Goodbye Newton Automotive

[oldgreykaw]

Well, I shut the doors. It lasted nine years but I just couldn't do it anymore. My service manager and service writer (They are married) left in November. Long story short her ex was not paying child support and so she had to get a full time job. The shop she went to offered my service manager a job (All the cars you can possibly work on they said) and he took it (he is now averaging about two thirds of what he was making at my shop, go figure.) And I can't find someone I trust to run the place for me. So at this point since it isn't producing and I can't be there myself so I have decided to close it down, auction off everything, pay all the bills I can and then figure out what to do about the rest.

On the up side I will only be working 40 hours a week instead of 60 (or more). The wife asked me what I was going to do (mind you I have never held a position that I worked less than 50 hours a week). I have thought about this for a while and I have decided (for now, anyway) to try my hand at building a couple of cafe bikes. I'll buy a harbor freight bike lift and an old Honda or Kaw and start hacking into it and see what happens.

[14Junkie]

when the economy tanked i was scared to death.
since things have slowed down my quality of life is much better.
hopefully now you will be able to do all the stuff you didnt have time for before.....


pete

[Cooter]

Good luck with your transition and move to fewer hours. I appreciate your help for troubleshooting my daughter's Ford ZX2 Escort.

[BIG O]

Welcome to world of the working class stiff




Mike

[ramblin66]

Sorry to hear this OGK.... truly. Sounds like your former manager lost as much as you... Bad all around.
I'll spare you any "progress is sometimes painful" BS and go straight to wishing you a full and speedy recovery.

[klb1122]

Sorry to hear, Sam, but it sounds like you have a positive attitude about it. So what is it you will be doing now those 40 hours a week? You get a job in a cubicle with a view, like me?

[jimmymac]

Bummer news, Sammy.

I'll still call you in a heartbeat if I have a car question.

[oldgreykaw]

Don't hesitate to pick my brain guys. I am teaching Automotive Technology at Oklahoma Technical College. Preston, who was on the October Eureka Springs ride also is an instructor there and was just recently promoted to Automotive Departmant Head. He is certainly qualified and I like him as a boss so that is all good.

The spare time is something I will have to get used to. I have always worked 50-60 hours a week and so this will be a BIG change for me. Once everything is settled I am planning on messing around more with bikes than anything. Before long my daughter will be off to college like my son and my wife and I will have to find new things to fill our free hours. I have to keep a positive outlook on this, mainly because that is my character.

I did get a little choked up today listening to voice mails from a few of my customers telling me how much they will miss me. I think that is the the part that will hurt the most. Knowing that I will no longer be a part of their lives. I know that may sound a little selfish but I have always believed that the measure of a man is how many friends he has and what other people say about his character.

[XXXXL]

Don't hesitate to pick my brain guys. I am teaching Automotive Technology at Oklahoma Technical College.

teaching the next generation is a noble and hopefully fufilling thing.
one of the first courses that should be taught is ETHICS. but if they dont already have it it can be a hard thing to instill in someone.

i have looked into a job teaching hvac/r, there was an opening in tulsa not too long ago. was offered a position about 5 years ago at uti but turned it down because i didnt want to relocate to pheonix.

[CrazyTrain]

Sorry to hear, Sam.

I'm looking forward to what 2-wheeled shenanigans you find to occupy yourself!