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From learning to do oil changes in his dad's yard to working on Humvees in Iraq, Beamish has always been infatuated with automobiles.

By Alexis Blue, University Communications
July 15, 2009

Name
Patrick Beamish

Position
Vehicle technician, Facilities Management

Number of years at the UA
5 1/2

Favorite part about working at the UA
"The people I work with, the co-workers. And the benefits and all the perks (are nice), having a family (with two kids)."

_______________________________________________________________________

Cars run in Patrick Beamish's blood. The grandson of an automobile designer, he was being taught by his father how how to do an oil change at an age when most kids are still trying to learn how to tie their shoes.

For the past 5 1/2 years, Beamish has worked as a vehicle technician in the Facilities Management garage, located off campus at 1597 E. 16th St.

There, Beamish and his co-workers provide safety inspections, routine service and repairs for around 1,200 University-owned vehicles, from electric golf carts to passenger vans.

Beamish recently came out from under the hood to talk with Lo Que Pasa about how he helps keep campus cars cruising.

How did you become interested in mechanics?
I was in the Marine Corps for 4 1/2 years as a diesel technician and went to school for that. Once I got out I kind of (decided to) stick with what I know. ... I served combat time in Iraq – Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Served six months over there as a diesel technician and security driver. (I worked on) Humvees and 7-tons, big trucks. Talk about pressure, working on vehicles in a combat zone. I think being in the Marine Corps really molded my leadership skills and the way I can adapt to situations.

Have you always enjoyed working on cars?
Yes. I've always been infatuated with cars. It comes down through the family. My grandfather was a head designer for Ford and for Chrysler.

How old were you when you worked on your first car?
Probably I'd say 6, 7, with my dad out in the yard. Just oil changes and stuff like that.

What vehicles do you work on here at the garage?
Every U of A vehicle. ...  Mainly domestics – Chevys, Fords, Chryslers. We also deal with golf carts, trailers, off-road equipment.

What are some of the most common car troubles you deal with?
Just normal wear and tear really. Every 12 months we do safety inspections – oil change is included with that, and emissions. We actually do our own emissions, and it's University mandated (that vehicles are) to be annually safety inspected.

How old are most of the UA vehicles you service?
It's a wide range. I'd say mostly mid-‘90s to recent is probably the average.

What are the toughest ones to work on?
Probably the hybrids. Many different departments have them. The University has to keep up a quota, a certain amount of alternative fuel vehicles. We use a lot of golf carts that are electric. We use a lot of (Toyota) Priuses and a couple of departments have Ford Escape hybrids.

Have you had to learn new skills since the hybrids have gotten more popular?
Yes, we're provided with school and we try to stay up with the latest and greatest vehicles that are coming out. Our distributors, like our parts suppliers, put on classes. ... You get the gist of it once you go to class, but on-the-job training is where you learn the most.

What's your favorite kind of work to do on cars?
Probably heavy line engine work. Just basically getting into the nitty gritty, actually getting into the engine.

Least favorite?
Oil changes. It's boring; it's repetitive.

How many vehicles do you work on every day?
It's constantly in and out. Any time school's in session is when it really picks up. ... Usually we try to schedule at least three vehicles a day. And then we always get the people who just come in and say, "I need this, I need that." Police and scheduled vehicles are always priority.

How long do repairs take on average?
It depends on the repairs, but usually we try to get it within the same day. If not, the following day.

What's the biggest challenge in your job?
I would have to say the workload, considering we only have four technicians and we're in charge of 1,200 vehicles.

Do you work on cars on your own time too?
I try to, if family needs help. 

What's your favorite vehicle to work on?
It would probably be my motorcycle. I've got an old Harley-Davidson. It's still being worked on. It was a stock 1975 Harley, and I basically just stripped it down. That's my project going on right now.

What recommendations do you have for campus departments when it comes to keeping their University cars in good condition?
Even though it's not their vehicle, just treat it as if it is their own personal vehicle.

Do you know someone who has an interesting job at the UA? Send his or her name and contact information to lqp@email.arizona.edu for consideration for a future Employee Q&A.