Navigating the Curves
Dale Warmuth and Leon’s Car Care Center
Dale Warmuth. Photos by Melissa Sanderson
Children of all ages covet the massive shiny silver muffler out front the moment they lay eyes on it. The signature sign pays homage to the business’ humble beginnings as Leon’s Muffler and Brakes, started in 1961 by Leon Warmuth with a $900 loan from his uncle. From his wife Elaine’s home baked cookies to the loyal employees who have worked here for up to 50 years, Leon’s has become a Humboldt County landmark. This is a family business through and through.
Leon raised his family and the business at the same time. His children, son Dale and daughter Carrie, watched the hard work of their father. They know his investment went way beyond monetary. Leon and Elaine raised their family with a strong service ethic for doing the right thing and keeping the community healthy while you do it. This philosophy is still a signature of Leon’s Car Care Center, as well as Dale’s life. Leon’s Car Care Center stepped up last December when a heinous heist targeted Toys for Tots. A check for $4,000 helped to replace stolen toys to keep children in need from missing out. Dale himself is up to his elbows greasing the social wheels. Like many dedicated community members, he works diligently on the underpinnings of Humboldt County. “I would like to leave some social matters better than when I found them.” His voice betrays his commitment to helping children in need through the Boys & Girls Club of Eureka. “Thirty percent of the kids are considered homeless, on grandma’s couch, no permanent housing,” he notes. There is a reason the Boys & Girls Club of Eureka honored him as the 2017 Lance Madsen Champion for Youth.
“My Humboldt life is joyful with life’s experiences here with friends and family!”
Paying it forward and back, Dale is president-elect of Rotary Club of Eureka. “There is a leakage of small business owners that used to sponsor baseball teams, or support organizations like the Kiwanis,” Warmuth said. The work of these old-school community service organizations was quietly performed by people like your grandparents, who packed trunks with presents to make Christmas merry for someone you did not know. As Rotary moves into its second century of rolling up its sleeves to serve Humboldt, members like Dale strive to keep it vital. The club implements service projects and hosts monthly talks on small business and community needs, needed resources that bridge all generations.
Showing that community service can also be entertaining, Dale could not help but get involved with the world-famous Kinetic Grand Championship. He was honored with the Hobart Brown Lifetime Achievement Award for getting kinetic in the 1970s and ’80s. Service can also provide hair-raising thrills, as Dale found through the Far West Motorcycle Club, which performs work on dirt bike trails. His skills on two wheels got him into the Off Road Hall of Famer Malcolm Smith’s Sons of Danger club as a noted member. And Dale knows his way around trails, having earned the Iron Man Award at the Colorado 500 dirt bike charity invitational. Although a broken ankle brought an end to his endurance racing, he found a new way to have fun with wife Jeannemarie and friends with far-flung adventure riding.
Although Dale’s first love (aside from Jeannmarie!) was motorcycles, one 1959 Chevrolet El Camino tempted him to take on a “nightmare build.” His hard work resulted in an award-winning “just the right red” showstopper. He jokes that it’s 572 cubic inch 620 horse engine might be the sole cause of global warming, but he can be forgiven his combustible ways. Although his father was involved in laying the foundation of Samoa Dragstrip, Dale is more interested in navigating the curves than running a straight-line race. “We are seeing the switch to alternative vehicles. Tech is marching on.” It is challenging any time a small business must bridge rapidly changing technology and Dale keeps his eyes on the road ahead. Expanding Leon’s beyond brakes and mufflers to full service kept the business viable. He is still looking to improve their chances for success. “We are qualified to repair EV and hybrids, too. Electrical batteries are not the end all.” He also looks to the possibilities of hybrids leading to hydrogen powered cars.
That eyes-on-the-road-ahead attitude has General Manager Dale, and Office Manager/Financial Officer Carrie dedicated to keeping the Warmuth family business running beyond their tenure. Dale’s nephew Luke Sams is the third generation to step into the bays. “Carrie and I are committed to preparing him to fully serve that third generation of ownership. This life is not forever, so don’t hold on so tight that you don’t give thought to passing it on,” he says. Luke is already co-owner, well on his way to assuring the successful transition when the time comes.
After Elaine finally hung up her apron in 2020 (millions of cookies under her belt), Dale’s wife picked up a spatula and got baking. The dedicated Jeannemarie bakes 20 to 30 dozen cookies every week, a job in and of itself. She rotates cookie recipes so keep your eyes open for your favorite kind. Sit down with a treat and a fresh cup of coffee and relax. The Warmuths know customer service, garnering many Best of Humboldt awards from Best Auto Repair, Best Muffler Shop, Best Mechanic (shout out to shop foreman David Pederson), and even a nomination for Best Bathroom.
Dale pays tribute to what he knows is important, including his Shitzu — aptly named Swiffer. When asked to finish the sentence “My Humboldt life is …” he said, “Joyful with life’s experiences here with friends and family!” Warmuth doesn’t just live here, he is Humboldt through and through.
Leon’s Car Care Center
929 Broadway
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 444-9636
leons-carcare.com