photos by Cindy Steele Then,“ I got married, raised a kid, got divorced, and bought the five-unit building that my business is in.” Along the way he also enrolled in the Master Electrician’ s course taught at Nashville’ s Career Resources Center“ to get some credentials. I thought it might be something to fall back on, but I didn’ t have time to start another job.” Instead, the Career Resources Center asked Mills to teach the program, something he has done for the last 12 years.
About three years ago, Mills’ s mother Maggie suggested that he build his private garage, which is a three-bay, two-story structure located on her property.“ It was a project that she felt wonderful about. It was built by the high school building trades class. It was the last project Chris Todd worked on before he retired. My mom loved every minute of it. And I finally got to move my most fragile, longest dormant projects into relative safety.”
These projects are the complete restoration of a red 1971 Karman Ghia that had been given to him by his best friend years ago and of a yellow 1974 VW Thing with 44,000 actual miles that had been sitting for 21 years when he bought it.
“ Just before the garage was finished a man came into my shop wanting help valuing it. After I bought it, I found out that it had belonged to Verl Mauzy, a wonderful old man, a customer of mine for 20 years. He was a scientist who ran an electric motor building shop. He would come in and talk, and I never knew he had it.” The man who wanted help with the valuation and who wanted Mills to buy the car was Mauzy’ s son. After learning of his friend’ s death, David also bought Verls workbench,“ so I could work off it for the rest of my life.” Recently, a group of six Indianapolis VW owners formed the Volkswagen Illuminati, a VW fraternity that you need to be invited to join. They wanted a group that they thought included only the most helpful, generous, expert VW fanatics in the area. Mills received an invitation. It is the only club he has ever joined.
Working on cars is a serious sideline, despite a long list of“ back burner” projects that sometimes demand his attention, like boating and motorcycles, and his social life. And because he is an expert and exacting mechanic, Mills is in demand.“ My friends have been bringing things for me to work on, but I can see a day when I might be available. People can call me if they want.”
David Mills can be reached at Columbus Import Auto Parts,( 812) 378-5000, or at < columbusimportdave @ yahoo. com >. •
NOW Brown County
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KOA >>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<< formerly Last Resort RV Park Open April – October
2248 State Road 46 East • Nashville, IN
Minutes away from fine dining, shopping, museums, live entertainment, and theater
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Info: 812-988-4675 • Reservations: 800-562-9132 www. browncountykoa. com
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May / June 2017 • Our Brown County 39