Whether driving in a carpool as kids head back to school or getting ready for a weekend road trip, Moms need to prepare our cars to transport precious cargo. A new book, The Garage Girl's Guide to Everything You Need to Know About Your Car, is exactly what you need to make sure your car is ready for the road.

This easy-to-read, well-organized book is written by the knowledgeable, personable, straight-forward Courtney Hansen. You may know Courtney as host of the TLC car makeover show Overhaulin' and Spike TV's Powerblock.

Although she might appear to be the typical, beautiful female presence among burly men working on cars, Courtney is so much more than just a pretty face. She grew up in the car racing world next to her father, race car legend Jerry Hansen the “winningest driver in the history of the SCCA” and spent months researching automobiles to be the best host of these shows she could be. As she read and highlighted every book she could find, she realized the deficit in the area of books written for women about cars. Her dream of writing this book was born.

The content of the book is varied and useful. She begins with chapters of how to purchase a vehicle, even listing her top choices of styles, makes, and models of cars. She offers tips on how to save gas, avoid auto theft, and maintain your vehicle. The chapters about choosing a mechanic and how to avoid getting ripped off by your mechanic have priceless value. Throughout the book, Courtney shares her personal stories and experience for the reader's benefit making the book enjoyable to read while filled with pertinent information.

A chat with Courtney Hansen

I met with Courtney recently at the AutoTrader booth at BlogHer ‘10 to talk with her about her book, love of cars, and exciting career. I felt I had known her for years and chatting with her seemed as comfortable as a talk with my sister. As I read through the pages of her book, I can imagine her talking with me and sharing her stories to help keep me safe on the road and purchase the best car for my family. I have already used this book to target problems with my ten-year-old van and plan to use it when I buy a car in the future. I know certain pages and sections will be used for reference countless times.

Being a car lover myself, I felt in awe of her vast understanding of all things automobile. I admire Courtney's unique ability to explain complex systems easily so I can further understand what goes on under the hood of these crucial machines. She hopes her book, which took over two years to write, “…will help you understand the benefits of proper auto maintenance and ultimately make you more excited about and connected with your car or truck than ever before.”

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