“The auto industry really seriously lacks diversity in all aspects,” she said. “I don’t think there’s been marked improvements in the past 30 years. With the climate in 2020, it became very trendy to talk about diversity and inclusion, but I’m interested to see if we can carry on and drive that change through.”
“We try to, from start to finish, to build relationships with our customers,” Allison said. “I think that as a queer-owned business that exists to change this industry or, at the very least, disrupt it, we are for and by our community, you know? So that’s a whole other level of accountability. This is my community that I'm working for. There's more at stake.”
Scherker said in shops like Repair Revolution and Stargazer Garage, the power dynamic they previously witnessed between mechanic and customer — which can leave an uneducated customer vulnerable to manipulation — is notably absent. Instead, they said knowledge is traded freely between folks, all of whom seem eager to learn.
Outside the walls of these decidedly nontraditional shops, mechanic Sarah Tilton says the industry as a whole has a long way to go., a mobile mechanic service, as a way to circumvent those environments. She’s the unofficial mechanic of the local drag scene and sometimes gets calls at 2 or 3 in the morning from folks who are stranded and don’t feel safe calling anyone else.
NBCOUT I just want my car repair, I can care less who fixes it
NBCOUT What in any universe does sexual preference or lifestyle possibly have to do with auto repair? This takes the cake for most useless and irrelevant news of the year!
NBCOUT I want my vehicle fixed with zero discussion of anything political at the lowest practical price, That is ALL I want from my mechanic or yeah and my, plumber, electrician, doctor, law enforcement, kids teacher, etc.
NBCOUT If everything is toxic to you, point at yourself.
NBCOUT As long as they can fix cars, I don’t give a damn about anything else.
NBCOUT Why do we need queer mechanics? How about just a good mechanic, I don’t care if they are straight or queer.
NBCOUT Before, when I needed my tires rotated, I never asked the mechanic, 'Do you prefer sleeping with people of the same sex, and what are your preferences' . Thankfully now I'll know this very important detail when getting my tires rotated.
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NBCOUT Who would ever decide to choose a mechanic based on anything but their ability to fix cars? Y'all jumped the shark a few episodes ago.
NBCOUT Hey if you do a good job at a fair price, I’m all in!
NBCOUT Why would someone choose a mechanic based on their sexual identity? You people are literally insane. I-N-S-A-N-E.
NBCOUT so what.
NBCOUT That's okay. I'll go to a Shop run by normal people.
NBCOUT Why is NBC News insisting people talk about their cock/balls or vagina preferences at the CAR MECHANIC?
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