|
Header Photo:
1931 Bugatti, Type 41 Royale, Henry Ford Museum, Detroit, MI. Ettore Bugatti only made seven of these. They were 21 feet long, weighed 7,000 lb., and sported a 780 cubic inch straight-eight engine. The radiator cap is an elephant, sculpted by Ettore's brother. 
|
My Background
The photo at above left was taken many years ago, during my senior year of high school. My name is Dan Vieths (pronounced veets), and this was my first car; a 1970 Chevy Nova. After installing a 4-speed transmission and Hurst shifter, I was on top of the world. Never waiting for an excuse to drive, I drove everywhere, just for the fun of it. Growing up in northern Wisconsin, I had a beautiful landscape to explore, and access to boats, a snowmobile, and my brother's dirt bike. And once in a while my dad would take us to the gokart rack in Spooner. Those experiences shortened my learning curve when I began learning to drive a car. They also became the foundation for my love of driving and the open road.
The photo at above left was taken many years ago, during my senior year of high school. My name is Dan Vieths (pronounced veets), and this was my first car; a 1970 Chevy Nova. After installing a 4-speed transmission and Hurst shifter, I was on top of the world. Never waiting for an excuse to drive, I drove everywhere, just for the fun of it. Growing up in northern Wisconsin, I had a beautiful landscape to explore, and access to boats, a snowmobile, and my brother's dirt bike. And once in a while my dad would take us to the gokart rack in Spooner. Those experiences shortened my learning curve when I began learning to drive a car. They also became the foundation for my love of driving and the open road.
I'm standing at the entrance to the old Packard plant, on East Grand Boulevard in Detroit. Photo is from 2016. The famous skyway in the background collapsed on January 23rd of 2019.
This auto plant complex covers 40 acres. Fine Packard cars were built here, from 1903 through 1956. The exception was during WWII, when they made the Merlin engine which powered the P-51 Mustang fighter plane. In the mid fifties, Studebakers were made here as well.
This auto plant complex covers 40 acres. Fine Packard cars were built here, from 1903 through 1956. The exception was during WWII, when they made the Merlin engine which powered the P-51 Mustang fighter plane. In the mid fifties, Studebakers were made here as well.
Today, I live in the beautiful suburb of Eagan, Minnesota. During the day, I'm a technical writer in the manufacturing world. In my spare time, I teach behind the wheel driving lessons to Dakota County teens and adults. Since the day the photo above was taken, I've driven nearly a million miles. The path from that day until now has taken many twists and turns, but my interest in cars and driving has never waned.
In 2011 I became certified as a driver education instructor in Minnesota. This is an arduous process which includes multiple exams and tests, plus background checks. Armed with my certifications, I began working evenings and weekends as a behind the wheel instructor at a huge Twin Cities driver ed school. I call these large schools "factory driver ed", but nonetheless we need them. I worked with teens there and had great success with all students. However, the ownership had no idea what it was like to do the behind the wheel work. They were all about the shekels. I locked horns with the volatile owner frequently, and he pulled some shady stuff involving payroll. After a couple years of this drama I left to do my own thing, and never looked back.
In May of 2014 I launched Road Master Driving School. It has worked out well. Hundreds of my former students are safely plying the roads today. This is a source of great pride; a sense of accomplishment unequaled in my daytime career in manufacturing. The work suited me and I became passionate about helping people learn to drive. I feel strongly a behind the wheel instructor must approach the role with a combination of patience, understanding, empathy, and an aura of servitude. This approach has facilitated a high success rate for me, if one measures that by customer satisfaction and road test pass percentage. My business is very small but I am proud of this success.
Current Status
I continue to do this work, because I'm making a difference and still have passion for it. Because I have a full time career in the manufacturing world, I want to avoid burnout. Behind the wheel is intense work, and I need to stay fresh. This is why I limit my lessons to a few weeknight time slots, and four or five on the weekends.
I am the founder, owner, and instructor. I am mom and pop without the mom, in other words. I don't advertise, but it seems my customer activity is just right. Some find me on the net, but much of my businessis referrals. My forte is nervous teens and adults who are relative newcomers to driving. There are many cases where I've taken a raw student (zero experience) and had them on the freeway within two hours. Where the rubber meets the road, I would put my instructor skills up there with anyone. I can help almost anyone who seeks me out.
In 2011 I became certified as a driver education instructor in Minnesota. This is an arduous process which includes multiple exams and tests, plus background checks. Armed with my certifications, I began working evenings and weekends as a behind the wheel instructor at a huge Twin Cities driver ed school. I call these large schools "factory driver ed", but nonetheless we need them. I worked with teens there and had great success with all students. However, the ownership had no idea what it was like to do the behind the wheel work. They were all about the shekels. I locked horns with the volatile owner frequently, and he pulled some shady stuff involving payroll. After a couple years of this drama I left to do my own thing, and never looked back.
In May of 2014 I launched Road Master Driving School. It has worked out well. Hundreds of my former students are safely plying the roads today. This is a source of great pride; a sense of accomplishment unequaled in my daytime career in manufacturing. The work suited me and I became passionate about helping people learn to drive. I feel strongly a behind the wheel instructor must approach the role with a combination of patience, understanding, empathy, and an aura of servitude. This approach has facilitated a high success rate for me, if one measures that by customer satisfaction and road test pass percentage. My business is very small but I am proud of this success.
Current Status
I continue to do this work, because I'm making a difference and still have passion for it. Because I have a full time career in the manufacturing world, I want to avoid burnout. Behind the wheel is intense work, and I need to stay fresh. This is why I limit my lessons to a few weeknight time slots, and four or five on the weekends.
I am the founder, owner, and instructor. I am mom and pop without the mom, in other words. I don't advertise, but it seems my customer activity is just right. Some find me on the net, but much of my businessis referrals. My forte is nervous teens and adults who are relative newcomers to driving. There are many cases where I've taken a raw student (zero experience) and had them on the freeway within two hours. Where the rubber meets the road, I would put my instructor skills up there with anyone. I can help almost anyone who seeks me out.
|
|