Auto Channel 17 - SEPTEMBER 2019

ISSUE 17 AUGUST 2019

THE VOICE OF THE NEW ZEALAND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

AUTO CHANNEL Online parts process now the new normal AUTO CHANNEL GOES BEHIND THE SCENES WITH PARTSTRADER’S STUART ROBB back in 2004 and now facilitates about 80% of parts movements in New Zealand’s light vehicle collision repair market. In 2015 the company moved into mechanical parts and that is now a strong area of growth.

CONFIDENTIAL OFFERS AND PRICES

PartsTrader general manager Stuart Robb at the hub of the network

artsTrader is now a mature online service which saw over 250,000 parts packages sent from suppliers to vehicle repairers last year.

PartsTrader’s general manager Stuart Robb says there’s just over a handful of collision repairers and suppliers left who are not using the service.

The company started in the collision repair industry

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PartsTrader operates much like an online auction site but, more accurately, it’s an online tender system.

Repairers log a request and that is sent to member suppliers who submit confidential offers and prices.

It makes it easy to see which is the best deal, not just on price, but for payment options, part condition, and delivery options.

“It means the repairer doesn’t have to visit multiple different websites and manually compare prices, or make lots of phone calls wasting heaps of time. And suppliers know there is a genuine buyer when they submit their quotes,” says Stuart.

“We match parts package requests from repairers with parts suppliers’ competitive quotes so they can deliver the right parts, at the right time and the right

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price,” he says.

The business began in 2004 after insurance group IAG tendered for software to operate a car parts market place. The PartsTrader founders were software experts who already had experience in developing a digital tender platform. “They were able to use this expertise to assist with both process and software development,” says Stuart.

The website was used exclusively by IAG repairers at first but it was soon opened up to other insurers, and for non-insurance-aligned repair work.

CHICKEN AND EGG “Creating a marketplace can be a bit chicken and egg because you need a depth of both buyers (repairers) and sellers (suppliers) on board. Buyers need a depth of suppliers for the market to be useful. Suppliers need a depth of repairers to make the effort of quoting worthwhile,” Stuart says. “IAG’s involvement spurred a critical mass of activity, ensuring that sufficient participants adopted the new system. Once on board the ease and convenience of the system convinced

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24/7 ordering / www.sulco.co.nz AUTOPSTENHOJ are one of the most highly regarded lift manufacturers in Europe and it’s easy to see why. With their mission to “offer the best total experience for the premium market of workshop solutions” and over 100 years of experience, AUTOPSTENHOJ are approved by the leading vehicle manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW / Mini, Volkswagen Group, Volvo and many more.

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Contents

From the Ed.

40 Deep dive into PartsTrader

Cover / 4

Paying attention to pipes and storage

6

Redarc marks a milestone

6

Treadway Equipped backs its plans

9

Rotary Lift moves into wheels

12

Safe R Brakes takes on ABS

14

Win an Automaster tyre changer

16

Washing with bugs in the real world

19

Garage 360 — Jaguar Workshop

22

Capricorn and Blackfern face off

26

Tech feature: Flex fuel — how flexi?

32

Products

36

The next big challenge: Retirement

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This issue looks at a couple of key ways businesses can use other organisations to improve their business efficiency.

The cover story on PartsTrader shows how what was once a ‘disrupter’ — a new tech business that makes an old way of doing business redundant — can quickly establish itself and become the norm.

A large part of our industry is ‘bricks and mortar’ businesses, handling physical objects, but digital systems have a great deal to offer in reducing back office processes that just take time away from the activities that make the money.

In another major article we look at the offering from the two main cooperatives in New Zealand’s automotive industry. They are quite different in character which hopefully comes through in the answers they provided to set questions. Clearly many in the industry have decided the benefits of joining a co-operative are worth the margins they pay — both organisations have costs and distributions and presumably taxes to cover — but don’t make any assumptions.The first question to answer is whether or not you could do better putting that investment into better deals dealing directly with customers or suppliers. The choice is yours.

