UV primer surfacers are becoming more popular as the size and cost of curing lamps, such as this one from Specular, get smaller.
More repairers ‘seeing the light’ with UV primers
They’re not new to the collision repair industry, but ultra-productive UV primer surfacers are receiving renewed interest, thanks to advances in curing equipment.
Although a biology major in college, Meissner decided to pursue the automotive business.
Brand specialization in Palo Alto
Palo Alto, Calif.—Kurt Meissner found himself in an unenviable position in 2011. His father, Gary, who owned Meissner Automotive in Palo Alto, was diagnosed with advanced cancer and passed away seven weeks later.
Mark Simons (center), pictured with Lakewood Service Adviser Mario Speer and Service Manager Kassandra Lane, says he supplies his staff with the best tools and processes available for them to succeed.
Building efficiencies, building business
Lakewood, Wash.-When Mark Simons realized his shop management system was phasing out, he began looking for alternatives, eventually landing with Protractor in 2012.
General manager Phil Carpenter has doubled his shop’s revenues from $600,000 to $1,200,000.
Knocking on opportunity’s door
Denver—From technician to advisor and now general manager for Urban Autocare in Denver, Phil Carpenter has been busy in an accelerating automotive career.
Sitting on their ’61 Cadillac couch, Owner Pat Cox (left) and Service Manager Brett Ingram offer customers a “hip feel” at KC AutoWorX.
From driveway to downtown
Kansas City, Mo.—Although he might often ride inches off the ground in his LS-powered ’54 Chevy two-door sedan, Pat Cox, owner of KC AutoWorX, knows that automotive repair is not usually a fun expense.
EMPI CFO/COO Todd Tyler (left) and general manager of sales Jesse Hardin show off the company’s project Volkswagen Beetle. Air-cooled VWs remain the company’s “bread-and-butter.”
EMPI’s new owner enjoys next ‘restoration wave’
Anaheim, Calif.—Air-cooled Volkswagens have long-enjoyed a vibrant automotive aftermarket, and for good reason.
Owners Lonny Childress (left) and Jason Childress made a career out of racing monster trucks in the 1990s, but their passion for restoring Mustangs inspired them to open Gateway Classic Mustang. They built Sammy Hagar a 1967 Mustang (above) with a custom handling package and a 560-HP Roush fuel-injected 427-IR motor.
Revved up in the resto-mod fastlane
Bourbon, Mo.—Jason and Lonny Childress have always been passionate about anything with a motor, especially Mustangs, of which they both owned and worked on growing up on the family horse farm.
UV primer surfacers are becoming more popular as the size and cost of curing lamps, such as this one from Specular, get smaller.
Although a biology major in college, Meissner decided to pursue the automotive business.
Mark Simons (center), pictured with Lakewood Service Adviser Mario Speer and Service Manager Kassandra Lane, says he supplies his staff with the best tools and processes available for them to succeed.
General manager Phil Carpenter has doubled his shop’s revenues from $600,000 to $1,200,000.
Sitting on their ’61 Cadillac couch, Owner Pat Cox (left) and Service Manager Brett Ingram offer customers a “hip feel” at KC AutoWorX.
EMPI CFO/COO Todd Tyler (left) and general manager of sales Jesse Hardin show off the company’s project Volkswagen Beetle. Air-cooled VWs remain the company’s “bread-and-butter.”
Owners Lonny Childress (left) and Jason Childress made a career out of racing monster trucks in the 1990s, but their passion for restoring Mustangs inspired them to open Gateway Classic Mustang. They built Sammy Hagar a 1967 Mustang (above) with a custom handling package and a 560-HP Roush fuel-injected 427-IR motor.
EMPI CFO/COO Todd Tyler (left) and general manager of sales Jesse Hardin show off the company’s project Volkswagen Beetle. Air-cooled VWs remain the company’s “bread-and-butter.”

EMPI’s new owner enjoys next ‘restoration wave’

Anaheim, Calif.—Air-cooled Volkswagens have long-enjoyed a vibrant automotive aftermarket, and for good reason. There were a lot of them to keep running, with more than 21 and a half million of just one model, the iconic Beetle, sold around the world from its first production in 1949 to the final...
Owners Lonny Childress (left) and Jason Childress made a career out of racing monster trucks in the 1990s, but their passion for restoring Mustangs inspired them to open Gateway Classic Mustang. They built Sammy Hagar a 1967 Mustang (above) with a custom handling package and a 560-HP Roush fuel-injected 427-IR motor.

Revved up in the resto-mod fastlane

Bourbon, Mo.—Jason and Lonny Childress have always been passionate about anything with a motor, especially Mustangs, of which they both owned and worked on growing up on the family horse farm. The Childress’ had made a career out of racing monster trucks for the likes of Team Bigfoot and Bearfoot...
Although a biology major in college, Meissner decided to pursue the automotive business.

Brand specialization in Palo Alto

Palo Alto, Calif.—Kurt Meissner found himself in an unenviable position in 2011. His father, Gary, who owned Meissner Automotive in Palo Alto, was diagnosed with advanced cancer and passed away seven weeks later. Although a biology major in college at the time, Meissner decided to pursue the...
Sitting on their ’61 Cadillac couch, Owner Pat Cox (left) and Service Manager Brett Ingram offer customers a “hip feel” at KC AutoWorX.

From driveway to downtown

Kansas City, Mo.—Although he might often ride inches off the ground in his LS-powered ’54 Chevy two-door sedan, Pat Cox, owner of KC AutoWorX, knows that automotive repair is not usually a fun expense. It’s one for which most people don’t budget, and worse, some may have had bad previous...
UV primer surfacers are becoming more popular as the size and cost of curing lamps, such as this one from Specular, get smaller.

More repairers ‘seeing the light’ with UV primers

They’re not new to the collision repair industry, but ultra-productive UV primer surfacers are receiving renewed interest, thanks to advances in curing equipment. For users who want to use the technology for spot repairs, sometimes as part of a rapid repair fastlane process, the price has come down...
General manager Phil Carpenter has doubled his shop’s revenues from $600,000 to $1,200,000.

Knocking on opportunity’s door

Denver—From technician to advisor and now general manager for Urban Autocare in Denver, Phil Carpenter has been busy in an accelerating automotive career. The devil is in the details, and he manages, hires, and locates prospective employees with a nose for particulars and talent. He developed his...
Alan Kurtzberg, service director at Phases Truck & Automotive Repair in Colorado Springs, Colo., says coaching can make the difference between a shop’s success and failure.

Shop management: Techniques and technology lend to efficiency

Leadership development and business coaching “One of the things we’ve found while working with shops is that many of them don’t have defined roles for their employees,” Doug Bawel, chairmen and CEO of Jasper Engines & Transmissions, said during a seminar in Stapleton, Colo., one of 11 cities he...
Mark Simons (center), pictured with Lakewood Service Adviser Mario Speer and Service Manager Kassandra Lane, says he supplies his staff with the best tools and processes available for them to succeed.

Building efficiencies, building business

Lakewood, Wash.-When Mark Simons realized his shop management system was phasing out, he began looking for alternatives, eventually landing with Protractor in 2012. “We wanted a system that would house the data and contacts for both of our shops and Protractor was the best fit for us. Later on, we...
 
 

Parts & People

Parts & People is published monthly by Automotive Counseling and Publishing Company, Inc., a Colorado corporation, P.O. Box 18731 Denver, CO 80203, 303-765-4664. President-Lance Buchner. Founded by Lance Buchner and Dave Lucia.

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