Motor Trader e-Magazine, Sept 2017

SEP 2017

THE FASTEST MAN ON EARTH

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF MTA QUEENSLAND? CLICK HERE.

ANDY GREEN, LAND SPEED RECORD HOLDER, ON THE RACE TO REACH 1000MPH OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MOTOR TRADES ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND

MEMBERS CLASSIC: 1968 FORD XT FAIRMONT

The benchmark of industry standards.

LOOKING FOR WORK? Check out MTA Queensland’s Job Board for all the latest opportunities in the automotive industry.

Visit www.mtaq.com.au today

Contents Official Publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland

Search for MTA Queensland

HEAD OFFICE Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 P.O. Box 4530, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 Tel: 07 3237 8777 Fax: 07 3844 4488 Toll Free: 1800 177 951 Email: publications@mtaq.com.au Website: www.mtaq.com.au

MTA Queensland and MTA Institute actively promotes our four social media platforms and encourages all our members and MTA Institute clients to connect with us via these channels.

Simply search “MTA Queensland.”

EDITOR Jonathan Nash

Each social media platform contains different information and this is a terrific way to stay on top of industry news, upcoming events, MTA Institute courses and the latest benefits for Association members.

We see our social media platforms as an additional important communication method, alongside Motor Trader and Member Bulletin emails.

ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Ted Kowalski Paul Murray POLICY Kellie Dewar, General Manager MTA Queensland ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Email: publications@mtaq.com.au EDITORIAL Editorial submissions are welcomed but cannot be guaranteed placement. For more information email the Editor at publications@mtaq.com.au SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including GST) Subscribing to the Motor Trader e-magazine is free.

Click here to subscribe

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MOTOR TRADER PUBLISHING POLICY Motor Trader is the official publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland.

The role of Motor Trader is to inform members of current issues and legislation affecting the industry. As such it can be regarded as the business magazine for the Queensland motor industry. The role of Motor Trader is not to be in competition with the technical magazines already on the market. It will advise of new vehicles being released and of the latest technology incorporated into them; it will advise of latest technology affecting members in each of the MTA Queensland Divisions; it will keep members abreast of the latest in motor industry training and industrial affairs; and it will keep members informed of the latest technical aids available through MTA Queensland Member Services, which will assist members in staying ahead of the technological revolution presently being encountered within the motor industry.

The publisher reserves the right to omit or alter any advertisement and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher for all damages or liabilities arising from the published material.

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MTA QUEENSLAND ABN: 74 028 933 848

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CORPORATE PARTNERS

02 From the editor 04 From the desk of the CEO 06 Policy/Viewpoint 08 MTA Q&A

TONY FASANO FROM AUTO GIANT

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Feature 12 THE FASTEST MAN ON EARTH: ANDY GREEN 28 Members Classic XTRA SPECIAL FORD: 1968 FORD XT FAIRMONT

50 MEMBERS ESSENTIALS 41 Training GM's Professional Circle perspective 42 Professional Circle training 47 Member profiles 48 Industrial relations 50 Concept Corner BMW CONCEPT Z4 52 Investment matters MARKET WRAP September 2017 Motor Trader | 1

From the editor

JONATHAN NASH EDITOR

H

ELLO AND WELCOME to the September 2017 edition of Motor Trader.

We have a ripper of a cover story yarn this month - an interview with the world's fastest human. Back in 1997, Englishman Andy Green set a quite astonishing Land Speed Record of 1228km/h in the jet-powered Thrust SSC car. 20 years later and Green is working on setting another record mark, this time in a new vehicle called Bloodhound. And the speed that Green and the Bloodhound team are trying to reach? That would be 1000mph (1600km/h). Astonishing.

Find out more about the Bloodhound project and Andy Green from pages 12-16.

In our MTA Q&A feature this

month, we chat to Tony Fasano from Auto Giant at Brendale in Brisbane.

Not your average mechanical workshop, Auto Giant offers not only general maintenance services, but also modification work, auto electrical, air conditioning, tyre sales and fitting, and even car sales. And Tony, who has a motorsport background that includes a stint in V8 Supercars, has grand plans for the business to be a unique one-stop automotive shop.

Read more from page 8.

In our Member's Classic feature this month we catch up with Duane Theaker from XXXplicit Refinishing in Townsville. A man with an instinct for upgrading the cars he owns, which includes an HSV Clubsport with 700hp at the wheels, his most recent project is a 50-year-old XT Fairmont a project in which he kept his instincts in check to restore it to near-factory condition. Find out more on pages 28-31.

In our Training section this month we report on the My Profiling - the digital system that MTA Institute has introduced to its training program.

A digital, web and app-based platform that can be utilised via smartphone, tablet or computer, My Profiling provides students, trainers and employers a level of interaction and engagement that sets a new benchmark for the industry. Doing

IT’S TIME TO NOMINATE FOR THE MTAQ AWARDS MTA Queensland are thrilled to announce that nominations are now open for the 2017 Innovation Award and Community Award.

INNOVATION AWARD

MTA QUEENSLAND ENCOURAGES members to promote and lead creativity. Innovation is often thought of in terms of technology, but can in-fact come in many forms. From customer service programs to unique building, planning and environmental projects; from engaging employees with unique incentive programs to methodologies that streamline workflows and increase production; from waste management to quality control. The Innovation Award covers any improvement or adjustment to your business which actively seeks to achieve success.

COMMUNITY AWARD

Many MTA Queensland members are involved with their community beyond the boundary of their business - be it via charitable work, fundraising, volunteering or direct work in the community. The Community Award acknowledges a member business which has identified how important their role can be within the community and has responded with projects, programs and initiatives reflecting this.

2 | Motor Trader September 2017

away with the need for paperwork, it automates processes, allows all of those involved in an apprentice’s training to have immediate visibility over their progress and, given the digital nature of the system, allows for work to be completed and authenticated at any time, reducing the burden on the student, supervisor and indeed the trainer. Introduced by the MTA Institute in July, the feedback from users of My Profiling has been very positive. Find out more on pages 42-32.

Also inside this month's edition are ten pages of automotive news from Australia and around the world and a report on the latest from the MTAQ Racing Team. In the past month, the team took to the track at Morgan Park Raceway for the second round of the Queensland Excel X3 Series and also participated in the Federal Tyres Series X3 Invitation Cup - part of the Shannons Nationals event at Queensland Raceway. Go to page 18 to find out how the team got on!

I hope you enjoy this edition of Motor Trader. If you want to get in touch to let me know of any news you'd like to share; or have a classic bike, car or truck that we could feature in the e-mag, then please email me.

Cheers!

Jonathan Nash, Editor jonathann@mtaq.com.au

PRESIDENT’S BALL A D V A N C I N G

I N D U S T R Y

WINNERS RECEIVE Return flights to Brisbane A night at the Hilton Brisbane Free entry to the President’s Ball $1,500 travel The nomination process is open now and closes on Saturday, 30th September 2017. The winners will be notified by Wednesday, 4th October 2017.

Email your nomination to info@mtaq.com.au

As a special business offer for MTAQ members, you can have access to a payment terminal that can do more than take payments.

The Commonwealth Bank has developed a new EFTPOS tablet called Albert that accepts card payments and also runs apps. To help keep your business moving, Commonwealth Bank has a special offer for MTAQ members. Just open a new Commonwealth Bank Business Transaction Account by 31st December 2017 and link it to your existing or new Commonwealth Bank merchant facility.

0

$

monthly account fee on a Business Transaction Account – $10 monthly account fee waiver#

To take advantage of this offer contact MTAQ on 1800 177 951.

Important Information: Offer available to referrals made via MTAQ between 01/07/2017 and 31/12/2017. #To maintain the fee waiver, you must retain the required products, otherwise the offer may be withdrawn. Offer includes the monthly account maintenance fee of currently $10 on the Business Transaction Account linked to the merchant facility. Please refer to terms and conditions. This offer may be extended beyond the specified end date at the discretion of the Commonwealth Bank. Interest rates and fees are subject to change. Full conditions of use will be included in our Letter of Offer. Applications for finance subject to the Bank’s normal leading criteria. MTAQ may receive a fee from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia for each successful referral. Referral Fees are not payable on referrals from existing relationship managed Commonwealth Bank customers. This has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs, so you should consider its appropriateness to your circumstances before you act on it. Terms and conditions are available from commbank.com.au.

Some of the apps shown require individual development. Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124. Australian credit licence 234945.

From the desk of the CEO

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BRETT DALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MTA QUEENSLAND

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HE AUTOMOTIVE VALUE chain has evolved in line with advances in technology and engineering. MTA Queensland, in the best interests of its membership, has led and kept pace with these changes.

And now is no exception as it moves to lead the way in innovations which embrace new use of technologies, improved industry approaches and better systems and processes for the motor trades.

In keeping with this leadership, the planning and implementation of the first automotive innovation hub in Australia is well underway to be located in purpose-applied space at The Sir Jack Brabham Automotive Centre of Excellence. The objective of the hub, first and foremost, is to support member businesses to prepare for the digital disruption and emerging technologies. Through our Carmageddon symposiums we have secured the interest of six startups that are at different stages of development which will come together with the support of MTA Queensland through an entity called MTAiQ. To gain the best information that will aid the support and investment in the automotive innovation hub, we have met with numerous experts and investors. A network of experts is being harnessed who will act as legal, financial, and investment, mentoring coaching and business development contacts for individuals and businesses trying to commercialise creativity. An incorporated legal practice is being established with long-term corporate partners Bennett & Philp Lawyers that will allow the Association to provide different levels of organic legal support to complement the arrangements within the innovation hub.

The interest from members and non-members in innovation is providing confidence that local investment will see the automotive industry positioned to capitalise on the new technologies. The MTA Queensland staff has been introduced to the concept of the automotive innovation hub through open

collaboration with other hubs.

They support the innovation dimension, believing it to be a critical element in the Association’s destiny to assure its longevity and relevance to members.

The aim is for the innovation hub to be officially opened in October by either the Queensland Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business the Hon Leeanne Enoch or the Chief Entrepreneur Steve Baxter.

It is the Association’s experience that the State Departments of Small Business and Science, Information Technology and Innovation have proved proactive in delivering on their policy goals in assisting to progress the automotive innovation hub.

Over the past month, I’ve had several meetings with potential startups and have been encouraged with the level of interest in working with the MTA Queensland. Interestingly, we have not yet sought to find businesses to come to our innovation hub, rather they have come to us.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be meeting with local government councils on innovative parking solutions as a consequence of a startup business taking space in the hub. A partnership has been established with the Ipswich-based Fire Station 101 and collaborations have been held with the Mackay Innovation Centre who are interested in what is being done in our hub. I urge members with an idea that needs support to let us know.

“THE INTEREST

FROM MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS IN INNOVATION IS PROVIDING CONFIDENCE THAT LOCAL INVESTMENT WILL SEE THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY POSITIONED TO CAPITALISE ON THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES.”

PRESENTATIONS Recently, I was invited by the Queensland University of Technology - Law Faculty to be a speaker at its symposium on the impact of 3D printing - Opportunity knocks - 3D printing will revolutionise the automotive industry! I was pleased to do so as this is the first time in the history of the MTA Queensland that the automotive industry has been linked so closely to academia.

I mentioned in my address that there is a 3D startup in our automotive innovation hub. At present, there is a blasé attitude to this technology, but, as a disruptor, it will impact significantly on the entire automotive value chain - the part suppliers, the vehicle body sector, tools and servicing and eventually the vehicle manufacturing sector itself.

According to the experts, digital disruption and emerging technologies will impact business by 2020 with the major rollout and effect in place by 2022. It is for this reason that the MTA Queensland is providing the leadership on innovation so that members can adapt their business models to ensure ongoing sustainability and the Association relevance to members into the future.

MEETINGS A key training meeting I attended was the Cross Industry Automation Skilling project reference group (PRG) to identify skill needs that are shared by multiple industry sectors in relation to automation. The PRG has representations from all Industry Reference Committees which includes Automotive Light Vehicle and Automotive Strategic sectors for which I represent. Each member will be required to contribute insights and perspectives from their industry and to report back to their nominating IRC. For the automotive sector and MTA Queensland, a matter under consideration is the current training packages and the impact of automation on existing units of competency.

Undoubtedly, MTA Queensland is building as an authority on the impact

“IT IS CLEAR TO ME . . . THAT THERE IS GREAT CONFIDENCE IN THE POLICY AND INDUSTRY WORK MTA QUEENSLAND IS DOING.” of automation on the automotive industry. This is evidenced by being invited to participate in four research projects with different universities from across Australia on automation and emerging technologies and with a United Kingdom research firm on cloud computing into the future.

Additionally, I met with the Sarina Russo group to discuss strategies to support employers with hiring new apprentices. And just a small commercial plug here - don’t forget our Jobs Board on our website where there is great potential to find your next best employee.

APPOINTMENTS AND INVITATIONS On my diary are several appointments and invitations at which I’ll be proud to represent the MTA Queensland membership.

I’m looking forward to dinner with the Reserve Bank Board and senior members of the Brisbane community where I’ll contribute to discussions from the perspective of the membership and the automotive value chain. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will hold a roundtable on 25 September at which I’ll be a participant. This relates to the contents of its draft report on the market study of the new car retailing. A long-awaited meeting is with the Federal Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills the Hon Karen Andrews. That is set down for 18 September. One invitation of some fascination and interest is from the Project Partners for the smart shuttle preview at the Newington Armory, Silverwater (Sydney) - and the opportunity to have a ride in it.

On the schedule are numerous speaking events which I’ve accepted to address on issues relating to the automotive value chain.

POLICY It is clear to me from the many meetings and collaborations with national and state stakeholders that there is great confidence in the policy and industry work MTA Queensland is doing. The efforts on innovation is a new dimension which we are progressing to open fresh opportunities but does not overshadow advocacy and the extraordinarily successful policy outcomes over the past year. Deputy Group Chief Executive Kellie Dewar in Viewpoint refers to some issues that the Divisions have accomplished for their individual trades and in some instances for the wider automotive sector. These are but a few of the significant policy achievements over the past year. These range from our views being incorporated into the Australian Consumer Law, as Kellie says, to the VBOX device being approved by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

AND THE LAST THING Over the next month my focus will include implementing the decisions of the recent Board meeting, finalising the responsibilities associated with October Annual General Meetings and fulfilling the commitments in the diary. Without a doubt, I’ll be practising golf swings, as Kellie alludes to in Viewpoint, in the run up to 19 October Golf Day at Nudgee. I look forward to seeing members and stakeholders there for an enjoyable game and networking.

