Lynn Blair back where he started

Longtime mechanic Lynn Blair has opened Fast Lane Service Center on Sparta Street. It’s located at the same spot where his father once operated Hillcrest Amoco. (James Clark photo)

Lynn Blair’s first memories of the car service and repair business came when his father operated Hillcrest Amoco on Sparta Street beginning in the early 1960s. That lasted for 20 years.

Lynn has never been able to get the auto business out of his blood and now he’s back at the same location with a business of his own, Fast Lane Service Center.

‘This is what I’ve always done,” said Lynn. ‘And this is where my dad started a business.”

Lynn bought the property seven or eight years ago but he never used it for himself. It was always rental property. Now he’s decided to utilize the store that’s on one of the most heavily traveled roads in the county. But he said all that traffic hasn’t led to people noticing his business.

‘I have people come in almost every day and tell me they never knew I was here,” said Lynn. ‘I had an ambulance driver come in the other day who said he probably drives past here two or three times a day and he told me he’s never noticed it.”

It must be one of those businesses that blends in. It’s located between Whitey’s and the new Mexican restaurant and across the street from what used to be Smartt’s Grocery.

Lynn rents U-Hauls and he performs a variety of auto maintenance such as replacing brakes, belts, hoses and water pumps. He’ll change oil and transmission fluid and he has batteries for sale.

The phone number is 507-3200.