Carpenter's Mechanics 1997-
Owners: Lou Carpenter (1997-2007), Ben Atkins (1997-1999), Philip Martin (1997-1999), Drew Kirk (1999-2002), Ben Kirk (2002-2007), Libby Kennedy (2002-2007), Janae Timmins (2007-), Janelle Timmins (2007-)
Managers: Stephanie Hoyland (2004-2007), Christine Rodd (2006-)
Employees: Drew Kirk (1998-1999), Tad Reeves (1999), Larry 'Woody' Woodhouse (2001), Stuart Parker (2002-2003), Boyd Hoyland (2002-2003), Stephanie Hoyland (2003-2004), Aaron Barkley (2003-2004), Ed Bear (2006), Janae Hoyland (2006-2007), Ned Parker (2007)

In 1997, having sold his car lot a few years earlier and keen to expand his business empire, Lou Carpenter suggested to local mechanic, Ben Atkins that they go into partnership in a local garage, combining his knowledge of the motor trade with Ben's skills. Whilst Ben initially jumped at the chance, he soon had second thoughts after Lou was initially dishonest about things and started to treat him more like an employee than a partner. Eventually, Philip Martin came up with a solution whereby Lou and Ben would both hold 49% each with him in charge of the other 2% of the garage, thus ensuring a fair business. After a racing accident which nearly left him dead, Ben decided to take up an offer from his recently found birth father to work together at his garage in Sydney and so mechanic, Drew Kirk was hired to replace him. Eventually, Drew bought into the garage and remained a partner until his death in 2002, when his wife, Libby Kennedy and son, Ben Kirk inherited his shares. Following Libby's departure, Stephanie Hoyland took over the running of the business on behalf of her and Lou, eventually passing the day to day running over to new manager, Christine Rodd, having been forced to stop working at the garage whilst she was pregnant due to the fumes and a second bout of cancer.

Chris eventually took over the running in 2007, when Steph left to focus on running Scarlet Bar. With her family having sold their shares in Lassiter's, Janae tried to convince her mother, Janelle to buy the garage from Lou & Libby, however, Janelle wasn't convinced, but Janae was ecstatic when Lou suggested that she use her share of the money to buy him out. Soon after, Janelle had a change of heart and made Libby an offer she couldn't refuse.

The garage itself has barely changed, if at all, over the years, with little need to, although in 2007, Pepper Steiger, who had been suspended from her teaching job took up her mother (and garage manager), Christine Rodd's suggestion of repainting the office as a distraction.

Trivia Notes
• The garage often ordered spare parts from wholesalers MOCO

Key moments (with episode links where available)

Gallery

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