The Buck Stops Here: An Interview with a Master Mechanic

TUCSON - When Frank Buckner was 14 years old, his father made him a proposal.

"If you can get this car running, it's yours when you turn 16," the future mechanic's dad said.

The car was a broken down 1954 Chevy, and Buckner was determined to make it his. So after a full year of grinding away in the garage, he single-handedly revived the vehicle.

Was his father surprised that his son, who had no training or experience fixing cars at that point, finally got the car to start?

"Not at all," Buckner said. "It was his intention from the beginning to give me the car. He had me do the project, because he wanted me to earn it."

That was 49 years ago. But Buckner never lost his love for working with his hands or building something from the ground up. Now, the man with decades of mechanical experience in fixing and customizing cars - who is better known as Buck by everyone - is the owner of Buck's Automotive and Buck's Fuel and Service, both located in Tucson.

Although Buck made the transition from being an exclusive grit-and-oil mechanic to an office overseer in 2003, he hasn't lost the values of his upbringing in labor and considers himself a hands-on manager. "I still work on cars and like to get dirty," he said.

Buck especially likes working on problem children, the vehicles with a lot of problems, and taking on foreign cars which require difficult labor. This comes as no surprise, as Buck is not the kind of man who backs away from challenges but rather embraces them, much like the 1954 Chevy undertaking.

In a one-on-one interview, the guy who spent 26 years building and owning race cars talks about the joys and challenges of a mechanic, what it takes to be one and what differentiates his business from other car shops.

How'd you get your start in the auto industry?

Well, I graduated from college with a degree in Computer Science, but I hated it. I was used to working with my hands and wanted to interact with people more. I didn't like all the policies and being confined and dictated at. I wanted to get back to doing what I loved: working on cars.

So I worked at race car shops, garages, all kinds of places in the automotive field. And then I founded Buck's Automotive and Buck's Fuel & Service in 1978, and I've been here ever since.

What's a typical day like for a mechanic?

They get in at about 7 or 8 o'clock in the morning and check in with the service advisor. Then they start working on cars. The same technician (mechanic) works on the same car until it's finished, so they establish a personal connection with it. We have 6 master technicians here, and they each work on about four or five cars a day.

What qualifies someone as a master technician?

They need to be ASA (Automotive Service Association) certified. In order for me to grant them that status, I need them to have perfect test scores - 100 percent in all categories. Not all places require that, but I do. Constant schooling is also required - they have to attend a minimum of 12 classes a year.

How many hours do you work a week?

About 55.

You said that your favorite project is working on classic cars. Which one was the most memorable?

A guy had brought in a '56 Chevy Bel Air once for full mechanical restoration, where we had to customize it back to the original. It was a unique project that wasn't very profitable but it was rewarding.

What do you look for in a mechanic?

When hiring new mechanics, I look for the gleam in their eye as they are working. People who really care about what they're doing, take satisfaction away from their work, and get a rewarding feeling from it.

Tell me about your experience working on race cars.

It's an adrenaline rush. It demands a lot of creativity in the way that you have to adapt the car to weather conditions immediately. It's a dynamic field. I also really liked the team concept - to build a car and watch it win.

So what was it like when you left a life of speed and went into business at Buck's?

Well, it's definitely less mentally-taxing than building and owning race cars, haha, but it has its own challenges.

What's the hardest part about the field?

Working with the public. I mean, I love interacting with people but it can be very challenging, because there's a stigma around the (automotive) field. Bad names (unethical or dishonest shops) make people have a perception about mechanics. We do our best to break that perception by gaining trust through our actions and how we conduct business.

How has the economy affected your business?

There was a 15 percent loss in revenue. Things changed when 9/11 happened, and they were never the same.

What's made Buck's a leading shop with staying power?

Integrity and quality - having our personal values equal our business values. Always honoring our word.

What do you like to do when you aren't working?

I really like doing home projects like room additions. I've had that hobby for about 30 years. I also love my grandchildren - I love spending time with one, and I miss the others very much.