PERPETUAL MOTION AUTOMOTIVE
MEET THE TEAM
Meet the ASE Certified Mechanics Behind Perpetual Motion in Wasilla
When you bring your car to Perpetual Motion, you’re not handing it to a name tag. You’re handing it to ASE certified mechanics in Wasilla we can introduce by name — a credentialed owner, a master technician, a Porsche-and-air-cooled-VW specialist, and a crew that treats your car like it belongs to family. Here’s who’s actually under the hood.
ASE Certified Mechanics in Wasilla — Real People, Real Certifications, Right Here in the Valley
Plenty of shops will tell you they have “certified technicians.” We’d rather show you. Every person here was hired to a single standard Mike set on day one: fix it right the first time, explain it in plain English before you agree to anything, and treat the customer like a neighbor — because in the Mat-Su Valley, they are.
Between the five of us we cover European and import work, transmissions, diagnostics, and the everyday maintenance that keeps your car alive through an Alaska winter — under an owner whose background runs all the way to concours-level restoration.
Below is the whole crew — what they do, what they’re best at, and a little about who they are when the bay doors close.
THE PERPETUAL MOTION TEAM
MIKE RHODES - OWNER
ASE MASTER
AUTOMOBILE TECHNICIAN
Mike has been under the hood since he was thirteen — apprenticing at a Packard restoration shop in California, a paid mechanic by fifteen.
He holds a Bachelor’s in Automotive Restoration Technology from McPherson College (the only degree of its kind in the world), earned ASE Master Automobile Technician status earlier in his career, and has restored concours cars recognized at the highest level in the country, including Pebble Beach.
He founded Perpetual Motion in Wasilla in 2021 and sets the standard every tech here works to. He's most proud of two things — his Automotive Restoration Technology degree and earning ASE Master Certifications.
Zach is our master technician and the closest thing the shop has to a do-everything generalist — he grew up fixing his own stuff, and the way he puts it, the only thing he really can’t do is body work.
If it’s on your car, he can fix it. He came up through four years of high school auto, trained at UTI, and put in real shop time before joining us. When something’s hard to pin down, Zach is who you want on it.
Master Technician — 4 yrs high school auto + UTI training + shop experience.
He's a great generalist — diagnostics and repair across systems (basically everything except body work). Outside the shop he’s hunting, fishing, and making the most of the Alaska outdoors.
ZACH HAZEN - LEAD
ASE MASTER
AUTOMOBILE TECHNICIAN
Austin has been with Perpetual Motion for three and a half years and is one of the most capable hands in the building.
He grew up taking apart small engines and came up through high school shop, and these days he’s the one we point at transmissions, Chevy and GM work, and engine jobs. He’s a genuine car guy — the kind who’d rather spend a Saturday in the bay than just about anywhere.
ASE Certified Automobile Technician — 3.5 years at Perpetual Motion; small engines as a kid + high school shop.
He specializes in Transmissions · Chevy / GM · engines, a real car enthusiast off the clock too — fishing, camping, hiking, and a small gun collection.
AUSTIN DOUCK -
ASE CERTIFIED
AUTOMOBILE TECHNICIAN
Davian is our apprentice — the next generation learning the trade the right way, hands-on, under techs who hold a high standard.
Wrenching runs in the family; his grandfather worked on Bobcats, Ditch Witches, and tractors, and Davian grew up around it. He’s already solid on heater cores, oil changes, brake jobs, and straightforward diagnosis, and he’s getting better every week.
Apprentice Automobile Technician — junior team member, learning under the shop’s senior techs.
He's mainly working on heater cores · oil changes · brake jobs · simple diagnosis (support role, growing fast). A true Alaskan at heart — he spends his free time walking and hiking, and as he puts it, it’s beautiful here in Alaska.
DAVIAN CASAS -
APPRENTICE
AUTOMOBILE TECHNICIAN
"We want to make sure you understand what's wrong, what's needed to fix it, and what it'll cost — before you agree to anything."
Credentials You Can Verify
Credentialed, careful, and on your side
NAPA AutoCare Center
NAPA AutoCare Center — a member since 2026, backed by the nationwide NAPA Peace of Mind Warranty (24 Month / 24,000 Mile).
ASE Master-Trained Owner
Mike earned ASE Master automobile technician status earlier in his career; the shop’s work reflects that training.
Mat-Su Locally Owned
founded and run right here in Wasilla, serving Palmer and the wider Mat-Su Valley.
Find Us in Wasilla
Serving Wasilla, Palmer, and the wider Mat-Su Borough
PERPETUAL MOTION AUTOMOTIVE
675 W Wasair Dr #2, Wasilla, AK 99654
perpetualmotionalaska@gmail.com
Hours:
Monday – Friday
7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
We're based in Wasilla, just behind Wendy's, and we keep cars running across the whole Mat-Su Valley. Palmer drivers make the short hop over for work nobody closer could handle. And we've got a large group of customers who drive all the way from Talkeetna to come to us — because when you need someone who'll diagnose it right and stand behind the repair, the distance is worth it. If you're anywhere in the Borough, you're not too far for us.
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
Robert Galaviz
5-Star Review
Mike was extremely patient; walking me through every little thing and making me feel relaxed. He walked me through what I really needed and I left with an amazing quote. He is an amazing mechanic and is for the people. His wife is also really kind, she offered me a beverage and provided comfort, assuring I was in the right place. Mike did a thorough diagnostics test and offered to test ride afterward. Perpetual Motion bought me the best thing of all time: peace of mind. Don't hesitate!
James Steele
5-Star Review
After having issue after issue with the service department at wasilla dodge. I was in desperate need of a trustworthy mechanic. Mike was super respectful and honest! He took my truck and put it on the lift and test drove it three different times. He figured out what the issue was in the last few hours of his inspection. And called me saying he only felt comfortable charging me for an hour worth of work. I am very grateful and will be using mike at perpetual as my new shop. I have already recommended him to everyone I know!
Erik Bacher
5-Star Review
These guys do awesome work and they do it the correct way the first time. I would highly recommend this shop to any of my friends of family. They are my GOTO shop from here on out.
NAPA Nationwide Peace of Mind
As a NAPA AutoCare Center, qualifying repairs we do are covered by the NAPA Nationwide Peace of Mind Warranty — 24 Months / 24,000 Miles, honored at thousands of NAPA AutoCare locations across North America. Drive the Valley, drive the Lower 48 — your repair travels with you.
Warranty terms, coverage, and eligibility are set by the NAPA AutoCare program. Ask us for full details on what's covered for your specific repair.