Motor Trader - November - Online Edition

motor trader

motor trader queensland | vol. 82 | issue 10 | nov 2011

Combating fraud

Head-Up Display Motor Trades golf results ‘Car-to-x’ communication

Access Program Stoner wins Championship

Official Publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland

Head Office 1000 Wynnum Road, Cannon Hill, Qld 4170 P.O. Box 560, Morningside, Qld 4170 Tel: 07 3237 8777 Fax: 07 3844 4488 Toll Free: 1800 177 951 Email: publications@mtaq.com.au Website: www.mtaq.com.au Managing Editor Kellie Dewar

Editor in Chief

contents 2. From the editor 4. Policy/Viewpoint Industrial Relations 5. Office of Fair Work Ombudsman national compliance project - Vehicle Manufacturing Repair Services and Retail Award

Michael Taylor

Industry Update

Art Director

6. New Caltex signage reduces fuel confusion

Peter Richardson

Advertising Enquiries

Jeff Dunlop Jillian Anfield Mobile: 0414 075 0422 473 007 944 Facsimile: 07 3844 4488 Email: jilliana@mtaq.com.au jeffd@mtaq.com.au

Editorial

Paint ‘stickability’ yields top prize

7. Mentoring scheme on again in 2012 8. BMW Head-Up Display 9. Car theft film targets youth

Honda Heroes help the disadvantaged

Editorial submissions are welcomed but cannot be guaranteed placement. For more information telephone the Editor 07 3237 8777

10. Tariffs sting Holden exports

Subscription Rates (including GST)

11. Mixed bag of ANCAP ratings

Australia: $72.60 annually Overseas: $110 annually

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.

MTA Queensland ABN: 74 028 933 848

Corporate Partners

‘Car to x’ communication technology

MTAQ member wins top Award New SAE-A president

Features 12. ‘Car-to-x’ communication takes off 20. Combating fraud in automotive businesses

Automobile News 18. Volkswagen up!: The small car is very large indeed

Audi A1 1.6 TDI debut

All-new Holden Cruze

Casey Stoner wins MotoGP Championship

19. Yaris hatch

Hyundai i40 lands top design award

All-New Mazda BT-50

MIT News 22 Access Program a big success 24. Palm Island auto mechanic training 25 The remarkable apprentice 26. Heavy Vehicle Road Transport training

Health 28. Sciatica

Sport 30. Stoner wins 2nd world championship

V8’s a crowd favourite

31. Close finish sees Tander win Bathurst

MIT training on Palm Island

32. 62nd Annual Motor Trade Golf Tournament Results motor trader queensland

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from the editor

Michael Taylor, Editor

M

IT’s first Access Program has been a big hit with participants thanks to the hard work of Anthony Bonaccorso and Rob Thompson (page 22).

Twenty students entered the program seeking to gain skills to get them in to an automotive apprenticeship.

Having received 5 units of competency that is nationally recognised, the students continue to receive employment support by MIT staff that endeavour to get each willing student a placement. If you are looking for an apprentice, please contact Anthony on 1 800 177 951 and let him know!

MIT Technical Trainer Roger West has been busy training a group of potential mechanics on Palm Island (page 24).

The Australian government is funding the program that will lead to a Cert II. Another success story is emerging in apprentice Ricky Byrne of Beerwah (page 25).

MIT Technical Trainer Paul Darwin visits Ricky and his employer, Gengiz Simsir of GHM Services - a mobile diesel mechanic business – approximately once a

Twenty students entered the program seeking to gain skills to get them in to an automotive apprenticeship.

Having received 5 units of competency that is nationally recognised, the students continue to receive employment support by MIT staff that endeavour to get each willing student a placement. month. 16-year-old Ricky is a remarkable young man who is driven to become fully qualified by the time he is 18.

Have a look at Richard Payne’s column (page 4) covering some of the frequently asked questions regarding statutory charges in Queensland as they apply to vehicles. Two are ‘stamp duty’ related and the other has to do with the fringe benefits tax.

Ted Kowalski reminds us

(page 5) that the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) will be conducting a national compliance and education project in the next few months that will be targeting our industry. In all, 126 Queensland businesses will be targeted in the program that will act as an information service, which will rely on voluntary resolution by employers found to be non-compliant in any areas to do with employer obligations such as minimum wage requirements and so forth.

The success of the inaugural mentoring scheme for the collision repair industry was such that Automotive Skills Queensland will be conducting the program again in early 2012. See page 7 for details.

Starting on page 20, BDO reveals some areas of the business that should be looked at when it comes to tackling fraud in the workplace. Its not just money they’re talking about, as fraud stretches in to many areas of work that to some remain erroneously insignificant.

Queensland’s Automotive Centre of Excellence INST IT UT E OF T ECHNOLOGY

Queensland’s Peak Automotive Industry Body

Automotive Training Specialists

One Stop Industry Support for:

Specialising in:

• Government and Media Representations

• Light Vehicle Mechanical Technicians

• Industrial Relations Advice

• Motorcycle Mechanical Technicians

• Technical Information

• Automotive Electrical Technicians

• Professional Business Conduct within a

• Parts Interpreting

Strict Code of Ethics

• Management Courses

• Consumer Assurance • Legal Advice • Industry-specific Publications and Stationery

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motor trader queensland

Free call 1800 177 951

• Specialist Automotive Technicians

Kickstart the New Year with a BBQ for your workplace

Win a Barbeque of your choice to the value of $600!* To enter sign up for an eligible Commonwealth Bank Product between 1 November and 31 January, fill out the entry form and fax or email it to MTA Queensland (see details below).

Interested?

To find out more about Commonwealth Bank products and services available to MTA Queensland members complete your details below. MTA Queensland will arrange for a Commonwealth Bank Local Business Banker to contact you and discuss your needs.

Completed forms can be sent to MTA Queensland: email: info@mtaq.com.au fax: 07 3844 4488 Business Name:

Email:

Contact:

Telephone:

Commercial Loans

Business Accounts

Business Credit Cards

Financial Planning

Risk Management

EFTPOS/Merchant Services

Investment Loans

Investments

Risk Insurance

I would like Commonwealth Bank to contact me to arrange a free business financial health check *Full terms and conditions can be viewed in full at www.mtaq.com.au

images are for illustration purposes only, BBQ utensils are not included in this offer

policy/viewpoint From time to time we are asked to clarify to members’ inclusions or exclusions of statutory charges in Queensland as they apply to vehicles. The first three items in this Policy Update cover frequently asked questions:

Stamp duty payable on new vehicles Section 378(1) of the Duties Act provides that the dutiable value of a vehicle that has not been previously registered, whether in Queensland or another State, and for which there is a list price is the total of the following: • the vehicle’s list price • the price of all items of optional equipment not included in the list price.

Optional equipment, for a vehicle as defined for chapter 9 of the Act, means equipment and features that: • are not included in the vehicle’s list price and • are fitted to the vehicle or otherwise provided with the vehicle when the purchaser takes possession of it.

Exemption of payment of stamp duty on dealer demonstrators Exemption for payment of stamp duty in QLD is covered in the Duties Act 2001 – Under section 389 and 393A of the Act, duty is not charged on an application to register a new vehicle in the name of a vehicle dealer if the vehicle is acquired for the dealer’s use as a demonstrator.

The Qld Duties Act defines a demonstrator as – Demonstrator means a new vehicle used solely or primarily for the sale of another new vehicle of the same type.

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Richard Payne, Principal Policy Director

“Base value of a vehicle” for fringe benefit tax (FBT) calculations

Business waste support programs and tools As members will no doubt be aware, the controversial $35-a-tonne-waste levy was passed by State Parliament during October, which will become effective from 1 December 2011.

The base value of a car that is purchased includes: • the original purchase price paid (excluding registration and stamp duty)

In order to help businesses reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has developed a number of support programs and tools under their “reThink Business Waste Program” –

• the cost of any fitted accessories not required for business use of the car (for example, a rear spoiler), and • dealer delivery charges.

All costs and charges include GST, and luxury car tax where appropriate.

• Waste Services - $750 Subsidy

Any non-business accessories added after the car is purchased increase the base value of the car for the year in which they are added and for subsequent years. Examples of non-business accessories are alloy wheels and seat covers, while an example of a business accessory is a twoway radio in a salesman’s car.

• 6 Point - Waste Efficiency Information

The base value of a car that is leased includes:

• Waste Equipment Rebate

• Waste Assessment / Buster information Details of these programs and application forms for subsidies and rebates are available on the DERM website via the following link: http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/ environmental_management/ waste/rethink_business_ waste_program.html

• the cost price to the lessor (including GST but excluding registration and stamp duty)

We encourage members to avail themselves of these programs, as applicable.

• the cost of any fitted accessories not required for business use of the car (for example, a car stereo), and

Personal Property Securities (PPS) hotline

• dealer delivery charges.

As advised previously, introduction of the PPS

Register has been delayed until early 2012 (exact date is yet to be advised by the Government) – In the interim members may avail themselves to a PPS Enquiries Line, which has been set up to answer any questions leading up to its introduction. The contact No. is 1300 007 777 or 1300 00PPSR - between the times of 8.30am to 5.00pm (Australian central time or Adelaide local time) Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. These hours will be extended once the PPS Register goes live.

We would be interested to hear from members on the effectiveness of the hotline.

National Workplace Health and Safety Act – implications for frontend loaders & slashers (of particular interest to QFIMD members) Under the new National Workplace Health & Safety Act, which becomes effective from 1 January 2012, there are duties on the supplier “to identify hazards and control the risks associated with the supply of plant and equipment”.

Full details are available on the MTA Q website: –> Division News –> Farm Machinery Dealer News.

MTA Queensland welcomes the following new members Business Name

Principal/s

Street/Postal Address

Division

Alf’s Smash Repairs

Peter & Andrea Keppel

159 Edith St Innisfail Q 4860 alfssmashrepairs@bigpond.com

NACA

Suncity Harley Davidson

Marc & Brent Storey

735 Woolcock St Mount Louisa Q 4814 Kst43324@bigpond.net.au

QMID

BTM Mechanical & 4WD Centre

Sean Acton

47 Leichardt Street Bowen Q 4805

AED

Matilda Garage Enoggera

Cameron Mathams

282 Wardell Street Enoggera Q 4051

AED

industrial relations Office of Fair Work Ombudsman national compliance project - Vehicle Manufacturing Repair Services and Retail Award

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e have been advised that the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) intends to conduct a national compliance and education project in the next few months specifically to cover the following automotive industry segments;• Automotive Electrical Service • Automotive body, paint and interior repair (including car wash and crash repairs) • Other automotive repair and maintenance (including radiator, muffler and exhaust systems and general repairs).

Queensland businesses in these segments total 4323 (out of a national total of 20,434 businesses) and 126 of them will be the subject of this campaign.

