The Truth Staff
Community leaders Blair Johnson and Lance Self teamed up on Saturday, March 15, at Taylor Hyundai of Toledo, to present “The Garage,” an educational event designed to teach youngsters a few basic automobile maintenance techniques.
Johnson, founder of BMJ Enterprises and a candidate for a Toledo City Council seat at large, and Self, “The People’s Salesman,” at Taylor Automotive, brought together about 15 youngsters, between the ages of 14 and 19, for the one and a half hour course, led by Taylor mechanics.
“Many people lack basic car maintenance skills, which can lead to unnecessary expenses and safety risks,” said Johnson when he announced the class through social media. “We’re excited to offer a free, hand-on learning experience to help our community become more self-sufficient.”
The students were able to learn about such techniques as learning how “to change a tire, check tire pressure and learn how to check fluid levels and change wiper blades,” said Self. He noted that they also were able to see the underside of a vehicle as it would be lifted.
The youngsters also were introduced to the battery system and learning when the charge is low; how to find out if brake pads ware worn, when the cooling system is unsafe and when the traction control is not active.
The kids, said Self, came from all over the community for this, the second time the class had been organized. All was free of charge to the kids, even the pizza lunch served afterwards.
The classes are sponsored by Taylor Hyundai of Toledo, BMJ Enterprises, The Lance Self Auto Group and Self Love Movement.