Ignition Magazine Winter 2014/15 by GROUPAUTO IGNITION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2014/15

The lifestyle Magazine for independent garages

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF GROUPAUTO

rally driver extraordinaire

JAMES

MEREDITH A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A BRADFORD CITY PLAYER

MAGAZINE

WITH OVER 600 PART DISTRIBUTORS ACROSS THE UK WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED

LARGE ENOUGH TO LEAD, SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE Find your local GROUPAUTO parts distributor at www.groupauto.co.uk or scan the QR code.

26 Top Truck from GROUPAUTO The UK’s premium commercial vehicle workshop programme

We look forward to the crazy competition due to be held in Aspen in January

Let’s get ready for snow! Add these incredible gadgets to your Christmas list

welcome to the WINTER edition of Ignition... You’re holding in your hands the last IGNITION magazine of 2014 – I know, where has the year gone? It seems only a few weeks ago that we were rounding up 2013 and running features on new games consoles and hangover cures for the New Year parties. The garage’s favourite magazine is in to its 5th edition, and now bigger and better than ever! There’s a lot to love about this winter issue including winter gadgets, recipes for comfort food, film reviews and a feature on Ken Block, rally driver extraordinaire.

X Games 2015

Have a blast this winter

Editor’s letter

Merry Movies

Check out the latest films to grace the cinema screen over the festive period

It’s an exciting time to be part of GROUPAUTO. The growth of the group since it was formed back in 1974 is extremely impressive. Take a look at the ‘Celebrating 40 Years’ spread on page 34 to find out more. We are keen for you, the independent garage, to contact your local GROUPAUTO motor factor to discuss purchasing car parts, joining the garage networks and benefiting from the host of services available to you – you won’t be disappointed so give them a call today. We are also hungry for more content ideas from our readership. Feel free to send in your ideas to marketing@groupauto. co.uk and we will give you a mention if featured. Merry Christmas to you all and we wish you the very best for 2015!

Winter Wonders

Winter products, available from GROUPAUTO motor factors

Chris Chaplin GROUPAUTO World Endurance Championship Hybrid performance developed by Denso for Toyota Racing

Get in touch: @GarageIgnition www.groupauto.co.uk/ignition marketing@groupauto.co.uk Advertising and editorial:

Lucas Oil BIGFOOT

Facts about the iconic car crushing monster truck

Winter wardrobe

01274 654600

chris.chaplin@groupauto.co.uk

Wrap up warm in style this winter by bagging these beauties

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Christmas is the time of year when we hang out the baubles and lock in the Christmas cheer. Let’s make 2014 one to remember… Here are five things you have to do this Christmas!

Just like the song, chestnuts roasting on an open fire epitomize everything that is memorable about Christmas This year wrap up warm, light a fire and roast your own…. • Cut a 1/2 inch crisscross on the flat side of each chestnut, to prevent the nut from exploding • Place chestnuts in a pan and cover • Roast over the coals of an open fire until the chestnuts are tender and the shells are beginning to open (15-25 mins) • Allow to cool, peel off the shell and salt to taste

Christmas markets can be found in all sorts of venues ranging from town centres to stately homes. Some happen just over a weekend and others last for six weeks or more. Christmas markets often have continental themes bringing in traders from across Europe. The cities of Birmingham, Bournemouth, Leeds, London, Glasgow and Oxford each have their very own traditional German markets, which are some of the best markets in the UK. Find a Christmas market near you visit www.christmasmarkets.com

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Lincoln was the first UK Christmas market to be revived and it is now in its 30th year.

He’s behind you… Going to a pantomime is simply tradition around Christmas time. They can be enjoyed by adults and children alike and are the perfect outing for all the family. To find a panto near you visit www.bigpantoguide.co.uk Although Christmas is a time for giving, not everybody will receive a gift this Christmas. By giving a charity gift, you can help make a difference to someone’s Christmas in a big way. or ask your friends and family to give to a good cause on your behalf instead of buying you a present.

Christmas is the ice-skating season, so get your skates on at an outdoor ice rink near you. We might not have Central Park, but here are some of the best outdoor ice rinks in Britain. • Glasgow on Ice - one of the largest open-air ice rinks in Europe • Eyeskating, London - The London Eye’s very own open-air ice-skating rink • Spinningfields Ice Rink, Manchester • The Ice Factor, York

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MAHLE celebrates historic 13th Audi le mans victory Many engine component manufacturers supply parts for online assembly and replacement through independent garages, but very few can claim to have played such an essential part in powering Audi to its fifth consecutive win at Le Mans 2014 as the MAHLE brand. Since Audi began its domination of the French race 16 years ago, MAHLE has been a major supplier of engine components to the team, proving time and again the benefits of original equipment quality in both one of motor racing’s most exacting environments and as a reliable partner in the aftermarket. Involved in motorsport since the 1930s, MAHLE’s Motorsport and Special Engines Division at Fellbach has played a key role in every one of Audi’s 13 wins at Le Mans in just 16 starts. To meet the special demands of coupling Audi’s latest 3.7 litre

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diesel engine with an electrical flywheel generator in the 550bhp R18 e-tron cars – with combustion chamber pressure of 250 bar - MAHLE has developed unique cooling gallery steel pistons in MONOTHERM® design. The results are clear for all to see, a winning combination of Audi and MAHLE engineering at the pinnacle of motorsport sponsorship. The sport provides the automotive industry with many promotional opportunities, but MAHLE’s involvement proves beyond doubt that it is what lies beneath the skin that really makes the difference. MAHLE Aftermarket, which supplies original equipment quality parts to garages and workshops throughout the UK, celebrated Audi’s success by holding its own Le Mans Challenge for suppliers, customers and staff at its UK headquarters near Wolverhampton.

The MAHLE Le Mans Challenge raised a four figure sum for BEN, the motor industry’s own charity, and put the seal on a year of far reaching charity and promotional activity by the West Midlands based company. MAHLE Aftermarket’s story began two days before the race, when teams assembled at the company’s Bilston head office and warehouse to receive a free air conditioning service, using the latest MAHLE Behr AC service equipment prior to a dash to the Channel ports and a blast down to the famous Sarthe Circuit at Le Mans. No doubt about the star of the show – an immaculately restored V12 E Type driven by Simon Poole, Managing Director of MAHLE supplier Avon Freight Group, accompanied by classic car restorer Glyn Butlin of Butlin Classic Car Restorations. Glyn has painstakingly restored the car’s engine using specially developed MAHLE pistons supplied to SNG Barratt, the world-renowned classic Jaguar specialist in Bridgenorth, Shropshire. “With wonderful weather, we had the hood down all weekend,” said Simon. “The atmosphere when we reached Le Mans was fantastic. It was a first visit to this iconic event for both of us and we couldn’t have asked for better racing, especially the spectacle at nighttime, which we viewed from the Porsche curves. And as for the sound of the winning Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars, which combine hybrid electric technology for a high powered diesel engine, it was quite unreal”.

“

The atmosphere when we reached Le Mans was fantastic. It was a first visit to this iconic event for both of us and we couldn’t have asked for better racing, especially the spectacle at nighttime, which we viewed from the Porsche curves.

“

Managing Director of Avon Freight Group Simon Poole

Contact your local GROUPAUTO distributor for more information on all MAHLE products. Scan here www.groupauto.co.uk

MUST HAVE GIFTS

FOR THE KIDS Keep the little ones busy this Christmas. Grab one of these top picks for Christmas 2014 and they’ll be playing away for hours. From interactive toys, to wearable technology, kids’ toys have never been so sophisticated.

Xeno Monstertoy £80 A hilarious interactive monster, with pullout snot, fart noises, and 40 different expressions. Xeno will have the whole family laughing.

Transformers Chomp & Stomp Grimlock £115 A 20 inch robot with a mighty sword. Ideal for keeping kids busy for hours. Cayla £80 A must have interactive doll. Cayla answers questions using Google software, SafeSearch ensures that all ‘bad words’ are blocked.

The Kiddozoom Smart Watch £50 This super smart camera-watch has a colour touch screen, motion sensor, photo editing capabilities, video recorder and has three built in games!

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FOR THE BIG KIDS It’s not just the little kids that need spoiling at Christmas time, make sure your big kids are up to speed with all the latest tech. From tablets and consoles to wearable tech, your big ones will be beaming on Christmas morning if they open one of these Christmas crackers.

Apple iPad Air 2 £399 Not a cheap option, but a top piece of kit. The iPad Air 2 is super clean, sleek and modern, with all the features you’d expect from an Apple product and many more...

Pebble Smartwatch £100 This easy to use smartwatch is a great way of receiving notifications on the go. Personalise it to suit your needs, the perfect beginners intro into the world of wearable tech.

Sony PS4 £349 With an outstanding line-up of games already available - and many more currently in development - PS4 is the best place to play amazing top-tier blockbusters. The new cheaper price just pushes it ahead of the Xbox One in our books.

Samsung Galaxy S5 £500 An excellent Android phone that combines an oustanding display with tonnes of uniques features and a powerful camera. The water-resistant design is a nice touch too! Prices shown are RRPs, actual prices may differ from those shown.

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The Generation Game

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Family Fortunes

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Where do you go from the dizzy heights of Bo Selecta? You’re given your own celeb panel packed gameshow of course!! Where anything goes, and jammed full of unforgettable quotes "Ooosh, Bang Tidy!" and “If I don't see ya' through’t week, I'll see ya' through’t window”.

n A league of their ow Jamie Redknapp, Freddie Hosted by James Corden with regular guests Own Flintoff, Georgie Thompson and John Bishop, A League Of Their each t agains stars sports and ities celebr ians, pits two teams of comed edge. knowl trivia g sportin their of test other in a rip-roaring

ho Duck Quacks Don't Ecyou fit inside a Can custard dance? Do twins smell identical? Can y swimming cap? Find out in Lee Mack’s rendition of the comed reveal guests Three US. the from ting origina panel game show their favourite (usually ridiculous) fact and an expert panel of scientists try to see if it is in fact true.

