Zenk Repair ... it's worldwide
By Alicia Ebaugh Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, February 08, 2007
Now that he's here, Matthias Zenk can't seem to take enough pictures of the business that started it all.
Inside, of the shop and tools. Outside, of the sign. Even pictures of the kids.
In October, Zenk was looking online for things related to his auto repair business, Zenk Automobile, in Meiningen, Germany, population 20,000. He was "completely surprised" when a Sioux City business of the same name showed up in a Google.com search.
"It was like, wow, it's cool!" he said of running across Zenk Auto & Repair, located at 2101 Fourth St. "We have the same business, 50 percent selling used cars, 50 percent fixing them."
The German-born Zenk sent a letter to Linda and Mark Zenk, owners of the Sioux City shop, to tell them about his discovery. It set up a correspondence that ended with Matthias' arrival at the Sioux Gateway Airport with his 12-year-old son Max this week.
"I wanted to see what this shop is like compared with my shop at home," Matthias said.
There are some major differences, he's noticed -- American cars are bigger, and more of them run on diesel fuel. But other than that, he said, it's basically the same.
"We use the same computers," Matthias said of the diagnostic scanner Zenk was holding, which uses sensory technology to find what's gone wrong with a vehicle.
Mark and Matthias said they both love working on cars. Linda Zenk said the two men have been talking non-stop about the business since the Zenks arrived from Germany.
"Mark is such a private person -- he doesn't even talk to me!" she said. "They're just over there chatting away."
Max and Sydney Zenk, Linda and Mark's 10-year-old daughter, spent Wednesday afternoon playing a bowling game on an office computer. The two have gotten along "famously" since the Zenk's arrival, even playing air hockey at the Zenk's home Tuesday night right after the two other Zenks got off their 25-hour flight Germany.
"Strike!" Max yelled at the computer. "Awww, unt spare." The two children burst into laughter.
"It's just like having a family across the ocean," Linda said. "We're trying to get Mark to go to Germany with us so we can visit Matthias and Max, but he doesn't want to travel overseas."
But what better place to test a rebuilt engine than the Autobahn? "Exactly!" she exclaimed. "It'll be difficult to convince him, though."
Matthias and Max will be in Sioux City for another week, staying with Mark and Linda at their home. It's Matthias' second visit to the United States, and he thinks Sioux City is a nice place.
"It's big," he said.
Shortly after, Zenk walked outside to take another photo of the business' big sign to bring home with him.
Inside, of the shop and tools. Outside, of the sign. Even pictures of the kids.
In October, Zenk was looking online for things related to his auto repair business, Zenk Automobile, in Meiningen, Germany, population 20,000. He was "completely surprised" when a Sioux City business of the same name showed up in a Google.com search.
"It was like, wow, it's cool!" he said of running across Zenk Auto & Repair, located at 2101 Fourth St. "We have the same business, 50 percent selling used cars, 50 percent fixing them."
The German-born Zenk sent a letter to Linda and Mark Zenk, owners of the Sioux City shop, to tell them about his discovery. It set up a correspondence that ended with Matthias' arrival at the Sioux Gateway Airport with his 12-year-old son Max this week.
"I wanted to see what this shop is like compared with my shop at home," Matthias said.
There are some major differences, he's noticed -- American cars are bigger, and more of them run on diesel fuel. But other than that, he said, it's basically the same.
"We use the same computers," Matthias said of the diagnostic scanner Zenk was holding, which uses sensory technology to find what's gone wrong with a vehicle.
Mark and Matthias said they both love working on cars. Linda Zenk said the two men have been talking non-stop about the business since the Zenks arrived from Germany.
"Mark is such a private person -- he doesn't even talk to me!" she said. "They're just over there chatting away."
Max and Sydney Zenk, Linda and Mark's 10-year-old daughter, spent Wednesday afternoon playing a bowling game on an office computer. The two have gotten along "famously" since the Zenk's arrival, even playing air hockey at the Zenk's home Tuesday night right after the two other Zenks got off their 25-hour flight Germany.
"Strike!" Max yelled at the computer. "Awww, unt spare." The two children burst into laughter.
"It's just like having a family across the ocean," Linda said. "We're trying to get Mark to go to Germany with us so we can visit Matthias and Max, but he doesn't want to travel overseas."
But what better place to test a rebuilt engine than the Autobahn? "Exactly!" she exclaimed. "It'll be difficult to convince him, though."
Matthias and Max will be in Sioux City for another week, staying with Mark and Linda at their home. It's Matthias' second visit to the United States, and he thinks Sioux City is a nice place.
"It's big," he said.
Shortly after, Zenk walked outside to take another photo of the business' big sign to bring home with him.
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