DECEMBER 2023
Classic / Member Ride:
FORD FALCON FUTURA XL
BURNOUT: THE HIDDEN COST OF THE SKILLS SHORTAGE Advice on how to spot and manage this serious issue.
THE CUSTOMER TRENDS OF 2023
What you need to know to prepare for 2024.
CALENDAR of events NZ Golf Day
Palmerston North Tradeshow
Capricorn Convention 2024
Petone Tradeshow
Palmerston North Convention Centre 20 March 2024
Hawaii 5-11 May 2024
Petone Rugby Club 19 March 2024
Napier Tradeshow
Wairakei 15 March 2024
Taradale Rugby Club 21 March 2024
STAY TUNED! Log in to myCAP to check out all the upcoming events or for further information please contact our Events team.
cap.coop/events
The
0800 401 444
events@capricorn.coop
Puzzle Game WINNERS
Parts Connection’s Promotion Capricorn Preferred Supplier, Parts Connection, is proud to announce the next round of winners of their ‘The Puzzle Game’ promotion. Each time you purchase parts from any Parts Connection supplier, you'll receive a lucky Puzzle Piece. When you get one, check to see if you’re an instant $1,000 winner or have earned a piece to use when playing The Puzzle Game online. Members have until 30 November 2023 to participate. The list of recent lucky winners and prizes includes: KELLYS AUTOMOTIVE IN WHANGAREI - $1,000 THREE KINGS AUTOMOTIVE - $1,000 CASTLE PANELBEATERS - $1,000 SHEAFF VEHICLES - $1,000 PROTECT AUTO - $1,000 NAPIER COLLISION REPAIR CENTRE - $1,000 AUTO SUPER SHOPPE BIRKENHEAD - $1,000 MARCUS MOTORS - $1,000 KINGSWAY MOTORS - $1,000 A big thank you to all Members who have participated in the promotion so far! More information on how to play (and T&Cs of the Parts Connection The Puzzle Game 2023) can be found at thepuzzlegame.co.nz
CONTENTS CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2023 DECEMBER 2023
David Fraser Group CEO
CEO’s message
The end of any year is a natural time for reflection. It’s an opportunity to stop and think about what went right, what went wrong, and what you might do differently next year.
4 CAPRICORN SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
We are pleased to share the main outcomes.
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PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS DURING FESTIVE SEASON How to prevent holiday heists.
As 2023 comes to an end, I’ve been reflecting on a year of achievements for Capricorn. Next year marks 50 years since 17 Golden Fleece service station operators, unhappy with the status quo, got together to create our cooperative. So, for me, Capricorn’s strong performance in 2023 comes weighted with a sense of history—a sense of just how far we’ve come and of how much of a difference this cooperative makes to Members and their businesses.
THE CUSTOMER TRENDS OF 2023
For Capricorn, it was a good year. I’m proud of the record number of Rising Stars nominations we received—after all, our apprentices are our future. It was great to see so many Members keen to honour the achievements of the industry’s newest talent.
BURNOUT: THE HIDDEN COST OF THE SKILLS SHORTAGE
This year our State of the Nation Special Report: The Skills Shortage focused on the most important issue facing our industry and helped us understand how it was impacting Members.
Advice on how to spot and manage this serious issue.
We created a lot of Member wealth, including $50.1 million in Capricorn Rewards Points, $17 million in Trade Rebates, and a net dividend of 7% per share. We created $82.8 million in value to Members.
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What you need to know to prepare for 2024.
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14 COLLISION’S TRAINING CRISIS
Are you neglecting to train your staff?
In this twentieth anniversary year of Capricorn Mutual, Capricorn Risk Services wrote $121.9 million in gross protection for Capricorn Mutual, and Capricorn Finance provided $49.8 million in loans. Business vehicle finance loans have been included in our CAP ezi-finance offering for the first time.
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We launched a new-look myCAP experience and introduced online payments, making life easier for Members, and a new joint venture with Repairify to bring cutting-edge technology to the collision industry.
An unloved classic gets a new lease on life.
It was a year when we welcomed more than 3000 new Members to the Capricorn community and held 33 Trade Shows and Golf Days. We celebrated with you, holding Gala Dinners in Auckland, Christchurch, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.
ANNIVERSARY OF BATHURST 1000
New Zealand Members also elected a new director this year, James Candish. I know I speak for all the team when I say we look forward to working closely with James to ensure NZ Members’ voices continue to be heard strongly throughout the cooperative. So, a big year for Capricorn. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Capricorn for all their hard work in helping achieve these fantastic results for Members. Finally, I’d like to thank you for being a valued part of our cooperative family. I wish you all the best for the year ahead and look forward to achieving more great things together in 2024.
RIDE: FORD FALCON FUTURA XL
21 EPIC 60TH
Another brilliant chapter for this legendary race.
24 2023 TOYOTA
HILUX SR5 CRUISER
A wider, taller Hilux with improved off-road capability.
