This past spring, we started construction on our new engineering center equipped with 3 dynamometers; a new Taylor chassis dyno for semi-trucks, a used pickup truck and racecar dyno capable of 2500 hp, and a used engine dyno that will hold around 2000 flywheel horsepower.  As of this past Thursday, Dec. 6, the Taylor dyno is up and running!  By Friday night, we had 5 trucks on it.  The other two dynos are in the process of final installation.  Along with the dynos, we have added another 4 garage bays, an engine building room, an engineering department, and storage space.  The new addition should be completed by Christmas. 

We currently have 3 engineers at our Saxonburg, PA location; one mechanical and 2 electrical.  In Indianapolis, IN, where we manufacture the Pittsburgh Power Performance Computer, we have another 4 engineers; 1 mechanical, 1 software, and 2 electrical.  Six months ago, we hired Ethan Fortuna, a recent graduate from Penn State University majoring in electrical engineering.  An Owner-Operator was speaking to Don (our service manager) and I about his DD5 Detroit gaining 20 lbs. of oil pressure.  Interesting, I thought:  Usually, the problem is LOSING oil pressure, not gaining pressure, so Don and I were going to install a test mechanical oil pressure gauge to verify the reading the gauge in the instrumental panel was showing.  Ethan was standing there and said, “I think I know what the problem is.  I saw something about that in the ECM program.”  About 15 minutes later, Ethan walked into my office and said, “The oil pressure problem is solved.”  I said; “Fantastic!  We could have spent hours trying to find that problem!”

Winter is finally here and for those of us who love to snowmobile, it’s time to put away the Harleys and get out the sleds!  The Owner-Operator Snowmobile Conference is scheduled for the evening of February 28th through March 2nd, with checkout on March 3rd.  We will be staying at the Flying Saddle Resort in Alpine, Wyoming (307) 654-4422.  When making reservations, please mention you are with the Owner-Operator Snowmobile Conference.  There are rental snowmobiles available in the town of Alpine and the Flying Saddle will give you their phone number or you can find it on the web.  The address of the Flying Saddle Resort is Hwy 89 and 26, Alpine, WY 83128.  Please take a look at their website for more information.   Do you realize what it’s like to have 22 owner-operators on high-performance snowmobiles sitting at the bottom of a mountain?  It doesn’t matter the machine, semi-truck or snowmobile, there is a mountain and we have to go up it!  Let the competition begin!  Please join us if you’re up for a great time and enjoy the company of other people in your industry.

On a sadder note, last Wednesday (11-28-12), Dale Evans, an owner-operator friend and client of Pittsburgh Power, lost his 34 year-old son in a tragic automobile accident in Henderson, TX.  A young lady driving without insurance and no driver’s license pulled out in front of Luke Evans while he was riding his motorcycle and he was killed instantly.  He was an auto body repairman in town and was on his way back to work from lunch when the accident happened.  Unfortunately, Luke did not have life insurance, so Dale had to use his savings to bury his son.  Luke is the father of 4 girls: Katelynn (1), Allison (3), Kristi (6), and Adriana (9).  Luke’s wife is a stay-at-home mother and now has no income.  If you’re reading this article, I ask you to please send $1.00 to the Luke Evans Tragedy Fund, Texas Bank, PO Box 1990, Henderson, TX 75653.

Please help them:  Your $1 will go a long way.  4 years ago, you, the owner-operators of North America, helped a young man by the name of Cody from Butler, PA to go to China for stem cell surgery for his eyes.  He was born blind, can now see, and is in the Butler Public School.  We can make a difference when we help each other.

Written by:  Bruce C. Mallinson, Pittsburgh Power Inc., 3600 South Noah Dr., Saxonburg, PA  16056. Email: bruce@pittsburghpower.com.  Phone 724-360-4080.