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WIX record win Adam Morgan repaid his title sponsors WIX Filtration with a superb race two win at the final round of the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch. In a race considered by many to be the race of the year, the massive crowd were on their feet as Morgan became the first man in history to take a Mercedes Benz to victory in his WIX Racing A-Class. Quietly confident of being able to finish his season on a high, Adam had already equalled his best qualifying result of the season in fifth place and in challenging conditions. ”That was one tricky qualifying session” said Adam. “It has rained on and off all day and it was still green under the trees out the back of the GP circuit, the car was again set up perfectly but, it was on the edge through the slippery bits. I am happy with another third row start and if I can keep out of trouble during the early laps tomorrow, it could present me with the perfect opportunity to show exactly what the Mercedes A-Class is capable of” The best was yet to come … After getting off to an unusually slow start in race one, Adam - who hasn’t collected a single penalty fine or been before the race

stewards all year - maintained a controlled performance throughout, avoiding carnage at the top of Paddock Hill bend and brought the WIX Filtration Mercedes A-Class home in a comfortable fifth position. Despite finishing fifth, Adam was still confident that he could put the Mercedes on the podium. He produced another of his perfect starts in race two and after Jason Plato made contact with the newly crowned BTCC Champion Colin Turkington, Adam moved into fourth position. Adam and his car were working in perfect harmony, he overtook both of the factory MG’s in separate moves going into the druids corner and on lap 15, to an audible cheer from the massive crowd, he blasted past the BMW of Rob Collard at Paddock Hill bend to take the lead. Adam lost control of the car through the rapid Dingle Dell section of the circuit and although he managed to save the car from a very high speed spin he lost his position to Jason Plato. Determined to get a podium finish, he pursued Plato but ran out of laps

Adam battles the elements in qualifying

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and was unable to recover the lead. Adam was over the moon with his first top three finish of the year and headed proudly to the podium to celebrate. The contact between Plato and Colin Turkington during the race was brought before the race safety panel and Plato was dropped 10 places for his poor driving standards. Subsequently Adam Morgan became the eleventh different winner of the season in the brand new WIX Filters Mercedes Benz A-Class. “I was told only moments before getting into my car for race three that I had won”, beaming Adam continued, “I always knew that this baby could win races, it’s been mega to drive all year. “ All Adam had to do was bring the car home safely in the final race to secure a fantastic tenth place in the final championship positions. “Yep that’ll do us for this year, I am chuffed to bits

with everything, a top ten finish in the Championship and a podium or two was our aim, an outright win has just been the icing on the cake, I couldn’t have asked for more. The car is just sensational; I wish there were more races left. Next year can’t come soon enough for us all. We had always planned to have a little party tonight to thank the team and sponsors for their magnificent efforts. I think it’s probably going to be a memorable night now! Thank you again to every single person involved in Ciceley Motorsport.” Adam has finished in the top 10 on 16 occasions this year and he has had fastest laps at both Silverstone and Brands Hatch GP, a massive team achievement in the new Mercedes Benz A-Class. Adam finished sixth in the Independents Championship and finished joint fourth in the Jack Sears Trophy with a total of 94 overtakes throughout the 2014 racing season. WIX Racing finished fifth in the

Independents Team Championship and seventh in the HIQ Teams Championship. Adam and the WIX Racing Team were the first new and single car entry to finish in all of the above categories. Norman Burgess, Commercial & Marketing Manager “What a way to end the year and what can I say about our Adam, it’s a privilege and pleasure to work alongside him and the Morgan Family, it’s been by far my most enjoyable year in motorsport. Next year can’t come quick enough for us all at WIX Racing. Paul Ridgway, the teams gifted engineer has created a beautiful car that handles perfectly, he has put together an amazing garage team and already has an extensive winter test schedule planned and booked”. The future is bright and it is Yellow and Black!

Contact your local GROUPAUTO distributor for more information about WIX Filters products

www.groupauto.co.uk/ignition

WINTER WONDERS

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As the nights are getting longer, our thoughts inevitably go to the cold of winter so we decide to highlight a number of products available from your local GROUPAUTO Motor Factor suited for this changing season. 01 BRIGHT IDEA

02 I’VE GOT THE POWER!!

Lighting on dark nights is essential. A vast range of products are available from your GROUPAUTO motor factors, including; Active, Ring, Coast and Osram RING LED Inspection Lamp £25.99

Very cold conditions have a huge impact on battery performance. Maypole jump leads and battery chargers are available for both professional and retail use. Maypole 3m Jump Lead pack £11.99

03 PROTECT YOUR BODYWORK Bodywork needs protection in winter more than any other time of the year, which is why your local GROUPAUTO motor factor stocks a wealth of car care products. Power Maxed TFR £6.19

05 TWINKLE TWINKLE CLEANER CAR The roads are covered in wet, muddy, salty grime during the winter months so why not treat your customers car to a deep clean after each service? Karcher HD 5/11C Pro Pressure Cleaner £324.99

04 CHILL OUT Available in both Red and Blue operating at temperatures as low as -36˚C, the Comma anti-freeze and coolant is a quality option for any conditions. Comma XStream G30 £19.99

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06 NICE & TOASTY A robust electric space heater will create the perfect environment for your garage technicians through those cold winter days. Draper Workshop Heater £82.45

08 YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR 07 WIPERS FOR WINTER WEATHER Wiper blades takes some stick during the cold, wet winter conditions, so make sure you stock these for your motorist customers. Champion – Rainy Day Wiper Blades Various sizes from only 89p

09 DIG THIS! Keep the forecourts and drives clear in snow with this robust aluminium light weight shovel with telescopic T-bar handle. Maypole Deluxe Kit £11.99

This gear will definitely keep you warm whilst you’re working under the bonnet. TECHNICIAN CLOTHING BUNDLE PACK Sweat shirt, Body warmer & Soft-shell jacket - From under £50 per pack (includes your company logo). All clothing items available individually on request. Contact your GROUPAUTO motor factor for information and quote ‘Promote-It clothing’.

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All products are available via your local GROUPAUTO motor factor

www.groupauto.co.uk/ignition

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GET A GRIP!!! YOU’LL NEVER GET A DATE WITH THAT ATTITUDE.

NOTHING, SHE’S OUT OF MY LEAGUE

“I'M A GREAT SWIMMER CAN I DEMONSTRATE THE BREAST STROKE?”

YOU’VE GOT HER ATTENTION, WHAT DO YOU SAY NEXT?

SAY “AWWW, COME ON! LOWER YOUR STANDARDS A LITTLE BIT; I DID”

SAY “THAT’S A NICE DRESS; CAN I TALK YOU OUT OF IT?”

“DO YOU HAVE A NAME, OR CAN I CALL YOU ‘MINE’?”

APOLOGISE FOR YOUR DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GET HER ATTENTION, AND JOKE “IT HAS WORKED THOUGH, NOW WE’RE TALKING”

SHE’S NOT IMPRESSED WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

GET DOWN & BREAKDANCE

DANCE YOUR VERSION OF THE ROBOT

HOW DO YOU GET HER ATTENTION?

SHOW OFF PROFUSELY UNTIL SHE NOTICES YOU

SLAP HER BEHIND

WAIT UNTIL SHE’S AT THE BAR AND THEN OFFER TO BUY HER A DRINK

YOU SEE A GIRL YOU LIKE IN A BAR, WHAT DO YOU DO?

STRUT OVER TO CHAT HER UP

“IS YOUR NAME GILLETTE? ‘COS YOU’RE THE BEST A MAN CAN GET.”

WHAT CHAT UP LINE DO YOU USE?

“ARE YOU FREE TONIGHT, OR WILL IT COST ME?”

ARE YOUR PULLING SKILLS UP TO IT? TAKE THIS SIMPLE TEST AND FIND OUT HOW YOU RATE WITH THE FAIRER SEX...

VALENTINE’S DAY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, BUT THERE’S STILL ENOUGH TIME TO BAG YOURSELF A DATE.

DID YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT WOULD WORK?

SATURDAY 14TH FEB 2015

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GO IN FOR THE KILL: “I'D LOVE TO SEE HOW YOU LOOK WHEN I'M NAKED”

SHE ACCEPTS, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO KEEP HER INTERESTED?

You’re witty and bold, but don’t overdo it, too cool is not cool!

You’re the envy of all your pals, no matter how hard they try; it is always you that leaves the bar with a girl on each arm.

YOU SHOOT. YOU SCORE… EVERYTIME!!! HOW DO YOU DO IT?!

START WITH AN ICE BREAKER: “I’VE HEARD THAT WOMEN CAN ONLY PUT MASCARA ON IF THEIR MOUTH IS OPEN. IS THIS TRUE?”

NICE MOVE!

INTRODUCE YOURSELF PROPERLY AND OFFER TO BUY HER & HER FRIEND(S) A DRINK

TELL HER TO ‘GET HER COAT…SHE’S PULLED’

You’ll probably get the attention of most girls initially, but you run the risk of bugging the life out of them with your relentless behaviour. You’re funny and charming, but if she’s not interested leave her alone…there’s plenty more fish in the sea.

THE DRINK HAS SAVED YOU!

TAKE A RISK… PRETEND YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED AND WAIT FOR HER TO COME TO CHAT YOU UP

YOU MANAGE TO MAKE HER LAUGH, WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE?

You never give up, despite constant rejection. You’re the dreaded nuisance that every girl does her best to avoid. Tip…lay off the cheesy chat up lines and stop ruining girls’ nights out.

ANNOYING PEST

DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME, SHE’S NOT INTERESTED

MANinBlack By day, Dave Jenkins runs a successful garage, Stone Car & Truck Centre in Staffordshire, but his other passion is competing in the British Truck Racing Association Championship. Dave and his team were working around the clock to fine tune his 5-ton truck ready for the final race of the season at Brands Hatch in early November when we interviewed him for IGNITION magazine.

Another claim to fame for Dave was when he was approached to help legendary TT racer and lorry mechanic Guy Martin attempt to set a new British record for a pedal bike by riding at over 110mph at Pendine Sands in Wales. Together

with a bicycle builder and a design engineer, they worked out how to modify Dave’s 1000 horsepower racing truck to create a large enough slipstream for Guy to cycle in, and build a bicycle capable of high speeds. British Olympic track cyclist Laura Trott put Guy through a relentless training regime to get himself fit enough for the record attempt. The challenge was set for the first episode of the first series of ‘Speed with Guy Martin’. Dave Jenkins and his MANinBlack race truck can be seen pictured here towing Guy across the Sands. Check out the video at Channel4 On Demand.

DRIVER Name: David Jenkins Date of Birth: 16/11/1975 Hometown: Stone, Staffordshire Profession: Garage proprietor

When did you start racing? I started my truck racing career in 1998, I’d previously enjoyed racing 125 gearbox karts and Grand Prix midgets in my teen years before the pull of truck racing grabbed me. What has been the highlight of your racing career so far? Through previous years of truck racing, I have regularly remained top 3 in the championship and the highlight of my career has to be becoming the overall champion in 2011. Another highlight must have been the challenge with TT racing legend Guy Martin? It really was a massive privilege to be asked to take part in the crazy challenge with Guy. It was a huge achievement and watching the footage back of Guy in my slip stream down the Sands was incredible. It is definitely up there as one of my highlight moments. 18

What’s your favourite race track? I have competed in the FIA European Championship, racing at the prestigious Formula 1 circuits such as the Nürburgring, Le Mans, the A1 Ring and Circuit de Catalunya, just to name a few. My favourite circuit is Donington, probably due to my childhood memories, as my father raced at Donington during the first ever Grand Prix in 1984 when I was 8 years old. It is technically challenging but provides fantastic viewing for the spectators. I enjoy the history of all British Motorsport and would be honoured to be invited to compete at Goodwood one day. We have had a close experience, when we were invited to attend Cholmondeley Pageant of Power in 2013, and had an extremely enjoyable weekend with a brilliant result.

