Bockman's Auto Care - January 2021

Bockman's Auto Care - January 2021

What’s The BUZZ? Continuing a Legacy The History of Bockman’s Auto Care JAN 2021 Hi, everyone! Welcome to our brand new newsletter! What do you think? We’re really excited to kick off this new campaign and keep in touch with you each month. Inside, you’ll find handy tips human connection and the sense of something greater — I also found at my dad’s auto shop.

I loved working with the customers. At the time, we were still a gas station, so I would see the same people two or three times each week. Every time, it was like seeing an old friend. I never became very interested in hot rods or souping up my car, but to this day, interacting with all of you is what I enjoy most about the work I get to do every day. When Dad was ready to retire in 1999, I did something I promised myself I would never do: I bought the business from him. My parents immediately headed off into the sunset, moving to Missouri to start their retirement life, and I was left with a 35-year-old auto shop and the challenge of transforming it into a 21st-century business. Those early years were exhausting. I was working 12-13 hours a day, crunching the pennies you have to count when you own a gas station. I was really focused on the ways we could improve and grow in this community. With the help of some business coaches, dedication from my employees in the shop, and support from our community, Bockman’s Auto Care grew into a new building, dropped our gasoline services to focus on auto care, and expanded the technologies and services we can offer. Sometimes I look back on those years and realize just how much has changed. You don’t realize how much you grow when you’re in the thick of it all, but just like parenting, one day you look up, and realize your business has grown. Through it all, I’m honored to have continued my father’s legacy and adapted it to the world we live in today. It’s pretty cool to look back and think this all started 56 years ago. It may not be the work I thought I would do when I was painting the curb for ice cream cones all those years ago, but it’s exactly where I want to be today.

for the whole family, including some key details on what I believe to be the best Customer Care Program in all of DeKalb County! But before we go into all of that, I think it’s important to introduce myself to those of you who don’t know me. My name is Jon Bockman, and I’ve owned Bockman’s Auto Care since 1999, but our shop’s history is much longer than that. My Dad has been working on engines for as long as I can remember. He began his career working in mechanic shops across Illinois, and he even worked in a shop that was stationed right along the world-famous Route 66! In 1964, a buddy asked him to join in a partnership on a shop, and after a few partner

changes, Bockman’s Eastside Standard was born. It was a gas station and auto shop designed to help the weary traveler with any car issues that may have come up.

I first began working with Dad when I was a little kid. I painted curbs and stocked the soda machines in exchange for ice cream cones! Eventually, I graduated to pumping gas, changing tires, and working on the cars, but unlike Dad, the mechanic bug didn’t bite me. Instead, I had dreams of Hollywood. I wanted to become a filmmaker, and I was adamant that I was going to move out of the Midwest and begin my lucrative career making movies — determined to not inherit the shop from my dad. That all started to change in college. I was attending school locally and working at the shop for some extra cash when I could. That’s when Dad’s business became something I grew more interested in. (And I wasn’t even being paid in ice cream!) What I loved about movies — the

Thank you to all our valued loyal customers who continue to support the legacy my father set forth nearly 60 years ago. You make us proud to serve this community. — Jon Bockman

Sycamore 815.756.7413 • DeKalb 815.754.4200

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Battle of the Bowls Roses, Chariots, and a College Football National Champion

Our Best Tips f Your Car This W

If you’ve lived in Illinois for a while, then you know winter is far from over. We have weeks of cold snaps and winter storms to drive through, which means our vehicles have to be up for the challenge. After more than 55 years of servicing vehicles, we have collected expert tips on how to ensure your vehicle survives the harsh season. Check out these three to get started! Check your battery. When the temperature drops, one of the most common issues we see is faulty batteries. Our vehicles rely on batteries to charge our engines, but the extreme swing in temperatures can weaken this device. You can prevent this by having your battery inspected each winter. Replace any old or damaged batteries with new, strong ones and run your vehicle for more than 10 minutes regularly. If you do have to jump-start your car, have the battery checked immediately. Confirm your vision. Your lights and windshield wipers are going to be valuable tools should you have to drive