And don’t forget to get your entry in for the Automaster tyre changer draw. This is a great bit of gear and this $3600 value could be yours, free.

It will go to a reader and there’s only one way to make it yours. Just look up autochannel.co.nz now and get in the draw!

Ian Parkes, Editor

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Auto Channel is distributed 11 times per year.

To receive your free copy or to change your address simply visit autochannel.co.nz.

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AUTO CHANNEL IS DISTRIBUTED TO 11,306 NEW ZEALAND BUSINESSES

ONLINE autochannel.co.nz EMAIL editor@autochannel.co.nz PHONE 09 360 1480 MAIL PO Box 46,020, Herne Bay, Auckland 1147

both repairers and suppliers it was a good thing.”

There were some challenges along the way. Back then, it was a challenge for some collision repairers to adopt the new technology and do things differently.

“Software like PartsTrader is described as a ‘market disruptor’, facilitating rapid changes in the structure, transparency and competitive nature of an industry,” says Stuart.

But there were some elements of the old system worth keeping. Businesses, for example, didn’t want to abandon existing or local supplier relationships.

That prompted PartsTrader to carry out extensive consultation with all parties and develop several different request circulation configurations.

“Once these practical details were ironed out adoption was rapid,” he says.

ADVANTAGES FOR REPAIRERS “Most repairers would now acknowledge managing multiple jobs and finding competitive quotes efficiently would be much harder without PartsTrader.

Currently around 1100 collision repair businesses actively use PartsTrader,” explains Stuart.

So in 2015 it was a logical step to move into the mechanical market. Stuart tells us that most suppliers provision both panel and mechanical parts anyway, and a few specialist suppliers were brought on board to fill in any gaps. Around 2000 mechanical repair businesses are now active on PartsTrader.

Stuart listed off advantages for repairers. It saves time sourcing and comparing competitive prices by searching all available part options in one process.

It creates complete digital records of transactions in one place, making it easy to check which parts were ordered when.

It also has an environmental benefit as it allows for a greater variety of parts in different condition to be reused, instead of being sent to landfill or crushed.

And it creates nationwide supplier relationships.

Competitive pricing and options can mean the difference between keeping or losing a job — whether it’s a close call to write off a vehicle after a smash or when customers are paying out of their own pockets, like most mechanical repairs. Not winning business is a lose-lose for the industry and the end customer, so PartsTrader can make a massive difference in keeping cars on the road and people smiling.

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

ADVANTAGES FOR SUPPLIERS It also has benefits for suppliers. It provides a direct link to committed buyers who are submitting requests with a really useful amount of detail. It provides a quick and easy way to submit quotes, and they can filter what they want to deal with in a lot of different ways. And, of course, they get access to a nationwide market.

One of the other areas for potential development among participants is the opportunity to make use of the data being generated within each business, and across the network, through this one system — so-called business intelligence.

“Users are typically focused on efficiency and effectiveness. For example workshop management systems, financial systems, and parts inventory systems talking directly to this marketplace system can make life a lot simpler and easier,” says Stuart.

“Participants can also learn what choices can improve quoting effectiveness, inventory management, job administration, and so on. Data, information and reporting are valued.”

Compared with alternatives like googling parts online or making phone calls, PartsTrader is a business-to-business marketplace — which tends to be more reliable. Repairers load a request for the parts onto PartsTrader and it is distributed to up to 500 suppliers around the country. Suppliers are then able to submit confidential quotes, along with important details such as delivery time, accepted payment methods and part condition. When the request closes, the repairer selects the best quote for their customer.

Repairers pay suppliers directly for the parts via suppliers’ preferred methods, which are communicated when they submit their quotes. The suppliers pay PartsTrader a subscription fee for access to the marketplace, and a success fee based on business they win via the marketplace.

The mechanical parts side of the business is still growing. “Currently we are recognized to provide most value when solving hard to find or expensive part searches. There are many repairers yet to adopt our service and maximize its benefits,” Stuart says.

“There is a lot of potential for us to become the preferred place that businesses buy and sell automotive parts in New Zealand.”

