Repeat customers keep this shop busy
06/18/08
BY TREENA MIELKE
Red Deer Express
When a customer came into South Hill Muffler & Brake Shop Ltd. with his ’87 JaguarXJS with a small block Chevy 350 engine installed in it, he was looking for a miracle.
He wasn’t disappointed. It took three days and lots of elbow grease, but when he walked out of the shop he had what he wanted.
“He wanted a dual exhaust in it,” said co-manager Steven (Art) Schrale. “He said he was looking for a miracle and I told him I love a challenge. I built him a MAGNAFLOW exhaust system. He was very happy. He was like a 15-year-old kid at Christmas.”
At South Hill Muffler, Schrale and co-manager Dan Torrens take great delight in meeting such challenges head on. They pride themselves in taking on a challenge that someone else may see as an insurmountable problem.
And usually when they put their heads together and their combined knowledge, they can meet or even exceed their customers’ expectations.
Between the two of them they have more than 30 years experience in the trade.
Schrale has been at South Hill Muffler for more than five years and is a journeyman technician.
Torrens is a fourth year apprentice, well on his way to receiving his journeyman’s papers.
Both men work on the floor.
“We both work on the floor, that way we know the work is done right,” said Torrens. “And we have a lot of fun together. We are a good team.”
With such dedicated managers at its helm it’s no surprise that South Hill Muffler won the Best Muffler Shop for the Best of Red Deer awards.
Schrale said it was an honor to be recognized.
“We really appreciate how the people of Red Deer feel,” he said. “And we thank the people of Red Deer and area for their support.”
“We’d like to continue serving them and we look forward to seeing them next time,” added Torrens.
South Hill Muffler is located south of Peavy Mart by the Bottle Depot. It is owned by Jack Torrens who purchased it in 1995 The business was originally called Exhaust Masters. The name was changed to South Hill Muffler though the location remained the same.
Staff at South Hill Muffler work on all cars including domestic and foreign models and light trucks. They specialize in custom exhaust work. They also do wheel balance, tires, alignments, brakes and front end suspension work.
“Exhaust (work) is our cream of the crop, our bread and butter,” said Torrens. “We do special exotic exhaust systems.”
Customers who have done modifications on their vehicles will often bring them to South Hill Muffler to have the exhausts installed. The shop offers fair, competitive prices, quality workmanship and friendly customer service.
“We have a lot of repeat customers and a lot of referrals,” said Schrale. “We try to make life easier for our customers. And people are happy when they leave.”
tmielke@reddeer.greatwest.ca 309-5452
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