How a Tow Truck is Born

Miller Industries, Inc. is the nation’s largest manufacturer of tow trucks and towing equipment. This month, some of us from Airport Towing had the opportunity to tour the factory 2,600 miles away from our Seattle area office in Ooltewah, Tennessee. The Miller facility is just outside the city of Chattanooga, where the first tow truck was invented in 1916 by Ernest Holmes. Today, Holmes is a division of Miller Industries. Miller also produces Century, Vulcan, Chevron, Challenger, Champion, Eagle, SP Series, Boniface, and Jige towing and recovery units.

Inside the Tennessee plant, tow trucks emerge from pieces of raw metal right before our eyes. Millers’ 100,000 square foot warehouse is their primary manufacturing facility where thousands of tow trucks are manufactured each year. Our personal factory tour led us through the plant to follow the production of units from initial parts order to final completion. Employees we encountered during the tour were informative and helpful, teaching us the true meaning of “southern hospitality”.

We began at the first step in the process of building a tow truck, where the appropriate sizes and amounts of raw steel are acquired and stocked. When a tow unit is ordered, Miller employees round up all the necessary materials from their stock within the warehouse to build the sub-frame and transfer the parts to a welding station within the facility. Nearly all of the steel acquired by Miller is American made and forged locally. After the necessary materials are assembled, a skilled welder begins joining the metal to create the structural support of the tow unit. Miller boasts that their low turnover of skilled workers has been a key ingredient in yielding a high quality man-made product for several years.

Once unit is structurally sound, the functional parts are attached. Following the final welding process, the conjoined pieces are bead blasted. Bead blasting is necessary because the welding process can leave rough edges and small debris. The process of bead blasting is defined as removing surface deposits by applying fine glass beads at a low pressure without damaging the surface. Workers move parts requiring blasting into a large enclosed chamber, and seal the doors so they can unleash thousands of tiny reusable beads to blast the fabricated unit.

When all welding and fabrication is complete for a single unit, the unassembled parts go into the painting process.

Miller has the capability of painting tow truck parts on site. Applying primer and paint before the unit is assembled is essential to eliminate duplication of effort and is important for a high quality paint job.

The last step in building a tow truck is final assembly. Anyone purchasing a wrecker body from Miller has the option of ordering the complete tow unit and installing it themselves, or ordering a factory install. The factory has a team of people who are dedicated wrecker body installers and are only required to mount the tow unit to the chassis. Of course, one catch is that anyone who orders a factory install is required to send the truck’s cab and chassis to Miller so that it can be married to the tow unit. Most tow truck operators have unique requirements for their trucks and require specific options and accessories. The installers are responsible for all aspects of the install, including mounting the wrecker body, connecting all wiring and hydraulics, and attaching additional parts and accessories, such as dollies, chains, cables, etc.

Many units that Miller produces are built from the ground up inside their Chattanooga factory. In some ways, Miller Industries operates like a classic American factory. The company primarily uses skilled craftsman to produce tow units. Few robotics can be found inside the factory, which are greatly outnumbered by human hands. As a result, Miller employs about 2200 workers, 300 of which are manufacturing tow trucks at their primary facility in Chattanooga. As advertised, Miller Industries is the largest manufacturer of towing and recovery equipment in the world. The company is an impressive consolidation of the greatest names in the towing industry, now working together to produce the most technologically advanced towing equipment available. Miller’s efforts in innovation, quality craftsmanship, and American made products are why we at Airport Towing have been loyal customers since 1988. Our company continues to seek the best products available so that we can better serve our customers and this month we were happy to learn how our equipment is built and what type of care and attention it gets before we put our name on it.

