Is Summer Far Away?

The birds are chirping, the grass is growing, the weather is warm (verging on HOT!) and the price of gas is going up.

Have you noticed that our attitude about the price of gas has changed? I find myself saying that I will be "grateful" if it just stays under 4 bucks a gallon this year.

In past issues of this newsletter we have addressed several ways to improve or restore the mileage of your car. By now all of you are aware of tire pressure, clean filters, good tune ups and synthetic fluids. This time I want to talk about a direct way to decrease the gas you use.

DRIVE LESS
Yeah, I know, you're just like me, you just have to go. You run hither and yon, going to work, the gym, taking the kids to their "things" and going after that forgotten quart of milk before bedtime. After looking at some of my driving habits I have to admit that I can probably reduce my miles driven by 10%.

If you stop and think about your weekly driving schedule and really put your mind to it I just bet there are several trips that can be either eliminated or combined. Some of my trips can be delegated to the kids or spouse and use fewer miles to accomplish. Some of the drives that require two round trips to drop them off and pick them up later can be combined with a visit to the library, grocery shopping, or a stop at a friend's house that not only eliminates the second round trip but maybe even one later in the week.

The kids can become involved in this too. Give a movie pass to the ones that can think up ways to reduce the number of miles you have to cart them around this summer.

Reducing the miles you drive will accomplish two things. It will reduce the gas you buy, and will lessen the demand part of that much touted "supply and demand" curve that they say is responsible for the price increase of our fuel.

News on Allan

As many of you are aware Allan was back in the studio this week (May 19) and back on the phone lines helping us answer caller's questions. It was really great to have him there.

He is doing well. He continues with the chemotherapy and still has a long hard fight ahead of him but if you have learned anything about my little brother it is that he has a great attitude and indomitable sense of humor.

Do not stop with the prayers and good wishes. He enjoys your emails, cards and calls.

Over the next months Allan will be in and out of the studio with us. When he is there we will enjoy his unique wit, and when he isn't we will do our best to fill his shoes.

Mom Update

If you have been a customer of Freedom very long you know Mom. She was a fixture here for many years, keeping her boys in line and helping the business to prosper.
Many of you still ask about her each time you visit, and a few of you get to see her on the weekly Friday visit she makes to us.

If you have been a radio listener for very long you have heard Allan and I do our "Hi Mom" each week. She is an important part of our lives.

About 3 weeks ago she had a heart attack. She is doing pretty well now, but still in Methodist ICU at this time. She can't get cards, flowers or phone calls there so don't send anything to the hospital for her. When she is moved to a regular room we will let you know.

If you have my brother on your prayer list already please add Mom too.

Behind the ASA Logo

If you have been to our shop, or read our advertising, you have seen the ASA logo. I am sure that most of you have no idea what this means, or what the organization does.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

Our association is made up of shops of every size an type, vendors of parts and supplies, training organizations and schools and insurance companies. The purpose is to help the garage owner succeed in our ever changing industry. The ASA keeps us informed about technical, legal and management issues for our industry. It helps us influence decisions made by the manufacturers, the EPA and other government agencies.
ASA is currently involved in the battle to prevent insurance companies from owning their own repair shops. We believe it can not serve the motorist's interests if the person paying the bill for the repair is also the one doing it.

We are also working to provide an evaluation of extended warranties. There are so many companies offering warranties that it is almost impossible to know the good from the bad plans. ASA will soon provide a pamphlet that will compare the major plans offered and allow you to intelligently decide which one fits your needs.

Another concern of the Association is parts quality. With the out-sourcing of parts manufacturing it is not uncommon to open 2 boxes of supposedly the same part from the same supplier and find that one is made in Mexico and the other in Korea (or China). We are working to make the vendor identify the parts properly and not substitute what we consider a lesser quality part without our knowledge.

When you see the ASA logo displayed at a shop it means that they not only care about their business, but the industry as a whole and are probably there for the long term.