My name is Richard Michael Pauza, I was born in Chicago IL In 1963…
Avers & Fullerton….north side ………..
My family moved to the suburb of DesPlaines Il when I was just 3 years old...I was a suburban kid during the week but spent my week end at both of my grandparents houses on weekends……I guess you could say I was raised with some city kid smarts…..My father worked as a super market manager, then a rout salesman…….if you asked me were I got my mechanical smarts from I would say from my mothers father Ted Malo….Grandpa was a cook in WW2, owned a tavern & restaurant, worked as a machine mechanic for Buick & retired as a maintenance mechanic for a plating company…….the door to grandpas work shop was always open to me & my younger brother Christopher…..that work shop was my favorite place in the world…..as I got older I was aloud to (make more stuff) …..at about 13… Uncle Ted….my moms bro…put a cutting torch in my hand for the first time……I was scared to death but it was to cool to stop…….lots of legos & lots of hot wheels later I was a permanently a gear head..

Grade school sucked……especially JR high……. lame boring & no challenge………..but high school was pretty cool…..Main West in DesPlaines ……..cool classes like machine shop & metal shop science labs further entrenched me in building things mechanical…..there were to very key teachers in high school Mr. Twohill…(welding ) & Mr. Grobe (machine shop)….lots of excellent beginner information from those two…..After graduation I stared an apprenticeship as a tool/mold maker. I tried to get a job with united since the air o space industry is very similar to the race car bizz & know body had (race car builder) apprenticeships at that time… I didn’t have the political clout to get in at United as an a@p……at that time I was definitely not college material from a financial of patience point of view…I just wanted to build race cars & hot rods…….get on the cover of HOT ROD magazine..!!…….so buy day I spent time learning the crafts of tool & mold building & attended night school at the tool & die institute……a graduated & be came a (lead man Or journey man mold maker) during this time I had purchased what was left of a basket case old front motor dragster….my high school punk car was a 72 la mans sport that I just about wore out grudge racing at great lakes drag way……..from my time at the strip a could see that know mater what I did to the old poncho it would never be as fast as I wanted it to be……so I knew a gas dragster was the way to go….light & cheap…...when I first brought it home my parents flipped out & demanded it be removed from there little one car garage………I couldn’t believe they were going to make me stop before I even started…….I didn’t know what to do so I bluffed…….said to mom & dad , you guys are right……this thing takes up to much space……I will get rid of it ….a top fuel motor cycle would go much faster & take up much less space…….the bluff worked … was aloud to keep my basket case dragster……(I eventually found out they decided the dragster was safer than the motorcycle & besides I would never finish it anyway…………)




it took a little over a year before the first time I fired it up….(crashed halfway through the closed garage door)……….so for the next 4 years I spent all of my available time & money learning how to do everything relating to building & running that car….. first the wrong way & then the right….school of hard knocks…totally….!!

But a funny thing happened during all this…..when I went to the (elders of this area) for them to do small jobs & get advice on building & then racing that old digger , I discovered that the majority of them didn’t have much more knowledge of what we were doing than I did…..about the 50th time or so I heard ( kid, its really complicated stuff, you just wouldn’t understand…..just pay me & I will get it done)…(and most of the time the job they did sucked)….I decided that before I build my next car I would buy every piece of fabricating & machining equipment I would need to do it my self……!

So that’s what I did……..one day my mom & dad came home from a nice long vacation & found a (Bridgeport milling machine in there little garage)……man did the sh#T hit the fan on that one…..!! but hey at least they knew were their kid was…!!


The exception to all the bone heads I was dealing with when I was building my first car were Mack, John & Russ from motion dynamics, a was engine rebuilding service that also ran a little digger like mine……these guys liked me & helped me out a lot……I was starting to get little repair jobs from other racers because they liked the quality in my own car……this was the start of my bizz…..I gave a 4 week notice at the mold shop & went to work part time for the guys at motion doing motor work buy day & race car fabrication at night……..then I rented half a shop….then the hole shop……….I was in ElkGrove from 86 to 90……during this time , along with the guys from motion we ran a blown alcohol dragster named the Dynamo Humm in UDRD & match race events….I was a learning sponge……I had my hand in everything I could……the race team eventually was (moneyed out) of racing…..but it was the best time…..!

in 91 I moved to my current studio in Gilberts Ill……I still raced as a (hired gun) until 94..at that time I decided if I ever wanted to race on my own…the biz would have to really step up and make some money…!!……….

from 94 to 98 I buried my self in customer projects……90 hour weeks four to five major jobs at a time trying to make everyone happy but my self……this just wasn’t working….I was doubting my self……listening to other people for the answers……problem was, the people I was following didn’t even know the question…..







What was my moment of truth?

In July of 1998, I went from Gilberts, IL to Newport Beach, CA to work with a popular west coast shop. After three big projects of mine went bust, I thought I could learn more from a group of guys that were supposed to have the answers. I made the decision to leave my studio for a good portion of the year, on a gamble that I was going to learn. I left because I didn't have the answers to why my last three projects went wrong.
(The exact date? 7/15/1998)


What were the results?
What I learned was that I had the answers all along. In the end, I taught the supposed teacher how to do his job. I left with money in my pocket and returned financially devastated, but I don't care. Now, my products are of my own design and quality. I am creating my own market, because I know my work is good and unique, even though it may take others some time to see that. Now, people are beginning to take notice, more people are interested in my services/skills/products.


