If you know Gary, you know that he runs his shop with a people-first mentality. He's knowledgable,…read moregenerous, honest, and kind. He goes above and beyond to serve his customers in a timely fashion, and to do so while delivering the most cost-effective, high-quality work. He strikes a good balance of diagnosing problems, sharing what work must be done, and using parts that last. I left with a hug and kept thinking, "You know you've found a good mechanic when you're worried about being under-charged." I saw how hard Gary works, and wanted to be sure he and his team were being compensated well for the amazing work they do.
I met Gary when I found myself struck on the side of the freeway traveling through Lincoln, Nebraska, 21 hours into my trip from Arizona to Minnesota. Though late in the day, Gary was quick to say they'd be able to look at my vehicle. That night, he generously offered me a ride to my hotel and picked me up the next morning. When my vehicle continued to have problems, he was quick to rescue me off the freeway yet again, and continued to diagnose the cascade of issues it was having due a faulty alternator. I remained in Lincoln for 5 days as we waited on parts and discovered new issues. On my drive home, Gary called twice to make sure that the vehicle was running well and I was safely on my way home to Minnesota.
During my time in Lincoln, I was able to see Gary's love of cars and problem solving, though what was most obvious was his care and compassion for those who came into his shop. When they couldn't deliver a part until the next day, Gary went to get it. When we discovered that we needed a second key to program my new PCM, he jumped in the car and off we went. When a customer needed to drop off their rental, he offered to follow them and pick them up, ensuring that she didn't have to figure out another plan to get her vehicle back. When a customer needed their car on Monday, he came in at the crack of dawn on Sunday to get it done. He showed the same care and compassion for each person and each vehicle, from the many restored vintage cars that fill his shop, to the hotrods with more power than I can comprehend, to the 11 year old trucks like my own.
I think the hardest part about meeting Gary is that I have a new standard for finding a mechanic close to home. Had I ended up at a different mechanic, I can only imagine how stressful those 5 days of extensive car repairs would have been. Instead I can truly say that my time in Lincoln, Nebraska was a blessing.
A big thank you to Gary and Adam for the many hours of work they put into my vehicle, especially while still taking care of the other vehicles that had scheduled repairs. And thank you to their families, as I know that helping me out led to some later nights and longer weekends at the shop. Words cannot accurately sum up my gratitude, so I'll just keep repeating myself: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