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How do you prepare for race days? Truck racing is extremely physical and mentally exhausting, however having my family based team, along with other family and friends there to support me, helps me to feel positive when going into a race. There are several weeks of preparation needed for each race weekend. I run my own business by day and continue as a race truck mechanic by night, spending many of my nights, with selective members of the team, reengineering and improving the truck. The week leading up to the race weekend can be filled with many late nights and early starts. I even transport the race truck to and from every race meeting myself, including Nürburgring, Germany. This means when we arrive at each circuit I’m shattered but still need to be up early ready to race!

TRUCK FACTS Race Number: 69 Make: MAN Model: TGA Engine: MAN D26 Power: 1,100bhp Torque: 4500Nm Gearbox: ZF 16 Speed Brakes: Water cooled disc Weight: 5,500kg

CORE SPONSOR - DIGRAPH TRANSPORT SUPPLIES James Rawson, Managing Director of Digraph Transport Supplies, said; “We have a great time supporting Dave and his team during the racing season. It’s great seeing the truck in the all black Digraph colours and branding. As well as sponsoring the truck racing team we also supply quality car and truck parts to Dave’s garage, Stone Car & Truck Centre. In all, our relationship has been strong for over 5 years and we are set to continue this with an announcement that we will extend our truck sponsorship partnership for a further 2 years.” Digraph stock truck parts, brake parts, couplings & legs, clutch & axle components plus more throughout its Midlands branches. For all your truck & trailer supplies contact Digraph Transport Supplies on 01773 533355.

Picture by DR Hurrell

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A collection of bizarre and random facts that you may not have known. The northern leopard frog swallows its prey using its eyes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it uses them to help push food down its throat by retracting them into its head.

We figured out how to put a man on the moon before we figured out putting wheels on luggage.

uter he p m t co The o guide on t Mo s d e 1 s 1 u les llo Apo ion was han t s Mis erful n pow moder r. a ato l u c cal

From Earth To Oute r Space

Outer Space is only a n hour s drive a way if your c ar drive s could traigh t up.

1 hr 00

Norma

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00 km) Previe

Get inside • Faster heat-up times and reliable cold-start • Extended post-heat temperatures for lower emissions • Instant heating • Ceramic Plugs

DENSO is continually working to improve every part we produce. So it’s no surprise that nine out of ten cars already feature original DENSO parts. Parts like our Glow Plugs that minimise heat-up time and enhance engine cold-starts. If major car manufacturers place their trust in DENSO, why shouldn’t you?

www.denso-am.co.uk

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DENSO: keeping track of Toyota at WEC 2014

With the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season well underway, Toyota Racing has already stamped its indelible mark on proceedings following the perfect start for the new 1000PS TS040 Hybrid. Proud sponsor DENSO has been cheering them on from the sidelines and reflecting on a great season so far, with the promise of further success lurking just around the corner.

In anticipation of a superb WEC season ahead, it was game on for both Toyota Racing and Title sponsor DENSO. The TS040 Hybrid endurance racing car, featuring Toyota’s ground-breaking four-wheel drive hybrid technology and a DENSO motor-generator unit at the rear, as in 2012-13, had completed over 25,000km of testing in preparation for the season.

excess of 46,000 over the two day event. Its No.8 TS040 Hybrid – driven by Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi and Nicolas Lapierre – took its second consecutive victory, maintaining a brilliant 100% record. Not only that, but the second Toyota of Alex Wurz, Kazuki Nakajima and Stephane Sarrazin finished third, to top off an excellent day for the team.

Relishing the prospect of eight races on four continents, including the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours, the team, along with their automotive partner, were fired up and ready to go. The most enthralling race tracks in the world awaited, featuring an unparalleled level of technical innovation and large grids, promising yet another exciting season of long-distance racing.

“I am really happy with this result and it is a big credit to the team and sponsors such as DENSO that we can win in the TS040 Hybrid’s first race”, said Sébastien Buemi. “In general the car felt good and this gives us confidence for the rest of the season. But the competition was close and we can expect another big fight in Spa. We will enjoy this great result and quickly focus on the next race.”

In true form, Toyota started as they meant to go on. April saw the season’s opener, the Six Hours of Silverstone, being dominated by the Japanese manufacturer with a one-two finish from pole position. The second round, just two weeks later, at the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, saw TOYOTA triumph again in front of a massive crowd that numbered in

With two successful races under their belt, Toyota’s next stop was Le Mans 24 Hours in June. However, although they were to stand on the podium for a third consecutive time this season and celebrate a record fifth podium finish at Le Mans, they were to leave the Circuit de la Sarthe with a sense of extreme disappointment in a race not short on drama and frustration.

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Qualifying proved eventful enough, as multiple stoppages meant that the third session expanded by 30 minutes so that the teams were given extra time on the circuit. Just a quarter of an hour in saw Nakajima set a fastest time of 3:21.789 to send him to the top of the time charts. This would be Toyota’s first pole position at Le Mans since 1999; prospects for another great race were looking sizzling once again. The 82nd Le Mans 24 Hours kept fans on the edge of their seats from the moment at 15.00 local time when Fernando Alonso waved the French Tricoleur, right through to the chequered flag at the finish. From the off, Toyota looked as though they weren’t to disappoint, with Wurz heading the 54 car field, a spot he maintained for the majority of the opening hours, followed by his fellow teammates’ No. 8 and the three Audi cars. However, the race wasn’t even 100 minutes in when No. 8 succumbed to a multi-car crash during a rain shower, losing eight laps and with it any hope of victory. This heralded the grim start of things to come for Toyota. With ten hours remaining and having led throughout the night, the No.7 TS040 Hybrid stopped on the track at Arnage corner, with Kazuki Nakajima at the wheel. A piece of monitoring equipment had failed, melting a wiring loom which Nakajima was unable to fix, forcing him to retire. Regardless of a bitter-sweet third place on the podium, Le Mans had delivered a crushing blow to the team; an Audi 1-2 victory wasn’t supposed to be in the script. As Nakajima explained, “Le Mans was an incredible disappointment on the back of two back-to-back wins and a new lap record during qualifying – of course it was our main

objective to win it. I believe though moving forward, we still have a very good car with a hybrid that’s extremely powerful. I think it is going to be very interesting for the fans as well as the drivers.” One thing is for sure; if the first three races are anything to go by, motor racing fans will be treated to more edge-of-their-seat stuff as the rest of the season unfolds. One fan and sponsor that will be hoping for further success in the Toyota camp is DENSO, whose close relationship with World Endurance Championship racing goes back to Group C in the 1980s. Over the years, DENSO and Toyota have closely cooperated in the field of car racing, with the TS040 Hybrid model featuring a rear hybrid motor system developed by DENSO. The company has been a partner from the get-go of this hybrid racing project, being a part of the overall concept of the TS030 Hybrid. Martin Pring, Manager of DENSO Aftermarket Sales UK & Ireland said: “This has been an incredibly proud moment for DENSO. We’re not even half way through the WEC season and to not only witness but also play a part in Toyota’s triumph so far is incredibly exciting and rewarding. We shall relish continuing to supply components and providing other necessary support to TOYOTA Racing to contribute to the team's further success.” With Circuit of the Americas and Fuji looming just around the corner, for Toyota and DENSO at least, the road to WEC victory this year is undoubtedly a dramatic but nevertheless historical one.

Find out more To find out even more about DENSO Aftermarket Sales UK please call 02476 843410 or email info.amsales@denso-sales.co.uk. Alternatively, log onto www.denso-am.co.uk, to find out the latest company news, as well as viewing e-catalogues,

finding products and locating suppliers in your areas. DENSO Aftermarket Sales UK can also be contacted via Twitter @densopartsuk for news and instant answers on any technical questions you may have. www.groupauto.co.uk/ignition

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The Lucas Oil BIGFOOT© monster truck is ten feet tall and weighs 5.5 tons. Its 9.0 litre Ford Racing V8 engine delivers 1750 bhp and a top speed of 95 miles per hour. At full throttle on it's way up the ramp, it consumes one gallon of high-octane methanol fuel every 56 yards.

The Ford Racing V8 engine is 11 years old. At the end of every season, Nigel's Lucas Oil BIGFOOT© team strips it down to examine each part. Thanks to the quality of the oil specification and the additives used to protect them, they have little or no wear to report.

On its way down, the g-force inside a monster truck can reach as much as 10gn. If you were among the crowd of 100,000 or more that regularly attend these monster truck events, you might well say to yourself: "That’s a lot of crushing power!"

A specialist vehicle like this is not used every day, or even every week. When not performing, it's likely to be on a trailer bound for an event in Central Europe or on board a ship heading to some far-flung part of the world such as Moscow, or Bahrain. These lay-offs could expose the engine to dry starting issues, which can actually cause more damage than continually running the engine. Nigel uses an additive that eliminates dry starts. It also fortifies and extends the life of the oil - very important issues when operating at the extremes of climate that are often involved.

And you'd be right. It's no wonder that the cars below it take such a battering. The force of the impact exerts stress on the 500kg tyres, on the nitrogen charged custom-built shock absorber suspension and on the engine - not to mention on the driver, Nigel Morris. You would expect the components inside an engine that are required to deliver such consistent levels of power throughout the Monster Truck Racing Season to take something of a battering too.

And it gives Nigel and the Lucas Oil BIGFOOT© more time to concentrate on crushing those cars!

But you'd be wrong.

SPECIFICATION Vehicle: Lucas Oil BIGFOOT© Power: 1750 bhp Engine: 572 inch3 Ford Racing V8 Supercharger: 8/71 Belt Driven Supercharger Fuel: Methanol Oil specification: Lucas Oil 20W50 Mineral Racing Oil Additives: Heavy Duty Engine Oil Stabilizer, Upper Cylinder Lubricant

ROLE OF HONOUR • Four European Monster Truck Racing Championship Crowns • Twice runner up • One 3rd place

ADDITIVE VALUES Driver Nigel Morris says additives play a vital role in preventive maintenance and reducing the cost of operating the Lucas Oil BIGFOOT©. Lucas Oil Heavy Duty Engine Oil Stabilizer fortifies the oil and leaves a protective layer on the moving parts inside the engine that remains long after the oil has drained down into the sump. This provides protection against dry starts. What's more, it can be added to any engine or transmission oil to provide the same kind of protection. Upper Cylinder Lubricant (UCL) isn't used with methanol fuel, but is added to the diesel fuel in the tractor unit that pulls the trailer because it helps to lubricate the fuel pump and clean the injectors. When added to fuel (including petrol), UCL maintains the performance of an engine. It can also be used to restore lost power and reduce emissions in any vehicle - especially those that might not always be able to get access to the best quality fuel.

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THE ‘TOP’ TRUCK WORKSHOP Top Truck garages have it all; they are part of a large multinational organisation, benefit from a host of business support services and all whilst remaining an independent garage. Find out why being a Top Truck garage is great for business… “The Top Truck partnership works both ways, although we are still 100% independent we benefit from the group infrastructure and image which benefits small businesses. The corporate clothing is great and we are proud to be part of a larger team. Conversely, Top Truck is strengthened by companies like HTF and the resource that we bring to the network”. David Moore, HTF Commercial Repairs.

