PETER HAUGHTON began working on cars professionally in 1977 in his hometown of West Palm Beach, Fla., at a Datsun dealership in West Palm Beach. Since then, he has worked in four other dealerships, as well as owned another repair shop, Haughton Motor Works.

His love for cars, specifically sports cars, began at a very young age. His father David took him and his two brothers to the world famous Sebring Sports Car Endurance Race in 1960. They have attended as a family ever since, as well as other sports car venue throughout the South, including Road Atlanta in nearby Braselton. Being a short 50 miles away helped make the decision to move to Athens even easier.

Peter and his wife Cherry moved to Athens in 1988 so that she could go to UGA. She did; and graduated from the UGA pharmacy school in 1993, just a year after Peter opened Japanese Motor Works. In 2007, Cherry joined Peter as his business manager which allows him the freedom to pursue his dream of becoming the best Asian automotive technician and shop leader that he can be, unencumbered by the necessity of office management. Cherrys' management style is based on her many years spent in the field of medicine, which is key to the smooth operation of the business.

This car lover's hobbies also include camping, scuba diving, and salt- and fresh-water fishing. He also dreams of surfing again, a sport he enjoyed all of his youth growing up in south Florida. These days on most every weekend, you'll find P&C with their two dogs and their camper. In the winter, they're on a mountain top, and in the summer on a lake with their pontoon boat. Georgia outdoors is definitely on their minds.

CHERRY HAUGHTON - Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Cherry is definitely a Florida girl as displayed by her love of the out of doors. Most weekends you will find Peter and Cherry on the river at lake Hartwell or in the north Georgia mountains with their Labrador retriever Preston and labradoodle Wallace. Past activities included a love of water skiing and snow skiing, but currently, salt or fresh water fishing and snorkeling in the ocean are still enjoyed whenever possible. Other hobbies include cooking, eating great seafood, reading and of course big lovable dogs!

Professionally, Cherry received a certificate in Dental Assisting at Palm Beach Jr. College and worked as a chair side assistant for a dentil in West Palm for a little over five years before returning to school at Armstrong State College to get a science degree in Dental Hygiene. She is licensed in Florida and Georgia and practiced about 16 years before returning to school to study pharmacy at the University of Georgia. She received her pharmacy degree and license in 1994, but currently manages Japanese Motor Works together with her husband Peter and dogs. She is most grateful for being able to help the family business at JMW without having to put in a 13-hour workday to do so. Also, she enjoys working with the best group people ever at JMW, as they bring so much to the table both professionally and personally.

DURWARD SIMPSON has been a mechanic for 33 years and currently holds an ASE Master Technician certification. His favorite vehicles are Mazdas and have been since 1973 when he owned his first one.

Cars aren't just a profession for Durward, they have been his love since he was very young. A licensed SCCA race driver and race car owner, he also helps maintain and repair three other race cars.

MATT DYAL - I serve as the Parts Manager and a Service Adviser for JMW. I am responsible for making sure our technicians have the proper parts in order to make sure the job is done right. I also help make sure our customers are aware of any problems they may have with their vehicles and that they leave here completely satisfied. I am a native of Elberton, Ga. I started working for JMW in September of 2007.

In February of 2008, I moved to Athens and have been living here since then. I hold an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from Athens Technical College and am a recent graduate from Piedmont College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. Future plans, along with maintaining a presence here at JMW, include law school, a career as a lawyer, and eventually a family of my own.