Ben Alter and Nicholas Aadland handle the full range of car repairs at Clutch Automotive, their new shop east of Cashwise in Moorhead. (Photo/Nancy Hanson.)

Nancy Edmonds Hanson

When the vehicle you depend on needs a helping hand, Moorhead’s newest automotive shop comes through in the clutch.Clutch Automotive, that is. The service center opened its doors at 3328 Highway 10 just after New Year’s Day. Its location is just north of the 34th Street intersection near Cashwise Foods.
Entrepreneur Nicholas Aadland and auto technician Ben Alter have partnered in the new venture. Their service center offers everything from tire repairs to engine replacement, including not only oil changes. batteries and tune-ups but service on transmissions, brakes, chassis and other systems. They specialize in American-made vehicles.
Alter, who grew up in Northwood, North Dakota, says he was drawn to his profession by a simple twist of fate. After graduating from Larimore, North Dakota, High School in 2013, he says, “I was just looking for a job. I applied for work at a bakery and at the GM car dealership in Devils Lake. The dealership called me first.” The technician smiles, and adds, “If it had been the bakery, I might be making doughnuts right now.”
Instead, he began his career changing oil at the dealership. “I didn’t know much about cars, but they had a great training program through GM,” he reflects. Six years later, he and wife Sadie moved to the area, where he spent four years as a service technician with Certified Auto Repair of Fargo before setting out on his own.
His partner – who grew up in Veblen, South Dakota – arrived in an equally unexpected way. Aadland, who describes himself as an entrepreneur rather than a “car guy,” owns and operates the Nurtured Nest, a day-care center on Highway 75 just south of Moorhead. There, his wife Heather works with Alter’s wife.
The two couples, each raising four children, became friends. The idea of an automotive center came up over a shared dinner. After Aadland proposed they join forces, Alter says, “I collected some data on the business and realized it would be a pretty sweet thing to do. We found the perfect location here at the corner of Highway 10 and 34th Street, and here we are.”
Customers have been coming in since the day they opened their doors, Alter says. “Our biggest challenge at this point is building our customer base. Most car owners are already going to an existing shop, but things do happen. It’s a vibe thing. Luckily, people seem to be willing to try us.
“It’s a trust thing. Most of those who walk in don’t know anything about cars. They have to trust us to tell them the truth. We’re committed to providing honest, transparent service.” Toward that end, they offer a full diagnostic inspection for every car that goes up on the hoist, no matter what the issue that brought it in.
Aadland, Clutch Automotive’s service advisor, says they welcome walk-ins for routine oil changes and tire rotations, but recommend appointments for more extensive work. For more information and to obtain a quote for repairs, call 218-512-04897 or email clutchautomn@gmail.com