Blog Layout
HAPPY LABOR DAY!
American Pride Automotive • Aug 30, 2013
“Find a job you like and add 5 days to every week.”– H. Jackson Brown Jr.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: At American Pride, we love what we do. Really. From fixing vehicles to finding our customers the perfect used cars, our work rarely feels like “work.” Even so, Charlie and the team understand the inherent value of taking a break from work. We close on Sundays to ensure that every member of the American Pride team has time to recharge, reflect and invest in family time. This weekend, as the nation celebrates its workers with a long Labor Day weekend, we wanted to highlight several of our valued employees.
Charlie Marcotte-Owner
Loving what you do every day is a dream for most but it’s a reality for Charlie Marcotte, who entered the car business with his father in 1990. “As Americans, we share a passion for automobiles,” he says. When Charlie isn’t at work you may find him with his wife Diane and three children, or perhaps road-racing bicycles with the James River Velo Sports cycling club — he serves as the organization’s president and helps manage their Adopt-A-Highway and Capital Trails Improvement programs.
Chuck Marcotte-Owner Emeritus
With fond memories of riding in his father’s Packard convertible, Chuck Marcotte loves to drive his vintage Buick Wildcat convertible. His passion for the car business remains as constant as his belief in exceptional customer service. “Cars and customers are more complex then they used to be,” Chuck says, “but the fundamentals never change. Determine the need, discover the solution and execute with integrity.” These are the principles that form the foundation for American Pride Automotive and American Pride Auto Sales.
Gerald Bradshaw–General Manager Sales
Looking for the perfect car? Call Gerald Bradshaw. He has been involved in sales and marketing for over 27 years, many of those in the car sales industry. Gerald has a passion for helping people find the car that fits their needs, personality and budget. A native of Franklin, he enjoys watching sports, golfing, and spending time with his wife at the beach.
David Lawson-General Manager, Williamsburg
An area local, David invariably offers service with a smile — and one of the biggest handshakes on the Peninsula. “I started out as a technician for American Pride,” David explains, “but years ago I made the transition to the front counter where I get to greet customers, update them and deliver the service they expect.” When not at the shop, David enjoys riding his Harley and spending time with his wife and daughter.
Tony Menker-General Manager, Toano
Super service adviser Tony Menker has always had a love of cars. He entered the automotive industry in 1998 as a car parts sales person and worked hard to become store manager. After a brief stint in the banking industry he came back to his true passion as a service advisor with American Pride; “I knew I was back in my element when I could smell gasoline and exhaust” says Tony. Tony resides in Williamsburg where you will see him with his beautiful wife Carolyn and two children Christian and Melody.
Tom Horning–Service Writer, Newport News
Service advisor extraordinaire Tom Horning has been a friend of the Marcotte family for 20 years as the former manager of a local import auto parts store where he gained 27 years of experience. As a European sports car enthusiast Tom understands what it takes to make a car run right while delivering quality and being on time. These days Tom’s personal time is directed to the “two wheel” sports vehicle with a fondness for oil leaks where he parks (old Harleys); “I am very proud to call American Pride my home” says Tom.
Kevin Sadler-General Manager, Newport News
Kevin entered the automotive industry in 1997 and quickly achieved Master Technician levels with the Chrysler Corporation and after many years in dealerships, joined American Pride in 2010. Kevin is a true local, having grown up in Tabb and graduating from Tabb High School. Kevin now lives in Denbigh and worships in York County where he is very active in the praise and worship band playing bass guitar. In his spare time, he is also an avid golf player.
Dan Bryant–Chief Financial Officer
American Pride is fortunate in having a “caretaker.” Dan Bryant has adopted the company as his own, and carefully manages all the behind-the-scenes details. Having met Charlie Marcotte in 2002, Dan says, “I knew I’d found the guy I wanted to work alongside for many years to come. It’s great to be proud of the company you work with.” Like all American Pride personnel, Dan has a passion for cars; he likes racing them, and works on his own “fun car” collection in his home garage.
We wish you a happy and relaxing Labor Day weekend!
We want to say thank you to all of our healthcare and first responders. Please accept this specialized offer.
You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
Along with flat tires and low or faulty batteries, an overheating engine is one of the leading causes of car breakdowns. An engine can overheat for many reasons, but coolant issues are often to blame.
ONCE I HAVE REGISTERED MY VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, HOW LONG DO I HAVE BEFORE MY VEHICLE MUST BE INSPECTED?
There is no grace period. Once you have registered a vehicle with the Division of Motor Vehicles in the state of Virginia, it must be inspected immediately.
Your vehicle's powertrain can last for hundreds of thousands of miles with proper maintenance and minor repairs in most cases. Unfortunately, major, unexpected problems can happen in which your only option is a replacement of the engine or transmission.
Sometimes it's simply time to buy a new or used vehicle that you LOVE at the right price.
This increased risk makes driving while fatigued almost as dangerous as driving while tipsy.
Our cars and trucks carry us from point A to point B all year long and everyday use can create significant wear and tear that may not make itself obvious until a long road trip.
While most leaks are caused by damaged outer seams on the evaporator core, others are a result of corrosion inside the unit.
For July, August and September, $5.00 from every State Inspection performed was set aside for this quarter's community: star Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg.