Rev Motoring_Spring 2012

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Brentwood NAPA: a family legacy continues JUSTIN LAFFERTY

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inda Wilson remembers her husband, Rick, getting a call in the middle of the night. A local farmer’s harvester had broken down

and he needed a part immediately. Rick, co-owner of Brentwood NAPA Auto Parts, was there to help him out before the store opened. The next day, Linda and Rick found a crate of tomatoes waiting for them – a gift from the thankful farmer.

It’s that kind of personal connection with the community that has made Brentwood NAPA Auto Parts the city’s oldest family-owned retail business. The Wilson family has owned the store since 1957, when the business was located at the corner of Brentwood Boulevard and Oak Street. Now the shop inhabits a blue building at 7881 Brentwood Blvd.

In addition to selling everything from wiper blades to wrenches, the knowledgeable staff at Brentwood NAPA Auto Parts is willing to lend advice to those who aren’t mechanically savvy. The store carries parts for foreign and domestic cars, trucks, boats and nearly everything else with a motor.

ON THE COVER: Nationwide Fleet owner Tim Hensley and his wife, Olga, with some of the company’s current offerings. In the background are staff members Travis Hensley, Ernie Molina and Cristobal Hildalgo.

Photo by Justin Lafferty

Brentwood NAPA Auto Parts co-owner Linda Wilson, right, along with daughter Bethany O’Donnell and store manager Brad Myers, displays a photo of the original business in downtown Brentwood.

Rick’s ownership began first as a co-owner with his brothers. About 10 years ago, Linda and Rick became the sole co-owners of the shop, and the family legacy lives on: their daughter, Bethany O’Donnell, now works at the store, and Linda considers manager Brad Myers an adopted son.

Though the store is a NAPA branch business, it’s independently owned by the Wilsons. This gives them the

freedom to better serve the constantly changing customer base, which has evolved from farmers to construction companies to a little bit of everything now.

“We’re family owned; we’re not corporate; we’re not a franchise,” Linda said. “We’re just adapting to what the see NAPA page 10B

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Getting to the root of auto ailments AMY CLAIRE

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ecorated with a wall of model cars and boasting a massage chair and an

arcade driving game, the waiting area at East County European Autoworks is family-friendly and inviting. “We try to go above and beyond, from the beginning to the end,” said owner-operator Freddie Apodaca, Jr. And over his four years in business, he has lived up to those high standards.

Photo by Amy Claire

East County European Autoworks owner Freddie Apodaca, Jr. checks out an overheating problem on a Volkswagen Beetle.

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“We do everything – from bumper to bumper,” said Apodaca. “We do work on all other models, but we specialize in Audi, Volkswagen.” He became interested in cars while watching his father work on the family vehicles. When he was 12, his father encountered a problem with a car’s computer that he was unable to solve himself.

“I was intrigued,” recalled Apodaca.

That incident piqued his fascination with the complexities of vehicles and started him on the road to his current occupation.

Through formal education and eight years at Livermore Audi, he became familiar with all

aspects of running an auto repair business.

That knowledge helped him to open his own shop in 2007.

“As I drove around,” said Apodaca, “I noticed how many Volkswagens there were; how many Audis, and there was nobody servicing them.” His extensive experience with Audis and side work on Volkswagens inspired him to open East County European Autoworks. The two manufacturers’ products are strikingly similar.

“They’re very finicky cars,” he said.

“One problem can be masked by another.”

Apodaca makes a point of taking apart the malfunctioning sections of the vehicle in order to ensure that he finds “the root cause of the problem.” His attentiveness has unmasked some unexpected answers to unusual issues: One car showed the checkengine light turning on intermittently. After a careful process of elimination, Apodaca discovered that one of the hoses had not been completely hollowed out, and instead had a ball of rubber inside of it. Another car engaged its turn signals whenever the driver hit the brakes, which turned out to be due to the installation of the wrong lightbulb.

Apodaca enjoys helping his customers visualize a problem by showing them exactly where their vehicles are acting up. see Ailments page 9B

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In addition to top-notch body work, the experts at Casey’s Auto Body in Brentwood can buff out or repair your vehicle’s old paint – or give it a dazzling new paint job.

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Keeping the shine on

M

ost people purchase a

the vehicle’s clear coat or enamel paint

If you want your vehicle to remain in the best shape possible, you need to take an active role in maintenance and damage prevention. The risk for damage increases the longer a substance remains on the paint. ♦ Ultraviolet light: Just as UV light affects the skin, hair and other parts of your body, it also affects a vehicle’s paint. UV rays oxidize the paint and cause a white, powdery film to form on the car. Washing the car frequently

on the car is to be expected.

see Shine page 9B

vehicle for its looks and performance. But unless

the vehicle is kept in a garage and never driven, it’s impossible to keep it in pristine condition. Some kind of damage to

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“That was huge. But now, we’re doing business with people from all over the world. I’ve sold boats to people in Hong Kong; Harleys to folks in New Zealand. There is a college, the Ohio Technical Institute, that buys a lot of bikes for the students to train on. When I was ďŹ rst told about eBay, I thought, ‘Who is going to buy a car without getting a chance to sit in it, smell it, touch it?’ But people trust in our services.â€?

