For those who still mourn the departure of “Car Talk” on National Public Radio and its beloved hosts, the”Click and Clack” brothers (Tom and Ray Magliozzi), Spy readers might find it comforting to know that perhaps one of their long lost brothers can be found in St. Michaels at Bay Hundred Automotive.
While it’s not a total match, Mike Kealy, the owner of the repair shop, comes pretty darn close despite being younger and possessing a Long Island accent rather than a Boston one.
And like the Magliozzi brothers, Mike entered into the world of car repair with a college degree in engineering. In fact, Mike was drawn into the auto mechanics world in the early 1980s when manufacturing just started to use such things as fuel injection and other technologies that made it enjoyable for him. He also shares with the ‘Click and Clack’ boys an uncanny curiosity about cars, motors, and the incredibly sophisticated software that is now baked in our cars these days.
With family members moving to the Eastern Shore over the past few decades, Mike eventually decided to leave Long Island for St. Michaels without knowing a soul in town, but with a potent combination of entrepreneurship and a passion for working in a small town. With the help of such people like Buck Duncan, the president of the St. Michaels Bank at the time, and the devotion of a growing number of satisfied customers, Kealy was not only able to grow his business, including a new venture with his brother serving boats, but also built commercial rental properties alongside his shop on St. Michaels Road.
The Spy sat down with Mike to talk about the challenges that come with being a small repair shop in a world of well-financed car dealerships, including the need to have full access to critical software from car manufacturers. He also makes a compelling case to service your vehicle locally, regardless of age, as he unveils the hidden truth about car parts and dealer service departments.
This video is approximately four minutes in length. For more information about Bay Hundred Automotive please go here.
George Merrill says
great guys to work with. Kudos for Mike and team