Likewise, I encourage members to get ahead of the crowd and secure tickets for the 28 October Annual President’s Ball!

Until October, as Henry Ford, the industrialist and the founder of the Ford Motor Company said, ‘execute ideas with enthusiasm . . . as it is the bottom of all progress’.

September 2017 Motor Trader | 5

Policy/Viewpoint

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KELLIE DEWAR DEPUTY GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER MEMBER SERVICES

HIS IS ONE of my favourite times of the MTA Queensland year. It is when I meet with Divisional Chairs to reflect on the past year of activities for content for the various annual reports. Each has the bread and butter issues that they process as a matter of course, and each has major, and sometimes complex, matters which demands attention of the corporate office.

Without stealing their content, I’ll mention some topics that the divisions have grappled with in the interest of their members and indeed for the wider automotive value chain.

The biofuels mandate came into effect on 1 January 2017. Prior to this, the Service Station and Convenience Store Association was engaged fully in the policy processes and the discussions on the implementation of the mandate. For the Australian Automobile Dealer Association Queensland members it was the proposed seven-day trading for the retail motor vehicle and caravan sector that consumed many hours of deliberations. It was through strategic advocacy and broad-based collaboration that the existing trading hours were retained.

Each division has addressed its various industry issues - minor to critical - with the intent of resolving them in the best interests of the workplace and the sector. This specific divisional approach to industry matters, coupled with the corporate office’s advocacy support, underpins the value of MTA Queensland membership. It is timely to reflect that the Association is the state’s motor

trade’s peak body and is recognised as such by all levels of government and industry stakeholders.

HOUSEKEEPING Members in the recent past have provided feedback on the incidence of too frequent industry bulletins.

We’ve responded to these views with one industry weekly bulletin sent electronically at 11am each Thursday directly to your inbox. It is inclusive of all corporate office, industry and MTA Institute advices. Make a date with yourself to catch up with the latest industry and Association news, it's easy to read! If you have any problems logging in to the members-only sections of the bulletin, please contact member services. If you are not getting our bulletin directly through your email please call us to add your email to our distribution list.

DIVISIONAL NEWS The Tyre and Undercar Division invited the officers from the vehicle standards transport regulation branch of the Department of Transport and Main Road (TMR) to its annual general meeting. The purpose was to discuss all requirements relevant to tyres, wheels and suspension under the legislation and regulations.

From the Division’s perspective, several requirements were open to interpretation and clarification was needed on what was regarded as ‘the regulatory grey areas.’ TMR will host a presentation and open forum on 11 September to provide further amplification on requirements.

Our Rental Vehicle Industry and

“EACH DIVISION HAS ADDRESSED ITS VARIOUS

INDUSTRY ISSUES - MINOR TO CRITICAL - WITH THE INTENT OF RESOLVING THEM IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE WORKPLACE AND THE SECTOR. THIS SPECIFIC DIVISIONAL APPROACH TO INDUSTRY MATTERS, COUPLED WITH THE CORPORATE OFFICE’S ADVOCACY SUPPORT, UNDERPINS THE VALUE OF MTA QUEENSLAND MEMBERSHIP.” 6 | Motor Trader September 2017

“TO ACCOMMODATE

THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES REQUIRING AN ANNUAL COI, TMR HAS APPROVED THE OUTSOURCING OF COIs FOR LIGHT PERSONALISED TRANSPORT VEHICLES TO APPROVED INSPECTION STATIONS (AIS).”

Mechanical Divisions have interest in TMR’s advices that the Personalised Transport Reforms will come into effect later this year. With these reforms, TMR anticipates a large number of light vehicles (4.5t GVM or less) will need to be inspected every 12 months and be issued with a certificate of inspection (COI) e.g. taxis, limousines and vehicles used to provide booked hire services such as Uber. To accommodate the increase in the number of vehicles requiring an annual COI, TMR has approved the outsourcing of COIs for light personalised transport vehicles to Approved Inspection Stations (AIS).

Vehicle owners will have a choice of obtaining their annual COI from TMR or from an AIS approved to inspect these types of vehicles.

Of particular interest to our members with AIS Approvals are the requirements they must meet to issue the light vehicle COI. These include additional brake testing equipment capability for the new inspection type. We have been advised the VBOX device the Motorcycle Division researched and recommended has had the appropriate updates and complies with the new requirement.

Members in the Australian Automotive Dealer Association and the Automotive Remarketing Divisions should note the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) media statement in this edition of the Motor Trader. It warns that the OFT’s 2017-18 compliance programme is in ‘full swing’. This

means that there will be unscheduled visits to check compliance with the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act and detect breaches of the fair trading legislation.

Vacancies arising from the resignations of the Chair of the Rental Vehicle Industry division Chris Ching and the Acting Chair of the Automotive Remarketing Division Rod Pether have been filled with the election of Grant Harrison (Nationwide Hire) and Peter Dever (Supamerc Prestige Cars) respectively.

I welcome Grant Harrison and Peter Dever to their leadership roles and thank Chris Ching and the Acting Chair Rod Pether for their contributions to their individual divisions over the past year.

ADVOCACY On my schedule are two consultative documents to which responses will be made. The priority is the draft report to the ‘New Car Retailing Industry - a market study’ by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC).

I’ve been reading and discussing the approach we should adopt for our submission. Initially, the view is that the draft recommendations relating to the Australian Consumer Law are proposals to which we will support. There is one draft recommendation that has some industry resistance and that refers to the introduction of a mandatory scheme for car manufactures to share with independent repairers technical information on commercially fair and reasonable terms. The submission will represent that view. It is due on 7th September to be followed by a stakeholder roundtable on 25th September to which the MTA Queensland has been invited.

CORPORATE PARTNERS On a regular basis I meet with officers from our corporate partners for a general discussion on issues of mutual interest. Recently I liaised with officers from our long term corporate partner Capricorn on the broad range

of services they on offer to members.

I also joined MTAA Super on a site tour of the Triple Eight Race Engineering facility, we certainly value the opportunities our partnership offers.

We have had some exciting opportunities for our apprentices at the GC 600, which was featured in our 2016 November Motor Trader magazine and our Apprentice of The Year, Jamahl Byrne, recently at the Watpac Townsville 400 which we covered in the last edition of Motor Trader.

ACTIVITIES The Motor Trades 68th Annual Golf Tournament is on Thursday 19th October at the Nudgee Golf Club (1207 Nudgee Road, Nudgee).

The event is open exclusively to those who are currently or previously involved within the motor trades, making it a great networking opportunity. Further details are in the Industry Weekly bulletin. Group Chief Executive Dr Brett Dale is still practicing his swing - I’ve given up in favour of dancing ready for the Ball!

Organisational details for the fifth Annual President’s Ball themed ‘Advancing Industry’ are in place.

The guest speaker is Craig Lowndes OAM of Supercars' Team Vortex. As said in previous editions of Viewpoint, the talented and humorous Shane Jacobson is the master of ceremonies. Don’t leave it to the last minute to get your tickets for the 28 October 2017 at the Brisbane Hilton Hotel.

It is an evening of networking, celebrating achievement accompanied by an excellent menu and live dance music.

FINALLY My focus for the coming month will be to maintain service delivery to the membership, meet the Annual Report deadlines for publication and finalise the submissions to federal agencies.

Until next month, take care and stay safe.

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CLICK TO VISIT THE AUTO GIANT WEBSITE

Tony Fasano

MTA

QA &

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A lifetime spent in the mechanical repair industry - with a sideline working at the top level of motorsport – has seen Tony Fasano establish a reputation for delivering the highest quality work to his customers. His business, Auto Giant, is one of the most respected and innovative workshops in Brisbane, and there are plans to develop it further to become a unique automotive one-stop shop delivering services from car sales to repairs, modifications to tyres and everything in between.

Autologic, which means we can work and have support with many euro ranges –we can program computers and batteries, do wheel alignments and so on.

I’m very proactive in that way and always look to make sure we have the latest tools to be able to offer the best service. That's because it’s all about quality not quantity for us. We use genuine parts for longevity and reliability and make sure the job is done right the first time. There isn’t much we can’t do.

Becoming involved with car sales was something we brought in a couple of years ago. It was proving difficult to find vehicles of good enough quality coming through our database so we started to look for cars ourselves – cars we could repair and sell. It is something that gives a bit of differentiation between us and our competition and is helping us grow.

How long has the business been established and what is your background in the industry?

TF: It has been a dream of mine, since I was about eight years old, to build a truly high-quality automotive business.

I have an Italian background, and before my father moved to Australia he used to fix his own cars. When he was here though, he would send his car to be fixed but they weren’t being fixed properly. Well, his love of cars became mine and I would get in there and help him fix them and eventually it became my dream to own an empire of a dealership!

So, I was working on cars by the time I was 10 and then became involved with motorsport – building my first race car by the time I was 15 and sports sedan race cars by 16.

That love for motorsport made me grow really fast, and the experience and knowledge I gained through involvement with the sport has been invaluable.

I did my heavy commercial apprenticeship with the council city fleet garage and was there for about 10 years, during which time I also received my light vehicle qualification. I then ran a mobile mechanical business for 15 years during which time I also was involved with running motorsport teams. In all, the business has been running for 19 years and we have been in this location for five years.

Can you explain more about your involvement with motorsport?

What products and services does Auto Giant provide?

TF: We offer service, repairs and maintenance on most makes and models of vehicles. We also sell used cars, new cars, can source vehicles for customers and are also an RACQ Approved Repairer.

We offer services including airbag suspension, modifications, wheel alignments, even suspension design work – for example, when a customer has an overloaded car because they are towing a trailer or caravan we can remanufacture the springs or might add airbags to get the balance right.

We also sell Pirelli tyres, will be bringing on another tyre manufacturer shortly, and use the latest wheel alignment technology for that service.

And we can work on many European vehicles. We use

TF: As I mentioned, I started in motor racing at 15, and it began just through friends really. Back then, we used to do what they call street racing but that all got a bit out of control and along with a friend, who was a very fine driver, we started building a sports sedan race car from scratch.

We worked with a mechanic called Phil Laird, who was sort of the brains of the outfit, and we started reading about and understanding things like suspension design and construction and so on. I was only 15 but when we started creating stuff it really became a passion of mine.

That first car did really well and we then moved into RX3 Rotary club cars and went on to build an 808 station wagon – the first club car station wagon ever to be raced in Australia.

From there we started redesigning engines and doing dyno work and before we knew it we were the fastest people on the track and won many championships with that station wagon.

I also worked with Gemini race cars, HQ race cars, club cars and sports sedans before moving into 2-litre touring cars with CPW Motorsport which was a team I built from scratch and ran.

September 2017 Motor Trader | 9

I also worked the 12-hour and 24-hour races at Bathurst with Wayne Park in Ferraris and EVO 6s; worked on some Porsches, then a Ferrari 350 for a couple of years before moving on to the Ferrari 360; and then moved into the V8 Supercars.

Recently, I was involved in developing a TA2 race car. TA2 (Trans-Am 2) is a new category that has recently come to Australia and they’re like a smaller version of a NASCAR. We were involved last year and were going to do a full season this year but unfortunately the Tony's motor racing background includes stints in V8 Supercars owner of the car has been injured so we are not involved in that now.

How many staff do you have?

Working in motorsport meant we built roll cages, seam-welded cars, made manifolds, flowbenched engines TF: There are eight of us working here - we have four and so on, and that wide range of experience means it is mechanics, and are looking for a fifth, a service advisor, now very easy to accommodate whatever a customer’s a receptionist and my wife does all the marketing and so on. needs are when they come through our door.

We have two apprentices and we will take on more as we grow - my policy is to take one on every year. And my advice The automotive industry is going through quite dramatic change. to young kids coming into the industry is to be passionate What are your thoughts about new technology and where the about it – love it and enjoy it. These days, as an employer, it industry is headed? is difficult to find people who have that, so when you find it, you grab it.

TF: The last 50 years has seen vehicles become lighter, When it comes to apprentices, I never hire someone better constructed and more refined with better computer based on skills but on attitude. Skills can be taught but you systems and more efficiencies. It’s something you can see can’t teach attitude. Any kid coming through the ranks, in V8 Supercars. 10 years ago, 600hp was the max you if their attitude is right, you can teach them anything. could get out of them, but now they have 700hp thanks to improvements in exhaust systems, intake manifolds, To what do you attribute your success? the length of manifolds and so on. And what is done in TF: Attitude, passion and delivering high-quality service. motorsport relates back to modern motor vehicles - which I love what I do and I want to create something that is is why manufacturers are involved in motorsport. different, unique and that people will remember. We go As for technologies like electric cars, I don’t know how above and beyond for all our customers as much as we can long they will last. Technology such as hydrogen cars may and offer truly high-quality service. be the future. While manufacturers are pushing electric I do a lot of ongoing training with the boys – I am very cars, in the background there is a lot of work being done proactive with that – and use the ‘Who, When, Why and with hydrogen cars.

How’ rule.

One of the problems these days is that a part will Of course, having said that, we must look at all the be replaced simply because it is replaceable. However, my technologies and, as a small business, if you’re not investing guys are taught to ask, ‘Why change that part?’, ‘Why is it time to learn this stuff now, in the years to come you won’t broken?’, ‘Is it a manufacturer part failure or is it something be in business at all. The industry is changing, and changing else?’.

These are important questions. quickly, and if people don’t start embracing it they won’t be around much longer. We are preparing ourselves very well.

What does the future hold for Auto Giant?

TF: We have a long-term plan to grow and have started laying the foundations for that with budgets and infrastructure. We’ve put dealer management systems in place and have been investing heavily back in the business to create what we want to have in a few years.

Most businesses are very focused on one thing dealerships, for example, are focused on fixed price servicing – but we, ultimately, aim to be a one-stop shop and be a place where you can buy a car, repair it, modify it and so on. But that is just the start of things, and will be the foundation for other developments that will be really special. Come and see me in five years!

What do you do in your spare time, if you have any?

TA2 (Trans-Am 2) series race car

10 | Motor Trader September 2017

TF: I haven’t had a lot of spare time – the past five years has been a massive job to build the business – but I love to spend time with my family. We don’t work at the weekend, so those days are mine to spend with them.

