“The AVI Conference should be in the Guinness Book of World Records,” exclaimed Ron Bilyeu, a long-time educator, repair shop owner and performance tuning guru. “There is no other conference that attracts so many industry masters in one place,” he went on.
While we probably won’t get into the Guinness Book of World records with the likes of APPEX, SEMA and the Performance Racing Industry flexing their muscles, there is something special the AVI Conference brings to the table that cannot be measure in sheer numbers. There is something about what Ron Bilyeu said on the last dinner gathering of the conference that made everyone think a world record was possible.
It’s the type of warm and fuzzy feeling you get when your father expresses his pride in your accomplishments. Or it could be comparable to when you get to hug your brother or sister after years of not seeing them. The short of it all is; the AVI Conference, no matter how much it grows, is a family. The feeling that anything is possible is not an uncommon feeling at the AVI conference.
The instructors are amazing. They travel across the country, from all different walks of life to share their knowledge. Their presentations are flawless, clearly speaking and loud enough to fill oversized rooms without a microphone. Whether you’re walking out of Wally Mouradian’s intense Powerstroke Diagnostics course or laughing until you cry as Becky Witt flings nostalgic cream filled pastries across the room in her Service Writer Survival class, you’ll know you experienced something different.
But the classes are only the beginning. When class is over and a meal or drink is served, you are officially introduced to the family. Walk up to a group of shop owners, technicians and industry leaders and feel whatever social jitters you may have melt away as you are welcome with smiling faces, handshakes and get-to-know-you conversation.
Ask an instructor specific questions about his or her course. Ask another technician about an impossible diagnosis you’ve encountered. Ask a shop owner what some their favorite cars are. Soak it all in, because this is the only place in the world you can freely speak with a large array of technical educators in one place and feel like you are the only person in the room when they are addressing you.
If you plan on attending the conference in Vegas during APPEX or Sanibel, beware, we will make a family member out of you.
“Our ambition should be to rule ourselves, the true kingdom for each one of us; and true progress is to know more, and be more, and to do more.”
-Oscar Wilde
