Torrance Area Auto Repair

Paul Dice - Service Manager

ASE Master technician / Ase certified consultant

Paul has been with Walt’s Auto Service for over 23 years and counting. Once when Paul was working on a truck at Walt’s, he saw bright little eyes peeking back at him inside a fender well; it was a little black kitten. When he fished it out of the fender and bathed it, he discovered that Yukon is, in fact, a white and orange kitty and is a happy family member of the Dice family. Paul’s favorite food is Sushi, and he believes that stock cars are the best modification because they can be fixed without breaking. He loves making customers’ days and enjoys surprising them by using the nicknames of customers’ cars when they come into the shop. Paul loves model railroading and is the current vice president of engineering in the Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club in San Pedro in the angel’s gate park. The BSMRC has been around for 50 years and is said to have the most extensive N-scale layout on the entire west coast. His favorite pastime is keeping these trains running, and we think that is so cool! Check out their website at https://belmontshorerr.com/ for more information.

Angel Santillano - Service Advisor

Angel Santillano is a vital asset to our Walt’s team. His passion for helping customers shines through every time they reach out with a problem. Angel’s love for cars sparked early, around 6 or 7, fueled by the Fast and Furious series and the passionate car community.

When he’s not at Walt’s, Angel indulges in his love for tacos, often spotted at the taco truck on Slauson Ave. and Avalon Ave. His car journey began with a 2002 Pontiac Grand AM GT, and now, he drives a 2019 Honda Civic, affectionately named ‘Civica.’ And if you’re ever around Angel’s Civic, listen out for its impressive bass-heavy sound system.

The familial atmosphere at Walt’s is what Angel treasures most, describing the team as more of a family than just colleagues.

Welcome to the team, Angel, where your commitment and passion elevate our service!

Pearl Nicassio - Ambassador

Pearl loves community and spends her free time hosting gatherings. Bringing people together is her specialty. Pearl attends Bible studies at a bible college and participates in both Catholic and Christian churches; she loves fellowship! She seeks out inspiration through continuing education and studies, bringing communities closer together through Booster club meetings and family. Pearl enjoys get-togethers celebrating family, friends, and classmates. Eating healthy is a big part of Pearl's life; whole foods such as pineapple, strawberries, fruits, and vegetables make her feel amazing! She enjoys cooking everything, especially vegetables seared to perfection, and she gives praise daily for the gift of food.

Pearl has always loved cars. When she met the team at Walt's, she felt so comfortable with their trustworthiness that she asked to represent them as their ambassador. "So many people talk nicely about Walt's - Walt's give us peace of mind and feel good with someone you can trust. Many of us want a car that is turn-key and works. As a widow whose husband loved cars and attended car shows. If you see Pearl at a community event, be sure to say hello!

Hector Martinez - ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN

Hector Martinez loves working on cars here at Walt's, both because he loves the people and family-oriented work environment as well as tackling different projects every day. His passion is pulling engines apart and putting them back together, especially high-performance engines. Hector loves all Mexican food and especially loves tamales and pozoles, yum! When he is not at work, he can usually be found reading books, articles, and magazines on custom cars. Hector first fell in love with cars at the age of 18, loves the look of lowered trucks and SUVs, and is a true Chevy fan.

Louie Driver - Automotive LUBE TECH / LOT PORTER

Louie is a lifelong athlete through and through, and it runs in the family. Hall of Famer Donald Jerome Driver, wide receiver, #80, and former dancing with the stars, is his relative. From playing collegiate-level basketball to coaching varsity basketball, tennis, and volleyball at Gardena High School to being an announcer at their local football games, Louie loves being of service to others.

When he is not at work, Louie can be found spending time with his wife and family and always looks forward to his favorite meal that his wife makes; chicken tacos.

On the weekends, Louie and his wife can be found at one of two churches, Cross Towers Ministries as an associate pastor or Tabernacle Church of God and Christ, where his great Great-Granddad also preaches. Louie takes immense joy in helping people see their purpose and hope. This is the driving force behind Louie's new-found passion for auto repair. He loves to say yes when someone asks for help with their car. As for his personal vehicles, he prefers them stock from the factory.

Louie enjoys the family-friendly work environment at Walt's Auto Service and is glad to be part of the team.

Mark Miranda - ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN

Mark Miranda loves taking things apart and putting them back together, making him an ideal automotive technician and welcome addition to Walt’s Auto Service. From the age of 14, Mark has had the automotive bug, starting with his first car, a 1987 Cutlass Cierra. He gave it a tune-up and got this project car running. Mark loves horsepower; his favorite modification is turbo-charging; he even modified a Honda, which had so much horsepower that it got 15 miles per gallon! Mark attended a vocational college for welding but quickly realized that his heart is in automotive repair and pursued this line of work and continuing education.

When Mark is not at work, he can usually be found cooking up a tasty steak, rendering videos, or gaming on his very own custom-built computer.

Shawn Baker - ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN

Shawn Baker loves working with the great team at Walt's Auto Service and enjoys putting a smile on his customers' faces when they come into the shop. Shawn started his career off in the Marine Corps as an Aviation mechanic. When he got out of the military, he attended Universal Tech in AZ, focusing on automotive repair. Shawn's favorite food is Thai curry, and he loves spending time in the great outdoors, hiking, snowboarding, and surfing. His favorite car modification is a built engine with turbos; however, his new favorite car is the Chevy Volt he drives, an Electric car that gets incredible fuel economy.

Tom WycKOff - ASE-Certified Automotive Technician

Meet Tom, our latest addition to the team at Walt's. Passionate about engines and speed, Tom's enthusiasm for professionalism and teamwork seamlessly aligns with our company. From his very first job at just 13, working at his dad's bike shop and maintaining bikes while racing BMX, Tom's work ethic and enthusiasm for mechanics have never waned. His commitment to hard work at Walt's shines through, making him a valuable member of our team.

Tom's passion extends to the racetrack, where he's involved in dirt bike racing. Growing up, he was sponsored as a BMX racer by a number of brands like Delamo Motorsports, NGK, and AXO Sports. He's also looking forward to sharing his love for speed with his son, who already has a dirtbike of his own. Away from the racetrack and garage, Tom loves to indulge in a perfectly broiled or BBQ'd rib-eye steak, accompanied by green beans and mashed potatoes. A true classic!

Tom's fascination with cars began in high school, where automotive courses fueled his passion. From working on dragsters to maintaining exotics like the Lamborghini Hurricane and Koenigsegg Agera, Tom lives and breathes speed. His favorite modification? Performance enhancements, of course. Tom's knowledge doesn't stop at engines; he's also trained in welding and battery technology. These skills add a unique dimension to his role here at Walt's. When asked about about his time at Walt's, he says working with a team that's as welcoming, friendly, and professional as the team at Walt's makes it easy to go to work everyday.