Ed Sunkin, Author at Brake & Front End - Page 8 of 10
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Directions: Taking a Drive Back in Time

By Edward Sunkin Each Year, Hershey, PA, Becomes a Motorhead Mecca. It may be considered the “Sweetest Place on Earth” to chocolate lovers, but Hershey, PA, satisfies the cravings of car enthusiasts as well. Each year, during the first week of October, the Antique Automobile Club of America’s (AACA) Eastern Division (Hershey Region) hosts its

Directions: Take a Trip into the RV Service Market

With the RV rental market growing by a little more than 35% last year, coupled with a recent Hollywood comedy on RV life, the popularity of RV vacations has never been higher. And servicing these vehicles can become a niche market for your shop, providing you with more profits. RVing is Becoming Big Business According

Directions: Optimistic Industry Trends Can Mean Full Bays

As the editor of an automotive aftermarket business-to-business magazine, I get forests of news items, press releases and industry trend reports each month. Looking over some recent releases, I’ve found that there seems to be quite a bit of optimism for our industry and your businesses. For example, one headline that just crossed our desks

Directions: Can You Stop the Cloning?

No, we’re not talking about stem cell issues here – that’s much too controversial for an automotive repair magazine these days. But what we are referring to is vehicle identification number (VIN) cloning. According to a common vehicle history reporting service business, thousands of used car buyers and owners today are victimized by scam artists

Directions: Getting a Charge Out of New Engine Technology

One of the great things about the automotive industry is the hundreds of the technological improvements we have seen since the birth of the automobile — from safety, to design, to engine efficiency to entertainment modules and even racing. And one of the great things about this nation is the entrepreneurial spirit that comes from

Directions: Taking Time Out to Train

Good technicians — the ones who you want working at your shop — understand that they must continuously learn new skills to diagnose and repair today’s advanced automotive systems. Your mantra of “Fix it right the first time” requires your techs to get up-to-date technical training and knowledge. Some industry experts estimate that a competent

Directions: Positive Treatments to Our ‘Oil Addiction’

In his State of the Union address in late January, President Bush called for America to break its addiction to oil from the Middle East. However, just one day after Bush’s vow to reduce America’s dependence on Middle East oil by cutting imports from there by 75% by 2025, his energy secretary and national economic

Guest Editorial: Issues that Could Impact Your Business and Our Industry in 2006

Ed is the editor of Underhood Service Magazine, ImportCar’s sister publication, as well as editor of Tomorrow’s Technician magazine. He has been employed at Babcox for 11 years. Issues That Could Impact Your Business and Our Industry in 2006 As we usher in a new year, we thought we would take a look into the

Directions

Detroit Flexes Its Muscle The Big Three automakers flexed some muscle last month during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Walking the show floor with a fellow Babcox editor and a graphic designer during one of the show’s media days, I was taken in by the selection of V8 performance cars —

Directions: Issues that Could Impact 2006

As we usher in a new year, we thought we would take a look into the ol’ crystal ball and try to see what issues technicians, shop owners and others associated with the aftermarket can expect in 2006. These are not ranked by order of importance, but as a guide to what one can expect

Directions: What Women Say…

W hen a female customer visits your shop with a problem vehicle, she is looking for more than just a repair. She is looking for trust. Trust that your service writer or technician will listen to her explain the vehicle trouble, trust that allows her to feel comfortable about asking any question, no matter how

Directions: Keeping Appearances

How your employees look – whether they please or deceive – usually carries a message I recently visited a local repair shop and watched a scruffy-bearded, pony-tailed tech in dirty, baggy clothes exit the shop and jump in his vehicle and take off for his lunch break. When the shop owner caught me staring at