You could save on merchant fees^.
With Commonwealth Bank, MTA WA members can take advantage of preferential rates on credit and debit card merchant fees. Whether you’re a small or large business, the savings you could be making in merchant fees could be invested in other areas of your business, like purchasing equipment, employing staff or online marketing.
How much could you save?
When comparing credit and debit card merchant fee charges for MTA WA members versus non-members, the savings can be surprising. We have reviewed our merchant base^ for the industry and found that on average, members processing less than $500,000 could save up to 23%.^
We can easily create a customised comparison for your business, by simply providing us your Merchant statement for one whole month.
With Commonwealth Bank, MTA WA can also take advantage of our latest technology with either a Smart terminal or Essential Plus device, no contracts and 24/7 support.
Here for you, for however you do business.
To find out how much you could save with Commonwealth Bank, contact MTA WA on 08 9233 9800 or email enquiries@mtawa .com.au and they'll put you in touch with a Commonwealth Bank Relationship Manager.
CHINESE CAR MAKERS PUT WORLD ON NOTICE
With MTA WA CEO Stephen Moir
If there were any doubts about China’s place in the automotive manufacturing world, those doubts were dispelled at the 2024 Auto China Expo, held in Beijing in April this year.
Auto China is the largest auto show in the world, utilising nine large halls across 22,000 square metres at Beijing’s Exhibition Centre. The sheer scale of this event is hard to imagine, and I think it is fair to say that the 50 Australian dealers that attended as part of the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) Study Tour were equally blown away by what they saw.
Nearly every automotive manufacturer was exhibiting product at the show, but the dominance of new Chinese manufactured vehicles was simply staggering. There are now more than 150 EV dedicated manufacturers in China and the technology and build quality is like nothing we have seen to date.
China is now the epicentre of automotive excellence; a fact substantiated by the likes of BMW, which last year produced over 420,000 vehicles at its Dadong plant in China. Furthermore, this plant also rated as BMW’s most productive.
Mercedes Benz now views China as its most important market and a critical technology hub for the global automotive industry. The German manufacture recently built a new research and development centre in Shanghai which will focus on boosting its development of connectivity, digitalisation and automated driving technology.
The car sales figures for the Chinese market are equally eye watering with 2.1million cars sold in November 2023 alone. Compare that to Australia’s 120,000 and the US’s 1.3million and you see that there simply is no bigger market than China.
The significance of the Chinese automotive industry is clearly illustrated by the fact that in 2023, China exported more than 420,000 EVs to Europe. Many consumers would simply not be aware that their beloved VW, Audi, or Volvo could very well have been built not in Europe as they would expect, but in China. Numbers such as these also bring into question the logic behind the EU now considering an increase in tariffs on Chinese built vehicles to level out the playing field. Currently the EU apply a 10 percent tariff but
there is speculation this could rise to 50 percent.
The US very recently placed a 100 percent tariff on Chinese vehicles, arguing that it needs to protect their domestic manufacturers. However, they seem to be missing the point that the US-based manufacturers are not making the types of cars that the Chinese are.
All of this comes at a time where leaders around the world are focussing their attention, and much of their environmental policy, on the automotive industry and as such, they really can’t afford to ignore the new, technologically advanced products that China is producing. But enough of politics, lets get back to the show.
China has over 150 EV manufacturers producing a huge range of vehicles with brands such as Jaecoo, Yangwang, Xiaomi and Zeekr, about to hit our shores.
And unlike a number of global tech companies such as Apple who have failed to produce a viable EV, this show highlighted the success of Chinese tech groups working with manufactuers. Telecommunications giant Huawei are successfully
collaborating with Chery to produce high tech vehicles, including the Luxeed S7 which sold over 75,000 units in under one month in China. Cars on show oozed high tech and luxury, many as a result of the successful collaboration between sectors.
Similar to European manufacturing groups, many of China’s 150 EV manufacturers fall under the umbrella of larger entities in much the same way as the Volkswagen Group encompasses brands such as Audi, VW, Porsche etc. The world’s largest producer of EVs, BYD, also produces cars under the brands Yangwang, Denza and Fangchengbao, all of which were represented on separate stands at this show. Geely also had a number of stands showcasing their brands of Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Zeekr. In total, Geely has 15 different brands producing vehicles.
Gone are the days where vehicles produced in China were seen as poor quality, average performers and cheap. A number of four motor models producing staggering performance were featured including the Zeekr 001R which launches from 0-100 in around 2.2 seconds.
The Dongfeng M-Hero 917 would be a huge hit in Australia.
Unfortunately, Australia won’t see this model for some time, but Zeekr are launching in Australia in the last quarter of 2024 with two models, the 009 People Mover and, in a direct attack on the Tesla Model 3, the 001 –a dual motor sedan producing 580kW and 810Nm of torque. The 001 has Zeekr’s new 800V architecture and has a claimed range of 675km.
Unlike other Chinese built cars such as MG and Geely, which have to date focussed on producing lower priced EVs, Zeekr are clearly targeting the premium end of the market. The 001 is estimated to start at AU$60,000.
The tour group had the opportunity to visit the Zeekr showroom in central Beijing to closely view the line up and the build quality and finish is simply stunning. The interior fit out uses the best quality leather and suede, high end sound systems are standard and the display screens are truly immersive and employ the latest in AI to provide the driver and their passengers with all the information needed.
Zeekr are talking some aggressive numbers for Australia with expected sales of over 3,500 units in 2024 – no mean feet given that the cars won’t launch here until late 2024.
The other big surprise about the vehicles on show were the number of SUVs and even a couple of utes. One of the coolest cars on show was the Dongfeng M-Hero 917 – unfortunate name I know but with a radical, almost Mad Max design, this car would be a huge hit in Australia. It is a heavy weight at over three tonne but it produces 1088 hp through its four motors and, incredibly for its size and weight, it still is reported to deliver up to 500 km of range. The car comes with an optional range extender which, if it does come to Australia, would be a must have. And just to add to the wow factor, this car can not only crab walk, it can do a 360 turn on the same spot, achieved through some very clever tech.
The Chinese are very good at cloning cars and there were a number of Defender, 300 and Prado look alike SUVs on show hiding under curious names. The Jaecoo J6, which is a downsized Defender but incredibly sells for just under AU$25,000, has a 140 kW motor for the 2WD version and features great tech delivered through two large displays.
Yangwang, which is BYD’s luxury brand, showcased the U8 – a 300 series look-a-like with the exception of the Swarovski crystal grill. It produces a
whopping 1200 hp, 894kW through a 2 litre turbo engine coupled with a 800kW electric motor power source. Like the Dongfeng M-Hero, it also can perform what Yangwang call a “tank turn” – a 360° spin on the spot. Back in normal car mode, Xiaomi were showcasing their top of the range SU7 that looks not dissimilar to a Porsche Taycan but comes in at just under AU$65,000. For that you get a car with 670 hp and 500 Nm giving it a 0 – 100kph time of 2.7 seconds and featuring cool features such as active aero. Unfortunately, this car is not scheduled for Australian delivery at this stage but that may change as other manufacturers head south.
Another stand out for me was MG’s two-seater, full electric Cyberster roadster. This super luxurious convertible has scissor lift doors, full Alcantara leather trim and performs as well as it looks with the dual motor version getting to 100kph in 2.6 seconds. It is available in both two and four wheel drive and has a range of approximately 400 km. The build standard was exceptional, with the interior stitching lining up perfectly and the paint quality equal to any car produced in Europe. It is estimated that this car will sell for under AU$100,000, which will challenge
The MG Cyberster features exceptional build quality and a 0 – 100 time of 2.6 seconds.
some of the more established performance cars currently in the market.
Toyota had a couple of surprises for visitors to the show. The first was the Toyota Century, a AU$250,000 plus Rolls Royce Cullinan look-alike that promises super reliability, comfort and prestige at a quarter of the price of its competition. The second surprise was Toyota’s other EV offerings that, up until now, we knew nothing about.
Toyota launched their BZ4WD SUV in Australia earlier this year, but it was their smaller BZ3 EVs that took my attention. I’m not sure if Toyota would have brought this car to Australia prior to the introduction of the National Vehicle Efficiency Standards, but this legislation may assist Toyota in spreading its risk.
I am sure that the executives at Toyota would not have missed the fact that, despite a massive range of hi-tech EVs on show, by far the most popular stand at Auto China was the Toyota Prado stand which showcased both the standard and hybrid models. Visitors to the show swamped these vehicles which just goes to show that there is still great appeal in a proven off roader from a trusted brand.
