Hinkley Auto: Humming Along for 40 Years
Kevin L. Hinkley Auto Tech is celebrating its 40th anniversary, carrying on the legacy of Kevin's late father John. Longtime residents may remember John Hinkley's Chevron Station, located at the corner of Center Street and Heyer Avenue from 1968- 1995. It was there that Kevin got his first job in the auto business, working for his father as a 12-year-old in the 1970s.
"I've lived here all my life, and my whole crew is from Castro Valley," says Kevin. "I went to Stanton Elementary School, A.B. Morris Junior High, and Castro Valley High School."
Kevin Hinkley's current shop, where he's been since 1982, is located on Crow Canyon Road across from Greenridge Road. It started as a Chevron station, and when Chevron lost its lease Kevin bought the land and opened his auto repair shop there. Since 1990 he only does auto repair. The shop is always busy, a testament to Hinkley's devotion to high-quality work.
Kevin's daughter Kim Luty says, "My dad is an amazing person whose intelligence is matched by his caring nature for every customer he has, and every person he meets. He can fix anything, always could, and does it with good nature and a smile."
Kevin Hinkley has seen many changes during his career. Years ago, full-service stations provided more than just gasoline. Most pumped your gas, checked your oil and tire pressure, washed your windows, and more.
"When I started, service stations were also repair shops. There were eight Chevron stations in Castro Valley during the 1980s. They went the way of the small grocery stores—now there are fewer, more centrally located. And service stations have turned into mini-marts," he says.
Kevin Hinkley Auto Tech now provides complete automotive repair service for cars and trucks, including hybrid, foreign and domestic. All members of his staff are highly qualified mechanics. They are ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified, members of the Automotive Technical Associates (ATA), and regularly attend automotive classes at the CarQuest Training Institute (CTI).
As a member of the Automotive Board for the Chabot College Advisory Council, Kevin also helps develop the student automotive program there, sharing his expertise with the next generation of mechanics. He is affectionately known by his customers as their "Car Doctor."
The Hinkley team has always been family, plus employees who are "just like family." Shop manager Ron Bridges has worked alongside Kevin for 40 years. Kevin's mom Elsie faithfully did the books for John and Kevin's shops for over 50 years. Kevin's older son Leighton worked for the family before going on to a scientific career. Kevin's daughter, Karen Jaumoville, is a 4th-grade teacher but works for the shop during her time off. The other talented mechanics are Kevin's youngest son Chris Hinkley, Frank Kurowski, and Kevin Ortiz. All have worked at the shop for many years.
"Our number one goal is making customers happy," says Kevin's son Chris.
Kevin L. Hinkley Auto Tech is located at 5269 Crow Canyon Rd. Hours are 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.