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About Us

About us | Ray’s Automotive, LLC.

Since 1994, Ray’s Automotive has been providing quality automotive repair services to the Culpeper, Virginia, community. As a family owned and operated business, we pride ourselves on honesty and strive to be the best we can be for our customers. Whether you visit us for automotive repair, equipment service or for a specific truck part in our store, you’ll be treated like family.

Call us today at 540.825.9520, or stop in for quality service you can trust.

Ray with family

Who is Ray?

Since a very young age, Ray was hard at work. In 1977, at the age of 10, he had his first job sweeping floors, eventually moving up to driving tractors for the company. As a hobby on the side, he was always buying junk cars to fix them up. Eventually, by the age of 15, this side project became his own small business, allowing him to buy multiple vehicles at a time to fix up and resell.

Ray began working for a striping company as the shop foreman and lead technician, clocking in over 60 hours a week for 8 years. In 1992, his daughter was born, followed by his son in 1994. Unfortunately, because of his work schedule, he missed many birthday parties, vacations had to be cut short and he was unable to attend many of the activities his kids were part of. This motivated him to quit the company and open his own business full time – Ray’s Automotive.

Ray has always had a passion for high performance and custom builds. He got into tractor pulling and built everything other than the frame on his first fully modified tractor , “Dirtslinger” which had a 572 Chevrolet blown alcohol engine. After about 6 years of pulling with Dirtslinger, Ray decided to sell it and build a completely custom, frame and all, fully modified tractor with. This one having a 1710 V12 Allison motor out of a P51 airplane. Ray never got to pull with this one since someone had a high interest in purchasing it before it ever got on the track. Once that one sold ray then decided to try a slightly different path and got into the mini modifieds, 572 Allen Johnson blown alcohol which he also built from the ground up, “Mojo”, this engine being a 572 Allen Johnson blown alcohol. Mojo won 1st through 3rd place on every pull.

After purchasing his own automotive machine shop Ray started to build high performance diesel engines as well as transmissions but specializing in the Cummins engines. He has built multiple high performance engines that have held over 1,000 hp. One was taken to a Dyno event in PA and won first place with 1,647 horsepower and over 2500 lbs of torque (the dyno maxes out at 2500 lbs)  against a well known Duramax drag truck that came in second with 1,245 horse power and 1909 lbs of torque.

 

Let our family help serve yours

Since family was the reason for opening Ray’s Automotive, it’s only fitting there are several family members on staff.

Ray’s daughter, Amber, is the general manager, having worked full time at the shop since graduating high school in 2010. Growing up, she always enjoyed tinkering on projects with her dad, including his personal pulling tractors. 

Russell, the lead technician, is Ray’s son-in-law. He started with the shop in 2010, and although at the time Russell had no automotive knowledge, Ray took the time to personally train him over the years. Together, Russell and Amber have three children, and when visiting the shop, you may see them occasionally running around in the office.

Two of Ray’s nephews, Mike and Hunter, are technicians with Ray’s Automotive. Growing up, both of them enjoyed working on various mechanical projects, bringing them to where they are today. Mike has been with the business since 2014 and specializes in the thermoplastic striping equipment and trucks that are used to line roads. Hunter began working with Ray full-time in 2022, but has experience working in the automotive industry since 2018.

Chris has been in the automotive field for 4 years, he started at his first automotive shop when he was 16 and has a thirst for learning everything from gasoline to diesel engines.
He has recently graduated from the universal technical institute for both the auto and diesel programs.
Chris was announced “student of the course” for each class and also had the honor of being nominated the graduating class speaker!

John our shop foreman has 40 years experience in the automotive industry. He serviced in the military for 6 years at the age of 17 as an M1A1 Abrams tank technician. John has 30 years experience on building and racing high performance cars. He specializes in tuning GM/LS EFI systems.

Jason our service writer  has been in the automotive industry for 25 years being a mechanic and has all of the mechanical background needed to fully explain and help plan the best course of action for your automotive repairs

Melisa our parts manager, she has been with Ray’s automotive since 2021. She has 20 years experience in the automotive industry.

Tim, our front counter parts salesmen, he has 42 years experience in light duty to heavy duty parts, equipment parts and sales, hydraulics and personally remanufacturing parts.

Stop by our shop today and let us show you how our family is here for yours.

OUR FAMILY

Meet the team

Ray

Ray | Owner

Ray has been working within the automotive industry for over 43 years. Outside of the shop, he enjoys anything to do with racing or UTV riding. He loves to spend time with his family and is a dog lover – particularly English bulldogs. 

Amber

Amber | General Manager

Amber has been part of the automotive industry since 2010. She is a mother of three, and outside of the shop, she loves to travel and experience new things. Most of all, though, she is passionate about spending time with her children and family.

Kristine

Jason| Service Manager

Jason has been in the industry for 25 years. He has been a technician for 24 of those years. He has a passion for fixing things and loves spending time with his wife and two children.

Melissa

Melisa | Parts Manager

Melisa has been in the automotive service industry for over 10 years. She helps keep everyone around her grounded, both inside the shop and out. She is a proud Christian and mother of four with a passion for food and the outdoors. 

Heidi

Heidi | Accountant

Heidi has been part of the automotive industry for over 28 years. She is a proud Christian, mother of one and has a true passion for helping the people she loves. She is also a huge animal lover (and even bigger pug lover!).

Russell

Russell | Lead Technician

Russell has been working in the industry since 2010. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his three children, being outdoors and taking part in all kinds of adventures. 

Mike

Mike | Technician

Mike has worked in the automotive service industry for over 16 years. He is a father of three and enjoys everything having to do with the outdoors, particularly riding ATVs and UTVs.

Ray’s Automotive Logo

Hunter | Technician

Hunter has been part of the industry for over 10 years.  Outside of the shop, he enjoys being outdoors and riding UTVs.

CHRIS / TECHNICIAN

Chris has a passion for diesel high performance upgrades. Outside of the shop he likes to spend time with his family, fishing and riding his motorcycle!

JOHN / SHOP FOREMAN

John has been in the automotive industry for 40+ years. He has a passion for racing and auto performance builds. Outside of the shop he loves to spend time doing performance builds and specializes in tuning GM/LS EFI systems.

Bynx

Bynx | Shop cat

Bynx has served in the industry for over one year. Rescued by his mom, Amber, his favorites include treats, scratches and laser pointers. He is also a human lover and enjoys his role as official shop cat.