Since being in the aftermarket for fifty years, Pierre Respaut has a steep history as an automotive shop owner, dealership mechanic/technician and trainer.

Pierre worked at BMW and Ferrari dealerships and owned “Ultimate Cars”, a BMW specialty repair shop for 30 years. After he closed the shop he was recruited to help improve a VW dealership from 2010-2012. 

Pierre was also a contract trainer for Bosch and is involved in various capacities, with STS, TST, the BIMRS tech and support groups (BIMRS.ORG). Our interview covered his role as VP of the Board os TST: Technicians Service Training a 501(c) (3) corporation.

Pierre tells the story of how TST got started as an off shoot of STS from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The Northeast chapter was doing so well they continued under the guidance of G Jerry Truglia.

While at the 14th Annual Big Event in Tarrytown, NY, I had the opportunity to interview Pierre and talk about the TST event. We also highlighted his storied career. He shares many great stories including the one about being a red line driver for his BMW customers to be sure the car delivers top performance.

Here are a few talking points from our interview:

• 14^th Annual TST Big Event held in March 2017
  • 460 Registered for the one day event this year
  • Training classes on:
    • Electrical World Class Diagnostics with Tom Rayak.
    • Update on R1234YF from Peter Coll.
    • CVT Driveability with Wayne Colonna.
    • Engine & Turbocharger Diagnostics with Mark Warren.
      

      Donny Seyfer and Carm Capriotto

    • Keynote from Scott Brown from iATN.
• Attending the Big Event were participants from 19 states and Canada.
• He is doing some mobile diagnostics from time to time and helping a friend start two shops in New England.
• Worked on an exotic collection of cars that sat too long in storage to prepare them for auction to include a $1MM Mercedes.
  • Pierre says, “Sometimes you have to machine parts to repair a collector car.”
• Advice from Pierre. Be Curious. Ask Why does it Work. Never Stop Learning.
  

  Mark Warren and John Anello

  • When you get a license to fly a plane. They tell you, ‘This is your license to learn’  This is  a good philosophy for the automotive business.
• Strength of Big Event and TST is networking. Reaching out to the people you meet at the event to help you when you get in trouble on vehicle problems.

Pierre was also featured in episode 90 along with G Jerry Truglia and Pete Meier in a round table discussion on technician training.

TST Seminars Website

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