Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (May 28/99) - In what was a pile of brush, now stands a massive metallic shell where vehicles and boats are repaired and tuned up.

Snowstar Mechanical Ltd. was established by Wayne Vandell in Fort Providence's light industrial area three years ago.

Vandell, a certified heavy-duty mechanic, gained much of his experience through 11 years of employment with Imperial Oil in Norman Wells. There, he serviced the heavy equipment used in the oil fields. He also did mechanical work in the gas plant. As well, he has worked on the ferry and at the power plant. Now, he finds himself maintaining vehicles, heavy equipment, boats, four-wheelers and even power saws.

"In a small community, you pretty well have to do everything," Vandell said, adding that he performs everything from tune-ups to engine overhauls and anything in between.

With the pay-out package he received from Imperial Oil, plus some money he received through a loan, he took the risk of striking out on his own.

"I just decided, what the hell, I'll start my own business," he recalled.

First, he had to have a location. Trying to save on expenses, he built his own nine by 21-metre garage, which stands five metres high, with some help from friends. Beyond the "million nuts and bolts" needed to get the building together, there was cement to be poured, in-floor heating to install and an office within the building to construct. They did it all in four weeks. He's never had any difficulty getting anything in or out of the tall, rounded structure, he said.

The building was a major expense, but tools are a never-ending drain on his finances, he pointed out. Besides replacing ones that break, newer-model vehicles tend to be computerized with fuel-injection systems that require certain tools, so it's costly to keep up.

"That's a big expense in itself... technology is increasing every year," he said. He also recently spent $6,000 for a vehicle lift. In addition to making under-body work easier, he said the investment will save him time because he won't have to put vehicles up on blocks any more.

Having been in business for three years now, Vandell is finally getting clear of the initial debt he had to take on to get things off the ground.

"I'm glad I've done it," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting a few apprentices trained up."

Apprentices, such as Howie Gargan who has been with Snowstar for over three months now, will someday keep Vandell from putting in the 12-hour days he has had to work in the early going. He also provides odd jobs for the occasional student looking for work experience.

"There's always something to do," he said.

His wife Theresa has been a great help all along, he noted. She does the books, looking after the accounting and office administration. There is a lot of paperwork involved, said Vandell.

"It's not just pulling wrenches."