Car Auction 1/8/2010

Abandoned Vehicle Auction #399
Auction: JANUARY 8, 2010 11:00AM
Previews: JANUARY 8, 2010 8:00AM-11:00AM
301 S. Sullivan St, Seattle WA 98108
#	Year/Model	License/ID	Code	Description
1	99 CADILLAC SLS	441VQZ	KCS-DWLS	DENTS
2	77 CHEVROLET PICKUP	B74441G	PLI-AB	RUST, DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
3	79 CHEVROLET BLAZER	895YWS	KCS-DWLS	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
4	83 NISSAN PICKUP	B76815D	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
5	98 CHEVROLET CAMARO	2G1FP22K3W2123758	PLI-AB	FT END DAMAGE
6	85 FORD BRONCO II	446PFV	PLI-UNAUTH	CLEAN
7	97 CHEVROLET ASTRO	884UKQ	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
8	86 NISSAN 300ZX	921LSS	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
9	99 TOYOTA COROLLA	474WJS	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
10	87 FORD RANGER	B00029K	PLI-UNAUTH	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
11	93 FORD EXPLORER	136NXG	KCS-ARREST	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
12	99 DODGE DURANGO	291VIA	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
13	92 FORD EXPLORER	975ZFE	POS-UNAUTH	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
14	92 DODGE CARAVAN	968PVN	WSP-ACC	REAR DAMAGE
15	95 FORD EXPLORER	648SRH	KCS-DWLS	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
16	98 CHEVROLET PICKUP	A32006Z	KCS-30 DAY	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
17	92 FORD EXPLORER	505RXS	PLI-AB	GLASS, DRIVER SIDE DAMAGE
18	72 DODGE PU	B76194B	KCS-AB	TIRE, RUST, DINGS
19	76 CHEVROLET SP-VAN	504YTJ	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
20	95 DODGE RAM	B22938H	WSP-ACC	FT END DAMAGE
21	94 DODGE DAKOTA	A40079U	WSP-AB	TIRE, DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
22	92 HONDA ACCORD	271WJU	KCS-AB	MISSING PARTS
23	92 BUICK LESABRE	562RGH	WSP-ACC	REAR DAMAGE
24	91 CHEVROLET CAPRICE	821YKJ	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
25	00 FORD FOCUS	392SVE	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
26	92 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE	450VQF	KCS-AB	FT END DAMAGE
27	95 BUICK CENTURY	999WZY	WSP-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
28	94 FORD CROWN VICTORIA	418YZN	KCS-AB	TIRE, DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
29	84 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY	274RJQ	KCS-AB	GLASS, DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
30	91 CHEVROLET BERETTA	678TOM	KCS-DWLS	GLASS, TIRE
31	89 VOLVO 245DL	059XAM	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
32	02 DODGE NEON	758SKX	WSP-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
33	90 HONDA ACCORD	462YNX	KCS-ACC	FT END DAMAGE
34	94 VOLVO 940	895RGH	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
35	95 DODGE INTREPID	1B3HD46T1SF551670	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
36	87 CHEVROLET CAPRICE	657YTW	WSP-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
37	88 TOYOTA CAMRY	346ZHP	KCS-AB	FT END DAMAGE
38	91 CHEVROLET CAPRICE	314KRX	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
39	94 HONDA CIVIC	824TLJ	WSP-ACC	FT END DAMAGE
40	03 MITSUBISHI GALANT	182WFX (AZ)	PLI-AB	TIRES
41	85 CADILLAC SEVILLE	42135DP	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
42	88 VOLVO 740	445XXS	PLI-AB	TIRE, GLASS, DINGS
43	01 HONDA CIVIC	317XMJ	WSP-ACC	FT & REAR DAMAGE
44	91 SAAB 900	630SCI	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
45	96 PLYMOUTH NEON	058XJZ	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
46	96 CADILLAC SEVILLE	103TMU	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
47	92 HONDA PRELUDE	528NQL	PLI-AB	FT END DAMAGE
48	83 FORD FAIRMONT	423XGD	KCS-DWLS	BRING A TUG BOAT
49	88 HONDA CIVIC	137YZA	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
50	91 ACURA INTEGRA	801PPT	WSP-STOLEN	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
51	91 LEXUS ES	409WGY	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
52	88 PROWLER LYNX	1099UO	PLI-UNAUTH	OK
53	79 CHEVROLET C60 BOX TRK	B31254L	KCS-ACC	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES

Auction list subject to change. For more information including directions and rules, visit our auction page.

1966 Ford Nearly Restored

“B-Unit” #83 is a tribute to Brian Storer. The lean, mean, Ford racing machine is being restored for one reason: It was Brian Storer’s dream to revive this this truck and make it his own.

Mark Storer, CEO and founder of Airport Towing started collecting antique tow trucks in 1997. Since then he has built up a collection of 13 classic trucks. One of them is a 1966 Ford F-350.

Shortly after purchasing the truck, Mark’s youngest son and employee Brian (driver #83) made known his interest in the truck. He immediately saw the potential, and he loved that the truck would rumble and roar when he stepped on the gas pedal. The truck had custom chrome exhaust stacks (though they were heavily rusted and in desperate need of replacement).

Its frame supported a Holmes 460 wrecker: One of the most celebrated tow units of it’s time; popular for it’s twin boom feature that would allow one side of the truck to anchor to a stable object and the other side to swing out and recover a vehicle. Even today, Holmes is known for producing some of the most unique towing equipment on the planet.