QUALITY PARTS Want to have complete confidence in the parts you fit? One of the main advantages of purchasing via your G-Truck distributor is access to OE Quality parts at cost effective prices.

BRANDING The Top Truck garage network is one of the best in the industry, so as a Top Truck garage you need to shout about it.

GROUPAUTO make sure that all approved suppliers to the group provide assurances to the quality and suitability of the components they intend to supply. Being the UK’s largest trading group, they also secure the lowest prices for their members without compromising on quality.

Top Truck garages have access to a fully inclusive branding package that includes building signage, vehicle livery, workshop painting, reception desks, as well as branded work wear and stationery. Funding support is available to help you rebrand your premises and vehicles in the distinctive Top Truck branding.

THE TOP TRUCK WORKSHOP

MARKETING Top Truck has created a comprehensive marketing promotional programme that their garages can use throughout the year to tell people who they are and what they do; • Branded promotional items and point of sale material

HTF COMMERCIAL REPAIRS LTD

• Template software to create your own material to advertise your brand and services • On Route Magazine - commercial vehicle magazine distributed through ‘Commercial Vehicle Workshop’ and ‘Transport Engineer’. “Joining the Top Truck network has elevated our business to a different level, giving us a clear brand and image that is recognised as the market leader in independent aftermarket servicing of commercial vehicles.”

Tel: 0161 785 9691

Carl Haslam, Haslam Commercial Services

HTF COMMERCIAL REPAIRS LTD

TOP TRUCK TRAINING TOP TRUCK SOS As a Top Truck garage you have automatic access to the worldwide recovery programme through Top Truck SOS.

With a shortage of skilled technicians in the industry, possibly the greatest string to a Top Truck garage’s bow is the comprehensive training available through the programme. • Technical training Top Truck garages are encouraged to follow a comprehensive and ongoing technical training programme with leading training providers. This programme not only provides technicians with technical expertise but also effective tools for managing their businesses.

BUSINESS SERVICES Have you looked at the amount of money you are spending on insurance? Do you have the best deal on your utilities, vans or courtesy vehicles? You could be getting the best deal on all those things. Thanks to the buying power of the network you can benefit from savings on everything from tooling hire to waste removal services.

• irtec Licensing Scheme One of the most popular benefits of the Top Truck programme is the Institute of Road Transport Engineers’ (IRTE) irtec Licensing Scheme. An irtec license certifies the skills, safety and technical competence of garage technicians in line with the requirements of the industry. Top Truck ensures that all of their garages commit their technicians to becoming irtec accredited within six months of joining the scheme. • Apprenticeship Programme The Top Truck Apprenticeship Programme gives garages the platform to train and develop their staff in line with what the market demands of them. The programme is fully supported by GROUPAUTO and approved supplier Valeo, so all it will cost you is their weekly wage whilst they are working in the workshop.

RECEPTION

“All the support from Top Truck has helped us gain new repair and servicing contracts as many customers now want the assurances that the IRTEC assessments and on-going training gives. Top Truck allows us to be a top level independent repair business while giving us all the benefits of a nationally recognised group” Carl Haslam, Haslam Commercials.

FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE In today's digitally demanding world, software has become a must have tool for any workshop. The Blue Crystal Rental Fleet Management System (RFM) allows quick and accurate access to your customer and vehicle records. All data records can be accessed centrally with just a few clicks – no more need for scribbled on wall planners and excel spread sheets. “The aid of having everything going through one operating system has made revisiting old jobs so much easier and retrieving information faster. Gone are the days of trawling through countless old invoices or spread sheets.”

To find out more about TOP TRUCK, contact Martin Sangster on 07920 573548. Or visit www.gtruck.co.uk/distributors to find your local G-TRUCK distributor.

Chris Elliott, Lufton Commercials

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SNOW BOOGIE FANTOM X This super fast steerable sledge will turn any downhill sledging trip into the X-Games! Xtreme sledging at its very best. We suggest you find a very large hill and buy a helmet, this baby will change the way you sledge forever. RRP £99.95

Winter is a magical time of the year, and there’s nothing more liberating than playing in the snow. Here are some winter gadgets to make sure that you and your family get the most out of what little snow we get here in the UK!

WHAM-O ARCTIC FORCE SNOWBALL BLASTER

Never lose a snowball fight again. With this triple snowball loading blaster, you can launch snowballs up to 100 feet. No-one is safe. RRP £24.99

BOYZ TOYS SNOW SCOOTER What better way to hit the hills? Easily manouverable, this funky scooter gives you great control, and the non-skid foot rest provides decent traction. RRP £12.99

OUTBACK HEATED MITTENS

Battery heated mittens warming to 39 degrees ºC for up to 6 hours. These mittens will keep your hands warm during the cold winter months! The only problem is...you’ll never want to take them off. RRP £19.95 28

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X-TREME WINTER

GADGETS

These gadgets are totally extreme. From fun, to absolutely ridiculous, we’d love to see these extreme gadgets in mass production. Bring it on winter!

TOUCH SCREEN GLOVES

Buttons on phones are a thing of the past! Make sure you can still send texts and receive calls without getting frostbitten fingers. Genius. RRP £6.95

FLEXIBLE FLYER SNOWBALL MAKER

Perfect for novice snowball makers (or those who’d rather not get their hands cold), this tool will help you stock up on ammo all day. RRP £4.99

ZIESEL CHAIR

This offroad badboy combines the excitement and adventure of travelling in the snow, and the comfort of sitting in your favoiurite armchair.

WHAM-O SNOW BOOGIE 48” SNOW TUBE

Ideal for two kids, or one adult to hurl themselves down any snowy slope. Super fun inflatable, perfect for protecting your posterior. RRP £25.99

PETROL POWERED SNOWBOARD

With a max speed of 18mph, this gas-powered beast will have you carving shapes at record speeds. A bit on the large side, it needs a bit of refinement before we rush out to buy one!

NORDIC GRIPS

Strap these onto your shoes to ensure you never take an awkward skidding tumble again. Ideal for those who walk to work and don’t want to look like Bambi on ice. RRP £5.95

HANGBOARD Prices shown are RRPs, actual prices may differ from those shown

This thing is crackers. Part hang gliding, part mountain biking and part snowboarding, experience the slopes like never before. We’d advise letting your mate have a go first though....

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A NDING PERFORMANCE!

Comma driver wins 2014 GP2 Series International Championship Jolyon Palmer made record breaking history by sealing championship victory on October 11th at the tenth round of the prestigious international GP2 series in Sochi, Russia. He becomes only the second driver after 2006 Formula 1 World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, to win the GP2 title for Britain. Sponsored by Comma - a brand of Cosan Lubricants – and driving for the French Le Mans-based DAMS team to which Comma is also Technical Partner, the 23 year old Palmer from Horsham, England, claimed the title with two races remaining. His winning Feature Race performance at the new Autodrom at the Sochi Winter Olympics complex followed three other commanding wins earlier in the year at Bahrain, Monaco and Monza, Italy. The GP2 series is acknowledged as the final stepping stone to Formula 1 World Championship competition, and Palmer will now be aiming to join current F1

stars Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Nico Hülkenberg, Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean, all of whom have been previous GP2 champions before graduating to motorsport’s highest international category. Comma has supported Palmer’s path to the top ever since he began his single seater racing career at the age of 16. “Motorsport has always been a central element in the technical development and promotion of the Comma brand,” says Comma spokesperson, Mike Bewsey, “and we began our relationship with Jolyon as part of a larger Technical Partnership with the MotorSport Vision (MSV) group of companies.” MSV is headed by Jolyon’s father Jonathan - himself a former Formula 1 driver - and includes ownership of the iconic Brands Hatch and three other leading British motor racing circuits, as well as the world famous PalmerSport corporate driving experience.

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“Since 2007, Comma has been the sole supplier of lubricants, coolants and maintenance chemicals to all the MSV enterprises, providing us with an unrivalled ‘real world’ environment to prove and demonstrate the quality and performance of Comma products,” says Mr Bewsey. “Over the years, the Formula Palmer Audi, FIA Formula Two and BRDC Formula 4 racing machines have all been exclusively lubricated, cooled and maintained with Comma products, and with Jolyon’s great success in GP2, we’ve had the perfect platform to promote the brand on a global scale to new markets which we are opening up in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. We’re delighted to congratulate him on winning the GP2 championship and proud of the manner in which he has carried Comma’s colours so successfully throughout his career. I have no doubt that he will go on to make a considerable Formula 1 impact and continue the great British tradition in Grand Prix racing.”

It’s that time of year when coolant & antifreeze are going to be at the top of your ‘shopping lists’

Research shows over

83%

of UK motorists are unaware of what coolant does. Over

65%

of UK motorists admitted they wouldn’t know how to choose a suitable coolant. Comma Xstream product range covers

99.5%

of the UK vehicle parc (a ‘one stop shop’ for all coolant needs).

Peace of mind - Our compatibility guarantee covers all VRM lookups online - find the right coolant for your vehicle at CommaOil.com

Scan here to find your local GROUPAUTO distributor.

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TRANSFER WINDOW WONDERS:

BEST BUYS & BIGGEST FLOPS As we count down to the January transfer window, Ignition takes a look at the best buys and biggest flops of the Premier League era.

Thierry Henry

juventus to arsenal: £11M A young winger with sporadic form, Wenger gambled on Henry, a gamble that paid off. Wenger moulded Henry into a World Class striker, Henry is Arsenal’s all time top scorer, and it’s no surprise that the Gunners have failed to win a league title since his departure. £11m turned out to be a bargain, and he went on to have huge success at Barcelona.

Joe hart

Shrewsbury TO man city: £600k England’s no.1, Joe Hart has really proven himself to be one of the best in the business. Man City snapped him up for a tiny fee, and loaned him out to gain much needed experience, at 27 Joe Hart hasn’t even reached his peak. Joe is definitely Head and Shoulders above the competition (get it?).

Cristiano Ronaldo

Sporting lisbon to man utd: £12m

The best player in the world...say no more. Alex Ferguson signed Ronaldo following a friendly against Ronaldo’s Sporting Lisbon, when his players urged him to do so. Although £12m for an 18 year old is a huge sum, he certainly repaid every penny, and more! Sold to Real for a whopping £80m, he is arguably the greatest player to ever play in the Premier League.

STAR BUY

IGNITION MAGAZINE

MASSIMO TAIBI

VENEZIA TO MAN UTD: £4.5M Who can forget that incredible error against Southampton?! The name ‘Taibi’ is synonomous with goal keeping errors, and at a cost to Man Utd of £1.1 million per game, he was a true flop. Taibi’s only saving grace is the fact that it would have been an impossible task for any keeper to replace the iconic Peter Schmeichel.

FLOPOMETER

ANDY CARROLL

NEWCASTLE TO LIVERPOOL: £35M A hefty price tag for a relatively unproven striker, Andy Carroll never even looked close to living up to his £35m transfer fee. Injuries and poor form meant Andy made only 44 appearances for Liverpool, scoring a whopping 6 league goals in two years.

