Not all that long ago, every town had a speedometer shop. A place where you could go to get a new cable or have your gauges repaired. Maybe do a little bench-racing, or share a story about the barber...or the new waitress...or Ernie's new Buick.

   There aren't many of us left. What with digital dashboards, electronics, emissions laws, OEM policies, non-serviceable parts, and dealer-only items, it's real difficult keeping up. The guys who couldn't, or just plain didn't want to bother, are closing down.

   We've been here since 1957, and we're better now than we've ever been. We started repairing gauges and calibrating CHP speedometers in a rented stall in this same building. Back then there was still a Packard dealership in town and you could occasionally find a "coffin nose" Cord parked in somebody's garage that you could buy for $200.

   Things were different then. From early spring to late summer, nighttime would bring with it the almost perfect perfume of orange blossoms. If you close your eyes you can still smell it.

   We saw the first U.S. Gran Prix, and witnessed the birth, heyday, and closing of both: Riverside Raceway and Ontario Speedway. We serviced instruments for most of the major race teams that came here. We used to go to the Mission Inn on race-weekend and hob-nobbed with the likes of Ken Miles, Roger Penske and Dan Gurney.

   We have been here through the hot-rod, sports car, and muscle-car eras and through two motorsports-killing oil crises. All the while we have been slowly, but very steadily growing in size and securing our reputation.

   We like the business, and we've got a dedicated crew of talented technicians who like the business, too. 40 years from now we'll still be in business. We may be calibrating mach-speed gauges or worm-hole counters, and somebody else will be driving the bus, but United Speedometer's going to be here. You can count on it.

   Today, we fix gauges. Recently we've been having some fun converting speedometers and gauge clusters from the cars that were nearly new when we started in business. We keep the graphics looking just like they did, but they have new electric movements and are calibrated for modern engines.