For more information, or to join the PartsTrader network, call 0508 PartsTrader (0508 727 878), email support@partstrader.co.nz or see partstrader.co.nz.

AUTO

CHANNEL

EDITOR Ian Parkes, editor@autochannel.co.nz DESIGNER Day Barnes PHOTOGRAPHER Adam Croy MEDIA SALES Mike White, michael.white@parkside.co.nz ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Renae Fisher

AUTO CHANNEL IS PUBLISHED BY ADVERT

PUBLISHER

Greg Vincent, greg.vincent@parkside.co.nz

BUSINESS DIRECTOR

Michael White, michael.white@parkside.co.nz

GENERAL MANAGER

Simon Holloway, simon.holloway@parkside.co.nz

DATA ANALYST Isobel Woudberg PRINTING Ovato

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS Parkside Media uses due care and diligence in the preparation of this magazine, but is not responsible or liable for any mistakes, misprints, omissions, or typographical errors. Parkside Media prints advertisements provided to the publisher but gives no warranty and makes no representation to the truth, accuracy, or sufficiency of any description, photograph, or statement. Parkside Media accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who relies either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph, or statement contained herein. Parkside Media reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Parkside Media, the publisher, or editor. All material published, gathered, or created for Auto Channel is copyright 2019 Parkside Media Limited. All rights reserved in all media. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the publisher.

Auto Channel is the best way to reach the wider automotive industry. The publication is direct mailed to 11,298 New Zealand businesses in the following automotive sectors: Automotive workshops, parts importers and distributors, transmission specialists, automotive recyclers, towing operators, panel beaters and painters, crash repairers, tyre dealers, suspension and underbody repairers, steering specialists, towing operators, auto-electrical repairers, new- and used-car dealers, airconditioning repairers, heavy-machinery dealers, trucking and transport

‘Whatever is on your hoist, order Holden or ACDelco Parts to earn entries for Project Monaro.’

Here’s just a selection of the huge range of Monaro parts available from your Holden Trade Club Dealer.

5.7 LS1 VZ (’05-’07)

Part Number

List

Trade Club

Service kit

Air filter Oil filter Spark plugs, Double Platinum (x8)

92068161 92142006 12563707

$149.20

$83.30

Oxygen sensors

Front Rear

12569429 19209818

$171.00 $171.00

$113.70 $113.70

Ignition coil Wiper blades (ACDelco) Drive belts

12558948

$113.00

$81.40

Beam blade upgrade, driver Beam blade upgrade, passenger

FS550AU FS500AU

$19.80 $19.80

$13.40 $13.40

Compressor

92068285

$32.50

$18.10

92067152 92067037

$32.50 $33.20

$18.10 $18.50

Excl. compressor:

to L491216 from L491217

Clutch kit

Flywheel, clutch and pressure plate assembly

92161753

$878.50

$698.40

Remanufactured transmission

4L60 4-speed auto

Various*

$2,495.00

$1,995.00

*Special order, ex Melbourne on a sea freight only basis.

View the entire range of parts and Holden Trade Club prices at holdentradeclub.co.nz All prices are recommended, exclude GST and were correct at time of printing.

Holden Dealers are free to set their own prices.

Moving or storing lubricants or liquids, the answer is Raasm HANDLING BULK PRODUCTS AND LIQUIDS CLEANLY AND ACCURACY ADDS EFFICIENCY pgrading or designing a new workshop, paying attention to oil, lubricant storage and dispensing systems will pay off in improved efficiency and satisfaction levels among staff.

Italian manufacturer Raasm offers a wide range of products including pneumatic oil pumps, powdercoated carbon steel retractable hose reels for oils, air and water; digital, standard or pre-set oil delivery hand pieces, waste oil receivers, mobile equipment for all drum sizes and much more.

Distributor and fluid management consultants Emco supplies and installs a wide range of Raasm commercial and industrial storage, distribution and dispensing equipment products for oils, coolants and grease.

