: Do you like the aspect of competing just against other engine builders and not worrying about a driver doing his job to get the win?

Kaase: That’s right, it’s all you, it either works or it doesn’t. I like going to the races and stuff, but it’s really out of my hands when I get there.

: Is there a sense of camaraderie among the builders or is everyone guarding their secrets?

Kaase: Well, with that Engine Masters deal I think it’s pretty much over when you walk in the door because what you’ve brought is what you’ve got. All the work has already been done. And when you’re all done they tear them down, so if you had any secrets they’re not secrets anymore once it’s over. It’s kind of expected; an unwritten understanding that you’re going to give it up. So you can talk about anything you did when you get there. It’s really pretty cool.        

: So, what do you drive as a daily driver?

Kaase: It’s a 2001 Harley-Davidson Lightning Ford truck with a blower on it that’s just about the way it came from the factory. It’s just a fast truck and I love it, 13 seconds on the strip, 15 miles per gallon and it’s pretty comfortable, too. I’ve got a quarter-million miles on it now.

: Have you owned it since new?

Kaase: Actually, what happened is that the first engine that I won the Engine Masters with in 2003, I traded it to this guy that owns a Ford dealership and that truck was part of the payment.

: So what would we find in the truck’s CD player? Are you more of a rock or a country guy?

Kaase: Well, I used to like all that hard rock stuff and still kind of do. We used to go see every concert that came into Cleveland, Ohio, and there was a bunch. It was a really progressive rock-and-roll city and me and my buddies, we went and saw everybody that came through. I’ve been to see The Doors and I’ve been to a Metallica concert before, so I like it all. Lately it’s been a lot of Joe Satriani, Robin Trower; Satriani is really good in concert.

: What would you be doing if not for your current job?

Kaase: Well, I really like the Engine Masters stuff, so anything that let me invent and experiment with stuff would be cool and I’d also love to tinker on old airplanes. When I retire I’ll do a lot of that, I think.

: That won’t be any time soon, though, right?

Kaase: Hopefully not! That’s the good thing about this business; you can get pretty old and still do a good job. Just think of Sonny Leonard, our chief competitor, I think he’s about 70 or so and he’s still kicking our ass a little bit, but that’s good, I’m happy to see that.

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