The businesses will be drawn from the Brisbane metropolitan area, Cairns, Mackay, Gladstone and the Sunshine Coast.

This is part of an ongoing program of the FWO to examine those segments of industries which, statistically, produce a higher than normal level of

Ted Kowalski, Industrial Relations Manager

complaints. To put that into perspective, the areas listed above account for 1.6% of all complaints, across all industries, received over the three financial years 2008-11.

The specific objectives of the campaign are as follows: • Engage with relevant stakeholders particularly the State and Territory Motor Trades Associations and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union • Provide information to the industry Australia-wide to assist employers to meet their legislative obligations; assist

web site and will run a communications strategy which will direct employers and employees to the dedicated resources. From February to May 2012 it will conduct the compliance assessment phase of the project and will encourage voluntary resolution by employers found to be non-compliant. A public report will be published in July 2012.

employees to understand their rights; and to promote the role and resources of FWO. • Assess the level of compliance of a targeted number of employers (approx 600) in relation to minimum wages and entitlements including penalty rates.

• Ensure the assessed employers comply with their minimum wage and entitlement obligations.

MTAQ, along with all the other state MTA’s (including VACC) will be liaising with FWO during this project to ensure that consistent and valid interpretations are being applied to the various award provisions.

• Provide a public report on the findings of the campaign.

FWO intends to upload educational information for the industry on the FWO

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industry update New Caltex signage reduces fuel confusion

C

altex Australia has commenced a widespread upgrade of service station pump signage to provide customers with clearer information that will help them choose the right fuel for their vehicles.

The company has introduced the new labels to more than 500 service stations in response to customer feedback that showed that the expanding range of fuels at modern service stations had contributed to confusion at the bowser.

Caltex Marketing Services Manager Michael RidleySmith said a shift in the fuel requirements of modern vehicles, together with strong demand for a broader range of fuels, had increased the number of products now available at each site.

“Twenty years ago the average service station might have had super and unleaded fuel available on the forecourt and diesel out the back,” Mr Ridley-Smith said.

“Today the situation is very different because of increased demand for diesel, premium unleaded and biofuel blends.

“Older pumps typically only had two hoses, one on each side of the pump, minimising the chance of selecting the wrong fuel.

less likely to put the wrong fuel in by mistake,” he explained.

Mr Ridley-Smith said that the labels would now carry the generic product name and be accompanied by a fuels product descriptor that provides key information on each fuel type, including the Vortex range of premium unleaded and diesel products.

“We hope that the combination of improved labelling on the bowser and a

“Modern dispensers have up to four hoses on each side – all carrying different products designed for an expanding range of fuels and vehicles – so this has meant that motorists have to be extra careful not to fill-up with a fuel not suited to their vehicles.

“Feedback from our customers has shown that, by displaying clearer information at the bowser, motorists feel they will be better informed about the fuels available and much

separate product descriptor chart providing more detailed information about the

benefits of each product will be helpful for all of our customers,” Mr Ridley-Smith concluded.

Paint ‘stickability’ yields top prize

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r Wojciech Gutowski, the Chief Research Scientist at the CSIRO, won the 2011 Eureka Prize for Commercialisation of Innovation for developing a revolutionary ecotechnology that eliminates the need to use harmful and costly wet paint, a problem that the automobile industry has worn for decades.

Applying solvent-based spray paint to vehicles represents (after exhaust fumes) the second-biggest environmental hazard associated with cars. A quarter of the paint solids end up in landfill, while the solvents are released as volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere.

The problem is that wet spray paint does not transfer well on to plastic; in fact, only about 35 per cent of it sticks to the surface.

Dr Gutowski’s breakthrough improves the ‘stickability’ of electrostatic powder coating. The technology uses solvent-free resin that allows powder coatings, paints and inks to better adhere to plastics.

‘The Eurekas’ are the most coveted science awards in Australia. Every scientist knows a ‘eureka’ moment comes after decades of singular dedication, deep inquiry and rich collaboration. Receiving an Australian Museum

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Eureka Prize is regarded as a pinnacle achievement for any Australian scientist.

“Professor Gutowski has developed the first true zero-waste coating technologies that completely eliminate solid and liquid waste, volatile organic chemicals and the use of water in a range of industries that need to powder-coat products,” said Frank Howarth, Director of the Australian Museum.

“This goes well beyond car production and has the potential to transform manufacturing industries that make painted plastic components for cars, aircraft, furniture and buildings,” he added.

Already in use in the automotive industry in Australia and overseas, the technology can be applied for coating of exterior and interior components of a vehicle. The estimated saving to the Australian industry alone courtesy of the substitution of wet paints is about $100 million per year.

The technology is based on engineering an interface on the surface of nonconductive material, such as plastic, to drastically increase its surface conductivity and enhance coating adhesion. This lets plastics have the same transfer efficiencies as metal when using electrostatic powder coating.

The end result is 100 per cent transfer efficiency (no waste) of a solventless coating (not harmful to human health or the environment) with excellent adhesion (it stays on).

Surface modification technologies developed by Dr Gutowski can be used with polymers, composites,

"The mentoring scheme will pair an apprentice with an experienced tradesperson from the same employer, and take them both through a structured mentoring and professional development program" ceramics and organic materials such as wood and natural fibres. Major international companies such as General Motors, Ford and Boeing are presently employing his technologies.

Professor Gutowski is one of the CSIRO’s most prolific inventors and actively engages with industry to bring his science to market.

The $10,000 Rio Tinto Eureka Prize for Commercialisation of Innovation is awarded to an individual, group or organisation for the commercialisation of an innovation within the past 10 years that can be shown to have created significant value within Australia during that time.

Mentoring scheme on again in 2012

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t’s on again! Brisbane’s collision repair workers are being given the opportunity to take part in Automotive Skills Queensland’s (ASQ) mentoring scheme designed to boost the skills of the collision repair industry.

From the success of the previous mentoring scheme, ASQ is able to offer the scheme again in 2012. This will give up to twenty eligible apprentices and qualified tradespersons the opportunity to gain formal business qualifications. The mentoring program is funded by Skills Queensland, and is the only program of its kind offered in the Australian automotive industry.

ASQ Executive Officer, Melanie O’Toole, highlighted the scheme will offer collision repair apprentices and their qualified counter-parts professional development training in areas not traditionally offered to workers in this industry.

“The results speak for themselves. The last time this scheme was run, it provided employers with a chance to promote greater workforce development and both apprentices and tradespeople gained valuable work and life skills,” Ms O’Toole said.

“The mentoring scheme will pair an apprentice with an experienced tradesperson from the same employer, and take them both through a structured mentoring and professional development program,” she added.

continued next page

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industry update The scheme will provide participants with accredited training in non-trade skills such as first aid, occupational health and safety and defensive driving. The training scheme will culminate in the achievement of a formal business qualification.

The mentoring program is free for all participants and is valued at over $2,500 per person.

“The only cost involved is the time needed away from the workplace, and at this stage this is estimated to be around two hours per week,” Ms O’Toole said.

The scheme will start in February 2012 (schedule attached) and nominations are currently being accepted.

For further information, please contact Automotive Skills Queensland on telephone: 1300 796 644.

BMW Head-Up Display

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his system was initially developed for aviation and is now making a decisive contribution towards driving safety.

Low-flying over hilly terrain at a speed of almost 800 kilometres per hour in the cockpit of a Eurofighter jet is a challenge to even the most hardened of military pilots.

“When you’re flying at tree-top height at around 220 metres a second, only extremely accurate head-up display technology is able to provide the necessary ease of mind,” comments Wing Commander Robert Hierl, test pilot at the Technical and Airworthiness Centre for Aircraft.

By means of a front panel projector, all flight-relevant

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data supplied by the flight management system as well as information and signals crucial to a mission are displayed on a second, vertically positioned panel located in the cockpit.

In order to prevent the pilot from being distracted, all information is displayed in virtual form at eye level within the direct field of vision, thus guaranteeing the highest degree of concentration, supremacy and safety for both the pilot and the machine.

Since January 2004, this innovative driver assistance system has been an integral part of BMW ConnectedDrive offered for the BMW 5 Series. Consistently further developed and optimised, it is now a full-colour head-up display and optionally available for almost all series.

In terms of graphic representation, functionality and flexibility, the new HeadUp Display feature makes a significant contribution towards active safety by displaying driver-relevant information in high-quality resolution within the driver’s

The new Head-Up Display feature makes a significant contribution towards active safety by displaying driverrelevant information within the driver’s direct field of vision. direct field of vision, so that he or she does not have to take their eyes off the road.

A crucial gain in safety as researchers know: A normal driver takes a whole second to read the speed indicator in the instrument panel or to glance at the navigation device.

Whilst the driver is distracted, that is without his or her eyes on the road, the vehicle covers a distance of around 14 metres when travelling in urban areas at a speed of 50 km/h – virtually a “blind flight”.

With Head-Up Display, the time required by the driver to assimilate information is reduced by more than a half, the system making a decisive contribution towards concentrated and

focused driving. The virtual image projected onto the windscreen is perceived as “hovering“ at eye level above the bonnet and is visible only to the driver. Moreover, this form of display is less tiring, as the eye does not have to constantly change between close-range and remote vision. Also, the brightness of the image adjusts perfectly to the surroundings, so that the eye does not have to readapt each time.

The reproduction of data is effected by means of an intense light source, which is located inside the instrument panel and shines through a translucent TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display, the image being transferred to the windscreen via specially shaped mirrors. Owing to the convex shape and the physical properties of glass, using the windscreen as a reflector is an extremely complex process. In a windscreen, the light path is normally refracted, resulting in double images.

BMW tackles this physical phenomenon with the

aid of a wafer-thin foil, which is integrated into the windscreen, ensuring the superimposition of the projected images and, as a result, flawless, undistorted representation. The complete colour spectrum facilitates a realistic and thus more intuitive display of images and symbols. Even Eurofighter test pilot Robert Hierl is highly impressed: “Our monochrome head-up display technology is unable to offer such a brilliant display quality.”

Car theft film targets youth

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new YouTube-based interactive film, which aims to get young people to consider the consequences of becoming involved in car theft, was launched in Hobart recently.

‘Choose a Ride’ is aimed at young people aged 9–14 years and breaks new ground in the fight against juvenile car theft which costs Tasmania over $16 million a year. A recent disturbing trend has seen children as young as nine and 10 years old becoming involved.

Viewers experience the pressures young people face from their peers, the potentially dire consequences for offenders (and their families), and the emotional and financial stress for the victims that result from vehicle theft. .

In launching ‘Choose a Ride’ the NMVTRC’s Chairman, David Morgan, said, “Nationally, young people are responsible for three out of four short-term thefts.

In Tasmania that’s closer to nine in 10. Early involvement in vehicle theft is a strong indicator of a young person’s likely involvement in other forms of serious crime as an adult." “‘Choose a Ride’ depicts very clearly the serious legal and life consequences of becoming involved in vehicle theft and can be easily accessed via any computer or smart phone. We hope by watching it and discussing the issues young people will be able put some space between impulse and action when the critical moments of truth confront them,” Mr Morgan said.