Planning for a super future Matthew Webster, 45 has a long way to go before he hangs up his hat, but is easily able to picture his retirement years.

He plans to grey nomad it around Australia in a caravan with his wife, once he convinces her that it will be a lot more fun than she expects.

Matt has spent his career in the motor trades and is well on the way to ensuring he has enough super to be able to see the nation in comfort. He started an apprenticeship in 1986 at the age of 16 and now works in an automotive training role in NSW. He became an MTAA Super member when it was first established in 1989.

“I’m really happy I’ve been with MTAA Super. It’s the industry super fund for my trade and has been supporting careers in the automotive industry for over 25 years.”

“I’m still a long way off retirement but I do think about what I will do when I stop working and how I will support myself and my family.”

Matt, like many Australians is not alone in his concern about life after work. We can now expect to spend more time in

retirement than any previous generation, thanks to changing work patterns and increased life expectancy.

Leeanne Turner, CEO of MTAA Super mentions “As people start drawing closer to the 60-mark, they begin to think more seriously about what they would like to do in their retirement and how they will be able to finance it. With people living longer, weak interest rates and stricter rules around the age pension, these concerns have come to the forefront like never before.”

Leeanne shares, “The key is to take advantage of the compounding nature of superannuation. Super gives the opportunity not just to grow one’s employer and voluntary contributions but to grow the investment returns on these contributions as well.”

“Small amounts can go a long way.

Making extra contributions as little as $25 per week early in your career can result in thousands of dollars over a 30+ year working life.”

“Extra super contributions can be particularly important for people in casual or part time employment as well as those who’ve needed to take career breaks to raise a family or care for sick or elderly relatives.”

With increasing life expectancy, many Australians could be in retirement for over 25 years and may well need to look at ways to boost their super such as salary sacrifice contributions and personal contributions.

Give your super a boost!

For ways to give your super a boost while you’re still working visit mtaasuper.com.au/take-control.

1300 362 415 mtaasuper.com.au/take-control

This article is issued by Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty. Limited (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238 718) of Level 3, 39 Brisbane Avenue Barton ACT 2600, Trustee of the MTAA Superannuation Fund (ABN 74 559 365 913). Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty. Limited has ownership interests in Industry Super Holdings Pty Ltd and Members Equity Bank Limited. The information provided is of a general nature and does not take into account your specific needs or personal situation. You should assess your financial position and personal objectives before making any decision based on this information. We also recommend that you seek advice from a licensed financial adviser. The MTAA Super Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), an important document containing all the information you need to make a decision about MTAA Super, can be obtained by calling MTAA Super on 1300 362 415 or visiting mtaasuper.com.au/handbooks. You should consider the PDS in making a decision.

THE FASTEST MAN ON EARTH When it comes to speed, there’s no one else on Earth with the knowledge that Andy Green has. An RAF fighter pilot – and the land speed record holder for the last 20 years – Green currently has his sights set on becoming the first man to reach 1,600kmh plus.

WORDS: JAKE TAYLOR

12 | Motor Trader September 2017

F

OR THE AVERAGE petrol-head, the thought of maxing out an F1 car at over 300kmh would send excited shivers down their spine – but for Andy Green OBE, that kind of figure is child’s play. After all, in his capacity as a fighter pilot, Green regularly gets to floor the throttle on the best technology the RAF can offer.

Even so, the Warwickshire-born Wing Commander is most famous not for conquering the skies, but rather for blazing a trail across land.

Green lays claim to holding the current land speed record, having set a seemingly unbeatable time of just a fraction under 1,228kmh in the relentless sparsity of America’s Black Rock Desert in 1997. It was yet another incredible step in the history of man’s desire to go faster than ever before – in breaking the record, Green also became the first man to travel at supersonic speed on land – and now, 20 years after

he set a new bar in the now iconic Thrust SSC, he’s at it again.

And as we speak, Green’s work with former record holder Richard Noble on the Bloodhound SSC project is starting to show the first near-intangible rumblings of what may be.

“This is the year that Bloodhound is finally going to go operational and actually start testing,” says Green, speaking exclusively to MTA Queensland from the RAF headquarters in High Wycombe. “The UK testing is the end of October and we’re targeting a speed of around 200mph – what we would regard as slow-speed testing. It is all relative, but it is one-fifth of the speed that the car is designed to get to; it’s barely starting to stretch its legs. We’re looking to prove the structure, the aerodynamics and the engines, the control systems, and equally just to start generating the excitement, not just nationally but globally, in what is the first land speed record of the digital age.”

September 2017 Motor Trader | 13

While the Bloodhound SSC has the benefit of the backing of a team of expert engineers from around the world poring over every inch of the designs, the responsibility of being the project’s public face falls solely to Green. It is a duty he’s not taking lightly, given the years of equations and hard work that have gone into Bloodhound thus far.

“I’m working with one of the world’s best multidisciplined engineering teams,” the 54-year-old agrees.

“I’m sitting in the most advanced and sophisticated highquality, straight-line racing car ever created. My driving standard needs to be up to the quality of their engineering design and build, every single time.

“I need to drive the car as precisely as possible and bring back as much feedback as possible: how the suspension is working, steering, stability, and the dynamics of the vehicle, which with all the modelling in the world, the real-world testing will show up all the differences. They can always be found between even the most advanced modelling in the world and what actually happens out there in the real world on a dry lake bed, with crosswinds and slight undulations, and the hardness and the smoothness of the surface.”

Despite Green’s apparent nonchalance, being the man to help those behind the scenes understand the reality of what’s going on in the car’s cockpit is by no means an easy task, either physically or mentally. Indeed, with his decades of military experience, Green is without doubt better placed than most to deal with the challenges of reaching supersonic speed.

“I’m a mathematician by training, so I get to bring my skills as a mathematician to this very highly-skilled, multi-disciplined science and engineering team,” the Oxford University alumni remarks. “And I can also bring a skillset to the project in terms of understanding jet engines and supersonics and the controls and precisions and the dynamics of accelerating.

“When I’m in Bloodhound, I’m accelerating at 2G and slowing down at 3G. If you want to think about 3G, that’s 60mph per second. So it’s equivalent to driving along the road at 60mph and coming to a complete stop in one

14 | Motor Trader September 2017

Andy Green, the fastest man in the world

second; that’s how quickly the car will slow down. It will be a fairly vigorous, violent process. That is something that I need to get used to every time I drive the car.”

The true scale of the pressures Green invites on his body while piloting the Bloodhound is breath-taking; in some cases, the forces impacting on his frame are completely unprecedented in this field.

“The cockpit is very noisy, hot, and there’s a reasonably high level of vibration – but exactly how high and exactly what frequencies we don’t know,” he reveals. “Nobody has ever run a supersonic carbon-fibre cockpit powered by a jet and a rocket before. So the exact combination of frequencies is one of the things we will have to learn as we go.

The human being is what it is; and actually we’re very good at resisting vibration so it’s something we’ll just monitor.”

The car’s arrow-like trajectory means Green will be mercifully spared from the cornering forces regularly experienced by his fellow fighter pilot and F1 driver contemporaries. When it comes to applying

the Bloodhound’s brakes, however, the effects are as psychological as they are corporeal.

“You get several things happening: first of all, there’s the effect of the G moving the blood around the body and there’s something called the push/pull effect,” he explains.

“When you’re accelerating feet-first and then slowing down again, all the blood has spent nearly a minute trying to run towards my head and away from my feet, and then it wants to go the other way. I am a pilot, I am aware of it and I practice it regularly in an aerobatic aeroplane, so that isn’t really an issue for me, but I do need to be aware of it.

“There’s also something called the ‘somatic graphic illusion’, which is a disorientation of the inner ear. Your sense of where up and down are becomes so distorted that you feel like you’re going vertically up into the sky while you’re accelerating and you’re going vertically back down into the earth when you’re decelerating. That doesn’t make any sense when the horizon isn’t moving, but it feels like the whole world is tilted 90 degrees up when you’re going straight up and then 90 degrees down when you’re going straight down. That is something that I will simply have to cope with.”

From start to finish, Green’s time in the cockpit during the record

WATCH THE VIDEO

attempt will total just two minutes, and while he shows an element of uncharacteristic intensity when he confirms that he “feels every second”, it’s back to his idiosyncratic understatement as he chuckles that he has “an awful lot to do” in that tiny time slot.

“An F1 driver, for example, looks in the cockpit as little as possible,” he explains. “I will be looking in the cockpit a lot to check temperatures, pressures, speeds, jet engine power settings; monitoring all of that. Because this is a prototype vehicle, my job as the development and test driver is to make sure that it’s all functioning safely all of the time.

That’s a key part of my role.

“Doing all of that, long working days out in the middle of the desert and having the extremes of G and noise thrown at you in the cockpit, it’s as much to do with fatigue management over the course of the days

The Bloodhound project is being used to inspire the younger generation about science, technology, engineering and mathematics

and weeks that we’re out there as coping with the stresses and strains on the body in the few minutes that the car is actually moving.”

Yet alongside Green’s quiet confidence when it comes to Bloodhound’s chances of success – “I’m against the saying that we’ll definitely do it, because too many other people have made that mistake, but I’ll be astonished if we don’t get there” – there’s a dual element of sadness and hope. After all, it’s been 20 years of hard graft since Green last took the record with Thrust SSC, and the chances of his being able to compete for the title

16 | Motor Trader September 2017

for a third time are almost non-existent. It is, as he says, a “once in a generation chance” to make history… twice.

“I would be so sad if the sport just finishes with Bloodhound. It would be a great shame if another generation of kids didn’t have the excitement of watching astonishing feats and questioning them,” he concludes.

“But it’s been 20 years since the last one and it’s difficult to see where somebody would get the next idea to go that much faster from. So, if this is – and I hope it isn’t – the last record, let’s make it a really good one!”

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MTAQ Racing Team

HIGHS AND LOWS FOR MTAQ RACING TEAM AT X3 CHAMPS ROUND TWO

I

T WAS A weekend of highs and lows for the MTAQ Racing Team at the second round of the Queensland Hyundai Excel X3 Series at Morgan Park Raceway in Warwick.

Following a brilliant qualifying session that saw driver David Wood start in 3rd spot on the grid for the opening race of the round, a combination of technical issues and on-the-edge, incident-filled racing would see the team grab 12th, 11th and 4th places across the three races for an overall position of 8th for the meeting – a result that moves the team up to 8th position in the championship.

The team - driver David Wood and support crew of William Salmon, Gerard Field, Elliott Lemmon and Crew Chief John Zyzniewski – once again performed minor miracles, working late into the evenings to isolate and fix 18 | Motor Trader March 2017

some niggling issues and see the car perform close to its best for the final race of the weekend.

“Friday afternoon’s practice sessions were a bit of a write off as we chased some wheel alignment issues. That killed our track time,” said David.

“We developed a work-around for it Friday night so we were all good to go for qualifying on Saturday morning despite not Contact with another car during the furious racing in getting time to really tune for Race One saw the MTAQ race car break a wheel. the conditions. And qualifying went really smoothly for us, and very hard to keep in touch. yielded the third fastest time in "Ultimately, I pushed a bit too hard a tightly packed session. That was really a big achievement. and came unstuck – running wide “In the first race, I started strongly, at turn one and spinning. With the running along third during the opening benefit of hindsight, I should have laps. We didn’t quite have the pace of been a bit more savvy and just taken the leading pair and I had to push very, the 3rd place – but I felt that there was

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drama. It made for some cool in-car video but just underscores why it is so RACE TWO WAS critical to qualify at the front – once ABSOLUTELY CHAOTIC you are buried in the pack, it is like AND ONE OF THE being in a warzone!”

One thing that has been a constant CRAZIEST RACE IN throughout the build-up to the 2017 X3 WHICH I HAVE BEEN Championship is the confidence and INVOLVED. morale of the team. Everyone involved had the belief that, given a sprinkling a chance that the leaders would drift of good fortune and a car running back to me later in the race if I kept trouble-free, David could really show pushing. That is racing though,” what he and the car could do. And so it A broken wheel after colliding turned out in race three. with another car during an Even though he started in overtaking manoeuvre saw 11th position, the hard work David nurse the MTAQ car that had gone into prepping CLICK TO FIND OUT MORE across the line in 12th spot. and fixing the car paid off ABOUT The team was in a difficult as David scorched his way MTAQ RACING position after that. Not only through the pack to take a did they have to work flat-out sensational third place and to get the car ready for Sunday’s the first podium spot of the races, but with race rules stating that season for the team. starting positions were determined by “We made a few changes to the car finishing positions in preceding races, and it was an absolute rocket,” he said. it meant a mid-race grid position for “The race opened up for me nicely after race two – a position from which it was some initial mayhem and we got into always going to be difficult to challenge some clear track by lap three, by which the front-runners. time we were in 8th position. With the “Race two was absolutely chaotic leading group quite spread out we were and one of the craziest races in which able to make up tremendous distance I have been involved!” said David. “I and, after picking off car after car, wasn’t able to make much headway, we crossed the finish line in fourth, advancing one spot to 11th. Every time clamped to the bumper of the car in I started to advance, an incident in 3rd. Given a few more laps we had pace front would hold me up and I would to get to 2nd, I think. So, basically, we be passed as I avoided other people’s ended the weekend back where we

“

”

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September 2017 Motor Trader | 19

MTAQ Racing Team started, and it was another case of ‘what might have been’."

While there might be a dose of the ‘what ifs’ about the weekend, there are, said David, plenty of positives to take away from the meeting. A 4th-place race finish is the team’s best while a 3rd place in qualifying, and a two-second improvement in lap time, shows how much the car has improved since the team’s last outing at Warwick in May. It all bodes well for the team’s next hit out in November. And it is a big one – the Australian Hyundai Championship at Wakefield Park in Goulburn, NSW. “That presents a massive challenge,” said David. “It’s an event where we will take on the best in the game from across the country on a foreign track.

“We have a lot of work to do between now and then, but with some more improvements and a bit more speed I am confident that we can make a pest of ourselves there. If we can jag a top 10, I think that would be a tremendous achievement. Let’s see how we go!”

