Teri’s Notebook: Car shop owner honored by Muscle Powered

Marcus Marchegger, owner of Capitol Automotive and former board member of Muscle Powered, was recognized this week for his donation to the nonprofit organization dedicated to making Carson City more walkable and bikeable.

“You have started our new year out in such a phenomenal way,” said Kelly Clark, president of Muscle Powered. “It just blew us all away.”

Marchegger made a commitment to donate $3,000 to Muscle Powered over the calendar year of 2017 by making 12 monthly donations of $250 each.

“It gives us the funds to do programs and support activities we wouldn’t otherwise be able to do,” Clark said. “We’re just ecstatic.”

Muscle Powered members presented Marchegger with a plaque on Wednesday in recognition of his contribution. They also provided a pizza lunch for his staff.

“Thank you back to you guys,” Marchegger told them. “Thank you for making this town a better place and for making people better. That has a value you can’t put a price tag on.”

Marchegger has owned Capitol Automotive, a 55-year business, for the last eight years.

“I just wanted to find a way to give back to the community,” he said. “Carson City has been so nice to me, supporting my business.”

Despite owning a car shop, Marchegger is an avid cyclist and encourages more people to get out and walk or ride bikes.

“Carson City is the perfect place to ride a bike or walk because it’s relatively flat,” he said. “I’m happy to contribute to that. It increases the value of the whole town.”

Clark said the organization has different names to recognize various levels of contributions, but it had stopped with “Business Members” at $500. A new name was created, “Benefactor,” to recognize Marchegger’s donation.

Clark said the funds will be used toward projects such as a student at Carson High School organizing an effort to put benches along the Linear Trail. Larger projects Muscle Powered is planning include a connector between the Ash to Kings Canyon Trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail.

“This is challenging us to think bigger,” she said.

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Muscle Powered is planning events for the annual Bike Month celebration in May. It will include a celebrity ride, a tour of Carson City, a commuter train, a party to end bike week and several other events.

Anyone interested in volunteering during Bike Month can contact Randy Gaa and randygaa@musclepowered.org.

Teri Vance is a journalist, freelance writer and native Nevadan. Contact her with column ideas at terivance@rocketmail.com.