David Fraser Group CEO
All information, material and content in this edition of Ignition is provided or sourced by Capricorn Society Limited (“Capricorn”) for general information only and is not intended to be advice or comment on any particular matter or subject. Before acting on any information in this edition of Ignition you should consider the relevance of it to your own circumstances and, if necessary, take professional advice. Any opinions expressed in an Ignition article are those of the relevant individual author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Capricorn. Capricorn makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any material (including without limitation, any third party authored article or supplier advertisement in respect of which Capricorn merely acts as conduit) included in this edition of Ignition. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Capricorn, its officers, employees, agents and representatives disclaim any and all liability to you or any other person for any loss or damage whatsoever connected with: i. reliance on any material in Ignition; or ii. any inaccuracy, error or omission in any material in Ignition. CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023 3
Capricorn Society
Annual GENERAL MEETING The 2023 Capricorn Society Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Wednesday 18 October 2023, and we are pleased to share the main outcomes with you.
James Candish
Capricorn Members in New Zealand were recently given the opportunity to vote for a new Member Director who would represent their zone on the Capricorn Board. It was announced that James Candish has been elected to serve a four-year term representing New Zealand, replacing Phil Saxton. On behalf of the Capricorn team, we extend a warm welcome to James as the new NZ Member Director and look forward to working with him in his new role. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Phil Saxton for his eight years of devoted service as the Member-elected Director for New Zealand. Phil was elected to the Capricorn Society Board in 2015 and has been a passionate and dedicated member throughout his tenure. His love for the automotive industry, as well as for Capricorn and its Members, has always been apparent. On behalf of the Capricorn Board, we thank Phil and wish him and his family all the best. To learn more about our Directors visit:
capricorn.coop/about/our-directors At the AGM, Members approved the selective share buy-back resolution, meaning that subject to certain conditions Members can continue to sell their shares back to Capricorn. Members also ratified the renewed appointment of Donna-Maree Vinci as an Independent Director for a term commencing 1 August 2023 and ending on 31 July 2027.
Shares are issued by Capricorn Society Limited (ACN 008 347 313). No offer of shares is made in this publication. An offer of shares will only be made in, or accompanied by, Capricorn’s Prospectus and any supplementary prospectus which is available on request or may be viewed at capricorn.coop under “Corporate Documents.” Before making any decision to apply for shares you should consider the Prospectus and any supplementary prospectus. Any application for shares must be made on the application form in or accompanying the Prospectus.
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Smarten up your home this Christmas!
Summer just got smarter! Elevate your home tech game with a range of must-haves from Capricorn Rewards. From security gadgets to Google Nest’s genius, and even a remote pet feeder to keep your pets happy. Make this summer your smartest one yet!
TpLink Tapo Indoor Outdoor Security Camera
Eufy Security 5-In-1 Alarm Kit
Philips Hue Wireless Dimmer Switch
Dogness F10 Wide Cam Feeder
Ring Video Doorbell Satin Nickel
Arlo Pro 5 Indoor Outdoor Security Camera
Philips Hue Play Smart Indoor Light Bar
Products subject to availability.
Don’t miss your last chance to order E-Vouchers in time for Christmas! The perfect stocking filler or an easy last-minute gift, Capricorn Rewards has a range of E-Vouchers to suit every want and need this Christmas. Be sure to order before Monday 18 December to ensure that your E-Vouchers arrive before the big day.
capricorn.coop/rewards
*T&Cs apply. Products subject to availability. #The dates and times set out in this advertisement are a general guide only. No guarantee of delivery before Christmas is made and Capricorn will not be help liable for any failure to deliver items before Christmas, regardless of the date on which they order. CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
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BUSINESS BUILDING AND CONTENTS
Protecting your business during the
e v i t s e F ason se 6 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
The holiday season is a great time for relaxing and enjoying festivities with loved ones, but it also brings a heightened risk of burglary, especially if your business premises are left unoccupied for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, many criminals don’t take a holiday, and statistics show that property offences often peak around Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. In the last 12-month reporting period, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showed that Australia recorded a 9% increase in victims of unlawful entry with intent, totalling 151,200 cases, making it more important than ever to secure your business before you embark on your well-deserved holiday break. While Capricorn Risk Services1 may be able to provide protection against certain theft and damage events*, the best strategy is to prevent incidents altogether. Here are some important reminders to help you keep your business safe while you enjoy your well-earned time off:
1 FORTIFY ENTRY POINTS Before you leave, double-check that all windows and doors are securely locked. Unlocked entry points can be an open invitation to burglars.
2 CONCEAL VALUABLES Don’t tempt thieves with visible valuables. Remove or hide electronics and expensive portable equipment and remember to lock any safes that are on the premises.
3 ASSESS YOUR SECURITY SYSTEMS Test your security cameras and alarm system to ensure they are in full working order. Verify that they are armed and active.
4 ILLUMINATE YOUR PREMISES Well-lit premises are less attractive to potential intruders. Leave some lights on or consider motion-sensor lights for added security.
5 ENHANCE BUILDING SECURITY If time and resources permit, consider upgrading your building’s security features. Install anti-pick locks and consider adding bars or cages over windows, for added protection. With Capricorn Rewards2, you also have access to a comprehensive selection of products that are specifically designed to strengthen the security of your business property. From surveillance systems to reliable access control solutions, we've got everything you need to ensure that your business is well-protected 24/7.