“We have faith in the ability of our equipment and take pride in not just the aesthetics of the Raasm product but also in its ongoing durability and reliability,” says Emco director James Driscoll. “One of the great things about Raasm products is that not only are they professionally made with great pride by their owner, but they are also cost effective. The products just work – they don’t give you problems.”

While a Raasm pump can send oil to an oil bar with a self-closing taps for dispensing into standard oil jugs, it would be more efficient to send oil along pipework at medium or high pressure, depending on distance, to a Raasm retractable hose reel. A wall, floor or

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ceiling mounted hose reel can cover up to three work bays with up to 20m of hose. Its electronic dispensing nozzle can be programmed to dispense the required quantity of oil. The nozzles have both resettable meters, that you can zero before each fill, and lifetime total meters, which keep count of overall oil usage. Depending on the pump, the flow of oil into the vehicle engine can be up to eight litres per minute, for engines that can accept that flow rate.

Draining engines is also easier using a Raasm mobile

Redarc celebrates 40 years FAMILY FIRM BUILDS INTERNATIONAL BRAND IN TOUGH ELECTRONICS MARKET edarc has clicked over 40 years in the business of developing, manufacturing and supplying advanced electronics.

Clocking up 40 years is a significant achievement for any business in this global economy, and especially in the fast-moving electronics sector.

Through resilience and persistence, this family-owned business based in South Australia has managed to buck the decline in manufacturing in Australasia.

Redarc commemorated its anniversary with a 40th anniversary logo and launched a retail giveaway and trade prize.

Redarc has also released a limited edition of red 40 amp in-vehicle DC battery chargers (BCDC1240D), giving a limited number of owners (40) smart battery chargers with bling.

Speaking at an internal celebration on the anniversary, August 27, managing director Andrew Kittel said it had been an honour shaping Redarc’s history over the past 22 years in his ownership.

“I am thankful for the support we have received from our outstanding staff, customers, suppliers, distributors, partners, community and government who have backed our innovation, rugged and high-

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

quality Australian made products.

“This wouldn’t be possible without the late Bob Mackie, Redarc’s founder, who must be acknowledged as a pioneer in electronics,” he said, “I’d also like to thank the fantastic team we have at Redarc. Without you, we certainly wouldn’t be here today. Lastly, I’d like to thank my wife Michele, our children and our family, for their support and business knowledge.”

Anthony credited much of Redarc’s success to family members Denis and Joan Brion and the advisory board’s focus on innovation, passion for learning and continuous improvement; on building a team-based culture and their willingness to embrace risk.

Former co-owner of Redarc (1997-2002), and Anthony’s father in-law, Denis Brion said the first months after taking over the business were difficult but they proved the worth of both Redarc’s products and its marketing strategy, in expanding market share.

Tom Phillips, retired CEO of Mitsubishi Motors and former Redarc advisory

waste oil receiver which holds up to 90L of waste oil.

This mobile receiver can be rolled under the vehicle, the drain bowl raised to the sump height for draining without spillage. When the trolley is full, the outlet hose can be connected to a waste tank and it can be emptied by pressurising the receiver (at low pressure).

Emco offers a complete workshop liquids and lubricants planning, design and installation service which can include the latest industry approved double skinned storage tanks, and carbon or stainless steel piping systems. These installations provide clean contamination free product, ease of handling, and they make a powerful visual statement about workshop efficiency to staff and customers alike.

Whether you are a small garage or a large commercial operation, Emco provides expert technical advice, problem-solving on equipment issues, and workshop installations fit for purpose.

Contact Emco on 07 8505240, email sales@emco. co.nz or visit emco.co.nz.

board member wrote: “I congratulate Redarc for its past successes, for continuing to emphasise the important values of quality, customer service, workplace safety and innovation, and the spirit of finding better ways.”

Anthony sees a bright future ahead. “We will always serve our bricks and mortar stores, which in Redarc’s case are auto electricians and automotive part distributors. I’m also excited for the opportunities for expansion and growth that exist in global markets, the defence sector in Australia, the introduction of electric vehicles and early autonomous vehicle trials.

The next 40 years will be just as challenging and exhilarating.”

