Arnold auto technician's passion for cars continues through the ages

Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact reporter Madasyn Lee at mlee@tribweb.com.

Steve Mike’s career as an automotive technician started at a very young age.

He started learning about cars when he was 11. At 14, he was getting paid to fix and upgrade them.

“I would go to people’s houses and tune up their car or put brakes on,” said Mike, 62, of New Kensington. “Sometimes they would come and pick me up and bring me to their house.”

Mike owns Performance Auto Service in Arnold, which has been around for close to 40 years.

The auto service shop does routine maintenance and repair work on cars, servicing an average of 15 to 20 per day.

“We’re busy all the time. We’ve always been since I’ve been in business,” Mike said. “I can say we’ve been very successful in the area.”

Mike’s brother and neighbor introduced him to car maintenance and repair work. Both had classic cars. He loved to watch them work on their cars while he was growing up in New Kensington’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood.“I’ve had the passion forever and I still do,” Mike said. “I’m 62, and I still have that drive.”

Mike believes his passion is the reason for his success. When he’s not working, he’s reading magazines or watching television shows about cars. He takes classes and gets recertified. He enjoys learning about the ever changing technology.

The shop sees several makes and models of cars, from classic to later models, as well as domestic, European and Asian brands. It doesn’t work on exotic cars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

“You have to keep up with the technology, and your employees have to also,” Mike said. “There’s so many makes and models. A doctor only has to deal with two bodies. We got to deal with mid-year changes, every year changes, and many, many models. They’re all different.”

When Mike first started the business, cars didn’t have sensors or cameras that warned drivers if they were getting too close to another car. Drivers had to rely on their rear and side mirrors.

Technicians at the shop used to consult a book when it came to car repairs and maintenance. Now they subscribe to websites to stay updated on new repairs, specifications and troubleshooting.

“We started in the early 70s with electronic ignition and now we’ve upgraded to computer controlled ignition and computer controlled throttle,” Mike said. “We have anti-lock brakes and electronic parking brakes. There’s just so much more technology than there used to be.”

Mike owns two classic cars, one being a 1978 Chevrolet Z28.

He has done modification and restoration work on other classics including a 1967 Camaro RS, 1964 Corvette, a 1997 Formula Firebird and a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am.

“Most of them are the modifications that the customer wants to upgrade them, to make them more driveable,” Mike said.

The shop has three technicians, two service writers and two part-time employees. Mike runs the shop while his wife does bookkeeping.

Several of Mike’s employees have been with the shop for more than two decades.

Linda Landi is approaching 29 years as an employee.

“I believe in what we do here,” said Landi, a service writer. “The business itself is a very honest business. We do what we do for the people. You have to run a business and have a profit, but people come first and what’s best for people. We don’t tell people they need things that they don’t need.

“I hope every day I make a difference to somebody.”