What's my parting tip?


Turn off the TV, get off the couch, get into the garage and build something or take something apart! Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty!!! You will not learn how to do this stuff playing video games….!!!!

RMP

I have been mechanically inclined for as far back as I can remember. After high school graduation I began an apprentice as a Tool & Mold builder. I finished a 5-year program & graduated from the Tool & Die institute with honors. While building molds and tools full time, I also began building race cars and small fabrications in my parent’s garage. I started a small business in the evenings and on weekends. I ran a fabrication shop in Elk Grove IL. For 5 years, then another Fabrication & Design shop in Gilberts Ill. In 1998 I ran the fabrication department for the R. Streeman Co in Newport Beach California, Followed by Running the fabrication & design Department for Design Tech in Addison IL. In between jobs & self-employment I made time to Race, NHRA, UDRA, ABA & some vintage road racing. I helped Run most team functions, set up race cars, did engine service, Performed R&D, made proto type parts and even drove a bit. I am currently looking for a sound, satisfying local job were I can use most of the knowledge & skills I have gained in the last 30 years. 
 
Experience: 
 
Technician - mechanic 
 
Fabricator 
 
Machine builder - designer 
 
Tool, Jig and Fixture maker 
 
Expert Manual Machinist  
 
Troubleshooter – problem solver 
 
Master TIG and O&A welder  
 
Sheet metal forming specialist 
 
12 years of 3D solid modeling experience 
 
Artisan 
 
 
 
Details – Experience 
 
Technician – mechanic 
 
I under stand how things are built and how to make them more serviceable. 
I can trouble shoot problems & make repairs and improvements. 
I have a vast mechanical background In Automotive – Aerospace – Machinery and tooling. From Old Chevy’s & Fords to vintage Ferraris - late model Helicopters & aircraft components to Packaging machines & marble cutting saws. I can work with Stainless Steel, Plastic & Iron plumbing; I have a good understanding of hydraulics and their limits. Hydraulic & pneumatic cylinders, hose’s, Fittings & Pumps. A solid background in electronics used in the work place & machinery, 12V - 110 – 230 SP - 230 3PH & 480 Step up converters. I have a Good electrical testing background, and can use multi meters & Snap-on Scanners. Trained and experienced in the building & repair of 4 cycle gasoline engines, experience with clutch & transmission selection and servicing. Qualified to service most things mechanical in nature. I under stand how proper maintenance can prolong the life of equipment. I have also re-built domestic & foreign made machinery, improving dependability & service life. 
 
Fabricator 
 
I can design or enhance designs. I am an expert tube fabricator, with vast experience in Custom tube chassis & frame design. I am a 4130N TIG welding specialist. Proficient in bending, shaping, coping & fitment of tube fabrications, suspension components, manifolds, machine housings, bracket fabrication & development – and fully understand the necessary functions of fixtures & jigs. 
 
 
Machine builder – designer 
Tool, Jig and Fixture maker 
Expert Manual Machinist 
 
I can machine parts from an idea or problem, with or with out blue prints or a sketch - From raw material or a broken component to a finished ready to use part. I specialize in jigs, fixtures, prototypes, one off parts and tool making. Skilled in reading, creating and modifying drawings. I have un-countable hours on tool room machines and equipment of all kinds– qualified to accurately run any manual mill, lathe, rotary table, surface grinder, saws, drills, belt sanders and produce high precision parts and assemblies. Qualified to handle a vast array of hand tools, Experience in short run production. Qualified to machine, build and execute - From simple modifications to building a new machine tool based on a problem to solve or from a clean sheet. 
 
Master TIG and O&A welder  
 
30+ years of welding time, I have experience in TIG – MIG – O&A – O&H on most common alloys, stainless steels, Aluminum, High carbon steels, Low carbon steels, Titanium, Inconel & Copper. Experience with Plasma cutting, Torch works, & Thermo fitting. I can pass any welding or field test necessary. I have welded a wide range of materials & parts – from 1.500 thick cross sections on construction equipment to .020 copper sheets. I can make confident decisions on what process to use in any application. 
I under stand the dynamics of welding as well as the effects it has on everything around it. 
 
 
Sheet metal forming specialist 
 
Aluminum & steel sheet fabrication unlimited 
Shearing, rolling, shrinking, stretching, air craft rivet & beading. 
English Wheel works, Power Hammers, Helve Hammers, Plainishing hammer, shot bag & mallet skills. 
Tanks, manifolds, ports, guards, shields, fenders. 
A simple weld-a-ment to a hand formed panel, buck or complete body. 
I can gas weld aluminum sheet as well as TIG - .020 to .100 thick. I am qualified to work on any Stainless Steel fabrication. 
I have also worked with Lexan & other Polly carb plastics. 
 
 
10 years of 3D solid modeling experience 
 
I have built machines and parts from pencil sketches and I have built them from 3D models using mid level Cad programs. 
Self taught 3D designer – I started with Mechanical Desktop, I Have time in Solid Works, and my currant choice is Auto Desk Inventor.  
I have used 3D CAD programs to successfully design & build countless parts & assemblies