THE SHANNONS NATIONALS QUEENSLAND RACEWAY 4-6 AUGUST

X3 SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD // AFTER ROUND TWO POS

COMPETITOR

1

Brock Giblin

187

2

Cameron Bartholomew

176

3

Ross Street

160

4

Mark Pryor

135

5

Bradley Smith

109

6

Matthew Broadbent

103

7

Zak Hudson

96

8

David Wood

87

9

Mark Goldspink

85

10

Sean Beggs

73

11

Richard Chaseling

52

12

Brayden Slater

47

13

Anthony Walsh

35

14

Kaleb Mustow

34

15

Mark Lamberth

33

P

RIOR TO THE X3 Series second round at Warwick, the MTAQ Racing Team was able to have a confidence-building hit-out against some of the nation's best at the Federal Tyres Series X3 Invitation Cup, part of the Shannons Nationals event at Queensland Raceway's famous 'paperclip' track.

And it was a confidence booster, even if the results looked a little ordinary. A 13th place in race one, DNF in race two, and 13th in race three belied the underlying performance of the car.

The team had put in plenty of work on the car in the preceding weeks – tuning, tweaking and testing, and ironing out problems that had seen it lack power at the Queensland X3 Series first round at Morgan Park in May.

POINTS

HYUNDAI EXCEL X3 SERIES // ROUND TWO // MORGAN PARK RACEWAY 2-3 SEPTEMBER 2017 // RESULTS QUALIFYING POS

COMPETITOR

1

RACE ONE

RACE TWO

RACE THREE

BEST TIME

BEST SPEED

POS

COMPETITOR

POS

COMPETITOR

POS

COMPETITOR

Cameron Bartholomew

1:34.424

114.378 km/h

1

Cameron Bartholomew

1

Cameron Bartholomew

1

Cameron Bartholomew

2

Brock Giblin

1:35.389

113.221 km/h

2

Brock Giblin

2

Brock Giblin

2

Brock Giblin

3

David Wood

1:35.916

112.599 km/h

3

Ross Street

3

Ross Street

3

Ross Street

4

Ross Street

1:35.992

112.509 km/h

4

Matthew Broadbent

4

Mark Pryor

4

David Wood

5

Bradley Smith

1:36.107

112.375 km/h

5

Bradley Smith

5

Gavin Stubbs

5

Mark Pryor

6

Sean Beggs

1:36.107

112.375 km/h

6

Gavin Stubbs

6

Bradley Smith

6

Kaden Olsen

7

Kaden Olsen

1:36.281

112.172 km/h

7

Kaden Olsen

7

Zak Hudson

7

Matthew Broadbent

8

Matthew Broadbent

1:36.312

112.136 km/h

8

Mark Pryor

8

Mark Goldspink

8

Bradley Smith

9

Gavin Stubbs

1:36.442

111.984 km/h

9

Mark Goldspink

9

Matthew Broadbent

9

Sean Beggs

10

Mark Pryor

1:36.447

111.979 km/h

10

Sean Beggs

10

Frank Mammarella

10

Gavin Stubbs

11

Kaleb Mustow

1:36.514

111.901 km/h

11

Brayden Slater

11

David Wood

11

Mark Goldspink

12

Frank Mammarella

1:36.751

111.627 km/h

12

David Wood

12

Kaden Olsen

12

Brayden Slater

13

Mark Goldspink

1:37.071

111.259 km/h

13

Anthony Walsh

13

Sean Beggs

13

Zak Hudson

14

Zak Hudson

1:37.142

111.177 km/h

14

Frank Mammarella

14

Kaleb Mustow

14

Anthony Walsh

15

Brayden Slater

1:38.005

110.198 km/h

15

Anthony Ranse

15

Brayden Slater

15

Warren King

16

Anthony Walsh

1:39.465

108.581 km/h

16

Warren King

16

Anthony Walsh

16

Anthony Ranse

17

Anthony Ranse

1:45.560

102.311 km/h

DNF

Kaleb Mustow

17

Anthony Ranse

17

Frank Mammarella

18

Warren King

1:49.320

98.793 km/h

DNF

Zak Hudson

18

Warren King

18

Kaleb Mustow

20 | Motor Trader September 2017

The MTAQ Racing Team had a confidence-boosting run at the Federal Tyres Series X3 Invitation Cup - an event that saw the MTAQ race car give its all on the twisting 'paperclip' track at Queensland Raceway

And, in truth, if it weren’t for a niggling clutch issue that plagued the car for much of the Shannons’ race meeting, things might have been very different.

Friday’s practice had gone well, with driver David Wood comfortably keeping in touch and matching the speed of the front runners, which included leaders of Excel championships in NSW and Victoria.

However, air in the clutch system made gear selection impossible during qualifying and a starting position of 22nd for the first race put David towards the back of the grid of 32 cars.

“We had a lot of ground to make up!” he said. “But Race One went very well. We were able to charge forward to finish a fighting 13th in a very intense race with a lot of biff and barge. And with that strong result, we started Sunday morning’s Race Two in 13th place and within striking distance of the lead group.

“We got off to a flyer in Race Two, shooting through to 9th on the first lap but then the clutch failed again at the end of the first lap and we were sidelined. That meant we had to start the final race in dead last.

“We had nothing to lose in that last race, so I had a pretty fierce crack and the car was tremendous,” he said. “We had real pace and I was able to slice through to 13th. It was very satisfying to pass so many cars – many of which were in front of us last time out at Morgan Park – and we definitely had one of the fastest cars on the track.

“If it wasn’t for the clutch issues that kept pushing us down the field, I think we would have finished the weekend in the top 5 and well in contention for a podium – which in a national standard field would have been a massive feat.”

The Racing Team Support Crew worked tirelessly to tease the best

from the car and the result of the final race, or at least the performance of the car in that final race, was cause for celebration.

“The team was sensational in the heat of race weekend,” said David. “The boys were able to perform wonders tuning the car on Saturday and Sunday and they hit the sweet spot with it, and did it without the benefit of any diagnostic equipment! It was all done by talent and gut feel.

“To say I am proud of them is an understatement – they obviously have learned a great deal from their time at the MTA Institute and this was the highlight of the weekend for me. What they did some trained professionals couldn’t do with $50,000 of diagnostic computers! And to give them an encouraging result after the setbacks with the clutch was fantastic."

MTA Queensland rocked up to the event, setting up shop on the hillside overlooking the racetrack.

September 2017 Motor Trader | 21

Advertorial

ACM Parts CEO Mike Kirkman opening the new Smeaton Grange warehouse complex in 2016

Inside ACM Parts’ Smeaton Grange warehouse complex

ACM PARTS: FROM START-UP TO AUSTRALIA’S LEADING AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLER AND PARTS SUPPLIER I N 2013, ACM Parts was a newly formed start-up company knocking on the door of Australia’s highly competitive automotive industry.

Today ACM Parts has transformed into Australia’s biggest automotive recycler and supplier of alternate parts – an award-winning business with nine facilities along the east coast, more than 160 employees and a nationwide delivery service.

ACM Parts CEO Mike Kirkman said the company’s mission has been simple from the start: to improve an automotive parts market that had consistently delivered poor value and service to Australian repairers and consumers.

“Historically, repairers and consumers have had limited product choice in a highly fragmented automotive parts market, consisting of big car manufacturer dealer networks, 22 | Motor Trader September 2017

small recycling businesses, and aftermarket part importers, with OE dealers controlling 80 per cent of the market, and selling parts at inflated prices,” Mr Kirkman said.

“ACM Parts’ innovative business model has seen us consolidate the market and bring stability to the supply chain.”

PIONEERING PRODUCT MIX Filling a much-needed gap in the market, the business has created one of the largest inventories in Australia of all types of automotive parts – new and alternative – and has established a fast, efficient and reliable national delivery network to cut down on vehicle repair times.

ACM Parts’ product mix consists of quality checked recycled parts harvested from some of the 600,000 cars retired from the road each

year, OEM parts and ACM Certified aftermarket parts.

ACM Parts’ self-service operation in Melbourne, DIY Auto Parts, also caters to do-it-yourself repairers.

“ACM Parts has created genuine consumer choice in the market,” Mr Kirkman said.

“We offer high-quality automotive parts at affordable prices for collision and mechanical repair, with ACM Parts’ size and scope making us a ‘one-stop’ shop for repairers.”

Its product and business model has won ACM Parts national recognition and respect.

ACM Parts was last year recognised as an ABA100 Winner in The Australian Business Awards 2016 for Business Innovation, with its independently tested and affordable ACM Certified Parts taking out the award for Service Innovation.

The business was also announced as mechanical service network Future Auto Service Centres’ top supplier for 2016.

STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY

in Queensland the latest location added to our delivery map.”

BUSINESS EXPANSION: SMEATON GRANGE

The investment has been just one of One of the big contributors to ACM the many recent milestones ticked off Parts’ success in the Australian market in the organisation’s expansion plans. has been the organisation’s willingness ACM Parts has also focused on to make significant investments in the growing its automotive parts storage latest technology available for use in capacity to meet ever-increasing ACM Parts’ day-to-day operations. demand, last year moving its New “We understand delays in getting South Wales operations to a brand replacement parts can be one of the new warehouse complex in Smeaton biggest frustrations for repairers,” Grange.

Mr Kirkman said.

Double the size of the former “In order to cut down on delivery warehouse at 10,000 square metres, times, we have invested in the latest the complex boasts triple the storage route-planning technology to ensure capacity and has seen ACM Parts repairers in Australia get their car nationally hold more than 200,000 parts delivered faster.” items in stock – a breadth and depth The technology, developed by of new and recycled automotive parts global transportation and supply never before seen in Australia. chain optimisation business Descartes ACM Parts Sales General Manager Systems Group and implemented Ross Nicastri said the larger,

by Bestrane Group, creates the most customised Smeaton Grange site efficient delivery plan each day for has seen production streamlined ACM Parts’ delivery fleet. to remove bottlenecks, and was a The program takes into account much-needed move to keep pace with different information such as the company’s rapid growth. customer location, delivery times “For the volume of stock we and availability of delivery vehicles have going through the place, for to transport ACM Parts’ stock to the quantity we need to sustain the repairers around Australia. The volume of sales, we needed a larger technology then tracks the goods en warehouse,” Mr Nicastri said. route in real time using GPS to make “Because we have the parts on hand sure orders are delivered on time. and ready to go rather than still stored Drivers keep track of their delivery on the vehicle, turnaround times have runs through a smartphone, tablet been much quicker since the move.” or other device that sits within each As well as faster delivery times, vehicle, with ACM Parts’ sales team customers have enjoyed ready access also monitoring progress from the to a larger variety and quantity of organisation’s facilities. recycled parts, with ACM Parts ACM Parts’ technology investment dismantling 250-plus cars each week has meant the business can focus on after the move. increasing the number of deliveries to get parts to repairers faster and more GREEN STAMP ACCREDITATION frequently.

While providing parts variety and ACM Parts Operations General faster delivery times have been a core Manager Ankur Arora said the focus for ACM Parts, the business business has expanded its delivery has also been working to transform fleet to number 26 vehicles, with a industry practice. twice-daily delivery service to each Four ACM Parts production major Australian city. facilities across Australia this year “We have committed to this have achieved Green Stamp business, and we have committed accreditation for their to this market,” Mr Arora said. environmental management “We are constantly CLICK TO VISIT systems and initiatives. expanding the number of THE ACM PARTS ACM Parts’ Queanbeyan, delivery destinations to WEBSITE Smithfield, Southport reach as many repairers as possible, with Ipswich and DIY Auto Parts sites

have achieved Level 2 Green Stamp accreditation, with DIY Auto Parts only the second Victorian self-service yard to achieve accreditation.

The Green Stamp program, run by state motor trade associations including MTAQ, recognises automotive businesses that take positive steps to reduce environmental impact through areas such as air quality management, energy and resource conservation, and waste disposal practices.

ACM Parts Head of Safety and Sustainability Nick Petracca said ACM Parts has aimed to set a new standard in environmental sustainability in the automotive sector.

“A big part of achieving Level 2 accreditation is the attention given to voluntary initiatives beyond just basic legislative compliance. Our levels of waste recovery from recycled vehicles extend beyond the traditional automotive fluids, scrap metal and batteries to include plastic bumpers and e-waste, and we continue to investigate new ways to better separate and recover different plastics and acrylics found in late model vehicles,” Mr Petracca said.

“We are excited about the potential to work with waste recovery businesses, energy companies, academic institutions, government and other automotive industry stakeholders to continue to improve the end-of-life sustainability options for motor vehicles.”

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE ACM Parts CEO Mike Kirkman said the expansion of ACM Parts’ environmental sustainability program is just one of the many initiatives the business has in the pipeline.

“The market is telling us that there is huge appetite for recycled parts and we expect to see growth in that area in 2017 and beyond,” Mr Kirkman said.

“From a strategic perspective, we have a vision for smaller satellite depots in the outer suburbs and regions so we can get more parts to more locations, faster.

“We are also looking at how we can work more closely with the thousands of small to medium independent repair operations around Australia to give them the service level that drives turnaround times in the bigger chains.”

September 2017 Motor Trader | 23

From the Office of Fair Trading

EYE ON COMPLIANCE T HE OFFICE OF Fair Trading’s 2017–18 compliance programme is in full swing, and you may have already had a visit from one of our staff.

Each year our program consists of proactive unscheduled visits to identify check compliance with the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act and detect breaches of fair trading legislation.

Our first proactive operation for the motor industry for the year was conducted in July, with another scheduled for later in the year.

One of the guiding forces for each operation is previous years’ activities.

This ensures our resources are directed towards areas of heightened risk.

Our July operation included an industry specific education and engagement component, and focussed heavily on dealers who have been licensed for less than a year and those we haven’t visited for more than two years.

The majority of non-compliance issues identified were failures of motor dealers to:

“OUR JULY OPERATION

INCLUDED AN INDUSTRY SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT, AND FOCUSSED HEAVILY ON DEALERS WHO HAVE BEEN LICENSED FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND THOSE WE HAVEN’T VISITED FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.”

• advertise a vehicle for sale as an unwarranted vehicle • keep a transaction register at each business • have the appropriate licence for the motor dealer duties they were carrying out.

Our hope is that if we can help the industry understand their legal responsibilities and get the right processes and habits in place VISIT THE OFFICE OF FAIR early, we can TRADING prevent problems WEBSITE down the track.

You can find a wealth of information on managing a motor dealer business in Queensland on our website— everything from legal requirements for a motor transaction, managing trust accounts, and dealing with complaints against your business.

