Jim Lutz Career Overview Pdf Dec2008

Jim Lutz:

a life story &
professional career history

My quest..
a work in progress…

Dec2008 proprietary to Quest Systems Inc. 1

1947: The beginning

• Born in 1947, after WWII in
Medina, OH
• Parents lived entire lives in
Medina, OH
• Dad was in the Navy in WWII:
– Taught RADAR
– Had two passions:
• Amateur “ham” radio
• Fishing
• Parents married over 60 years
• Both died of natural causes in
1999, within six weeks of each
other


1955-1963: Early years

• Hobbies of:
– Amateur rocketry
– Electronics
• First car project:
– Grandpa donated Briggs & Stratton
Lawn mower
– Dad made into a “cart”
– Wore track path into back yard
– Burnt up 4 stroke engine running laps
flat out..

My first car project!


1962-1965: High School

• High School years:
– President of Math Club
– President of Science club
– Began reading Hot Rod magazine
– Wanted to go into Aerospace as an
engineer
– Graduated in 1965 at age of sixteen
– Used Dad’s 1964 Impala SS
convertible


1965-1969: College

• Case Institute of Technology:
– Private engineering college
– Bought 1st car in Freshman year:
• 32 Ford street rod
• Installed 283 Chevy from junk yard
• Later bought GM parts short block
327cid - 365 engine


1965 - 1967

• Formed 4 Toads Car Club
• First drag strip runs at Norwalk
Ohio raceway


1968-1969: 2nd Car Project

• Sold 32 Ford, less engine
• Bought 1962 Chevy II
– Removed the inline six
cylinder
– Installed 327-365 Chevy per
article in Hot Rod magazine


1969

• Graduated from Case Institute of
Technology:
– BS in Electrical Engineering ,
major in Control Systems
– Changed career desire from
aerospace to auto industry
• Interviewed GM, Ford & Chrysler
– June 1969 -joined General Motors
as a Test Engineer for GM
Engineering Staff at Milford
Proving Ground
• Moved to Ann Arbor, Mi
• Married my high school
sweetheart
• Became 1-A draft status
– GMPG assisted in obtaining a job
deferment


1969-1982: Early GM career years
• Started as a Test Engineer at GMPG Noise &
Vibration Lab
• Transferred into Vehicle Dynamics Lab
– Did computer simulations and vehicle
handling testing
– Worked under Don Nordeen, Tom Bundorf
– Worked with Bill Cobb, Tom Nesbitt, Ron
Leffert
• Bought my first new car: 69 Z28 Camaro
• Witnessed Donahue Penske Race Camaro testing
& Smothers Brothers Olds Cutlass drag testing
• Began autocrossing competition
– Won championships in 75 & 76


1983:
from GM Engineering Staff to Chevy Engineering

• Project engineer with Milford Proving
Ground Vehicle Performance &
Reliability Lab
– Did acceleration testing
– Developed better instrumented
acceleration and engine transient
tests
– Assisted in development of “L69”
Chevy 305 CID engine for Chevy
Engrg (Beat the Mustang project)
• Chevy Engineering hired me as 8th
level engineer for Cavalier J-Car
vehicle development group in bldg
16 at Milford Proving Ground


1983-1984: Chevy Engrg J-Car Group

• Ride & Handling development
engineer:
– Did Winter testing at DPG
• Did Powertrain development also
• Key member of Z-24 V-6
development squad:
– Promoted and developed cowl
induction hood
– Did GMAL testing of package
– Developed press car for Mid-Ohio
long lead autocross competition
• Beat the A-car team!
• Studied SCCA Showroom Stock
endurance competition for possible
J-car entry (like F-car group)


1984:
When GM forms CPC – BOC, I join Chevy Special Products

• Transferred into Chevy Special
Products
– Under tutelage of John Pierce
– 1st project was Ice Racing with Archer
brothers in Chevy Spectrums
– Began Cavalier project for IMSA RS
series for production based front wheel
drive cars using street tires
– Chuck Gaa, of Norcross Georgia as
“constructor”
– Archer brothers, prior RS champions
and their crew, as race team drivers


1985: Program Manager IMSA RS Cavalier

• 1st chassis built by Chuck Gaa
• Engine developed by Katech
under direction of Bill Miller
• Entered into competition in mid-
season at Road America:
– Qualified 2nd ,Finished 2nd
– Protested by Dodge
• 2nd & 3rd chassis built by team
• Implemented on-board VHS
camera of mine for data recording
• Two car effort in 1985:
– Sponsorship by Cars & Concepts
(Dave Draper)
– Supplier of production Z-24 body
parts