Contact your local Risk Account Manager for more information, or simply call 0800 555 303 or email info@capricornrisk.com for assistance.
TM
* Cover may differ based on each protection or insurance product. Steps you may be required to take to attract protection under the relevant product may also differ. 1 Products sold through Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd include discretionary risk protection and general insurance products. Discretionary risk protection is issued out of Australia by Capricorn Mutual Ltd. Before deciding to acquire discretionary risk protection, you should consider the Product Disclosure Statement to see if it is appropriate for you. This can be obtained from Capricorn Risk Services by phoning 0800 555 303, emailing info@capricornrisk.com or checking the website capricorn.coop/risk. General insurance products are issued by a range of insurers and are available through Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd as a member broker of PSC Connect NZ Limited. Capricorn Risk Services is a registered financial services provider (390466) and a corporate Authorised Representative (No. 460893) of Capricorn Mutual Ltd (AFSL 230038). Capricorn Mutual Ltd has published a Target Market Determination for its protection, which is available at capricorn.coop/about/capricorn-mutual. 2 Participation in the Capricorn Rewards Program is subject to Terms and Conditions which can be found at cap.coop/tc
The customer trends of 2023
– make sure you're prepared for 2024 by Geoff Mutton
Overall, 2023 was a good year for the auto aftermarket industry. The challenges – staff shortages and parts supply – were offset by booked-out workshops and good profits. End of year is always a good time to reflect on anything learned during the past year, and perhaps this will provide a glimpse at your 2024 expectations.
Cost-of-living pressures Without a doubt, most commentators have focused on the rising cost-ofliving pressures and the expected slowdown. At this stage, my research shows that the impact on the auto industry has been mild. Many workshops started the year booked out two to four weeks in advance, but close to year’s end that had come back to two to five days. So, although the phone might have been ringing fewer times, most workshops were still fully booked out every day. With potentially another one or two interest rate rises in 2024, cost-of-living pressures are likely to remain the number one topic of concern. Motorists will most likely react to such pressures by extending the intervals of routine car services past their due dates, or they may choose to ignore a warning light on the dash until the car rego check falls due. (Vehicle inspection requirements vary from state to state). Consequently, workshops may well see more breakdowns. When customers eventually book in, they will hope that a general service will fix everything and nothing will be found wanting. This is where all workshops must maintain their standards and inform customers of any additional diagnostic or repair work that is needed and that such work will be outside the scope of the standard service and will be additional to the service invoice.
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Another trend could well be that customers will be scrutinising quotes in more detail. Over the past couple of years, customers tended to be less fastidious about quotes, with most just giving the go-ahead for whatever needed doing, with few questions asked. I suspect customer attitudes will swing back to pre-COVID times when they spent more time going through quotes, looking for options to defer repairs or seeking a cheaper alternative. The onus will be on workshops to invest the time to explain why repairs are needed and to help prioritise repairs so that customers are clear on what should be done now and what can be left till later. Repairing older vehicles The new car shortages throughout the COVID years were great for the industry, with many customers forced to repair older vehicles rather than buy new ones – if they could find them. The availability of new cars has certainly improved, but for some popular models there are still significant wait times. I expect these wait times combined with continued cost-of-living pressures will have many consumers deferring a new vehicle purchase during 2024. They will continue to hold on to their older vehicle and repair them when
necessary. This will be a good outcome for the aftermarket auto industry, and it’s one of the key reasons why I feel it will be reasonably sheltered from an economic slowdown. Customer impatience Staff shortages have impacted almost every industry, resulting in the market being conditioned to wait for everything. Wait times might be shorter than those of early 2023, and this trend can be expected to continue in 2024. Customers, however, expect the good times of instant satisfaction to be turned on and off like a switch, meaning that their impatience levels in 2024 could revert to the pre-COVID levels, when waiting a month for a car repair booking or a part to turn up was barely tolerated. To meet this trend, workshops should do their best to fit in with their customers’ lifestyles, which could mean outside-hours drop offs, working within promised times, keeping them informed throughout the job or getting quotes back within a reasonable time. Underpromising and overdelivering remains the best strategy by far.
Messaging platforms Phone messaging is a trend that will continue to grow as more people of all age groups become used to using their phone to send text messages – they don’t even have to type them anymore. Businesses need to adapt to this trend and ensure that they offer an appropriate platform and respond in a timely manner. This is the time to consult with your point of sale provider or colleagues to figure out your best managing option – which may include transferring your messaging responses to the office computer rather than through a mobile phone.
As 2023 comes to a close, I wish everyone a happy Christmas and new year. There are plenty of good reasons to celebrate – 2024 will be different, but hopefully prosperous.
Electric vehicle and hybrid enquires The electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid evolution is well under way, but the take-up rate will not be consistent across all demographics, with inner city suburbs leading the charge. It is inevitable that more of your customers will start asking questions about switching to electric or hybrid, so workshops need to start presenting themselves as EV and Hybrid Certified. Electrics and hybrids still need maintenance and repairs, so you need to ensure that when customers do make the switch, they continue to use your workshop as their preferred service centre.
CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
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Burnou The hidden cost of the skills shortage
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ut
If the State of the Nation Special Report: The Skills Shortage makes one thing clear, it’s that the skills shortage isn’t just taking a toll on business operations and finances, it’s also impacting Members’ work-life balance, stress levels, relationships and mental health.
mbers reported a range of effects, e including feeling overworked, not enjoying work anymore, sacrificing family time and not being able to take a holiday. What is the overarching thread that ties all of these responses together? The skills shortage is contributing to more Members experiencing burnout. Looking after your mental health is every bit as important as looking after your balance sheet. If you’re feeling burnt out, don’t ignore it. The good news is that burnout is very manageable if you spot the signs early and take positive, meaningful action. In this article, we’ll look at: H ow to spot the signs of burnout. Strategies for managing burnout. T aking care of others.
CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
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Burnout could look like:
Strategies for managing burnout
Feeling isolated, trapped or helpless.
Recognising the warning signs of burnout is just the first step. It's important to take action, as the situation is unlikely to resolve itself without making changes.
Irritability and cynicism. A lack of your usual energy or motivation. A feeling of failure or self-doubt. Feeling less satisfied with work. Feeling exhausted or drained. Procrastinating. Disengaging from work you used to value. Not sleeping or eating as well as you used to. Feeling alone, withdrawing or isolating socially. Headaches, body pain, muscle pain, excessive sweating. Fatigue. Outbursts. Panic attacks, shortness of breath. Getting sick a lot. Using substances (including alcohol) to cope. Finding it hard to function at all. If this sounds familiar, it’s important to do something about it - especially if you’ve been experiencing these symptoms for an extended period of time.
1 Identify the sources of your burnout When you’re feeling burnt out, the stress can feel overwhelming. Break it down, so you can tackle it more easily. Write a physical list of all the areas where your stress is coming from. Prioritise the most urgent and important issues you need to deal with. Get onto any easy wins promptly (e.g., delegating or outsourcing tasks).
2 Get support if you need it Don’t be too proud to seek support. It’s helpful to talk about what you’re going through, rather than bottling it up. Talk to friends, family or colleagues. Chat with expert community-based services, like Lifeline counsellors (more services are listed below). Talk to your GP.
RESOURCES Mental Health Foundation free call or text 1737 any time Lifeline 0800 543 354 or free text 4357. Samaritans 0800 726 666. Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865. Healthline 0800 611 116.
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3 Re-evaluate your priorities
5 Look at your lifestyle
Think about what really matters to you and write a list. Chances are it will involve things that aren’t work-related, like spending time with your kids or your partner.
If you’re feeling burnt out, chances are you’re not sleeping or eating well, or getting enough exercise. Yet good nutrition, getting enough sleep, and doing a bit of physical activity every day are all essentials for healthy living-not just for our physical health but our mental health as well.
Do your best to restructure the way you operate so that you can make these things the priority they deserve to be. Set firm boundaries: Don’t let work creep into the time you’ve dedicated to these priorities (don’t miss your kid’s netball game to do paperwork). We understand that these things are easier said than done, but if your current routine isn’t serving you, then it’s important to take stock and look at ways that you can make a positive change.
4 Step away from the business When we’re under pressure in business, there’s a tendency to work longer hours and take less time off. Yet, being overworked will ultimately make us less productive and lead to burnout. To work effectively and to be your best, you need to recharge your batteries.
Chances are you don’t need to radically alter your lifestyle. Making a few positive lifestyle changes can really add up and contribute to a healthier and happier outlook.
Stronger with each other Capricorn’s philosophy is that we’re stronger when we work together. It refers, of course, to the power of the cooperative, but it’s also relevant in the context of burnout. We can all play a role in supporting each other. Check on your friends in the industry if you know they’re struggling. Open the burnout conversation with others and help them access support if they need it. Talk to your staff. If you’re burnt out, they may well be, too. Ensure they have access to support.
Take small breaks during the day (put them in the calendar and don’t skip them). Book and take your holidays (if that means shutting the workshop doors for a week or two, do it provided that it’s financially possible for you to do so). Reconfigure your working week. Can you be just as productive or profitable working a four-day week? You might be surprised!
You can read State of the Nation Special Report: The Skills Shortage at cap.coop/son-skills
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COLLISION’S TRAINING CRISIS Are you neglecting to train your staff?
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nationwide survey that found 42 per cent of collision repair shops in Australia have not provided any training for their technicians in the last 12 months has sparked concern in the industry.