For more information, see redarcelectronics.co.nz/40th-anniversary.

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With over 90 years of Australasian manufacturing experience and proven winning performance, it’s easy to see why Supercars have chosen Century as their Official Battery.

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Treadway Equipped removes risk and adds benefits TREADWAY EQUIPPED BACKS ITS WORKSHOP PLANNING WITH TRIALS AND GUARANTEES hoosing the right equipment for a workshop is a big decision. Getting it wrong can be an expensive and painful exercise.

Treadway Equipped is taking out the risks for workshops by spending as much time as it takes to get current and future requirements

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clear so it can recommend the right equipment.

Treadway Equipped is so confident in its assessment that it will offer Fasep wheel aligners on a free trial period. “We want you to experience the unique mobility and speed of these machines and be sure it’s the right gear for you,” says Treadway Equipped sales manager Loren Bill.

He backs this up with a ‘100/100’ commitment: “Because we ensure the right gear is recommended, we are completely comfortable in saying that after 100 days you will be 100% satisfied that you have got the right equipment for you to do your job the best way you can. If not, we will refund in full.”

Getting the right gear is just the start.

Treadway Equipped offers two days of training, which can be spread out over time, to get the most out of the trainers.

“Also, there’s the full service and databank update packages we offer to ensure your maintenance costs are known and fixed for years to come.

“We also offer finance options so you can start

Rod Ends NZ specializes in ... f you want quality, it pays to see a specialist and, when it comes to new ball joint ends, or to crafting new suspension arms and linkages, it doesn’t get much more specialist than Rod Ends NZ. Rod Ends NZ carries a full range of imperial and metric, male and female rod ends, spacers and spherical bearings, and it can make any length suspension arm or linkage.

It can supply ends and linkages in carbon steel — an economical choice for throttle set-ups or alternator brackets — and chromoly two-piece suspension units, chosen for its strength and to meet LVVTA standards. Rod Ends NZ also supplies chromoly three-piece precision units for tarmac racing and LVVTA-approved steering systems, as well as specialist two-piece aluminium units for racing.

“We always discuss material sizing to make sure it is suited to the application,” says co-owner Brendon Cantwell. “We have two material options: 1020 seamless steel for specific applications or to meet LVVTA standards in custom car builds, or 7075 aluminium for race cars only.”

Brendon started the business after competing in tarmac and gravel rallies, then building his own car. He advises anyone with a build under way for competition over the coming months to crack on.

“Beat the last minute rush before the first event of the season sneaks up on you,” he says.

Contact Rod Ends NZ on the Blackfern supplier page under Performance Parts, see rodendsnz.co.nz, or call 04 213 9277.

the proportion is around 70% for product and 30% for labour. And, whether the customer pays or not, the workshop is obligated to make these payments.

Blackfern co-founder Roger Castelton says Blackfern has an easy solution to help repairers mitigate this risk, make informed decisions, and, in short, sleep at night.

Blackfern members can now conduct a credit check on their customers that can take less than a minute.

This resulting report provides a credit score based on the data collected in the credit reporting community.

Tardy payments for utilities, credit card debt, etc., are all captured and reflected in the overall score.

A comprehensive five-year history of any defaults, court orders, and file activity is also provided. Should it all go pear-shaped, the system also provides information that will assist in any collection activity businesses may need to initiate down the track.

Caution: customers need to give permission for credit checks — but this can be covered by clauses in

a business’s general terms and conditions, job sheets signed when vehicles are dropped off, and other documents such as personal guarantees. Blackfern members can access these templates at no cost by logging in to blackfern.coop.

The simplest way to initiate a check is to take a picture of the customer’s driver’s licence. Licences have all the information needed, and it avoids having to ask the customer for their date of birth and driver’s licence number and version number. Make sure the driver’s licence photo is stored in a safe place.

While Roger is confident this service will help businesses reduce risk, he says it can’t be considered legal advice. The cost of a consumer credit check through Blackfern is just $4.90 plus GST, which can be charged to a Blackfern account.

