Every month, Counterman’s “Guess the Car” contest challenges our readers to solve an automotive riddle, for a chance to win $100. And each month, we receive hundreds of responses from aftermarket professionals trying to guess the model of the vehicle depicted.
The correct answer for the August contest is the Volkswagen Golf. The winner for August is Amanda Timbs, parts manager at AutoZone in Norwalk, Ohio.
Now, let’s get to know the August “Guess the Car” champion.
CM: How long have you been working in the auto parts business?
AT: I’ve been here at AutoZone for a year and a half.
CM: What do you like most about your job?
AT: The people. I’m a people person, so the people I work with, the people that come in. We have a lot of fun here.
CM: Is your background in the automotive industry?
AT: It isn’t, but both of my grandfathers worked for GM. My dad was a transmission mechanic, so I’ve been around cars my whole life. I think I was under the car changing oil with my dad at 5 or 6.
My dad always made sure I knew how to change tires and change my own oil. That was a lot of fun.
CM: What’s the strangest question a customer has asked you?
AT: An older gentleman came in and asked me for a cylinder plunger. What he really meant was a caliper. I worked with him on where it was on the vehicle, what it did on the vehicle, and I said, “Oh, you need a caliper.” And he was like, “Yeah, whatever you young kids call it these days.” I don’t ever remember it being called a cylinder plunger.
It was hilarious. It took us all a little bit to figure it out, but we figured it out.
CM: What’s the coolest car you’ve ever owned or worked on?
AT: I haven’t owned one yet, but I will own a ‘69 Nova SS at some point in my life. My dad had one before I was born, and when my mom got pregnant, my mom told him that he had to sell it because she wanted a station wagon. So he did, but he kept all these pictures of it. Growing up I always saw this car, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, I want one.”
CM: Do you have any interesting hobbies? What do you do for fun?
AT: I have six kids, so there’s my hobby. We are at Boy Scouts or gymnastics, running around, football – somebody’s always in something.
CM: What’s your dream car?
AT: A ‘69 Nova SS.