As well as being available to view on

‘Choose a Ride’ was produced for the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) by Hobartbased production company, ROAR Film, and is the result of a collaborative effort by the NMVTRC, Glenorchy City Council and Tasmania Police.

The film features a group of young people in authentic situations and allows the viewer to select which of the five characters’ journeys they would like to follow. As the film unfolds each character comes to a series of critical decision-making moments.

Brett Gorell (Right), hands over the vehicle to Bernard Lamb (Left) Director of Out of Home Care, MacKillop Family Services.

Honda Heroes help the disadvantaged

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he Honda Foundation and Rex Gorell Honda (Geelong, VIC) have presented a new Honda Civic to child welfare organisation, MacKillop Family Services, for their ‘Learn Right, Drive Right’ program.

Living in residential or foster care, children may not have the same opportunities that children living with their families might have.

Learning to drive provides an independence on which most people come to rely, and this typically starts with many hours behind the wheel of a parent’s car.

Chairman of The Honda Foundation, Lindsay Smalley, holds high regard for the program.

YouTube, the film is supported with discussion guides and other resources for teachers and others working with young people via a purpose designed web site.

“We are pleased to be supporting a program that helps to develop independence in disadvantaged youth, and also teaches safety skills that make driving a positive experience,” he said.

MacKillop Family Services

was formed in 1997 as a refounding of the earlier works carried out by its founding congregations. They are now one of the largest providers of support services to disadvantaged and vulnerable youth and their families. The organisation provides over ninety services including the support of disadvantaged families, such as those raising a child with a disability, and youth education and training services.

Children who have been placed in residential or foster care and are approaching independent living, are given the means to learn a skill that many others take for granted. The ‘Learn Right, Drive Right’ program was developed to equip young people in MacKillop’s care, with the driving skills they require to stay safe on the roads. The program provides the means for fourteen youths to acquire their learners and probationary driver’s permits.

Rex Gorell Honda was eager to jump on board and assist the ‘Learn Right, Drive Right’ program.

“This chance to support young people in the Barwon Community is really important for us,” said Brett Gorell. continued next page

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industry update The Honda Foundation aims to provide assistance to local communities and foster goodwill among Honda Australia, Honda Motor Vehicle Dealers and the public. It draws funding from Honda Dealers and Honda Australia who donate $15 ($5 and $10 respectively) for every Honda car sold.

For more information on The Honda Foundation and the organisations it supports, please visit www. hondafoundation.org.au

Tariffs sting Holden exports

I

n September, the future of Commodore exports was put in jeopardy after the Brazilian government increased protection for the country’s carmakers, which have been squeezed by a rising local currency.

Holden spokeswoman Emily Perry told The Australian that the decision would add thousands of dollars to the retail price of its cars in Brazil, which would “obviously make it difficult for us to compete in the Brazilian market”.

The Brazilian move comes as Australian manufacturers are also facing a squeeze from the high value of the Australian dollar.

Trade Minister Craig Emerson said Australia was aware of the Brazilian move and “on the basis of the information we have, we have serious concerns about the WTO consistency of these changes”.

“Any retreat into protectionism would be devastating to the already feeble global economic recovery,” he said.

Responding to the Brazilian announcement, Holden yesterday called for “a long-term policy that attracts continued investment in Australian manufacturing”, but said it was not advocating increased tariff barriers.

The car industry was forced in February to extract a commitment from the Prime Minister that it would not face further funding cuts after the government slashed $400 million from the Green Car Fund to help pay for the cost of Queensland flood reconstruction.

The Commodore is sold as the Chevrolet Omega in Brazil, where it is a top-of-the-range

MTAQ member wins top Award In October, MTA Queensland member Willmot Smash Repair Specialists won the DuPont Performance Coatings Sustainability Award at the Suncorp Paint & Panel Autobody Repairer of the Year awards held in Albert Park in Victoria.

The judging panel were looking for smash repairers who have invested in sustainable initiatives in their workshops – from recycling resources to energy saving and everything in between.

The Great Barrier Reef and the rainforests of Queensland were the inspiration for owner Allan Willmot to put sustainability at the forefront of his business philosophy.

“We have such natural beauty on our doorstep, we must do everything we can to look after it,” said the Cairns-based Queenslander. large car in the market.

“The Brazilian move to protect their manufacturing industry highlights how competitive the global industry is, how protected other markets are, and the challenges we face from high currency in Australia,” Ms Perry said.

Holden was not advocating a

It’s not just for the work that Willmot has carried out within his own business that saw him win the DuPont Sustainability Award, it’s his drive to promote environmental sustainability within other panel shops and local businesses which is also both impressive and admirable.

DuPont Performance Coatings’ Owen Streatfeild, market and strategy development manager, DPC ANZ, who presented the award, said, “It’s great to recognise bodyshop businesses that have made a change, and especially those who also encourage these initiatives with others in the local business community.”

Mr Willmot not only gains national recognition but has also won a trip to the DuPont Performance Coatings 2012 Study Tour. return to tariffs in Australia, Ms Perry said, but the Brazilian decision showed how Australia was being prevented from accessing other export markets, “so clearly it is not a level playing field”.

“The reality is that countries with a high-tech, automotive manufacturing industry either have tariff protections or supportive, significant co-investment policies,” she said.

The Brazilian decision applied to cars using less than 65 per cent domestic parts, however, cars made in Mexico and neighbouring South American countries will be exempt from the increase in protection.

Brazil’s Finance Minister, Guido Mantega, said the country - which has been hit by a nearly 30 per cent rise in the value of its currency - risked losing its position as the world’s fifth largest auto industry if it didn’t take measures to protect the industry.

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Mixed bag of ANCAP ratings

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ustralasia’s leading independent vehicle safety advocate, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), recently announced a number of safety ratings for new vehicles on the Australian market – ranging from 2 to 5-star results.

ANCAP assessments resulted in 5-star ratings for the Audi A6, the BMW X3 SUV, the Hyundai i40, the Ford Ranger ute, the Honda CR-Z sports car and the Holden Cruze Series II Hatch.

The Citroen Berlingo and Renault Kangoo vans achieved 4- star results – based on results from ANCAP’s sister program, EuroNCAP, which uses similar testing and assessment protocols to ANCAP. ANCAP also announced a 4-star rating for the Nissan Micra, a 3-star rating for the Geely MK car and a 2-star result for the Mahindra Pik-Up utility – based on ANCAP crash testing and assessment in Australia; also a 2-star result for the Chery J11 compact sports utility vehicle.

ANCAP Chair, Lauchlan

McIntosh, urged new car buyers to check ANCAP safety ratings when buying a new car.

“These results show that, while we are seeing an increasing number of 5-star vehicles in Australia, there are still new cars coming onto the market with considerably lower ratings which provide less crash protection for drivers and passengers,” Mr McIntosh said.

“While motorists have a wide range of models available at different pricing points – and at different safety levels irrespective of price – the ANCAP safety assessment is a vital and valuable aid in the selection of a new car,” he added.

Mr McIntosh said the Chery J11 had been scheduled for an ANCAP side impact test as part of the ratings assessment, but was advised by the manufacturer that a recall campaign – similar to that conducted for the Chery J1 – had been initiated in relation to the side impact protection of the vehicle.

“Under ANCAP’s rating system, the poor result in the frontal offset test restricts the

Chery J11 to a maximum 2-star rating – irrespective of the outcome of the side impact test. Due to the potential for delays resulting from the recall campaign, it was in the interests of consumers that ANCAP publishes this 2-star result.

“ANCAP is still planning to conduct a side impact test on the Chery J11 following completion of the recall campaign. While this will assess the side impact protection of the vehicle it cannot improve the 2-star rating,” Mr McIntosh explained.

The Chery J11 also scored zero points in ANCAP’s

New SAE-A president The Society of Automotive Engineers - Australasia (SAE-A) has elected automotive engineering consultant Bill Malkoutzis to the role of president.

The Society is a not for profit organisation representing automotive engineering professionals. SAE-A grew rapidly with the expansion of vehicle production in Australia mid last century. Then Australia hosted manufacturing facilities for the BMC, Chrysler, Ford, Holden, Nissan, Toyota brands plus a range of trucks, and many of their component suppliers.

“Local vehicle manufacturing has declined sharply as Australian consumers select almost 80% of their purchases from a range of over 50 imported models of cars and light trucks.

The result is that Society members have endured more than 50 years of plant closures and job losses,” Mr Malkoutzis said.

Bill Malkoutzis

pedestrian tests, stating, “The design of the Chery J11 is not friendly to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users”.

“Today, smaller teams of engineers develop vehicles for Australian buyers. We also have some teams of specialists contributing to global vehicle platforms for the Asian, European, Middle East and USA markets.

With powerful on-board computers controlling modern vehicles, service technicians need specialist electronics and diagnostics skills.

“The dramatic changes faced by members have also affected SAE-A operations and, like all industry stakeholders, the Society must adapt to changes in the structure and culture of the industry. We must do more to adapt to the new paradigm of reduced membership and fund raising opportunities,” he added.

Chery J11

Mr Malkoutzis said that in his term as president he wants the Society to again be the industry platform for debate about engineering excellence in safe and sustainable transport.

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Vehicles from the BMW Group are already fitted with a large number of sensors designed to improve safety, comfort and efficiency.

Often, however, these sensors have only a limited predictive capability.

“Car-to-x” communication extends this horizon significantly, and will in future allow drivers to “see” long distances ahead, into areas currently hidden from view, and even around not just one but many

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ar-to-x communication means electronic networking of vehicles and roadside infrastructure, with the aim of exchanging information directly both between road users and between road users and roadside infrastructure such as traffic lights.

Car-to-x communication is a comprehensive communication network which any road user can take part in.

communication, for example as a complement to direct communication via WLAN.

Car-to-x communication usually operates via WLAN or mobile phone connections. For standard automotive application, car-to-x communication at present uses high-speed WLAN networking based on the high-frequency WLAN

Connectivity for infotainment applications already made its debut in the 1990s with BMW ConnectedDrive.

For some years, the focus of development work in the BMW Group has been shifting increasingly towards integrated and connected comfort and, in particular, safety functions. Here, carto-x communication opens up completely new potential.

In the event of a hazard, extensive connectivity between vehicles allows oncoming and following traffic to be given advance warning of potential dangers, and therefore to react appropriately and in good time. But warnings are only

IEEE802.11p/ G5A standard, which is designed to allow real-time communication.

The protocol allows large numbers of participants to communicate simultaneously without interference. At the same time the performance of mobile phone networks is improving steadily, with an increase in bandwidth and a reduction in data lag – the so-called latency times. Therefore, this type of medium, too, is becoming increasingly important for car-to-car

one possible use of this communication platform.