December and January are prime months for college football greatness. Each year, the top teams in the nation duke it out in more than 40 bowl games during this two-month span. In its 130-year history, the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) bowl games have changed a lot, but the competition is just as fierce now as ever. The origin of bowl games has nothing to do with football. On Jan. 1, 1890, the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena, California, adorned their horses and buggies with flowers and paraded around the city before squaring off in athletic competitions that included polo, greased pig catching, and chariot races. By 1902, the organizers for the Tournament of Roses saw potential in America’s fast-growing collegiate football leagues and scheduled the much-anticipated Tournament East-West game between the nation’s top two teams on Jan. 1.

That game was a dud though. Michigan University toppled Stanford University 49-0, and Stanford forfeited the game with just eight

minutes left on the clock. Admitting defeat, organizers went back to their athletic competitions of yore until 1916, when Washington State took on Brown College in the second Tournament East-West game. In 1923, this competition was dubbed the Rose Bowl. The name “bowl” comes from the shape of the Rose Bowl Stadium, and other collegiate leagues across the nation have adopted their own versions. The widely accepted original bowl games include the Rose Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, and the Sun Bowl, and each is played on New Year’s Day. Over time, the number of bowl games grew, which resulted in teams with as few as five wins claiming titles in smaller bowl games. Experts began to ponder how to determine the “true” national champion when there were so many championship games. In the 2014–2015 season, the NCAA sought to answer that question. The championship semifinal games between the top four teams are rotated each year between pairs of the six top bowl games. The winners of the two semifinal bowls then face off in a college football championship. The other bowl games are still played and unofficially determine runners-up. While bowl games may take on a different flair this season, the time-honored tradition of friendly competition and bragging rights is still just as powerful today as it was 130 years ago in Pasadena.

Let That F

4 Tips to Make

Hunkering down and waiting for the dark and chilly winter season to pass sounds pretty nice. But the reality

is, if we deprive ourselves of time outside, we do ourselves a big disservice both mentally and physically. Staying indoors all day affects your energy and mood, which makes it hard to get anything done, so here are four easy tips to make it easier to get a little fresh air. 1. Make it a priority. Getting outside means making the conscious effort to do so. If you want to reap its benefits, you have to decide to make it a priority in your day-to-day schedule. If you make the act important to you, you have more motivation to actually do it. 2. Use mornings effectively. Waking up and getting the day started can be hard. But studies have shown that natural light helps decrease your melatonin production, which means you feel ready to face the day sooner. So, set yourself a second alarm to head outside and take a quick walk around the block just after waking. Don’t even wash your face or grab coffee. Just get out there.

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Sycamore 815.756.7413 • DeKalb 815.754.4200

for Protecting Winter

Brain Break!

through a snowstorm. Change your wipers if they are leaving streaks or are unable to clear your windshield. Your headlights will also ensure you can see properly, while functioning brake lights signal your presence and actions to drivers around you. A service technician can easily check these and fix them if needed, but they are vital for safe driving in the winter. Know your vehicle and adjust.

Easy way out

Some vehicles handle the winter weather better than others, and you have to carefully drive your vehicle a few times to get a sense of how it pulls and slides. Take it to an empty parking lot this winter and test a few maneuvers. See how

it grips the road and test your brake speed. Adjust as needed but keep a few key tips in mind. These include making rolling stops when it’s safe to do so and increasing your following distance. No matter how well you prepare this winter season, accidents and breakdowns can happen. When they do, our technicians at Bockman’s Auto Care are ready to help. Call us today to protect your vehicle — and your family — this winter!