So, what are my takeaways from Auto China 2024?
Chinese manufactured cars can no longer be written off as cheaper, poor-quality alternatives. The Chinese manufacturers are focussing in on high quality, super performance cars which will have a strong appeal in the Australian market.
The cars currently available in the Australian market fall well short in terms of technology when compared to the latest vehicles coming out of China. The driver assist systems, advanced safety and passenger entertainment features will be hugely attractive, particularly when compared to some European premium brands. From a pricing perspective, many will land at a quarter of the cost of their northern hemisphere competition.
In conclusion, I want to thank James Voortman, CEO of the AADA, for the invitation to attend this expo and I would encourage all dealers to consider attending this event in 2025, when the host city will be Shanghai.
Leaders around the world are focussing their attention, and much of their environmental policy, on the automotive industry and as such, they really can’t afford to ignore the new, technologically advanced products that China is producing.
Toyota’s BZ3 EV was one of several surprises from the Japanese powerhouse manufacturer.
The Zeekr 001R will be launched in Australia in the last quarter of 2024.
MTA WA hits the road
Trecently embarked on a threeday regional road trip, visiting Kalgoorlie, Esperance, and Albany from June 4 to 6.
The first of a planned series of networking sundowners, the events aim to nurture connections with local automotive industry members.
Key MTA WA representatives attended, including Group CEO Stephen Moir, General Manager Membership and Industry Engagement, Graham Cawley, and General Manager, Training Mel Greenhow.
The team covered a variety of topics including workplace relations, the diverse range of business support services available through the MTA WA and the new training programs that have been
electric future.
Stephen Moir delivered the keynote speech, highlighting the impact of the National Fuel Efficiency Standards set to come into effect on 1 January 2025.
The relaxed atmosphere at each event fostered a space for valuable conversations. Members capitalised on the opportunity to network with peers, address concerns specific for their businesses, gain a deeper understanding of crucial industry trends and offer their suggestions for future events. The positive feedback received underscored the success of the road trip.
The MTA WA is dedicated to building strong relationships with regional members to ensure a thriving automotive industry across Western Australia.
Membership brings peace of mind
As an MTA WA member, displaying the Association’s distinctive blue logo as part of your business promotional material is a clear illustration of credibility and trustworthiness.
However membership to the MTA WA entitles businesses to so much more than just a sticker to place on a reception door and a logo to include on a website.
Just ask Clare and Rawry Woodend, owners of JAW Auto Electrical and Air Conditioning in Byford.
Now in their fourth year of operation and having grown in that short time from a husband and wife team into a thriving business employing 11 staff, Clare is adamant that they could not have managed such an achievement without the ongoing support from the MTA WA.
“We joined the Association as soon as we established the business and I initially thought it was so customers would see that we were a member
of a professional organisation and therefore a bit more authentic,” Clare said.
“But it very quickly became so much more than that and I honestly think I would have been a nervous wreck were it not for the support of the MTA WA.”
Coming from a background of contract management in the mining industry, Clare explained that her previous career experience had been very process driven with a high level of scrutiny.
“I really wanted to bring these good business attributes to our set up from the outset and to do everything by the book,” she said.
“As a small business owner in the motor trades, there really is no-one else to turn to for advice and support so the MTA WA for us has been an extremely important ally.”
Clare explained that some of the more practical benefits of membership included standard employment
contract forms, award rate information and superannuation contribution requirements, all easily accessed via the website.
However, she cites a number of examples where picking up the phone and speaking to one of the specialists at the MTA WA has resolved a problem.
“We had a situation where we had to dismiss an employee due to on-going drug usage and through the MTA WA we were able to access the right advice as to how we should approach that situation,” Clare said.
“It’s very important to know exactly how you are going to achieve the right outcome without the possibility of an unfair dismissal claim or the whole scenario just becoming very messy.
“It’s hard enough terminating someone’s employment without that extra headache of wondering if it will come back to haunt you in the future.
Describing an altercation with a
Clare and Rawry Woodend, owners of JAW Auto Electrical and Air Conditioning in Byford.
customer who refused to pay a reasonable fee for diagnosing a problem and threatened to take JAW to Consumer Protection, Clare said knowing she could turn to the MTA WA for free advice gave her great peace of mind.
“The fact that we were able to phone the Association and have verification from the legal team that we had done exactly the right thing, not to mention the fact they sent a letter of explanation to that customer within 24 hours, was very comforting,” she said.
“As much as these customers want to make you feel like you’re a crook and that you’ve ripped them off, it’s very important to receive the confirmation that the position you took was totally correct.
“The advice and information we receive from the MTA WA literally allows us to sleep at night.”
JAW Auto Electrical also take advantage of the training courses on offer through the MTA WA.
“The guys always have their hands up looking for extra training and what is on offer through the Association is outstanding,” Rawry said.
Training is an area very close to his heart and a cornerstone of the JAW business model.
After completing his four year auto electrical apprenticeship in 2004, primarily learning his craft working on heavy earth moving equipment, Rawry became a highly sought-after tradesperson within the mining industry.
His career has taken him to almost every corner of the world, including stints in New Zealand, Russia, South America, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, Mauritania, Zambia and Spain.
“After quite a few years as an auto electrician in the mining industry, I began working primarily for two large companies with responsibility for bringing Australian training standards to the mining workforce in those countries,” he said.
Once the couple decided to a settle within the semi rural beauty of Byford, investing in a large property only three minutes from the business, the plan to be a small husband and wife business very quickly spiralled into something much bigger.
‘‘ I initially thought that membership of the MTA WA was little more than a sticker on the door but it has turned out to be a crucial part of our business day to day.
Clare Woodend, JAW Auto Electrical & Air Conditioning
“We opened just as the pandemic hit and while the first few weeks saw us working normal hours, I was soon working until very late into the night,” Rawry said, explaining that the first apprentice was employed very soon after.
“We now have four apprentices and while training initially sees the productivity of the business going slightly backwards, it’s absolutely essential to bring these guys on,” Rawry said.
The training that Rawry, with his vast experience and technical expertise, is able give has meant that one JAW’s apprentices, Joshua Scaddan-Blair, has been described by his TAFE lecturer as one of the best students he has ever seen, a claim backed up by an Apprentice of the Year nomination.
Rawry and Clare are also great mentors to their staff, having experienced both the financial advantages offered by the mining industry and the lifestyle choices granted by being based in the metropolitan area.
“About 50 percent of our business is sub-contracting to the mining sector so we have staff that are working remotely as well as servicing the local area here in Byford,” Rawry explained.
“The boys love the remote mining work but I’m very keen to keep them grounded and focussed on their values for they are only in their early 20s and I’ve witnessed all the trappings earning big money can bring and the bad lifestyle choices that a lot of people make once home.
“Given our backgrounds in the mining industry, we have realised that while you can earn good money in that sector, there comes a point where there are more important considerations and we are keen to bring our life experience to our young staff and to make sure they have a good work-life balance,” Rawry said.
“It’s a little like the advice and help we receive from the MTA WA,” Clare concludes. “As a small business, you can’t know everything but the experience others can share makes life a whole lot better.”
We’re excited to have achieved the top spot for customer service in the super sector in CSBA’s 2023 SenseCX annual
and
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INDUSTRY MATTERS
With Graham Cawley General Manager Membership and Industry Engagement
Movement at the station on industry policy agenda
In recent editions of MOTOR I have discussed some of the issues affecting the industry that the MTA WA has been keen to address and it is pleasing to report we have had some positive developments.
Gross Combined Mass (GCM) modifications for in-service light vehicles has been a topic on our radar for some time, and we are thankful that the Department has amended its policy to allow applications for GCM increases once again. There is now a pathway to apply for GCM increases for light vehicles registered in WA and this policy change will benefit both industry and those consumers who tow a trailer and add accessories and cargo to their tow vehicle.
In response to members’ calls, the MTA WA requested a review of the Department’s Dealer Online System (DOS) functionality and access in order to reduce Driver Vehicle Service (DVS) centre congestion. A review is underway, and we have been advised that the number of transactions for a Dealer to access DOS will be reduced from 25 a month to just 15. This will benefit all Dealers, not just those that move smaller volumes because it will reduce DVS centre congestion.