About 20 per cent of the collision industry— not including major players like AMA group, MotorOne and Repairhub—took part in the Australasian Paint and Panel Collision Repair Industry Census, making it an authoritative snapshot of what’s happening at smaller and mid-sized workshops across the country. Jason Trewin, Chief Operating Officer of Capricorn Preferred Supplier I-CAR—a recognised provider of collision training in Australia, New Zealand and Canada—said the underinvestment in training was worrying. “To be honest, it’s frightening because as we move forward, technology is going ahead in leaps and bounds and it’s hard to understand that the business could potentially be repairing a modern-day motor vehicle without upskilling their technicians so they can provide safe and quality repairs for their customers,” he said. Jason said with the pace of change in the industry, it was recommended collision repair technicians undertake at least eight to sixteen hours of training per year. “That can be online service training, web-based training, or hands-on skills assessment type training,” he said. While the Australasian Paint and Panel survey didn’t ask the industry why they weren’t investing in training, Jason suggested it was likely to be a combination of time and money. The survey found a whopping 68 per cent of collision shops were understaffed and 51 per cent are looking for panel technicians—so being able to give existing staff time off for paid training was likely to be difficult. However, he urged collision shop owners and managers to consider the real costs of scrimping on training. Not keeping up with advances and updates to technology like ADAS systems can cost a workshop jobs due to the inability to complete a repair. It can also cost a business time and money, as technicians take longer to work out how to complete a repair for which they are not trained. “You have to work out at what point you’re damaging your business,” Jason said. “If you take yourself away from training for 12 to 18 months, or even two years, things are going to leapfrog you pretty fast, I think. “You’re really starting behind the eight ball, because we have so many different brands, makes and models in our country and it’s a real challenge to understand these things on every car.”
“As human beings and individuals, when someone gives us the time of day or invests in us more than just in monetary terms, it creates a sense of self-worth,” he said. “When you’re properly trained, it makes the job that little bit easier, it takes away the task burden a little bit, and makes you a little bit happier.” “So having a little bit of training, more frequently, really goes a long way for staff retention.” Staff retention is a major issue for all sections of the aftermarket, but especially collision repair workshops. The State of the Nation Special Report: The Skills Shortage found it’s taking an average of 9.1 months to find a panel beater, 8.9 months to find a spray painter, 7.3 months for crash repair assemblers, and 9.4 months for estimators. It also found collision shops were the most likely part of the aftermarket to struggle to retain apprentices, with 71 per cent of respondents saying they’d lost an apprentice before the completion of the apprenticeship. Jason said training was also an opportunity to make team members more useful and productive. He said many workshops were now sending their staff to I-CAR to gain the skills they need to migrate between roles in the business. The skills shortage has also changed the way I-CAR delivers its training. “We’ve got a lot more short, topic-focused courses now, of 45 minutes to an hour,” Jason said. “Our classroom courses we now also offer virtually, to try to eliminate the time training is taking someone out of the business. We often do those after-hours. So, we try to offer a little bit of flexibility.” I-CAR provides post-qualification skills enhancement, education, training and information to the collision industry, including professional development programs, hands-on skills development and trade certifications. Jason recommended workshop owners keep up to date with “a little bit of training, a lot of the time”. “I think keeping up to date will shorten that gap between the knowledge and our guesswork,” he said. “I think if workshops do that, we’ll be much better off as an industry.”
COLLISION TRAINING RESOURCES Capricorn Service Data contains a number of collision repair-based resources. Log in to myCAP and visit the Capricorn Service Data tab on the homepage to learn more.
Jason also warned about a knock-on effect on a workshop’s culture. CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
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AN UNLOVED CLASSIC GETS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.
Ford
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FUTURE/ MEMBER RIDE:
CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
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It is 1962. John F Kennedy is president of the United States. Marilyn Monroe, one of the biggest movie stars in the world, dies unexpectedly at her Los Angeles home. The space race is underway and astronaut John Glenn orbits the Earth. In South Africa, Nelson Mandela is arrested. The first James Bond film is released. The Beatles release “Love Me Do”. In Australia, Perth hosts the Commonwealth Games. This is the world into which Ford released its new-look Falcon, the Futura XL. The Falcon had soared into the Australian market two years earlier with the XK. The model would remain a solid feature of the Ford family until 2016. The 1962 iteration was the first significant upgrade to the Falcon, to XL, a range-topping sedan—semi-luxury, semi-economy—and an answer to Holden’s EJ range. There were station wagon and utility models, too. In its most basic form (with a three-speed stick shift and a 144-cubic-inch Falcon Six inline-six engine), the Futura cost £1070. (There was also a 170-cubic-inch version). It was both affordable and aspirational. The new design had a characterful convex grille, bumper-mounted park and turn lights, new-look taillights and squared-off roofline. Driven by Bob Jane and Harry Firth, the XL was first across the line in the 1962 Armstrong 500 at Philip Island—filling the first four places in Class B. Although it is perhaps less famous and less beloved than the iconic EJ Holden it competed against, the XL is undoubtedly an Australian classic. There were almost 76,000 of them produced in the less than two years it was in production (when it was replaced by the XM). It was the remains of one of those original XLs that sat for years under the floorboards of a house in Toowoomba, Queensland. It was covered in dust and full of rust when Capricorn Member Nick Barton, of Barton’s Auto Electrical, bought it off a mate. “We had to drag it out from under the house,” Nick said. “It was a rolling shell but with no tyres because the house was so low, so we rolled it out with steel wheels. It was bare.” Nick took the XL to his workshop in the centre of town, intending for it to be a fun restoration project whenever he found the time. As so often happens, the vehicle sat there for ages, getting in the way, with very little progress.
