“We do our best to help Airmen and teach them what to do with their cars,” said Greg Winters, auto mechanic at the Automotive Skills Center.
The Auto Skills Center is an indoor space where clients can work on their vehicles and have access to various tools and resources that are not readily available.
One resource that can be of use to the store is Winters itself. He has been working in the automotive workshop since 1998, with the exception of 2011, when it closed. Winters enjoys helping clients solve problems they don’t understand and watching them learn.
“I love to see kids go into repairing their own cars,” Winters said. “I think it builds confidence. Sometimes they’re a little reluctant, but once they turn the key and work, they’re a little more confident.
Customers most often use the store to change oil and replace brakes. However, the store has tools for just about any type of job, according to Winters. In addition to hand tools, the store has elevators, flat stones, a tire machine, a tire balancer and a strut compressor. Each of these machines is available for hire for a few dollars an hour.
The car garage is open for maintenance on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Airmen should take this great opportunity to save money and learn new skills, according to Winters.
“I think having it here for people is the best part of the store,” Winters said. “It’s a good place for people to come and learn how to work on their cars, and if they already know how, it’s a good place to work in the weather. ”