1985: Program Manager - IMSA GTO

• Program Manager for Camaro
efforts in IMSA GTO:
– Peerless Racing Camaro
• Dennis Fischer race motors
• Dan Engel & Bill Howell as
engine development
engineers
• Enlisted Terry Satchell of
Pontiac for chassis help
• Sebring 12 hours had Jim
Miller co–drive with Jack
Baldwin
– Buzz McCall Camaro Jack
Baldwin
– Raced against Roush-
Protofab Mustangs
Jim Miller

1986: Program Manager - SCCA Trans-Am
• Herb Fishel makes me Program Manager for
Chevy Camaro Trans-Am program (Dec 1985)
– Still had IMSA GTO as well
– Protofab vs. Roush war
• Gary Pratt, Bill & Bob Riley, Charley Selix
• Wally Dallenbach as primary driver
• Jim Miller as the “rent-a ride” driver
• Dennis Fischer as engine builder
– Bob Cronin as employee with team for track side support
• Bill Howell as engine engineer
• Built 3rd car as V-6 Camaro in sixty days
• Added Gregg Pickett as 3rd driver
• Won driver’s championship
• Lost manufacturers championship to Roush at last event
• Met Doug Fehan as Mac Tool Rep for Roush Mercury Mekurs



• IMSA GTO – 1986:
– Peerless Camaro
• Jack Baldwin
• Dan Engel was engine engineer
– Ran against Roush Racing
Mustangs (Scott Pruett, Lynn St
James, et al)
• Lee White was Team Manager
• Don Hayward was Ford SVO
Program Manager



• Key Camaro teams in GTO:
– Peerless with Jack Baldwin
– Protofab with Dallenbach & Pickett
– Competed against Roush Racing
– Ran two Protofab Camaros in Daytona 24 hour:
• With NASCAR drivers Darrell Waltrip & Terry Labonte
– Chevy dropped out of SCCA Trans-Am in 1987 to
protest 1986 treatment



• Protofab GTO Corvette:
– GM Design staff styling with Bob
Riley did aero body
– Did SPO parts “aero kit”
– Mobil One sponsorship with
Tommy Morrison
• Dallenbach & Pickett
– Many V-8 engine builders:
• Katech
• Falconer
• Fisher
– Ran against:
• Turbo Toyotas of AAR Dan Gurney
• Roush Mustangs


1988: Program Manager - Beretta GTU

Proposal of Dave Draper of Cars &
Concepts:
• fully funded by sale of street car
• 2.8L –V6 EFI Katech engines under
direction of Mark Kent
• Chassis designed by Peerless
• Drivers Tommy Kendall & Max Jones
• Dan Binks & Jim Durbin as chief
mechanics
• Wins IMSA GTU manufacturer’s and
Driver’s championships in 1st year


1989: Team Building

• Had Beretta GTU Program team attend class on:
– Handling Multiple Priorities:



• Protofab Corvettes:
– Turbo V-6 now banned
– V-8 engines
– Polyvoltac sponsorship
– Doug Fehan as Race Team
Manager
– Dave King as crew chief


1989: Program Manager - SCCA Trans-AM

• Cars & Concepts Beretta:
– Tommy Kendall & Max Jones
– Ran 3rd car (Camaro) with Chris
Kniefel for Detroit
– C&C in-house designed Beretta T-A
chassis:
• Overweight and poor performance
– Brought Doug Fehan into C&C team
– Brought Dave King into C&C team


1989: Skip Barber Chevy Driver School

• I attended the Skip Barber Chevy driver school at Lime Rock


1989: Finite Element Modeling

• I applied FEM technology to
the Beretta GTU program:
– Hired Ann Arbor firm to model
Beretta GTU chassis
– Then applied techniques to
Protofab Camaro road race
car with Gary Pratt


1989: Resigned from GM after 20 years:
Joined Team Peerless in Marion, Indiana


1989: President of the Team Peerless Group
• Racing Corvette GTP as the “B-team”:
– Track performance not acceptable
– Engine support program from Chevy Race
Shop
– BFG tire sponsorship
– Delco Products sponsorship
– Chevy Race Shop cancels program after
my arrival
• Peerless Automotive Engineering:
– Race car builds
– take apart shock builds for Delco Products
– Building customer road race cars
• Olds T-A for Bob Sharp
– Jeff Kettman is one of my engineers
– Hired Terry Satchel away from GM into
Team Peerless
– Bought Edge electronics data acquisition
product line from Emerson Electric


