Meet the ‘Guess the Car’ Champ: Dan Peterson

[Counterman]

Counterman’s “

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” contest challenges our readers to solve an automotive riddle, for a chance to win $100. And each month, we receive hundreds of responses from aftermarket professionals trying to guess the model of the vehicle depicted.

The correct answer for the June/July contest is the MINI Clubman. The winner is Dan Peterson, a counterman at Bumper to Bumper in Batavia, Illinois.

Now, let’s get to know the “Guess the Car” champion.

CM: How long have you been working in the auto parts business?

DP: Since 2017. I started out part-time as a driver.

CM: What do you like most about your job?

DP: The variety. Every day is different; it’s not the same old thing. This store has a real small-town feel. A lot of people have been coming for years. I’m a hometown guy, so I recognize a lot of people. It’s always good to connect and see people you know.

CM: What’s the coolest car you’ve ever owned or worked on?

DP: I bought a brand-new Jeep CJ-5 in 1976 just before I enlisted in the Air Force. Unfortunately, I was without it for two years when I went to Germany. When I got back, I was stationed in Nevada at Nellis Air Force Base, so I got to do a lot of offroading and exploring. Anything that didn’t say “No Trespassing” was fair game.

CM: Do you have any interesting hobbies? What do you do for fun?

DP: I have a Harley that I ride. Two years ago, my friend and I did the “Iron Butt” challenge, which is 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours. We rode from Batavia, Illinois, to Gillette, Wyoming. They make you turn in all your gas receipts and pictures of your odometer every time you fill up, and I think they calculated it at 1,097 miles.

CM: What was that experience like?

DP: It was going along smoothly until we hit a hailstorm near Wall, South Dakota, and that pretty much took the wind out of our sails for several hours. We were close to 17 or 18 hours when we finally pulled into our destination. They do another [challenge] called the “Bun Burner,” which is 1,500 miles in 36 hours. We may try that yet, but I don’t know – we’re getting old.

CM: What’s your dream car?

DP: My dream car right now is I want to buy a high-roof van and convert it to a motorcycle hauler/camper, put some fold-down cots in it and all the solar panels and all that type of stuff. My wife and I travel on the bike quite often, but she thinks sometimes we’d be better-served by driving to our destination and then riding once we get there.

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