John R. - Technician

John R. is another one of our technicians who has worked at West Park for a long time. He said, “My career start date was carved into a tablet with a hammer and chisel. It was back in the day when cars came in black and had Model T written on the side!” Okay... really, it was in 1979, one year after finishing high school. In his 30 some years of working at West Park, John has obviously seen technicians come and go. He says he has lots of fun memories of his many colleagues and really misses them when they leave. A highlight for John as a technician is the opportunity to work on many local hot rods and classic cars, which is largely due to having the Legends Car Club in our town. He comments, “It's always a thrill to do a wheel alignment or some other work on these vehicles.” John has seen many changes take place in the shop itself. One highlight is when he got the Front End Machine. It simplified an otherwise more tedious job that required measuring and reading degrees using levels and tape measures. The biggest evolutions John has witnessed in the shop are the advancements in electronics, both in the tools being used and the vehicles themselves. “There is always something changing and something new to learn.” When asked what his favourite vehicle was, John asked, “Two-wheeled or four? Because I really like the '77 Harley that I've custom built with an 88 cubic inch stroker. Maybe not the most practical, but that's my toy! For a favourite practical 4-wheeler I like the Buick Enclave because it is roomy, handles well, it is fun and versatile with 2 wheel drive/all wheel drive options. I must say though, I'm still really happy with my Grand Prix. It is powerful, fun and good on fuel.” If John were to add another toy to his collection, he'd like a Supercharged Cadi or Vette.