WAYNEDALE OVERHAULING

Representatives from Roppel’s were in town for a two-day seminar on heating and cooling at Rich’s Auto Center on Sandpoint Road. Roppel’s sent representatives from Louisville, Kentucky and Arlington, Texas, as well as, their local representative John Adams from 5455 Keystone Drive. The Roppel Technicians were in town to help automotive repair shops learn how to repair and replace automobile air-conditioning units. The class was held Wednesday and Thursday, March 10 and 11 with 20 mechanics from local automotive shops attending. The first day of class involved identifying problem areas on a number of vehicles waiting to be repaired at Rich’s. During the second night of class, the systems were actually repaired.

One of the vehicles chosen for repair was a 1989 GMC 1500 pick-up truck, owned by Kevin Curtis. Kevin has recently returned to Waynedale from his third tour in Iraq.

Rich Elzey and the group from Roppel’s decided that as a gesture of appreciation to Kevin for his service to our country that he would receive replacement of his air conditioning system absolutely free.

Rich Elzey commented, “This gave us an opportunity to educate our mechanics in the most up-to-date technology for automotive heating and cooling. It also created a chance to give Kevin a totally new air conditioning system and we had fun doing it. Kevin’s truck received a new compressor, dryer, all new belts, a new charge of Freon and a full post installation inspection.

Dennis Husband, Roppel’s representative from Arlington, Texas said, “The knowledge to repair air conditioning systems must be coupled with the knowledge of how to recycle and dispose of automotive waste products that may be a hazard to our environment.”

Other mechanics in attendance were: Aaron Esslinger (Tuffy Auto), A. J. Hapner (Hapner Automotive), Adam Hallien, Nick German, Larry Jackson, Joel Bishop, and Gary Jeffery (Hires Auto), Dustin Duncan and Gabe Smith (Lash Auto Service), Charles Thompson and Carl Gabet (Firestone), Dave Murphy and Ambrose Tate (Fox & Fox), Ralph Stritmatter & Brian Stritmatter (Commercial Automotive), Rich Elzey, Robin Brewer, Tim Fair, Jeremy Leis (Rich’s Auto Center), and Jeremiah Meyer (Tire Brokers).