‘Girlie Garage’ provides workshop covering automotive safety, maintenance

Amber Coakley
·2 min read

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/ KUSI) — A local licensed mechanic who’s worked in various racing series is now putting her skills to use in a way that empowers other women.

San Diego resident Talena Handley said it brings her joy to teach other women about their vehicles. She hopes that it boosts their knowledge as well as their confidence.

“I began with a love of taking things apart and putting them back together,” she explained on her webpage (Girlie Garage). “Sometimes there was a screw or two left over, but that’s why we start young right?”

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Handley completed the Honda PACT program in 2008 and a year later became an automotive mechanic. She worked in various racing series like Rolex, F430 Challenge and Redline from 2008 to 2010.

Handley eventually founded Girlie Garage, an automotive consulting and education program with the motto: empower, education, consult.

Girlie Garage offers in-person workshops that help new and young drivers learn about their personal vehicles. The three-hour session covers basic automotive safety, basic automotive maintenance, how to navigate a mechanic, and emergency situations.

FOX 5 caught up with Handley Wednesday at The Grauer School in Encinitas, where she was showing some young drivers how to change a tire and change the oil.

“They’ll have to resources in order to provide themselves so that they don’t get taken advantage of at auto shops. They have the words and the lingo to make sure that they’re having those educated conversations with mechanics,” said Handley.

Girlie Garage also provides automotive consulting, which could be as simple as a 15-minute conversation — a quick chat that Hadley said could save drivers hundreds of dollars. She also offers advice directly through text messaging.

More information on how to contact the Girlie Garage can be found here.

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