Since infrastructure data, too – for example about traffic light phases – can be integrated into this communication system, information is available which allows drivers to easily adapt their driving style for even greater efficiency, thereby significantly reducing vehicle emissions. This technology therefore offers new solutions not only for proactive safety and accident prevention but also for intelligent energy management.

‘Car-to-x’ comm corners.

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unication takes off “The more information I have about the rest of my journey – for example, if I know in advance when traffic lights will change, or if I know that an accident has just happened further along the route – the more promptly I can react, which means I have less stress and can either avoid hazardous situations altogether or at least reduce the risk,” said Karl-Ernst Steinberg, Head of Information and Communication Technologies at BMW Group

Research and Technology.

In combination with existing vehicle sensors, car-to-x communication provides a valuable starting point or enhancement for a wide range of BMW ConnectedDrive driver assistance and information systems of the future. These technologies, combined with the driver’s own input, create an extremely highperformance macrosystem capable of ensuring a safe and efficient journey from start to finish.

BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide: active protection for motorcyclists as well.

motorcyclists are a further group whose integration into the car-to-x communication platform is an important priority for BMW.

The BMW Group’s ongoing efforts to achieve greater road safety take all road user groups into account.

In addition to applications for vehicles of the BMW Group and for protection of pedestrians or cyclists,

BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide – the motorcycle equivalent of BMW ConnectedDrive – is looking to use car-to-x communication, in addition to handling control

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systems, driver assistance systems and a motorcycle emergency call function, in order to improve safety for motorcyclists. Motorcyclists face different dangers on the road from car drivers.

Certain situations, such as fog, slippery roads or heavy precipitation, are much more of a challenge for these road users than for car drivers. What’s more, “single-track” vehicles like motorcycles, with their narrower silhouette, are unfortunately often more easily overlooked.

There are therefore big benefits for motorcyclists in having advance information about special situations.

Often, cars play a pivotal role in this system as the original source of the warnings. For example, activation of car fog lamps or the highest wiper setting, or DSC intervention in an otherwise normal driving situation, may indicate adverse conditions in a certain area. This information is then supplied to the motorcycle, keeping the rider promptly and fully informed.

Car-to-x communication has been an important topic within the BMW Group for almost ten years. But the BMW Group’s research is not carried out in isolation.

After all, this is a field where teamwork between as many vehicle manufacturers as possible is vital. For example, the BMW Group was one of the first carmakers to join the “Car-2-Car Communication Consortium”. Founded in 2003 by a number of European car manufacturers, this consortium is researching potential applications and looking into a harmonised standard for transnational vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure 14

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communication. That’s because this technology can only develop its full potential with a critical mass of participants: the greater the number of vehicles integrated into the system, the greater the amount of data that can be made available and used, and the greater the safety benefits.

The BMW Group is also participating in many other joint research projects in this field, such as “simTD” (Safe Intelligent Mobility – the German Test). The aim of this project is to test the functionality, everyday practicality and effectiveness of car-to-x communication for the first time under real-world conditions. The simTD project is putting into practice findings obtained in earlier research projects. Realistic traffic scenarios are being addressed in a large-scale test environment based on the infrastructure around the city of Frankfurt, Germany.

The project is also intended to provide the necessary political, economic and technological foundation for successful implementation of vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. Various companies in the automotive and telecommunication sectors, the government of the German State of Hesse and a

number of leading universities and research institutes are partnering in this project and are committed to the above objectives. The project is sponsored and supported by the Federal Ministries of Economics and Technology, Education and Research, and Transport, Construction and Urban Development.

Following three years of intensive research, the groundwork has now been completed for the world’s largest car-to-x field trial, which will take place on German roads.

On 11 October 2011, the simTD project consortium delivered a current status report at a project presentation in Friedberg, Hesse, at which it summed up the initial results of the first three years’ work on this car-to-x project, which began in September 2008.

Car-to-x functions from the BMW Group.

Research into car and motorcycle applications.

The Intersection Assistant: greater safety at road junctions. - In Germany alone, a third of all accidents involving personal injury occur at intersections, due to failure to see, or to spot in time, another road user; poor visibility due to buildings or trees; or because drivers are not being sufficiently attentive. If we take a typical everyday driving situation as an example, the system functions as follows: the driver approaches an intersection and prepares to cross. On the road he wants to cross, which has priority, there is a continuous stream of traffic in both directions. At the same time, visibility into the priority road is impaired due

to roadside parking. This is a situation for the Intersection Assistant, which detects the data emitted by other road users in the area of the intersection and can reduce the potential risks of the manoeuvre by communicating with other vehicles approaching the junction.

The Intersection Assistant analyses the incoming information about the speed, distance from the intersection and direction of travel of other road users, along with information generated by the driver’s own vehicle. If a collision risk is detected, the driver receives a warning in the form of visual and audible signals and gentle deceleration. The warning results in a reduction in vehicle speed so that either a crash can be prevented or at least, if this is not possible, the consequences are mitigated.

If driver reactions alone will not be sufficient to eliminate or reduce the risk, the Assistant can intervene by priming the brakes and assisting with braking.

The BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Intersection Assistant. To improve intersection safety for motorcyclists as well, the BMW Group engineers have also incorporated Intersection Assistant functionality into the BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide technology for motorcycles, for the first time integrating motorcyclists into vehicleto-vehicle communication.

Car-motorcycle collisions are particularly dangerous for motorcyclists, who are roughly three times more likely to be seriously injured in such a collision than car drivers.

Like the Intersection Assistant for cars, the Intersection Assistant in BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide is a forwardlooking active safety system that aims as far as possible

to prevent, or at least to mitigate, critical situations at intersections. Based on road data and data about the position and speed of road users approaching the intersection, the system assesses which vehicles have priority in this situation and calculates the likelihood of a collision. It also evaluates the behaviour of the waiting car driver on the non-priority road.

If the Intersection Assistant calculates that there will be a collision if both car and motorcycle continue on their present course, it gives the car driver a graduated series of warnings about the collision risk, starting with visual and continuing with tactile and audible signals. An increasing collision risk also prompts a series of actions at the motorcycle: the headlight is gradually modulated, its intensity increased, and additional LED warning lights are activated at the side of the motorcycle to widen its silhouette. If the collision risk becomes acute, the motorcycle horn is sounded too. The aim is to draw the car driver’s attention to a potentially critical impending situation at the intersection.

On the one hand the warning is issued early enough for the driver still to be able to halt the vehicle before the stop line. On the other hand, the warning is nevertheless issued late enough to avoid alerting the car driver unless there is a very real risk of a collision. It is assumed that emergency braking by the car driver will be able to prevent a collision.

The Traffic Light Phase Assistant – green lights all the way.

The Traffic Light Phase Assistant allows a vehicle to communicate with traffic lights. For example, traffic lights can supply information

about their phasing, so that drivers can choose an optimal speed for catching lights on green, or are warned in sufficient time to avoid any risk of going through a light on red.

On board the vehicle, the Traffic Light Phase Assistant analyses a range of incoming data – for example information about current traffic light status and length of the individual green, amber and red phases, along with intersection- and vehicle-specific information.

If the traffic light would be red by the time the car driver or motorcyclist reached the intersection if he did not change his current speed, the driver or motorcyclist receives this information early enough to be able to brake gently to a halt. On approaching the light the driver or rider may also, however, be given a recommended speed for reaching the traffic light on green – subject to compliance with traffic regulations, of course.

The Intersection Assistant allows the driver to see a short way “into the future” and to adapt his driving style effortlessly to the traffic light phasing. The result is increased safety and convenience, avoiding any need for sudden acceleration or abrupt braking. The driving style becomes calmer, safer and more fuel-efficient.

Local hazard warnings keep motorcyclists fully informed about fog, congestion etc.

The bad-weather warning informs motorcyclists in good time about adverse conditions such as fog, rain, snow or ice on upcoming sections of the route via a visual display in the instrument cluster – and optionally also by a voice message from the BMW Motorrad Communication

System. The Assistant also tells the rider approximately where to expect these conditions. The engineers have in mind that the input for this warning would be provided, for example, by a given number of vehicles activating their fog lamps or windscreen wipers. This input, combined with information about the outside temperature in the vicinity of the vehicles affected, could be used to evaluate the likelihood of snow or hail in the affected area. In the event of ice, a warning or bad-weather alert could be triggered by the intervention of systems such as Dynamic

Stability Control on vehicles in the affected area. Looking at this information in conjunction with outside temperature information and data from other sensors such as the rain sensor or video camera, or from weather reports, the algorithm can generate appropriate alerts in the instrument cluster and a voice message in the BMW Motorrad Communication System.

The obstacle warning function warns the motorcyclist – again via a visual display in the instrument cluster and optionally also by a voice motor trader queensland

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message – to expect an obstacle on the road ahead.

This could be anything from a stranded vehicle, an accident or roadworks to the end of a tailback. The warning comes with information about approximately how far ahead the obstacle is situated. The warning can be generated in a variety of different ways and by a variety of different systems. For example, it may be generated by a stranded vehicle or by a number of vehicles activating their hazard warning lights or braking at the end of a tailback and so transmitting a warning, and indicating their location, to approaching vehicles.

The emergency vehicle warning provides early warning of an emergency vehicle approaching from behind. The warning, which is provided by means of a visual display in the instrument cluster, allows the rider to make way for the emergency vehicle in good time and so avoid a critical situation.

A clearly identifiable symbol – for example a blue light – provides an instantly recognisable warning and is combined with an approximate indication of where the emergency vehicle is currently situated. The displayed distance decreases in 50-metre increments, allowing the motorcyclist to adapt his driving accordingly, and if necessary to pull over to the side of the road.

In addition to the visual information in the instrument panel, a warning can also be given via a voice message in the BMW Motorrad Communication System.

The warning is automatically deactivated as soon as the emergency vehicle has passed. The development 16

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team is also looking into ways of integrating the planned route of the emergency vehicle into the warning strategy, so that the system could warn the rider when the emergency vehicle is about to change direction.

The electronic brake light is designed with the following hazard in mind: in very dense traffic, the brake lights of a vehicle that is braking sharply may not be visible to vehicles further behind on the road, leading to delayed reactions on the part of these drivers and potentially to rear-end collisions. The electronic brake light provides a way of informing motorcyclists at the

earliest possible opportunity that a vehicle further ahead is decelerating sharply, so that they can react in good time.

The warning takes the form of a display in the instrument cluster or an audible warning.

The motorcyclist therefore knows in good time that he may soon need to brake, and so can react faster if the need arises.

The Left Turn Assistant: anticipation and good planning, for safe turning across traffic.

With the Left Turn Assistant (for left-hand-drive vehicles),

BMW Group Research and Technology has developed a system to help drivers making a left turn at intersections by warning them if they have failed to spot another road user and preventing a collision by autonomous braking. The Left Turn Assistant takes into account the special hazards of this manoeuvre both for cars and for motorcyclists.