Follow us on Twitter: @fairtradingqld Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/fairtradingqld Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/fairtradingqld

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24 | Motor Trader September 2017

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To arrange a quote, contact Cameron Hudson at goa on 0439 355 104 or by email at chudson@goa.com.au

Auto news

I-PACE 'MOST SIGNIFICANT CONCEPT OF 2017'

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HE JAGUAR I-PACE Concept has been named Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2017 at the 16th North American Concept Vehicle Awards. Jag’s allelectric performance SUV also won the Production Preview Concept of the Year category.

The awards, held at the Concours d’Elegance of America, recognise those vehicles most likely to shape the future of the automobile industry. More than two dozen jurors participated in a selection process that involved a total of 24 vehicles, each introduced to North America during this season's auto shows in Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto and New York.

The all-electric performance SUV is designed to accelerate to 100km/h in around four seconds and have a range of more than 500kms from its 90kWh lithium-ion battery. The company says that charging will be swift – with 80 per cent charge achieved in 90 minutes using 50kW DC charging.

“Our challenge was to design an electric vehicle that’s distinctively and unmistakably a Jaguar – and one which demonstrates that an electric vehicle can be visually dramatic as well as practical,” said Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design. “I think that the Jaguar I-PACE Concept has

WATCH THE VIDEO: TRUCK PLATOONING IN THE UK

done exactly that, and is clearly at the forefront of the trend for more beautiful, more desirable electric vehicles. We’re very proud of it, and we’re delighted that the North American jurors have recognised

us for succeeding in our mission by awarding the I-PACE Concept the 2017 Concept Car of the Year.”

The production I-PACE is scheduled to be available in the second half of 2018.

GERMANY FORMULATES ROAD RULES FOR DRIVERLESS CARS GERMANY’S TRANSPORT MINISTRY has unveiled guidelines for the programming of automated driving systems in Germany.

Formulated by an Ethics Commission comprised of experts from the fields of ethics, law and technology, the guidelines tackle a number of questions but focus on how driverless cars should behave when human life is in potential danger.

Amongst the points made in the report are: • Automated and networked driving is ethically

necessary if the systems cause fewer accidents than human driver; • The system must consider the protection of human life as the top priority; • In the case of unavoidable accidents, any qualification of people according to personal characteristics (age, sex or condition) is not permitted; • In any driving situation, it must be clearly defined who is responsible for the driving task

– the human being or the computer.

"The interaction between man and machine raises new ethical questions in the time of digitisation and self-learning systems,” said Alexander Dobrindt, German Transport Minister. “Automated and networked driving is the latest innovation in which this interaction is applied in full. The Ethics Commission at the ministry has done pioneering work and has developed the world's first guidelines for automated driving.”

September 2017 Motor Trader | 25

Auto news

PLATOONING GETS GREEN LIGHT IN UK

RESEARCH SHOWS AUSTRALIANS ARE STILL ATTACHED TO THEIR CARS THE NEW TOURISM and Transport Forum Australia (TTF) research released on the 18th of August shows that despite 40 per cent of Australians thinking public transport is getting better, the public are still attached to their cars.

MTA Queensland strongly believes that the automotive industry is about to see the greatest level of disruption seen since the inception of cars, and this is supported in the TTF Report findings. Despite this, the results of the report suggest that the public is still hesitant to accept and support incoming technological changes.

This is made clear as a staggering 76 per cent of Australians remain adamant that they will own their own car in ten years’ time despite most experts predicting that autonomous and on-demand transport services will quickly lead to the end of private car ownership. In addition to this, cars remain the preferred method of travelling for 57 per cent of Australians, yet 70 per cent still believe that the government should be investing in public transport and infrastructure rather than new roads and highways.

Despite the conflicting results, a positive factor from the TTF Report shows that Australians are receptive to new transport technology with 64 per cent of commuters preferring smart card options rather than ticketing options used previously.

Other key findings from the TTF Report show that 85 per cent of 18 to 25-year-olds believe they will still own a car in 10 years’ time, 37 per cent would be willing to use flying autonomous drones CLICK TO in the future and ACCESS THE REPORT 67 per cent of Australians imagine a future where people or goods are transported by flying autonomous drones.

26 | Motor Trader September 2017

T

HE UK GOVERNMENT has approved £8.1million ($13.2million) in funding to trial semi-autonomous trucks on the nation’s highways.

The ‘platooning’ trials will see up to three heavy goods vehicles travelling in convoy with acceleration and braking controlled by the lead vehicle. All lorries in the platoon will have a driver ready to take control at any time.

The trial will be carried out in three phases, with the first focusing on the potential for platooning on the UK’s major roads. Initial test track-based research will, the government said, help decide details such as distance between vehicles and on which roads the tests could take place.

Trials are expected on major roads by the end of 2018.

The UK government said that, if successful, platooning technology could have major benefits for motorists and businesses in the UK. A row of lorries driving closer together could see the front truck pushing the air out of the way, making the vehicles in the convoy more efficient, lowering

emissions and improving air quality.

“We are investing in technology that will improve people’s lives,” said Paul Maynard, the Transport Minister.

“Advances such as lorry platooning could benefit businesses through cheaper fuel bills and other road users thanks to lower emissions and less congestion.

“But first we must make sure the technology is safe and works well on our roads, and that’s why we are investing in these trials."

The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) will carry out the trial, with funding provided by the Department for Transport and Highways England.

It follows a government-funded feasibility study which recommended a trial to examine the benefits and viability of platooning.

“The trial has the potential to demonstrate how greater automation of vehicles – in this instance, HGVs – can deliver improvements in safety, better journeys for road users and reduction in vehicle emissions,” said Jim O’Sullivan, Highways England Chief Executive.

WATCH THE VIDEO: TRUCK PLATOONING IN THE UK

LAST AURION ROLLS OFF PRODUCTION LINE

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HE LAST TOYOTA Aurion has rolled off the line at Toyota Australia's Altona manufacturing base after 11 years, racking up over 110,000 sales domestically, as well as 70,000 that were built for the export market.

Toyota's answer to the big-Aussie V6 family sedan, the Aurion was introduced at the 2006 Melbourne International Motorshow and succeeded the Avalon as Toyota's largest family sedan.

At the time, it featured the most advanced and powerful engine ever offered in a Toyota vehicle in Australia - a new 3.5-litre Quad Cam V6 developing 200kW of power at 6200rpm and 336Nm of torque at 4700rpm on regular unleaded petrol.

Melbourne-based Chadstone Toyota Dealer Principal, Graeme Ward, was welcomed to Altona to take delivery of the final Toyota Aurion, meeting with the team who built the final car.

Chadstone Toyota Dealer Principal, Graeme Ward, has taken delivery of final Toyota Aurion to be built by team members of Toyota's Australian Altona manufacturing plant.

Despite the departure of the Aurion from Toyota's local line-up, a six-cylinder is confirmed in the line-up of the all-new Camry, featuring an advanced direct-injection system paired with an automatic eight-speed gearbox.

In line with what was previously announced, the final Aurions rolled off the line last month, with Camry Hybrid vehicles to follow in September and Camry Petrol vehicles in October.

QLD GOVT UNVEILS ROAD SAFETY ACTION PLAN 2017-19

T

HE QUEENSLAND of zero fatalities and serious GOVERNMENT injuries on our roads, CLICK TO ACCESS has released the an ambitious visit that THE ROAD Queensland Road Safety will only be possible SAFETY ACCESS PLAN 2017-19 Action Plan 2017-19 - a if everyone in our blueprint aimed at making community plays their Queensland roads safer, part,” he said. focussing on young drivers as “This plan encompasses well as vulnerable road users. all aspects of road safety – from Acting Minister for Main Roads safer roads to driver behaviour. and Road Safety Steven Miles and We are absolutely committed to Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating, implementing tangible initiatives unveiled the plan at the launch of which make a difference to reduce the state’s annual Road Safety Week road trauma.” last month.

The Road Safety Action Plan Mr Miles said the 29-point plan actions include: aimed to reduce death and serious • Investigating new ways to better injury on Queensland roads. support young people in becoming “The Road Safety Action Plan safe and responsible drivers; is the Palaszczuk Government’s • Continuing to work towards commitment to achieving a vision improving safety for vulnerable road

users, and work with experts to investigate and develop responses to ongoing road safety challenges of driver distraction, drug driving, seatbelt wearing, and road safety for international visitors; • Continuing to install flashing lights at 200 school zones in the next two years to help warn motorists about the increased risk in these areas at peak times of student movement; • Working towards a 2022 target of achieving 90 per cent of travel on the national network in Queensland on three-star AusRAP rated or better roads; • Continuing to pilot emerging vehicle technologies including cooperative intelligent transport systems and cooperative and highly automated driving technologies.

September 2017 Motor Trader | 27

T

HE LATE ‘60S and early ‘70s were pretty cool years for the Australian motoring enthusiasts.

In 1967, Ford introduced the high-performance version of its XR Falcon – the GT – and what followed was a purple patch for the nation’s automotive industry. The ensuing five years would see the emergence of a series of absolutely cracking homegrown muscle cars – including Ford’s GTHO series, Holden’s Monaro and Torana, and Chrysler’s Valiant Charger - and the manufacturers were able to churn out a record-setting 475,000 units in 1970.

It was a glorious time.

In 1968, Ford introduced the XT model Falcon – a revised version of the 1966 XR which was the first of the secondgeneration Falcons. The model was produced for only one year with some 80,000 XTs built, of all variants, during that period.

Prices were in the $3000 range back then, but these days, with the model nearing its 50-year birthday, they can sell for a good deal more than that, especially ones in tip-top condition.

And they don’t come in much better condition than Duane Theaker’s 1968 Fairmont model. For a start, the V8powered 302ci Ford classic has done just 23,000 miles. For a car knocking on the door of its golden anniversary, that is a

28 | Motor Trader September 2017

MAKE: FORD MODEL: 1968 XT FAIRMONT ENGINE: 302CI WINDSOR C4 AUTO OWNED SINCE: JANUARY 2017 OWNER: DUANE THEAKER

“IT WAS OWNED BY A TOWNSVILLE LOCAL WHO HARDLY DROVE IT . . .

SO THE STORY GOES, ALL THE DRIVING IT EVER DID WAS WHEN HIS MISSUS WOULD DRIVE IT TO THE SHOPS ONCE A MONTH!”

remarkably low figure and is one reason that Duane, who owns XXXplicit Refinishing in Townsville, snapped the car up at the first opportunity.

“It was owned by a Townsville local who hardly drove it,” says Duane. “He was only the second owner and he brought it up from Melbourne. He drove it to and from Melbourne one more time and then, so the story goes, all the driving it ever did was when his missus would drive it to the shops once a month! That’s why it has only 23,000 miles on it and is why it was in such clean condition when I got it.”

While in terrific condition for a car of its age, the XT did still need some work and Duane and his team at XXXplicit

worked in their spare time, over a period of six months, to restore the car to as close to factory condition as they could.

“One of the guards had been repaired once before and had blistering paint on it,” says Duane. “If we had just painted that area it would have looked out of place so I did a bare metal respray on it and used the original factory colour for the respray.

“I put brand new bushes in it from one end to the other, although that was just me being fussy because the ones that were on there weren’t in that bad condition. I sandblasted the steering components, put two-pack black on them to seal them up properly and make them look nicer and did some work on the gearbox.

“I’ve put original wheels on it, the original headers and original exhaust. I’ve tried to keep it as original as possible.

The exception to that has been the interior which had to be different because I couldn’t get the original interior colour.

We had to change the front seats because at some point in the past they had been swapped for XD seats – I suppose to make it a bit more comfortable. I had to get another set but couldn’t get the material colour. So, we went all black on the interior but with the correct design.”

September 2017 Motor Trader | 29

Duane, who established XXXplicit eight years ago but has been in the paint and panel industry for more than 20 years, has a habit of going beyond the norm when ‘restoring’ his cars. He has a reputation for doing exceptional custom paintwork and has one VK Commodore into which he has dropped a fuel-injected VS Maloo 5-litre engine; another VK which is now powered by a 6-litre monster from a VE and which will soon have a turbo set-up added to it; and also owns a 700hp supercharged HSV Clubsport – a beast of a thing that will be frightening the life out of onlookers at this weekend’s Powercruise meeting in Brisbane.

Controlling his instinct to upgrade the XT, both in appearance and mechanics, in the same fashion, was not easy.

30 | Motor Trader June 2017

“I ENJOY DRIVING IT BUT I DON’T

WANT TO PUT TOO MANY MILES ON IT. IT’S WORTH A BIT AND I WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY – IT IS AN INVESTMENT.” “I can get carried away,” Duane says with a laugh.

“And it took some willpower not to do it – it wasn’t easy!

We do restoration work and all sorts of custom paint work – special effects, harlequin and so on - and I enjoy doing them and get a buzz out of it. But I always intended to get the XT

Duane's monstrous 700hp HSV Clubsport

back to as original a condition as I could.”

With the XT now finished, the question becomes what is Duane going to do with it? As a classic car, fully restored, as close to original as can be and with extraordinarily low mileage, it’s unlikely to be his daily driver.

“I enjoy driving it but I don’t want to put too many miles on it,” he says. “It’s worth a bit and I want to keep it that way – it is an investment. So, I take it out on a weekend for a bit of a drive but nothing too out of control. And it is fun to take out. People come straight up to me to talk about it – specially the old fellas who will reminisce about the old days when they used to have one and so on. That’s a lot of fun.”

With the XT project now complete and the car to be

treated with kid gloves and used sparingly, Duane is moving on to another restoration project – an XY Falcon.

How that one will turn out will, we guess, depend on whether Duane runs with his instinct to upgrade or not. But whatever he does, one thing is for sure, it will look the business!

We’ll keep you posted.

DO YOU HAVE A PRIDE AND JOY IN THE GARAGE THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE IN THE PAGES OF MOTOR TRADER?

!

Contact Jonathan Nash at jonathann@mtaq.com.au and let’s see if we can share your classic with other members.

June 2017 Motor Trader | 31

Auto news

STARTUP OFFERS UNIQUE CAR BUYING EXPERIENCE

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NEW, INNOVATIVE, AUTOMOTIVE business is coming to Queensland and the MTA Queensland’s innovation hub.

Offering a unique service to those looking to purchase a new car, TheCarTest is set to revolutionise the way consumers buy a vehicle with an all-new, select-try-buy experience – an experience that will help the buyer consider some important factors that can often be missed in the excitement of buying a new car: • Does the car fit in the garage?

