KUSA – On weekends, the garage at Wessbecker Automotive in Castle Rock is closed to the public, but it opens for a group of ladies who want to learn.
“We’re going to be looking at this Mazda today,” said Mandi Selman. “I’ve got some notepads for you guys if you’d like some.”
Selman had already popped the hood of the Mazda. She asked the women to gather around as she demonstrated how to check the car’s oil level. She moved on to talking tire pressure, spark plugs, ignition coils and sway bar links.
“The sway bar link helps your car from rocking back and forth - side to side,” Selman explained.
Carol Luallin and others put their pens to their notepads.
“I took notes on warning lights and fluids and why the fluids are important,” Luallin said. “Common sense things, but it just helps to have it reiterated.”
Luallin attended her second Women’s Car Care Clinic Sunday afternoon hosted by Mandi Selman.
“It’s my opportunity to come in and talk to a woman about a car,” Luallin said. “I just can’t learn enough. I think this is fascinating.”
Selman is an automotive service writer at Wessbecker Automotive. She grew up learning about cars form her dad, who started working at Wessbecker back in 1982. Selman started working at the shop a few years ago and hosted the first Women’s Car Care Clinic in the past year.
“[I] basically go over general maintenance, things women can check themselves on their vehicles, things that I often see upsold and ways that they protect themselves from being taken advantage of,” Selman said.
Selman passes on tips she’s learned and helps build women’s confidence, too.
“I feel more equipped to talk shop if you will,” Luallin smiled. “Instead of saying, ‘my car’s making some kind of this really weird noise when I do x, y and z,’ I wanted to maybe have some more understanding of what might be going on.”
Selman offers her monthly class free of charge on Saturdays or Sundays. It’s open to women of all ages.
“Actually, we just started hosting Girl Scout troops,” Selman said.
Selman said she’d also reached out to high schools and driver’s education programs in the area. She said she hopes to teach and empower women.
“Women can do just as much as men when it comes to vehicles,” Selman said. “They can know how they work. They can know how to take care of them.”
Join the Women’s Car Care Clinic Facebook page to learn more about the class.
