Category — Meet The Staff

When I polled my kids as to who their favorite people at the shop where, my daughter’s instant response was that “Mr. Kevin” was her favorite. This was unsurprising to me as Kevin’s good with kids. Heck, he’s got two of his own.

He’s also a generally all-around good guy. I’ve known him since I started with the shop umpteen bazillion years ago, and we’ve stayed friends pretty much throughout. One of the things that has always impressed me most about Kevin is his ability to stay calm in situations that would have me completely freaking out.

Here’s Kevin’s profile:

Are you married or single? Do you have any kids?

I’ve been married for 6 and a half years. I’ve got two kids- a 7 year old boy and a 4 year old girl.

Do you have any pets?

2 dogs, Sparky and Lady and 2 cats Lucy and Tasha.

What are your hobbies?

I love (and own and ride) motorcycles. Old cars. And I’m really into music, especially from the 60s-80s.

How long have you been working on cars?

I’ve worked in a shop for 20 years, but I’ve been working on cars my whole life. [Ivy's note: Yep, this is the most common answer for this question, by far. I believe it's true, as well. I just find it funny, picturing all these dudes as toddlers, turning wrenches, ha]

Why did you go into the auto repair business?

It runs in the family: both my dad and grandpa were mechanics.

What’s your dream car?

1965-66 Mustang Fastback

What’s your favorite kind of car to work on?

Nothing stands out as a real favorite, but I do tend to prefer American cars.

What’s your least favorite kind of car to work on, and why?

European cars (vw, bmw, mercedes, saab, volvo, jaguar, etc.)- they’re harder to find parts for.

Of all the guys at the shop, I know Klint the least. He’s been around for several years, but I never had the chance to work with him. Klint has always struck me as a kind, soft-spoken guy who loves his family immensely. When I asked around the shop if my impression was correct, everyone agreed that that’s pretty much Klint.

In the shop, he’s Jeff’s backup at the desk, and it seems like he does a little bit of everything. An interesting side note- when my grandma was still alive and in reasonably good health, I took her to have her hair done every Friday. Klint’s long-time girlfriend works at that shop, though it took us awhile to figure out that we all knew each other. Murfreesboro is certainly a much smaller place than it appears to be.

Here’s Klint’s profile:

Are you married or single? Do you have any kids?

I’m in a long-term relationship. I have one boy named Hunter who’s 6 years old and just finished Kindergarten.

Do you have any pets?

Yes, 2 lizards, 4 dogs, 2 turtles, 3 fish and 2 horses.

What are your hobbies?

I like anything having to do with the outdoors- football, basketball, golf, baseball, softball, ATV riding, fishing, hunting, shooting guns, and of course, TV.

How long have you been working on cars?

All my life, really. I’ve worked 10 years in a shop.

Why did you go into the auto repair business?

Growing up, my dad was a big “do it yourself” kind of guy, always working on his own cars, tractors, etc. He also worked on everyone else in our family’s cars, so it just kind of fit with me when I got old enough to work.

What’s your dream car?

1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS-6, 4 speed. (Any color is fine.)

What’s your favorite kind of car to work on?

My own 1978 Chevy 4×4- it’s easy and cheap to work on compared to today’s cars.

What’s your least favorite kind of car to work on, and why?

Anything European- I know very little about them.

Come out to the shop and see Klint in action!

When I polled my kids who their favorite tech was, my youngest son’s favorite was Joe. I don’t know if it’s because they’re about the same height, or if it’s because Joe’s a cool guy and is great with kids.

Joe is kind and funny and is one of the fastest oil changers I’ve ever seen. I’ve known him for about 9 years now and I’ve watched him grow over time and overcome various obstacles in his life. He’s good people, and I’m glad to number him among my friends.

Here’s the profile Joe completed for me:

Are you married or single? Do you have any kids?

I’m married- I’ve been married for nearly 22 years. I have one son, who is 22.

Do you have any pets?

I have a pit bull named Kanye.

What are your hobbies?

My favorite thing to do is go fishing.

How long have you been working on cars?

9 years.

Why did you go into the auto repair business?

I love working on any type of machines.

What’s your dream car?

Corvette- any year.

What’s your favorite kind of car to work on?

I like Hondas the best. [Ivy's note: Me too!]

What’s your least favorite kind of car to work on, and why?

Dodges. There’s no real reason, it’s just personal preference.