i learned from reading forums all day long but i'd say i learned ALOTTTT from diy's and going to carmeets interacting with fellow car enthusiasts >=] and most important the love for it.
I started looking at import turner magazines back while I was about 8 years old, playing racing games, nittolegends, starting to get more in depth researching when I was in high school.
You have to be interested in something to enjoy researching and learning on what you are doing.