The Left Turn Assistant, which is currently being tested in the BMW 5 Series, is automatically activated when the vehicle’s sensors detect that the vehicle is entering the left-turn lane and the car registers that the driver wishes to turn off. The system detects the left-turn lane in two ways. Firstly, it uses the vehicle positioning function of the navigation system, which allows the location of the vehicle at intersections to be determined to within a metre. And secondly, a mono camera, similar to standard cameras already in use today, detects the turn-off lane markings on the road and also the lane boundaries.

As soon as the Left Turn Assistant has been activated, three laser scanners at the front of the test vehicle scan the area in front of the vehicle over a distance of up to 100 metres. The laser scanners are capable of detecting not only cars and trucks but also motorcycles. If the sensors detect that oncoming traffic is approaching yet the vehicle is still continuing into the intersection, the Left Turn Assistant automatically brakes the vehicle, provided it is not travelling faster than 10 km/h, in order to prevent a collision. At the same time, an audible warning and appropriate warning symbols in the instrument

cluster and in the Head-Up Display advise the driver of the reason for the intervention.

This automated braking is intentionally performed without prior warning, since fast response is vital in this situation to prevent the vehicle proceeding into the intersection and presenting an obstacle to oncoming traffic. By the time the driver received and reacted to a warning, the vehicle would already be in the collision zone and an accident would be unavoidable.

The Left Turn Assistant is designed to operate at speeds up to 10 km/h. In other words, the Assistant does not slam the brakes on when the vehicle is travelling at speed, but instead should be viewed as a system that prevents the vehicle from starting off, or from continuing to edge forwards. As soon as the driver himself steps on the brake pedal, the vehicle is “authorised” to move forward again and the Left Turn Assistant braking function is released. To maximise safety, the Left Turn Assistant can also be overridden at any time. For example, if the driver needs to clear the way for an emergency vehicle coming through the intersection, he can do so with a further brief press of the accelerator.

Left Turn Assistant: car-to-x communication further enhances safety The functionality of the Left Turn Assistant can be extended by combining it with vehicle-to-vehicle communication. As well as the laser scanners and camera, the BMW 5 Series Sedan test car is therefore also equipped with a WLAN car-to-x communication system. This specification not only increases the range over which the vehicle is able to detect other vehicles – to

250 metres – but also allows similarly equipped road users to be detected even when they are not visible to the turning vehicle.

The additional potential offered by a car-to-x system is illustrated by a second test scenario involving the Left Turn Assistant, on the test car, and a motorcycle equipped with car-to-x communication.

The BMW Motorrad test motorcycle is currently a BMW R 1200 GS. Again, fused sensor data from a camerabased image recognition system and laser scanners detects the lane markings and the left-turn arrow, along with the distance from the centre line and stop line – if these markings are present. As soon as the direction indicator is operated, the vehicle registers the driver’s wish to turn left and the assistance system is activated. “As the motorcycle approaches, the car and motorcycle communicate with each other via their car-to-x systems. They exchange information about vehicle type, position and speed, as well as dynamic data such as the current steering angle and whether the direction indicator is activated,” explains Udo Rietschel, development engineer in BMW Group Research and Technology’s Left Turn Assistant project.

From this information, the motorcycle is aware that the car wishes to turn left. Based on the data communicated between car and motorcycle, an algorithm projects the future trajectories of both vehicles and identifies any risk of collision. If a critical situation is detected, the motorcycle draws attention to itself in order to warn the car driver, in the same way as with the Intersection Assistant. These warnings are progressively extended as the collision risk increases – the motorcycle’s headlight is gradually modulated, its intensity

increased, and side- and mirror-mounted flashing lights and LEDs are activated to give the motorcycle a broader silhouette. If the collision risk becomes acute, the motorcycle horn is sounded too. If the car continues to move forward into the intersection regardless, the Left Turn Assistant automatically brakes it to a standstill. Again, during and after the automatic braking, the system also generates an audible warning and appropriate warning symbols are displayed in the instrument cluster and in the Head-Up Display, to inform the driver of the reason for the intervention.

Ko-FAS comprises three joint projects: Ko-TAG, Ko-PER and Ko-KOMP. The Ko-TAG and Ko-PER projects are being managed by BMW Group Research and Technology.

(pedestrians and cyclists) and to enhance vehiclevehicle safety. Engineers from BMW Group Research and Technology already developed a first pedestrian protection system based on car-to-TAG communication as part of the earlier project “AMULETT”. This system was used in a test vehicle that wirelessly exchanged data with an active RFID-type tag, at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. This tag would be capable of being fitted in such everyday articles as school satchels or walking sticks. Cooperative sensor technology makes it possible even to detect people who are not visible to the car driver at the time of the hazard, and to classify them as vulnerable road users.

The results of the AMULETT project are now feeding into the Ko-TAG project and the work is continuing – now with the accent on enhancing car-to-x communication with transponder-based locationsensing functions. The researchers are particularly interested in how this technology can be extended to more complex scenarios involving large numbers of participants. “In future applications, this locationsensing technology will provide data from which we can draw very precise and very reliable conclusions.

This will allow us to achieve a further substantial improvement in road safety,” says Daniel Schwarz, KoTAG project spokesman for BMW Group Research and Technology.

The focus of the project Ko-TAG is on transponder systems for precise object location-sensing and classification using cooperative sensory systems (car-to-TAG communication).

In the future, this technology will be used to help protect vulnerable road users

The Ko-PER project – which is again based on car-to-x communication – is researching cooperative perception systems for use in both “parallel” traffic and at intersections. “We are incorporating into this project the results of the successfully concluded EU research

“Ko-FAS” research initiative – successor to the “AMULETT” project.

The aim of the “Ko-FAS – Cooperative Vehicle Safety” research initiative is to significantly increase traffic safety through efficient and reliable sensing of the traffic environment using cooperative sensory and perception systems, and through comprehensive scenario assessment to precisely evaluate collision risks, with subsequent activation of appropriate advance protection systems where necessary.

project ‘PReVENT’, and are also seeking an active exchange of information with the national research project ‘simTD – Safe Intelligent Mobility – the German Test’. The various research activities all have a common goal: greater safety on our roads,” says Dr Felix Klanner, Ko-PER Project Manager at BMW Group Research and Technology. In the Ko-PER project, the BMW Group researchers are studying ways of using cooperative sensor networks to scan the traffic environment. The aim is to use vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and fusion of data from a variety of vehicle environment and roadside infrastructure sensors, in order to generate a complete picture of this environment.

A particular focus is on detecting currently concealed road users and on tracking traffic dynamics over time. This will provide a basis for continuous and comprehensive evaluation of collision risks.

The focus of the joint project Ko-KOMP is on researching vehicle protection systems that can be activated when a collision risk arises and that are intended to help prevent an accident or at least mitigate its consequences.

In particular, the systems being investigated include expanding the vehicle’s external shell or timely automatic activation of autonomous emergency braking functions. Also planned is the development of a virtual test environment for simulating communication interactions in a wide variety of traffic scenarios.

Initial findings from the Ko-FAS research initiative were presented to the public in late September at presentations in Alzenau and Aschaffenburg (Germany). motor trader queensland

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automobile news Volkswagen up!: The small car is very large indeed The up!, the smallest new Volkswagen, saw employees at Volkswagen Communications make an attempt at an unofficial world record by fitting 15 women and one man who squeezed themselves into its interior spaces. Two in the boot, one on the dashboard, seven on the rear bench, four on the front seats, two in the footwells – then the boot lid and doors were shut, and the windows were closed.

A world record! 16 people in the new up!

At 3.54 metres long and 1.64 metres wide, the up! is one of the smallest four-seat cars. After its market launch in 2012, customers can set their own records.

Audi A1 1.6 TDI debut The Audi A1 1.6 TDI completed its tough initiation to the Australian car market recently when it cruised into Adelaide at the completion of a 3028 km Darwin to Adelaide road trip as part of the 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge. The compact, highefficiency hatchback used just over 100 litres for the trip and averaged 3.4 litres/100km (subject to official confirmation). The official combined consumption figure for the A1 1.6 TDI manual is 3.8litres/100km. It is about to go on sale in Australia.

All-new Holden Cruze Holden’s all-new Australia-made Cruz is being manufactured at the company’s Elizabeth plant in South Australia. The car is being produced for the Australian market. Pricing for the 2012 Cruze will start at RRP $21,240 for the Cruze CD 1.8 litre petrol manual model; up to $30,740 for the Cruze CDX 2.0 litre diesel automatic model. Cruze program engineering manager, Peter Siablis, said the hatch had been specifically engineered for Australian driving styles and road conditions. “When customers get behind the wheel we think they’ll feel the suspension changes we’ve made which improve steering response, ride quality and add a sense of refinement to the overall driving experience.”

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Yaris hatch Input by local Toyota engineers has ensured the chassis and steering for the next-generation Yaris hatch will suit Australian conditions and driver expectations. The Toyota Technical Center in Melbourne contributed to the steering calibration, which delivers the type of feedback and directness appreciated in this market. The local engineers also confirmed the overall chassis package for Australia, which provides sharp handling - similar to that preferred by European drivers. Two features in the next-generation Yaris make it highly suited to city driving - a small turning circle and added power assistance at parking speeds.

Hyundai i40 lands top design award The Hyundai i40 has received the prestigious Golden Award for design at this year’s EuroCarBody Conference, held in Germany, beating nine of Europe’s and Japan’s largest automakers to the prize. Hyundai’s use of high-strength steel and improved joins in the structure means the i40’s lightweight body has high energy absorption efficiency which provides increased safety to occupants in the event of an accident; characteristics recognised by the judging panel.

All-New Mazda BT-50 The All-New BT-50 was developed as a truly global vehicle with the aim of being a new class-leader in the utility segment. Development was shared between Mazda in Japan and Ford in Australia and carried out across Asia, Australia, South America and Europe. Mazda led the development of the rolling chassis in addition to producing all prototype vehicles and had in excess of 50 full-time engineers based here in Australia for up to 4 years while All-New BT-50 was being developed. The car will be sold in 168 countries motor trader queensland

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Combati

in au

Given the economic conditions in recent times it is not surprising that we are observing an increase in the detection of fraud across the automotive sector.

O

ften fraud is considered only in the context of significant amounts and clearly deceptive behaviour, however any unauthorised action that leads to a financial loss is fraud. For example, most would recognise that stealing cash from the business is fraud, however an employee helping themself to small amounts of stock may be considered insignificant.

The reality is that this act is unauthorised, has caused the business economic loss, and represents fraud.

We believe it is more important than ever that the automotive sector is alert to the risks presented by internal fraud, by taking a proactive approach to re-evaluating and strengthening internal controls. Robust internal controls combined with a clear message from senior

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management that fraud will not be tolerated, no matter how minor, can significantly reduce the risk of fraud.