Fernando torres

liverpool TO chelsea: £50M Torres had a torrid time at Chelsea, 20 goals in 110 league games is not the record of a top striker. £50m, was a ridiculous price tag for a striker past his best, but he does have a Champions League winner’s medal to save his blushes... slightly.

ALI DIA

FREE AGENT TO SOUTHAMPTON

Football’s biggest con-artist, Ali Dia convinced Graeme Souness - the then Southampton manager, that he was the cousin of World Footballer of the Year George Weah. Souness signed Dia on a one month contract, and he played all of an hour for the Saints against Leeds. Matt Le Tissier likened his performance to ‘Bambi on ice’, Dia was subsequently released, and Graeme Souness was thoroughly embarrassed...Top of the flops!

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WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN 40 YEARS AND CONTINUE TO BUILD ON OUR SUCCESS

THE BEGINNING

G-LOGIX OPENED

FSG (Factoring Services Group) founded by Arnold Parker

The GROUPAUTO distribution centre, G-Logix formed, and is already the 4th largest supplier to GROUPAUTO members

Longest serving member ‘Ryedale Brakes’ in Malton, North Yorkshire, joined the group

MARIA MCCULLOUGH JOINED

TOP TRUCK WAS FORMED

Maria McCullough, the longest serving employee to GROUPAUTO joined

GROUPAUTO’s Commercial vehicle programme, Top Truck, was formed and currently stands at 25 workshops in the UK

THE LAUNCH OF AUTOCARE The AutoCare garage programme was launched in the UK and has grown to over 380 independent garages all part of EuroGarage, the 6000 strong international network

GROUPAUTO TRADING GROUP WAS BORN FSG joined GROUPAUTO to become a fully integrated Trading Group

JIM MAZZA JOINED THE BUSINESS Managing Director - Jim Mazza joined the business with the turnover of the Group at £52m

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APPROVED GARAGES.CO.UK CREATED The lead generating website and garage network ApprovedGarages.co.uk was launched. With over 450 garages seeing a share of £2.6million of new business in just 18 months

NO.1 TRADING GROUP As of October, GROUPAUTO has over 1150 member branches across the trading group with an annual turnover of £420million. Turnover through the group quadrupled in ten years

WHY USE A GROUPAUTO MOTOR FACTOR? HERE ARE JUST A HANDFUL OF REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BE USING YOUR LOCAL GROUPAUTO MOTOR FACTOR:

QUALITY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PARTS

COMPETITIVE VALUE PRICING

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

EFFICIENT SERVICE & DELIVERY

GROUPAUTO MOTOR FACTORS PROVIDE OE OR MATCHED QUALITY PARTS AND CONSUMABLES TO THEIR GARAGE CUSTOMERS ALONG WITH SUPPORT MATERIAL FOR MOTORISTS.

GROUPAUTO IS THE LARGEST TRADING GROUP IN THE UK OFFERING ITS MEMBERS GREAT VALUE PRICING ON QUALITY PARTS FROM MORE THAN 120 APPROVED SUPPLIERS.

WITH OVER 380 PART DISTRIBUTORS ACROSS THE UK THERE IS SURE TO BE A GROUPAUTO MOTOR FACTOR NEAR YOU. LOCATE YOURS USING THE QR CODE BELOW.

OUR MEMBERS PROVIDE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FROM THE MOMENT YOU MAKE THE PHONE CALL ENQUIRY TO THE QUICK TURNAROUND DOOR-STEP DELIVERY.

NAME THE BRAND

CAN YOU USE YOUR DEPTH OF MOTOR INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE TO IDENTIFY EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CLASSIC BRANDS... 1.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL GROUPAUTO DISTRIBUTOR TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PRODUCTS THEY HAVE AVAILABLE.

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Trusted for over 125 Years... Lucas was established in 1872, the same year that the petrol engine was first patented. The first Mercedes 'horseless carriage' was still 14 years away and the Ford Model T wouldn't appear for a further 27 years. The business that Joseph Lucas founded in Birmingham, still the global HQ of Lucas today, represents the consistency and durability of Lucas products and has made Lucas one of the most successful automotive brands in history.

1880-1890s

1920-1940s

An official patent was obtained in 1880 for the "King of the Road" bicycle lamp. In 1882, Joseph formed a private partnership with his son, Harry, trading under the title of Joseph Lucas & Son. The "King of the Road" Lion became a trademark in 1884 and remained a major feature of Lucas advertising for the next 80 years.

This period saw further rapid expansion as Lucas grew alongside motor car production. Several acquisitions were made but by far the most significant was in 1926 when the companies of C.A. Vandervell & Co. Ltd and Rotax (Motor Accessories) Ltd were brought into the organisation.

Business expanded dramatically in the bicycle boom of the time. A new factory was built which later developed into the iconic Great King Street premises for the major and successful Lucas Electrical business in Birmingham.

Lucas became the largest supplier of electrical equipment to the vast majority of British vehicles and the largest manufacturer of accessories. In 1943, the Girling brake business was acquired from the New Hudson company, adding hydraulic braking to the company's product portfolio.

By 1897 a public company, Joseph Lucas Ltd was formed with Joseph as Chairman.

1870s

Joseph Lucas was born in Birmingham in 1834 and began in the early 1860s as a dealer in paraffin oil for domestic lamps and other products. In 1875, a small workshop was opened in Little King Street with 5 employees. The first "King of the Road" cycle lamp, for use on the Penny Farthing, was produced in 1878.

1900-1910s Joseph Lucas died in 1902 to be succeeded by his son, Harry, as Chairman. Lucas was perfectly positioned to take advantage of the expanding motor vehicle market which was stimulated by a Parliamentary Act in 1903, which raised the speed limit above walking pace, making the use of cars more attractive. Range extensions continued and the acquisition of Thomson-Bennett Ltd provided magneto capability to add to the growing Electrical portfolio. This included starters and dynamos (first produced in 1912).

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The H.P.L Collection of Lucas Memorabilia Behind a traditional residence in a sleepy Staffordshire village is a treasure trove of automotive antiques and memorabilia dedicated to the Lucas brand. The collection, of several thousand items, is owned by Peter Lawrence, who has been collecting Lucas group products, advertising material, promotional items and literature for almost 40 years. Peter is a great Lucas enthusiast, having worked for the company for 32 years in various sales and senior export roles within the aftermarket business. Following retirement he has displayed his impressive collection which boasts some of the finest and most treasured Lucas innovations. In creating the unique collection, Peter aims to demonstrate the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heritage and global impact within the automotive sector. Peter kindly loaned several pieces to Lucas Electrical for display at the GROUPAUTO Trade Show in October in Harrogate. The immaculate Lucas Pathfinder spotlight, complete with original packaging and the beautiful brass bicycle light featured on display at the annual gala dinner. The collection is frequently called upon for reference and Peter is always happy to share the contents with interested parties and arrange viewings. Email Peter Lawrence at peter2lawrence@aol.com or call 01785 780620.

1950s

1980s

In 1951 the title of the company changed to Joseph Lucas (Industries) Limited which became a holding company and distributive subsidiary companies were set up due to the ever increasing range of products. There were 8 manufacturing groups in the UK and more than 12 distribution companies operating overseas. Product milestones included the first disc brake fitted to a production car and the introduction of the DPA rotary fuel injection pump.

A period of restructuring and refocusing into overseas markets followed the decline of the UK car manufacturing base. By the end of the decade the focus of Lucas Automotive (created in 1988) had moved into the production of high-technology engine management and braking systems for automotive customers around the world.

The branding strategy in the aftermarket still recognised the three core technologies of Electrical, Braking and Diesel through the red, yellow and blue representations of Lucas with the diagonal logo providing the continuity of one company.

1990s Brand transition to the single Lucas green image was completed in 1994 with consistent application across signage, publications, product packaging and advertising on a worldwide basis. The merger to create Lucas Varity in 1996 resulted in the formation of one of the top ten automotive component suppliers in the world. This was followed by acquisition by TRW in 1999. TRW is now the global leader in automotive safety systems.

2000s 1960-1970s

In 2003 the decision was made by TRW to license the Lucas brand to specialist licensees who could continue the development and investment of the Lucas programs.

By 1960 there were 57,000 employees and expansion across Europe was gaining momentum. This included significant development of the aftermarket network. Lucas Service was by now a global enterprise. Lucas exported to over 130 markets with around 4,000 authorised outlets.

At this time Lucas has been trading for over 125 years and is world famous as a supplier of premium quality, technically excellent products for both vehicle manufacturers and the aftermarket.

Lucas began the 1970s as the 54th largest company in the UK. The group was renamed as Lucas Industries in 1974 and a new Lucas corporate identity, including the Lucas diagonal, was introduced in order to meet changed national and international trading conditions. This resulted in the loss of the individual brands of Lucas (lion), Girling and CAV which had gained world-wide recognition.

Today

Trust

Lucas continues to grow and is dynamically expanding into new markets with new products. Lucas is a thriving global brand with a worldwide sales of over $100 million.

Scan here to find your local GROUPAUTO distributor.

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A ‘RORING’ SUCCESS

It’s not been a bad year for British golf. Rory McIlroy has found some excellent form through the summer, winning two major titles and also helping the European team retain the Ryder Cup. Lets take a look at a few unsung golfing heroes, as well as the superstar himself.

‘Roooooooory’ McIlroy, the new Tiger Woods? McIlroy has long been touted as the next Tiger Woods and this year has seen him produce some exquisite golf to further his claim as a golfing great. Since his break up with Wozniacki, he has reclaimed the world number one spot, as well as securing two major titles. Breaking up with Wozniacki and putting in some extra hours at the range wasn’t a bad idea. McIlroy could secure a career Grand Slam, if he manages to get his hands on the illustrious Green Jacket at Augusta in April 2015. However he has only managed an 8th place finish in 6 outings. Lets hope he can raise his game this coming year and not require the Heimlich manoeuvre again à la 2011.

Tale of the Tape Rory McIlroy 25 5’10”

Tiger Woods Age

Height

6’1”

Total Majors

World Ranking

$24.3million

Annual Earnings

$61.2million

$5.2million

2014 Prize Money

$108,000

$20.3million

Total Prize Money

$109.6million

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Majors Roundup The Masters Winner – Bubba Watson by 3 strokes Bubba Watson got to put on the famous Green Jacket for a second time in three years with victory at Augusta. The young debutant Spieth pushed him close, but the experience and eccentric shot selection saw Watson win by 3 strokes with an 8-under-par.

The US Open Winner – Martin Kaymer by 8 strokes

Rookie of the Ryder Cup – Jamie Donaldson A Ryder Cup rookie at the tender age of 38, Jamie Donaldson claimed the winning point for Europe. However his triumphant tournament probably won’t be remembered for the winning putt, but instead for his 10 second interview at 7:15am the next day: Interviewer: “Jamie, are you able to take it all in yet, having claimed the winning point in the Ryder Cup?” Donaldson: [pausing]

“Erm, no. Because I’m still drunk.” Jamie Donaldson

Ryder Cup Star Player – Justin Rose

Martin Kaymer destroyed his opponents with a dominant wire-to-wire victory. He shot a tournament record of 130 (36 holes). He also made history by becoming the first non-British European golfer to win the title. In the end he took the title by 8 strokes with a 9-under-par.

