How Shops Can Master ADAS Calibration: Ron Racine on Training, Tech, and Safety

The ADAS Era Is Here—Are Shops Ready?

In the latest episode of the ADAS Empowered Community Podcast, host Joel Adcock sits down with Ron Racine—industry veteran, trainer, and founder of Technical Training Developers—to discuss the growing complexity of ADAS calibration in modern repair shops.

Racine, with nearly 50 years in the automotive industry, brings a rare perspective combining technical depth, OEM expertise, and technician training experience. Their conversation offers an unfiltered look at the challenges and opportunities ahead for shops navigating the increasingly critical world of vehicle safety systems.

From Snap-On to Rivian: Ron Racine’s Journey to ADAS Education

Ron began his career in the 1980s and has held leadership roles at companies like Snap-on and Rivian. His work has spanned wheel alignment, vehicle dynamics, and high-voltage systems, and today he trains shops on how to approach ADAS calibration with the rigor it demands.

After years of OEM-level work, Racine now leads ADAS Centers of Excellence (ADAS COE) in Las Vegas, offering deep-dive training programs that go far beyond button-pushing. His goal? Developing true ADAS technicians, not just operators.

Top Challenges in ADAS Calibration Today

🔧 1. Lack of Consistent OEM Standards

Racine highlights the chaos created by inconsistent calibration procedures across manufacturers. With varying naming conventions, target specs, and alignment procedures, shops need to stay agile—and informed.

🌐 2. Technology Advancing Faster Than Technicians Can Learn

Powerful new processors like NVIDIA’s ORIN chip now allow vehicles to analyze hundreds of millions of data points per second. But most shops are still catching up to Level 2 or Level 3 ADAS capabilities, creating a dangerous knowledge gap.

🛠️ 3. Calibration Misconceptions

Shops often treat calibration as a checkbox rather than a precision validation process. Racine warns against moving targets to “force” a calibration—doing so defeats the purpose and can leave shops legally exposed.

What Technicians Need to Succeed

Racine emphasizes the qualities of a great ADAS tech:

• Curiosity & Character
• Understanding of vehicle dynamics and root cause analysis
• Commitment to continual learning

"You’re working on vehicles with more computing power than the early space shuttles. That should come with pride and professionalism."

Why Modifications Matter

Modifying ride height or tire size drastically affects camera angles, radar reach, and overall calibration accuracy. According to Racine, post-factory changes invalidate OEM specs, and many shops don’t realize this until a calibration fails.

Some manufacturers like RAM may allow for calibration offsets—but many do not. The safest bet? Return vehicles to OEM specs before calibrating, or prepare to prove your offsets with data.

Dynamic vs. Static Calibration: Which Wins?

Static calibrations offer greater technician control, but dynamic calibrations are often used as fallbacks or validations. Racine explains that if a static calibration is followed by a dynamic, it’s often a sign of OEM mistrust in technician consistency.

“If your static calibration was done correctly, you shouldn’t need a dynamic run. If you do, something went wrong.”

Tools, Environment, and Process: The Holy Trinity

🛠️ Recommended Tools:

• Imaging-based alignment systems (e.g., John Bean TruePoint)
• OEM scan tools or remote programming options
• Vehicle-specific OEM information systems

🏗️ Environment Matters:

A level, flush-mounted alignment surface is essential. Racine recounted seeing calibrations done across five different concrete slabs—each at slightly different heights. That's a recipe for failure.

Training Is Everything (But Not Just “Training”)

Ron distinguishes between training and technician development:

• “We train animals. We develop people.”
• ADAS COE’s training includes in-depth education on:
  • How radar and cameras work
  • CAN network and data fusion
  • Vehicle setup, offsets, and failure diagnostics

This is the next step after equipment orientation, teaching not just what to do—but why you do it.

Ron’s Advice to Shop Owners

If Ron had five minutes with a shop owner:

• Develop your people—hire for character, teach for skill.
• Invest in imaging systems and proper calibration environments.
• Build a real process—from vehicle intake to alignment checks to calibration and post-scan.
• Foster a culture of learning, not shortcuts.

"Apply the pride of work. These vehicles are incredibly complex. If you're capable of working on them—you should take pride in that."

What’s Next: ADAS as the New Tune-Up

As Ron put it, ADAS calibration is the new tune-up. With 90%+ of new cars shipping with ADAS systems—and full autonomy just a few years away—every repair shop must adapt.

To learn more or enroll in one of Ron’s training programs, visit:
🔗 www.adascoe.com

🎧 Listen to the Full Episode:
👉 ADAS Empowered Podcast – Ron Racine