Meet Bobby Clark of Clark Automotive Specialty in Kennedale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Clark.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My Story would begin when I was 12 years old. My mother had just passed away, and my father was an abusive alcoholic. My Brother, Ricky, ultimately took me in and raised me until I joined the military at the age of 18. Before joining the military, I began to really take an interest in the automotive world. I got my first truck at the age of 16, and had to borrow money in order to buy it. Of course, the truck had several issues, and since we were poor, I had to fix the problems on my own. I knew nothing about cars, and how the operate, nor did I have any clue as to what I was needing to repair. I used that truck to teach myself what needed to be done when things broke. I eventually got rid of that truck, and bought my first “Sports Car”. It was a 1998 Honda Prelude, with an H22A4 Engine. That car had even more problems that my first truck did. I did endless amounts of research on this particular car. I thought to myself, I taught myself how to play a guitar because I couldn’t afford lessons, I should be able to teach myself how to work on my own cars. Joining the military, I joined as a 63B, which was a wheeled vehicle mechanic. I hungered for as much knowledge and experience that I could get my hands on. They joked in the Army, and said mechanics are nothing but bullet sponges. It didn’t scare me, because I simply wanted all the information I could get my hands on. After leaving the military, I worked in the oil and gas industry in East Texas. We would work on anything from a 16-cylinder cat engine, to a 6-cylinder cat engine. Again, my brain hungered for as much information on these as I could get. I wanted to touch and feel every part, and see where on this big metal shell, did this part belong. In 2007, the oil and gas industry collapsed, and I was out of a job. My wife and I had planned to come visit some of her family members here in the DFW area, and pick up a guitar that I had ordered. I didn’t want to tell her that I was out of a job. That would mean I wouldn’t get my guitar that I had worked so hard for. While I was here, my brother-in-law mentioned working at Just Brakes. He explained how it all worked, and it intrigued me. Again, I found myself with the hunger to know everything there is to know about the cars that would come to the shop. After years of doing this, I have tried several times to get away from this business, mainly because of the stigma that plagues this industry. I worked for several other shops throughout the years, and even worked on the parts side of the business for a couple of years, as well. One day, I was working for a shop in Mansfield, and I was complaining, to my brother that raised me, about how many hours are worked within the week, and that left no time for family activities, and how I wish that there was a company out there that cared for the people that made the business successful, and how I wish there wasn’t this stigma about doing the wrong things and taking advantage of people. He stopped me instantly, and told me outright, you can shut up about it and deal with it, or nut up and be that change. He told me that nobody is going to do anything different, that if I want to see the change, then I have to be the change. After dealing with the dishonesty of the last shop I worked for, I decided that I had to do something. If not for me and my family, but the people. The people who are tired of over paying, and the people who are tired of being taken advantage of. Simply put, people deserve better from this industry, and I will do everything in my power to see to that, even if it means that I suffer some in the process….

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest struggles that I have faced so far: A technician, that was ultimately supposed to be a business partner, was stealing. He was purchasing parts on my charge accounts, for personal use. He also tried to sell a customer a part and not install the part. The day I found all this out was the last day I saw that man. I refunded the customer because it was the right thing to do. The other struggle I find along the way, is the taxes that the state forces on you. I have found that the state of Texas, is not on the side of small business….at all.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are Veteran owned and operated. We do all automotive repairs ranging from a small oil change all the way to pulling and replacing an engine or transmission. We set ourselves apart by being honest and fair. We are small but flexible, and I am most proud that I am here to make a difference in people’s lives. Having to repair a car is never fun, and it can really burden a family. That is why we say “Protecting your most reliable family member”.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up was hard. My brother worked two jobs to support his wife and two kids, plus me. I always found interest in playing guitar and taking things apart. I spent a lot of my time with friends, and when I wasn’t with my friends, I would be alone. I was a very shy person, and found joy in finally being alone. It was a time for me to think outside the box without interruptions. At some point throughout my teenage years, I finally found my gift. I was really good at connecting with people. I found that I could talk with anyone, no matter the age, race, religion, sexual preference, nothing. I just had this way of being able to talk to anyone. After a while I decided to take it a step further. I wanted to know if after talking with someone for a bit, would they start to tell me about their personal experiences, and it worked! I began to listen to everyone that I could, and especially business minded people. I wanted to know every little nook and cranny, every in and out that I could find. I would take their experiences, and utilize those to my benefit.

Contact Info:

• Address: 203 E. Kennedale Pkwy.
  Kennedale, TX 76060
• Website: www.kennedaleautorepair.com
• Phone: 817-969-5336
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarkautospec/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClarkAutomotiveSpecialty/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClarkAutoSpec
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/clark-automotive-specialty-kennedale-2
• Other: https://foursquare.com/v/clark-automotive-specialty-llc/58aff78e34935540dc3e97cf/home

Image Credit:
Jessica Clark
Chris Schellhorn
Bobby Clark

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