SAE Update - September 2021 - 25

DOSSIER: Mike O'Neil of
Essex Parts Services, Inc
MEMBER NEWS
Has any single SAE member been
particularly helpful or inspirational to you?
I cannot say that I ever had a formal mentor,
which means that I had to learn a lot the
hard way. Yet, many of us had Dr. Richard
Gross as the SAE advisor at the University of
Akron. He gave us the freedom and support
to do whatever we needed to turn a
fledgling program into one that was very
competitive. Never telling us what to do, he
often had questions, making sure that we
were asking ourselves the right questions.
That is a prerequisite for coming up with a
good answer, design, and program. That,
and he set the standard for being a decent
human being. Much of his work did not sink
in until years later. I am still learning from
the experiences when I reflect back on what
we did and why. So, maybe I did have a
mentor ...
What advice can you offer current and
prospective SAE members to get the most
out of their SAE membership?
Get involved. Which specific area is not as
important as just picking one and moving
forward. Whether it be helping to set
standards or working with a STEM program,
you will meet people of interest and make a
positive impact on this orb on which we all
live. I relate particularly well with the FSAE
students, having been in their shoes,
knowing their challenges, and helping them
take advantage of the opportunities in
front of them. Working with them is
extremely rewarding, and I hope that they
find our conversations likewise.
UPDATE
What do you like to do in your free time?
It is hard to call it " free time " or even
" hobbies " since I take these items so
seriously. I have a collection of 20 vintage
motorcycles that I restore and maintain,
race flat track (dirt oval) motorcycles
mostly in the vintage classes on a semi-pro
level, and work on a professional flat track
team touring the national circuit. Lack of
vintage machine parts availability and
looking for an advantage in racing often
require me to design and machine my own
parts. Next week, I am taking my seven
identically prepared 1949 Indian Arrows to
a race in Ohio. Usually, I find former
professional riders and we have our own
class, putting on quite the show for very
appreciative fans.
Is there anything else that you would like
to say?
A common challenge that I run into with
students (and professionals) is difficulty in
selecting a direction for a technical
solution. Pick one and go! Do not skip the
detailed analysis. But, that does not always
show a clear winner, and sometimes there
is more than one good solution. Even if you
select the wrong path forward, that will
likely make itself evident soon and you can
change direction. You will learn more and
arrive at a good solution earlier than if you
take no action.
I want to thank all of the interesting and
helpful people that I have met through SAE.
You have provoked thought, inspired new
solutions, and become lifelong friends. n
September 2021
25
SAE Update - September 2021

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