The company’s founder, Ernest Holmes, is famous for his most popular invention: The world’s first tow truck! Holmes originally mounted a chain and pulley to the frame of a 1913 Cadillac and went to work as the first ever tow truck operator in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Nearly 100 years later, Brian Storer found himself inspired by a beat up old Holmes unit. He loved everything about the truck and vowed to restore it. He even collected a few parts along the way. The find he was most proud of was a red bench seat in near perfect condition, brought in to replace the previous upholstery which was torn and tattered. A couple of years went by as the truck sat in Mark’s warehouse awaiting restoration and eventually, the unthinkable happened. Mark and Brian died in a sudden plane crash. One of Brian’s dreams would never come true. He would not get the opportunity to tear the Ford truck to the ground and build it back up again in all the glory of it’s hay-day.

The Storer family has spent the past year-and-a-half recovering from the tremendous loss in their family. As the days continue to go by, family members have come up with ways to pay homage to their loved one’s who have moved on into eternity. The greatest of which was most likely an idea that was produced by Lynette Storer, Brian’s mother and Mark’s wife. Lynette is now the President/CEO of Airport Towing and has been helping run the day-to-day operations of the company for nearly 22 years.

As you may have guessed, her vision was to restore the 66 Ford, exactly as Brian would have wanted it done. Even though it has proven to be an expensive and time consuming project, Lynette has pressed forward with the restoration. Despite a depressed economy, the love she has for her son is far beyond any monetary value. With the help of Lynette’s staff, she is determined to complete this project.

With the help of several employees and antique specialist Rocky Willis, the project has moved forward with great success. The truck was stripped down and sandblasted earlier this year.

Shortly after, individual pieces of the truck were sent to Huddleson’s Auto Color World to be painted red and white. Finally, the cab and chassis were sprayed and returned to be refitted with the original parts. Fresh paint on the old truck in traditional Airport Towing red and white have made it look better than ever. Meanwhile, custom chrome exhaust stacks were special ordered and the motor was removed for steam-cleaning and repainting.

The paint is now dry and piece by piece, the truck is being meticulously reassembled. Nearly every part on the truck needs to be reinstalled; from the hood to the fenders, the bumper, wheels and rims, doors, windshield, seat, motor, exhaust stacks, lugs, lights, mirrors, and much more. One challenge that complicates the project more than the average pickup restoration is the assembly of the Holmes tow unit on the back end. The unit requires technical expertise because it operates off of a power take off system that utilizes the transmission to engage and enable the boom and winch cables to operate. The old gear driven technology has been replaced with hydraulics in more modern equipment. The wrecker must be assembled accurately to maintain structural integrity if it is ever to be used as a working tow truck. To date, each piece has been sanded, painted, and some are awaiting reassembly. Some of the electrical wiring throughout the truck is still being completed.

The headers have been chrome dipped, enhancing the popular “Powered by Ford” slogan stamped into the metal. Afterward, the freshly painted motor was placed back into the truck.

The motor was repainted factory Ford blue and the tips of the fan have been painted red. The cab was also remounted onto the frame.

Much of the detail work is now being finished. The truck has been refitted with its hood, grille, bumper, beacon, marker lights, headlights, and windshield. After several months of work, it is starting to look like a truck again.

Most recently, the Holmes tow unit was reinstalled and there are now wheels under the frame.

Although the project may look as though it is near completion, there is still a great amount of work to be done. The truck is still awaiting doors and several other interior parts along with wiring and other detail work. Custom lettering and final striping will be added after the truck has reacquired all of it’s necessary mechanical parts. Completion of the 1966 Ford F-350 tow truck is most likely Spring of 2010. Work being done on the truck is ongoing though it is not being rushed so mistakes can be minimized. Once the 66 Ford is completed, it will be one of the most popular and definitely the most powerful tow truck in the Storer Antique Tow Truck Collection and no one will be happier to see its final completion than Lynette.

2010 Calendars Are Here!

Back for a 5th straight year, the popular tow truck themed calendar has returned for 2010. Several new photos have been added to give the publication a new feel for the new year.

New features that have helped the 2010 product improve from last year include a 13th month layout and small reference calendars indicating days of the week for previous and upcoming months. The newly designed publication also features a new color scheme, additional holidays, and custom fonts to make it one-of-a-kind.

The greatest accomplishment for this year’s calendar is most likely the introduction of several new photos from around the Pacific Northwest. Ron Storer traveled around greater Seattle with Airport Towing to photograph the antique trucks in some of the most beautiful settings around. Featured neighborhoods include Fremont, Wallingford, Seattle waterfront, Belltown, Burien, Sodo, Seatac, Aurora, Boeing Field, Des Moines, and Mt. Rainier National Park. The scenes themselves are magnificently rich in character, ranging from Dick’s Drive-In to Safeco Field and The Fremont Bridge to The Old Spaghetti Factory.