Members in the Commercial Vehicle Industry sector have long called for a full rebuild of the ROVER system because it was not fit for its intended purpose and, after a long campaign, our national body has finally been successful. A large sum of money has been allocated in the Federal budget to rebuild the system and the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) and the Commercial Vehicle Industry Association of Australia (CVIAA) will continue to work closely with the Commonwealth to ensure
the development of a new system addresses industry concerns.
The MTA WA was pleased to host the Minister for Commerce, the Hon. Sue Ellery MLC, and Consumer Protection Commissioner Patricia Blake for a significant media announcement concerning critical new changes affecting the sales of repairable write-offs. The amendments level the playing field by making it mandatory to disclose a vehicle’s ‘repairable write-off’ registration on the personal property securities register. The additional requirement to provide acknowledgement of a repairable write-off on the new Form 4 ensures consumer awareness when purchasing a second-hand vehicle. It would have been hard not to have heard about the work we have been doing regarding the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in trying to strike a balance between
efficiency standards and a reasonable supply of vehicles for the Australian market. Manufacturers need time to develop new technologies that will accommodate Australia’s transport requirements and these advancements must include multiple drive-propulsion systems, not just electric vehicles (EVs). The MTA WA is very supportive of EV technology, leading the way to ensure our industry can service the changing automotive landscape by providing the full EV skill sets and qualifications. However, we must ensure Australia strikes the right balance to meet its future transportation needs.
It is clear that as an industry, we are making positive improvements but there is certainly more to be accomplished. We continue to work on our policy agenda through out sector committees and industry forums. Keep a look out for the next industry forum for your industry sector.
WORKPLACE MATTERS
With Michael Kar General Manager Workplace Relations & WHS
Paying vehicle salespersons correctly under the VRSR Award
The MTA WA is increasingly receiving calls from motor vehicle dealerships seeking clarification about what retainers need to be paid to vehicle salespersons under the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020 (the Award) and how these payments interact with commissions.
These enquiries almost always involve the following issues:
• Whether the retainer that is paid is consistent with the Award
• Whether a commission can be used to offset the payment of a retainer that may be below the Award minimum
• Whether a vehicle salesperson is entitled to be paid for hours worked in excess of 38 hours per week and whether this can be met from the payment of a commission
• Whether a vehicle salesperson is required to be paid their average commission when taking annual leave
The purpose of this article is to provide general information to assist members to better understand and manage these issues.
What is a vehicle salesperson required to be paid under the VRSR Award?
The VRSR Award applies to all vehicle salespersons employed by businesses in the national industrial relations system. The Award at clause 28 sets out what vehicle salespersons should be paid as a minimum (including travel expenses and meal allowances) and the minimum obligations where a commission agreement is entered into.
In summary, Clause 28.5 of the Award states that a vehicle salesperson is lawfully entitled to be paid:
• at least the minimum hourly rates specified in the Award
• for all hours required by the employer to be worked up to and exceeding 38 hours per week
• certain specified penalty payments
It should be noted that the Award does not ever use the term ‘retainer’ (which is commonly used in the industry) but rather refers to the term ‘minimum hourly rates’. For compliance purposes, employers should treat retainers as being the payment of the minimum hourly rate under the Award.
The key takeaways here are that retainer amounts must be at least equal to the minimum hourly rate specified in the Award and that employees are entitled to be paid for hours worked in excess of 38 hours per week.
Commission arrangements
In relation to commission arrangements, it is important to note how the Award treats these as any Award obligations relating to commissions cannot be contracted out of.
In summary, clause 28.4 of the Award sets out the following conditions on commission arrangements:
• Any commission payments negotiated between a vehicle salesperson and his or her employer is subject to clause 28.4
• the basis on which commission will be paid must be committed to writing and a copy given to a vehicle salesperson within 21 days of the commencement of employment
• a commission arrangement will not be altered except by mutual consent or by a week’s notice in writing from the employer to a salesperson
• an employer will, within 21 days after the last day of each month, provide a vehicle salesperson with all relevant details of vehicles delivered and commission earned during the preceding month, and then this commission or any commission outstanding will be payable
• the commission will be deemed to accrue upon the delivery of a vehicle to the customer
• where a sale is effected as a result of the efforts of two or more vehicle salespersons, the commission payable in respect of such sale will be divided between them in such proportion as they may mutually agree
• where the employment of a vehicle salesperson terminates prior to the delivery of a vehicle for which they would otherwise be entitled to commission, provided the vehicle is delivered within three months of the termination they will be paid two thirds of the commission they would otherwise have received
• where the employment of a vehicle salesperson terminates, the commission to which the vehicle salesperson is entitled in respect of vehicles which have already been delivered will be paid to them within 14 days of such termination
From 1 January 2025 intentional underpayments can result in individuals facing imprisonment for periods of up to ten years as well as being subject to criminal penalties.
• any sum payable under an agreement made pursuant to clause 28.4 will be deemed to be payable under the Award.
It is important to note that the Award does not require employers to enter into a commission agreement. However, if employers do, the Award will impose the above obligations.
What Award entitlements can the commission off set?
Clause 28.5(b) of the Award clearly states that
• an employer’s obligation to pay a vehicle salesperson in respect of hours required to be worked in excess of 38 in any week may be met by the payment to the employee of any commission negotiated under clause 28.4; and
• an employer will at least every three months ensure they meet their obligation to pay the minimum hourly rate and make any necessary additional payments within 21 days after the last day of the relevant month.
Whilst it is clear that payments for work in excess of 38 hours may be satisfied by the payment of a commission, the Award does not allow other entitlements to be off set by the commission. The Award further states that once a commission agreement has been agreed, any sums payable under that arrangement will be deemed to be an Award entitlement.
The payment of an averaged commission amount during annual leave
Many employers in the industry pay vehicle salespersons an averaged commission amount when they take annual leave. These payments are normally paid to support employees to take annual leave without a total loss of pay. But the question that often arises is whether this payment is required under the Award?
Generally, when an employee takes
annual leave the Award requires that the employee be paid the wages they would have received in respect of the ordinary hours the employee would have worked had the employee not been on leave during the relevant period. This would generally include annual leave loading. However, the employee would not be entitled to payments in respect of overtime, special rates or any other payment which might have been payable to the employee as a reimbursement for expenses incurred.
In relation to commissions, advice received from the Fair Work Ombudsman indicates that the payment of a commission would not be consistent with any of the amounts that form part of what is paid for a period of annual leave under the Award.
However, FWO also added that there could be terms in the contract of employment that may be described as a commission but which may in fact be wages payable under the contract. In these circumstances the amount would form part of what is paid for a period of annual leave.
FWO noted further that a commission payment could be due, and as such payable, while an employee is on annual leave, only because it coincides with the leave period and not because it forms part of the payment of annual leave.
Importance of checking your arrangements
A failure to understand how the Award treats the above issues can result in employers underpaying staff. In the current legislative environment this can result in civil penalties but from 1 January 2025 intentional underpayments can result in individuals facing imprisonment for periods of up to ten years as well as being subject to criminal penalties.
If you have any questions about any of the matters discussed in this article please contact the Workplace Relations Team.
With maturity comes a better apprentice
Mackenzie McCrory, a matureaged apprentice working for German Motorwerks in Osborne Park, knows better than most that persistence is one of the most important personality traits for a motor mechanic to have in their toolbox.
It is literally the reason he now gets to work on some of the dream cars of his youth.
The now 25 year old came to the attention of German Motorwerks owner, Leif Coplin, about two and half years ago when Mackenzie first dropped into the workshop asking if there was a position as an apprentice available.
“I wasn’t looking for anyone and gave the standard ‘just leave your resumé’ answer,” Leif said.
”But every fortnight, this young kid would rock up on his bicycle informing me that until I gave him a definite ‘no’ he would keep on pestering me.”
Eventually Leif was won over by Mackenzie’s persistence and engaging personality and with the help of the MTA WA Apprenticeship Employment Consultant Jason Fay, German Motorwerks had a mature-aged apprentice on the books.
To say things have worked out well would be an understatement.
“Mackenzie has had a bit of life experience, so even though his mechanical ability was initially lacking,
he immediately demonstrated fantastic people skills and a really solid understanding and appreciation of how I like the workshop to be run,” Leif said.
“In terms of the day-to-day running of the workshop, despite being a fourth year apprentice, he is our point of contact for the others for he knows exactly what needs to happen and how it needs to happen.
“He’s extremely pedantic about how tasks are performed and that’s the sort of person I want looking over jobs before the vehicle goes back to the customer because he has an enormous amount of pride in making sure things are perfect.
