New auto hobby shop nears completion

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mike Andriacco
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  In late March, after an 18-year wait, the Airmen, civilians and retirees of Barksdale Air Force Base will be able to take advantage of a newly built auto hobby shop.

The current auto hobby shop facility is more than 75 years old and is listed on the national history registry which means approval is required for renovations or changes to the exterior.

Authorized users at the auto hobby shop will be charged an hourly fee of $3.50, and get quite a bit for their money.

"This shop is the only one in the Ark-La-Tex where you can come in and work on your own privately owned vehicle or motorcycle and have at your fingertips the correct tools, computer diagnostics and instructions, as well as expert guidance if you need it at a minimal hourly fee," said Mary Baker, 2nd Force Support Squadron Arts and Crafts manager. "You can order parts and have them delivered, or you can make an appointment and have a mechanic do the work for you with an estimated cost for labor and parts prior to starting the work."

The process to build the new shop started in 1993, when the determination was made that new facilities were needed to support the increasing number of customers every year. Since then, efforts have been underway to accumulate and approve the funds for the $3.2 million facility.

"The funds came from the Air Force Non-Appropriated Fund program and expenditure was approved by Congress," Baker said.

It was the determination of Sarah Latham-McCrackin, 2 FSS Community Services Flight Chief, that eventually got the project approved. Upon her arrival in 1993, she was challenged by the then 2nd Services Squadron deputy commander to submit as many requests for upgrades as possible. The last of the original ideas was the auto hobby shop, a project she has refused to let go of for nearly two decades.

"The auto hobby shop project was submitted every year for funding consideration and finally in fiscal year 2009, was approved for construction to begin in fiscal year 2011 by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Board and Congress," Latham-McCrackin said. "Barksdale is lucky to get the new facility due to our current economic situation and changes being considered in the services we deliver."

According to Baker, the new shop features a front-end alignment machine, welding capability and a drive-through touchless car wash. In addition to the automated car wash, there are two manual car wash bays. One bay is high enough to accommodate large vehicles such as recreational vehicles and motor homes. Commercial quality vacuum stations are included in the construction project, and a covered vending machine area will provide associated car wash products and will have a coin changer. The automated car wash will accept credit card payments for customer convenience.

The facility also has 10 bays, two with drive-on lifts and four with post lifts. More than $125,000 in tools and equipment have been purchased to support the new operation. A customer waiting area is equipped with a flat screen television, resale store, and a snack vending area.

The new auto hobby shop will be the go-to place for the Barksdale community to use state-of-the-art equipment to work on their privately owned vehicles at a fraction of the cost of going downtown.