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Five Star Ranch, 3340 Dundas St. W. (Hwy. 5), Tel. 827â€"9578. the owners of Mantis Racing have found that car enthusiasts go a surprising distance to find a competent, trustâ€" worthy shop. Emie and Aleida Jakubowski have operated the business in Oakville for 17 years, distinguishing k. themselves with a respect for their customers and a thorough knowledge of high performance cars. Emie began tinkering with a secondâ€"hand Austin Healey in his teens. From there, he spent 15 years in offâ€"road buggy racing, buildâ€" ing and racing the aluminumâ€"bodied vehicles. Today, he personally test drives every car the shop works on to identify problems and ensure that nothing has been overlooked. Emmie, Aleida, three technicians and a counter person welcome customers in a 100â€"mile radius with many highâ€"end services: engine building, rebuilding, modification, parts sales, rouâ€" tine maintenance and service and assisting other area automotive businesses with specialty services. Emie believes his racing mentality and discipline has helped him realize how important it is to invest in proper service tools and equipâ€" ment. When diagnosing problems in the 5,000 square foot shop, he and his technicians find an engine dynamometer to be one of their most useful pieces of equipment. The bay area accommodates six vehicles, and is complemented by an attractive storefront, compact parts storage area, and engine building room. The Jakubowskis have become very skilled at finding highâ€"performance parts, purchased from California at great prices, and delivered by an overnight carrier. sophisticated styling services normally found in downtown Toronto. Bob and Debbie Richardson, proprietors of the ‘Bobâ€"Râ€"Shop‘ in a retail plaza at Upper Middle Road and Queensbury Crescent (between Trafalgar Road and Sixth Line) is a highly trained hairstylist with years of teaching and promotional experience in Canada, the U.S., Switzerland, England and France. A member of the Ontario Federation of Cosmetology, and the Guild of Hair Design, he is among a growing group of hair care professionals who want to see the profession regulated. "The Guild was established 25 years ago, when a group of hairdressers got together to share ideas. Our goal now is to unite the industry in a nonâ€"threatening, nonâ€"partisan environment, to encourage professional respect," says the softâ€"spoken Britishâ€"trained stylist. This year, as fashion director for the Guild, Bob coâ€"ordinated a show in February attended by 350 hairdressers at the Park Plaza Hotel in Toronto. He is currently working on plans for the next massive undertaking in October. Bob says he moved to Oakville to raise his children, and felt there were enough sophisticated heads in town to warrant opening a shop here. He believes that hair fashions move in cycles, but that what‘s ‘in‘ doesn‘t serve everyone‘s needs". A major plus is that Bob trains his stylists personally, and the stylist performs all cutting and chemical services for the client from start to finish. ‘"This minimizes communication errors. We find people are very comfortable with that," he says. Bobâ€"Râ€"Shop, 1534 Queensbury Cr., Tel. 338â€"6465 IK you‘re tired of your hair and looking for a change of pace, there‘s a hidden gem in north Oakville which offers Fhile importing leather furniture years ago, Barbara Leon realized leather is not maintenance free, as she had / been told. ‘"Leather can get ripped or cut, or get scuffed, and depending on the tanning process, the finish can V fade," she explains. At the time, Leon found there were few options for maintenance or repair. "In 1989, I stumbled on a company that specialized in furniture leather repairs done on location, in the office or the home. Two years ago, I started my own leather repair business â€" Advanced Leather Technologies Inc., and have added to commercial furniture repair, leather garment repair." ""In most cases, the leather can be répaired without replacement,"advises Leon, who notes that the Advanced Leather Tec system was tested and approved by the Tanners Council Laboratories â€" the foremost authority on leather in North America. For more information on the process, consumers can call 1â€"800â€"465â€"1306. Usiirilgr a special compo.und'that has similar prc;perties, leather is repaired without replacement as part of a refinishing system that makes any leather surface "look like new". Garment repairs at Advanced Leather Tec. include a complete alteration service â€" zipper and lining replacements, downsizing, etc. _ visit her at Five Star Ranch enjoy being around them as much as she does. The fiveâ€"acre ranch opened in 1986, and today, the outgoing Haynes owns 20 horses, has done some breeding, and boards another 15 horses. She opened an indoor riding area in January 1993, in order to provide comfortable fun year round. A level one coach certified by the Canadian Equestrian Federation, Gail offers lessons from age 5 upwards in western riding, with programs in trail, show ring success, practical horse care, and introductory riding. There are Christmas, March Break and summer riding camps. Trail rides run through the Richview Golf Club property and Bronte Creek Provincial Park â€" both with permission. In addition, clinics are held on health care for horses, and the proper way to fit a saddle. Sister Kim operates the Mobility Riders program for disabled children. An Oakville resident, Gail supports numerous causes, such as the Oakville FareShare Foodbank. The weekâ€"long summer riding camps, which are taking registrations now, includes riding theory as well as handsâ€"on work. "The lessons stress the importance of safety and fun," says Gail, who notes that parents are encouraged to participate in lessons. The summer programs begin July 4, and end the week of August 24 to September 2. Urban cowgirl Gail Haynes loves horses, and does her best to ensure that the wouldâ€"be cowpokes who Advanced Leather Tec, 1380 Speers Rd., Unit 5, 825â€"5614 Mantis Racing, 1029 Speers Rd., Units 5 6, Tel, 844â€"6219