The Airport Towing calendar is as much about character as it is about content. One new photo shows the 3 youngest members of the Airport Towing family playing in antique pedal cars at a local park in Burien. Two of the toy vehicles are tow trucks, one is a vintage aircraft; hence the new addition to Airport Towing’s calendar. “Airport” being one part of the photo and “Towing” obviously portrayed by the small tow truck peddlers.

Having so many rare and beautiful tow trucks displayed in the calendar was only made possible by the actions of Mark Storer, the founder and deceased CEO of Airport Towing. It was his ambition to build a reputable towing company from the ground up, and his passion for everything towing related (especially antiques) that gave him the drive to complete the restoration of a 1925 Ford Model TT tow truck. The completion of this masterpiece, with the help of mechanic Rocky Willis and his crew led to the addition of 12 other classic trucks, countless parts and accessories, and other memorabilia relating to the history of the towing industry. As a direct result of his efforts, we are able to enjoy one of the finest antique tow truck collections every year.

After Mark and his son Brian died last July, a memorial calendar was printed in their honor. It featured short stories and several memories of the two tow truck men. This year, Mark’s collection of classics and antiques are on front stage, but the father and son are both pictured somewhere in the calendar.

Mark can be seen driving with the top down across the Fremont Bridge in his 1928 Ford Model A Roadster and Brian is shown dressed up as Santa Claus in front of a 1935 Chevrolet. Mark always admitted the annual calendar had become one of his favorite new things each year. At Airport Towing, we plan to keep the tradition alive forever. Work has already begun on a new calendar for 2011.

For more information on the 2010 calendar, please visit our Calendar Page, listed in the Museum section of our site. Calendars can be requested directly through the main office at Airport Towing by calling 1-866-227-7770 or online.

Giving Thanks For What We Have

This month I traveled to India and had a glimpse of other tow truck operators performing the same services we provide on the other side of the world. The differences were clear; their equipment is beaten and battered. The technology is old British equipment. The streets are broken and partially washed out due to insufficient maintenance and extreme weather conditions. The life of a tow truck operator in India is significantly different from the U.S.

The average working wage in India is less than $3 per day (U.S dollars). A driver in the United States will likely make up to 40 times more than a tow truck operator in India. While it is true that some of the operating expenses in India are lower as a result of a lower cost of living, Indians pay almost double the U.S. price for fuel. Currently, their average price for gasoline is $4.63 per gallon.

Thanks to the extremely high price of gas combined with low wages of available jobs, many Indians can not afford to drive vehicles powered by fossil fuels. Most local deliveries of goods and merchandise are still performed by animals. Horses, donkeys, oxen, and elephants are routinely driven down the city streets, sharing the road with cars and trucks. When one of these carts breaks down it is assuredly not a tow truck that will show up to rescue the disabled vehicle.

Although, that does not mean there is a shortage of business for tow trucks. India is a hot country with mountainous terrain and heavy rainfall. That combination is cause for vehicles to be overworked and overheated, in addition to the dangerous driving conditions that can lead to accidents. The need for towing services in these conditions is inevitable.

Indian drivers are unlike any other in the world. To an American, their traffic system appears to be complete chaos. It is a free-for-all. Drivers share the road without regard for lanes, turn signals, traffic lights, or even oncoming traffic. There is virtually no existing traffic enforcement in most parts of the country. Their most used safety feature is their horn. TIME Magazine calls it “India’s Great Wall of Sound”. Whenever a vehicle approaches an intersection, passes a truck, intends to move, merge, accelerate, brake, or just warn someone they lay on their horn. One noticeable advantage of their traffic system is that they are able to move quickly from one point to another very quickly in heavy traffic. The down side is that it is dangerous. Near misses in city traffic are are common, most vehicles coming within inches of each other at every intersection.

Of even greater concern are the poorly secured loads. These types of trucks are the primary means of logistics for goods around the country. The cargo trucks are loaded beyond their maximum capacity and marched down the highway to reach their destination as quickly as possible. Often the load protrudes the cargo area and is loaded unevenly, causing the vehicle to lean to one side. This Tata truck has obviously been overloaded on the drivers side, which would be a guaranteed traffic ticket in the U.S. and could end in disaster.

Those that can not afford to hire a delivery truck will transport their goods by any means available. Since traffic enforcement is not an issue, delivery drivers are free to pack as many goods into their vehicle as they can fit, without any method of securing the load. They also run the risk of operating a slow moving vehicle on a busy highway or in crowded city streets, which does not appear to bother them.

Because of the expense, many vehicle are not well maintained and can cause problems in traffic. Breakdowns are common, and many vehicles are pushed off highways by hand and are repaired while blocking a lane or on the shoulder. Road conditions are no help to the drivers. Many roads are made of dirt and most paved roads are riddled with potholes and cracking. It does not take long for the trucks to start to look like the roads. Trucks can only take a certain amount of abuse before their parts start to fail.