The Open Winner – Rory McIlroy by 2 strokes Rory McIlroy got his hands on the famous Claret Jug this year with victory at The Open. He carded a -17 to win by 2 strokes, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing as he waivered a little in the final round, carding a 71 to Garcia’s 66 and Fowler’s 67.

The US PGA Winner – Rory McIlroy by 1 stroke Rory McIlroy claimed his second consecutive major tournament win at Valhalla after an epic 4-way battle with Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson. With this win he became only the fourth player to win four majors at the age of 25 or younger.

Rose had an absolute monster of a Ryder Cup this year remaining unbeaten in five matches recording three wins and two draws. He contributed almost 25% of Europe’s points! Rose and his Swedish partner (not that kind of partner) also made Ryder Cup history, with 21 birdies between them in 16 holes. Not too shabby for a British Number Two.

rally driver extraordinaire Ken Block has had an incredibly packed and successful 2014 schedule not only taking part in RallyCross Championship, taking him across the globe from Norway to Barbados, but also in the stage Rally with co-driver Alex Gelsomino. Not only that, but a couple of major projects stood out for Ken Block above and beyond anything else this year - his Ford F-150 RaptorTRAX featured here and his incredible Gymkhana challenge with soccer ace Neymar Jr. Check out further details at www.hoonigan.com

Ford Win 2014 GRC Manufacturer Title Hoonigan Racing Division’s Ken Block had a hugely successful three days of racing during the Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) doubleheader in Los

Angeles in September 2014. In addition to Block bringing home a third place finish on Saturday, a second place finish on Sunday, Block and his team also helped contribute to Ford locking in their 4th consecutive manufacturer title in GRC during the same weekend. The podium finish for Block on Sunday’s event marks his 5th consecutive podium appearance in the Global Rallycross Championship. At the point in writing this article for IGNITION Ken Block was going in to the final round of the championship in Las Vegas just 12 points from top spot – Visit the GRC website to find out how he finished the season at: www.redbullglobalrallycross.com

A Winter Project like no other! Ken Block's Ford F-150 Raptor TRAX Hoonigan Racing Division's Ken Block has an all-new project: his Ford F-150 RaptorTRAX, the ultimate backcountry snowboard expedition vehicle. Built from a Ford Racing prepared F-150 Raptor pickup truck and further enhanced by Special Vehicle Concepts in California, the truck features snowboard racks, a roof basket, a

rear-mounted winch, interior storage for snacks and drinks, an exterior stereo setup for blasting music on-site and plenty of exterior-mounted lighting to help guide the way. The RaptorTRAX is purpose-built to be the best tool possible for reaching serious backcountry powder. Check out the video and further images at www.hoonigan.com

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FORD - AWARD WINNING VANS The Fleet Van Awards was held at the International Centre in Telford in September 2014 seeing Ford winning a number of coveted awards.

TrustFord is a GROUPAUTO approved supplier and have excellent terms on the award winning range of vehicles available to you, the motor factors and garages.

Ford Transit Light Commercial Vehicle of the Year

Contact Stephen Iles on 0345 7232323 or email siles@ford.com for more information.

Ford Transit Connect Small Van of the Year Ford Transit Custom Medium Panel Van of the Year Ford Transit Large Panel Van of the Year

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Winter Warmers The perfect recipes to keep hunger at bay on those cold winter nights.

Beef bourguignon The secret to this super-rich beef casserole is to use all wine and no stock. Not one for the impatient as you’ll have to let this bad boy marinate overnight, but it’ll be worth the wait. For full recipe look at: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes

Curried vegetable broth A classic vegetable broth with a spicy twist. Crunchy rolls and naan breads at the ready, this ultimate vegetable soup is a meal in itself, and the perfect warmer for a cold night in with your best friends. For full recipe look at: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes

Chicken and mushroom pie A good pie is the perfect comfort food, and this one is no exception. For a healthy balance, serve with plenty of seasonal greens. For full recipe look at: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes

Muffin-topped Winter beef stew Muffin on stew? You’d better believe it – think of it as a lighter alternative to suet dumplings. For full recipe look at: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes

For the lads Ideal cooking ideas for the guys who just can’t be bothered.

JAMIE’s

comfort

food Curried fish pie With a crispy potato top

This comforting curried fish pie has amazing perfumed layers of flavour that will slap you round the face. For full recipe look at: www.jamieoliver.com/recipes

Chilli con carne The calendar has turned to Autumn, a chill is in the air, football season is in full swing... must be chilli time! Traditional chilli and white chicken chilli both bring plenty of flavour and heat. For full recipe look at: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes

Candied bacon green salad With a creamy French dressing Sticky and streaky smoked rashers make this bacon salad a real treat – incredible with the fresh fruit. For full recipe look at: www.jamieoliver.com/recipes

Shepherd's pie Next-level cooking With crispy potato all the way round, gorgeous tender meat, veg in the middle and the best gravy to pour over your portion, this is incredible. For full recipe look at: www.jamieoliver.com/recipes

Basic Breakfast Quesadilla After a night of drinking, or if you're craving some good protein in the morning and don't want it with a side of grease, this egg-based quesadilla is just what you need. Serve it with salsa for dipping or just pour some salsa all over the top. For full recipe look at: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes

Win Jamie Oliver’s Comfort Food Cook Book

Send us your comfort food pics for a chance to win! Visit the Ignition website for more details 43

We talk with James Meredith about preparing for a game and what it takes to become a professional footballer James, you were spotted playing football in Melbourne at the age of 16 by a Derby County scout and joined their youth system before signing a two-year professional contract with Derby in 2006. Firstly, at just 16 years of age it seems a big move across the world to a new country! – How did you cope with the move and were you alone? It was difficult at first being away from family at a young age, but I settled after time. I was very excited and motivated to do my best with the opportunity I had been given. My first thoughts upon landing in the UK were thinking how cold it was and that the streets of houses looked like a set from Harry Potter! You were part of the youth system at Derby County. A number of our readers have kids in youth teams around the country - what advice can you offer youngsters aspiring to become professional players of the future? The most important thing is to enjoy your football, to enjoy working hard and do the best with the opportunity in front of you. Statistically speaking, for some players it works out professionally but for most it doesn’t. It’s a key time in your development as a person as well as a player. You helped York City win promotion to League Two in the playoff final at Wembley before you signed for Bradford City. You then achieved promotion into League One in your first season with Bradford, again at Wembley. These must be the best moments in your football career so far? I would say the Bradford City promotion was the highlight of my career so far; we had a great team that season and worked very hard. My favourite moment was when we beat Arsenal in the League Cup Quarter Final. No one could believe it, it just seemed that impossible!

How was playing at Wembley and how did you celebrate promotion? Wembley is a very big occasion; every aspect of the feeling is first class. Every blade of grass is cut to perfection. It’s a footballers dream. After the game we all had a big party. There was loads of laughter and chanting which started on the coach as we left Wembley and carried on until the early hours of the next day. The open top bus parade around Bradford must have been a great experience? It was a fantastic day, so much support. That is a great memory. Seeing everyone supporting the club and what it meant to the city, a sea of claret and amber filling the city centre square. Days like that are real ‘one offs’. What does a typical Sunday after a match involve? Are you back at training that day or relaxing? After a game it’s time to rest, recover and refuel (the 3 R’s). On the Sunday we are given heart rate monitors that measure your cardio-vascular effort. We are instructed to do a cool down, a short period of exercise to ensure our muscles don’t stiffen up before training on Monday morning. Do you have a diet plan provided by the club Bradford City? We are provided with a diet plan specifically for each player’s needs and developments. Some need to lose weight some need to put on muscle. Are you tempted with food you’re restricted to eat? Not really, I do tend to stick to our very strict diet, but I do find it difficult sometimes when my girlfriend leaves crisps or Haribos lying around!

Autoelectro is the proud shirt sponsor of Bradford City Football Club, and the sponsor of left back, James Meredith.

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I loved Australian Rules football. I have many friends that made it professional. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great sport and they are hard as nails!

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You’re quick – do you know your 100m time? I think the world record time is 9.58secs so it wouldn’t be too far off that – ha. No, I have no idea?! How do you prepare for the game the night before a game? Eat well, early night, count sheep! Walk us through a typical match day: You were Live on Sky Sports in a couple of recent Yorkshire derby games against Leeds United and Sheffield United. You got Sky Man of the Match against Leeds United too. Does playing on Sky change the way you prepare or play? Yes playing on Sky always adds excitement. It becomes an occasion because there’s a little bit more hype as all my friends and family can watch and you know that many more thousands of football fans are watching you live on TV. It shouldn’t change the way you prepare, you should prepare in a consistent professional manner for every game but I have noticed that games on Sky usually feel like there’s more on them and the all-round tempo of play seems quicker. So, growing up in Australia and being a talented sportsman, were you good at any other sports? I loved Australian Rules football. I have many friends that made it professional. It’s a great sport and they are hard as nails! What’s the funniest changing room prank you have pulled off or witnessed? Many pranks go on in football clubs in the changing rooms; they are a weekly occurance and one of the great things about being in that sort of environment is being able to have a laugh. My favourite was when Andrew Davies was getting changed to leave the ground after training and his trainers had been super-glued to the floor leaving him to drive home in his socks. Nobody owned up... Do you head back to Australia often? All my family are back in Oz. I try to get back every year in the ‘off season’. It’s important to me to see everyone and touch base; it’s always nice to be home once in a while.

ABOUT AUTOELECTRO Continuously trading since being established in 1986, Autoelectro is now the largest independent remanufacturer and supplier of Rotating Electrics in the UK.

What do you miss the most about Oz? Apart from family and friends…the sun! The laid back attitude, the food and coffee culture is first class too, especially in Melbourne. Who is your favourite footballer of the past? Roy Keane. I liked what he represented, he had a great attitude and a winner’s mentality, plus I’m a Man United fan! Who is your current favourite player? Ronaldo. Surely he is everyone’s favourite, he is on fire constantly!

Autoelectro logo as it appears on FIFA 2015 video game

Which player has the best car and what is it? Aaron McClean has a quality aqua coloured BMW X6, its lively - I like it! What’s the last film you watched? The Wolf of Wall Street – it was quality. Thanks James, good luck for the rest of the season!

Contact your local GROUPAUTO distributor for more information about Autoelectro products

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Green Long Sleeve Shirt BURTON £25

Elf Hat NEXT £12

WINTER WARMERS Keep warm this winter with these festive beauties. Whether you’re heading for a winter break, or just hitting the shops, make sure you’re well equipped for the cooler climate this Christmas.