“I saw a lot of me in Mackenzie when I took him on,” Leif concludes.
Mackenzie is one of two mature-aged apprentices that German Motorwerks has taken on and Leif says that the maturity that comes with age is worth every cent of the extra wage he must pay.
“A slightly older person with a little bit of life experience under their belts is a completely different proposition to a 16 or 17 year old,” Leif says.
“The lack of independent thinking and little understanding of the importance of responsibility definitely affects our ability to train an immature younger person.
“The way they may live their life on a day-to-day basis, particularly if this is the first time they’ve had a full-time job and some money, can really limit how much you can progress someone quickly,” he says.
It is a sentiment echoed by the MTA WA’s Jason Fay when he describes some of the issues host employers of young apprentices report – particularly in
‘‘Having that passion and a much higher level of maturity generally means that the older apprentice will be more capable of working independently and therefore more productively which definitely counteracts any additional cost.
Jason Fay, MTA WA Appenticeship Employment Consultant
reference to lifestyle choices.
“Mature aged apprentices almost inevitably will take quite a hit financially when they move from fulltime employment to learning a trade and that really demonstrates a very high level of commitment,” Jason says.
“Having that passion and a much higher level of maturity generally means that the older apprentice will be more capable of working independently and therefore more productively which definitely counteracts any additional cost.”
Unfortunately Jason says that there is a bias in the workplace against taking on mature aged apprentices because of the perceived economic hit of paying the additional hourly rate.
“It’s such a shame because the older apprentices bring so much to the table and unfortunately workshops are shying away bringing them on purely because of the figures.
“Leif, to his credit, can see the benefit of having mature aged apprentices and Mackenzie and Rohan are more than making up for the additional cost of their wages,” Jason said.
Leif says his personal experience of being an apprentice definitely influenced his attitude and approach when it comes to training.
“I can’t say I learnt an awful lot during my apprenticeship,” he says.
“My employer took a less hands-on approach and had the attitude that TAFE is for learning and work is for working.”
“I view an apprenticeship as bringing someone on to be the very best at that trade.
“I want to elevate them to the point where they are not only profitable for the company, but they are profitable to themselves because when you’re very good at what you do, there’s a bigger price point attached to that.
“Ideally we want them to stay here and continue to develop and hopefully that is the case when you are a good boss and there is a high level of mutual respect,” Leif said.
Both Mackenzie and German Motorwerk’s other mature-aged apprentice, Rohan Jones, who spent several years initially at a Mazda dealership before jumping ship due to “being treated like a robot”, agree
that the approach Leif takes towards training is highly rewarding – not only from a learning perspective but also in terms of their personal development.
“I’m here because I love fixing cars and building high horsepower engines and I love teaching the guys how to do that as well,” Leif explains.
“When we find something unusual or interesting, I’ll bring everyone together to talk though it and regularly we’ll also dig into a particular item – say brakes or bearings – in a very indepth way to make sure that everyone is exactly on the same page.
“It ensures a high level of competency which in turn means that the job is right every single time,” Leif said.
German Motorwerks has built a very solid reputation for quality BMW and Mini repairs, as well as performance modification work.
Now operating out of a large premises in Osborne Park, the origins of the business stem from a mobile service Leif established about six years ago.
“I’d been with another BMW specialist for about five years and despite earning a good wage and essentially
Mackenzie McCrory’s first introduction to the motor trades didn’t work out quite as planned.
As a 17 year old straight out of school, he began his apprenticeship at a Land Rover dealership but, unfortunately, found the environment very uncomfortable.
“At the time, it really put me off the industry, so I went back into hospitality where I had worked during my high school years,” Mackenzie explained.
After a few years, Mackenzie knew he really wanted to work on cars but it had to be with the right people and in the right environment working on the right cars.
“I’d grown a lot by then and I knew that I always do my best work and excel when I’m enjoying myself and doing things I want to do surrounded by people who share the same passion,” Mackenzie said.
Explaining how his journey as a mature aged apprentice has been so different to his initial foray into the automotive world, Mackenzie said a lot of young people jumped into an apprenticeship straight out of school without being 100 percent certain that it was the right career choice.
“I spent that time away as a manager in hospitality and doing that sort of work in a different environment helped me understand as an adult that this is really where I wanted to be,” he said.
“I absolutely love it here and now I get to work on a lot of the dream cars I had when I was growing up.”
running the workshop, I wasn’t happy due to the culture so I got on the front foot,” he said.
With an ever increasing workload, the mobile service soon became a 140m2 workshop in Malaga before another move 18 months later into premises twice as big.
In November 2022, German Motorwerks moved into their current much larger workshop in Osborne Park. An offer of help surreptitiously introduced Rohan to the team.
“I had met Cooper Scott, who completed his apprenticeship with the same Mazda dealership Rohan was with, due his ownership of a BMW,” Leif explained.
“He offered to help us with the move from Malaga, which was very generous, and bought Rohan along as well.”
It wasn’t too long after the move that Rohan joined the team to finish his training as a mature-aged apprentice and then Cooper came on board once he’d completed his training a few months later.
“We are such a close knit family here,” Leif says, describing German Motorwerks as more of a cult than a workshop.
The fact that all members of the team proudly wear a tattoo of the company’s logo would bear testament to that.
Competition proving the brand
German Motorwerks has built a reputation for high performance excellence and there is no better showcase than motorsport.
Describing himself as extremely competitive and surrounding himself with a team of highly invested technicians, it was inevitable that a race car would become part of GMW culture.
“I have two friends heavily involved in motorsport and they approached me to build a race car,” Leif explained.
“We bought a Toyota Supra, which is essentially a BMW Z4 with better weight distribution and, of course, a roof, as a statutory write off and began the time consuming task of turning it into a race car.
“Being a ‘Japanese car’, there’s already a cult following so there are a lot of after market parts and Toyota Gazoo Racing have built a GT4 racer which also helps us in terms of development,” Leif said.
The recent City of Joondalup Sprint was the first competitive outing for the car with driver Bryce Moore winning the event outright by less than half a second.
“We were expecting to do reasonably well in our class, but to win outright against some
extremely good competition was a total surprise and a fantastic reward for all the hard work that the guys put into building the car,” Leif said.
“It’s an absolute credit to technicians here that any work on the race car is done is their own time before 8am and after 5pm.”
It’s back to the drawing board with a few things to improve prior to a couple of sprint events before the big challenge – the three day Tarmac West (formerly Targa West) in September.
Leif Coplin, owner German Motorwerks
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A lifetime devoted to Land Rover
They say nice guys always finish last, but in the case of Kevin Falconbridge, owner of Land Rover specialist Rover-Tech, nothing could be further from the truth.
Loved by his staff and his customers alike and recognised by the Land Rover community as one of Australia’s leading authorities, Kevin’s passion for the marque is matched only by his willingness to help people keep their machines on the road.
“Mechanics ring me every hour of the day, every day of the week from up north or down south with a ‘bloody Land Rover’ looking for advice,” Kevin says without even a hint of annoyance.
“They’re scared of them but at the end of the day, Land Rovers are just another motorcar.
“The next day, they will ring me back saying thanks so much for talking to us and helping us through the problem and by word-of-mouth recommendations from these mechanics, we are getting new customers when they come to Perth.
“I’ve also got customers coming from across the Nullarbor who’ve been told that when you get to Perth, go and see Rover-Tech,” Kevin says, illustrating the standing he has with his Eastern States counterparts.
Now 71, his friendly disposition has no doubt helped shape the direction of his life for Kevin freely admits that he just seems to find himself in serendipitous situations that were not all of his own making, including beginning his apprenticeship in 1968.
“I didn’t want to work on Fords or Holdens,” Kevin says when reflecting on his introduction to the automotive world. “I wanted an apprenticeship with a prestige marque.”
“A good mate who was close to completing his training with the company suggested he could help me get an apprenticeship working on Jaguars at Roadbend.
“However, my neighbour, who was a salesman at Faulls in Subiaco at the time, organised an interview with the workshop manager there which must have gone well for I was handed a set of overalls and told I could start immediately,” Kevin says with a laugh. Two months later he received a call from Roadbend “but by then I was
well and truly on my way with Faulls.”
Working on a variety of British Motor Corporation cars, including Triumph and Rover, introduced Kevin to the marque which would eventually become synonymous with his name.
Having completed his apprenticeship, he was enticed to join another former Faulls mechanic, Dave Purcell, who had established a business in Welshpool, somewhat closer to Kevin’s Kalamunda home.