“I asked my Dad if he could put the car in his shed,” Nick said. That’s when Covid-19 would intervene, changing the fortunes of the long-unloved XL forever. Nick’s Dad, Bruce—who started Barton Auto Electrical in 1982 and ran it until Nick took over the business in 2013—was a retired “grey nomad”, travelling Australia. The pandemic meant he was confined to the house and had a lot of time on his hands. “He got bored sitting at home doing nothing and asked if I minded if he started fixing a few things on it—fixing a bit of rust and stuff like that,” Nick said. “So he just got stuck into it, and I was paying the bills and finding the parts and he was doing the manual labour.” Bruce did the lot—from the panel beating to the paintwork. From a rusty rolling shell, the car was gradually rebuilt back to its former glory—only leaving Bruce’s shed once, to get an exhaust. “It was probably meant to be a father and son project, but Dad’s done all the hard work,” Nick said. “He should get all the accolades, really.” The interior has been redone to match the original. It still has drum brakes. There are still no seatbelts. But it’s not a pure restoration— although you can’t tell until you look under the bonnet. Gone is the old inline six, replaced by a 250 Log motor from an old XB Falcon. “It’s a little bit longer so we had to adapt a few things, put the fans in front, but it all fits in there,” Nick said. It’s car club registered, so Nick and his old man like to take it out for Sunday drives and shows with the local Aces and Eights Car Club in Toowoomba. Nick said he had about 18 cars in his stable, including three Falcon XPs, which are yet to be restored, and “probably six different models of Commodore”. Nick laughed at the suggestion that if he wants to get them all restored, he should stick one in his dad’s shed. “He’s got one in there now!” he said. 1962 gave us many icons. JFK. Monroe. Bond. Mandela. Glenn. The Beatles. We don’t talk about the Falcon Futura XL in the same breath as those other legends, but perhaps we should? It has earned its place in the pantheon of the greats.
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Photos from our
GALA DINNERS & TRADESHOWS are up now!
We've captured some fantastic moments from these remarkable events, and we can't wait to share them with all of you. Feel free to tag your friends/colleagues, share them on your socials or put them up around your business. While you're on our Facebook page, remember to like and follow us for more updates!
Visit cap.coop/photos 2 0 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
Epic 60TH ANNIVERSARY
of BATHURST by Paul Marinelli
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One of the world’s most epic and historic Touring Car races, the Repco Bathurst 1000, celebrated its sixtieth anniversary with four days of pedal-to-the-metal motorsport at the majestic Mount Panorama circuit in New South Wales from 5 October – 8 October 2023.
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his classic endurance race had its origins as the Armstrong 500 at Victoria’s Phillip Island circuit, before relocating to the Mount Panorama Tourist Road and doubling in length to become the Bathurst 1000 in 1963.
This was the first Bathurst 1000 victory by an all Kiwi combination since Greg Murphy and Steven Richards won the race back in 1999. Van Gisbergen and Stanaway also raced to the greatest winning margin (19.9 seconds) since 1999, when Murphy and Richards won by 25.3 seconds.
It is also fitting that this year’s 60th Anniversary of the Great Race introduced the new Gen3 specification Supercars to Bathurst, bringing a whole new look, sound and feel to one of the most popular sporting events in Australia. This is the one time other than the Australian Grand Prix where motorsport takes the top spot in Australian sport, with nationwide barbeques and sports-bar parties celebrating the blue versus red rivalry between Ford and General Motors (formerly Holden) fans lasting the entire day.
Second place went to pole position winners and Supercars championship leader Brodie Kostecki and Bathurst’s fastest co-driver, David Russell. The Erebus Camaro duo dominated all but one track session of the entire weekend, scoring the team’s third Great Race podium result. Dick Johnson Racing pair Anton De Pasquale and Tony D’Alberto finished third for the blue oval in the team’s fiftieth year of racing at Bathurst.
It was a speedy Kiwi duo that beat the best Aussies in Supercars this year at Bathurst, as triple Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen and returning super-sub Richie Stanaway raced to a dominant Repco Bathurst 1000 victory. They also etched their names into history as only the second all New Zealand duo to win the Great Race in its extraordinary history. Van Gisbergen, 34, became the first driver in 15 years to win consecutive Bathurst 1000s, winning his third Mount Panorama title in the last four years. Stanaway, 31, scored a memorable inaugural Bathurst victory, an exciting precursor to the Kiwi’s return to full-time Supercars racing next season. The result was also a fitting way for Van Gisbergen to bid farewell to the Mountain as he pursues his NASCAR dream in 2024 and beyond. The winning duo’s average speed across the 1,000 kilometres was 163.48 kph, the second fastest in the history of the Bathurst 1000. The victory was achieved in front of 204,069 spectators, the third biggest Bathurst crowd in the history of the event. Millions more were watching on television or via live streaming portals across Australia and around the world.
