“I really believe this is the wave of the future and we are starting it,” Ron Long, co-owner of the new Gearhead Systems International, said last week.

In March, Ron began leasing and renovating the old Suzuki World on Oakland Beach Avenue along with his wife, Cheryl Long, as well as Gary and Pam Neirinckx.

The professional and “revolutionary” auto service facility has five repair bays, all of which are available to be rented by the hour for $20.

For the basic hourly fee, not only are customers renting the lift and bay area but also tools, diagnostic equipment and shop machinery. For additional but reasonable charges, customers can also rent welding equipment and vehicle software downloads.

While in the Navy, Ron often frequented the “hobby shop,” a place where servicemen and -women could go work on their cars, but this space was a “damp, dark, rat hole.” He had the idea of creating a space for mechanics to frequent and use that was well kept and professional.

Gary assured though, that Gearhead is not just for the full-time mechanic looking for a space to do side work but anyone over 18 who is interested in fixing up vehicles.

“Gearhead gives the average mechanic, enthusiast and hobbyist a place to work at a reasonable price,” he said.

Ron said that there are “plenty of people” with the ability and love of fixing cars, but they don’t have the finances for their own space, or they don’t have a specific tool required and that prevents them from getting the job done.

Similarly, there are those doing the work, taking up space in their own personal garage or driveway, working through the heat or rain.

“We have taken all the headaches out,” Ron said. “We have put everything a mechanic could need under one roof. They just have to get the car here.”

Cheryl said with the state-of-the-art equipment and climate-controlled space people could essentially run their personal business out of Gearhead.

The company also has computers available for those who need to order parts, or look up instructions, even information on a specific car. Through Gearhead customers could also “rent” a mechanic from the All-Star Pit Crew, a group of seasoned and highly knowledgeable mechanics to help out on a job.

Gary explained that, Gearhead hopes to be more than just rented space and plans to start creating ties with the local community, by hosting public seminars on different topics concerning cars.

For example, he said they plan on hosting one for young, new drivers to learn the basics like changing a tire and their oil. They would also like to host one for women, taught by a female mechanic, about what to expect and ask when going to a mechanic or looking to purchase a car.

Cheryl said that Gearhead would love to partner with local dealers as well as New England Institute of Technology for these seminars or using Gearhead as a teaching space.

Through the renovations the two couples didn’t advertise their new business with “coming soon” signs because, as Ron put it, they wanted an “air of mystique.”

So far, they say the mystery has been successful; people often stop in to see what’s happening and Cheryl says the “phone is always ringing” with people interested in knowing what the building was becoming.

Last Thursday, though, the mystery came to a close and Gearhead hosted a soft opening, with free food and The Ronnie French Band playing live music all night. The public was invited to come in and take a tour of the facility and meet with the owners.

More than 200 people stopped by in the course of the night, and all four owners said they received a phenomenal response from local mechanics and enthusiasts.

“Already people are asking to lock in time for whole days. We aren’t even open and people are fighting over our business. There are a lot of benefits to working out of here,” Ron said. “It’s a simple system.”

Gearhead Systems International, located at 250 Oakland Beach Ave., is expected to open on September 1 with plans to be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9p.m.

For more information visit their website www.gearheadsystemsinternational.com or their Facebook page. You can also call 739-0090.