World Class Wednesday: Rich Brauer: From Lightning Strikes to Leading the Diagnostic Frontier

Rich Brauer is an ASE World Class Technician and owner of 59 Auto Repair in Plainfield, Illinois. With over 43 years of hands-on automotive repair experience specializing in advanced diagnostics, Brauer has earned a reputation as the shop other repair shops turn to when they can't find the answer. His journey from master diagnostician to shop owner at age 61 reflects a career built on technical mastery, problem-solving ingenuity, and an unwavering commitment to understanding how things work.

Motor Age: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your experience in the automotive industry.

Rich Brauer: I have spent over 43 years in automotive repair, specializing in advanced diagnostics, and have worked on everything from Model Ts to Teslas. I achieved ASE World Class status at age 61 in 2024.

Motor Age: What's the most memorable repair you've ever completed?

Brauer: One of the most memorable repairs I did was completely rewiring an Excalibur Kit Car after it had been struck by lightning. The person (who had) built the car only used one color of wiring, making it extremely difficult. Lately, we have become the go-to repair shop for when other repair shops cannot find what is wrong, including the local dealerships.

Motor Age: Tell us one thing about you that we can't guess from your certifications.

Brauer: I built a log home completely from the ground up. My automotive expertise in wiring and piecing things together came in handy for assembling the house. I also recently picked up the hobby of pottery. I have always loved working with my hands, and it is a new passion of mine.

Motor Age: What automotive technology trend are you most excited about and most concerned about?

Brauer: I am most excited about how safe cars are becoming. With all the advanced safety features, drivers and passengers are more likely to survive an extreme accident.

While technology helps a lot with fixing cars and being able to diagnose, it also becomes a crutch for the next generation. The younger generation uses videos all the time for how to repair cars or find what is wrong, but this also suppresses their natural ability to solve problems. When I was starting out, we were still using repair books, where you had to know or learn how to take things apart and put them back together. Now, you can watch videos showing how it is done and they don't learn how to do it on their own.

Motor Age: How has ASE certification helped advance your career?

Brauer: Whenever I looked for a job, having ASE certifications made it easier, and I was paid more because of it. It is a great industry standard to prove your skill level. As a business owner, being ASE certified has helped build customer trust.

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