Of course, Bathurst delivered the highs and lows as only it could. Broc Feeney and Jamie Whincup missed out on a result when gearbox issues ended their race while Feeney was in third position during the late stages. Another race favourite, Cam Waters, didn’t reach the midway point of the race after co-driver James Moffat heavily crashed their Mustang at The Dipper. Others to suffer dramatic damage included Brad Jones Racing’s Andre Heimgartner and Dale Wood, along with Craig Lowndes (who was competing in his thirtieth Bathurst 1000) and Zane Goddard’s wildcard Camaro. By the chequered flag there were 16 (out of 28) cars on the lead lap after a total of six hours, seven minutes and 7.5 seconds of racing around the 6.2 kilometre Mount Panorama circuit. The final 88 laps of the race were completely green, meaning that there were no safety car caution periods for more than half of the race. This was an extremely rare scenario, but it was also a tribute to the extremely high standard of driving during the second half of this world-famous endurance race.
NIVERSARY
Car Review
TOYOTA HILUX SR5 CRUISER
2023
24 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
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he Hilux SR5 Cruiser was announced last year and promised a wider, taller Hilux with improved off-road capability, plus a more stable and comfortable driving experience on the open road. I drove it for a week to see how these claims stacked up.
Having recently moved to a rural property, I have joined the ute life with a 30-year-old Ford Courier. When Toyota offered Drivelife the latest Hilux SR5 Cruiser, I was keen to see how much progress had been made compared to my rather tired example.
What we like and dislike about the 2023 Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser What we like
What we don’t like
● Handling ● Power ● Transmission ● Safety systems ● Cabin quality ● Looks
● Ride quality (when not loaded) ● Camera resolution ● Radar cruise ● Front speakers
What’s in the 2023 Toyota Hilux range? There are a lot of choices when you’re buying a Hilux, with the SR5 Cruiser sitting near the top of the range.
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How does the 2023 Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser compare to its competition? All prices below exclude the refund or additional cost of the New Zealand Clean Car Programme.
Make/ Model
Engine
Power/ Torque
(L/100km)
Fuel
Towing Capacity
Ford Ranger Sport
3.0-litre, V6 turbo-diesel
184/600
8.4
3,500
$80,490
Volkswagen Amarok V6
3.0-litre, V6 turbo-diesel
190/580
8.9
3,500
$75,000
Mazda BT-50 Limited
3-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel
140/450
8.0
3,500
$63,790
Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser 4WD Double Cab
2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel
150/500
9.5
3,500
$63,390
(kW/Nm)
First impressions of the 2023 Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser The new SR5 Cruiser certainly stands out — it’s tall, and that 120 mm wider track, with matching fat plastic arches, gives it a real road presence. The huge black grille with its chrome inserts and the slightly frowny LED headlights give it an imposing face, and the fog lights have been integrated nicely into the new arches. Apart from being a little taller, the side profile looks just like the previous SR5, with “SR5 CRUISER” and 4X4 graphics. It’s a good-looking overall package, with privacy glass on the rear windows and 18” alloy wheels. One thing that always niggles me as a design choice is the placing of the rectangular fuel filler door. They had to make a notch in the plastic arch to accommodate it. It just bothers me every time I see it. The rear looks good with the traditional TOYOTA lettering on the tailgate, B-shaped tail-lights and an integrated step in the rear bumper.
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Price
(excl. CCP)
What’s the interior like in the 2023 Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser? It’s quite a step up into the SR5 Cruiser, but there are side steps and grab handles in the A-pillars to help you get in more easily. Some of my passengers did complain a bit about having to climb into the vehicle. Once you’re in, it’s very car-like with perforated leather, heated seats and a leather-clad steering wheel. The seats are comfortable and have enough side bolster support for everyday driving. The dash is solid feeling with a straightforward design integrating an 8” touchscreen which will be familiar to anyone who has sat in a Toyota within the last five years. It has physical knobs and buttons, which we very much appreciate here at DriveLife. The infotainment screen is connected to a ninespeaker JBL Premium Audio system which gives a good, clear sound. There’s not a lot of bass even after tweaking the settings, but it’s well-balanced. Something we commented on with the previous model is still an issue with this one: the two speakers in the corners of the dash have a silver surround which reflects on the windscreen, and it catches your eye all the time as you’re driving. Below the screen are the dual-zone aircon controls and a couple of power and USB sockets. The heated seat controls are lower down and are a bit odd in that the top one controls the left seat and the bottom one the right, almost as though they are rotated 90 degrees. They’re not intuitive, especially when finding them on a dark morning. There are two deep cup holders. I guess ute drivers like a large coffee, as a medium cup gets a bit lost in there. There are also pop-out cupholders on the outsides of the dash which are less deep. There’s a manual handbrake lever, and a large centre cubby with a 220-volt socket inside for charging your tools. The dash is the traditional two-dial layout with rev counter and speedo plus a centre screen for digital speedo, trip computer, off-road displays (such as wheel position), etc. Everything is clear and well laid out and looks great at night, with white and blue backlighting to go along with the blue ambient lighting.
The steering wheel controls are logical and easy to use. Cruise control is set via a third stalk which rotates with the wheel. Not my favourite way of doing it, but it works fine. The three rear seats have enough leg room for an adult to fit, plus the 60/40 split base lifts up to reveal under-seat storage. There are handy hooks on the back of the two front seats, good for your takeaway bag to stop it falling over. Out back there’s a plastic-lined tray which will do all the things you might want to do with a ute. There’s no damping on the tailgate, it’s heavy, and if you’re not ready for it, it’ll drop open with a clunk. This is standard for most utes, but I wish manufacturers would put some sort of damper on it to make it a bit safer.
