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The story of Revolution Motors is the story of Pat Whale, the garage’s eccentric owner. Let's trace his career from shade tree mechanic in 1980s Wimberley, to becoming the owner of one the most successful and dynamic independent European garages in central Texas. Chapter 1 The story opens at the end of World War 2. Patrick John Ramsay Whale was born in Finisterre, Brittany. Via Britain and Canada, he arrives in the village of Wimberley, Texas in 1981. Locals notice he has a knack for fixing European cars. He is fluent in French, wears a beret, and can seemingly talk to the cars better than most of the Hays County cowboy mechanics in the village. Our wily European becomes known as 'Docteur Peugeot' and beneath the glorious live oaks and pecans of the Hill County, opens his first business. Chapter 2 Dr. Peugeot is soon overwhelmed with work, and finds himself in Austin, away from his wife Carol and son Patou too much. It is time to move the family into the world’s live music capital, and near central Hyde Park he sets up shop at 807 Capitol Court. Pat sees himself back then as 'a lone wolf out of left field,’ and with his first employee Jonathan Burnette on the payroll, they set about keeping Austin's Renaults, Peugeots and Citroens on the road. Chapter 3 The name Docteur Peugeot comes to an abrupt end one day after a phone call from Peugeot headquarters in Paris. We enter the era of the French Revolution. A miniature guillotine in the waiting room completes the picture. These are the years of consolidation. Because of the garage's considerable spirit and charm - something hard to locate in many of the city’s other garages - the French Revolution becomes a popular place for Peugeot repairs. Two mechanics and someone in the office is Pat's operation. They introduce computers and a parts department, a website, and all goes well. . . until 1991. Without warning Peugeot America announces the closure of all of its North American operations. Roger Beasley relinquishes the Peugeot dealership, and in 1992 Pat takes it over. Chapter 4 As happy as Pat is with the title Official Peugeot Dealer, when he peers into the future, he sees his business going the way of the brontosaurus. One day he hears that Mike Boer is thinking of selling his popular Boers German Motorworks. Pat buys it. The garage's future is in general European automotive repair... not just French anymore. The garage becomes Revolution Motors. Now there are three mechanics and a service writer at work - as they transform the business into a top class German and Swedish specialty repair shop. Bono becomes service manager. Birthday celebrations include a screening of 'The Italian Job' (original) on the garage's front Chapter 5 |
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