1990: Team Peerless
• Built customer Trans-Am race cars for
Steve Saleen & Newman Sharp Racing
• Ran Newman Sharp racing program for
Bob Sharp:
– Olds Cutlass privateer effort
– Scott Sharp & Paul Newman as drivers
– Won Detroit event, beating Cars &
Concepts Chevy Beretta factory team of
Tommy Kendall & Max Jones (Mark Kent
was Chevy Program Manager)
• Was President and Team Manager
• Jeff Kettman was engineer & CAD
designer at the time


1990: Business Manager - Pratt & Miller

• Jim Miller hired me as Business
Manager for Pratt & Miller
Engineering:
– Coached privateer MTI GTP
program into Chevy Race shop
engine support package
– Then coached escalation into full
factory support for GTP effort for
Tommy Kendall & Wayne Taylor
– Hire unemployed Cars & Concepts
Beretta T-A team into MTI racing
• Fehan, Binks & Durbin, et al
– Assisted the RM-1 build team


1991: Program Manager
GM Advanced Engineering Staff

• Don Runkle rehires me into GM
Advanced Engineering Staff:
– Program Manager for GM
Ultralite Concept Car Project
– 100 day project for Detroit Auto
show


1992: Program Manager – GM Ultralite

• Burt Rutan – Composites
Structural Engineer
– Composite monoque built at
Scaled Composites in Mojave
CA from GM master model
shape
• GMAL optimized aero shape
• GM AES 3 cyl 2-stroke all
aluminum engine with Saturn 4
speed automatic trans
• Four passenger sedan getting
100 MPG at highway speeds
• Fully runnable vehicle with
HVAC, controls, load leveling
suspension


1992: GM Advanced Engineering Staff

• Toured the GM Ultralite around
the world:
– Detroit Auto Show
– Chicago Auto Show
– Toronto Auto Show
– Geneva Auto Show
– San Francisco Auto Show
– Special tour for GM Japan
– Republican National Convention


1992: the movie “Demolition Man”

• Assigned by GM as Technical Liaison
to Warner Brothers & Silver Pictures:
– GM loaned 12 Concept vehicles,
including the Ultralite for the futuristic
movie
– On location for 3 months
– Drove vehicles as needed during
filming
– Maintained GM concept vehicle
mechanicals with support staff as
needed


1993: GM undergoes drastic changes

• GM Advanced Engineering Staff disbanded:
– Don Runkle (my mentor) moved to Saginaw Steering Gear
Division
– All Tech Center Advanced Engineering Staff special labs shut
down:
• Now part of GM – UAW labor negotiations:
• Shutting down of salaried shops
• My future doubtful, work discouraging
– Quit GM again, after 3 more years….


August 1994:
I formed my own company: Quest Systems Inc.
• Michigan C-Corp:
– Obtained PO from GM Truck
Platform group immediately
• Special studies and competitive assessment
– Contacted GM Motorsports:
• HAF issues me a PO as Program Manager
for Desert Off-Road Programs
• Worked with Russ O’Blenes and Gordon
Stoney of Hydramatic Motorsports
• Special studies for Harry Turner and Don
Taylor
– Moved to Las Vegas in 1997

• Reformed into Nevada S-Corp
– Over ten years
– Many clients
– Lockheed Martin, US Army
TACOM
– Rod Millen Special Vehicles
– Walker Evans Racing
– GM Military Trucks
– GM Motorsports
– GM Racing


1995-1998: Program Manager to GM Racing:
SCORE Desert Racing Program

• Won BAJA 1000 three times!
– Nelson & Nelson racing:
• Larry Ragland & Jimmie Johnson
– Roger Mears Racing
– Team MacPhearson
• GM Truck HEFT program


SODA & CORR

• SODA & CORR:
– Promote Chevy full size trucks in
both 2WD and 4WD classes
– Flannery Racing
– Herzog Racing with Jimmie
Johnson
– Walker Evans Racing
– Evan Evans Racing


1999-2000: ERIM COMBATT Program

• Special Off-road consultant to
ERIM International of Ann
Arbor MI for COMBATT:
(Commercially Based Tactical
Truck Proposal team)
• ERIM won contract
• Became team member as QFD
process consultant and off-
road suspension advisor
• Trip captain for Rod Hall
HMMWV school


