George Humphreys
Technician (Porsche / VW)
My fascination and appreciation for mechanical systems began at a young age. When I was about nine years old, a neighbor of mine was building a Volkswagen powered dune buggy in his garage. Nearly every night that summer, I watched the vehicle take shape and pestered my neighbor incessantly with questions in my quest to understand what made everything work. While I was in high school, I tinkered endlessly with my first car, a 1963 VW Bug, and began to build a fundamental knowledge of automotive systems. In 1978 while a student at U.C. Berkeley, I began my career in automotive repair by taking a job as an apprentice mechanic at a Porsche, Volkswagen and Audi repair shop in Berkeley, California.
What began as a part time job intended to pay my way through college, eventually blossomed into a full time career after my graduation in 1980. I had the privilege of being mentored by several exceptionally gifted and knowledgeable mechanics over the years, and was fortunate to have worked in some of the premier repair facilities in the San Francisco Bay area. By the early 1990's, I had become well versed in the repair of nearly every model of Porsche, Volkswagen and Audi ever made.
In 1991, I began to work almost exclusively on Porsches. I quickly developed a passion for the beauty and exquisite craftsmanship of these automobiles and diligently worked to raise my skills and knowledge to the high level required for their successful repair. During my 30 years in this career, simple automotive designs have morphed into highly sophisticated and complex systems, and mechanics have transitioned into "technicians" as these changes have occurred. While I have a deep appreciation for the amazing technology and performance of the new Porsches, I continue to love the simplicity, craftsmanship and character of the 356. When I moved to the Portland area in 2004, I chose Heckmann and Thiemann Motors because of their passionate commitment to quality repair and customer service, ideals that I have worked toward throughout my career.