The same is true for tow trucks. A well maintained tow truck is less likely to fail during a critical situation. At Airport Towing, we pride ourselves on our well maintained equipment and do everything possible to prevent any type of mechanical failure on an incident scene. Unfortunately, there are those who will keep pulling with their unit until something finally gives way and breaks. Though some of these operators exist in the U.S., there are many more who are working with substandard equipment in third world countries across the globe.

In any industry, it is easily noticeable when a company takes care of their equipment. A company that displays good public image is easy to see, yet rarely praised for their efforts. One of the benefits of displaying professionalism is the positive image that reflects on the industry as a whole. Operating a clean and professional towing operation in India must be one of the greatest challenges of any profession in the country. Few are up to the task. For those that put forth the effort, we would like to express our gratitude. Indian tow truck operators have to work in dirty conditions and 100+ degree heat almost year round. We are thankful for their efforts and grateful that we have been blessed with a great opportunity to operate a successful towing company in the United States of America. During this season of Thanksgiving, we have a lot to be thankful for.

Car Auction 10/9/2009

Abandoned Vehicle Auction #396
Auction: OCTOBER 9, 2009 11:00AM
Previews: OCTOBER 9, 2009 8:00AM-11:00AM
301 S. Sullivan St, Seattle WA 98108
#	Year/Model	License/ID	Code	Description
1	94 FORD EXPLORER	A31853U	PLI-AB	GLASS BROKEN
2	82 CADILLAC DEVILLE	132TEQ	PLI-AB	MISSING PARTS
3	87 FORD ECONOLINE	A34495L	KCS-ARREST	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
4	78 VW RABBIT	646EJN	PLI-AB	RUST, DENTS
5	91 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS	645YTW	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES, RUST
6	88 DODGE RAM	254NCL	PLI-UNAUTH	FT END DAMAGE, DENTS
7	94 CHEVROLET LUMINA	029RXH	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
8	93 FORD RANGER	B34368A	POS-DUI	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
9	93 JEEP CHEROKEE	863PLT	PLI-AB	GLASS, DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
10	91 GMC SONOMA	A33667N	PLI-AB	FT END DAMAGE, DENTS
11	92 CHEVROLET LUMINA	106PTL	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
12	95 DODGE NEON	793UEY	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
13	84 TOYOTA COROLLA	745WGK	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
14	87 FORD F250	A55595Y	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
15	86 CHEVROLET C-20	B45089E	WSP-AB	RUST, DENTS
16	92 ISUZU TROOPER	207RVG	KCS-DWLS	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
17	97 FORD EXPLORER	283XSM	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
18	93 FORD EXPLORER	535TJQ	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
19	93 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY	375WJS	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
20	89 ISUZU TROOPER	851PGJ	KCS-AB	AWESOME
21	02 MITSUBISHI MONTERO	300YSY	WSP-ACC	FT END DAMAGE
22	94 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN	780PJX	WSP-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
23	86 CHEVROLET SILVERADO	1AUV086 (ID)	KCS-AB	PASS SIDE DAMAGE
24	88 HONDA CIVIC	201PJU	KCS-AB	MISSING PARTS
25	84 NISSAN SENTRA	417YTC	KCS-HIT&RUN	PASS SIDE DAMAGE
26	91 HONDA ACCORD	623STA	WSP-ACC	FT END DAMAGE
27	88 TOYOTA COROLLA	693NIA	KCS-AB	FL TIRE, DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
28	95 HONDA ACCORD	191SCR	WSP-ACC	FT END DAMAGE
29	90 ACURA INTEGRA	093PGT	KCS-ACC	REAR DAMAGE
30	98PONTIACGRAND PRIX	RLX422 (MN)	KCS-HIT&RUN	MAJ. PASS SIDE DAMAGE
31	96 LINCOLN TOWN CAR	969TGR	KCS-ACC	FT END DAMAGE
32	92 HONDA CIVIC	564XEI	KCS-DWLS	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
33	86 MERCURY COUGAR	806MPH	KCS-DWLS	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
34	00 SATURN SL2	305YNW	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
35	93 BUICK REGAL	013TNL	WSP-ACC	FIRE
36	90 GEO STORM	272RQM	PLI-UNAUTH	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
37	88 ACURA LEGEND	967MHQ	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
38	85 OLDSMOBILE DELTA	723PSO	KCS-CARFIRE	FIRE
39	92 OLDSMOBILE ACHEIVA	256XFW	KCS-AB	PASS SIDE DAMAGE
40	90 DODGE DYNASTY	165YEQ	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
41	96 MERCURY SABLE	343XOS	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
42	99 PONTIAC GRAND AM	270VHI	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
43	90 TOYOTA CAMRY	436XGA	PLI-AB	GLASS, DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
44	00 FORD CROWN VICTORIA	203VEL	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
45	98 SATURN SL1	1G8ZG5288WZ115849	KCS-HIT&RUN	FT END DAMAGE, DENTS
46	98 HYUNDAI SONATA	KMHCF24F4WA084134	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
47	98 FORD ESCORT	473VHK	KCS-DWLS	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
48	98 NISSAN SENTRA	755YNN	PLI-UNAUTH	REAR END DAMAGE
49	95 SATURN SL	852UYG	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
50	98 MITSUBISHI GALANT	140WAV	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
51	87 TOYOTA COROLLA	506RVK	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
52	96 DODGE NEON	327UTG	KCS-DWLS	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
53	86 TOYOTA CAMRY	556WML	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
54	00 FORD FOCUS	276WNL	PLI-AB	FT END DAMAGE, DENTS
55	95 VW JETTA	448VIA	KCS-HIT&RUN	DR SIDE DAMAGE
56	86 HONDA PRELUDE	315VQD	KCS-AB	NO WHEELS, BROKEN GLASS
57	94 FORD EXPLORER	979SSV	WSP-ACC	REAR DAMAGE
58	86 MALLARD 28FT	1GBJP37W0G3320105	KCS-STOLEN	MISSING PARTS