For more information, select the link picture on the Blackfern website blackfern.coop, or call Roger on 0272 522 533.

IF YOU ARE DOING A CUSTOM BUILD, A COMPETITION CAR, OR REBUILDING A ROAD LEGAL PERFORMANCE CAR, IT’S BEST TO SEE THE SPECIALISTS

I How to beat bad debt BLACKFERN: MAKING RISK MANAGEMENT EASY AND COSTEFFECTIVE ouldn’t it be good to know when you start on a repair for a customer that the bill will be paid? Consider the 6.25% of Kiwis do not pay their bills. They could rightly be called recidivist debtors — among other choice terms.

The bigger the repair, the bigger the risk. On average, 40% of a workshop invoice is for parts. The suppliers of these parts need to be paid on 30-day terms. The other 60% is labour which, if you are paying wages, needs to be paid even sooner. If you’re selling and fitting tyres,

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earning a return on the equipment without tying up your cash,” says Loren.

“We really enjoy seeing a customer’s business grow because of the extra effort we went to in understanding their needs and helping them make the right decision,” he says.

For more information on Steiner and Challenger lifts or Fasep aligners, contact Treadway Equipped on 0800 436 436, or see treadwayequipped.co.nz.

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Narva moves into marine lighting NARVA TRANSLATES ADVANCES IN AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING TO MARINE utomotive specialist lighting brand Narva has been at the forefront of introducing LED technology to a variety of lighting applications, especially in robust workshop and portable batterypowered LED lighting.

These have included weatherproof and waterproof lighting and high-intensity accessory lighting designed to handle demanding outdoor and off-road conditions. So it was a logical extension to move into the marine market, especially when LED lighting offers so many advantages to boaties that it makes lighting upgrades a very worthwhile exercise.

As the load from fridges, freezers, and other electrical equipment has increased, boat batteries and electrical systems have grown more robust but conserving battery power while overnighting is even more of a priority — especially if the batteries haven’t been upgraded. Replacing even a few 20W interior incandescent bulbs with 1W LED alternatives makes a significant contribution.

And on the outside, as well as reducing the draw of navigation and anchor lights, the virtually unlimited ‘bulb’ life in LEDs means external lights can be made much more watertight and virtually maintenance-free.

Narva’s marine range encompasses a range of oneand two-mile port and starboard, deck, masthead and stern lights, anchor lights, and three-mile all round lights with several different mounting options.

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Old fashioned handheld searchlights were particularly fragile, so new high power LED lamps will be especially welcome. Narva also offers joystick-controlled, permanently deck-mounted, high power searchlights, and light bars offering up to 18,000 lumens.

The marine-specific range of 65 different light units includes step lights and dock lights and even underwater lights. When it comes to interior lighting, the marine range includes lights that can be switched to red to preserve night vision, but there’s also a large crossover with Narva’s extensive range of RV lighting which comprises over 160 different fittings. To see the range, visit narva.co.nz, or call 09 525 4575 for more information.

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Proven 66% more durable than standard grids

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Up to 3X cycle life in AGM automotive batteries

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

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3D wheel aligners are taking care of business WHEELS MOVE IN 3D, THE BEST WHEEL ALIGNERS THINK IN 3D D wheel aligners are now a mature technology, having first appeared in the mid-’90s. The advances in recent years have been in the software interface, making learning and using the systems easier to understand and follow, and therefore less prone to operator error.

Corghi’s Exact Linear 3D Aligner is an entry-level machine that benefits from the development this respected Italian manufacturer has put into its top level machines.

After setting up the targets, the process is driven by simply user-friendly screen icons that are easy to learn and fast to select, with a built-in tutor, if required. The system delivers realtime readings during live adjustment. The hardware, the targets and high resolution cameras, are also robust and workshop proven.

The cameras are mounted on a motorised boom as standard kit. This means they can slide vertically, allowing the operator to work at any height from pit level through to a 2-metre elevation.

If speed and throughput is an issue, or if alignment checks are carried out as standard as service feature, or to drive sales, the Vamag New Dimension 3D aligner should be considered.