“We were initially mainly working on the big three Australian makes (Ford, Holden and Valiant), but when we started advertising that we specialised in Rovers, the direction of the business began to change,” Kevin said.
Looking back, Kevin says he feels very lucky to have completed his training on Rover cars “for when the first twodoor Range Rover, powered by the ubiquitous Rover 3500cc V8, arrived in Australia it was such a classy machine. Owners didn’t associate the brand with the more utilitarian Land Rovers so we started to see more of them in our Rover car workshop.”
And so began his love and appreciation of what has been universally described as the best four wheel drive in the world, a claim that Kevin stands by to this day.
Having worked with Purcell for over 19 years, Kevin leased a site in Briggs Street and established Rover-tech in 1983. Old clients soon discovered Kevin’s premises and he quickly outgrew the small workshop. Within two years, Kevin had employed three additional mechanics and had taken a second lease on the workshop next
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door. But Rover-Tech was at bursting point.
“Again I was very lucky,” Kevin says in his typically unassuming manner, as he explains how a long-time client and property developer Graham Cox, orchestrated the purchase of new, much larger premises.
“Graham came to the Briggs Street workshop one day and said ‘jump in the car, I’ve got something to show you,’” Kevin says.
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“He drove me to this unit in John Street Welshpool, opened the small courtesy door and said ‘this is yours’.
“I said how the hell am I going to afford the rent on this for it was huge by comparison to what I was used to and Graham said ‘you’re not going to rent it, you’re buying it!’ Yeah, right I thought,” Kevin says with a hearty laugh.
However, demonstrating just how well respected Kevin Falconbridge is amongst his friends and peers, Graham Cox had set the wheels in motion with the bank and an appointment the following day to sign the papers allowed Kevin to take Rover-Tech to the next level.
By the mid 1990s the business had again grown, and when the workshop immediately behind the Briggs Street premises came up for sale, Kevin took the opportunity to purchase, with the two sites now joined by a large access walkway.
It is testament to Kevin’s friendly personality and easy going nature that his staff, like his clients, are very loyal. Kevin’s son Kristen has followed in his fathers footsteps, completing his apprenticeship with Rover-tech. “Kristen is an integral part of the business,” Kevin states with pride, “and will eventually take over the reins.”
Another member of the close-knit six mechanic team offered to lend a hand over 20 years ago and has never left. Without being asked, staff are keen to opine that Kevin is a fantastic mentor and boss. Kevin says the reason is
simple - “Just show respect to your people. I didn’t always have that when I was working for other companies and I vowed that I would treat my staff as if they were family when I became an employer.”
Likewise, his willingness to help clients has deservedly meant longterm relationships have been formed off the back of his generosity as well as his knowledge and expertise.
By way of example Kevin tells the story of a couple from Germany who have been coming to Western Australia for three months every October for many, many years.
“They own an old Land Rover Defender which they use to tour the north-west,” Kevin explains.
“When I first met them over 15 years ago, I discovered that they left the car at the airport for the nine months that they are in Germany at a cost of $3,000.
“I told them that I was more than happy to store it on my property in Pickering Brook for free, which they thought was fantastic and every year, about a week before they arrive back in Australia, I take the covers off, give it a wash and a service and make sure it’s ready for their next adventure.
“I don’t even think twice about doing things like that because I’ve got the room and it helps people out,” says Kevin.
Unsurprisingly, Kevin is a long-time member of the Land Rover Owners’
Club of Western Australia, the oldest dedicated 4WD club in the State.
While not as active today as he has been in past years when it comes to participating in Land Rover 4WD adventures, Kevin has fond memories of organising weekend trips with fellow enthusiasts which invariably led to additional work come Monday morning.
And while he doesn’t spend too much time on the tools nowadays (“the newer models are getting very complicated now … the Defenders and Discoverys from years gone by were my world”), Kevin is very much hands on with customer relations and managing the flow of work through the workshop.
“Despite being 71, I still love being here and at the end of the day someone has to answer the phone and talk to the customers,” Kevin says with a big smile.
“I’m sure that one day my son Kristen will take over running this business but that will probably be the day when they ship me out of here in a Land Rover shaped coffin.”
The distinction of becoming an IAME associate member
As well as being a long-time member of the MTA WA, Kevin Falconbridge is also an associate member of the Institute Of Automotive Mechanical Engineers (IAME). Here he tells the story of how he gained membership to that organisation.
“When I left Purcell, I decided the first thing I would do was sit the exam at the IAME to gain membership.
It was a three hour exam and the paper I was given related to trucks which worried the hell out of me because I thought what do I know about trucks? However, it all made sense when thinking about the questions from a mechanical viewpoint.
By about the one hour mark, the room is just about empty because of the 35 who started just 10 are left and I’m thinking how stupid am I … I’m not even half way through.
At this stage the invigilator stops the clock and tells us to put our pens down. He goes on to say that unless one of those who has left is an absolute genius, there is no way they could have passed the exam. Don’t stress he said … just take your time.
By the end of the three hours, there were only two of us left in the room – myself and a young girl who was working at a motorcycle shop in Victoria Park – and the fella at the front said bring your papers up and I’ll mark them immediately. I’m not even going to bother with the others at the moment because I can almost guarantee they’ve failed.
We both passed with high distinctions, achieving a grade greater than 90 percent and membership to the IAME of which I am very proud.”
Western Australia’s home of motoring history
WORDS AND PICS: PAUL ROBERTS
Ayoung girl wearing a chauffeur’s cap proudly sits in the driving seat of a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow while her mother and sister enjoy the view from the luxurious back seat. Dad meanwhile captures the memories on his smart phone.
Welcome to the Motor Museum of Western Australian in Whiteman Park, perhaps the only automotive gallery in the world where
enjoying the opulence of a Rolls Royce is encouraged rather than frowned upon.
This pinnacle of early 1970s automotive engineering is the first exhibit patrons will see as they enter the museum and the interactive encouragement is a clever way of ensuring only eyes and not fingerprints appreciate all the other amazing vehicles on display.
The museum is home to one of the largest collections of cars, motorcycles and motoring memorabilia in Australia and this year celebrates its 30th anniversary.
However, this important and distinctly Western Australian time capsule could so easily have been lost but for the passion and dedication of a group of like-minded motoring enthusiasts.
Manager of the museum Patric O’Callaghan takes up the story.
“The idea for a motor museum began to take shape in the wake of the WA Inc. fallout,” Patric said.
“Percy Markam, a Western Australian motoring pioneer and enthusiast born in 1913, had bequeathed his very significant and sizeable collection of vehicles to the Western Australian Museum, which actually put control of the acquisition into the hands of the Government.
From L to R: Volunteer Colin Inch, Manager Patric O’Callaghan and volunteers David Johnson and Len Douglas.
“When they decided to sell off a number of those vehicles, it created a considerable furore amongst car enthusiasts, the most vocal being flamboyant entrepreneur and well known champion of the old car movement in WA, the late Maurice Brockwell,” Patric explained.
It was thanks to Maurice’s considerable foresight, and the actions of a number of very prominent motoring enthusiasts who came together under his leadership, that an independent, non-political and stand-alone motor museum was envisaged.
Whiteman Park, with its historical bent, was the chosen site and with the help of Government funding, donations and many, many hours of volunteer help, this unique celebration of Western Australian motoring history was opened in December 1994.
In honour of Maurice Brockwell’s contribution to the establishment of the museum, the original building is known as Brockwell Hall.
‘‘
Given the fact that the museum was largely established by the hard work of volunteer enthusiasts, it is pertinent that the organisational set-up established 30 years ago by Maurice Brockwell still governs the running of the museum today.
“We are a not-for-profit trust and the museum is run entirely by volunteers, including our Board, with myself as a paid manager accountable for the business,” Patric said, explaining that the museum is funded predominantly by paying customers coming through the door – this financial year numbering 30,000 which, impressively, is nearly double pre-Covid patronage.
And like it was 30 years ago, the passion and dedication of the volunteers continues to drive the museum forward.
“The time, energy and love that our band of volunteer staff, both past and present, constantly put into the museum is something to be acknowledged and celebrated,” Patric said.
“We have over 80 mostly retired volunteers on the books, several who have given more than 25 years service and many who are not far behind, and the museum would be nothing without their infectious enthusiasm.
“You name it, our volunteers do everything from welcoming visitors and conducting guided tours, through to setting up displays and cleaning and they all have unique skills sets, from mechanics and engineers through to retired librarians who may have little interest in cars but are essential in organising the extensive collection of nearly 25,000 books and magazines we have,” Patric said.
