The sign still reads “Laughlin Auto Repair” and you’ll still find both Jack Laughlin, who started the shop in 2002, and his son, John Laughlin, who joined his dad there in 2006, busy working on cars.

What’s new is that on Jan. 1, their roles switched. Jack Laughlin turned ownership of the shop over to his son, John.

“I’m not retired,” Jack Laughlin said. “I’ve slowed down. I jokingly tell people that I’ve reduced my hours to 60 a week.”

Laughlin began his career working for several dealerships as a technician. The last was Clement Auto where he found himself with a lot of side work.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
John Laughlin shares a laugh with a customer recently at Laughlin Auto Repair. Laughlin took over the business from his dad, Jack Laughlin.

“I either had to quit or start my own business,” he said. “I initially rented a building. I outgrew that in a very short period of time. Larry Clement owned this building.”

His customers actually helped him move.

“I got a lot of help from my customers, they asked if they could help move. In one day they moved the entire business,” Jack Laughlin said. “We closed on Friday and opened Monday in the new building.”

When he opened his shop in 2002, car manufacturers were beginning to add more and more computerized engine and other controls, going away from point ignition. The days of the carburetor were numbered.

“That’s continued,” Jack Laughlin said. “We have new scanners to work on newer cars.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Mechanic Joe Groves, of Fort Dodge, starts a brake repair on a customer's vehicle at Laughlin Auto Repair. Groves is the most recent addition to the staff.

Both father and son will work on the older vehicles, though.

“Three of the cars in here right now are older than 1969,” he said. “I was trained in points and carbs, the new mechanics don’t understand that technology. We get customers that were told ‘we don’t work on carburetor cars, take it to Laughlin Auto.”

For John Laughlin, taking ownership has meant that he’s taken on the full responsibility for the shop and doing things that his dad always did.

“I’m the one writing the bills,” he joked. “I’ve gotten really good at writing checks.”

The real bosses aren’t even there, though.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
John Laughlin, owner of Laughlin Auto Repair, works on a customer's car in their Fort Dodge shop. Laughlin took over ownership of the shop in January from his dad, Jack Laughlin.

“He acts like he’s the boss,” John Laughlin joked. “We all know our wives are the boss.”

John Laughlin said he knew that being in the shop was something he wanted to do since fifth grade. He took auto class at Fort Dodge Senior High School and during his senior year, got out early then went to the shop and worked till 8 or 9.

“Cars is all I’ve known,” John Laughlin said.

He’s just as comfortable setting points and adjusting a carbureter as his dad and just as comfortable running a computerized diagnosis.

“Most of those cars are 20 years older than I am,” he said. “But I learned from the best.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Framed by a large collection of toy motorcycles, Jack Laughlin sits in the office area of Laughlin Auto Repair. Laughlin turned over ownership of the shop to his son John Laughlin recently but still works on cars every day.

Jack Laughlin appreciated that.

“Thank you,” he said.

While it may be a greasy and oily crystal ball, looking into the future of their profession is something they both believe will include electric vehicles.

Jack Laughlin said that electric cars will probably follow the same arc as the electronic controls did when they were the latest thing.

“When it came out it wasn’t very good,” he said. “With the electric cars, if it goes, it’s not going to be good for 10 years.”

Since the change in ownership, the Laughlins have added a mechanic to their staff. Joe Groves, of Fort Dodge, joined the crew on Jan. 9.

“We watched him every day at a nearby business,” John Laughlin said. “He was always the first there, the last to leave and he worked hard. We said that’s the employee we’re looking for.”

So will Jack Laughlin keep going to work every day?

“If John will still have me when I’m 80 I’ll stay,” Jack Laughlin said. “I’ll be working till noon the day of my funeral. I enjoy the customers and I enjoy the work.”

Laughlin Auto Repair is located at 533 S. 29th St.