Dimilo worries about the upcoming generation of
enthusiasts, with the introduction of on-board computers
complicating everything. What used to be an accessible hobby
for the everyman is growing complex enough to discourage
workers in the auto industry only there for the money.
Whereas a Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel could be a 10-year
project for a group of friends 40 years ago, today many simply
bring their car to the shop and come back six months later
with a cheque. In the words of Peifer, "it's ruining the sport.”
"It's getting harder to find young motivated people that
you can mould into the next generation of technicians," Wiebe
also says. "It's not the easiest trade to do…it’s weeded out
those who do it just for a paycheque. People now do it because
they have a natural passion for cars.”
But that doesn’t mean that the business is dying. Shops
like Nutek, where Wiebe is the oldest mechanic at 35, show
that an upcoming