Ladies, Start Your Engines!
might sound like the beginning of a race on a feminist track, but
really it is the beginning of a lifelong dream to help women understand
more about the automotive world. I remember back when I was wrenching
on cars and female customers would come over to me to ask questions,
they just seemed to feel more comfortable asking a woman. After I gave
them an explanation many of them would say “you should teach a class
for women.” I would smile, and go back to work.
I finally did
start teaching those classes and found out that I enjoyed teaching them
as much as women enjoyed taking them. After teaching this class for
more than 10 years at an occasional dealership, I decided that there
was enough interest to teach this class on a more consistent basis.
This year I decided to make it official and start my own business. On
August 7, 2006 I launched my website, to what I hope, is the beginning
of empowering women with automotive knowledge. After many years of
trying different methods, I have been able to put the most important
information into a 2 hr. class. Over the last 20 years I have been
certified in Automotive Technology, acquired my A.A.S degree, spent 7
years working for a Honda dealership as a technician and a service
manager, 3 years as an editor for Chilton automotive repair manuals and
the last 6 working for the Community College of Philadelphia in the
Automotive Technology program. I enjoy what I do and it shows when I
teach a class. In this class women learn the basics of how an engine
runs, the purpose of oil and anti-freeze, battery maintenance, the
components of the braking system, how to check and change fuses and how
to change their own wiper blades. The most important aspect of the
class however is that every women learns how to change a tire. Since
this is a hands-on class, they loosen the lug nuts, jack up the car and
install the spare.
No woman should have to stand at a service desk unsure of what is being
told to them about their vehicle or feel forced to buy parts she is not
sure she will need. Women should not be afraid to ask questions and
should be treated with respect. Ladies, Start Your Engines! gives
women the confidence to perform their own light maintenance and to talk
with service personnel in a self-assured manner. My goal is to work
with dealerships, independent shops and women’s organizations to
educate women about their vehicles. I also plan to continue my work
with schools to show girls that there are many career opportunities in
the automotive industry and that there are women working in those
fields.
Women are major consumers of automotive products and service and it is
in the best interest of every automotive facility to make sure that
women are made to feel comfortable in doing business with them. My plan
is to be that mediator between the two so that everyone is satisfied in
the end.
My
second love is motorcycle riding. My new Heritage Softail is my pride
and joy. As if I don’t make men shake their heads at me enough, you
should see the look on their faces when I pull up on that beauty and
take my helmet off! For 3 years I was also an instructor in PA for the
motorcycle safety program. This was also a great opportunity for me to
have contact with women and encourage them to not be afraid to go after
anything they dreamed of. Believe me, if a 5 foot woman can ride a
Heritage Softail, then they could learn to ride a 250.
My goal
in life has always been to share the knowledge that I have learned and
to inspire women to never be afraid to be or get out of life what they
want. So, go out and take that automotive class you’ve always wanted to
take, and know that there are a lot of women out there cheering you on.
Lori Johnson
www.ladiesstartyourengines.net