Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 19:08:35 -0800 [actually June 11!] From: Charlie Ford Subject: Doug's Volkswagen Shop in Seattle For the past week I have been working at a Volkswagen shop here in west Seattle. On the first day I arrived in this fair rainy city I went on a search for Michael Lewis's home. He had told me that I could camp in his yard for as long as I wanted, I took him literally. I was riding up and down 35th avenue searching through block after block of avenues that appeared to run in sequence, but I could find no 23rd avenue. I got back on 35th and decided I would head back down to the block that I had seen two Volkswagen repair shops. I ascertained that they were VW shops because of 1. the number of Volkswagens in each of the lots, and 2. The fact that they each had signs announcing this fact. On one corner sat Hans VW, right across the street sat Doug's VW. Han's shop looked a little to fancy so I decided I would stop in at Doug's. I walked in and introduced myself. I asked him directions to the street I was trying to find, but he didn't know exactly where 23rd was either. We got to talking and I saw very quickly that this guy was a good fella. Little did I know then, just how much karma was involved in our meeting. Doug is about 50 years old, 5 foot 7 inches tall, bald with hair only on the sides, and talks fast. In fact he talks just as fast as he works. He can carry on a conversation about anything, and it seems that he knows something about everything. It kind of reminded me of when I was a kid hanging out around my grandfathers Barber shop. Folks would sometime come in to just chat, they wouldn't need a haircut or a shave, they just wanted to discuss items of interest and catch up on the gossip. Doug's is just that kind of shop. I lit up a cigarette and kept on listening and talking. I told him I was from Georgia, he responded by asking the now most popular asked question: "what are you doing out here?" I told him about my journey in "search for the beginning of wind". He said "geez, you have come a long way", "did you find the beginning of wind yet?". I explained that I was still searching. While we were talking I looked over and saw a "No Smoking" sign. I immediately put my Marlboro out, explaining to him that I had not seen the sign. He told me it was fine, a good friend of his smokes in the shop all the time. He said, "in fact he might even know where 23rd avenue is since he works for the local power and light company". He explained that Clint would probably be there in a little while. In the meantime I gave Michael Lewis a call. I told him I was at Doug's VW. He said he knew where the shop was and as soon as he finished some business he had to take care of he would come up and collect me. He explained that he needed to see Doug anyway. I just sort of hung out, and while Doug worked we talked about Volkswagens, my travels, and life in general when one turns 40. I found out that Doug had lived in Germany during his teen years and had started working on VW's there. He explained that in shop class that's what they did, repair and rebuild VW's. Then Doug's buddy came in. Clint is a gentleman of about 55 years of age. he is a reasonably quiet man, at least for being a power worker he is. every one of those guys I have ever known were loud, boisterous, and commanding to say the least. Clint has a certain peace about him. We all sat, and talked, and drank coffee, and oh yes, smoked cigarette after cigarette. Then I mentioned the street I was looking for. He told me yeah he knew where it was because he lived there. Then I mentioned who I was looking for, he said yeah I know him, he's my next door neighbor. Geez, what are the chances of that happening. In a city of 3/4 million people, I go into a VW shop and find the "next door neighbor" of the guy I am looking for and had never met. Talk about VW karma ! Eventually Clint had to leave to go to work, but he, Doug, and myself shared some really good philosophical conversation while he was there. Clint is a deep and rational thinker, a very even keeled gentleman. Michael came about an hour later and had a word with Doug about an engine he needed to have rebuilt, and then I followed him over to his house. Over the last few weeks we have all become better aquatinted. Michael and Clint live side by side, and each of them, as everyone else in Seattle, love to drink coffee. The rest of the country is concerned about Coffee and Cancer, and Seattle is pouring the stuff down like water. Since arriving in this city I have had a major caffeine buzz, sometimes going through 8-10 cups of Java a day. I have been so rushed I sometimes felt as if I could climb a tree backwards faster than most could forward. Along with the buzz I have shared in some of the most enlightening conversations. We have basically solved the problems of the world but we didn't write any of it down so there are some particulars that are lost forever. At least until the next time it comes up in conversation. About three weeks ago I left and went down to Portland to visit a friend of mine there. We went to Mt. Hood for the weekend to do some biking and some sight seeing. Eric is in Law school at Lewis and Clark and is an old friend that used to work in DC. When I returned to Seattle I decided I would stick around a while longer. I had finished a temporary job at The Production Network doing warehouse work, so I knew I would have to find another gig to tide me over until I made up my mind what I was going to do, stay or go. I was in need of a rest from the road. Traveling is nice but after 6 months on the road a body needs some stability. I went and saw Doug. I explained to him I was not much of a mechanic but I needed to learn more about the vehicle I was driving. He told me he could work me a few hours just doing basic stuff like oil changes and the like. I told him that would be fine and he could just pay me whatever he felt I was worth. He told me to show up on Friday morning at ten and dress for grease. I have now been working for Doug for two weeks. He seems to be very satisfied that I work hard and learn fast. I have never been able to read a manual and get much from it, but I can watch Doug do something and follow his lead. In the past two weeks I have rebuilt brakes, front and rear; replaced shift couplings; changed oil in every VW know to man; put in new brake lines; dropped engines; pulled and replaced clutch cables; and broke down and reassembled engines. Now I know that many of you know much more about VW's than I, but one has to start somewhere. I feel very lucky to have worked as an apprentice for Doug. I have done this "grease monkey work" while constantly talking about matters of social concern: crime and punishment (Tim McVeigh), athlete salaries, whether Seattle should vote yes for the new stadium, community involvement, being married, being single, religion, sex, politics, and life in general. All while getting paid and gaining an education in the science and spirituality of working on Volkswagens. It truly is a metaphysical science, although extremely greasy. Doug is the best mechanic I have ever seen, and I have known several. He knows VW's inside and out. He can listen to the engine of any make, model or year, water cooled and air cooled, and tell you exactly what it will take to fix it. He charges a fair price for the work he does, and is one of those mechanics that always fixes something else while doing the requested work. In fact he looks for other problems or potential problems. He has a base of customers that range from young to old, purple to green. I have seen many VW mechanics while on this journey as you all know, but I haven't seen one yet that has the rapport Doug does with his customers. Doug is an all a round VW mechanic, he wants to know all of them, he does not limit his knowledge to just one engine, or cooling series, although he drives a nice air-cooled bus. I am trying to get him to join the list. I will finish my work with him this week and I will miss Mr. Douglas Thompson. I will miss his humor, his wisdom, and his expertise. But I will always know that if I need advice on my bus "The Mothership" I can pick up the phone, call, and he will be able to steer me in the right direction. If he can't help he will tell me what to check. Any engine, 1600 or fuel injected, it doesn't matter to Doug! I have thoroughly enjoyed the past two weeks. Working with him makes one want to become a VW mechanic. I have learned from the best. I would also like to announce to all you folks here in the Seattle area to give Doug a try. Tell him I sent you, he gets a kick out of the fact this list exist, he will do you right, not because of me, just because it's the way he is. A man with a high threshold for quality, and a sincere appreciation for the vehicle we all love to drive. Thanks for tolerating my ramblings, Charlie Ford "79" Transporter, dressed for the road The Mothership The"Turning 40 Nostalgic VW Service Tour, and Search for the Beginning of Wind". http://www.armory.com/~y21cvb/charlie/charlie.html "Wider still and wider.....shall thy bounds be set"