What’s the 2023 Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser like to drive? After driving most other cars including a lot of SUVs, the Hilux feels huge. Tall and wide, it gives a commanding view over other road users. Not so big that it doesn’t fit in car parks, but some will be a tight squeeze. This new version is 120 mm wider than the previous SR5 Cruiser, and 15 mm taller. They’ve replaced the rear drum brakes with ventilated discs, and upgraded the front discs to 17-inch ventilated. Toyota says the suspension has been tweaked to give a better ride and handling, as well as the addition of a rear stabiliser bar. They say this means improved steering feel when cornering and changing lanes. All of these tweaks have a weight cost — the kerb weight is up 80-105 kg, depending on options. Quoted fuel consumption is up from 7.9 to 9.5 litres per 100 km despite the same engine power and torque from the 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel unit. There’s a 6-speed auto transmission with selectable four-wheel drive, and the rear diff is an automated limited-slip unit with a manually engaged locking system for off-roading.
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intervene by pulling back the throttle just slightly. It feels like when a big gust of wind hits the car, or when one wheel goes through a puddle, and you feel that drag. It’s odd, and I really don’t like it. I switched it back off and left it off. Often with utes and larger vehicles, I find that the high driving position reduces the impression of speed when you’re driving, and in a 50 kmh limit area it can feel like you’re barely moving. The SR5 Cruiser is no exception. It’s really easy to drift up over the speed limit, and that’s where radar cruise is a really great feature to have. You can set it and let the car control your speed easily, and smart cruise means you can trust it to slow down where needed. But there’s a problem in the Hilux, go under 30 kmh and there’s a beep, and the cruise control turns off. This makes it pretty useless in rush hour traffic. On the open road it’s much better and works very well, though it’s overcautious and slows down more than I would like on corners. There’s traffic-sign recognition and it works really well, showing the current speed on the screen and turning the icon red when you exceed that limit. Like all of these systems, it’s not a hundred per cent accurate, so you have to be alert. Toyota has added more safety features to the SR5 Cruiser, including rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot monitoring, both of which are great. The one that I didn’t enjoy was Toyota’s lane departure warning system. It was turned off when I picked up the SR5 Cruiser, so I turned it on and it took me a little while to place when it was intervening as it is quite subtle, but annoying too. Sometimes it’ll beep when you go too close to a line, other times it will
There’s a 360-degree camera system on the SR5 Cruiser which can be set to automatically come on when needed, in conjunction with the parking sensors. It works well but the resolution isn’t up to the standard of the European manufacturers, so it’s more a general guide than a precision tool. Also, the beep of the parking sensors is really piercing! So what’s the SR5 Cruiser like to drive? Mostly good. There’s ample power, and loads of torque. It feels like towing a boat wouldn’t trouble it one bit. Acceleration is effortless and it’s no slouch. The handing is excellent; it feels firm and planted on corners and will easily cope with anything a New Zealand State Highway can throw at it. Stability and control are very good and those new brakes work very well. Upon first impression it laughs in the face of potholes. But drive over a less-than-perfect road surface at 50 kmh and you realise that the secondary ride quality is jittery and unsettled. When you go over bumps or imperfections in the surface, it does a little shimmy as the rear wheels make contact. I picked up my wife in the SR5 Cruiser one day and 30 seconds after we set off, she said, “Is there something wrong with this car?” It can make your lower body jiggle in an unpleasant way, similar to a sports car with hard suspension. It would be enough to put me off buying one, and I see that John said similar things in his review about the ride in the previous model. I spoke to a work colleague who used to daily drive a Hilux and he said whenever he went on a road trip he would put two scoops of firewood in the back and then the ride was excellent. That’s all well and good, but in a very unscientific survey I did over the week I had the Hilux, maybe 5% of utes that I saw had something in the back. And I live in New Plymouth where there are a lot of utes. What about off-road, you ask? I wasn’t able to fully test the off-roading abilities of the Hilux but I did drive up a very slippery, wet farm track, and I can tell you that the low-ratio mode got me out of a tricky spot and saved the grass from being sprayed all over a curious horse in the next paddock. Finally, fuel consumption. On a combination of town and highway driving I averaged 9.3l/100km which is less than the advertised figure of 9.5l/100km.
2 8 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
2023 Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser Summary The Hilux SR5 Cruiser is a great-handling ute with plenty of comforts on the inside. It looks fantastic and has real road presence, plus it has all of the off-road ability and practicality you want. The effortless power and torque mean it will tow well and is no slouch. I’m sure it will also live up to Toyota’s reputation for reliability. But as a daily drive, the jittery secondary ride irritated me more and more as the week went on. If you drive your ute with an empty tray most of the time, then I don’t know how you’d put up with it.
7
Driver Technology
9
Economy
8
Handling
7
Infotainment
7
Interior
8
Performance
5
Ride
8
Safety
8
Styling
8
Value
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CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
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1 YEAR
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3 0 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2023
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