3 Pack Cable Knit Boot Socks ASOS £10

Elephant Grey Leather Boots TOPMAN £55

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Contrast Beanie ASOS £10

Blue Christmas Jumper River Island £35

Dark Wash Slim Jeans River Island £40

Navy Bellfield Jacquard Padded Jacket River Island £65

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MAJOR PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR WORKWEAR BRAND DICKIES FOR 2015 Dickies, the globally recognised workwear brand, has announced its huge plans for next year, with their involvement in the British Superbike Championship and also their UK Worker of the Year 2015 competition. Dickies has turned its attention and backing to the newly announced MCE BSB team, Be Wiser Kawasaki, as the team’s associate sponsor. The team, that will pride itself on toughness and reliability, much like Dickies workwear clothing, has announced the dream team rider line-up of fans’ favourite Chris Walker and young sensation Danny Buchan. Chris, who finished six in this season’s British Superbike Championship, will team up with Danny, who took the National Superstock 1000 by storm this year, leaving his opponents chasing shadows in almost every race of the season. In recent years, Dickies’ involvement and presence within MCE British Superbikes has grown considerably, having sponsored various race teams and riders. This season (2014) was the biggest year 50

for Dickies to date with regards to sponsorship, having been one of the Tyco Suzuki team sponsors. Maurice Morton, sales & marketing director at Dickies, commented: “It’s going to be a big year for Dickies in 2015. We are delighted to have joined forces with the new Be Wiser Kawasaki team as their associate sponsor. Alongside the sponsorship, we will also be running the UK Worker of the Year competition for the sixth year, in an attempt to recognise and reward hard workers in the UK.” Dickies supplies all Racesafe marshals with their famous ‘orange army’ safety wear, and are also the providers of safety clothing to the MCE BSB medical team, timekeepers and media. Dickies also supply the British Eurosport TV production team with branded clothing. Dickies 2015 MCE BSB investment now means that the Dickies mobile showroom along with UK Worker of the Year (UKWOTY) will be present at all race meetings next season, both for UK WOTY entries and to sell team clothing for the new Be Wiser Kawasaki Team.

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"Taking Dickies on board as a major partner of the Be Wiser Kawasaki race team is fantastic news.” Be Wiser Kawasaki Team Manager Tommy Hill

This year’s UK WOTY competition had for its main prizes a choice for the winner of a Suzuki S-Cross car, a Suzuki V-Strom 1000cc bike or an ATV Quad bike. Chris Teale, a heating and plumbing engineer from Barnet was crowned UK Worker of the Year 2014 at this season’s British Superbike finale at Brands Hatch on the 18th October. Chris decided on the S-Cross car as his preferred option.

If you want to have a chance in 2015, then make sure you keep an eye on www.ukworkeroftheyear.com in the new year and go to www.facebook.com/ukworkeroftheyear and ‘like’ the page. www.groupauto.co.uk/ignition

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Join us on facebook.com/ngksparkplugsuk or at twitter.com/ngk_uk for motorsport news, competitions and more, to fire us a question about NGK or a technical query about our products. We’re waiting...

In safe hands Engine designers are very protective about their creations. Not surprising when manufacturers invest hundreds of millions in research and development. With that kind of investment on the line, it’s no wonder they look to trusted partners to meet their increasingly complex needs. As manufacturers of the world’s No.1 OE fitment spark plug and Lambda sensor, that puts us in a very privileged position. Trust us. We won’t let them down. Nor will we you. Fit any NGKNTK product and you can be sure there’ll be no toys coming out of your pram any time soon. Sleep tight.

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AWARDS 2014

Each year, suppliers, garages and motor factor members within GROUPAUTO are presented prestigious awards. In 2014, the AutoCare garage network event was held at the Telford International Centre and the GROUPAUTO motor factor event in Harrogate.

AUTOCARE GARAGE OF THE YEAR

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

The award for the top AutoCare garage in the network is decided from over 370 independent garages in the UK

The award for the supplier of the year is a real accolade considering the 160 approved suppliers to the trading group.

WINNER

AAK Auto Services

Apec Braking

RUNNER-UP

JOINT RUNNERS-UP

Garden City Garage

MAHLE Filtration & WIX Filters

With over 450 automotive and commercial vehicle members within GROUPAUTO, the awards for the member of the year are a fantastic achievement for the winners.

AUTOMOTIVE MEMBER OF THE YEAR

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MEMBER OF THE YEAR

WINNER

LDS Motor Factors

David Huggett Motor Factors

RUNNER-UP

Bedale Motor Factors

Industrial Friction Services

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12A IN CINEMAS: 12TH DECEMBER The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has enraged Smaug and unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. But there are graver dangers ahead; unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has returned to Middle-Earth and sent forth legions of Orcs to attack Lonely Mountain. In this third and final instalment of the Hobbit trilogy, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide to unite or be destroyed, as the future of Middle-Earth hangs in the balance.

GAME OF THRONES: SEASONS 1-3 BOX SET Critically acclaimed and simply brilliant. With Season 4 due for release in early 2015, catch up on the complete series so far.

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BATMAN: THE COMPLETE TV SERIES (LIMITED EDITION) One for the collectors of old school TV series. Limited Edition and only available on Amazon this box set includes 120 original broadcast episodes from 1966-1968.

UNUSUAL FILM FACTS CARRIE FISHER NEVER WORE A BRA IN THIS COSTUME...

DUMB AND DUMBER TO

IN CINEMAS: 19TH DECEMBER Twenty years after their last adventure, the dim-witted duo Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dune head out in search of Harry’s long lost daughter in the hope of gaining a new kidney. Expect utter stupidity!

AT 6FT 1-INCH TOM HANKS IS ACTUALLY 1-INCH TOO TALL TO BE AN ASTRONAUT.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB PG

IN STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE, QUI-GON JINN’S COMMUNICATOR IS ACTUALLY A REDECORATED GILLETTE SENSOR EXCEL RAZOR FOR WOMEN.

IN CINEMAS: 19TH DECEMBER When the Tablet of Ahkmenrah’s magical powers begin to die out, Theodore Roosevelt, Jedediah and the rest of the museum exhibits risk never coming to life again. Larry Daley returns to save the magic before it is gone forever; spanning the globe he re-unites characters old and new in this epic quest of imagination and adventure.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER HAS WON A GOLDEN GLOBE FOR ACTING?! SEVERAL MAJOR SCENES IN THE FILM BRAVEHEART HAD TO BE RE-SHOT AS EXTRAS WERE WEARING WRIST WATCHES AND SUNGLASSES.

THE INBETWEENERS 2 In this hilarious sequel Neil, Will and Simon put growing-up temporarily on hold and join Jay in Australia for the backpacking holiday of a lifetime. Soz Oz!

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E V I T A New Year’s N R E ALT

Resolutions

So it’s that time of year again, where you tell yourself you’re going to be a ‘better you’. Eat healthy, lose weight, spend less and save more etc., etc… (Yawn). The reason why 90% of people who make a resolution quit after a month is probably because they’re so utterly dull and boring or… they are simply unrealistic. That’s why we’ve come up with some alternative resolutions for 2015. Join in the fun and submit your suggestions to @GarageIgnition on Twitter.

Game on! You’ve been told all your life that computer games are bad for you, however recent research has shown it can be good for your health. Improved hand eye co-ordination, stress relief, improved vision, quicker decision making and better multi-tasking are some of the benefits. So why not reap the benefits and play more computer games! (Just don’t tell them it doesn’t help your physical health).

Anti-social media

really super popular, but do you Everyone knows you’re e those let de to n tio olu Make it your res have 1,697,385 friends? ly actual spend ebook “Friends” list and randomers on your Fac . time with your real mates

nd requests. You have 1,697,385 frie

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Save water, save the world Why not make it your personal mission this year to help the planet and save water . Washing machines can use be tween 40 and 120 litres of wa ter depending on size. So make sure you do less laund ry, use more deodorant and do your bit for the plane t.

I’m really ill, H ONEST Ever y boss ha s heard the usual Monday morning excuses, that you’r e feeling ‘under th e weather’ and can’t make it into work. They’re usua lly a good spor t and accept your th inly veiled attempt s to cover up a late booz y night do wn at your local th e day before. Next time, why no t show a bit of cre ative spark and come up with a ne w excuse for takin g leave – “My dog ate my ov eralls?”

Just say NO! For those of you who really want a challenging resolution why not give this one a go… Make it your mission to not bed any supermodels this year…We know it’s going to be a toughie but with a bit of support from your mates and a little self-control you’ll be able to pull through!

You ready for a good time sexy!?

Nah, you’re alright luv.

The art of giving We all know volunteering is an admirable, selfless act and gives you a wonderful feel good factor. So let others help you and experience this amazing feeling! There’s no need to be selfish, the more help from volunteers, means more people feeling good.

Mobile regression Head down, slouched over, arms out front, slow trudge. We’re talking about all you mobile zombies* out there. It’s time to look up and see where you’re going and walk at a reasonably ‘normal’ pace. Help your fellow man and fend off the mobile zombie apocalypse.

*Blunt trauma to the head is NOT ADVISED – but may be necessary

A laugh A Minute Are you a serial “LOLer”? We’re sorry to break it to you but it gets pretty annoying especially when it takes 10 minutes to decode a simple “Hi, are you out tonight?” message. To help cure you of this ailment why not actually laugh out loud every time you type “LOL”?

HAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA

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Insurance 10x FACTS & FIGURES

25%

Ignition Lifts the bonnet on car insurance claims - what are the real costs?

DRIVERS UNDER 25 ARE TEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAN A DRIVER OVER 30

Men under 25 account for over a quarter of all serious driving offences, yet they make up only 3% of all drivers in the UK.

1200

THE NUMBER OF WHIPLASH CLAIMS MADE EVERYDAY That’s six times more than the number of people who claim for workplace related injuries every year.

75%

of personal injury claims in the UK are whiplash, more than anywhere else in Europe.

£2,000,000,000

£2bn - the amount paid out by insurers each year for whiplash claims.

£4527

THE AVERAGE COST OF A CAR INSURANCE CLAIM IN 2011 60

IGNITION MAGAZINE

96%

OF CAR INSURANCE POLICIES ARE COMPREHENSIVE 4% ARE THIRD PARTY, FIRE AND THEFT

CALENDAR DATES december

The IGNITION magazine is unfortunately only published seasonally during Spring, Summer and Winter. So to keep you entertained until our next issue we have picked out things to do, watch and celebrate… BBC Sports Personality of the year 2014

Tune in to the live awards show from Glasgow on BBC One & BBC One HD.

january

The 2015 Garmin ArenaCross Tour

Starts at the Phones4U Arena, Manchester and visits Belfast, Birmingham, Necastle, Glasgow, Sheffield and London.

Mad Friday

The busiest night out of the calendar year. Office parties galore hit the drinking establishments to celebrate the Xmas break.

The Saturday’s ‘super-hot’ band member Frankie Sanford turns 26!

Samuel L. Jackson celebrates his 66th birthday!

Horse racing

Title decider?

Town centres are descended upon each Christmas Eve with boyfriends & husbands scouring the shops for a beloved last-minute gift.

“And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee!"

Australian Tennis Open

Gents, it’s not too late!

Winter X-Games

4 jam-packed days of skiing, snowboarding and snowmobile racing.

