This past year, we have enjoyed featuring our customer’s trucks on the cover of our catalogs. For this catalog, #126, someone here had the great idea to feature someone who is both a customer, and a staff member. Scott Sinkinson and his father, Jon, were local customers of ours beginning 25 years ago when they first started driving and working on Ram Turbo Diesel trucks. Here is their story!
IN HIS OWN WORDS… SCOTT SINKINSON AND GENO’S GARAGE
In 1999 my father and I started a cabinet business. I drove a 1998 Ram 1500 and dad drove a 1996 Jeep Cherokee. Both were black (along with all future Ram trucks we would have). We sold the Jeep and bought our first Ram Cummins in 2000. It was a 1997 3500 and it did not take long to realize that we did not need a dually so it was traded in for a 1999 2500. As the business grew, my Ram 1500 was sold and replaced with a second, matching 1999 Ram 2500. Both trucks were used heavily as we split off running two full time crews. In 2006 I was ready for 4 full doors and sold my 1999 for a 2003 Ram 2500 Laramie that quickly became my favorite vehicle ever.
I found Geno’s Garage in 2001 and was impressed with the quality of products, product knowledge and the honesty of being told what was considered useful and what was for show. I got to know the staff at Geno’s over the next many years and continued to learn and do my own maintenance on our Ram diesel trucks. I was introduced to another local Geno’s customer named John, who was a technician and worked on Ram Diesels after hours and on the weekends. When our trucks needed more attention than I could give, John was a wealth of knowledge and would let me work with him on our trucks and other trucks he was repairing. This became a weekly Saturday night gig and I learned a lot about these trucks over the next many years. (In fact,this is when I started adding more HP to my truck and quickly earned the reputation that I can break anything and quite often did!).
I received a call in late 2006 from Brandon at Geno’s Garage, asking if I knew of anyone that may be interested in a full-time position at Geno’s. The residential cabinet business was slowing down as we crept toward the looming 2007 decline in the housing market, and I replied, “what about me?”. Brandon and Robin met me for dinner to discuss the job, and later an offer was made. After working for eight years on weekends, bidding jobs until late at night, and traveling from the Florida panhandle to the highlands of Georgia, the thought of a Monday – Friday position in one location, with paid vacation and excellent health insurance benefits sounded very appealing. I started working at Geno’s Garage in September of 2007 and just passed my 17th year work anniversary.
At that time I decided to take over my dad’s 1999 truck because it was paid off and I could start modifying it right away. Dad took the 2003 and enjoyed the upgrade in power and comfort. I’ve been working on the 1999 for a number of years now with a full restoration and many upgrades to the truck. Today, the only major task left to do for it is a paint job.
I have continued to expand my diesel knowledge beyond a Ram Cummins by owning and tinkering with Volkswagen 1.9L TDIs, Audi 3.0L TDIs and BMW 3.0L Turbo Diesels. Even though Geno’s is not considered a diesel performance shop, I am the gearhead that cannot leave anything stock, therefore my 2 current diesels, the 1999 featured in this catalog and my 2011 BMW 335D are both modified making upwards of 500hp each.
Although my daily driver is not a diesel, (still a turbo charged inline 6 though) I am still turning wrenches on my truck and car and leaving the garage many nights with the sweet smell of diesel fuel on me as my cologne of choice. I have felt honored to work with the great staff at Geno’s Garage and enjoy the opportunity of service to our great customers everyday for many years to come.
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