Classic/Antique Car Repair: Science and car repair, current cars, auto mechanic

Question
I haven't met one high school kid who doesn't love cars.  I would love it if I could get a Pro to get kids interested in science.  I am working on my unit for the fall on The scientific method which is a 6 step structured approach to solving problems.  I wondered if you could give me a list of some of the questions you have received in the past and some of the "easier" answers that I could give kids as an approach to observing problems, making a question, hypothesizing (trying to come up with a possible answer and then testing and concluding.  I do not mind if you share my e mail with others that might help in this indeavor.  Perhaps you have a few ideas that might hook kids and make a future auto mechanic a current scientist. Thanks in advance. Kate

Answer
I'm a specialist in old cars - and while the underlying physical devices are certainly obeying the rules of science, they are pretty rudimentary, when compared to the kind of cars today's kids would be interested in.  Modern cars, on the other hand, involve computers, fuel injection (fluid mechanics is a very complex scientific field, as you may know), computer aided design, and very sophisticated testing routines (and equipment!).  

I don't think I would be a good source of inspiration to your young skulls full of mush, as I would be talking about hand cranked cars (before starters, you know?), running boards, acetylene lamps, buggy whips, (OK, not buggy whips) but you get the idea!

I think a person who specializes in current cars, or at least cars of the last 20 years would be much more inspiring a source for your kids

As you may know (if you read my bio), I do have a degree in physics and electrical engineering from MIT, so I have been in both worlds - I used the old car hobby as a vacation from herding electrons around all day (and as I am now retired, I can play with cars all the time!).

So, I agree there is a link between science and the world of automobiles, but I don't think I'm the right one.   Contact one of  your local, community oriented car dealerships, and ask if you could talk to one of their top technicians - or even a local office of one of the major manufacturers - they are always looking for a way to make a visible contribution to the "youths of America".

Good Luck, and sorry I can't help.

Dick