While the volunteers are an invaluable asset to the museum, the stars of the show are undoubtedly the cars and motorbikes, not to mention the staggering collection of memorabilia the museum houses.
“We are interested in displaying anything motoring related, particularly if there is a Western Australian connection,” Patric said.
The time, energy and love that our band of volunteer staff, both past and present, constantly put into the museum is something to be acknowledged and celebrated.
Patric O’Callaghan, Manager Motor Museum of Western Australia
The Red Bull that gave the museum (more) wings
The Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car that takes pride of place as you enter the Riccardo Hall has been on loan to the museum from Daniel Riccardo since 2017.
Designed by Adrian Newey as Red Bull’s entry for the 2014 season, it is the very car in which Daniel scored the first of his eight Formula 1 Grand Prix victories.
The victory in Canada was backed up by wins that season in Hungary and Belgium and he also achieved a further five podium finishes in 2014, finishing third in the Championship and outscoring his 2013 World Champion team mate Sebastian Vettel.
It was his first year at Red Bull Racing, having been promoted from sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso after fellow Australian Mark Webber announced his retirement from the sport at the end of the 2013 season.
With regulation changes making the car redundant for 2015 and as an acknowledgement of his phenomenal success, Red Bull Racing gifted Daniel the car at the end of the season.
“It was incredibly generous of Daniel to loan us this amazing car and it is undoubtedly one of the most admired and photographed exhibits in the museum,” Patric O’Callahan, Manager of the museum said.
Daniel was guest of honour when the Ricciardo Hall was officially opened in September 2017.
“Our foremost aim with the museum is to acknowledge and promote Western Australian motoring history, Australian history secondly and then, as a third tier, the contribution.
“Our visitor base is local, but we also have a large number of Eastern States and international tourists and therefore we want to make sure we cater for everyone’s interests with a good cross section of displays encompassing motoring history from the late 1800s through to the modern day,” Patric said.
As an independent museum with a panel deciding on what vehicles will be part of a regularly changing exhibition, the variety of history on display is wide ranging and truly diverse.
‘With the demise of Ford and Holden as Australian vehicle manufacturers, we think it is important to strongly acknowledge that piece of history but the beauty of this place is that it is not just a one marque museum and our exhibits cover the full gamut of motoring history,” Patric said.
One of the many star attractions is Daniel Ricciardo’s 2014 Red Bull Formula 1 car (see side panel), which is housed in the Riccardo Hall, a second building completed in 2017 which is accessed via an undercover walkway joining the original structure.
The naming of the hall acknowledges not only Daniel’s achievements, but the contribution to the museum by Daniel’s father Joe, himself a well known Western Australian racing identity, who completed all the building earthworks free of charge.
Appropriately this hall includes a magnificent display of race cars, including several Peter Brock Holden Racing Team Toranas, Alan Moffat’s giant killing Mazda RX7, famous speedway cars and bikes and an impressive collection of 1970s Australian and American muscle cars, including performance Falcons, Valiant Chargers and hot Holdens.
Rarities include a one-off convertible VN two-door Holden Commodore concept car, built by Holden Special Vehicles in the late 1980s, that very nearly made it into production and a Leyland P76 Force 7V, one of only 10 ever made.
With a focus on Western Australian motoring history, a beautiful diorama designed to reflect the rugged conditions faced by prospectors in the Western Australian outback
features several actual rusting remains of vehicles rescued from the ravages of time, complete with people, equipment and animals and plenty of red dust.
Lake Perkolilli in the Goldfields, the oldest original racetrack in the world due to the fact that it is a natural clay pan, is also honoured as part of the display and features the original signpost from the area.
Western motoring pioneer Percy Armstrong is acknowledged in an impressive display explaining his many achievements and featuring a collection of his trophies, helmets and associated memorabilia.
There’s even the Toyota MR2 that took centre stage during the
performance by Western Australian band Voyager at the 2023 EuroVision Song Contest.
And that’s not to mention the collection of die cast models that adorn the walls, the largest in the southern hemisphere
With over 200 exhibits, it is a testament to the generosity of the Western Australian motoring fraternity that approximately 40 percent of the vehicles have been donated to the museum, with the balance on loan.
“It’s just amazing what people have in their sheds and garages and it is so important that we preserve and display this history for all generations
to see as once it’s gone, there is no replacing it,” Patric says.
“It’s a big nostalgia hit coming into the museum.
“People are reminded of different times in their life through the cars, bikes and photographs and that sets off the wonderful memory endorphins as they recall ‘I had one of those’ or ‘mum and dad drove a car like that’.
“We understand that sense of nostalgia and even have a tissue box on the front counter for people who, if they have sold their old cars, may have a little tear in their eye for they now know what they are worth today,” Patric says with a rye smile.
One man and his dream machines
The name Byfield may not be the first thing that comes to mind when referencing Australian automotive manufacturers, but Cliff Byfield is a Western Australian motoring legend with over 15 handbuilt cars bearing his moniker.
A highly unassuming man who makes light of his skills and questions what all the attention is about, Cliff is still passionate about the work that has bought him fame but very little fortune.
Now 101, Cliff still hasn’t stopped working. Commissioned to completely re-body the car in aluminium, a 1932 Alvis sits half completed in the shed at the back of his Bayswater home, hand crafted panels either adorning the timber frame or waiting for reassembly.
“It’s been here for about two and a half years,” he says before pausing for reflection. “That’s two years too long but it’s keeping me alive as I just want to see the bloody thing finished!”
when he was very young and as the ‘man’ of the house, he was sent out to work at age 14 as an apprentice undertaker.
“That didn’t really sit very well with me,” Cliff said “but I was very lucky and ended up getting an apprenticeship with a coach building firm in Perth soon after based on a recommendation from my work working teacher.”
“Working at Bryan’s Motor Body Builders I learnt more than just one trade, including glass cutting, fabric work, welding and panel beating to name a few,” he said.
Cliff had almost completed his apprenticeship when World War II broke out.
“The day I turned 18, I joined the army but after a little time I put my hand up to join the Royal Australian Airforce,” he said.
WORDS: PAUL ROBERTS
Cliff’s life story is a remarkable one and it is fitting that his legacy is recognised by a display at the Motor Museum of Western Australia featuring three of his home built, hand fabricated cars.
Born in Northam in 1923, Cliff was the eldest of two boys. His father died
A brief spell as a wireless operator was curtailed due to major hearing loss from anti-tank rifles so Cliff volunteered to be an air gunner and promptly found himself on the way to England.
Flying Lancaster bombers and successfully completing a tour of duty (31 missions), including a Nurenberg raid which wiped out most of his squadron, Cliff was then
Cliff Byfield, now 101, is still enthusiastically working in his garden workshop in Bayswater.
employed as an instructor before returning to Perth with his new wife at the completion of the war.
His first task upon return was to successfully complete his coach building apprenticeship. However, he was also a man with a dream of owning his destiny and Byfield Motor Works became a very successful business post-war.
“I concentrated primarily on building heavy earth moving equipment and transport trucks and within 18 months I was employing four men and, when we were at our busiest, 12 people,” Cliff said.
“The Government policy for some years after the war restricted the importation of motor bodies.
“The bare chassis would come to us with an engine and radiator and a steering wheel with the instruments tied to it and we had to build and assemble everything from the mud guards to the cab – the whole kit and caboodle,” he said.
It was soon after establishing the business that Cliff built his first car, the Citroen pictured below.
“You couldn’t buy cars for love nor money after the war and I purchased that car as a burnt out wreck for a song and proceeded to build a unique body for it,” Cliff said.
“It became a quite a feature around Perth at the time.”
Such was his talent and reputation, Cliff was involved in the building of several notable racing cars of the period, including what became known as the Repco Holden Special in the late 1950s – a car that was raced very successfully at Caversham and still exists today, albeit in a very sad state.
“We built three cars in total with a chassis designed by David Van Dal and the body designed and shaped by me,” said Cliff. “It was a very pretty and fast car and we were planning to go into production but it was going to cost more than we could sell them for.”
A change of Government policy allowing full body importation changed Cliff’s business overnight and suddenly his skills were no longer in demand. The subsequent credit crunch and demands from the taxation department forced Cliff to close his doors in the late 1950s and his skills as a motor body builder and fabricator were transferred into teaching manual arts, a profession he enjoyed until his retirement in the late 1970s.
