December 10, 2004

Mahan crew brings real time expertise to auto repair at Campbell European

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Acquiring Campbell European in January 2003 brought Greg and Judy Mahan back full circle to their greasy roots and their youthful ‘need for speed.’

“I grew up on a farm,” said Mahan, circling a shiny Mercedes in for repairs at his auto mechanic’s shop on Winchester Avenue. “At a young age I learned to drive farm equipment, along with completing the necessary repairs.”

The Campbell European crew (left to right), Judy and Greg Mahan, Jake Duvall and Manny Fontes pose in the workplace.

As a teen, Mahan’s father stocked the garage with ‘wrecked’ cars and Go-karts, stoking his two eldest sons’ passion for racing. By 1960 the Mahans, with Greg leading the way, were immersed in the racing culture, building high performance Go-Karts and entering formal competitions at the Midget level. “Motorcycles, cars, anything that had an engine and could go fast,” said Mahan, who remains the subject of some former racers’ ire.

“Oh, they would get pretty upset,” he said. “They would invite us out to the track and we would burn ‘em bad. At one point they asked us never to come back.”

Following college, where Mahan studied mechanical engineering at Wichita State, the appeal of California called. “I came out to visit a friend one week and I thought, ‘hey, this place is neat.” According to Mahan, 30 years of California living, along with a wife and two kids confirmed his hunch.

Greg wed Judy in 1979 and they soon started a family.

“Two daughters put racing on hold,” explained Mahan. “So I turned to crewing for national drivers like Al Holbert and Doc Bundy.” Reputable names within the racing community, Holbert and Bundy drove cars in the Porsche and Corvette Challenges.

As the Mahan daughters grew, so too did Greg and Judy’s appetite for speed. By the early 90’s, Greg was back in the driver’s seat with Judy by his side. The duo grabbed the Gt-4 Championship in 1992, after narrowly missing that same mark in ’91.

In the meantime, timeliness and an ardent Midwest work ethic allowed Mahan to retire from his high tech career and once again pursue his other passion—building fast cars. In 1995 Mahan and a friend opened a shop on Kennedy Avenue where they, “built everything from shifter Go-Karts to Trans-Am cars and Dyno tested engines.”

Now, since coming out on his own—his partner left to pursue Motocross racing—the Mahans are anxious to bring a lifetime of expertise to Campbell European customers.

According to Greg, the business was started in 1982 and boasts ASE certified technician staff.

“This was a shop where techs knew the customers, their cars and driving habits,” said Mahan, of his decision to buy an active shop. “The customers could speak to the service tech that serviced their car, unlike the dealerships where you speak to the service advisor, who may or may not be familiar with the cars.”

“They have helped me out on a number of things,” said Lori Schrank, a customer at Campbell European. “Anything that needs to be done to my car, they take care of. They have even rescued me after hours and stayed with me until the shuttle got there.”

Campbell European provides computerized diagnostics, free shuttle services and a rental car. “We perform 27 point vehicle inspection on every car to assure we know the car and the customer’s needs,” added Judy Mahan.

Said another customer Diana Viali: “Campbell European came highly recommended, and I have recommended them highly. They do a fine job in maintaining my car and bringing up informational points that are of assistance to me.”

“We have the ability to take the extra time,” concluded Greg Mahan, gazing at a race-car for sale in the corner of his shop.

Campbell European is located at 2565 Winchester Boulevard in Campbell. TO reach Campbell European, call (408) 370-2299 or check out the webpage at www.campbelleuropeanmotors.com.