• Will the bikes fit in the back?

• Will the roof racks hit CLICK TO VISIT the gable?

THECARTEST • Do the rear seats have WEBSITE TheCarTest founder, enough room when the Christian Schaefer, has ten front seats are back? years’ experience working in • How bad is the blind spot? the digital automotive sector, • How easy is it to park? including working for Carsales • Will the dog be able to jump and co-founding Melbourne in the back? startup Carhood.

• Does the car’s computer sync “A recent survey showed 88 per cent to your phone? of people wouldn’t buy a car without There are many stories from motorists that suggest they would have bought a different car had they spent more time in the vehicle before purchasing. In fact, some people will go as far as paying to rent the vehicle from a car rental company just to make sure it’s the right fit for their lifestyle. After all, buying a new car is often considered the second biggest financial investment one will make in their lifetime.

TheCarTest offers the consumer access to a wide range of brands and the ability to choose from a three to seven-day 'try before you buy’ test-drive.

An intuitive app will allow for home or office delivery, and while the app makes for an easy-to-use experience for the customer, it also provides flow-on data benefits to car manufacturers – the results of the customer experience and choices resulting in faster design improvements.

32 | Motor Trader September 2017

test driving it first,” he said. “However, 81 per cent believe the current test drive experience is inadequate.”

TheCarTest will use the MTA Queensland’s innovation hub Australia’s first such hub to be focused

Christian Schaefer and the team at TheCartTest

on the automotive industry – as its base, joining other businesses in an environment designed to support the initiatives of startups, entrepreneurs and innovators.

“We are excited to bring our automotive innovation hub to life and are supporting TheCarTest to take it to the next level of operation,” said Dr Brett Dale, Group CEO of MTA Queensland. “Automotive concepts like TheCarTest are integral to solving present day problems using innovation and that is the exact purpose of our innovation hub.”

WATCH THE VIDEO: INTRODUCING THECARTEST

DOMINO'S & FORD RESEARCH PIZZA DELIVERY USING SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES IN WHAT MIGHT come as a blow to the first-job prospects of young drivers everywhere, Domino's Pizza and Ford are set to collaborate on self-driving vehicles and how they can work in pizza delivery.

Researchers from both companies are to investigate customer reactions to interacting with a self-driving vehicle as a part of their delivery experience. This research is important, the companies said, to examine and understand customers’ perspectives around the future of food delivery with self-driving vehicles.

“As delivery experts, we’ve been watching the development of self-driving vehicles with great interest as we believe transportation is undergoing fundamental, dramatic change,” said Patrick Doyle, Domino’s president and CEO. “We pride ourselves on being technology leaders and are excited to help lead research into how self-driving vehicles may play a role in the future of pizza delivery. This is the first step in an ongoing process of testing that we plan to undertake with Ford.”

Over the next several weeks, randomlyselected Domino’s customers in the Ann Arbor area of the US state of Michigan will have the opportunity to receive their delivery order from a Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicle, which will be manuallydriven by a Ford safety engineer and staffed with researchers. Customers who agree to participate will be able to track the delivery vehicle through GPS using an upgraded version of Domino’s Tracker. They will also receive text messages as the self-driving vehicle approaches that will guide them on how to retrieve their pizza using a unique code to unlock the Domino’s Heatwave Compartment inside the vehicle.

AUDI LAUNCHES VR IN EUROPEAN DEALERSHIPS

Audi is to use virtual reality in its European dealerships

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UDI IS LAUNCHING a fully-functional virtual reality application for customer consultation at dealerships. Dealers in Germany, the UK and Spain are now starting to deploy the virtual reality headset installation, with additional markets and locations to follow.

The company says that, with the VR solution, customers can be immersed in an extremely realistic experience by configuring their individual car and exploring even the smallest details from an extremely realistic perspective, selecting from millions of possible model and equipment variants The configured Audi is experienced in three dimensions and 360 degrees, with all light and sound effects. Various environments, times of day and light conditions also contribute to the true-to-life virtual experience of sitting in the car. The interior can also be observed from every perspective, down to the surface of the decorative inlays.

“With the VR experience, we have developed a fully-fledged

sales tool for Audi dealers. It offers our customers more information and certainty when making their purchasing decision, as well as a special excitement factor,” says Nils Wollny, Head of Digital Business Strategy/Customer Experience at AUDI AG. “With this, we are taking the next step in our strategy to combine digital innovation with the strengths of the bricks-and-mortar dealership.”

The visualization through the Audi VR experience is based on the construction data of the Audi models, so there is even an ‘x-ray vision’ feature that allows tech-savvy users to also take a look beneath the surface of the car, into the structure of its technical components.

In addition, the VR headset offers customers the chance to experience special Audi moments. Racing fans can, for instance, immerse themselves virtually in the atmosphere of the Le Mans 24 Hours race and get an up-close experience during a pit stop alongside the crew of mechanics.

Audi says that virtual reality is used in numerous areas of the company – from sales and technical development to automotive production.

September 2017 Motor Trader | 33

2017 MTA Queensland presents the

PRESIDENT’S BALL A D V A N C I N G

I N D U S T R Y

The signature event for Queensland’s Automotive Industry Hosted by the extraordinarily entertaining Shane Jacobson and featuring special guest speaker Craig Lowndes OAM of Team Vortex, the evening includes a three-course dinner and beverages, live band, auctions and pre-dinner drinks – all included in the ticket price.

A highlight on the night is the announcement of the winners for various prestigious Awards.

Date: Saturday 28 October 2017 Time: 6:00pm to 11:00pm Dress: Black-tie / Formal Venue: Hilton Brisbane RSVP: COB Friday 13 October 2017 Tickets: online at www.stickytickets.com.au Contact Us: info@mtaq.com.au

Auto news

GREEN LIGHT FOR FOCUS HOT HATCH

T

HE FORD FOCUS RS Limited Edition has been confirmed for the Australian market.

500 of the Focus RS Limited Edition ‘hyper hatches’ will begin arriving in November and will come packed with bags of high-performance goodies.

“Ford’s performance models are an important part of our line-up, and we’re excited to offer Australians an even more capable version of the Focus RS,” said Graeme Whickman, Ford President and CEO. The Ford Focus RS Limited Edition package includes: • Quaife limited-slip front differential • Performance Wheel Pack including 19-inch forged alloy wheels with 235/35R19 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres • Active City Stop (Autonomous Emergency Braking) • Nitrous prestige paint • Rear hatch-mounted spoiler • Privacy glass Quaife Limited-Slip Differential Every Focus RS Limited Edition is equipped with a Limited-Slip Differential (LSD). Ford Performance worked with Quaife, a renowned UKbased engineering outfit, to produce a helical mechanical LSD for the RS’s front axle. The Quaife differential relies on gears rather than clutches for its operation. This, says Ford, produces smoother operation and means it

automatically biases the torque away The Ford Focus RS Limited Edition from the spinning wheel, across the will be offered for a Manufacturer’s axle to a constantly varying degree.

List Price of $56,990. Deliveries The Quaife differential will be commence in November. teamed with the Performance Wheel Pack that includes forged alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 tyres.

Recaro shell-seats are standard.

In addition, SYNC 3, including voice-activated satFor over 25 years we’ve built our name nav, Apple CarPlay as the leading industry fund for the and Android Auto automotive industry. is standard, with a We exist solely to benefit you.

8-inch full-colour Whether you’re paying your touchscreen. team’s super, or building your own, we have the tools, resources and The RS Limited people to help you make financial Edition is powered decisions that work for you. by the 257kW To find out how we can support you, 2.3-litre EcoBoost call us or visit our website today. powerplant with six-speed manual 1300 362 415 transmission and mtaasuper.com.au/get-started Ford Performance AWD. The AWD system enables Dynamic Torque Vectoring, which means that the This document is issued by Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty. Focus RS can split Limited (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238 718) of Level 3, 39 Brisbane Avenue Barton ACT 2600, Trustee of the MTAA Superannuation Fund (ABN 74 559 365 913). The information provided is of a its torque not only general nature and does not take into account your specific needs or personal situation.

You should assess your financial position and personal objectives before making any decision front-to-rear, but based on this information. The MTAA Super Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) can be obtained by calling MTAA Super on 1300 362 415 or visiting mtaasuper.com.au/handbooks.

You should consider the PDS in making a decision. also side-to-side.

Members first, always.

September 2017 Motor Trader | 35

Auto news

HDT MONARO FETCHES $500,000 AT AUCTION T HE FIRST FACTORY race car to bear a Holden badge sold for a whopping $500,000 at auction last month. The 1969 Holden HT Monaro GTS 350 was snapped up by a deep-pocketed Queensland collector who now has his or her hands on an iconic four-wheel slice of Australian automotive history.

Sold at a Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers’ sale in Melbourne, the auctioned Monaro is credited with launching the Holden Dealer Team’s (HDT) racing dominance in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

The first Holden prepared by motorsport legend and HDT manager Harry Firth, the Monaro made its first start at the 1969 Sandown 300.

While it crashed out after just 45 minutes due to brake failure, the lessons learned, and findings made, from that first race were put to good use by HDT with the team modifying other Monaro’s and going on to claim victory at Bathurst the same year with Colin Bond and Tony Roberts taking top spot, with Des West and a rookie Peter Brock placing third.

“This car is a hugely significant piece of Australian motorsport history, not only shaping the success of Holden as a company, but also setting the stage for the domination

by Holden and Peter Brock for the next two decades,” said Bill Freeman, Auctioneer and classic car expert, before the auction was held.

“While we're seeing rare classic cars like Holden Torana’s and GT Falcon’s selling for hundreds of thousands, none have the colourful backstory or cultural significance of this Monaro, which is what makes it so rare and special.”

36 | Motor Trader September 2017

The first HDT Monaro sold for $500,000

WATCH THE VIDEO: THE ORIGINAL HDT MONARO

RENAULT-NISSAN & DONGFENG FORGE EV PARTNERSHIP T HE RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE and Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd. have agreed to co-develop and sell electric vehicles in China through a new joint venture, eGT New Energy Automotive Co., Ltd. (eGT).

The new electric vehicle will be aimed at the Chinese market and will be developed on an A-segment SUV platform from the Renault-Nissan Alliance and take advantage of the competitive manufacturing costs from Dongfeng.

“The establishment of the new joint venture with Dongfeng confirms our common commitment to develop competitive electric vehicles for the Chinese market,” said Carlos Ghosn, chairman and chief executive officer of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

“We are confident to meet the expectations of the Chinese customers and to strengthen our global electric vehicle leadership position.”

“This project is the result of a joint effort to develop electric vehicles for the Chinese market, by the 'Golden Triangle' formed by Dongfeng, Renault and Nissan, with an innovative business model,” said Zhu Yanfeng, Chairman of Dongfeng. “We expect to meet the transformation trend of the market in China; where cars are becoming light, electric, intelligent,

interconnected and shared. This is units, representing an increase of 37.8 percent and 33.6 percent respectively. also testimony of a deepened and Renault will hold 25 per cent of strengthened strategic cooperation eGT, Nissan will hold 25 per cent and between the three parties.”

Dongfeng the remaining 50 per cent.

The newly formed eGT is to be based in the City of Shiyan, Hubei Province in central China. The electric vehicle will be produced at the Dongfeng plant The world’s largest multi-manufacturer accident repair database is now available in Australia and New Zealand. of Shiyan which has a production New local content capacity of 120,000 An extensive research program developing escribe for the vehicles a year. local markets is now well underway.

Production is set to start in 2019.

With $3.5M being invested, new vehicles are added According to the every month, significantly increasing market China Association coverage. of automobile Extra information manufacturers, In addition to repair methods, escribe supplies times and technical data, offering operational efficiencies and competitive China is the advantage. world’s largest BEV Training program market. In 2016, To get the most out of escribe, sign up to a Thatcham certified training course. Available FREE to all current subscribers.

256 879 BEV were Value for money sold in China, up Licence fee discounts extended for another year.

121 per cent from Local support Help and support available via dedicated web based Help Centre the previous year. and Australian Help Desk.

In the first seven months of 2017, For more information and to subscribe, go to: production of BEVs Australia - www.thatchamescribe.com.au reached 223,000 New Zealand - www.thatchamescribe.co.nz units and sales reached 204,000 September 2017 Motor Trader | 37

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MAYBACH 6 CABRIOLET T

HIS IS THE Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet, a quite glorious concept unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California last month. If it looks vaguely familiar, that’s because it is the open-top version of the equally stunning Maybach 6 coupe concept revealed last year and, like the coupe, it is a stunning example of the car designer’s craft.

Long, elegant and swooping lines give the car a graceful yet powerful look and are a nod to the inspiration designers took from luxury yachts.

While there are acres of bonnet at the front of the car suggesting a monster engine underneath, that is just for show. That’s because the Maybach 6 Cabriolet is an electric car and instead of an engine there are four electric motors, one at each wheel, and a drive system that generates a whopping 750 hp (550 kW). That's enough power to give the enormous vehicle supercar-like numbers of 0-100km/h in under four seconds. The underfloor battery allows a range of more than 500km and a quick-charge function means that just five minutes is enough to achieve an additional range of more than 100 kilometres.

So what’s the huge bonnet for? Well, underneath is a very smart compartment system for storing luggage, umbrellas and other assorted knick-knacks that deep-pocketed owners would no doubt need.

It’s not just the bonnet that is massive - the whole car measures almost 6m in length. However, though its size would suggest you could fit a family of 12 inside with room to spare, the Maybach is actually a two-seater.

As you’d expect from Maybach in the 21st century, the concept is luxurious and stuffed full of technological wizardry and neat features. Materials used include rose gold on the trim elements and crystal white nappa leather; and the standout feature comes in the shape of a floating, transparent centre tunnel, which visualises the drive system's electrical energy flow for the passengers by means of blue fibre optics. Very cool.

The main driving functions, as well as information relevant to the location (e.g. restaurant recommendations), 38 | Motor Trader September 2017

are shown on the windscreen via two head-up displays and the car is designed to anticipate the needs of its passengers and provide required information and solutions in real time.

While the Maybach 6 Cabriolet is unlikely to appear on our roads in this form, if the future of the marque’s models is that they look even a little like this, then that future is looking pretty bright.