1999-2000: consultant to Rod Millen Special Vehicles
(now MillenWorks)

• Reported to owner Rod Millen
– Worked with:
• Dean Banks
• Jack Auld
• Shelly Campbell
• Business development consulting:
– HR methods
– Project Management methods
– Bids & Proposals support
– Work flow scheduling
– Project member on:
• Model e Tritanium concept vehicle
• Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV-
LSV) proposal with Lockheed Martin


2000-2003: Subcontractor to GM Military Trucks
• Border Patrol Special demonstrators
Trucks:
– Fact finding visits to INS field stations
– Resident rep at Nevada Auto Test
Center project site
– Vehicle development engineer


2001–2002: Consultant to Lockheed Martin

• FCS Phase One proposal
team member
• FCS Phase one participant
• QFD trainer to LMMFC
Systems group
• Reported to and worked with:
– Chris Askew
– Roger Kirkpatrick


1999-2007: Consultant to Walker Evans Enterprises

• Worked under direction of:
– Walker Evans
– Phyllis Evans
– Randy Anderson
• Editor of WEE annual business
plan for securing line of credit
– Annual updates to WEE biz plan
• Advisor for Becoming Tier One
supplier to Polaris Industries


2003-2004: Special Advisor to GM Racing:
Sport Compact Drag Race Program

• Retained by Don Taylor:
– Assigned to assist Russ O’Blenes
and Josh Peterson
– Problem resolution with Bothwell
Motorsports
– Program team coordination
– Master Schedule
– Testing support
– Became 2003 Interim Program
Manager with transfer of Josh
Peterson to Pontiac Marketing
– Start-up Program Manager 2004
with new Roush - AK Racing
Team in Livonia


Pontiac Daytona Prototype Program

• Reported to Harry Turner and then Steve
Wesoloski:
– In 2004 -Direct Purchase Order to Quest Systems
– In 2005 employed thru SYCRON per Harry Turner
and Walt Lerche
• Achieved two consecutive Engine Manufacturer
Championships for Pontiac & GM Racing
• Podium sweep for Pontiac at 2005 Rolex 24
hours race
• Team and driver’s championships for Pontiac


2005 Grand-AM Rolex series:
Pontiac TV commercial

DP Engine manufacturer’s championship
Winner 24 Hours of Daytona

2005-2006 Program Manager to GM Racing:
Pontiac’s GTO.R

• Reported to Steve Wesoloski:
– In 2005 employed thru SYCRON
per Harry Turner and Walt
Lerche
• Achieved wins and 2nd in points
in 2005
• Achieved Triple Crown in 2006:
– Vehicle championship for GTO
– Driver’s championship
– Team Championship Podium
sweep for Pontiac at 2005 Rolex
24 hours race


2007 – 2009 Program Manager to GM Racing:
Pontiac’s GXP.R
• Report to Steve Wesoloski:
– Lead Program teams in both GT
and DP classes
– Handle business & technical
relationships with Key Partner
Teams, race engine builders and
GM Powertrain & GM labs
– liaison function between GM
Racing and sanctioning body


2008 Rolex Sports Car series:

DP Engine Manufacturer’s
championship
GT Manufacturer’s
championship
GT Team championship
GT Driver’s Championship


QFD specialist

• Specialist in applying Quality
Function Deployment (QFD)
methods to assist product
development teams:


Project Management Training:

• Member of Project Management
Institute: PMI since 1992
• Began class training in 1970
• MS Project software qualified


Military Vehicle Programs

• Rod Millen Special Vehicles
– Marine Corps ITV proposal
• Lockheed Martin:
– ITV & FCS proposals
• TACOM:
– HMMWV Recapitalization
• GM Military Vehicles
• Training in NATO Reference
Mobility Modeling (NRMM)
software application for vehicle
mobility development
• Received Formal Training in
Government DoD Bids & Proposal
process & best practices


Business Coaching:

Provide Organizational Development and Business
Planning coaching to many entrepreneurs and small
businesses:
• Walker Evans Enterprises – Riverside CA
• Rod Millen Group – Newport, CA
• Donna Curry Investments – Las Vegas, NV

• Expert in coaching others in using Biz Plan Pro software
and in editing and assisting in formal business plans.


“Requirements” training:

• Formal training in Telelogic’s
DOORS software for
requirements tracking
• Licensed user of DOORS 7
software


It’s a great ride.. and still going!!


Jim Lutz Career Overview Pdf Dec2008

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Jim Lutz Career Overview Pdf Dec2008