Established in 1943, McKenzie's Garage on 2nd Street renovated with many of the features of the landmark garage.
HISTORY OF MCKENZIE MOTORS
Lester McKenzie started McKenzie Motor in 1943. He started working for the City of Lawton Maintenance Department during the day and at night he would work on his customer’s cars. The first shop he had was a two-car garage with a dirt floor in the alley between 3rd and 4th streets. As his business grew he stopped working for the City of Lawton. He had to work full time in his two-car garage. After a few years, his business was growing so fast that he had to build a new shop. In 1943, he had the front half of the building built. Lester worked along with one other mechanic. Earl McKenzie started working at the shop after returning from his service in the navy. After working with his father for several years, in 1957, Earl McKenzie took over the automotive business.
He continued the auto shop until the early 1960’s when the business began to grow. He had to add on to the shop. It is now twice the size of the original building. Upon completion of the building Earl had to hire two more mechanics to help keep up with the demand to repair cars. Now not only did he have a full service auto shop he also added a full service radiator shop. It was the only one in town. Now at this point there were five full time mechanics.
As you may know, Earl was very involved in Drag Racing. He would work on his hot rod in the evening after working hours. Back in the days of his drag racing the parts that he needed to go fast were not available over the counter. So Earl had to build and fabricate most of his parts. Earl was, and still is married to Nancy McKenzie. So at that time, for her to see Earl, she had to get involved with him in drag racing. Earl built Nancy a hot rod to race along with him. As you might know, she was a killer at the track. She was known as the “Drag Hag”. Everyone used to say “ I hope the McKenzies don’t show up at the race track today so someone else can win”.
In the early 1960’s Earl McKenzie was the National Record Holder for his class for several years. In 1964, Nancy McKenzie won the Fall Nationals, one week before giving birth to a set of twin boys. Nancy retired from drag racing in the early 70s and Earl retired in the early 80s. Everyone still wanted an Earl McKenzie motor for his or her hot rod. Earl and Nancy continued to run the family auto shop until they retired in 2014. At this point Les McKenzie (son) and Leeann McKenzie (granddaughter), along with the help of Earl and Nancy, renovated the auto shop into an automotive style restaurant. This has been a 72-year process.
Thank you for your business,
Lester McKenzie (Founder)
Earl and Nancy McKenzie (Second Generation)
Les McKenzie (Third Generation)
Leeann McKenzie (Fourth Generation)