Since moving the business to eBay in 2008, Nationwide Fleet has garnered the “Top-rated Sellerâ€? distinction, boasting more than 1,000 sales and a customer feedback score of 100 percent. SatisďŹ ed customers have been volunteering praises for years. “These guys were great to work with. Helped us in every way,â€? raved a customer who bought a 2006 Weekend Warrior 3000 Toy Hauler earlier this month. “Another Flawless Transaction. Will Be Back. Thanks!â€? posted a satisďŹ ed repeat customer who purchased a Harley Softail.

Despite a diverse, international fan base, Tim does little local business. But when he does, customers are often surprised to ďŹ nd such an eclectic collection of products in the back roads of Byron. While the Hensleys own a large garage for storing and reconditioning products, no products are sold directly from the home base. Clients occasionally stop by to look over a potential purchase, but all sales are done through the Internet.

To check out Nationwide Fleet’s latest offerings, visit www.nationwide-eet.com.

For more information, call Tim at 925-9809803 or Travis at 925-437-9820.

While he used to resell the assets through auction houses, Hensley now runs his business solely through eBay, selling dozens of units and an average of 65 Harleys per month through the online auction site. “We sell the most unique items,�

Hensley said. “Rare cars, collector bikes, jet skis, horse trailers – the list goes on. New products are coming in daily, and most of the inventory is posted online within a week. We run seven-day, no-reserve auctions, so the person with the highest bids get the unit.�

Hensley collects units through bank and corporate repossessions, dealer trade-ins and local municipalities. Items currently up for bid include a 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class G500 G Wagon, a 1989 Vanhool 54-passenger bus and a 2006 Harley-Davidson Touring Electra Glide Classic.

Since the unit goes to the highest bidder, there are plenty of deals to be made. Hensley and his son Travis always guess what an item will go for, but sometimes it goes for less than expected, and sometimes the bidding war escalates and Nationwide Fleet brings in $10,000 more than expected. The Hensley family averages $6 million in sales annually since moving the business online.

In the early years, Tim ran ads in newspapers to announce his auctions; his offerings would occasionally attract interest from out of state. But now, Nationwide Fleet deals regularly with international clients from Australia to Switzerland. “I remember when getting a call from someone in Denver was a big deal,� Tim said.

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Secrets to buying online Taking a used car for a spin

before you buy it is a good way to get to know the vehicle, from detecting mechanical problems to seeing if it fits your personal style.

But a growing number of used-car buyers are finding attractive deals online, which sometimes means committing to buy a vehicle before you’ve even seen it.

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A few common-sense steps can make buying a used car online a gratifying experience.

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The Internet has made it possible and practical to expand your used-car shopping to nationwide dimensions. And shopping online offers unmatched convenience, selection and value – all without pressure to make your decision on the spot in the dealership.

Buying a used car online, however, is a lot different than the online purchase of books, music or movies. The process involves far more variables. Here are seven secrets to successful online used-car shopping:

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Four great auto apps Smartphones and tablets have revolutionized the way many of us live. Apps can help with shopping, exercising, learning – even driving. Here are a few of the best apps for car owners, courtesy of www. kiaofwestspringfieldnews.com. ♦ Put the Take Me To My Car app near the top of your list. Ever failed to locate your vehicle in a mall parking lot the size of Montana? By simply tapping the app when you leave your car, the app will record the location and lead you back to it. This free app is supported only by the iPhone. ♦ An iPhone app called Carticipate makes your car more energy efficient. This free social commuting app creates a whole

framework designed to reduce emissions and save gas. By signing up for Carticipate, you can find a ride or share your car wherever you go. Car owners can sign up for Carticipate on the iPhone or Facebook. ♦ GasBuddy is a free app dedicated to helping you find the nearest and cheapest gas. According to the GasBuddy website, you can earn points to win prizes. This app can work on Windows Phone 7, Android and iPhone. ♦ Subsonic is a free app that lets you stream music from your home computer and listen to it on their iPhone, Android phone or Windows phone. With this app, you never need to worry about losing contact with your favorite radio station.

