Sand Addiction - August 2007 - (Page 48) Back2School We go back to school for a crash course in off-road design and the art of metal work. hey market themselves as “The Most Comprehensive Fabrication Education Anywhere!” While there’s no way to know for sure, it is hard to imagine a school with a stronger curriculum, more top-of-the-line equipment, or better instructors. By Shari Tatman-Scholte T The Fab School in Riverside, CA was founded by Troy Johnson, a meticulous, high-energy, insanely smart guy who has been in the racing and fabrication industry for more than 20 years. Students at The Fab School learn how to design, build, and maintain off-road vehicles. Troy invited us down to check out the school by spending a day as his students. The plan was that my husband and I would jump into a class that was already in session, just to see what we could learn. Thank goodness my husband was there, because I quickly realized I was way out of my league. I was first impressed by how thoroughly organized and professional everything was. The classroom looked like something on a university campus; the whiteboard was covered in complicated mathematical equations and elaborate engi48 neering drawings. The drafting room was equipped with several tables which were frequently full with students coming in to review drawings. The workshop was unreal. There were rows of power tools that would make a grown man cry: hole saws, belt sanders, grinders, drill presses, tube benders, industrial shears, chop saws, band saws, and tig welders. The walls were lined with tool boxes (labeled tool boxes, for my fellow neat-freaks) filled with tin snips, pliers, vise grips, punches, die sets, and so much more. Every station was marked with precise safety instructions. The sounds and smells were equally impressive. The first thing I noticed walking into the room was the distinct smell of argon gas used by the welders. Argon tanks were stacked against one wall, across from a big recycling bin used for rejected projects. Machinery buzzed. Welders arched. Sanders grinded and spit firework sparks. All the while, my husband had a ridiculous smile on his face – proof that he was experiencing everything I was; only it was like a holiday for him. I left my husband with Troy and walked back to the office, where I spent time with Melissa Davis, the school administrator. She explained that they were in the process of applying for accreditation which would make them eligible to apply for Title IV funding, including Federal grants and loans. The have already applied for Title 38 benefits, so they will be accepting Montgomery GI Bill in the near future. They also have State certification which allows their students to qualify for private student loan programs. She admitted that it was a lot of work, but they feel it is important to push themselves—and the school—to the limit. Melissa also gave me a better understanding of where The Fab School fits into the racing industry. The industry demands professionally trained fabricators to support race teams. The Fab School provides that training through a series
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