Motor Age and PTEN are committed to supporting young technicians in the automotive aftermarket and we want to shine a spotlight on those who are paving a successful path in the industry. This is part of a monthly series to showcase the best young talent in our industry.
Connor Bacon was a runner-up in the first annual PTEN and Motor Age Best Young Tech Award, a program that recognizes innovation, dedication, and excellence in the industry’s technicians aged 35 and younger.
From fast cars, to a fast career trajectory, this master automotive technician at Curt’s Service in Oak Park, Mich, is burning rubber.
According to the shop’s general manager Jayson Preston, Bacon’s progression from eager college graduate four years ago to one of the lead diagnosticians for BMW cars has been amazing.
“BMW is hard for anyone, but by age 25, he’s become so proficient at diagnosing specific problems on that line that he’s become the go-to guy for all things," Preston said.
Bacon’s long hours of studying and working have paid off in top-quality service and stellar solutions. For example, his comeback rate is less than one percent, and his BMW expertise has grabbed attention all over town.
Bacon’s fascination with cars dates back to his childhood when he would tinker with anything that had an engine. He later focused on high-performance vehicles and race cars. Today, he continues to beef up his education to expand his skills into all lines of cars. He was one of the first techs at Curt’s Service to use a thermal imaging tool and is now in charge of keeping scan tools updated and programmed.
Bacon does not keep his talent and knowledge to himself. Customers benefit from his specialized knowledge, experience and analytical skills. Junior technicians look to him for mentoring and know he has their backs. In fact, all 20 of the shop’s staff voted him employee of the year in 2020.
Bacon sat down with PTEN and Motor Age magazines to talk about his career path, offer guidance to other young technicians, and share some anecdotes.
When did you decide to become a technician?
When I got my first car, I had fun doing modifications. I learned a lot from that and wanted to keep messing with engines, learning more, making them go faster, and fixing them if they had issues.
Tell us how you got this job.
A couple of months out of school, I heard about this job opening from a friend. I checked out the place, applied and got in. I think they appreciated my drive toward wanting to get into this field and continuing to learn.
What is the best piece of career advice you've received?
Pretty much everyone at the shop has told me, "Don't be afraid to ask for help."
What is your dream car?
I like older-school sports cars, so a 2005 Ford GT, V8, super-charged with manual transmission.
What is your favorite tool?
A flashlight – I use it consistently.
What is the most challenging repair you've worked on?
My first Audi diesel. It was very different from what I was used to, so it was interesting to figure out how diesels work.
What are your career aspirations?
I’d like to continue building my portfolio of knowledge, especially on European cars as automotive gets more complex these days. I would maybe like to get more into the high-performance side of repairs.
Do you have one piece of career advice for new techs in the field?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions – it can reduce stress and help you save time.
Nominations for the second Best Young Tech Award are open now. To nominate a candidate, click here.