WATCH THE VIDEO: THE MAYBACH 6 CABRIOLET

September 2017 Motor Trader | 39

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AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY HAS AN AGGREGATED EMPLOYMENT OF 88,181 PEOPLE, AN INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT OF 6.1 PER CENT FROM 2014/15.”

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48 Industrial Relations

PAUL KULPA GENERAL MANAGER MTA INSTITUTE

I

HOPE EVERYONE IS travelling well. We have been very busy here – a fact most employers and apprentices will be aware of through the introduction of our new digital learning platform, My Profiling. This has been a large project to get up and running and I’m sure the benefits, for both employers and apprentices, will be seen in the coming months, most notably the transparency over an apprentice’s progression through their learning activities.

The feedback so far has been excellent and the system has been very well received.

I’ve also had a chance to read the Directions in Australia’s Automotive Industry 2017 report. It’s an interesting read and sums up the state of all the automotive sectors, including their current condition, economic contribution, skill shortages, education and training issues, plus the future directions of Australia’s automotive industry.

What caught my attention was the Queensland analysis. The Queensland automotive industry has an aggregated employment of 88,181 people, an increase in employment of

6.1 per cent from 2014/15. However, we have seen a slow decrease in the number of apprentices in training since 2012/13. This tells me that whilst there are great opportunities for employment in the automotive industry, we are not seeing this through the traditional apprenticeship pathway. Ultimately, this equals skill shortages.

The MTA Institute is keen to see a strong intake of apprentices into industry to ensure we have the skilled workforce needed into the future.

However, this will only occur if employers take on apprentices. The report highlights the reasons for the shortages, including: • The poor quality of available candidates; • Not enough people entering the trades; and • Attraction of labour towards other markets.

These are points which are pretty familiar to automotive employers and something we will continue to work through with our Employability Skills Programs and Prevocational Programs to help attract and select good candidates.

As always, if you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at: training@mtai.edu.au September 2017 Motor Trader | 41

E S S E N T I A L S

“THE QUEENSLAND

M E M B E R S

Training GM's Professional Circle perspective

E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S

Professional Circle training

TRAINING WITH MTAI EVEN MORE EFFICIENT WITH NEW LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM “ A T THE BEGINNING of July, the MTA Institute (MTAI) launched a new training delivery platform called My Profiling. A digital, web and app-based platform that can be utilised via smartphone, tablet or computer, My Profiling provides students, trainers and employers a level of interaction and engagement that sets a new benchmark for the industry – it does away with the need for paperwork, it automates processes, allows all of those involved in an apprentice’s training to have immediate visibility over their progress and, given the digital nature of the system, allows for work to be completed and authenticated at any time, reducing the burden on the student, supervisor and indeed the trainer.

Two months on from the initial roll-out of the new system and the feedback from trainers, apprentices 42 | Motor Trader September 2017

. . . MOVING FROM A PAPER-BASED SYSTEM TO A DIGITAL ONE WAS SOMETHING AN INNOVATIVE AND PROGRESSIVE TRAINING ORGANISATION SUCH AS MTA INSTITUTE SHOULD OFFER AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE ROLL-OUT SO FAR.”

and employers has been very positive – feedback that vindicates the Institute’s move to a digital training system.

That move had been a goal of the MTA Institute for some time – the advantages to apprentices, employers, trainers and to the institute itself of

CLICK TO VISIT THE MTA INSTITUTE WEBSITE

such a system are clear – and the search for a suitable system, and its subsequent tailoring to the requirements of the institute, took many months.

“We had looked at a number of digital systems over the years but none offered all the benefits we expected to provide our students and their employers,” said Paul Kulpa, General Manager MTA Institute. “At about this time last year, we were introduced to My Profiling and its excellent range of features such as online resources and learning support; real-time tracking of students’ progress; and up-to-date trainer activity.

“While we still deliver the face-toface training in the workplace that we are renowned for, and that will not change, moving from a paper-based system to a digital one was something an innovative and progressive training organisation such as MTA Institute

BETTER, WITH MY BOSS AND TRAINER EASILY ABLE TO TRACK WHAT IS GOING ON . . . AND I THINK PEOPLE MY AGE AND YOUNGER ARE JUST MORE MOTIVATED WHEN USING TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS SMARTPHONES AND IPADS.” Institute. “As trainers, we can see their progress, understand if they are having any trouble, make decisions about whether more training is required, and be prepared before we actually go to the workplace.

“And it is a real game-changer for students,” he added. “For instance, if a job comes in that they don’t see very often, or is something that they would not normally study until later in their apprenticeship, then they can capture evidence of that through images and video, store it and refer back to it when we actually tackle that unit two or three years down the track.

It means they have a more proactive role – they can think about what they need now and what they’ll need in the future. It really is excellent."

And, James added, the fact that students are largely younger people means they easily grasp the technology needed to use the system – a fact that ensures more training will be delivered this way in years to come.

September 2017 Motor Trader | 43

E S S E N T I A L S

“COMMUNICATION IS

“The technology in vehicles is evolving and so is the technology by which we can deliver training,” he said. “Switching to smartphone and tablet technology comes easy to the younger generation - they are all over it. It is definitely the future.”

While My Profiling is an effective training tool, and the opportunity exists to develop the system to offer even more benefits to MTA Institute clients, it is also proving to be effective in delivering efficiencies in the administration of training.

“The feedback from employers, students and trainers has really exceeded our expectations,” said James Orr, Chief Information Officer for MTA Queensland.

“We worked closely with industry to build a system that is intuitive and easy to use and we have succeeded.

And My Profiling actually also automates a significant part of our previously administratively-heavy back-office processes, automatically recording learning outcomes and replacing postage and printing, which was both costly in time and resources.

“We will certainly be spending the next few months further enhancing the system and creating more efficient ways to use it and, long term, we know that we can deliver training opportunities previously not possible.

With the introduction of rich media and emerging technologies we know that we have the right platform to bring those experiences to our students.”

“I believe we've only really just scratched the surface of what is possible with the system,” added Mr Kulpa. “There are a lot of areas we have yet to fully unpack - including an organiser which is a full scheduling system so trainers can set automated messages to students and employers as a reminder of upcoming appointments.

“I also see further development of the app to store evidence of the apprentice’s progress and see this effectively providing the students with a ‘work passport’ for their whole apprenticeship.

“A lot of work has been put into the development, testing, resourcing and production of the My Profiling system and now we can see what it can do, and what it can achieve. There will be great benefits for students and employers well into the future.”

M E M B E R S

should offer and we are very pleased with the roll-out so far.”

For Elliott Lemmon, a fourthyear apprentice with Greg Tunstall Mechanical in Cleveland, My Profiling has proved to be simple to use and, through features such as being able to log photographic evidence of work he has completed, a convenient and time-saving tool.

“The app is quick and easy to use,” he said. “I used to record every job I did in one book and then, when it came time to complete a module, put all that information into another workbook. Sifting through each job could take forever. I don’t mind paperwork, but when one job can be relevant to several different modules and I can now spend just a few seconds on my phone to add a photo specific to that, it makes things much easier.

“Communication is better too, with my boss and trainer easily able to track what is going on,” added Elliott.

“And I think people my age and younger are just more motivated when using technology such as smartphones and iPads.”

Elliott’s supervisor, Simon Majoinen, who also supervises three other apprentices, is equally pleased with the simplicity and convenience of the My Profiling system.

“I have the app on my phone, which means I can monitor what my apprentices are up to, and when they send their reports through the system I can easily check them and keep up to date with what they are doing,” he said. “It is very easy to understand and, by having it on my phone, very easy to use. Moving training online is a good trend and definitely an improvement on the old system.”

My Profiling is not just making changes to the way apprentices and employers work, it is also changing how the MTA Institute’s trainers deliver that training. Though the Institute’s delivery of face-to-face, on-site training remains, using digital technology to monitor students’ progress at all times means an even greater focus can be delivered on the needs of an individual student while also allowing them to be even more engaged.

“A lot of the training and assessment is recorded in real-time, so we know exactly what stage the apprentice has reached,” said James Dixon, a senior trainer with MTA

E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S

APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH - AUGUST

James Corbett

APPRENTICE: JAMES CORBETT APPRENTICESHIP: LIGHT VEHICLE WORKPLACE: AUTO GIANT, BRENDALE

JAMES CORBETT is the MTA Institute Apprentice of the Month for August. The 21-year-old, 4th-year, Light Vehicle apprentice has been working at Auto Giant in Brendale since he began his apprenticeship three years ago and his passion for the industry has him marked as a future tradesman to watch.

“He is a really good kid,” said Tony Fasano, James’ employer at Auto Giant. “He is really enthusiastic and some day will have his own business and be doing his own thing. He actually said that to me on his first day here and I am doing everything I can to help him on that journey.

“He goes the extra step – he keeps going, finds the information he needs, does things outside the circle and has the drive to succeed.”

A car enthusiast since he was a child, James made a late decision to turn to the auto industry – a decision that saw him leave university where he was studying Information Technology (I.T.).

“As a kid, I was always tearing things down and putting them back together, and when I got my first car I worked on that a lot,” he said. “I went to university to study I.T. but I discovered that I needed to work on cars more! So, I became a tyre fitter and then came to Auto Giant as an apprentice mechanic.”

Working at Auto Giant means James gets to train and work across a wide range of disciplines and on an equally wide range of vehicles. And given owner Tony’s long background in motorsport, there has also been the chance to get involved there too.

“We work on a lot of different vehicles and do electronics, upgrades and modifications, diagnostics, airbag suspension and I was involved in prepping a TA2 race car and worked the pit crew at the track," said James. “Being involved in motorsport is fun - you get to see how a little tweak can improve power, or how a change to suspension can give more grip and downforce.

I like the wide range of stuff we do here and I think, as a mechanic, you need to learn everything, especially as in the future we can expect to see electric cars and so on.”

“I am really pleased he has been named Apprentice of the Month,” said Kevin Ryan, James’ MTA Institute trainer. “I’ve been training him since he started his apprenticeship and he has come a long way. He lis really putting in the effort,and the passion he is showing for the job is great to see.”

With less than a year left of his apprenticeship, James’ future looks bright and he has his sights set on one day running his own business.

“I’d like to stay here for a while and get more experience,” he said. “But the goal would definitely be to have my own workshop.”

44 | Motor Trader September 2017

Professional Circle training

MTA INSTITUTE PARTNERS WITH KAWASAKI CLICK TO VISIT THE MTA INSTITUTE WEBSITE

Kawasaki Versys 650L

T

HE MTA INSTITUTE (MTAI) has entered a long-term, mutually rewarding partnership with Kawasaki Motors Australia and recently took receipt of a Kawasaki Versys 650L and other Kawasaki training aids.

The donation, which has been enthusiastically received by trainers and students, enables motorcycle apprentices to learn on modern machinery and ensures they are up-to-date with the latest technical information.

“We are very excited to work in partnership with Kawasaki Motors and this arrangement will directly benefit our students,” said Paul Kulpa, General Manager of MTA Institute.

“The Kawasaki Versys 650L will ensure our students are learning from the latest engineering on the market."

“Our company is dedicated to delivering the most up-to-date

technical training tools to our stakeholder network,” added Jeremy Fuller, Technical Service Department Assistant Manager, Kawasaki Motors Australia.

“We recognise the importance of motorcycle technical training that occurs at the various training institutes around Australia.

“It is a focus for Kawasaki to ensure that we support MTAI, as a leader in Queensland motorcycle technical training along with other technical Institutes nationally, with the donation of modern and technologically advanced Kawasaki product when it becomes available.”

The MTA Institute looks forward to continuing its relationship with Kawasaki Motors Australia and offering the very best of training environments for future motorcycle professionals.

Representing the legal interests of MTAQ’s chosen firm Queensland’s automotive industry for Representing the legal interests of TheMTAQ’s MTAQ’s chosenindustry firm more thanthe 15 years Bennett Philp Representing the legal interests Representing the legal interests of Representing legal interests of& of chosen firm Representing legal interests of for for automotive Queensland’s the automotive industry MTAQ’s chosen firm MTAQ’s chosen firm MTAQ’s chosen firm Lawyers are acknowledged as experts Queensland’s automotive industry for Queensland’s automotive industry for Queensland’s automotive industry for Queensland’s automotive industry more than 15 years Bennett & Philpfor for for theautomotive automotive industry industry, more in a broad range of commercial issues more than 15 years Bennett & Philp more than 15 years Bennett & Philp than 15 years Bennett & Philp complimentary legal more than 15acknowledged years Bennett as & Philp for automotive industry for automotive industry Lawyers for automotive industry Lawyers are experts involving the automotiveasindustry. acknowledged as Lawyers are acknowledged as experts Lawyers areare acknowledged experts providing complimentary Lawyers are acknowledged asexperts experts in a broad range of commercial issues complimentary legal advice aa broad range of commercial issues broad range of commercial issues in ainin broad range of commercial issues complimentary legal complimentary legal complimentary legal in a broad range of commercial issues We advise car and truck dealerships, involving the automotive industry. legal advice involving automotive industry. involving the automotive industry. involving thethe automotive industry. involving the automotive industry. advice vehicle tuning and customisation advice advice advice We advise car and truck dealerships, companies, performance and accessory advise and truck dealerships, We advise car and truck dealerships, WeWe advise carcar and truck dealerships, Take advantage of our Take advantage our expertise and ask of MTAQ Take advantage of ouryour expertise and ask for a referral today.

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Members is it provides immediate and direct access to senior lawyers expertise today. are the experts for legal advice. who can give the right advice at the right time – avoiding potential • Insolvency and bankruptcy advice, and who can give right advice right time –––avoiding potential who can give the right advice at the right time avoiding potential who can give thethe right advice at at the right time – avoiding potential who can give the right advice atthe right time avoiding potential Bennett and Philp•areCommercial the chosen legal problems.

Simply ask MTAQ for athe referral to Bennett & Philp Lawyers. litigation and debt recovery Call us on 07 3001 2999 Automotive Dealers and Industry Suppliers problems.

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Simply ask MTAQ for areferral referral toBennett Bennett &Philp Philp Lawyers. firm of the MTAQ, and proud supporters Dealers and suppliers need to know their legal advisors can expertly Automotive Dealers and Industry Suppliers of the industry - including being a major Lachlan Thorburn I Associate Brian Smith I Director guide them through the sale and purchase of dealerships and related Automotive Dealers and Industry Suppliers Automotive Dealers and Industry Suppliers Automotive Dealers and Industry Suppliers Automotive and Industry Suppliers Dealers and Dealers suppliers need to know their legal advisors can expertly T: +61 7 3001 2957 T: +61 7 3001 2914 partner of the MTAQ Racing Team. businesses throughout Australia.

