Under the HOOD
The Newsletter of RPM Foundation • Out of this World
Message from the President If we at the RPM Foundation have been walking on air for the last 8 months or so, it’s because our high-flying RPM Ambassador – NASA Astronaut Drew Feustel – has been floating above the clouds. Dr. Feustel is rounding out his third mission in space, this time as Commander aboard the International Space Station on ISS Mission 55/56, with a scheduled return in the coming weeks. While astronauts are rightly proud of their academic accomplishments in their NASA biographies, Dr. Feustel also lists his time as an automotive mechanic working on 1950’s Jaguars while attending community college in the 1980s, his three years as the Purdue University Carting Grand Prix chairman, his membership in the BMW Club of America, and his enthusiasm for automotive restoration and car and motorcycle racing. Needless to say, he is our kind of guy. Drew wanted to share the excitement of his mission with RPM firsthand, so he extended an exclusive invitation for thirty-five RPM students to chat with him live – from space! – via Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Floating weightless aboard the station, Drew inspired the students with his message of believing in themselves to pursue their career paths, no matter how high it may lead them. The students were further inspired by Chad Schultz, one of the NASA engineers on Drew’s ground support team. A young man himself who is decidedly a “car guy,” Chad explained to the students how his mechanical skills acquired in the automotive
hobby enabled his own path to the NASA labs. The day ended with Chad informally critiquing some of our RPM students’ resumes while hanging out by his Mazda Miata street racer at the Space Center’s Rocket Park. In Dr. Feustel, RPM has a found a passionate and articulate mentor and ally in promoting vocational education in the skilled mechanical trades. With now nine spacewalks in his career – the third-highest cumulative time of any astronaut – Drew is an exemplary example of the value of the technical and mechanical education that RPM promotes. For the RPM Foundation, Astronaut Drew Feustel has – literally and figuratively – been heaven sent. We cannot wait until he gets his feet safely back on Earth to continue engaging this American hero in all things RPM, beginning with Off To The Races With RPM – COTA which is sponsored by Tony Parella and SVRA. RPM has a lot to be grateful for… See you along the way,
Diane Fitzgerald, President
Team RPM — (l to r) Diane Fitzgerald and Linda Daro watch Drew's launch from the RPM offices in Chicago.
IN THE FIRST PERSON A Message (from Above!) from Astronaut Drew Feustel My interest in cars – and more specifically mechanical systems – has been instrumental to my success as an astronaut. I was always interested in the way things worked, and it was gratifying to work with my hands and see the fruits of my labor come to life as I completed my projects. As an astronaut, much of what we do relies on our ability to understand mechanical systems, and to use our curiosity, knowledge and intuition to solve complex and critical problems. I’ve pursued an association with RPM – the educational arm of America’s Automotive Trust – because I believe it is important to ensure that students today find a way to learn technical skills that are ultimately important in all walks of life. Decades ago, students were encouraged to learn practical, hands-on skills like plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, basic machine work and basic mechanics. In more recent years with the exponential pace of tech development, students are not pursuing those areas of education and, as a result, we see a shortage of skilled workers that can serve a persistent need in our society. (continued on page 2)
Astronaut Drew Feustel flying the RPM colors at the Vintage Races at Sonoma Raceway.
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Under the HOOD PIT STOP Starman In Space & On Earth There are more astronauts who have gone to space than racers who have taken the checkered flag in the Indianapolis 500! I learned this bit of trivia during my recent visit to the Johnson Space Center along with a group of students who were guests of the RPM Foundation. During this visit, we had the opportunity to meet an actual astronaut and listen to his words of wisdom and inspiration. The astronaut I’m referring to is Drew Feustel, the RPM Foundation Ambassador who also happens to be the Commander of Expedition 56 on the International Space Station (ISS). Besides having the educational credentials and training to enable Drew to be an aquanaut and astronaut for 18 years, performing scientific experiments and making major repairs to the ISS, Drew is a “car guy” who credits his understanding of how mechanical things work to his early restoration of first his 1974 Mustang, then BMWs and other cars. When you listen to Drew talk about his life experiences it’s not just his passion for cars, but his passion for life and the importance of being curious about the way things work – to see the fruits of your labor come to life and learn the science behind the task at hand. Drew is a big believer that if you love what you do, work is no longer work. Drew is the consummate mentor, not only to young people but to anyone who listens to him. And while listening to him via
IN THE FIRST PERSON
(continued from page 1)
As an automotive restoration enthusiast, I hope that we can continue to foster an interest in maintaining classic vehicles. I say that because it’s not just cars that are important but vehicles of all types like motorcycles, boats and planes that provide human mobility across the surface of our planet. We will always have a need in society to preserve the past — not only as a reminder of how we as humans used to do things, but also because for many of us that history is rich, and helps to maintain and revive our memories. Someday, we will need those same skills to maintain the ability to travel across the stars. Cmdr. Drew Feustel, ISS Mission 56
Drew indulges his automotive passion during a well-deserved break from space.