It was in his retirement that Cliff resurrected his passion for building cars.
Describing it as a hobby, he has built approximately 15 cars from scratch since retiring in the early 1980s.
Responsible for the intricate detailed design of all aspects of his creations, Cliff’s talents extend through to the building of frames and chassis and the shaping of bodies by hand beating aluminium. The quality of the workmanship is truly outstanding.
Taking pride of place in the Cliff Byfield display at the Motor Museum of Western Australia, one of his designs would not have looked out of place in an Italian supercar showroom once upon a time.
The Byfield XJS V12 HE, to give it its correct title, is a beautiful closed top two-door sports car which has taken styling cues from various sporting Jaguars while at the same time retaining a very individual presence.
First conceptualised in the 1980s and completed by his 80th birthday in 2003, its construction is based on a
Cliff’s first creation was this Citroen, rebodied to his own design.
Cliff pictured in the Byfield XJS V12 HE at the Motor Museum of Western Australia on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
The Repco Holden Special pictured in the pits before the start of the Caversham 6 hour race in 1964.
steel, box section back bone chassis designed by Cliff.
The car is powered by a fuel injected Jaguar V12 from an XJS. While the engine’s donor car was front engined with an automatic gearbox, Cliff has re- engineered the car to drive through a transaxle 5-Speed H-pattern gearbox.
“It scared the pants off me,” Cliff says when describing the performance of the sports car. “I never built it to go fast, I just liked the shape.”
However, it is not just the beauty of design that causes the viewer to draw breath. The attention to detail is extraordinary.
The car features beautifully designed hidden door opening mechanisms consisting of two small panels sitting flush to the bodywork. The top panel is spring loaded and operated by pushing it in and then pulling down the lower panel with the resulting action opening the door in a traditional manner.
The roof panel also raises in a Gullwing fashion while the final pièce de résistance in this mechanism is that the seats rise slightly for ease of ingress, lowering once the occupants are inside. When Cliff completed this car he was already 80 so no doubt such practicalities were well considered!
Every aspect of the car screams professional build, not backyard home-built special. The body work would appear to be moulded composite plastic or fibreglass but, remarkably, it is all hand beaten aluminium with panel gaps that are extraordinarily tight.
Likewise, the interior is a masterclass of quality materials and craftsmanship with an abundance of leather and timber befitting the Jaguar connection while there are other beautiful details such as the wrap around, full body width thin tail lights and the intricate hand crafted metal cooling vents.
‘‘ It’s fantastic to have the ability and time to create what you feel something ought to look like and then to be able to stand back and say ‘I built that.’
Cliff Byfield
Almost at the opposite end of the styling spectrum, his most recent creation, which is also currently housed at the Motor Museum, was completed at the ripe old age of 94.
The “Byfield Riley” is a pre-war style convertible, complete with boat tail and dicky seat. Finished in a deep burgundy and featuring an exquisite fine timber and leather interior, the mechanicals were sourced from an old Riley.
It is perhaps unsurprising that Cliff’s talents go far beyond just working on cars. Much of the beautiful timber furniture in Cliff’s house, including the dining room table and chairs, sideboards and kitchen cabinetwork is all handmade. Again, the quality is such that, without being told, a casual observer would never realise they were sitting on a chair made in a back shed out of rejected timber.
“I was brought up in a time of great sacrifice and hardship and you had no choice but to make do and hand build things because there was no money to buy anything,” Cliff says, explaining that many of the tools he still uses today are either over 100 years old or self built.
“I’ve been extremely lucky as I’ve always had the opportunity to do the things I love because I had the machinery to make what I wanted, even if I did have to build the tool first,” Cliff said.
“It’s fantastic to have the ability and time to create what you feel something ought to look like and then to be able to stand back and say ‘I built that.’
“I’ve loved every minute of it and, if I’m candid, the one thing that now scares me to death is the thought of having nothing to do.”
The hand built Byfield SS Jaguar is also one of the exhibits at the Motor Musuem of Western Australia.
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Formula for social media success
To the outside world and the hundreds of thousands of people who follow his social media and YouTube channels, Kym Illman, West Australian entrepreneur turned photographer, must be living the life mere mortals can only dream about.
Travelling to some of the most exotic destinations in the world to photograph some the fastest cars on the planet, Kym’s life as a freelance Formula 1 photographer is indeed the stuff dreams are made of.
However, Kym’s schedule and work ethic would very quickly take the shine off what, on the surface, would appear to be one of the most desirable jobs in the world.
I put it to Kym during a telephone hook up ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, the jewel in the Formula 1 crown, that he is living every motorsport enthusiasts’ dream.
“I do love it but I don’t think most people understand what a grind this is,” he says with a hint of weariness in his voice. As one of approximately 100 permanently accredited Formula 1 photographers, Kym is one of the very few who attend every race.
WORDS: PAUL ROBERTS
PICS: KYMILLMAN.COM
“It’s a lot of organising, a lot of plane flights, a lot of packing and unpacking and then we spend up to 14 hours a day at the track with perhaps two hours downtime at the most.
“I’m not complaining, but I don’t think there are too many people who would like to do this week in, week out, month after month,” Kym says, highlighting that in 2021 he spent 286 days away from home.
And yet 2024, with its gruelling schedule of 24 races in 21 countries, marks the seventh year since he took a less hands-on role running his very successful Messages on Hold business and began following the Formula 1 circus around the world.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri finished second at Monaco
For a man who freely admits that he “tends to do things for a while and then say ‘well I’ve done that now … what’s the next adventure’”, Kym’s motivation to remain on this particular journey is two fold.
“Firstly, I do love the atmosphere and the glamour of Formula 1 and the cars themselves are just magnificent works of art to photograph,” he says.
“But ultimately, I want to see how many followers we can end up engaging with on social media and YouTube and what unique and interesting approaches to stories we can offer to these people.”
What Kym offers to his legion of followers (over 330,000 on YouTube and more than 450,000 on Instagram) is an access all areas insight into every aspect of the Formula 1 circus through the eyes of a ‘professional’ fan.
Producing six 10 minute videos every week, Kym’s content is a diverse mix of Formula 1 gossip, in depth analysis, entertaining interviews with fans and informative personal reflections on subjects ranging from airport hospitality lounges to host city restaurant prices, all delivered in a highly engaging, direct to camera style interspersed with Kym’s outstanding photography.
And much like former Haas Formula 1 team principal Gunther Steiner garnered an unlikely cult following with his Netflix Drive to Survive performances, Kym has become a personality in his own right.
“If people watch you for an hour a week, which is what six 10 minute videos looks like, you end up being recognised which, bizarrely, leads to being perceived as some kind of guru on a whole range of
‘‘ I do love the atmosphere and the glamour of Formula 1 and the cars themselves are just magnificent works of art to photograph.
Kym Illman, freelance Formula 1 photographer
subjects and having fans stopping you in the street wanting selfies,” Kym said.
“I’m obviously delighted with the way it has gone and I know it is YouTube that has given me this persona.”
Interestingly, as part of an FIA media directive, Kym is not permitted to interview any of the drivers or team members for his videos and must
essentially be the subject matter. So given that Kym is now one of Formula 1’s most recognisable non team associated personalities, is he a Formula 1 fan?
“I’m interested and I don’t mind the sport, but I have to admit that most of time it’s just a boring procession,” he says without any hint of irony. While fully admitting that Monaco is his favourite event purely because it provides a photographer with such rich background imagery, this year’s race around the Principality was nothing but an example of the importance of qualifying on pole.
Kym’s journey to Formula 1 celebrity in his own right began in Abu Dhabi as a Red Bull Racing corporate guest at the final grand prix of 2016.
“I was in Daniel Riccardo’s garage as the team were preparing for the start of a session,” Kym explains. “It was all very exciting and colourful and I thought I’d love to photograph this.”
“When I got back to Australia, I sent a package to the FIA with my credentials and an outline of what I thought I could bring to the sport with the wish to gain accreditation for
Kym Illman is one of the few Formula 1 photographers to attend every Grand Prix
photographing the 2017 testing days in Barcelona.
“That went well and I then applied and gained accreditation for the opening few races of that year.”
The Bahrain Grand Prix of that year was to be a turning point in Kym’s new career. While standing next to Mark Sutton of Sutton Images fame and overhearing that he had lost a photographer, Kym negotiated a deal to shoot for one of the world’s largest Formula 1 media agencies.
“The deal was never going to pay for all the costs, but it was a starting point and I learnt a lot in that first year,” Kym said.
