RENO, NV (April 17) – Pro 1 Automotive has been around since 1986 and owner Ricky Stebbins is an example of making lemonade when life hands you a lemon or two.
“I decided to start the business when I was 25 and working at the Shell gas station at Mill and Terminal,” he said. “The boss got a rumor that someday I might want to open my own business. To my surprise, like a week later, he handed me my paycheck and said, ‘see you later.'”
After that the young mechanic took about a month off and looked at his options. One was working for other people and that might entail every now and then moving his toolbox from one shop to another.
“I decided to see if I could rent some little place then do my own thing. I ended up finding a building but at that time they really didn’t like automotive shops as they were dirty. I really had to talk my butt off just to get them ot lease me 1,000 square feet that was one unit.”
He mentioned eating a lot of Rice O Roni, visiting buffets at casinos and fishing as his shop was about 50 feet from the river. Slowly he got a few customers and in a couple of years was able to hire one employee.
Then things got better as he was able to knock down a common wall and expand the shop to 3,000 feet. Then in 1997 things soured as his shop got flooded out. With the help of friends he was able to get the shop up and running again.
“Then I had an opportunity to move to a building next to the one I was in. We actually moved to the front and had a waiting room so it was really nice,” he said.
All during this time he was following a dream of having the best shop in Reno. As a result he was always saving money.
“I was looking all over town at little buildings and just dreaming. The problem with automotive is that you just can’t go anywhere because of all the rules with the city so it’s really hard,” he said. “So I found this lot here on Terminal Way, it was just sagebrush and the for sale sign had fallen over.”
In 2001 he was able to put a down payment on the property and got set up with the SBA (Small Business Administration) loan that really helped. Then he got some help from a local business owner to make his dream come true
“I knew Norm Dianda at Q&D Construction and he helped me out so much,” Stebbins said. “I told him what I wanted, put it on a piece of paper. He was so nice, got an architect involved a little bit and I told him how much money I had. He made it work and I mean Norm really helped me.”
Then Stebbins got a couple of more employees, a few more fleet accounts and has really enjoyed being in the same location. While his original shop on North Edison was nice he’s enjoying being near the rustle and bustle of Reno.
One person that has also helped him make a success of the business is his sister Julie Coe.
“She does all the accounting and book work so I’m blessed to have her. Without her I really don’t know what I would do as she’s the one that actually keeps the place running,” he said.
Right now the shop is divided between the service center, where things like oil changes, tire rotations and the like are done. Those jobs usually don’t take more than an hour for the rest they go into the other bays where the techs have time to work on those vehicles.
“We just like to keep things rolling,” he said. “The main shop has 12 bays with seven people work there and in the service center there are two bays with four people. In addition there are two full time service writers, a parts manager and of course my sister as she runs the whole show.”
Stebbins is very much a hands on owner and usually connects with the customers once their vehicles are being serviced or worked on.
Right now the shop has from 17 to 18 employees and they range from in their early 20’s to the 50’s so their experience is varied.
“Everybody helps everybody as nobody knows it all and they really work well together. If one person has seen a certain issue they’ll bounce ideas off somebody else and they’ll get together to it’s really a team environment here,” he said.
Stebbins is proud that Pro 1 Automotive is one of the very few NAPA Gold Centers here. There are several requirements that each center has to have. All the techs have to be ASE Certified, have the credentials on training, shop has to look attractive, clean, proper signage and a nice comfortable waiting room.
“We make it nice, it’s not high pressure and we do every thing as we’re a one-stop shop. We do the diesel smog the gas smog, tires, alignments, there’s nothing we can’t do here at Pro 1.”
One reason for having a nice waiting room comes from Stebbin’s background. He was raised with two sisters, his mom, his wife, her sister and two nieces.
“I don’t have males in my whole family, just me and a lot of girls so I figure if it’s good enough for the women it’s certainly good enough for the guys,” he said. “I would say at least 60% of our costumers are female.”
Over the years the shop has survived floods, recession and now this virus He appreciates the customers has been so supportive.
“We get “thank yous” every day. Thank you for being open, thank you for the waiting room and for all the precautions with wipes and things. I’m just so happy was have such great customers as it makes it fun to come to work, it’s like a big family,” he said.
While the current virus scare has caught some by surprise it’s business as normal for Pro 1. He didn’t have to run out and buy hand cleaner and sprays as the shop uses them every day.
“We always to our best to disinfect a car because we don’t want to get sick as there’s other things through the year like colds, the flu or this and that so we always wear gloves,” he said. “It’s business as normal here and most of the techs are about 15 feet apart.”
