The Dynamic Mechanic

When Patrice Banks, 39, was growing up outside Philadelphia, her family never owned an automobile. In fact, her mother never even learned how to drive. But the appeal of four-wheeled freedom was so great to Banks as a teen that she worked three part-time jobs to buy herself a car. So, perhaps it's not surprising that today, as the founder and owner of the Girls Auto Clinic (GAC) in Upper Darby, Penn., Banks has turned cars and car care into her life's work.

In her "power suit," a jumpsuit and signature cherry-red high heels, Banks is hard to miss and not afraid to stand out. That's certainly true in an industry that remains so male-dominated. (Less than 10 percent of mechanics today are women, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

Banks' path to opening GAC actually started when she was working as a materials engineer in her 20s and making a six-figure salary. While she enjoyed her work, at around age 30, Banks yearned to do something that affected and empowered women.

Banks often heard from other women that they felt taken advantage of at their local auto shops. They admitted they didn't know how to change a flat tire or check under the hood.

Banks certainly agreed: "I didn't feel comfortable with my car. I would panic when an engine light came on. So, I started looking for a female mechanic—thinking that I could tell all my friends to go see her—but there were none."

Banks, who says she's not "into horsepower or turbo," enrolled in evening classes to learn the ins and outs of auto technology while holding down her full-time job. She was the only woman in all of her courses. Eventually, Banks quit her job to launch Girls Auto Clinic. In 2017, the doors opened at the three-bay auto shop, where she now employs up to 10 mechanics, most of whom are women.

At GAC, Banks also holds free monthly car-care workshops that fill up quickly. Attendees run the gamut—whether it's a Girl Scout troop or a woman eager to become a #sheCANic. (Banks' clever hashtag has over 5,000 posts on Instagram.) She aims to make GAC feel like an inviting environment where women can learn and ask questions. She also encourages clients to bring their new cars to the shop so they can become familiar with their vehicles.

Banks opened the Clutch Beauty Bar just beside her shop, so while patrons wait for their oil change or inspection, they can enjoy manicures and pedicures. "I used to choose a specific shop just because it was near my mani/pedi place," says Banks. Now, busy women can do both at once.

Banks is preparing to make waves in a larger way, too, with more locations for GAC on the horizon, as well as more online content and live workshops. "I believe in women," she says. "My mission is to educate and empower them."

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