On the Road

BY ROBERT LAIDLAW

A MARRIAGE MADE IN THE WORKSHOP

It wasn’t quite a marriage made in heaven, but Leigh and Rachel McKay have made a success of their nuptials through working together as mechanics. And how they originally met was serendipitous, as Rachel applied and won a job as a mechanic where Leigh had just handed in his notice to go overseas.

On his return from his holiday, Leigh started Nightcliff Service Centre and in time convinced Rachel to join him and they eventually rebranded to L R Automotive NT in 2019.

“Our business name incorporated the initials of our first names, but when we had a business opportunity with Land Rover, we knew we had to move to bigger premises, and change to ‘Darwin Land Rover’,” Leigh said.

“Originally, we were working out of a small area next to a service station, which was built before Cyclone Tracy hit, in 1975.

“We were fortunate, as it all started when I bought a Land Rover County for $1000. Consequently, Land Rover owners were asking us to fix theirs, so it was a niche market and it has just grown from there.”

In February last year Leigh and Rachel were asked by the Land Rover manufacturer to become Darwin’s authorised repair and spare parts supplier, which ‘blew the couple away’.

With the reputation the couple had developed, mainly through customer satisfaction and word of mouth, it made them an ideal target for Land Rover – it was a rare opportunity, as most international brand companies don’t usually go into partnership with independent businesses.

“Yes, those types of opportunities are unheard of. We were looking at changing the company name because of our relocation to Winnellie, and as it was a condition of the franchise agreement, it wasn’t a problem.

“For us it was about closing one business and opening another, which offered so many more opportunities.

“Our customers are a good bunch, and loyal. We have worked hard from when we started the business, with honesty the backbone of the trust we have won with customers and has helped us get to where we are now.”

There have been so many great stories from their ‘adventures’ on the job for the McKays, including helping people who have been stuck in the Simpson Desert and the Kimberley Ranges. They also have been bogged once or twice themselves, so have ‘hands on’ experience.

Both have family influences on their path to becoming mechanics. Leigh’s dad, Ian, was a fitter and turner, while his grandfather, Jack, did his mechanic apprenticeship in Snowtown, SA in the 1950s.

As for Rachel, her grandfather, Peter Mohi, was a diesel fitter and truck driver, but she points to her brother Simon’s influence through his interest in tinkering with cars when she was young – he’s now a wind-turbine technician, while Rachel ended up as the car mechanic!

FROM HOBBY TO PROFESSION

For Fan Zhao, working with cars was a passion that he has turned into a full-time profession, through Panda Automotive.

After arriving in Australia in 2003 as an international student and gaining a university media degree, Fan decided to go in a new direction, turning what was a hobby into a business, which started when he undertook a TAFE course to help him turn his tinkering with cars into a profession.

It was a complete change of lifestyle after originally working as a police officer in Beijing.

“In 2007 I started a workshop in the backstreets of Kent Town – the Kent Town Service Centre, which led to combining my skills with business partner Da Huo, an auto engineer, and relocating to our current location at 36-38 Woodlands Terrace, Edwardstown,” Zhao said.

“Da looks after the engineering arm of our business, with a focus on robot automatic control system designs for small business, while working with cars, both mechanical repair and crash repairs is my department.

“All our staff have over 10 years’ experience in every aspect of looking after customers vehicles, with a qualified mechanic, automotive engineer, spray painting and panel beating.

“Our service is price compatible and efficient. We also have a good reputation in the market, with a cash back guarantee if any customer’s not happy with our work.”

Integrity and honesty are what Fan has built the business on, as well as guaranteeing accuracy in quotes – no hidden fees afterwards, while all work is carried out efficiently.

Recently Panda Auto was recognised as an RAA Approved Repairer, while also seeking to gain the same status as a crash repairer.

“I just love cars, from the classics through to modern luxury vehicles. Whether it’s working on a Monaro or Torana, a BMW or Mercedes, they are all valued equally at Panda Auto. It’s great to get my hands dirty fixing the older cars while using modern technology with computers for recent vehicles brings the same joy to me as there is a point of difference, which offers variety in the work.”

Coming from a background of learning everything he could about his hobby to putting it into practice, Fan has a unique perspective on how customers view their cars, which is the secret to his success.

On his current ‘learning curve’ there is so much more Fan would like to do with the business in the future, as he looks to not only stay in touch with current trends in the industry but keep his finger on the pulse of all his customers’ needs.