Big Time Boxes
Owner: TJ Tschanz
Trick Pro Motorsports
Palm Bay, Fla.
In 1996, TJ Tschanz opened Trick Pro Motorsports, a speed shop in Palm Bay, Fla. He says his shop specializes in making “fast stuff faster and nice stuff nicer.”
Tschanz began his career as a lead technician at ATV speed shops in Long Island, N.Y., where he performed high-performance installations. This is where he decided he would one day own his own speed shop.
“I knew that I wanted to own my own shop one day, and when I moved to Florida, I made it happen,” he says. “It was a long road, but it’s been worth it every day.”
Tschanz attributes his success, in large part, to his wife. “Behind every good mechanic is an even better woman, and she’s that. She’s definitely my inspiration.” He says, “If I hadn’t gotten with Lynn, I think I would probably be in a small spot that I started in, dabbling in the high-performance stuff, doing standard repairs trying to make a living. Now, I’ve got a nice shop and I’m very happy.”
What is the signature piece in his nice shop? His Snap-on Southern Thunder Edition toolbox painted black and red to match his “pride and joy” 1982 Ford Mustang GT.
Tschanz began building his box over 12 years ago. Initially, he started with the Southern Thunder box, which is currently the bottom portion of this setup. He later added the top/side cabinet and hutch.
Once his lower box was paid off, Tschanz decided it was time to expand. He adds, “I had a tech that worked for me who had a box that was a little bit bigger box than mine. I was really wanting to do the add-on pieces anyway. I was running out of drawers, you know, your typical problems.”
Once his Snap-on dealer confirmed he could provide the same color combinations for the add-ons, Tschanz placed the order. “I actually ordered it and then told my other half,” says Tschanz, about telling his wife of the purchase. He recalls her saying, “’You only did that because (your technician’s) box is bigger.’” Tschanz recalled responding with, “Not for long.”
Once the box was assembled, Tschanz added the decal with the tachometer and his shop’s logo. “It’s the Southern Thunder taken a step further.” He says, “We do run a speed shop so nothing stays stock around here.”
Tschanz likes that his box helps keep his shop organized. “If there’s ever a wrench missing, I know exactly where it’s at.” He adds, being organized is important because, “When you go racing, you don’t want the tools to go racing with you.”
