Meet the English Car Guy in Utah at Super Ford Salt Lake City

Well my name is Dave Hazell and as it says in the title I was born and raised in the UK. I moved to the states in 2005 settling in Taylorsville after I met my lovely wife while out on vacation. I now live out in Herriman and have two little additions my daughter Kylie who will be 9 shortly and Finley who is 2.

Tell us about life in the UK and what made you move to the States?

Let me answer the second part first if I may as it's a cool and significant part of my life. So in early 2004 I was serving an LDS mission in London England and I was jumped by a few guys and beaten up pretty good, after the attack I tried to continue but for health reason I was released early. I'm one of those guys who is a perfectionist and I can't stand not finishing something, so this affected me hugely. I became very depressed and my parents noticed it. My mum paid for me to come to Utah and stay with a family friend, a lady named Jackie. It was while out that I met Meaghan. It's crazy looking back to think that if those events never took place I would never have had this awesome life that I have now call it fate but it's very cool.

As for living in the UK I lived in Plymouth which is in the south west of England in the county of Devon. It's very much how you would picture England, lots of farm land, green rolling hills and very wet. I do miss the ocean though, many of my days off or vacations where spent on the beach or in the water. My family are all still back there so that makes it difficult but it's become easier with Facetime. I do miss them though.

 

How long have you been selling vehicles for?

Since July of 2005 and I've always been with Ford and Larry H Miller. I started at what was then Butterfield Ford on 9000^th south in Sandy Utah. It changed names a few times from Butterfield to Champion and then to Larry H Miller Ford Lincoln of Sandy. In 2014 the dealership went under management change and I decided to make a change for myself and ventured down here to Larry H Miller Super Ford.

 

What is one of your fondest memories in the Automotive industry?

So many to choose from. Let me think, I've been fortunate enough to sell 4 Ford GT Supercars, I'm not sure if anyone else could say that. But if I had to pick a memory or an event it would have to be the lesson I learnt about kindness and service. I was maybe 2 years into the business and it was summer time on a Saturday which is are busiest day and part of the year. I noticed a gentleman on 9000 south crawling of the freeway in a Ford pickup with a trailer behind him. He was clearly having problems with cars honking and moving around him. I ran down and asked if I could help we pulled it over and got a truck to pull the trailer to the dealership and another truck to tow his to our service department. We found out that he was traveling with his wife to the west coast from the New York area and was on a time schedule. My service department quickly found the problem and a tech stayed late to complete the job. While they waited I took them to a restaurant to eat and then chatted with them all day about life and their trip. I lost my whole day knowing that they would never buy nor would I ever see them again. They left and we waved good bye. He did say while leaving that shortly he would replace the truck and he would call me. I blew it off as just something nice to say and went about my life. Two weeks pass and my General Manager at the time Brent Bunkall shows me a letter that was sent to Larry Miller about that day, signed by the customer. I was given a $100 bill and congratulated for my hard work (Back then a $100 was what you got paid on a non-grossing car deal). Then a year later out of the blue I get this call which started with "do you remember me?" I ended up selling that nice couple a truck and since then I've sold them another and had two referrals all of which drove back to New York from little old Utah.

 

Outside of work what are your hobbies?

Wow good question I work so much that what time I do have I spend with the wife and kids. My family is the most important thing to me. My daughter dances and my boy will have no option but to play soccer (kidding) so helping Meaghan taking kids to recitals and practices has become a hobby. As for interests I love soccer I'm an avid Arsenal fan (they're going through a tough period) I also follow Real Salt Lake and my home team as a kid Plymouth Argyle. I love movies and I'm now no longer a closet geek but proud to say I love board games and comic book related stuff. My wife just got me into Harry Potter and of course on my venture of becoming an American Citizen I do love me some Disney as every American does.

 

You're not a citizen yet?

Ha ha, no not yet right now I'm a permanent resident, though I am working on the becoming a citizen. I can't see myself moving back to UK to be honest. I love it here plus my family are all born and raised here.

Lastly why should people come see you?

That's a loaded question, I believe in honesty and integrity and I will sacrifice a potential car deal to keep those standards. So customers will get an experience from me that they are deserving of. I also can say that keeping with the honest part that I don't get paid nor have a lifestyle that I want my family to have if I don't sell a car. So I have every intention of making a deal for now or the future.  I will also be your guy for life so I'm like Siri but for the car.