| I can remember the first "muscle car" I ever had. It | | | | The minute I drove it out of Vlad's lot, I could tell that |
| was a Ford Torino with a 390 cubic inch engine. It had | | | | the clutch was fixed and tight, and in fact, had never |
| headers, was an 8 cylinder, and gas was around | | | | been that good, even when I bought it and drove it off |
| seventy eight cents per gallon. | | | | the car lot. |
| Every Sunday afternoon I would head outside my | | | | So ironically, the best mechanic, at least my choice, in |
| hometown of Hattiesburg, Ms and race that Torino | | | | America, is not even a native-born American nor did |
| down the quarter-mile track at Hub City Raceway. I'll | | | | he see a lot of American cars in his early-learning |
| never forget their radio ads with the announcer yelling | | | | stage. But don't let that fool you. He fixed it as |
| "Sunday, Sunday, Sundayyyyyyyyyyyy!", with each | | | | professionally and courteously as anyone with which |
| Sunday getting louder and louder. | | | | you could hope to deal. |
| One of the major topics of conversation was "Who | | | | In addition, he said, if there was anything else wrong |
| was the best mechanic in town". Since that time, I sold | | | | with the car, he would let me know beforefixing it. I |
| or wrecked and/or rebuilt about seven other race | | | | thought "Uh oh...what is coming next", based on my |
| cars, probably my fastest being white Pontiac | | | | experience with so many mechanicswith which I'd |
| Tras-Am with a 454 cubic inch engine in it. It was the | | | | worked in the past. He called me again to let me know |
| second year they came out and Pontiac only made | | | | it was only the clutch. Nowthat is honesty, and certainly |
| them in that color. A Sunday didn't go by that I did not | | | | worth driving a few miles (or in my case having it |
| take home a trophy. | | | | towed, to get it fixed better, cheaper, and from a very |
| Many years have passed since my days of youth, yet | | | | nice person, Vladimir Morshch). Welcome to America, |
| I still seek out the best mechanic. I now live in Los | | | | Vlad! We are very glad you are here! |
| Angeles, and I stumbled across him, merely by | | | | I would later find out through a mutual friend more |
| accident. Not only was he the best but the most | | | | about Vlad. Now I'm not surprised at all of hisunique |
| honest. | | | | talents. He is a mechanical engineer, went to the one |
| My clutch went out in my newly bought used Saturn | | | | of the best University's in Russia and had many years |
| that was perfect in every other way (sans the clutch). | | | | of experience working with cars, both European and |
| I had even driven it across the country with no | | | | American. Vlad feels in good terms with languages, he |
| problems. | | | | believes he can't learn English and states that he'd |
| Then came the breakdown. | | | | better do what he knows best and it is repairing cars, |
| It was towed to a man of whom I'd never heard, | | | | remodeling, etc. (however, we had no problems at all |
| named Vladimir Morshch, a Russian Immigrant who | | | | with communications and I speak no Russian) For him, |
| had learned American, Japanese, and European cars | | | | it is NOT just about cars, it is about his passion, but |
| long before he arrived to our shores, and learned them | | | | mostly: his honesty and integrity. He guarantees his |
| well. He knew exactly what the problem was and | | | | work for one year and if your car is NOT working |
| quoted me $200 cheaper than the mechanic on the | | | | properly and has same problem he will repair it for |
| other side of town, in Woodland Hills where the car | | | | free. |
| stood for several hours. | | | | Note: Vlad's shop is at 18400 Vanowen Ave, Reseda, |
| Vlad called the next day and the car was ready. | | | | Ca 91335 in the Valley. It's across from the very |
| I went to pick it up. I still had my out of state checks as | | | | popular Valley Produce Market. His phone is |
| I'd just moved from Arkansas, and since there had | | | | 818-708-1031. |
| been some unauthorized charges on my Mastercard, I | | | | He's great to talk to also. Sounds like I'm gushing, I |
| had canceled it and could not use it. He had to take | | | | know, but have never had such a positive experience |
| my word that the check was good. He did. | | | | with an auto mechanic. |