RPM students gather as RPM Ambassador Lyn St. James discusses this 1912 Pre-War Vintage Race Car which she drove at the SVRA Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival.
satellite live while he was traveling in space at more than 17,000 miles per hour, I learned that besides being an astronaut, one of the early dreams he had was to be an F1 driver. So as we were talking with Drew, I told him that when he got back to Earth I would do my part to make that dream come true. After Drew returns from space, he’s going to be the Grand Marshal for the SVRA U.S. Vintage National Championship at COTA (Circuit Of The Americas). To put icing on the cake, we’re going to put Drew into an open wheel race car, with thanks to Kris Kaiser of K-Hill Motorsports and vintage racer Bruce Hamilton. That's one small bucket list item for an inspiring RPM Ambassador... one great experience for RPM Foundation!
FEUSTEL FACTS – ISS Mission 55/56 •C ommander Expedition 55/56 – International Space Station • 197 Days in Space •3 ,152 Orbits around the Earth •T raveled at 17,500 mph •C overed 83.4 million miles •C ircled the Earth every 90 minutes •C ompleted 16 Orbits every 24 hours RPM Ambassador Drew Feustel, on his third space flight - having completed 9 spacewalks, exits the International Space Station to do a bit of "wrenching."
2702 East D Street, Tacoma, WA 98421 Toll Free: 855.537.4579 Email: info@rpm.foundation Website: www.rpm.foundation
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Under the HOOD STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Gracie Hackenberg by BILL HALL Collector, Elkhart Lake, WI
One of the RPM students attending Shop Hop NASA was Gracie Hackenberg, 22, who attended Smith College for Mechanical Engineering, and who gained an apprenticeship with RPM partner Donovan Motorsports in Lenox, Massachusetts. Gracie shared with us her path to a career in classic car restoration. How did you become interested in vintage cars? I grew up tinkering in the garage with my grandpa on his 1976 Porsche 912E and 1968 VW Beetle. Just oil changes and routine maintenance but it sparked my interest and appreciation for vintage cars at a young age. What do you like best about working on old cars? What do you like least? I like hearing the unique stories and relationships that owners have with their vintage cars. There is a certain satisfaction that you get from working
Gracie’s childhood dream was to work on an Indy Car crew, so RPM sat her next to legendary Indy Car racer Lyn St. James.
on a car that is loved and cared for by its owner. The thing I like the least is cleaning decades worth of grime and rust off cars before I start working on them.
Both Brian and Dave have taught me the technical skills needed for vintage restoration and racing, but have also become like family, and have taught me so much more about life, passion and integrity.
Is being an apprentice something that appeals to you? Absolutely. I am constantly looking for ways to learn new things. I find that there are so many things (especially in the automotive business) that you just can’t learn from books or the Internet.
How do you view your employment mobility, job security and salary expectations within the collector car industry? I feel like the skills that I’m learning now are relatively universal and would help me get a job in the industry anywhere I end up.
Do you have an older mentor in the industry? I have 2 mentors that I owe everything to. Dave Hathaway reached out after reading an article about me and invited me down to tour the shop. That visit turned into a 6-month internship while I finished up school and eventually a full-time apprenticeship position where Brian Donovan took me under his wing and taught me the basics of engine building and vintage restoration.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Describe what your dream job looks like. In the next 10 years, I want to work as a race engineer for several professional race teams. My dream as a kid was to be an Indy Car engineer. But eventually I see myself returning to Donovan Motorcar Service. It truly is a dream job for me — doing what I love every day surrounded by people who share my passion for vintage cars and motorsports.
Lyn St. James and Gracie join RPM students at Mission Control during Shop Hop NASA.
This Shelby Mustang at the Hodges Collection in Houston provides a view into automotive history for Gracie.
What is an RPM Ambassador? RPM Foundation Volunteer Ambassadors have a direct effect on the education and employment of the next generation of craftsmen and artisans entering the restoration/preservation fields in both the automotive and marine industries. Their passion and industry knowledge help to make connections that can directly impact the pathway to
careers for these young people, as well as help build the curriculum necessary for their education. RPM Ambassadors give momentum to the movement of securing our heritage and ensuring that the skills and knowledge needed to restore & preserve cars, motorcycles and boats are passed on to the next generations!
(l.to r.) Sean Hunter, RPM Ambassador Ryan Levesque - both Pennsylvania College of Technology graduates, Automotive Restoration Technology Department Chairman Roy Klinger and student RJ Hiller at the NB Center for Automotive Heritage in Allentown, PA - next to a 1939 Buick Roadmaster Century from the Swigart Museum.