Have a little flutter with some of your Christmas money on a horse running in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Chelsea take on Man City at Stamford Bridge.

february

AY ! HAPP Y BI RTHD

RBS 6 Nations Wales v England

African Cup of Nations Final, Morocco

Valentine’s Day

Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London.

Don’t forget this date of all dates in 2015!

Capital One Cup Final

march

Mother’s Day

Naturally popular with mums everywhere! A day lounging around being waited on for a change!

Look out for the total solar eclipse on Friday 20th March 2015. This will be the last total eclipse visible in Europe until August 12th 2026!

Elle McPherson is 51 years young!

The famous 1980s supermodel is still in fantastic shape and keeping up to her nickname ‘The Body’.

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The Maxxis BDC Final Showdown at Anglesey The final round of the 2014 Maxxis British Drift Championship saw the drivers and teams head to Anglesey circuit in Wales, marking the championship’s first visit to the venue. The track layout in operation was both massively fast and big on entertainment due to one of the clipping points being mere metres away from the spectators that lined the pit wall. With the cars hurtling past mid-drift at around 80mph, massive grins on faces coated in destroyed tyre rubber filled the crowd.

The weather was on our side all weekend, allowing the drivers to enjoy the track at its full pace. Many struggled at first with the challenging circuit but, come the end of practice, the vast majority had found their rhythm. Once the dust had settled after qualifying it was Jack Symes that topped the Semi Pro leaderboard, with Daniel Hall securing the number one spot in Pro and Shane O’Sullivan topping the Super Pro class. The Semi Pro class saw Drift Elite’s Matt Denham and Learn 2 Drift’s Callum Craddy go head to head in the final with Matt taking the win, while Ben Rowland rounded out the top three. In Pro Driftworks’ Richard Grindrod made it back to back victories after defeating William Rose who placed second, while Marcin Mucha took third.

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Team Falken’s Matt Carter took the top spot in Super Pro after an epic final battle with Team Aerokit/Nexen’s Jack Shanahan, with Driftworks’ Richard Grindrod grabbing another podium finish in third. With the championship points tallied it was Slide Motorsport’s Matt Stevenson that emerged as Semi Pro champion, with Driftworks’ Richard Grindrod taking the Pro title and Team Japspeed’s Shane O’Sullivan bagging the Super Pro trophy. Team Japspeed were also crowned Constructors champions after a last minute points haul saw them grab the title right at the very end of the season. We would like to thank Power Maxed and Steel Seal for helping to make the 2014 Maxxis British Drift Championship the biggest and best season yet! 2015 will bring with it some big changes for the series – we can’t wait to do it all over again next year.

What makes a perfect car for drifting?

Top cars for drifting

1. Drivetrain: You want a front-engine, rear-wheel drive car.

Mazda RX7 – Difficult to drift at first but with practice it becomes a thing of smoking beauty!

2. Transmission: A manual transmission is best. You have more control.

This list comes down to driver preference and are in no particular order and not at all an exhausted list (pardon the pun). One thing is for sure – they can seriously drift!

3. Weight Distribution: Close to a 50/50 front/rear ratio.

Nissan Silvia – A stunning machine in full drift and very popular drifting machine.

4. Power: The car must have enough power to keep the wheels spinning while you’re drifting.

Nissan 200SX – Another favourite on the drifting scene as it has stacks of tuning parts available.

5. Condition: Drifting is tough on a car and tyres won’t last long. Keeping the car in top condition is vital.

BMW M3 - Plenty of power hitting the back wheels and a limited diff as standard. Mitsubishi Evo - Made famous by the Fast and the Furious film franchise. When modified, it’s one of the best.

Power Maxed and Steel Seal proudly sponsored the 2014 Maxxis British Drift Championship WINNER

O BEST PR DUCT

HIGH STRENGTH BEST QUALITY LARGE RANGE COST EFFECTIVE Power Maxed is a revolutionary new range of automotive products. Our only aim is to be the best, nothing comes before that. We have developed our products not just to be better than others but to be the best they can be. We will provide the best products for Cleaning, Fixing and Repairing your vehicles.

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS WARPED HEADS CRACKED BLOCKS MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

AS SEEN ON

A BLOWN HEAD GASKET SOLUTION FOR JUST £39.99

Contact your local GROUPAUTO distributor for more information about Steel Seal and Power Maxed products

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ESPN WiNTER X GAMES The X Games put the extreme in extreme sport. With so many spin it forward moments in winter sport history, what you see at the X Games, is what the rest of the winter sport world spend the next 12 months mastering. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only competition where risking your life is your only chance of winning a medal.

SNOWBOARDING BIG AIR

Skiing SuperPipe

From the top of a 54-foot tower the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most innovative snowboarders start their six-second straight line decent toward a giant jump that serves as the sport's ultimate launching pad. It is off this giant ramp that the craziest and seemingly impossible aerial tricks are mastered and landed to the amazement of gobsmacked spectators.

Skiing SuperPipe

As athletes push the boundaries of extreme sports, the standard halfpipe has evolved into the 22-foot superpipe. In this event skiers hurtle off the giant icy walls of the superpipe at blistering speeds; reaching heights of over seven metres they perform some of the most daring of all aerial stunts. Popular but dangerous, this event made its Olympic debut at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Snowmobile SnoCross

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Snowmobile SnoCross Swap the motorbike for a snowmobile, the dirt track for snow and you get SnoCross. One of the most exhilarating sports in the X Games; it involves high-speed snowmobiles, tight turns, banked corners, steep jumps and treacherous obstacles. Definitely not an event for the faint hearted.

X-RATED EVENTS Arguably the most dangerous of X Games events. Snowmobile Freestyle The Snowmobile Freestyle event sees riders perform a series of jaw-dropping tricks across a run of multiple jumps. Landing a back-flip on skis is one thing; landing a back-flip with a 200kg snowmobile between your thighs is nothing short of miraculous. In January 2013 a rider died from his injuries when a back-flip to back-flip combination went wrong in the Snowmobile Freestyle competition. This event has been axed from the roster for the 2015 X Games.

Snowmobile BEST TRICK One jump! Death defying stunts! Like the Snowmobile Freestyle event, the aim is to shock, stun and amaze with risky aerial stunts. In this event riders pack as much gravity defying action as is humanly possible into one hair raising jump. In 2013, following one fatality and one out of control snowmobile that nearly mowed down the crowd, ESPN made the decision to remove the Snowmobile Best Trick from all future competitions.

You need to think of stuff that no one else has ever thought about, then bring it to life. Torgeir Bergrem, Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Navy Snowboard Big Air Finalist 2014

X GAMES ASPEN 2015 Colorado, 22nd - 25th january The Winter X Games return to Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen for another year. The games are actually free to attend if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in town on that day! If not, ESPN and ABC cover the entire competition.

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WHEELS MOTOR FACTORS .............................. 01462 459842 HORSHAM................................. PAGES MOTOR ACCESSORIES LTD ................ 01403 266444 LIGHTWATER............................ UNITY AUTOFACTORS LTD .............................. 01276 489820 LONGFIELD ............................... TMC MOTOR PARTS LTD................................... 01474 709998 LUTON ....................................... LUTON MOTOR FACTORS LTD......................... 01582 599233 MAIDSTONE.............................. SOUTHERN COMPONENTS GROUP ............... 01622 756576 MARGATE .................................. CAT AUTOMOTIVE LTD ..................................... 01843 232382 MARGATE .................................. EAST KENT COMPONENTS LTD ...................... 01843 225288 NEWHAVEN .............................. AUTOLEC MOTOR FACTORS ............................ 01273 514668 OXFORD..................................... FRENCO SERVICE REPLACEMENTS .............. 01865 772161 OXFORD..................................... ROGERS AUTO FACTORS LTD ......................... 01865 248604 PULBOROUGH ......................... PAGES MOTOR ACCESSORIES LTD ................ 01798 875666 READING ................................... A To Z AUTOPARTS LTD ................................... 01635 871326 READING ................................... WOODLEY AUTO FACTORS LTD ..................... 0118 944 0024 ROCHESTER ............................. TMC MOTOR PARTS LTD................................... 01634 251903 SHEFFORD ................................ LUTON MOTOR FACTORS LTD......................... 01462 815090 SITTINGBOURNE ..................... CAT AUTOMOTIVE LTD ..................................... 01795 519498 SITTINGBOURNE ..................... SOUTHERN COMPONENTS GROUP ............... 01795 420087 SLOUGH .................................... LANGLEY MOTORIST DISCOUNT.................... 01753 577333 SLOUGH .................................... LANGLEY MOTORIST DISCOUNT.................... 01753 540113 SOUTHAMPTON ...................... DORSET AUTOSPARES LTD ............................. 02380 637637 SOUTHAMPTON ...................... H KIMBER (FRICTION) LTD ............................... 02380 213190 SOUTHSEA ............................... SOUTHSEA MOTOR FACTORS ......................... 02392 877779 STEVENAGE ............................. WHEELS MOTOR FACTORS .............................. 01438 367514 TADLEY ..................................... ADVANCE MOTOR SUPPLIES LTD .................. 01189 812800 THATCHAM ............................... A To Z AUTOPARTS LTD ................................... 01635 871326 TUNBRIDGE WELLS................ LENCO MOTOR SPARES ................................... 01892 546811 WATERLOOVILLE .................... PRO-PARTS LTD.................................................. 02392 269664 WHITSTABLE ............................ CAT AUTOMOTIVE LTD ..................................... 01227 771337 WOKING ..................................... UNITY AUTOFACTORS LTD .............................. 01483 730026 WORTHING ............................... FRENCHES AUTOS ............................................. 01903 208460

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0VER 360 DISTRIBUTORS ACROSS UK & IRELAND www.groupauto.co.uk

GROUPAUTO IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TRADING GROUP IN THE INDEPENDENT AFTERMARKET, WITH OVER 360 MOTOR FACTOR MEMBERS AND 500 INDEPENDENT GARAGES. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN BECOME PART OF IT. BECOME PART OF OUR INDEPENDENT GARAGE SCHEMES We have 3 independent garage schemes - AutoCare, Top Truck and The Approved Garage Network. We have substantial presence throughout the UK, with a combined total of over 500 garages. Our garage schemes benefit from consistent and highly competitive pricing on all parts, guaranteed quality parts and service, along with unrivalled garage support, and new customer generation.

PURCHASE FROM OUR APPROVED DISTRIBUTORS With over 600 parts distributor locations in the UK, our membership is by far the largest network in the UK. There are 4 distributor types which are known as ‘Members’ and are broken down into the following categories, Automotive, Commercial Vehicle, Retail and Colour Services. Our buying power allows members to pass on the savings, offer an outstanding service and provide added value schemes to garages that no other automotive trade distributor can match. Scan below to find your local distributor.

HIGH QUALITY APPROVED SUPPLIER In the UK we have over 160 Approved Suppliers who undergo a strict tender process agreeing to buying and quality terms for our distributors. You can expect the highest quality parts at highly competitive prices with a service to match from any GROUPAUTO distributor. Please visit our website at www.groupauto.co.uk for our full list of Approved Suppliers.

Scan here to find your local GROUPAUTO distributor.