PARTNER PROFILE: Mick's Automotive
February 17, 2018
A love of mountain biking links Mick’s Automotive with Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz
Words by Guy Lasnier
Tracy Cotten’s favorite mountain bike trails are the natural ones, “with rock and root gardens, a little more on the technical side.”
It was while riding those gems that Tracy first got started in trail work, informally. “Like most, my friends and I would always stop and fix the trail here and there,” said Tracy, owner of Mick’s Automotive, a longtime business partner with Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz.
He’s owned the Pleasure Point area Japanese car and hybrid specialist for 20 years. Tracy’s formal trail work began many years ago doing the “grunt work” to help build the U-Con Trail that connects Pogonip and Highway 9 with UC Santa Cruz.
Mick’s Automotive has regularly donated to MBOSC for a decade. Four or five years ago, he began sponsoring two “dig days” a year, the MBOSC events, usually in the late winter and spring, when volunteers come together to build and maintain mountain biking trails in our area.
Volunteering and partnering with MBOSC fulfills two of Tracy’s business principles, environmental responsibility and community engagement. Mick’s Automotive, which Tracy bought from its founder after working as an employee, is certified by the Monterey Bay Green Business Program.
Getting certified was easy, Tracy says. In fact, Mick’s Automotive was one of the first in the program because “I really didn’t have to do anything.” Most of Tracy’s business practices already met the criteria for certification. “Running a shop that was naturally clean and well-organized, it made sense for me to do it,” he says.
Tracy has always worked around cars. He studied for a degree in mechanical engineering before attending mechanic’s school. “I was someone who always wanted to run my own business,” Tracy said. “What has made me successful is learning from those who know more than I do. That, and treating my customers and employees how I would want to be treated.”
Besides himself, Tracy employs three technicians, a shop porter (who keeps the place looking so neat and tidy), a service manager, and office manager.
He manages to get out on the trails a couple of times a week. Favorites locally are in the Soquel Demonstration State Forest. He’s ridden in Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish, all across Oregon, Utah, Idaho, and of course California. Favorite trail of all is the Canal Plunge in Kernville, Calif.
Tracy still has his first mountain bike, an ’82 Stumpjumper he saved up for as a kid, (with matching funds from his dad) after his beach cruiser got swiped. Steeds of choice these days are an Enduro 29er (for those epic downhills) and a Stumpjumper 27.5.
He can also be found on the road or bike trails with his six-year-old daughter riding (and sometimes pedaling) behind on a Weehoo bike trailer.
“My main sport has always been mountain biking,” says Tracy. “Love at first ride and never lost the love!”
Trail work adds to the satisfaction, he says. “For me, there is nothing cooler than riding a trail that you’ve worked on or sponsored work on. It’s cool to go out there and say ‘we made that better.’”
Tracy says he values the work promoted and organized by MBOSC. “It’s great to see a group you have been volunteering with for years to grow from a small grass-roots organization to one that has become respected by local community and government.”
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