The Enthusiast Automotive shop operates based on distinct principles. The dominant model of corporate business-making has emphasized profit at the expense of the community. The stories of greedy company executives, dismantled worker unions, and the outsourced labor are abounding today. Against this backdrop, Speed manages a business that supports the livelihood of his staff and contributes to the well-being of his community.

Speed is the only official employee at the workshop. His collaborators, Ralus, Rigo, Jorge, and John, are long-time friends and colleagues that have intermittently joined the workshop at various moments of their lives. Ralus Rogers had been working as a large truck and tractor mechanic until he was laid off a few years ago. He started coming to the autoshop to work on his own cars and helped Speed with working on various projects. John Terry is also an old friend of Speed’s. His specialization is the maintenance of Volkswagens. Rigo Vargas is an expert in bodywork, and helps Speed with repairing and repainting car frames. Jorge Ramirez handles projects related to upholstery of car interiors. With these people around, the workshop runs as a collective who help each other on projects. For Ralus, Rigo, Jorge, and John, the Enthusiast Automotive is a communal space that helps them to pay their bills and make ends meet during the current economic downturn. They can come here and pick up various jobs. The workshop thus has a particular labor structure, that of mutual help, camaraderie, and reciprocity.

The relationship between Speed and his customers also runs based on distinct norms. Many of his customers have personal relationships to Speed. As a result, there is a blurry line between his customers and friends. Speed charges a fair price, based on what they can or cannot afford. His pricing is less rigid, more negotiable. Overall, Speed’s business runs as a place that is more about helping a community over making individual profit.

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