I agree that there aren't as many shops around. But things have changed so, so much. Back in the 60s, '70s and '80s, cars were crap, plain and simple. There were are few performance cars, but they were exclusive and there weren't as many as people remember. For every muscle car, there were a million crappy cars with 2bbl carbs, low compression, and crappy intakes and heads. The thing was, you could go buy a manifold and a 4bbl, put some Thrush pipes on, an increase the performance by a large amount, without spending a lot. It was still SLOW, but the improvement really made you feel like you'd really done something. These factors gave rise to a hobby.

Now, cars are much better, and the manufacturers take performance seriously. There are no need for these dirty, grungy shops now, when a young guy wants cheap performance they can just get a cheap factory hot-rod like a Neon SRT4, or a WRX. The "mods" come with the car and can be financed. Who wants to dick around working on cars when you can get it "your way" from the factory and spend more time actually driving your car?

Plus, what mods there are are expensive because cars are so much more complex, and are usually handled by large shops that need to serve the whole nation to pay for their computer equiptment, dynos, etc.

 

There are still a couple of 'em in my area.

Live well,

SJW

 

A local speed shop can't compete with Summit and Jegs that get such huge price break for buying a trailer load of stuff, I worked at a machine shop and we sold parts and even my actual cost I bought at was higher than Jegs and Summit retail for.

 

There are a multitude of factors as to why there aren't many "conventional" speed shops around any more. The most relevant are listed below.

1) The rise of the mailorder houses: Summit and Jegs are the 800lb gorillas in the parts side of the performance business. They started by selling AA++ moving parts at less than most jobbers (local shops) can buy them for. Consequently, it's awfully hard to make payroll, pay the bills, rent, etc. if you're selling stuff at a loss.

A lot of guys back in the mid 80's (about the time Summit really started getting aggressive), would breeze into their local speed shop and look around, shoot the bull, etc. and ask a lot of "what parts should I use, etc." questions, then leave and order their parts mailorder, as "the local guys prices are too high". (no matter that on most of the parts sold, the local guy CAN compete, just not on the "high profile" type of parts). The local guy isn't given a chance. We in the business call this "Wal-Marting".

2) The advent of electronic engine controls and high-tech cars: A lot of the "traditional" guys still think in terms of Holley double-pumpers, Carter AFBs and Q-jets. They have not accepted change, and as a result have gone the way of the dinosaur for the most part. Is this market segment dead? A good walkthrough at PRI tells me "no", as a lot of carburetors are still being made and sold. To stay alive, however, a shop owner has to get with the times.

3) The Internet: The rise of the Net has brought about things, both good and bad about how-to's, parts, etc. This is a sore subject with manufacturers who spend a lot of money bringing a product to market, only to have the value cheapened by certain Net sellers (usually ran out of some guys garage at home, not by a brick and mortar seller) selling parts at or near cost. A lot of these guys are "here today, gone tomorrow" as a result. The brick and mortar seller has actual overhead to consider, etc. (basically the same problem of Wal-Marting). I could go on, but it's been told plain enough...


Why you should support your local seller (if you still have one): First off, you deal with a real person, face to face... not a "phone drone" order taker. This goes a long way in the trust department (especially important when dealing with high-performance cars). Not only that, but to the local guy, you're a PERSON, not just a "customer number".

A lot of times, the local guy has what you need in stock and you can pick it up and take it home right then (and no "handling charges" to boot!). If you're not handy with a wrench, you can usually get it installed as well. Mailorder/dotcom sellers can't do this.

Something else not considered is warranty issues with products. Most local guys will do whatever it takes to keep a client happy (at least to my line of thinking). I'll give you an example of how I operate.

Back about a year or so ago, we had a problem with Magnaflow systems for late C4 Vettes with the muffler mounts ripping out (bad design). A couple of my clients had this particular problem, and what I did was pull a replacement system off the shelf and swap it out for them right then and there. No BS with RMA's, etc., I hashed that out with my supplier (which is what a dealer is supposed to do). The car rolled out fixed and the end result was a happy customer (what we want as shop owners). A lot of local shop owners (usually the only ones left in the business) feel the same way I do.

The price issue... give the guy a chance at least. If you spend a couple of bucks extra, there's a reason for it. (see above)

A lot of guys though, have gotten tired of being Wal-Marted and don't want the aggravation of it and have closed their doors as a result. This is a sad state of affairs, it really is.

Some of us are trying to stay with the times, though.

 

Summit is only a few hours away...nothing like THAT kind of speedshop at your beckon call.

 

Hey I don't know if it changes from area to area but the schucks in my area Boise Idaho will match the price of Summit and Jegs. Not 100% sure but I think autozone does too. I have a schucks speed shop here and they have some performance stuff and I don't have to wait or pay shipping. A side note for ya jegs will also match anybody price I got an unmatched set of FMS 30# injectors from them for $229 their catolog price was like $325. Maybe this is why the speed shops are gone because we want the best name brand parts at generic prices

 

Up Here In Edmonton Alberta Canada We Have Mopac,tya,dix, Perfromance Parts Center, And Varius Other Small Ones That Will Do All The Milling And Assembling You Want.

 

Oh ya!!! When I was younger, I was in SuperShops everyday. I spent so much money on my 83GT stang in there. I wish I would of saved and got a vette back then, but I loved that car. Wish they were still around.
There are a lot of speed-shops, Dyno places, and machine shops hear in and around Daytona, but my dad and I do all of it ourselves; except the exhaust stuff. Niether one of us has a welder, yet.

 

I completely agree, the shop I work at me build alot of drag and circle track engines, and i have been trying to get into the late model stuff, I have gotten us some what into with my own cars, but he still thinks carbs is it.

 

Robert's post pretty much nailed it. It's not easy trying to compete against the big places like Summit. I know we do our best to offer great customer service in the hopes of that helping to offset a slightly higher cost of parts.

 

There is (was?) a speed shop in Conyers. But they haven't been keeping much of any inventory - I'd walk in, hoping to pick up a part, and just about anything would have to be special ordered. He'd taken the one advantage a speed shop has over mail order (the convenience of being able to walk in and walk out with a part) and just made things more inconvenient than mail order. Not good.

On the other hand, there is a Summit location within driving distance of my house now... And I work for one of the Internet performance parts companies.