Online from page 7B Learn the vehicle’s history When you buy a used vehicle from online sites such as eBay Motors, Yahoo! Autos or AutoTrader.com, you probably won’t get to see and drive the vehicle before you commit to the purchase. A vehicle history report such as AutoCheck, offered by Experian Automotive, can help provide information critical to making a smart decision. Log on to www.autocheck.com to learn more.

Complete transactions through the purchase site If you find a used car online, be sure to start and finish your transaction through the website. Doing so will afford you all the protections and assurances offered by the site.

Know what you’re buying In addition to reviewing a vehicle history report, ask for additional photos of details such as the odometer reading, vehicle identification number and scratches or blemishes if they’re not already revealed in the listing.

Ask a third party to inspect the vehicle for mechanical or safety problems.

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Check out the seller What kind of feedback does the seller get on the marketplace site? Read the seller’s ratings and comments.

Review the vehicle title If it appears to have been altered in any way, reconsider your decision to buy.

Keep your feet on the ground If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Common sense and patience can be two of your best buying tools.

Know your legal options If you encounter fraud during the process of shopping for a used car, consider filing a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Shopping for a car isn’t unlike shopping for clothing, a vacation package – or even a house. Take reasonable precautions to ensure you’re dealing with a legitimate seller, and take advantage of the secure processes offered by trustworthy and reputable online marketplaces.

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MARCH 23, 2012

Ailments from page 4B He believes that with time and patience, every problem can be fixed. “There’s always a way,” he said. “As long as people want to keep it on the road, it’s possible.”

Attention to detail has earned Apodaca the loyalty of his customers, some of whom followed him when he moved from the Audi dealership and opened his own shop.

“Everyone always comes back,” he said.

“They know me and feel comfortable.”

Shine from page 5B and applying the best quality wax will help keep UV rays from penetrating the paint. ♦ Oversprays: It’s not always possible to prevent your vehicle from getting doused in paint spray, tar, concrete and other chemicals routinely used in construction zones. Don’t allow these substances to harden on your vehicle. Rinse promptly with automotive soap – and avoid construction zones whenever possible. ♦ Rain: Both acid rain and regular rainwater (plus other sources of water) can dissolve paint over time. The U.S. Geological Survey states that water is a universal solvent because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid. Whenever the vehicle becomes wet, it should be dried with a towel or chamois and not allowed to air dry. ♦ Natural substances: Tree sap, bird droppings and splattered insects contain compounds that can erode the paint on a vehicle.

Avoid parking under large trees where sap and bird droppings may be prevalent. In

REV MOTORING Apodaca continues to enjoy the challenges of diagnosing and repairing each new car. “It never just goes flat,” he said. “You never get bored, because cars are changing so fast.”

East County European Autoworks, located at 550 Harvest Park Drive, Suite E in Brentwood, is open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays by appointment; closed Sundays. Call 925-516-AUDI (2834) or visit www.eastcountyeuro.com.

terms of bug splatter, try to wash it off as soon as possible to alleviate damage. ♦ Eggs: Some rambunctious children get their kicks from egging vehicles. The enzyme and sulfur content of an egg can cause paint and clear coat to dissolve, leaving white spots in the wake of the egg. Since egg can be sticky and hard to remove once dried, it needs to be washed off as soon as possible.

It takes only a few hours for the damage to become permanent. ♦ Bleach: Although a bleach-and-water solution can be an effective way to clean many things, it should not be used on a vehicle.

Bleach is an oxidizer and will pit metal and discolor paint. Be careful with pool chemicals as well, as chlorinator is usually regular household bleach.

There are many things that can damage a vehicle’s paint job. Although it’s impossible to shield it from everything, taking a few simple precautions can keep your vehicle sparkling like new.

– Courtesy of Metro Services

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Every year, Brentwood NAPA Auto Parts hosts a car show that benefits the Brentwood Regional Community Chest. For more than a half-century, the company has combined business with support for the local community.

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Photo courtesy of Linda Wilson

NAPA from page 3B changes are.”

The Brentwood NAPA’s independence has other benefits. As O’Donnell sees it, one of the perks of shopping at NAPA is that “the money stays in the community.” In addition to helping customers with their vehicular needs, the store plays a key philanthropic role. Every year, the Brentwood NAPA organizes a car show benefiting the Brentwood Regional Community Chest (BRCC). The event brings in thousands of dollars as well as pallets of food and toys that are distributed to the needy for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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The car show has evolved from a modest display of 45 to 50 cars into a major event drawing more than 100 beautifully maintained automobiles from around the East Bay. This year will mark the eighth car show.

“We do that in August to just kind of start off the holiday season,” Linda said.

“It’s grown.”

While the car show is the Brentwood NAPA Auto Parts’ headline event, the company also contributes to other charitable efforts. Currently, the store is a drop-off for donations supporting local firefighter Willie West, who is battling cancer.

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