It has been a long run, but I think I have finally made it to the finish line in my career.

It started in 1971 with me enrolling in an automotive class in high school.  I did not think at the time that it would lead to a lifelong career.  After high school and vocational education at Idaho State University, I landed a job with Wester Transmission in 1976; a small 5-man shop, which over the years grew into a transmission shop, a drivetrain warehouse, and converter shop.

In 1989, the company opened High Torque Converter and hired a manager to set it up and run it.  After 1 year, the manager did not work out and left the company.  I was appointed the production manager in 1990; assuming responsibility for production with only a fair concept of welding and converter function and no understanding of machine work.  It still amazes me how those early converters worked at all.

I struggled through that first year or two with the help of a machinist friend and the help of Ken Cluck, Howard Johnson, and Mark Mustard, who I met at some of Corky Meyers seminars.  With the help of these guys, I started my education in the converter business, but the best thing they did for me was talking me into joining TCRA.  At first, I thought since I already had three friends that could answer my questions, what more did I need?  So, why Join TCRA.  The obvious answer is why settle for three, when you can have 100 people to help you out.

Becoming a TCRA member and attending seminars is the main reason why I was successful in my career at High Torque.  Not only did I gain knowledge of rebuilding procedures and management, I gained a lot of friends.

In 2011, Mark nominated me for a position on the Board of Directors and Raffi Pilavjian cast the tie-breaking vote, I still am not sure whether to thank them or cuss them. That is when my learning really accelerated.  Jeff Stuck was the President of TCRA at the time, and he asked me to form a Technical Committee, which led me to learn even more new information.

In 2022 I retired from High Torque and assumed the position of Technical Coordinator for TCRA.

My parting message is to get involved.  The more you put in… the more you will get out.  Even the smallest thing will pay dividends.  Take time to attend a tech meeting, send in a spec sheet of a new converter, or share information on new converter applications.  I encourage everyone to attend the annual seminar, and instead of hanging out with the crew you come with, take the time to meet new people, ask questions, and discuss your problems.  Before long, you will have your own network of rebuilders to help solve your problems.

There is a saying amongst campers, “always leave it better than you found it”.  I am hoping I did that with TCRA.  While I invested some time and effort; I was repaid 10-fold with knowledge, and I made many friends along the way.  I hope they know how much I appreciate their help and friendship over the years.

Brad Gilbert, Signing off