Auction list subject to change. For more information including directions, rules, and more visit our auction page.

1st Anniversary of Crash Hits Home

One year ago today (July 24th, 2008) the founder of Airport & Burien Towing died suddenly in an unexpected airplane crash along with his son who worked at the family business his entire life.

Mark Storer lived to be 51 years old. He founded Airport Towing and Burien Towing in 1988. His vision was to run his own company and be successful. His goal was to give his three children a good education. He accomplished both through his work ethic and faith. Mark consistently paid back every bit debt he incurred. Hard work and dedication were characteristics that he hoped would rub off on his kids. It was only a matter of time before Mark’s children were helping run the business.

Mark took on several roles within the company that he built from scratch. Some days he was a driver. Other days he was an auctioneer. His job description was ever-changing, which is a lifestyle that many small business owners grow accustomed to.

One role never changed. He was always the boss. Mark was like a father to his employees. Over time, he employed each of his three children. Family was always a part of Mark’s business and Airport Towing became a significant part of the Storer family.

Mark’s son Brian loved tow trucks since he was a little boy. He spent his summers and afternoons at the family towing company. He was picked up from school in a tow truck. He even had tow truck toys. If asked why he was fascinated with these modern day haulers, Brian would probably tell you it is because of the mechanics, the lights, the accident scenes, and the thrills. What he may have hesitated to admit is the true reason for his obsession; his father. More than anything in the world Brian wanted to be with his dad growing up. He wanted to go on every call and ride in the truck all day long. Brian fulfulled his dream. He spent most of his life with his parents and siblings at Airport Towing. At the end of his life he worked with his father, lived near his father, and died together with his father. Mark may not have approved of the way their lives ended so suddenly had he been given a choice, but one thing is certain: He wouldn’t trade a minute of the time they spent together for anything.

Mark is survived by his wife Lynette, son Jared, and daughter Teresa. Brian leaves behind his wife Christy and two sons, now ages 3 and 2. After two of the greatest people in their lives have gone, Brian’s children are learning to live life with only the memory of their father and grandfather. The boys cherished Mark and Brian. They continue to light up with joy when their names are mentioned. They have a passion for everything “tow truck”. The boys are already continuing the legacy left by their father and his father. A memorial fund has been established to assist Brian’s widow in raising the boys. The remaining Storer and Airport Towing families have also extended themselves to assist in caring for the young boys over the past year.

Brian enjoyed 24 years of life on earth. He was committed to his marraige and his children. He cherished the time that he spent together with his family. Just like his father, he wanted them to have a better life.

Although his time on earth was short by most standards, Brian did not waste it. He was full of life every day. He was unique and passionate. Brian never missed an opportunity to tell a joke, even if he was being reprimanded by his boss. He could lighten any mood. At times his humor was the only way to get Mark to smile when the stresses of work had begun to take a affect his demeanor. This photograph of Brian was mounted to the tow truck that led the procession from Airport Towing to the church on the day of the memorial. The photo accurately depicts Brian’s energy level and the way he dealt with the world around him.

After Mark and Brian died an abundance of support quickly came pouring in from all directions. A memorial was erected at Airport Towing. Flowers and cards flooded the office. Friends, family, churches, emergency service providers and towing companies from around the state called in to offer assistance. It was evident that Mark & Brian had made an impact that was wide spread. Hundreds gathered to attend the procession and memorial service.