Also designed and manufactured in Italy, this Vamag machine uses hang-on wheel targets and delivers a complete measurement within 30 seconds. The

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usual run-out check, which involves rolling the car backwards and forwards is not necessary, saving more time.

The cameras use auto-focus, auto target acquisition and self-adjusting lighting to compensate for changing light levels in workshops which, with their large doors, are more variable than most interior workspaces. It also accomodates custom camera mounting installations. They can be mounted wherever is most convenient for each bay — locked on stands beside the lift or the pit, secured to walls, or even hanging from the ceiling.

The Vamag New Dimension Aligner is available from $24,975, and the Corghi Exact Linear 3D Aligner is available from $18,750. For more information see automaster.co.nz, contact info@automaster.co.nz or call 0800 214 604.

AUTO EQUIPMENT BUILT TO PERFORM THE UPSIDE OF LESS DOWNTIME When your equipment isn’t working, you’re not working and that’s dollars off your bottom-line.

So if issues arise we deal with them on the spot to get you back up and running ASAP. *Delivery, installation and GST not included

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Parking lift with caster kit, drip trays & jack tray.

Small or large versions.

Single Phase Flexible motor position in any corner of the lift

A222TI Tyre machine 100% made in Italy Air blast inflation system Pedal controlled inflation gauge Outside Wheel Clamping 10" - 22" 1 or 3 phase options

$5,345*

Italian made 3D wheel alignment system.

Wheel geometry check in less than 30 seconds

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21 Aetna Place, Henderson, Akl - 6 Gerald Connolly Place, Hornby,Chch Call toll-free: 0800 214 604 / Email: info@automaster.co.nz PATCH RUBBER TYRE AND TUBE Everything for the tyre dealer

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Rotary Lift launches new wheel service line ROTARY LIFT OFFER FRESH THINKING AND SMART SOFTWARE DESIGNED FOR MODERN VEHICLE WHEELS otary Lift, the world’s largest vehicle hoist manufacturer, has launched a range of wheel service machines, available through sole New Zealand distributor Precision Equipment.

Aimed at specialist tyre outlets and mechanical workshops across the country, this premium range includes three types of tyre changers, a wheel balancer and a sensor head wheel aligner, all made in Rotary’s Italian manufacturing plant.

As vehicle wheel sizes have increased in diameter in recent years, Rotary’s model R1180 has been designed to handle rims up to 30 inches in diameter. It features a 3-phase motor with automatic speed adjustment. Wheels are held in place by a central locking device with centering cones. It uses a pneumatic vertical bead breaker

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

with a double roller system, which eliminates the risk of damaging expensive rims. A wheel lifter is standard equipment on this machine, avoiding potential back strain from lifting heavy wheels.

The range includes two traditional table top tyre changers. A 24-inch capable machine, model no R641, has a 2-speed, 3-phase motor, and the R441 model, which is 22-inch capable, has a 230-volt, single phase motor. Both tyre changers have an air blaster tank for tubeless inflation, and helper arms designed to handle difficult lowprofile tyres.

Rotary’s R355 wheel balancer is a 230-volt, single phase machine that is intuitive and easy to operate.

It uses sonar to automatically calculate the width for wheels up to 30 inches in diameter and it selects

the balancing program automatically. The tyre’s eccentricity (roundness) is also measured by sonar during the spin cycle. Popular car and 4WD cones are included.

The range is completed with an 8-toe CCD wheel aligner. Rotary’s model R1060 features Bluetooth communication amongst the two front and two rear sensor heads and the control unit. Adjustments are guided through the computer software’s 3D images using the extensive vehicle specification database.

Two pairs of 3-point wheel clamps adjust to fit 10inch to 24-inch wheels.

Precision Equipment New Zealand is part of the Bapcor New Zealand group of companies and is a leading provider of aftermarket parts and accessories to the automotive and commercial vehicle sectors.

