Dave Tuohy

What inspired you to pursue a career in your field?

I’ve always been into cars, taking things apart, figuring out how they work, and (hopefully) putting them back together better than before! That turned into a career restoring classics, building motorsport vehicles, and working on all kinds of projects, from magazine features to TV builds. What inspired me to teach was wanting to pass that experience on and help others get that same buzz from solving a problem or building something from scratch. Now I get to help the next generation of engineers, technicians, and fabricators find their path in the industry.

What do you enjoy most about your role at the college?

For me, the best part is helping students grow their skills and confidence, whether it’s learning to weld, figuring out a tricky driveline fault, or fine-tuning a race setup. I love seeing that moment when it all clicks. I’m big on creating proper, hands-on resources that give you a real edge out in the industry. Working with a great team, planning things like the trips and visits, and shaping how the course runs keeps things exciting and makes it a job I genuinely look forward to every day.

Areas of Interest and Expertise

I’m into all things motorsport, from classic car restoration and engine building to diagnostics, fabrication, and race-day prep. I’ve got loads of hands-on experience with drivetrains, gearboxes, fuel systems, welding, and suspension setups, and I love helping students understand how everything works together. I’m especially into vehicle modification, race prep and race car set up. I’ve worked on show cars, race cars, in a car museum, written for RetroFord magazine, and even done a bit for the Discovery Channel.

What is your favourite car and why?

Cars are like golf you don’t take one club, you have different ones for different situations. I’d probably go with a Ford RS200, an Alpina e39 Touring V8, a MK2 Escort RS1800 and maybe an Aston Martin DB5.

What advice would you give to students looking to succeed in your subject area?

My advice is to stay curious, stay hands-on, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes because that’s often when the real learning happens. Motorsport and vehicle engineering demand a blend of technical skill, problem-solving, and resilience, so success comes from putting in the effort both in the workshop and the classroom. Ask questions, take pride in your work, and make the most of every opportunity, whether that’s joining a live project, going on a placement, or getting involved in a race weekend. Most importantly, treat every task as if you were doing it for a customer or a professional team because one day, you will be.

What book, movie, artist or podcast do you always recommend?

I always tell students to check out ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’ it’s a brilliant film about determination, engineering, and pure passion for speed. Burt Munro’s story really shows what you can do with limited resources and a lot of heart.

For YouTube, ‘Bad Obsession Motorsport’ is a must! Those lads are absolute wizards when it comes to fabrication and attention to detail (Project Binky is legendary).

For something a bit different, I recommend the book ‘The Driver’ by Alexander Roy. It’s part motorsport memoir, part philosophy on driving. It really makes you think about skill, focus, and what it means to truly understand a machine.

Anything else?

I’ve got a background in everything from classic car restoration and race car setup to bodywork and diagnostics, with qualifications to match, plus I’m also an assessor, verifier, and qualified teacher. Basically, if it’s got an engine, I’m into it. Before teaching, I ran my own classic car restoration business, wrote for RetroFord magazine, and worked on a few builds for Discovery Channel shows among other things. I’m all about giving students real, hands-on experience, whether it’s getting stuck into a track car, diagnosing faults in the workshop, or heading to Aruba to help maintain a submarine (yes, really). I want you to leave here ready for the motorsport world and enjoy the ride getting there.