Many people wanted one last chance to say goodbye to the two men. Others came to the service to offer their support to the surviving family. All were rewarded by a touching service of rememberance by Pastor Dennis Sawyer that spoke on the redemption of the two men through Christ. The congregation took comfort in the knowledge that both men are continuing to live their eternal lives in a place where there is no pain. 

The family at Airport Towing has undoubtedly continued to suffer the loss of two of the greatest men they have ever known. Mark and Brian have now passed the torch to Lynette and Jared who will continue to improve the family towing business and help it reach its full potential. These two professionals have laid the ground work for the company to reach new heights in becoming one of the leaders of the towing and  transportation industry. The family has since added key staff, including Mark’s son-in-law Kenny Savage to move toward that goal. All other employees who worked under Mark at the time of the accident have remained loyal to the family and have stepped up their efforts to continue providing quality services amidst times of great hardship.

One year has passed since Mark and Brian Storer took their final flight together. Today is a day for rememberance and honor, tears and hugs. It is a time of gathering with family and celebrating life. Mark and Brian will forever be remembered. They were larger than life. They were father and son. They were and always will be great tow truck men.

Thanks to The B-Town Blog for remembering the lives of Mark and Brian.

Car Auction 7/17/2009

Abandoned Vehicle Auction #393
Auction: JULY 17, 2009 11:00AM
Previews: JULY 17, 2009 8:00AM-11:00AM
301 S. Sullivan St, Seattle WA 98108
#	Year/Model	License/ID	Code	Description
1	89 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS	294MXG	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
2	92 FORD TAURUS	347NZX	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
3	99 FORD EXPLORER	535XGU	PLI-AB	FLAT TIRE
4	89 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL	204SSX	PLI-UNAUTH	FLAT TIRE
5	94 CHEVROLET CAVALIER	752SIA	KCS-DWLS	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
6	87 GMC VANDURA	B95247C	PLI-UNAUTH	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
7	97 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE	OYX303 (LA)	PLI-AB	FLAT TIRE
8	93 HONDA ACCORD	996SJN	PLI-UNAUTH	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
9	87 VOLVO 245	B87993D	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
10	94 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER	204XHI	KCS-DWLS	RUST,FLAT TIRE, BKN GLASS
11	97 FORD WINDSTAR	293UYL	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
12	98 DODGE CARAVAN	266XCA	PLI-UNAUTH	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
13	85 NISSAN PICKUP	A85704K	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
14	93 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER	213RHV	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
15	86 DODGE CARAVAN	535XVF	KCS-DWLS	FLAT TIRE
16	87 NISSAN PATHFINDER	JN8HD16Y1HW031393	KCS-AB	MISSING PARTS
17	72I NTERNATIONAL 1210	B77238K	KCS-AB	FLAT TIRE, DENTS, DINGS
18	65 CHEVROLET PICK UP	T35593	KCS-AB	RUST, DENTS
19	65 GMC PICKUP	A92980D	KCS-AB	LOOK AT ALL THE GOOD STUFF
20	76 EL DORADO MOTORHOME	911JHL	KCS-AB	PLEASE BUY THIS
21	89 CHEVROLET CAVALIER	577XXS	KCS-DUI	BKN GLASS, DENTS, DINGS
22	93 SAAB 900	910WLO	KCS-AB	FRT DAMAGE
23	97 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX	085TUN	KCS-DWLS	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
24	94 BUICK ROADMASTER	966WDW	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
25	93 LEXUS GS300	216WNR	WSP-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
26	99 FORD ESCORT	1FAFP10P5XW221034	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
27	95 EAGLE SUMMIT	240WAV	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
28	96 CADILLAC SEVILLE	972STZ	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
29	92 BUICK LESABRE	401PBX	KCS-VUCSA	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
30	78 PONTIAC SUNFIRE	950UOV	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
31	92 INFIINITI Q45	906YOI	PLI-UNAUTH	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
32	87 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX	641XOR	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
33	84 CHEVROLET CAMARO	070YIM	PLI-UNAUTH	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
34	92 HONDA ACCORD	747VVZ	PLI-UNAUTH	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
35	92 PLYMOUTH LASER	493WLT	PLI-AB	FLAT TIRE
36	99 MERCURY TRACER	712VUQ	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
37	01 CHEVROLET IMPALA	VWD363 (KS)	POS-DWLS	FRT DAMAGE
38	90 HONDA ACCORD	176YBJ	PLI-UNAUTH	FRT DAMAGE
39	97 NISSAN MAXIMA	6DBZ552 (CA)	KCS-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
40	98 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE	015VHW	KCS-30DAY	REAR DAMAGE
41	96 DODGE INTREPID	839VQT	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
42	90 BUICK SKYLARK	977YEJ	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
43	90 HYUNDAI EXCEL	095YSE	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
44	91 FORD ESCORT	898UUM	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
45	96 CHEVROLET GEOMETRO	666RZP	PLI-AB	DENTS, DINGS, SCRATCHES
46	77 NOMAD TRAILER	6435SJ	KCS-AB	GOOD JUNK HAULER

Auction list subject to change. For more information visit our Auction Page.