When working with automotive businesses we recommend that frequent and visible checks be conducted.

It is the frequency and visibility of the checks that helps to communicate management’s tolerance to fraud. Following is a list of accounting functions that, in our experience, expose automotive businesses to fraud where adequate internal controls are not in place.

Regular bank reconciliation and prompt posting of adjustments Bank reconciliations should be conducted monthly (preferably daily), by an employee not involved in

the cheque writing and EFT function. In addition to identifying all of the discrepancies between the bank’s records and the general ledger, this person must post all of the adjustments to ensure the accuracy of the financial records throughout the month.

Agreement between parts system and general ledger The parts system should be reconciled with the general ledger every month, as failing to do so can open the door to employee fraud. For example, the parts manager could sell parts and keep the cash without suspicion or adjust numbers in the parts system to boost department performance measures.

Signing of cheques An employee charged with signing cheques should

ing fraud

utomotive businesses borrow the vehicles for the day. An independent review of the physical inventory would reduce the likelihood of employees taking such liberties.

Purchases to be made from an approved vendor list not also be responsible for posting journal entries or reconciling the bank account, or have easy access to cheques.

Although many businesses address the issue by requiring two signatures on every cheque, the reality is that cheques often clear banks without both signatures.

Physical inventory by someone independent of the vehicle departments It is prudent to conduct an independent review of physical inventory, as it allows discrepancies to be identified with a fresh pair of eyes. In one case, an audit was conducted of a large Mercedes-Benz dealership and it was discovered that 10 new vehicles were unaccounted for. It turned out the new car manager allowed salespeople to

Businesses can receive price concessions by purchasing supplies from a single vendor, so it makes good business sense to have an approved preferred supplier listing.

Business owners are often surprised to discover that they purchase some of their service supplies from, for example, the service manager’s brother-in-law.

Determining which employees can post journal entries It is not uncommon for the accounting person who handles the cash to also post journal entries. This segregation of duties issue is difficult to overcome where accounting staff are few in number, but business owners should be aware that this is a common area for fraud, as the accounting person can take cash and cover the differences with write offs through journal entries.

Approval of journal entries Management should regularly review the original journal entries to understand and verify the purpose of all entries.

Journal entries represent a common tool for concealing fraud. The general rule is that the individual who is responsible for an asset should not be in a position to remove that asset from accounting records.

Employee earnings Some business owners are surprised when presented with a listing of the dealership’s 10 highest paid employees. Owners may find some employees are paid more than they realised or, more importantly, that remuneration has been altered without approval.

Monitoring the employee responsible for key controls over disbursements We have seen a case where an owner learnt that the office manager was posting accounts payable invoices, preparing cheques, signing cheques, reconciling the bank statement, posting journal entries, approving new vendors, and accounting for cheque

sequence. The appropriate segregation of duties in the cash disbursement area is essential. Poor segregation of duties provides an ideal opportunity for fraud.

EFT’s an area to watch Traditionally, businesses paid their creditors by cheque and implemented simple controls such as two cheque signatories to ensure the validity of the payment. The same type of minimum controls need to be applied to EFT payments, whereby one staff member initiates the payment and another person authorises the payment using a different and secure PIN code.

How BDO can help BDO’s specialist automotive team understand the accounting and operational fraud risks automotive businesses face. We can help you identify internal control risks relative to a particular area of concern or across the whole of your business.

If you have any specific questions or would like to know more about how we can assist you, contact a member of our automotive team. motor trader queensland

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MIT news Access Program a big success

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TA Institute of Technology (MIT) has wrapped up the first intake of participants in the inaugural Automotive Access Program, a course funded by the Australian Government that is specifically designed for those that are finding it difficult to secure apprenticeships.

MIT Business Development Manager Anthony Bonaccorso, facilitated the course with the training conducted by MIT Technical Trainer, Rob Thompson.

Mr Bonaccorso said that the ideal candidates for this course are people who are unemployed and have had difficulty securing an apprenticeship or traineeship in their chosen automotive field.

“The course is eighteen weeks long and consists of four weeks training in house with MIT, a further one week of work experience, followed by thirteen weeks of support,” Mr Bonaccorso explained.

“Mission Australia holds the contract for this Australian funded program and MIT is the provider for the course.

“This inaugural Automotive Access Program course has seen twenty individuals participate in gaining the necessary skill sets to make them job ready to prospective employers.

“The students have successfully completed 5 units of competency in the automotive training package, which is national

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The inaugural Automotive Access Program class graduates included: First Row (L-R) Wayne Hayden, Manfred Watson, Adam Messina, Adrian Bradbury, Cherie Buchanan, Stephanie Halls. Second Row (L-R) Brett Percy, Christian Brown, Steve Clarke, Ben Francis, Jason Frazer, Travis Robertson, Anthony Bonaccorso. Third Row (L-R) Andrew Mackenzie, Dylan Volke, Jamie Kelly, Robert Young, Rob Thompson. Absentees – Jordan Boase, Ryan Roberts, Kyle Austin

recognised,” he added.

During the course, MIT rewarded those students who have shown their dedication with prizes ranging from basic promo packs to V8 Supercar passes and tool kit giveaways.

“For most of the students participating in this Access course, it is the link they have being missing in gaining full time employment in their desired field,” Mr Bonaccorso said.

“The fact that these students are freshly trained and assessed to industry standard

by MIT before engaging in their work experience with their respective employers not only gives the students the confidence boost they need but also allows prospective employers a great way to trial the students before they make a decision as to whether these students are right for

The Overall Performance Award went to Christian Brown, who was selected for his “outstanding attitude, helpfulness, and solid attendance record”.

their businesses.

The ideal candidates

“The Automotive Access Program is an effective program giving industry what industry needs: well trained and job ready potential apprentices/ trainees; and Industry gets to have access to these students recommended from MIT – Queensland’s leading automotive training provider,” he concluded.

for this course are people who are unemployed and have had difficulty securing an apprenticeship or traineeship in their chosen automotive field.

Outstanding students who were recognised for their exceptional efforts and were awarded free passes to Indy (l to r); Manfred Watson, Andrew Mackenzie, Adrian Bradbury, Jason Frazer, Cherie Buchanan Above top: Cherie Buchanan teams up with Dylan Volke Above bottom: Adrian Bradbury (left) and Robert Young work together Left: Stephanie Halls takes a break behind the wheel

MIT Technical Trainer Rob Thompson (right) works with aspiring mechanic Andrew Mackenzie.

We come to you!

Certificate IV Frontline Management (Workplace Delivery) enrolments are now open for early 2012.

An MTA Institute of Technology trainer is available to come to your workplace* on a fortnightly basis to see you through to qualification. *Areas available include Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Brisbane metro and west to Toowoomba.

Telephone Anthony Bonaccorso on 1 800 884 137 to register your interest.

motor trader queensland

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Palm Island auto mechanic training

M

IT Technical Trainer Roger West has been facilitating an Indigenous employment program on Palm Island that is providing 14 Indigenous Australians with the opportunity to become mechanics.

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib said the program was a great opportunity for local Indigenous job seekers to get qualifications in an industry that was experiencing skills shortages.

“For six months participants undertake work experience with the Coolgaree Aboriginal Corporation while completing four days a fortnight study through the MTA Institute of Technology,” Senator Arbib said.

“At the end of the six months the participants will receive a Certificate II in Automotive Mechanical, ensuring they are well prepared to begin their apprenticeship.

“In addition, they will receive literacy and numeracy support and complete a two week training course to prepare them for full 24

motor trader queensland

time work. It will focus on budgeting, managing work life balance, goal setting, career planning and communication skills.”

Senator Arbib said the Gillard Government had provided more than $87 000 to the program which was being run with the support of the Coolgaree Aboriginal Corporation and Jobfind.

“This is not just training for training’s sake, this program is providing increased job and training opportunities for Indigenous Australians on Palm Island without needing to go to the mainland.”

“Throughout their training, the participants have access to local Indigenous and qualified mentors that provide assistance if any issues arise,” Senator Arbib said.

Senator Arbib said Treasury predicted 500 000 jobs would be created over the next two years and it was critical that Indigenous Australians had the support and training they needed to

take up employment.

“Indigenous employment is not a short term issue.

Over the next four years the Government has also committed almost $650 million to the Indigenous Employment Program,” Senator Arbib said.

“This is part of the Gillard Government’s target to create more than 100 000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.”

The remarkable apprentice

I

n what began as work experience through a school based careers program, Ricky Byrne of Beerwah State High School has landed a successful apprenticeship with GHM Services, a mobile diesel mechanic business owned

by Gengiz Simsir.

MIT Technical Trainer Paul Darwin visits the duo approximately once a month to oversee Ricky’s formal apprenticeship program, which will lead to a qualification Certificate III, Automotive Mechanical, Heavy Vehicle Road Transport.

The determined 16 year old is aiming to be fully qualified by the time he 18 – following in the footsteps of his brother

School-based apprenticeships are an excellent choice for many young people who don’t find the traditional educational program a suitable route to what they want out of life.

20 is now a fully qualified butcher at Beerwah Meats.

School-based apprenticeships are an excellent choice for many young people who don’t find the traditional educational program a suitable route to what they want out of life.

Gengiz Simsir (left) with apprentice Ricky Byrne

Josh, who went through the same school program (Tradeskills Acquisition Program - TAP) and at aged

“I love working hands on with big machinery – I’m not your typical book reader,” said Ricky, who’s achievements include successfully dealing with the Type-1 diabetes, which was discovered in 2006 shortly after having his appendix removed when he was 10 years old.

MIT’s Customer Liaison Officer, Leonie Mordue, was married to her partner, Chris Murphy, on October 8th at Amity Point, North Stradbroke Island.

“I’m doing very well and I am determined to achieve what others say I can’t,” said Ricky.

“As with any long term manageable illness, you can’t let it stop you from what you want others say is too hard. continued next page

Diploma of Management Earn your Diploma of Management at MTA Institute of Technology’s new, state-of-the-art facility at Eight Mile Plains!

Enrolments are now open for early 2012!

The course is delivered one night per week over a 20 week period, giving you the qualification that provides skills and knowledge required to perform effectively as a manager, team leader or workshop manager.

Alternative to College training, this course is also offered via Distance Learning, giving you the opportunity to obtain this nationally accredited Diploma wherever you live!

Telephone Anthony Bonaccorso today on 1 800 884 137 to register your interest.

motor trader queensland

25

“I am the first one in my family on both sides to get this, but I am not backing away from the goals I have set,” he said.

A typical week will see the young apprentice in school for three days, with Wednesday’s being his day of work with GHM Services. Thursday is his Year 11 nominated day off.

“Gengiz picks me up and takes me home.He’s a good boss and a top bloke and is very easy to work with because he explains very well,” said Ricky.

