Edmond Market Place

Mike Lopez likes to tinker with motors. He discovered his talent at nine years old when he found a broken lawnmower on a neighbor’s curb, ready to be discarded.  He took it home, repaired it and began mowing yards to earn money.

After uncovering this knack, he went to work repairing Subaru’s at age of sixteen. Mike spent many years learning from various mentors and familiarizing himself with Saabs and Subarus.  In 1994, at the prompting of a friend, Mike and his wife, Cathy left their home in Colorado to move to Oklahoma.

“Both of us were raised in Colorado Springs. A friend talked us into moving out here…to open a small service department for him. So, here we are,” said Cathy Lopez.

In May of 2003, they opened their own business, Red Earth Motor Sports. Red Earth specializes in Saab and Subaru repair and also performs service work on Toyotas, Hondas and Mazdas.

Both Mike and Cathy believe that treating customers fairly and exceeding their expectations is what keeps their business growing. They consider helping others along the way as the icing on the cake.
 
Cathy recalled a time when a mother and son broke down near the shop. They were traveling to a funeral in Kansas and their water pump had gone out.  Mike and Cathy felt compelled to help the grieving family.

“We bought a water pump and replaced it – knowing they had very little money,” Cathy said. “They paid for some of the part, but we did the job—on us. It made us feel good to help others in need at a hard time in their life.”

The future looks bright for Red Earth Motor Sports. They hope one day to offer a young driver’s class that will teach kids the basics of vehicle maintenance.  They also have plans to expand the business as well.

“We don't want to get so big that we forget our customers. We like to know our customers on a personal level,” Cathy said.

Although they work long hours together to maintain their business, Mike and Cathy have not lost sight of the important things in life. They have three children, ages twelve, ten and eight, and they appreciate the fact that owning their own shop allows them to spend time with family.

When Mike’s not busy tinkering with cars at the shop, he might be found coaching his daughters’ volleyball team or cheering for his kids at their most recent triathlon competition.  Either way, Mike and Cathy enjoy their family-run business where they can spend time together, help other families with their service needs, and teach others how to maintain their vehicles.
 
Located at 6775 Boucher Drive, Suite 5, just off Waterloo & I-35, Red Earth Motor Sports is available for full service on brakes, tune-ups, suspension and more. For more information call 715-1968 or 715-1975 or visit www.redearthmotorsports.com