Weekend Parades & Car Shows

Perfect summer weather the last week of June helped local parades and community events to be more successful than previous festivities in years past. In South King County the weekend kicked off with the Seatac International Festival and Parade. The event featured international displays, foods, and entertainment at Angle Lake Park located in the city of Seatac.

Airport Towing participated in the parade during the morning hours of the International Festival. Driver/Manager Daryl Wilson and his supportive wife Heather showed off their hot rod tow truck that is stored with the Storer Tow Truck Collection. “The Flame” is a 1935 Ford truck complimented by a Holmes Wrecker Unit and a 305-cubic-inch engine. The Wilson’s proudly displayed large photos of the company’s founder and his son on the sides of the truck as they drove along the parade route. Founder Mark Storer and his son Brian died in an airplane crash nearly one year ago and the classic hot rod was given to Daryl by the Storer family.

Just a few miles away Victory Outreach Church of Seattle hosted their annual hot rod & low rider car show. Hundreds of people gathered to see custom rides, some that were dropped down to just a few inches above the pavement and others with hydraulics that were raised so high their wheels were coming off the ground. Most of the cars on display were large bodied classics that were either dipped, raised, slammed, and dropped with a full working set of hydraulic pumps in the trunk. Other vehicles included a variety of classics and customs, including Airport Towing’s 1933 Ford lowrider tow truck with custom chrome suspension and undercarraige. The Seattle area towing company participated in the show with two hot rods on display and also participated as a sponsor of the event. Upcoming events around the South King County area include the Des Moines Waterland Festival and White Center Jubilee Days.

Burien + Classic Cars = A Fathers Day Hit

Millions of dollars worth of antique cars & trucks lined the streets of Burien last week for the annual Fathers Day Car Show, turning the the city’s downtown into a spectacular parking lot for car lovers of all ages. With a turnout of more than 200 vehicles crowding the city streets, participants proudly unveiled the fruits of their hard labor as onlookers came from all over the Puget Sound area to appreciate their pristinely shined mechanical beauties.

It was chrome and aluminum as far as the eye could see down 152nd street in the shadow of the new Burien Town Square, which includes a new 7 story condominium building, a 20,000 square foot City Hall and an 18 million dollar public library. The long line of displayed classics continued on down 6th Avenue Southwest and also along 4th Ave SW. Some car show guru’s who were unwilling to pay the entry fee participated in the show but were excluded from the competition by parking their project cars in legal street parking spaces around the perimeter of the exhibition. The official portion of the car show was hosted by The Discover Burien Association.

For Airport Towing the event was a tribute to it’s founding father, Mark Storer who birthed the company 21 years ago and remained heavily involved as the CEO until he died 1 year ago. Mark was a committed father of 3 children but also took on a fatheresque role to several towing industry professionals whom he trained throughout his tenure as the company’s owner. Today Airport Towing remains a family owned and operated business and the people employed are adopted as additional members of the extended family.

Mark was responsible for collecting 13 unique trucks that comprise the Storer Tow Truck Collection. Three of the trucks were on display for the annual Fathers Day car show:

• “The Dodge” is a 1937 Dodge Brothers 1 1/2 ton truck with a Holmes tow unit attached.
• “The 29″ is a 1929 Ford Model AA tow truck with a Weaver crane and is said to be the most beautiful and valuable truck in the collection.
• “The T” is a 1925 Ford Model TT flatbed that was turned into a tow truck by Mark as his first antique vehicle project.

All the trucks in the Storer Tow Truck Collection have some historical significance in Airport Towing’s history and are the product of Mark’s passion for unique & beautiful treasures. The three tow trucks drew a steady crowd throughout the day as they were decorated with photos of Mark and his youngest son Brian who died with him in last years airplane crash. Showing the trucks was one of Mark’s earliest and most reliable employees, Rocky Willis, the tow truck driver / mechanic who was responsible for a vast majority of the restoration work to the antique trucks. Rocky began his career with Airport Towing in 1989 and continues to volunteer to drive the tow trucks in local car shows and parades. Next week Rocky will be driving the Model T in the Burien 4th of July Parade. The parade route begins at the Airport Towing / Burien Towing office and continues through downtown Burien.

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