Lincoln Electric hosted its annual Advanced Motorsports Welding Seminar at the company’s world headquarters in Cleveland on Nov. 28-29.

Representatives from NASCAR, IndyCar, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and off-road racing gathered to learn about the latest in motorsports welding techniques and procedures.

During the two-day seminar, Lincoln Electric experts offered educational sessions on proper techniques using the GTAW process to weld lightweight materials—such as stainless, Inconel, aluminum, chrome-moly and titanium—used in motorsports fabrication.

The company’s comprehensive understanding of these and other specialty metals, as well as welding and cutting techniques, benefits the industry by providing racing teams, manufacturers and industry associations with the welding expertise to make cars that are not only more competitive but also safer to drive.

Some of the top racing teams in attendance at this year’s seminar were Joe Gibbs Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Andretti Autosport and Team Penske.

Speakers at the 2017 Advanced Motorsports Welding Seminar included:

Dan Klingman 
Dan Klingman is a senior customer training instructor at Lincoln Electric, who began his career with the company in 1994. Since then, he has worked as a production welder, robotic operator, application engineering technician and robotic applications technologist. Since 2004, he has been working in the technical training department focusing on the skilled trades. In addition, he continues to train on advanced technology and advanced motorsports training programs. Klingman is also an active member of the National Skills USA welding committee and has been a trackside welder at the Indianapolis 500 since 2006. He earned his AWS CWI/CWE in 2012.

Wyatt Swaim
Wyatt Swaim is known throughout the world as one of the leading experts in the TIG welding industry. He founded Hi-Tech Welding Services Inc. in 1986, developing a complete production facility geared toward providing the highest level of welding, R&D, welding engineering and metallurgy to high technology industries. Swaim consults for Lincoln Electric and conducts advanced training seminars for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and professional motorsports teams.

Dennis Klingman
Dennis Klingman retired as director of technical training at Lincoln Electric in 2009. A Life Member of the American Welding Society (AWS), he received the Plummer Memorial Educational Lecture Award in 2001. Klingman is a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) and Certified Welding Educator (CWE). He has developed curriculums for Lincoln Electric’s Basic and Advanced Motorsports courses and also has led motorsports welding seminars for thousands of students across the United States, Canada and Europe.

Dr. Scott Helzer
Dr. Scott Helzer has more than two decades of diversified welding experience and has been an AWS member for 26 years. He received his doctorate degree in the welding sciences from Texas A&M University. He received the Plummer Award for outstanding contributions to welding and welding education, and an Outstanding Certificate of Achievement as a major contributing author for the rewrite of the week-long CWI preparatory course materials. Helzer has taught TIG welding to EAA members and consulted professional motorsports teams in proper welding procedures and inspection.