Things I like about my mechanic
Discussion
1) He is more like a combination of ironmonger, blacksmith, counsellor and mad professor than a modern mechanic.
2) A problem is always best considered while drinking tea and smoking a B&H.
3) He would be utterly stumped by a laptop and not recognise any single way in which they could assist in the restoration or fixing of a car.
4) His hands are always (always) a reassuring black. Fingernails (those that remain at least) are harder and dirtier than one could possibly fathom.
5) His workshop looks like it has been recently burgled.
6) He can diagnose faults by sound over the phone.
7) He understands the basic principles of the internal combustion engine as well as you or I know how to make a piece of toast.
Feel free to add to the list.
2) A problem is always best considered while drinking tea and smoking a B&H.
3) He would be utterly stumped by a laptop and not recognise any single way in which they could assist in the restoration or fixing of a car.
4) His hands are always (always) a reassuring black. Fingernails (those that remain at least) are harder and dirtier than one could possibly fathom.
5) His workshop looks like it has been recently burgled.
6) He can diagnose faults by sound over the phone.
7) He understands the basic principles of the internal combustion engine as well as you or I know how to make a piece of toast.
Feel free to add to the list.
benjj said:
1) He is more like a combination of ironmonger, blacksmith, counsellor and mad professor than a modern mechanic.
2) A problem is always best considered while drinking tea and smoking a B&H.
3) He would be utterly stumped by a laptop and not recognise any single way in which they could assist in the restoration or fixing of a car.
4) His hands are always (always) a reassuring black. Fingernails (those that remain at least) are harder and dirtier than one could possibly fathom.
5) His workshop looks like it has been recently burgled.
6) He can diagnose faults by sound over the phone.
7) He understands the basic principles of the internal combustion engine as well as you or I know how to make a piece of toast.
Feel free to add to the list.
My mechanic fits the above description perfectly except for pts.3+4. Pt.3 because he's quietly very IT savvy 2) A problem is always best considered while drinking tea and smoking a B&H.
3) He would be utterly stumped by a laptop and not recognise any single way in which they could assist in the restoration or fixing of a car.
4) His hands are always (always) a reassuring black. Fingernails (those that remain at least) are harder and dirtier than one could possibly fathom.
5) His workshop looks like it has been recently burgled.
6) He can diagnose faults by sound over the phone.
7) He understands the basic principles of the internal combustion engine as well as you or I know how to make a piece of toast.
Feel free to add to the list.
and pt.4 thanks to his secret homemade recipe of how to keep hands clean post a days blacking session in the garage.He prefers Marlboro Lights or a good cigar to B&H. Tea and biscuits are always to hand
And he's bloody-well adept at throwing the occassional 1 3/4" spanner across the garage floor when things don't quite go to plan. He's also very reasonably priced, can be found beavering away most weekends, and welcomes all to his garage.Ben, you lazy devil...you pay someone to do the fun work for you? Shame on you. My mechanic is me
Despite being a marque restoration specialist he has had his own restoration project lain in the corner of the workshop almost untouched for the best part of a decade...
Several times, after I've heard the latest whine/rattle/knock etc, he has uttered the immortal words "Mr Edge, there is nothing wrong with your car. Now take it home and bring it back when it IS broken".
My car always seems to run better after it's been to the workshop. Even when he hasn't done anything to it...
Several times, after I've heard the latest whine/rattle/knock etc, he has uttered the immortal words "Mr Edge, there is nothing wrong with your car. Now take it home and bring it back when it IS broken".
My car always seems to run better after it's been to the workshop. Even when he hasn't done anything to it...
v8250 said:
My mechanic fits the above description perfectly except for pts.3+4. Pt.3 because he's quietly very IT savvy and pt.4 thanks to his secret homemade recipe of how to keep hands clean post a days blacking session in the garage.
He prefers Marlboro Lights or a good cigar to B&H. Tea and biscuits are always to hand And he's bloody-well adept at throwing the occassional 1 3/4" spanner across the garage floor when things don't quite go to plan. He's also very reasonably priced, can be found beavering away most weekends, and welcomes all to his garage.