ReciBEE of the Month Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com

Fresh Air Fuel You e Getting Outside Easier 3. Take your work outside. If you’re working from home, take some work outdoors. Phone and virtual meetings are a great outdoor option, especially if you’ll just be an active listener and aren’t required to do any work simultaneously. Attach a note to your meeting reminders to get yourself set up outside five minutes before you start. 4. Create a schedule. It might feel strange to set reminders throughout the day to step outside, but you easily get wrapped up in activities and overlook breaks, and these reminders are exactly what you need. Start with 10-minute blocks three times a day. If you stick to them, soon you won’t need a schedule to get outside anymore. Winter weather may be cold, but even when you’re bundled up under a jacket and scarf, just 5–10 minutes outside can do wonders for your mood and energy for hours.

Ingredients

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1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut in large chunks 2 garlic cloves, sliced 14 oz chicken stock 1 sprig rosemary Finely grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

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8 chicken thighs or drumsticks, lightly salted

• • • •

• • • •

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp all-purpose flour 1 onion, finely sliced

2 celery sticks, thickly sliced

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2 carrots, thickly sliced 1 leek, thickly sliced

Directions

1. In a large frying pan, heat oil and fry salted chicken on high until brown. 2. Transfer chicken to the slow cooker. Add flour and stir. 3. In the frying pan on high heat, fry the onion, celery, carrots, leeks, and potatoes until lightly browned. Add garlic and fry for 30 seconds. 4. Transfer vegetables to the slow cooker and add the stock, rosemary, and lemon zest. 5. Cook on high for 2.5–3 hours or until chicken is tender. 6. Check seasoning and add lemon juice to taste. Top with parsley before serving.

Sycamore 815.756.7413 • DeKalb 815.754.4200

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Bockman’s Auto Care 2158 Oakland Dr. Sycamore, IL 60178 815.756.7413 Bockman’s Truck & Fleet 815.754.4200

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Bockmans.com

Happy Birthday to my wife, Liz, mother, Carole, and my son, Austin!

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Continuing a Legacy in the 21st Century

How College Bowl Games Determine National Champs 3 Vehicle Maintenance Tips for Winter

Give Yourself the Boost of Getting Outside Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

The 6 Big Perks of Our Customer Care Program

Customer Corner The Perks of Joining Our Customer Care Program

$100 within a 25-mile radius! (Prices increase for nationwide support.) Reminders: You may know that you should have your vehicle inspected every year for annual maintenance, but do you remember when you need to do it? Struggle no more! Our reminders ensure you don’t miss an oil change or regular maintenance. Referral Programs: You can also earn more rewards dollars whenever you give out our referral cards to your friends and family. How easy is that? So, what are you waiting for? If you haven’t signed up for our Customer Care Program, or if you haven’t used all the perks in our program, you can learn more at BockmansAutoCare. com/Customer-Care-Program or call our shop today! Thank you for your continued support.

It’s like we’re paying you to come see us and help others! Free Oil Changes: Getting a regular maintenance item for free? What a perk! Every 5th oil change on the house! Warranty Coverage: By being a NAPA AutoCare Center, we can cover the costs of parts and labor on any repairs for three years or 36,000 miles. Think about how much money you can save — or would otherwise spend — in three years! 24-Hour Roadside Assistance: We can tow your vehicle, bring you fuel, jump-start your car, fix your flats, and unlock your vehicle when you lock your keys inside it. Our hotline is running 24 hours each day, and as a member of our Customer Care Program, you can use this perk twice each year at a maximum of

We’ve been proud to serve this community for more than 55 years, but we could not have survived this long without loyal customers. To you for your commitment to us, we have

created our free Customer Care Program to offer big perks! If you’re not a member yet, you are missing out on what we

believe to be one of the best rewards programs in the region! Here’s why we think that: Rewards Dollars: For every purchase you make, you earn 3% of the total cost of your bill back. You can use those dollars to fund other repairs or maintenance right here at the shop, or you can ask us to donate the dollars to your charity of choice.

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Sycamore 815.756.7413 • DeKalb 815.754.4200