With a fondness for engineering and hood work, one of Ricky’s biggest challenges has been rebuilding with his boss an 8000 transmission for Redpath Mining.

“The mining company pulled it out, then we took it apart and cleaned it – there were over a thousand parts,” said Ricky.

“We studied all the pieces for cracks and other issues, and the job took us 2 weeks to complete,” he explained.

“Ricky is keen to learn, he’s good with his workbooks and he asks the right questions,” Paul Darwin said.

Spurred on by his challenges, the self-described ‘farm boy’ plays first division Cricket with the Landsborough Loggers and Rugby League with the Beerwah Bulldogs, having previously captained the team.

Heavy Vehicle Road Transport training

M

IT Technical Trainer Paul Darwin is currently training five apprentices at Armesto’s Transport in Beerwah; each apprentice is going for a qualification of Certificate III Automotive

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motor trader queensland

(From left) MIT Technical Trainer Paul Darwin with apprentices John Organ-Moore, Bradley Smith, Daniel Richmond, Dana Hutchinson, Ty Geritz.

Mechanical Heavy Vehicle Road Transport.

Armesto’s is a family owned and operated company that was established in 1972

by Manuel and Rosemary Armesto.

The majority of the Armesto’s work is for high profile freight forwarders, as the company specialises in the transportation of general and express freight between Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Townsville.

Daily services are offered between these major capitals.

The company’s tipper fleet works predominantly in metropolitan Brisbane in road construction and infrastructure.

Armesto’s is a Truck Safe Accredited transport company – a national accredited scheme managed throughout the Australian Trucking Association.

Armesto’s fleet has an average age of 3 years, consisting of predominantly B Double configurations. The

fleet consists of Kenworth’s Freightliners and Western Stars and Mack’s in their new Quad Dog tipper fleet.

All prime movers are fitted with the latest on board engine computer management system.

Satellite tracking devices are installed in every Prime Mover to monitor position and arrival of freight, and to ensure freight is always delivered to its destination in a safe and timely manner.

The depot is complete with

a modern EPA approved workshop for maintenance on the entire fleet. The company follows a servicing schedule on the prime movers and trailers, which are carried out by qualified mechanics and fitters. The workshop encompasses a wide range of repairs.

All vehicles are Trucksafe and NHAVS accredited.

Armesto’s Transport Pty Ltd, 28 Biondi Crescent Beerwah Qld 4519, Tel 07 54 946 555

The deadline for applications for the Queensland Overseas Foundation 2011 scholarships close on 25 November.

during the past few years and gained work experience in the industry.

The scholarships, valued up to $7000, give successful applicants the opportunity to live and work overseas in a country of their choice for up to two years.

Every year the Queensland Overseas Foundation provides a number of overseas travelling scholarships to Queenslanders with the goal of bringing the best global practices back to Queensland industries.

Eligible applicants will typically be Queensland residents and have completed an apprenticeship or traineeship Certificate III or above or a vocational Certificate IV or above

The Queensland Overseas Foundation is a voluntary, non-profit organisation operating in Queensland since 1976.

For more information or to apply, visit www.qof.org.au or call (07) 3221 9222.

Does your super fund tick all the right boxes?

Low fees No commissions Run only to benefit members

MTAA Super is the Industry SuperFund for the Motor Industry and anyone can join.

For more information visit www.mtaasuper.com.au Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238 718) is the Trustee of MTAA Superannuation Fund (ABN 74 559 365 913). You should consider whether motor trader queensland 27 or not MTAA Super is appropriate for you. The MTAA Super Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) can be obtained by calling us on 1300 362 415. You should consider the PDS in making a decision.

health Up to 85% of people experience some type of back pain during their lives.

What most often sets sciatica apart is the way the pain radiates down the leg and into the foot.

Sciatica

S

ciatica refers to back pain caused by a problem with the sciatic nerve. This is a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg. When something injures or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain in the lower back that spreads to the hip, buttocks, and leg. Up to 90% of people recover without surgery.

Symptoms of Sciatica The most common symptom of sciatica is lower back pain that extends through the hip and buttock and down one leg. The pain usually affects only one leg and may get worse when you sit, cough, or sneeze.

The leg may also feel numb, weak, or tingly at times. The symptoms of sciatica tend to appear suddenly and can last for days or weeks.

Sciatica or Other Back Pain?

Up to 85% of people experience some type of back pain during their lives.

But this doesn’t always involve the sciatic nerve. In many cases, back pain is the result of overextending or straining the muscles in the lower back. What most often sets sciatica apart is the way the pain radiates down the leg and into the foot. It may feel like a bad leg cramp that lasts for days.

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motor trader queensland

Who Gets Sciatica?

Most people who get sciatica are between the ages of 30 and 50.

Women may be more likely to develop the problem during pregnancy because of pressure on the sciatic nerve from the developing uterus. Other causes include a herniated disk and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

Cause: Herniated Disk The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disk. Disks act like cushions between the vertebrae of your spine. These disks get weaker as you age and become more vulnerable to injury. Sometimes the gellike center of a disk pushes through its outer lining and presses on the roots of the sciatic nerve. About 1 in 50 people will get a herniated disk at some point in life.

Up to a quarter of them will have symptoms that last more than 6 weeks.

Cause: Spinal Stenosis Natural wear and tear of the vertebrae can lead to a narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing, called spinal stenosis, may put pressure on the roots of the sciatic nerve. Spinal stenosis is more common in adults over age 60.

Cause: Spinal Tumors In rare cases, sciatica may result from tumors growing inside or along the spinal cord or sciatic nerve. As

a tumor grows, it may put pressure on the nerves that branch off from the spinal cord.

Cause: Piriformis Syndrome The piriformis is a muscle found deep inside the buttocks. It connects the lower spine to the upper thighbone and runs directly over the sciatic nerve. If this muscle goes into spasm, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, triggering symptoms of sciatica. Piriformis syndrome is more common in women.

A Fat Wallet Can Trigger Piriformis You might not think of too much cash as a source of pain, but a fat wallet can trigger piriformis syndrome.

The condition can affect men who wear their wallet in the back pocket of their pants. This puts chronic pressure on the piriformis muscle and can aggravate the sciatic nerve over time.

You can avoid this problem by keeping your wallet in a front pocket or jacket pocket.

Cause: Injury or Infection Other causes of sciatica include muscle inflammation, infection, or injury, such as a fracture.

In general, any condition that irritates or compresses the sciatic nerve can trigger symptoms. In some cases, no specific cause of sciatica can be found.

Diagnosing Sciatica Exam To determine whether you have sciatica, your doctor will ask you how your pain started and where exactly it is located. You may be asked to squat, walk on your heels or toes, or raise your leg without bending the knee. These muscle tests can help your doctor determine if it is the sciatic nerve that is irritated.

Imaging Your doctor may order imaging tests, such as an MRI, to get more information about the location and cause of the irritated nerve. An MRI can show the alignment of vertebral disks, ligaments, and muscles. A CT scan using contrast dye can also provide a useful picture of the spinal cord and nerves.

Determining the cause of sciatica can help guide the course of treatment.

X-rays can help identify bony abnormalities but can’t detect nerve problems.

Complications Related to Sciatica If you develop a loss of bladder or bowel control, contact your doctor right away. This can be a sign of a medical emergency that requires surgery to avoid permanent damage.

Fortunately, this complication is rare. Most cases of sciatica go away within a few days or weeks and cause no lasting harm.

Sciatica Relief Ice and Heat There are steps you can take at home to ease the pain of sciatica. A heating pad or ice pack may be especially helpful. Apply the heat or ice for about 20 minutes every two hours. Experiment to see which provides more relief, or try alternating between heat and ice.

Medication Over-the-counter pain relievers can provide shortterm relief from sciatica.

Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are options. Your doctor may give a steroid injection to further reduce the inflammation.

Stretching While your sciatica is healing, try to remain active. Motion can actually help reduce inflammation and pain. A physical therapist can show you how to gently stretch the hamstring and lower back.

Depending on your medical condition, certain exercises may not be recommended.

Your doctor may also recommend taking short walks.

Sciatica Relief Injections In severe cases, a doctor may recommend injecting steroids into the spine area to reduce inflammation.

It delivers the medication directly to the area around the sciatic nerve.

Surgery If your sciatica is due to a herniated disk, and it’s still causing severe pain after four to six weeks, surgery may be an option. The surgeon will remove a portion of the herniated disk to relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve.

About 90% of patients get relief from this type of surgery.

Other surgical procedures can relieve sciatica caused by spinal stenosis.

Sciatica Rehab After back surgery, you will generally need to avoid driving, lifting, or bending forward for about a month. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help you strengthen the muscles in the back.

Once your recovery is complete, there’s an excellent chance you’ll be able to get back to all your usual activities.

Complementary Therapies There is evidence that acupuncture, massage, yoga, and chiropractic adjustments can relieve typical lower back pain. But more research is needed to determine whether these therapies are helpful for sciatica.

Preventing Sciatica If you’ve had sciatica once, there’s a chance it will return.

But there are steps you can take to reduce the odds: • Exercise regularly.

• Maintain good posture.

• Bend at the knees to lift heavy objects.

These steps can help you avoid back injuries that may lead to sciatica.

sport Stoner wins 2nd world championship

C

asey Stoner is the new MotoGP world champion after winning his fifth successive Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island in October.

The Australian, who recently turned 26, cruised to victory by 2.21 seconds from Italian Honda rider Marco Simoncelli with his compatriot, Andrea Dovizioso, on another Honda in third.

Stoner was virtually handed his second world title after his triumph on a Ducati in 2007 when his only rival, Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo, was ruled out after crashing during the warm-up.

Lorenzo was tossed from his bike as he pushed through turn 12 and landed heavily and lost part of the ring finger of his left hand.

The Spaniard was transported to the medical centre and rushed to Melbourne for plastic surgery.

Marshalls found Lorenzo’s left glove but it is understood the impact left no clean cut, meaning the tip of the finger could not be re-attached.

Stoner had pole position on

the grid as he chased his fifth-straight Australian race and was left with little to do but finish sixth or better to take out the championship, with rounds in Malaysia and Valencia remaining.

He blasted away from pole position and by the end of lap one of the 27-lap race had pulled out a gap of one second over Simoncelli.

Stoner was quickly out of sight of the pack, riding a lone race at the front and increasing his lead by almost a second each lap.

But he gradually eased off the throttle as a brief shower fell and crossed the line for a comfortable win.

Ducati’s seven-time world champion, Valentino Rossi, had his miserable weekend culminated by a crash on lap 13, which ended his race.

He blasted away from pole position and by the end of lap one of the 27-lap race had pulled out a gap of one second over Simoncelli.

V8’s a crowd favourite

great category and I’m not surprised fans voted for them,” said Mr Blair.

8 Supercars conducted a web-based poll during the weekend of the Armor All Gold Coast 600, which asked participants to choose what support category they were most interested to see. The 2011 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All - won hands down.