Ben, you lazy devil...you pay someone to do the fun work for you? Shame on you. My mechanic is me
I have fought my way to the top of my business by recognising my shortcomings. Serious car mechanics can be added to that list sadly. I enjoy it, by god I do, but I never really manage to actually fix anything. and pt.4 thanks to his secret homemade recipe of how to keep hands clean post a days blacking session in the garage.He prefers Marlboro Lights or a good cigar to B&H. Tea and biscuits are always to hand
And he's bloody-well adept at throwing the occassional 1 3/4" spanner across the garage floor when things don't quite go to plan. He's also very reasonably priced, can be found beavering away most weekends, and welcomes all to his garage.Ben, you lazy devil...you pay someone to do the fun work for you? Shame on you. My mechanic is me
I take great pleasure in working hard and then turning that money into smiles via my mechanic and my wallet
Good for the economy too, innit.
benjj said:
I have fought my way to the top of my business by recognising my shortcomings. Serious car mechanics can be added to that list sadly. I enjoy it, by god I do, but I never really manage to actually fix anything.
I take great pleasure in working hard and then turning that money into smiles via my mechanic and my wallet
Good for the economy too, innit.
What he said. Only replace "fought my way to the top" with "maintained a satisfactory level of mediocrity...."I take great pleasure in working hard and then turning that money into smiles via my mechanic and my wallet
Good for the economy too, innit.
benjj said:
1) He is more like a combination of ironmonger, blacksmith, counsellor and mad professor than a modern mechanic.
2) A problem is always best considered while drinking tea and smoking a B&H.
3) He would be utterly stumped by a laptop and not recognise any single way in which they could assist in the restoration or fixing of a car.
4) His hands are always (always) a reassuring black. Fingernails (those that remain at least) are harder and dirtier than one could possibly fathom.
5) His workshop looks like it has been recently burgled.
6) He can diagnose faults by sound over the phone.
7) He understands the basic principles of the internal combustion engine as well as you or I know how to make a piece of toast.
Feel free to add to the list.
Oi! You're not one of my customers are you??2) A problem is always best considered while drinking tea and smoking a B&H.
3) He would be utterly stumped by a laptop and not recognise any single way in which they could assist in the restoration or fixing of a car.
4) His hands are always (always) a reassuring black. Fingernails (those that remain at least) are harder and dirtier than one could possibly fathom.
5) His workshop looks like it has been recently burgled.
6) He can diagnose faults by sound over the phone.
7) He understands the basic principles of the internal combustion engine as well as you or I know how to make a piece of toast.
Feel free to add to the list.
Will turn up at short notice to sort out track day f
k ups.
Lloyds to the Rescue by binaryimage, on Flickr
k ups. Lloyds to the Rescue by binaryimage, on Flickr
stuarte said:
Despite being a marque restoration specialist he has had his own restoration project lain in the corner of the workshop almost untouched for the best part of a decade...
Ditto with the chap I use to fix my Land Rover - he has 4 or 5 broken and decrepit example of the marque littering his workshop but never has any time to fix them.As well as fitting pretty much all the points in the OP, he also relishes a challenge - his motto is "I'll fix anything, the bigger the better" - which probably explains the 70s coach quietly rotting outside his workshop!
the only stereotype he doesn't fit is age - he's only about 26 instead of being an old bloke
benjj said:
1) He is more like a combination of ironmonger, blacksmith, counsellor and mad professor than a modern mechanic.
2) A problem is always best considered while drinking tea and smoking a B&H.
3) He would be utterly stumped by a laptop and not recognise any single way in which they could assist in the restoration or fixing of a car.
4) His hands are always (always) a reassuring black. Fingernails (those that remain at least) are harder and dirtier than one could possibly fathom.
5) His workshop looks like it has been recently burgled.
6) He can diagnose faults by sound over the phone.
7) He understands the basic principles of the internal combustion engine as well as you or I know how to make a piece of toast.
Feel free to add to the list.
Agree to all but no 3. My mechanic does all the above plus can design electrical systems or something complicated. He remakes parts for 60s race cars from scratch if needs be. He's pretty fantastic- and is thank goodness currently giving my Midget a rebuild. 2) A problem is always best considered while drinking tea and smoking a B&H.
3) He would be utterly stumped by a laptop and not recognise any single way in which they could assist in the restoration or fixing of a car.
4) His hands are always (always) a reassuring black. Fingernails (those that remain at least) are harder and dirtier than one could possibly fathom.
5) His workshop looks like it has been recently burgled.
6) He can diagnose faults by sound over the phone.
7) He understands the basic principles of the internal combustion engine as well as you or I know how to make a piece of toast.
Feel free to add to the list.
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