Dr. Dean has presented several times at AETC and is enthusiastic about cars, racing, and especially fuels, and has spent the better part of his life in the investigation of racing gasolines and the more exotic fuels.
Dr. Dean decided while in the Army in Korea, there had to be better things to do, so after release from the Military, he earned a BS degree in Chemistry (1957 from the University of Utah, all the while racing flathead Fords on “Fuel” at Bonneville and drag racing at Salt Lake City.
A Master’s Degree was conferred by New Mexico State University (1959) and a PhD in chemistry from Michigan State University (1962). While teaching chemistry at NMSU, he built and raced an injected fuel dragster, using all kinds of additives to the 98% nitromethane, most of which did not work. But the many students that were influenced by this, made it all worthwhile.
During this time, he was involved in consulting for NASA and the Apollo Project, as well as acting as the Fuel Checker for all the NHRA National Meets.
He has been the recipient of many awards recognizing his dedication and contributions. Among these awards are “The Ralph Teator Outstanding Teacher’s Award” (Society of Automotive Engineers) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Advanced Engine Technology Conference.
At this AETC, Dr. Dean will elucidate all kinds of fuels for Circle Track racing, including “Cheater fuels” and how they work.
