Hard times.

• Position: Brief article

The toughest time for the business was in the 1974-75 gas crisis, when cars were wrapped around the block waiting to buy some gas. People weren't buying a lot of parts because their cars weren't moving. Then it was tough in 1980-81, when interest rates went through the roof. I remember wondering how to get through 1980, when interest rates were at 22%. Fortunately, we didn't owe much money at the time. I had friends who went under--they didn't do anything wrong, but they just got...