The all consuming and highly successful social media and YouTube channels came a little later and while Kym wishes he could take the credit for being so forward thinking, it was his son Jayce who pushed the concept.
“Jayce said that I had to get involved with Instagram but I resisted for ages and hated the idea,” Kym said.
“He also pushed me to create content for YouTube but my first attempt, which I admit was reluctantly produced just to appease him, was quite rightly lambasted by him,” Kym said, explaining that it was never uploaded.
However, with his son’s help and enthusiasm, the creation of video content has, in Kym’s own words, become all consuming and morphed into something that continues to get better all the time.
“The videos are now so much more than just Formula 1,” he says outlining that some of his travel related videos, which can encompass everything from airline reviews to rent-a-car dramas, can be more popular than the motorsport related content.
Working with a full-time editor based in Perth and with additional input from Jayce, the number of worldwide followers continues to grow exponentially.
“The YouTube channel is where my focus is long term,” Kym says.
“I just want more followers now.”
Born and bred in Monaco, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc finally achived his dream of winning his home Grand Prix in 2024.
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IF I COULD OWN ANY CAR...
‘‘
Patric O’Callaghan Manager, Motor Museum of Western Australia
1971 Yamaha 650 XS1 B in Pearl Yellow Gold BIKE
Having grown up on a sheep station in far western Queensland, motorcycles were a way of station life for any number of jobs, from mustering to boundary fence riding. So, it was a natural progression for me that motorcycles would feature in my life.
As with many families on remote properties, schools were not easily accessible, and the options were to be schooled by correspondence. This was a novel concept, as you would complete the work set, mail it off to Brisbane and then wait until the mail truck arrived with your results and feedback from your “remote teacher”. Given this could take up to four weeks it was not an ideal situation. The alternative was to be packed off to boarding school on the East Coast in the hope that I would learn something and be fashioned into a young man ready to tackle the world.
Fast forward to 1971, my 10th year of boarding school and my final year. I should have been totally focused on my scholastic endeavours, but I was rather more focused on what I had seen in the latest Two Wheels magazine. So focused, in fact, that I spent a number of study periods – which should have been dedicated to my studies – cutting out the silhouette, spoke by gleaming spoke, of what I thought was the most beautiful machine I had ever seen: a 1971 Yamaha 650 XS1 B, a 653cc four-stroke
parallel twin producing 53 horsepower.
The XS1 was the first 4-stroke motorcycle from Yamaha, which had previously only produced motorcycles with 2-stroke engines. It looked like a Triumph Bonneville but without the engine leaks. However, it was that colour (Pearl Yellow Gold with white pinstriping) that stole my heart.
For the rest of my year 12 schooling, I had that cutout poster stuck to the underneath of my school desk lid and every time I opened my desk, many many minutes were lost to dreaming of my easy rider life. Remember this
was the early ‘70s!
One of the teaching priests at the school, Father Carroll, rode a modest 175cc Honda and I badgered him into letting me use his motorcycle to get my licence on the day I turned 17.
I rode that 175cc down to the police station in Toowoomba in my school uniform, did my test, and rode back to the school. The Police Sergeant just got me to ride up the road and turn around before handing me a full motorcycle licence. Can you imagine that scenario happening today? No way!
I rode back to boarding school so proud of my achievement. My witty father for many years afterwards would remark “it was the only test he ever passed at school with flying colours.”
I have ridden and owned many motorcycles over the years, covering over 500,000 kilometres in the saddle, but I never did get to own a 1971 Yamaha 650 XS1 B in Pearl Yellow Gold. What is ironic is that my current motorcycle is a 2023 Triumph Bonneville –albeit with no engine leaks!
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection
Buckle up for to used vehicle sales
Audit reveals increase in dealer staff operating with expired licences
When was the last time you checked if your Motor Vehicle Yard Manager or Salesperson Licence is valid?
These licences expire after three years and it is a legal requirement on both the individual and the employing dealer that sales people and yard managers are licenced.
Yard managers are employed by a dealer to manage or supervise their business of buying or selling vehicles from the authorised premises, where as a salesperson is employed to buy or sell vehicles.
Consumer Protection staff randomly visit licensed motor vehicle dealers to check compliance with the relevant laws.
Our officers will initially aim to provide education and advice on what the law means on a practical level, and any information about changes. However, for more serious matters Consumer Protection will issue infringements or take prosecution action to curb offending behaviour.
Unfortunately, despite on-going education, Consumer Protection is seeing an increasing rate of people operating with expired salesperson or yard manager licences, which is concerning.
The Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 imposes serious obligations on licensed dealers, yard managers and salespersons and the way they operate their business. This includes ensuring licences are valid.
Consumer Protection can prosecute you or your employer in the Magistrates Court, initiate disciplinary action against you and your employer in the State Administrative Tribunal or give you an infringement notice for acting as a Yard Manger or Salesperson without a valid licence.
Maximum penalties can range from fines as high as $50,000 and infringements as high as $1000.
When our officers visit, they will conduct a reconciliation of your current employees (yard managers, salespersons) to ensure the accuracy
Trish Blake
of the Department’s database in relation to the dealership’s staffing profile and licensed persons. This is why it is important to ensure you keep Consumer Protection updated if you move dealerships. You have 14 days to notify us of changes to your employment. You should receive a courtesy renewal reminder electronically but if you have recently changed these details, you need to let us know.
If you’re attempting to renew your licence within 28 days of it expiring, a late fee will be applied. If it’s been longer than 28 days, you’re going to have to apply for a new licence.
If it has been longer than five years since you have worked in the industry as a salesperson or yard manger you will be required to again complete the appropriate training course. For Motor Vehicle Yard Managers this is the Dealer / Yard Manager Licence Requirements Course, and for Motor Vehicle Salespeople this is the Salesperson’s Course.
Only certain training providers are recognised by the Commissioner for Consumer Protection. These include the Motor Trade Association of WA, Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers and Fusion Business College.
Unsure when your licence expires? You can check the validity of your yard manager or salesperson licence for free on the Consumer Protection website – consumerprotection.wa.gov.au and click on the ‘Licences and Registration’.
You will find all the forms needed to renew, update or re-apply for your licence on our website. There is also information on how to ensure your dealership is prepared for a proactive compliance visit.
Should you require assistance with completing the application, please contact the Licensing Branch by telephone on 1300 30 40 64 (within Australia) or email cplicensing@dmirs.wa.gov.au.
Dealers must disclose repairable write-offs A
mendments to the Motor Vehicle Dealers (Sales) Regulations 1974 (WA) (Regulations) are now in effect. Since 7 June 2024, dealers must disclose whether a vehicle they sell has been listed as a repairable write-off on the written-off vehicle register.
Repairable write-off (RWO) means the car has sustained damage which has been repaired but will need to pass a roadworthiness check before it can be returned to the road.
This disclosure is now to be included on the revised Form 4.
As you know, Form 4 – Vehicle particulars contains important information about a vehicle for prospective purchasers to know before deciding whether to buy a vehicle. You must use the new Form 4 for every second hand vehicle, including motorcycles, and complete the new ‘Yes/No’ tick box on the form to indicate whether the vehicle is a repairable write-off and/or covered by a statutory warranty.
Form 4 no longer includes the explanation about the statutory warranty for a used car or motorcycle. Instead, a dealer must give a purchaser a separate information statement – Form 5A – Information statement – statutory warranty.
There is now an amended Form 6 – Information statement – no statutory warranty for vehicles that are not covered by a statutory warranty.
Ensure you are now using the updated forms.
A penalty of $2,000 will apply for failure to make a RWO disclosure, and any false or misleading statement or representation on the sale form (Form 4 – vehicle particulars) displayed on the car will attract a fine of $5,000.
The new regulations help address the growing numbers of consumers who unknowingly purchase used cars that have been written-off and repaired, with complaints to Consumer Protection tripling since 2020.
A RWO is not always a good or safe investment, especially for families, and may have very little resale value once the RWO status is known. It can also mean potential safety concerns further down the road.
Making it illegal for dealers to not disclose this information goes a long way in helping consumers buy cars that are safe and fit for purpose. It will also reduce the number of RWOs being sold to unsuspecting buyers. This will help build trust between consumers and dealers through added transparency.
Consumer Protection and the MTA WA are encouraging all industry members to read about the changes on the Consumer Protection website at www.consumerprotection. wa.gov.au (search ‘motor vehicle industry bulletins’).