It’s also important for dealers and Dealers and suppliers need to know their legal advisors can expertly Dealers and suppliers need to know their legal advisors can expertly Dealers and suppliers need to know their legal advisors can expertly Dealers and through suppliersthe need know their legal advisors can expertly guide them saletoand purchase of dealerships and related suppliers to knowthe their lawyers are experts pursuingand litigation for guide them through the sale and purchase and related guide them through the sale and purchase of dealerships and related guide them through sale and purchase of of dealerships related guide them through the sale and purchase ofindealerships dealerships and related businesses throughout Australia.

It’s also important for dealers and unpaid throughout debts and other matters, and also counselling clients in areas businesses throughout Australia. also important dealers and businesses throughout Australia.

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It’s also important for dealers and suppliers to know their lawyers are experts in pursuing litigation for such as dispute resolution processes. suppliers to their lawyers experts litigation suppliers to know their lawyers are experts in pursuing litigation for suppliers to alternate know their lawyers areare experts in in pursuing litigation forfor suppliers toknow know experts inpursuing pursuing litigation for unpaid debts and their otherlawyers matters,are and also counselling clients in areas For more information contact: unpaid debts and other matters, and also counselling clients in areas unpaid debts and other matters, and also counselling clients in areas unpaid debts and other matters, and also counselling clients in areas unpaid debts and other matters, and also counselling clients in areas such as alternate dispute resolution processes.

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Looking after MTAQ and its members Lookingafter afterMTAQ MTAQand andits itsmembers members Looking after MTAQ and its members Looking after MTAQ and its members Looking MTAQ’s chosen firm for automotive industry complimentary legal advice

members

As industry specialists we are ideally positioned to assist dealers and suppliers with operational issues such as commercial leasing, supply agreements, employment issues and franchise and consumer law.

We have expert advice available to assist with dealership and business acquisitions and sales, financing, negotiations with lenders to the automotive industry, and business succession and restructuring issues.

For more information contact: Phone: 07 3001 2914 For more information contact: For more information contact: For more information contact: Phone: 07 3001 2999 Phone: 07www.bennettphilp.com.au 3001 2914 Website: www.bennettphilp.com.au Website: Phone: 3001 2914 Phone: 07 3001 2914 Phone: 0707 3001 2914 Website: www.bennettphilp.com.au Website: www.bennettphilp.com.au Website: www.bennettphilp.com.au Website: www.bennettphilp.com.au

We take pride in knowing our team focus their considerable knowledge Representing the legal interests of and experience to deliver specialist, value-added and cost-effective

MTAQ’s chosen firm

Our team’s legal expertise includes:

Right training.

Right place.

Right way.

RTO No: 31529

MTA INSTITUTE

COURSES 3 DAY AIR CONDITIONING COURSE 9 – 11 August 2017 4 – 6 October 2017 8.30am-4.30pm Click for more information.

PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR COURSE (PDR) INTRODUCTORY

23 – 24 September 2017 9:00am – 4:00pm (two day weekend course) Click for more information.

HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE COURSE INTRODUCTORY

5 September 2017 6pm – 9pm Click for more information.

ADVANCED 10, 17, 24, 31 October 2017 6 - 9pm (over four evenings) Click for more information.

MIG WELDING FUNDAMENTALS COURSE 6 September 2017 8:30am - 12:30pm Click for more information.

ADVANCED

COMMON RAIL DIESEL INJECTION COURSE

23, 24, 25, 26 & 27 October 2017 9am - 4pm (five day course) Click for more information.

19 September 2017 6 - 9pm Click for more information.

INTRODUCTORY

All Courses are held at the MTA Institute

Search for MTA Queensland

Free guest Wifi at MTA Institute

20170554

Address Freeway Office Park, Building 8, 2728 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, Qld 4113 Enquiries to: courses@mtai.edu.au Website www.mtai.edu.au

CLICK TO VISIT THE NQ COOLECTRIX FACEBOOK PAGE

What is the best thing about working in your industry?

Every day is a surprise and a challenge. You just don’t know what you are going to get.

What is the best piece of business advice you have ever given or been given?

Supply a quality service for a fair price.

NQ Coolectrix Location: Townsville Type of business: Auto electrical and Air con Number of employees: 3

From other local businesses who are members.

How has being an MTAQ member benefited your business?

MTAQ member since: 1998

In lots of ways! The industrial relations info is second to none and Russell’s tech info is very helpful to our business.

How did you hear about the Motor Trades Association of Queensland? (MTAQ)

What has been your proudest business achievement to date?

Trading since: 1997

What would you say to someone thinking about joining MTAQ? I would thoroughly recommend it as a must have!

70+ dealers across Australia offering 4WD upgrades – the largest diesel tuning network in the country.

CLICK TO VISIT THE ROO SYSTEMS WEBSITE

What is the best thing about working in your industry?

Evolution of the diesel engine through to hybrid and now full-electric always evolving.

What is the best piece of business advice you have ever given or been given?

Roo Systems / AMMS

When it gets tough, keep going. When you can’t see a way forward, keep going.

Location: Banyo

Via a representative.

Type of business: 4WD

How has being an MTAQ member benefited your business?

Number of employees: 18 Trading since: 1995 MTAQ member since: 2000

Assistance with legislation, employment contracts and clarification.

How did you hear about the Motor Trades Association of Queensland? (MTAQ)

What has been your proudest business achievement to date?

It’s the ones who keep going despite all the negatives that eventually make it. It’s worth it.

What would you say to someone thinking about joining MTAQ? Never think you know everything.

That’s what the MTAQ is there for – knowing what you don’t. A great team to be on your side

November 2016 Motor Trader | 47

E S S E N T I A L S

20 years in business has been a recent achievement which made me proud.

M E M B E R S

Member profiles

E S S E N T I A L S M E M B E R S

Industrial relations

TED KOWALSKI INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS MANAGER

Initiation Rites – Beware A RECENT PROSECUTION of a Victorian motor dealer highlights the potential problems inherent in initiation rites. The days when these initiation rites were an accepted part of workplace culture are long gone. We now have the obligations of the Workplace Health and Safety Act which require that an employer provide a safe place of work for all employees. This includes the requirement to keep the workplace free from bullying and overenthusiastic initiation rites.

The Victorian case involved a 16-year-old employee being taped to a pole, standing him in an oil drum and setting fire to his boots. This ‘lark’ cost the individual who perpetrated the offence over $6000 and his employer was fined $45,000. Closer to home, a Brisbane panel shop recently reached an out of court settlement with a former employee who had lodged a complaint with the Anti-

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND WORK FREE FROM ANY FORM OF DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT OR BULLYING. Discrimination Commission after enduring some particularly nasty bullying by older workers.

The settlement involved many thousands of dollars and saw all the employees responsible footing part of the settlement.

In both these cases, the employer was vicariously liable for the offences committed by the employees because there were not any policies in place designed to discourage that type of behaviour. For an employer to successfully defend this type of claim a pro-active approach is required.

• Have a written policy document regarding harassment, discrimination and bullying and ensure that all employees are made aware of its contents – preferably by taking them through

the document and having them sign an acknowledgment to that effect. Supply each staff member with a copy and put one on the notice board.

• Make the monitoring of this issue a part of every supervisors’ duties.

• Regularly review the situation to ensure the policy is being honoured.

(Document any review that is done.)

• Make the policy a discussion item for any regular management meetings that are held.

• Ensure that the policy is included in any induction material for new starters.

• Ensure that any complaint is taken seriously and investigated. Issue warnings where appropriate and take appropriate remedial action.

• Do not disadvantage any person who raises a complaint.

The bottom line is that all your employees should be able to attend work free from any form of discrimination, CLICK FOR harassment or MORE ON bullying. Failure INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS to provide such an environment can be very costly for your business.

MTA QUEENSLAND WELCOMES THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS Business Name

Principal/s

Address

Email

Division

Mountain Auto Electrics North 2 West Tyre & Wheels One Stop Repair Centre RGM Maintenance – Townsville Stanthorpe Wreckers Wholesale House

Scott Mountain Keith Muller Leigh Debono Greg Jackson Mandy Marsh Darren Atkins

1/29 Swan Street, BEERWAH Q 4519 277 Ingham Road, GARBUTT Q 4814 59 Toombul Road, NORTHGATE Q 4013 24 Curley Circuit, Roseneath Q 4811 12-16 Sullivan Drive, STANTHORPE Q 4380 831 Beaudesert Road, ARCHERFIELD Q 4108

sm_mount@bigpond.net.au north2westtyres@gmail.com info@onestoprepaircentre.com.au greg@rgmmaintenance.com.au mandy@stanthorpewreckers.com.au darren@wholesalehouse.com.au

AED TUDQ NACA AADA APRD ARD

48 | Motor Trader September 2017

MTAQ are a Charity Partner of Youngcare and our staff show support by wearing casual clothes on Friday and donating gold coins.

Please join us and donate to this life-changing organisation!

Concept corner BMW Concept Z4

BMW CONCEPT Z4 B

MW USED THE Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach in California to present its new take on a BMW roadster. And it is a ripper of machine – its long wheelbase, shark-nose front-end, lowslung look and wide stance giving it a much more powerful and aggressive tone than its predecessors.

On the inside, the instrument cluster and central information display form a cluster of screens that are integrated into the driver’s cockpit. Two displays work together and allow the driver to choose which elements they wish to call up (via touch command) from the content available – route guidance, playlists or other infotainment features.

Above the instrument cluster, the Head-Up Display presents key driving information within the driver’s direct field of view.

Trim elements inside the cabin are minimalist in nature with polished chrome accents, hexagonal laser-cut 50 | Motor Trader September 2017

motifs in the seats, carbon-fibre door sill finishers and embossed asymmetrical logos in the seats and instrument panel.

BMW says the Concept Z4 offers a look ahead to the series-production version of the car set to be unveiled over the course of next year.

“The BMW Concept Z4 in an all-out driving machine,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “Stripping the car back to the bare essentials allows the driver to experience all the ingredients of motoring pleasure with supreme directness. This is total freedom on four wheels.”

September 2017 Motor Trader | 51

Investment matters

MARKET WRAP

T

HE US REPORTING season has been better than expected with strong results across cyclical-exposed areas. This, combined with positive comments by the US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen on the solid growth outlook, propelled US markets higher for the month. China was the highlight with the Hang Seng Index rising 6% and Shanghai Composite Index rising 2.5%. Chinese data was strong in building and construction.

Australia closed flat, with the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index down 0.01%. The key reason for this underperformance compared to global markets was the rising Australian dollar. This weighed on stocks deriving a large portion of their earnings offshore. The banking sector performed well after the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) released its capital requirements for banks and considered them to be ‘unquestionably strong’. Discretionary retail stocks bounced back in response to sentiment that the Amazon threat had been overplayed and trading updates indicating retail conditions are not as bad as feared.

The US economy added 209,000 jobs in July and unemployment is now 4.3%. The economy remains robust and this is highlighted by the recent manufacturing survey, which continues to point to solid expansion.

In addition, lead indicators continue to suggest further growth in the economy and that US consumer confidence is strong. Despite this, the US$ has struggled in recent weeks, partially due to uncertain 52 | Motor Trader September 2017

AUSTRALIA CLOSED FLAT, WITH THE S&P/ ASX 200 ACCUMULATION INDEX DOWN 0.01%. THE KEY REASON FOR THIS UNDERPERFORMANCE COMPARED TO GLOBAL MARKETS WAS THE RISING AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR. political leadership in the US and the strengthening economic data in Europe and Asia. Previously the US had been the only economy emerging from the GFC-led interest rate lows, but as other countries emerge they are providing alternatives for investors.

European manufacturing indices are at a six-year high at 57.4, and the improvement in retail sales reflects the growing confidence that has emerged since the French election.

While concerns remain regarding debt levels in China, lead indicators continue to improve and manufacturing is expanding as export growth improves. The question we have been asking in recent months

is whether this strong economic data will drive a tightening in capacity and a pickup in inflation. This remains the most important investment question in our view, given positioning has been set against record low interest rates. Any change in perceptions can impact valuations.

The Australian economy continues to muddle through. Since the mining downturn, the Australian economy has navigated a pullback in mining capex via a major expansion in housing activity. Now that housing activity is beginning to slow, infrastructure spending is accelerating. This has resulted in unemployment rates remaining low and, despite higher costs associated with energy and mortgages, retail sales have continued to grow. We remain cautious regarding consumer spending given that household debt is extended, but we do expect continued economic expansion over the coming year.

DISCLAIMER This document has been prepared by DNR Capital Pty Ltd, AFS Representative - 294844 of DNR AFSL Pty Ltd ABN 39 118 946 400, AFSL 301658. It is general information only and is not intended to be a recommendation to invest in any product or financial service mentioned above. Whilst DNR Capital has used its best endeavours to ensure the information within this document is accurate it cannot be relied upon in any way and recipients must make their own enquiries concerning the accuracy of the information within. The general information in this document has been prepared without reference to any recipients objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making any financial investment decisions we recommend recipients obtain legal and taxation advice appropriate to their particular needs.

Investment in a DNR Capital managed account can only be made on completion of all the required documentation.

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2017 Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards

Medium Fund of the year

The Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards are determined using proprietary methodologies. Awards were issued March 9, 2017 and are solely statements of opinion and do not represent recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or make any other investment decisions. Ratings are subject to change. This document is issued by Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty. Limited (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238 718) of Level 3, 39 Brisbane Avenue Barton ACT 2600, Trustee of the MTAA Superannuation Fund (ABN 74 559 365 913). Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty. Limited has ownership interests in Industry Super Holdings Pty Ltd and Members Equity Bank Limited. The information provided is of a general nature and does not take into account your specific needs or personal situation. You should assess your financial position and personal objectives before making any decision based on this information. We also recommend that you seek advice from a licensed financial adviser. The MTAA Super Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), an important document containing all the information you need to make a decision about MTAA Super, can be obtained by calling MTAA Super on 1300 362 415 or visiting mtaasuper.com.au/handbooks. You should consider the PDS in making a decision.