44146

112 GEARS October 2007

Pete Huscher Technical Advisor

They say life is what happens while you’re making other plans. Pete Huscher never really planned to be an auto technician. He took academic courses in high school, and after serv-ing in the U.S. Army, went to UCSB in Santa Barbara, CA, where he earned his degree in marine biology.

Unfortunately for Pete, his real education didn’t begin until after he graduated; that’s when he learned that a degree in marine biology wasn’t nearly as marketable as he had hoped. In fact, the only job he could find in this field was at Marineland, which would only pay $1.25 an hour to start. Not nearly enough to support himself and his fam-ily.

Fortunately, he had more than a little automotive experience: He’d spent his early years working on his own car, a 1968 Camaro, which gave him enough of a background to work in the motor pool when he joined the Army. There he earned his certification in gas engine repair, diesel engine repair and electri-cal system diagnosis, winning numer-ous awards and early promotions for his technical abilities. Pete was eventually promoted to Motor Pool Sargent (acting corporal) where he was responsible for the maintenance and repair of hundreds of jeeps, trucks, tanks, and armored per-sonnel carriers. This unknowingly gave him a terrific fallback position after his college years.

After a disappointing interview at Marineland, Pete found a job at a local Nissan dealership, as a lube technician and eventually made his way to the local Ford dealership and worked his way up through the industry. One day, his boss asked him whether he could rebuild automatics. “Sure,” Pete said; “if anybody can do it, I can do it”. And he then proceeded to work his way through learning how to rebuild trans-missions. After spending over twenty years in Ford dealerships as a techni-cian and then as service manager, Pete retired at an early age of 42 years old. Pete spent the first part of his retirement traveling all around the U.S. and into Mexico. Eventually Pete got sick and

tired of traveling around and being retired, he decided to go back to work.

Pete joined the ATRA Technical Department in 2001. He’s written numerous articles for Gears maga-zine and bulletins for the Technical Department. Pete is currently working on a seminar for this year’s Expo, called Understanding Today’s Domestic Four Wheel Drive Systems.

If you ask Pete “what’s your favor-ite part of working for ATRA”? He’ll say “Every time that phone rings, it’s another chance for me to help some-one,” he says. “I love helping people. If I didn’t work for ATRA, I’d have to work for the Red Cross.”

In fact, when he retires again, Pete hopes to be able to devote his time to helping others by volunteering with the Peace Corps, the Red Cross, or Habitat for Humanity. “I love people; people are the best invention there is,” he quips.

In his spare time, Pete still thinks he’s a youngster: He enjoys going out dancing, kayaking, snowboarding, ski-ing, surfing, scuba diving and riding his motorcycle up and down the coast… all activities we usually associate with

guys half his age. And he likes obtain-ing dead cars, motorcycles, dune bug-gies and boats (anything really) that other people have given up on, rebuild or repair them, and give them a chance to live again.

But nothing in his life gives Pete greater pride than in having raised his son. He and his wife separated when their son Joey was just over a year old.

That was nearly 25 years ago, Pete’s been a single parent for over 25 years now and he never remarried. As Pete points out: when you’re a single parent, your kid has to be your num-ber one priority, your needs come last. Some people think I made a mistake, but I’m proud of my decision… and of my son.”

And while he may not have planned his life this way, there’s little doubt Pete’s pleased with how it’s turned out so far and the direction that it’s head-ing.

ATRA NEWS

Pete Huscher

114 GEARS October 2007

Let’s talk about Chapters!

AT the IBO level, we have created and assigned a new position to an exist-ing staff member. Deon Olmos has been in touch with many of the chapter president’s already. She is our T&C coordinator and is now also the Chapter Liaison within the membership depart-ment. She will be more active with the chapters and getting them involved as well. Both positions go hand in hand with the educating of the industry as well as getting the members more involved so she is the perfect fit for the new position.

In addition, we are creating a new Chapter Handbook. Some of you may be aware that we have 3 new chapters currently in the process of being cre-ated. Now that they have started the process they would like some guid-ance, so we are creating this handbook mostly for them, however with some of the new guidelines that we are putting together, it will also benefit the existing chapters….yes even the more active ones.

We are setting up checklists as guidelines for activities within the chapters as well as the beginning stages of a Chapter Champions program for receiving the recognition they deserve by being as active as they are. Overall, this process is quite detailed but it is definitely needed and will help all the

chapters with gaining volunteers as well as generating ideas for meetings and hiring of new personnel. We plan to have the new handbook ready for distribution at the Chapter President’s meeting at this year’s EXPO.

ATRA and Industry News

ATRA has taken a step forward in its ability to reach out to you, the transmission repair community, with the ATRA eNewsletter. The ATRA eNewsletter allows us to contact the entire industry with a single click of a mouse.

What? You don’t receive the ATRA eNewsletter? Let’s take a quick look at all you’re missing:

First, the ATRA eNewsletter pro-vides a wealth of special offerings that you may not find anywhere else. Whether it’s a waived application fee for new members, free setup for an ATRA-hosted website, or a free month’s membership fee, you’re sure to see some great deals in every issue.

Each eNewsletter also includes the ATRA Seminar schedule for the next few months, complete with the dates, locations and any special information you’ll need to find the seminar that’s closest to you.

We also include important news announcements about ATRA, our annu-

al Expo, or issues that could have a dramatic impact on you and your busi-ness. Chapter announcements, ATRA Board meeting information and elec-tions, special voting issues, and new ATRA member listings all appear first in the ATRA eNewsletter.

Each announcement includes a unique link to take you right to an in-depth analysis or article covering the issue at hand; with a single click, you have all the information you need to stay informed on the most critical issues facing you and your industry.

You’ve never received the ATRA eNewsletter? Well, don’t miss another important issue: Visit our website at: www.atraonline.com/eNews/ to add your email address to the growing list of eNewsletter subscribers.

Make sure you add the domain www.atra.com to your spam blocker’s white list, to prevent it from blocking these important news bulletins. And then you can get ready to stay in touch with all the news that’s fit to print: the ATRA eNewsletter!

Certified Auto Repair207 Olive StAtlantic. IA 50022(712) 243-1392

Mission Auto Care, Inc3588 Mission Ave.Oceanside, CA 92058(760) 722-0231

Pro Auto1910 S 7th StLebanon, OR 97355(541) 259-2155

Proformance Transmission#7 5041 Auto Road SESalmon Arm, BC V1E 1X1(250) 832-6595

Vintage Trans & Gear560 Valdry CtBrentwood, CA 94513(925) 513-4095

Members Directory Updates

ATRA News Quote -October“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could;

some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you

can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with

your old nonsense..” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

These firms have recently applied for ATRA membership. Please add their names to your directory. If you know of any valid reason these firms should not be members of ATRA, please contact ATRA Membership Services at 805-604-2000.

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