By VERNON ROBISON
Moapa Valley Progress
A familiar Logandale business is now under new ownership. And it will soon have a whole new name. Just last month the general auto shop located on the corner of Moapa Valley Blvd. and Hardy Ave. was operating as Logandale Auto, LLC. But as of June 6, the shop has become known as “Manic Mechanics.”
The owners and operators of this newly christened establishment are two local couples. Mike Marshall with his wife Christine and Russell Draper with his wife Teresa Smith are all good friends and partners in the business.
The new partnership is already off and running. “We are excited to be here and doing this,” said Christine Marshall. “It is kind of a dream come true for all of us.”
Christine and Mike have lived in the Moapa Valley for about three years now. They moved here after living in Las Vegas for 20 years.
“We always had friends out here and visited a lot,” Christine said. “They kept telling us that we should move out here. Finally we just did it and we’ve been glad that we did.”
The Marshalls, who have four young grandchildren at home that they are raising, say that they love the community. “The people here are wonderful and the schools are great,” Christine said. “It is a wonderful place to raise kids.”
Mike comes from a 30-year career as heavy equipment operator and mechanic. He also owned his own heavy-haul trucking business in Las Vegas.
In addition to lending a hand in the garage, Mike plans to fill the role of service manager at the shop. As such he will be the main point of contact for customers at the counter.
“I look forward to getting to know people and learning all our customers by name,” Mike said. “That is the kind of thing that I like to do is working with people. And I love the familiar, small-town setting of the business.”
Christine’s strengths are in business finances and bookkeeping. She says that she will try to be in the office as much as possible. “But with the four grandkids at home, that may not be as much as what I’d like,” she said.
Russell will initially be the familiar face at the shop. He has been working as a mechanic at Logandale Auto for nearly four years now.
“If you have been a customer of Logandale Auto, then Russell has probably worked on your car already,” said Teresa.
Teresa added that her husband has loved working at the Logandale shop and serving its customers. And sometimes the hours have been long.
“I’ve seen him stay working at the shop on a tough job until like 4:30 in the morning,” Teresa said. “Then he would come home, take a shower, rest for a few minutes, and go right back to work the next morning. He is that dedicated to his customers.”
Teresa said that she will be doing clerical work for the business, keeping files and records straight in the office.
The new owners plan to offer great service with a friendly, small town atmosphere.
Russell said that they have been working on gathering a broad range of vendors to supply parts and other equipment to the shop. That helps to bring down the price for the customer, he said.
The new business has acquired all of the same equipment from Logandale Auto. So the same services will be offered. The shop will continue to offer BMG services for autos. They will offer a full line of Amzoil services and products. And the shop will continue to allow customers to bring in their own oil products for the Manic Mechanic technicians to change the oil.
The shop will still be a full service tire center. Tires can be ordered to the shop as per the customer’s request. Tires not immediately in stock can be delivered and installed by the very next morning, Mike said.
Manic Mechanic will also service and repair ATVs, lawnmowers and other small engine equipment. Furthermore, Mike can help to get heavy equipment and large farm machinery back into operation when needed.
The shop can still do transmission service and repairs as well.
Russell said that he loves to do performance enhancements and adjustments to vehicles. The shop can handle Power Stroke for Ford and Cummins for Dodge. “We can repair all of that stuff,” Russell said. “And whatever you want for that, come talk to us. We can put it together. I like tuning and souping things up.”
Mike said that the shop still has a backlog from the former Logandale Auto workflow that he and Russ need to catch up on. Thus, the two plan to close the shop for a couple of days this week to try and catch up.
“We are still going to take care of all of the Logandale Auto customers that have been waiting,” Mike said. “We just want to get caught up and have a chance to clean up the place a little bit. Then we will be opened again early next week.”
Christine urged customers to watch for special promotional offers that will be coming up from Manic Mechanic.
The new owners are also planning a grand opening barbecue event to take place in the coming weeks; most likely on a Saturday. All of the public will be invited. Keep an eye on the Progress for details.