“They are a great investment for any company and the exposure the Series has brought Armor All over the past three years has been amazing.

V

The V8 Ute’s ending up with 36 percent of the vote, 10 percent more votes than the runner up Touring Car Masters.

The choices were between the following support categories; Carrera Cup, Touring Car Masters and Formula Ford.

General Manager from the Armored Auto Group Paul Blair was excited about the news.

“The V8 Ute’s are such a

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“It makes sense that the V8 Ute’s are at our event (Armor All Gold Coast 600) it is a perfect alliance as we are the co-naming rights partner,” he added.

SPHERIX, category managers of Australian V8 Ute Racing’s director, Bill West is not surprised by the poll.

“We’ve known we’ve been favourites at this event for a while with the feedback we’ve had from fans over the years,” said Mr West.

“The Series has really grown since our inception in 2001 with only nine V8 Ute’s on the grid to the 32 strong field that it is today.

“Our motto is to ‘Work Hard, Play Even Harder’, which comes off in the entertainment that the category provides.

“We are just glad to hear that

the fans still love us, because the feeling is mutual,” Mr West concluded.

The 2011 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All - features 32 Ford and Holden production based V8 racing Ute’s, covering 8 championship rounds and 26 races through five states of Australia. The series is televised nationally and in over 40 countries worldwide.

Make-A-Wish® Australia is the official charity of Australian V8 Ute Racing who will endeavour to assist the foundation with their mission, which is to “To grant the Wishes of Children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope strength and joy.”

Close finish sees Tander win Bathurst

L

ess than half a second separated two of the biggest names in V8 Supercars at the end of a gripping 1000km Mt Panorama battle when Garth Tander produced the drive of his life to hold out Craig Lowndes and win his third Bathurst crown.

In what is being hailed the most thrilling finish in the history of the gruelling race, Tander survived a brutal lastlap assault from Lowndes to claim one of the great Bathurst wins.

him’,” Tander said. “I wasn’t going to let him past.”

“I had to make sure I was fast in the key areas of the track so he couldn’t have a go at me.

“I felt their car was good and I really had to get a good run.”

In a race that had crashes, failures and a terrifying fuel fire, Tander and co-driver Nick Percat stole the lead when Jamie Whincup’s Team Vodafone car was struck down by a dodgy alternator.

The duo looked to have the race sealed until Lowndes came charging home to bridge a 6sec gap and almost pull off a miracle on the mount.

in a race that had crashes, failures and a

“What a finish,” Tander said.

“I didn’t have much left and I knew he was coming. In the end I was able to hold on and it is just amazing to win here again.”

Looking down and out after being forced to queue behind Whincup in three pit-stops, Lowndes was at his stunning best as he stalked Tander in the final stages.

“After the stint we were both running on vapours in terms of tyres,” Lowndes said.

“He (Tander) did a very good job of staying on the lines he needed to and hitting his marks. The oil at the Chase didn’t help the situation. I tried to use the curb, but didn’t have the drive.

“I was also thinking of the championship and I didn’t want to fence it. There had to be a little bit of common sense and Garth was putting it where he needed to.

“If I had got to him early, well,

it might have been a different story. When I finally got to him, well there wasn’t much I could do.”

Percat, one of the few drivers to win the race in his debut, admitted he almost passed out before Tander helped him become part of Bathurst folklore.

“I was pacing around, doing everything I could to keep myself busy,” Percat said.

“Craig really tried to give me a heart attack. I was going white and I think my dad was holding me up at one point.”

A beneficiary of a lap 138 safety car, pole-sitter Greg Murphy came from the clouds to finish third as Tander saved his team’s season.

Lowndes’s second place and Whincup’s misfortune has the veteran leading the championship by 100 points with just three races to go.

terrifying fuel fire,Tander stole the lead

Leaving 51,823 Mount Panorama fans gasping for air, Lowndes attacked the Holden hero at more than 300km/h, but the five-time winner was thwarted by Tander by just 0.292sec. It was the closest “competitive finish” in the race’s proud history.

“My first thought when I knew he was coming was, ‘Stuff motor trader queensland

31

62nd Annual Motor Trade Golf Tournament Results “18 Holes Stableford Event” Placing

Trophy Donor

Name

Score

Champion Mtaq

Tony Squires

43

Replica

Mtaq

Tony Squires

43

2nd

Kedron Great Wall

Peter Barnes

41

3rd

Tridon Australia

Travis Andreas

41

4th

Prolube

Jason Ramsey

40

5th

Metro Ford

Bob Leach

39

6th

Bris. Motor Auctions

Breit Obrien

39

7th

Tvh Australiasia

Neal Spring

38

8th

Brake Partsaustralia

Shaun Streak

38

Above: Tony Squires

9th

Cooldrive Distribution

Nick Hemming

38

Right: Ken Campbell

10th

Denso

Adam Lipke

38

11th

Keema Auto. Group

Jason Mayer

38

12th

Exedy Australia

James Levens

38

13th

Active Forklift Service

Len Charlton

37

14th

Combined Auto. Srvcs

Ray Millar

37

“18 Holes Stroke Event”

15th

Zupps Aspley

Brett Allan

36

Score

16th

A H. Knowles

Troy Garrity

36

Ken Campbell

76

17th

A.E.I.

Tane Goffe

36

Mtaq

Scott Beale

77

18th

Cool Drive Dist.

Malcolm Ewing

36

3rd

A. H. Knowles &Co.

Glenn Wilson

77

19th

Kedron Great Wall

Glynn Hedges

36

4th

Oldmac Mazda

Shane Assink

78

20th

Brown & Watson

Adrian Harrison

35

5th

Smashcare Kedron

Tony Mcmahon

79

21st

Denso

Charles Corser

35

6th

Auto Electrics Aust.

Graeme Davey

79

22nd

Volvo Commerical

Barry Laird

35

7th

Volvo Commerical

Richard Chaseling

80

23rd

Tridon Australia

Glenn Ebert

35

8th

Auto Leaders

Bryan Schultz

81

24th

K.T. Cables Accessories

Paul Mroz

35

9th

Mt. Gravatt Fender Mender

Scott Sweeny

81

25th

Zupps Aspley

Alan Peters

34

10th

Auto Leaders

Col Loone

81

26th

Brake Parts Australia

Paul Hurley

34

11th

Zupps Aspley

Ray Stewart

81

27th

Tvh Australiasia

Peter Symons

34

12th

Metro Ford

Brett Sharp

82

28th

Bris. Motor Auctions

John Legg

33

13th

Nab Stafford

Steve Collings

82

29th

Bris. Motor Auctions

Troy Hose

33

14th

A.E.I.

Dave Lucas

83

30th

Metro Ford

Shayne Steenson

33

15th

Combined Auto. Srvc

John Porter

85

31st

Mt. Gravatt Fender Mender

Kevin Butler

33

16th

Exedy Australia

Matthew Symonds

86

32nd

Active Forklift Service

Herb Wuhr

33

17th

Swann Insurance

Don Gilmour

87

33rd

Oldmac Mazda

Bill Lee

33

18th

Swann Insurance

Brendan Low

88

34th

Prolube

Peter Milliken

33

19th

Volvo Commerical

Arnold Alldridge

89

35th

Autoleaders Pty Ltd

Frank Mangano

33

20th

Volvo Commerical

Quentin Gill

89

36th

Nab Stafford

Wayne Kochevatkin

32

37th

Tridon Australia

Wayne Stevens

32

38th

Auto Electrics Aust.

Will Brantjes

32

Score

39th

Swann Insurance

Geoff Bedford

32

Placing

Trophy Donor

Name

Winner

Byrne Ford

2nd

Nearest To Pin Hole

Trophy Donor

Name

1

Byrne Ford

Ross Mccloud

48 cm

40th

Swann Insurance

Ken Power

32

2

Keemo Automotive Group

James Gawler

126 cm

41st

Cool Drive Distribution

David Tedge

32

3

Auto Electrics Aust.

Ray Millar

150 cm

42nd

Tvh Australiasia

Ross Mccloud

31

4

Auto Leaders

Ken Lipke

304 cm

43rd

Volvo Commerlcal

Ron Mcdowall

31

18

Kedron Great Wall

Mick Brooks

252 cm

44th

Volvo Commerlcal

John Scibilia

31

32

motor trader queensland

K T e N s o o Ch ors

s n e S n e g Oxy

&

y s e a h E t Brea Maintain optimal fuel efficiency = Cost Savings Reduction in harmful emissions = Reduce Carbon Footprint Direct Fitment = Easy & Effective Installation Not many people realise the importance of oxygen sensors, and how correctly selecting and fitting the right oxygen sensor can impact on a vehicle. But with NTK you can breathe easy and be confident that you have chosen a superior oxygen sensor from NTK’s extensive range.

NTK Oxygen Sensors effectively and efficiently monitor the concentration of residual oxygen within the exhaust gases produced by a petrol engine; to ensure your customer’s vehicle is not running too rich or too lean.

The result is optimal fuel efficiency and a reduction in harmful emissions, which comes in handy as emission regulations are becoming tougher for all engines.

All NTK’s aftermarket oxygen sensors are designed to match or exceed original equipment specifications and have a factory fitted connector to ensure a direct fitment is guaranteed every time.

So to help us all breathe a little easier, make sure the next time you need to replace an oxygen sensor, choose NTK, the world’s largest manufacturer of oxygen sensors.

NCANGK/157

To find out more about oxygen sensors call 1300 55 40 59 or visit ngk.com.au

SUV

Safeguards Underpin Viability AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESSES FACE GREATER FRAUD RISK Increased detection can be linked to increased fraudulent activity or a greater focus on the numbers by management, or both. Regardless, few businesses are totally immune to fraud.

Mark Ward, Partner Ph: 07 3237 5744

Darren Crothers, Partner Ph: 07 3237 5990

The operational nature of an automotive business creates significant opportunities for fraudulent activity and when combined with difficult economic times, the motivation to commit fraud increases. Often fraud is considered only in the context of significant amounts and clearly deceptive behaviour, however any unauthorised action that leads to a financial loss is fraud. Margins are already under pressure without being further eroded through this type of activity.

If you would like to discuss our approach to a fraud review, or request a presentation to your management team that emphasises your ‘tone from the top’ attitude, please contact one of our Automotive advisers.

SPECIFIC AUTOMOTIVE EXPERTISE BDO offers full service automotive expertise, including the following:

Damian Wright, Partner Ph: 07 3237 5750

• • • • • • •

Incentive pay plans Executive recruitment Benchmarking Franchise applications Business planning and strategy Budgeting Valuations

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Dealership acquisitions and sales Management reporting reviews Liquidity reviews Training Operational and fraud reviews Tax reviews Succession and estate planning.

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Distinctively different – it’s how we see you AUDIT • TAX • ADVISORY