History

1971

Rick Pemble decided to create an auto wrecker and scrap yard.  He puchased a 1958 Chevy 1 ton deck truck and started hauling scrap cars working from his Parents yard on Sumas Mountain.  Rick's brother Joe had an idea for Rick to advertise his business by entering in local demolition derbys.  Rick Created the name "CAP'N CRUNCH" and the two of them built Rick's first derby car for the Cloverdale Derby.  He picked 212 for his derby number (waters boiling point). He was instantly hooked.  He became a crowd favourite and the competitors target. 

1974

Rick purchased a 1/2 acre property on the corner of Huntington Rd and Echo Rd, then the auto wrecking was moved to the new location.  He sold the 1958 Chevy deck truck and purcased a 1969 Chevy 3 ton deck truck with a hiab.  Using what he had, he modified the truck with rails above the cab and a wheel lift at the back.  Now with 4 cars on board things were more effiecent.

1975

With the auto wrecker growing Rick needed more space to store his parts vehicles.  He stacked vehicles in the yard and lined them up along the street infront of his house.  Later in the year he also started using some land on Lefeuvre Rd. Rick entered into the P.N.E. Derby for the first time and won second place in the grudge match.

1976

Rick purchased a 1960 Kenworth single axle roll-off truck and began bin services.  The truck was a great addition to the company.  Vancouver Harbour was the first owner of the Kenworth and ordered it from the Vancouver factory specifically as a roll-off truck.  They ordered the extremely rare "Kenworth Glider Kit".  It came with aluminum frame rails, cab and engine covers enabling it to haul heavier loads.  Rick won the Championship and third place in points at the P.N.E. Derby.

1977

With over 60 trophies under his belt, Rick is a serious contender at the derbies.  He won the second place Championship and second place in points at the P.N.E. Derby and won the amateur rollover contest.

1978

Rick sold the property on Huntington and purchased 7 acres on 34314 Vye Rd. 

1980 

The Demolition Derby's were the biggest thing for families to watch.  Rick was as well know as the cereal with the kids.  Everyone that lived in Abbotsford knew or knew someone that knew "CAP'N CRUNCH".  "CAP'N CRUNCH" Changed it's name to "CAPT'N CRUNCH" so that it didn't conflict with a certain cereal manufacture.

1981

Rick and wife Virgina gave birth to their first baby Rick Pemble Jr.  Money became tighter and Rick was forced to sell the 1960 Kenworth.

1983

Rick and Virgina gave birth to their second baby Lance Pemble.

1984

Rick purchased back his 1960 Kenworth and installed a Hiab for more usages.

1986

Capt'n Crunch purchased a Al-Jon car crusher and started crushing their own cars.

1989

Russell Booth gets hired to pull parts and help around the yard.

1991

Rick Jr and Lance are young but excited to start helping dad in the yard cleaning up between the cars and co-pilots in the truck.

1992

Rick purchases a Freightliner Cabover and A train to haul scrap metal to his buyers.  The front trailer was a drop belly and the rear trailer was a flatdeck.  Rick decided to use Chainlink fencing to rap around the crushed cars to secure the loads better.

1993

Capt'n Crunch purchased new lights and cameras for the George Massey Tunnel on the West bound lane.  The last thing the camera recorded was Rick and his Freightliner. 

1995

Frank Dutra gets hired to work around the yard and drive the trucks.

1996

Frank Rolled the Freightliner's rear trailer attempting to turn out of the yard.  It was loaded to heavy at the top.

1997

A fire broke out in the yard.  Vehicles were moved in a hurry to not allow the fire to spread.  After the Fire department put it out there were four cars lost.

1998

With a full load of crushed cars on the Freightliner, Frank saw the load had shifted on the front trailer.  Pulling off the freeway at 276th street exit, the slope of the road made it worse and the truck and trailers were rolled onto it side. Frank was driving the truck the next day.  Rick Jr finished school and started working full time at the yard.

2003

Rick saw a need to recycle different products so he created Capt'n Crunch Recycling.  He began taking demolition wastes and diverting the recycleable products from landfill. Capt'n Crunch purchased and installed a truck scale to control the loads coming in and out of the yard. 

2004

Rick purchased a wood hager and started shredding wood that was sorted out of the demolition waste.  He diverted his interests into the recycling company and decided to sell Capt'n Crunch Auto Wrecking to an employee named Perry.  Perry changed the name to "Small Block Industries" and Charleen Gregorig gets hired to help his new business.

2006

Perry found that owning a auto wrecker tougher than he thought and couldn't maintain the payments and returns the ownership back to Rick.

2008

Rick's nephew Lee Pemble gets hired part time to help out at the yard.  He was working full time at a helicopter repair facility at the Langley Airport.  With Lee living in Abbotsford and working in Langley, Rick saw another way to run his small loads into the city.  Lee sorted the non-ferrous metals at the yard on the weekends and trucked them into a buyer in the city after work on Monday. 

2011

Rick sr. decided to hire Lee full time so that he could retire.  With Rick jr and Lee working together to run the business Rick sr. is enjoying his retirement. Lee and Rick jr evaluate the fuel efficiency of the equipment and decide to sell 4 excavators and buy 3 newer ones.  They purchased another loader, a forklift, and a skidsteer to help with the increased volume of products entering the yard.

to be added soon.

2012                                                                                                                                                                                        

        In 2012 Capt'n Crunch  poured a new pad at the back recycling part of the yard. and is ready for our customers drop off needs. Making recycling needs eaiser and more accessible.