2702 East D Street, Tacoma, WA 98421 Toll Free: 855.537.4579 Email: info@rpm.foundation Website: www.rpm.foundation
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RPM BOARD of DIRECTORS Dan Beutler, VP of Accounting & Controller, Hagerty (Traverse City, MI) Dawn Fisher, Vintage Racer, owner MFD Classic Motors (Lake Leelanau, MI) Diane Fitzgerald, President, RPM Foundation (Chicago, IL) Keith Flickinger, Master Craftsman, Precision Motor Cars (Allentown, PA) McKeel Hagerty, Chairman & CEO, Hagerty (Traverse City, MI) Tabetha Hammer, Senior Manager – Car Culture, Hagerty (Traverse City, MI) David Madeira, Vice Chairman, America’s Automotive Trust (Tacoma, WA) Jim Menneto, Publisher, Hemmings Motor News (Bennington, VT) Paul Miller, President, LeMay – America’s Car Museum (Tacoma, WA) T.G. Mittler, Collector (Santa Fe, NM) Mike Stowe, Master Craftsman, Great Lakes Motor Works (Boyne City, MI)
RPM AMBASSADORS
RPM Mentorship & Grants Administrator Nick Ellis, RPM Ambassador Bud McIntire, and RPM Ambassador Ronn Siebel join Central Carolina Community College Automotive Restoration Technology instructors Kiel Rhodes and Chuck Mann at the ribbon cutting ceremony for CCCC's new West Harnett Center Automotive Restoration Facility. RPM has provided scholarship funding for CCCC's Automotive Restoration Technology program and assisted with the purchase and installation of the new facility's paint booth.
Patrick Barnes, Community College Instructor, retired; ACM Volunteer (Portland, OR and Indio, CA) Josh Baum, Conservator, Private Collection (Goleta, CA) Herb Clark, Automotive Restoration Club of Sun City West, founder (St. Louis, MO) Drew Feustel, NASA Astronaut (Houston, TX) Ryan Levesque, Lead Painter, Andritz, Inc. & RPM’s 1st apprentice (Montoursville, PA) Bennett Logan, President, Tailored Motor Company (Dallas, TX) Bud McIntire, Director of Student Services, Great Lakes Boat Building School, retired (Winston-Salem, NC) Stephen Murphy, Collection Manager & Curator, Private Collection (Chicago, IL) Jason Peters, Healthcare Professional & RPM Scholar (Portland, OR) Stacy Puckett Taylor, Collection, Preservation & Restoration Consultant (Detroit, MI) Jody Reeme, Mentor (Wilmette, IL) Burt Richmond, Collectors’ Car Garage (Chicago, IL) David Rising, Automotive Engineer, Tacoma-native (Esslingen, Germany) Ronn Sieber, School District Administrator, retired (Hillsborough, NC) Clint Sly, President, Collectors Financial Services (Belleair, FL) Lyn St. James, Indy Racer (Phoenix, AZ and Indianapolis, IN) Haydn Taylor, HT Motorworks (Detroit, MI) Josh Voss, Cross Action Classics (White Lake, MI)
CHICAGO-BASED RPM STAFF Diane Fitzgerald, President Nick Ellis , Mentorship & Grants Administrator Linda Daro, Administrative Coordinator
PRESERVE THE PAST. BUILD THE FUTURE. Who We Are + What We Do
The RPM Foundation supports Restoration and Preservation training programs and Mentoring for the next generation of automotive, motorcycle and marine craftsmen. As the educational arm of America’s Automotive Trust, the services, resources and grants provided by RPM safeguard the future of the collector vehicle industry by sustaining hands-on training for young adults. RPM is based in Tacoma, WA with offices in Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI.
Supporting RPM Foundation – Thank You! Help us achieve our goal of raising $1,000,000! Today, with funding requests more than triple what we are able to giveaway, we need your support. Donations of any size are deeply appreciated. For more information, contact Diane Fitzgerald, President (diane@rpm.foundation, C: 312-543-5732 Toll Free: 855.537.4579 www.RPM.Foundation). Yes! I would like to make a donation of: $50 INDIVIDUAL DRIVER $80 DUAL DRIVER $95 FAMILY DRIVER $120 BRONZE DRIVER $300 SILVER DRIVER $600 GOLD DRIVER $1,200 CLUB AUTO Please accept my donation of $ to RPM Foundation. Name
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Donations of $50 or more receive a complimentary membership to LeMay – America’s Car Museum, an entity of America’s Automotive Trust.
Please send your donation to: RPM Foundation, 2702 East D Street, Tacoma, WA 98421 Or make a donation online at: www.rpm.foundation Or give by phone: 855-537-4579 As a U.S. Treasury approved 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the RPM Foundation is qualified to accept tax deductible gifts and enables a donor to arrange charitable contributions in ways that maximize personal objectives in a tax effective manner.
RPM Foundation is the educational arm of America's Automotive Trust. RPMotw18
THANK YOU!