Asked about challenges he mentioned it was just letting people know the shop is not only open but taking all the standard precautions. In fact just outside the entrance door is a set of sprays and wipes customers can use.
“Customers well be safe when they get here and if they don’t want to come in to the waiting room or shop we can come out and meet them at their car,” he said. “We’ll take all their information and give them a ride home as we have a courtesy shuttle. It’s obviously all sanitized to they actually never have to come into the shop if they don’t want to.”
Once the work is completed the shuttle brings them to the shop. In fact they can pay the bill using their credit card over the phone.
Asked about the future Stebbins is optimistic and looking forward to when things get back to normal. Until then Pro 1 stands ready to service customer’s vehicles, both cars and trucks.
For further information the shop is located at 945 Terminal Way just south of the intersection with Mill Street. Phone number is 775-856-4434 and the website is www.pro1automotive.com.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• This Saturday Reno Cars & Coffee as well as the Corvette Club and other groups staged a birthday parade to help Brooklyn Kenda celebrate becoming 6-year-old. Due to the lockdown she was unable to have a regular birthday party.
As she sat on a corner with her sister and brother the parade began with people holding signs, some gave her gifts and wishing her a very happy birthday.
It was a long parade with all types of cars rolling down the street she lives on. Needless to s she was overjoyed by it all as were her parents.
• A couple of hours later Reno Cars & Coffee assembled in the parking lot of RC Willey’s for the second birthday parade of the day.
This time it was to celebrate Landon Jagger’s 8th birthday. His family and grand parents were on hand as the parade was pretty much a surprise to the boy.
Right on time the cars came off Steamboat Parkway and turned to go by his house. Once again people were telling him happy birthday and I believe he also got some gifts.
Although they can’t have the usual meets due to social distancing area car clubs are helping bring joy to kids that are cooped up at home.
• Another casualty of this virus is that Hot August Nights has canceled it’s annual Spring Revival. They plan on having it next year however.
• Even though it has to be remote Teresa’s Garage Radio Show will be on from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The show is devoted to all things automotive including trivia.
I have a preview section at 2:15 and in the Reno/Sparks area can be heard live on the air at 1180 AM. We’re also on a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm or you can see us live on Face Book.
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We now have seven very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they not only support your sport but they help nvracingnews continue.
During this time of shutdown and social distancing please patronize our sponsors. It helps them survive this period our uncertainty and in the case of PJ&Co, when they finally open back up please have some meals there. Food is good and you’ll be very appreciated.
Our newest sponsor is G.I.S.L Land Services that, while having a global client base it has a Western U.S.A. Focus. Owner Greg Ekins is a long time off road motorcycle racer competing in the MRANN Series as well as the AMA National Hare and Hound series.
Among the services offers are Surface and Mineral Title Reviews and Cartographic Services. The website is www.gislandservices.com.
Another great sponsor is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks below Hug High School.
Former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian is the owner and they not only service older and newer transmission but now has a section dealing with high performance units including those used for towing.
The phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is www.generaltransmissionreno.com.
Last year fantastic race photographer Melissa Coker joined the family of sponsors. If you have raced at Summit in Elko, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Rattlesnake or Diamond Mountain Speedway she probably has a photograph of your car on the track.
She’s also been at the IMCA Duel in the Desert was well as the Wild West Tour and IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa. Melissa not only has photos of the cars, and many times drivers, but she can produce hero cards and even a book of from your season.
To see her collections or to place an order please check her website at www.melissasoutonalimb.smugmug.com.
Two of our sponsors are first class motorcycle shops located in Reno.
Our first sponsor is Reno Motorsports (RMS). Not only do they have about anything a rider might want or need and the store also has a full service shop.
Their location is at 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Store’s phone number is 775-322-1499 and the site is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
The next shop, is Moto Source located at 3180 Mill Street. Once again there is a full service shop plus about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is, www.moto-source.com.
The next sponsor is an excellent place if you need collision repair on your car or truck. It’s Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno and has a long history of first class repairs.
Brian Saul is the owner, a car enthusiast himself and he’s committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. Phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
Hungry, want a great place to eat, then try PJ&CO for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and it’s a great place to watch your favorite sports. If you’re a rider, well Wednesday evening is Bike Night, always a great time to see some great looking bikes and meet like-minded people.
The location is 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone number is 775-323-6366 and their website is www.pjandco.net.
Unfortunately PJ&Co is closed until things open up again which should be a couple of weeks from now.
Have a business targeted toward motor sports or an off road demographic? We are always looking for more sponsors and will expose your business to the racing and off road community in this area.
You can contact us either through the comment section of this site or on our Face Book page.