Business manager William Singleton is proud to represent Rotary hoists, and now its wheel service equipment. He says the new range complements Bapcor’s own house brand of Summit hoists, tyre changers, wheel balancers and wheel aligners, all readily available from their Mt Wellington warehouse in Auckland.

To see the full range of Rotary products from Precision Equipment, visit their new website precisionequipment.co.nz or for more information, call toll free 0800 2 HOIST (0800 246 478).

New Zealands sole distributors for Rotary and Summit hoists, tyre changers, wheel balancers and wheel aligners.

For our full equipment range, check out our new website today!

www.precisionequipment.co.nz 0800 2 HOIST (0800 246 478)

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Safe R Brakes takes on ABS servicing CHRISTCHURCH’S BEST-KNOWN BRAKE COMPANY HAS A KEEN EYE ON THE ELECTROMECHANICAL FUTURE afe R Brakes has a 71-year history in Christchurch as an expert brake reconditioner and component supplier and it is now gearing up to be the country’s leading service centre for ABS systems.

Company manager John Begg says Safe R Brakes is very well known in Canterbury, pretty well known in the South Island, and now it is making its name across the country, in ABS systems.

The company has 12 staff, with two mechanics working full time on brake servicing. It also carries out machining and servicing of discs, drums; shoe rebonding; reconditioning of calipers, boosters, and hydraulic cylinders; and making up brake pipes and hoses. It does a lot of work for car enthusiasts, builders, and classic car restorers. However, a bigger part of its business is in supplying parts to other workshops. Safe R Brakes carries more than 7000 stock items, making it the biggest store of brake parts in the South Island.

But its fastest growing business is in reconditioning ABS systems. Safe R Brakes acquired Tauranga’s Powerstop Systems, the country’s leading ABS specialist, in February and moved the operation inhouse in Christchurch.

“They are much more complicated, combining electronics, hydraulic, and mechanical systems, so a lot of people tend to leave them alone,” John says.

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But as new ABS units can cost $3000 to $7000 John saw servicing those units as a growth opportunity: “Without them the car is a write-off so they are well worth repairing.” Safe R brakes already had mechanical and hydraulic expertise in house, so it was well placed to expand. “We had to get more involved in that; it’s definitely the way of the future,” says John.

They acquired Powerstop’s test rigs, which replicate the inputs to the unit; procedures; and know-how.

John says expertise with the ECU or electronic side of the system is readily available but the skill to work with the motorized pumps, solenoids, and valves that cycle many times a second in hydraulic modulators is rare.

“Just getting into some of these units takes specialist knowledge,” says John. He and the team are now focusing on expanding the range of ABS and hydroboost units they can service, and they are developing new tooling and techniques.

For more information on Safe R Brakes’ product lines and services, and especially its ABS-unit-servicing capabilities, contact Safe R Brakes on 0800 SAFE R BRAKES (0800 723 372) or see saferbrakes.co.nz.

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

Enviro oil designed for top-selling trucks PENRITE GIVES US THE GOOD OIL ON THE RIGHT BLENDS FOR LOW EMISSION VEHICLES he Ford Ranger is one of New Zealand’s bestselling vehicles, and Penrite’s Enviro+ C2 Full Synthetic engine oil is designed to provide superior protection all year round.

This premium 0W-30 full synthetic engine oil meets and exceeds many manufacturer specifications and is blended using the latest advances in Mid SAPS (sulphated ash, phosphorous and sulphur) additive technology. Enviro+ C2 is designed for use in four, six, and eight-plus cylinder multi-cam, multi-valve, naturally aspirated, supercharged, and turbocharged low emission engines including those fitted with or without diesel particulate filters (DPFs).

The Enviro+ range has been developed to provide long lasting protection for vehicles with extended oil drain intervals, and to be OEM- and industryapproved products to satisfy new vehicle warranty requirements. The range covers petrol, E85, and diesel fuel types.

Enviro+ C2 0W-30 can be used where ACEA C2, A5/ B5, and API SN or SM grade oils are called for.

Suitable for petrol and light duty diesel engines, C2 applications include MY2015+ Toyota Hilux, Prado, and Land Cruiser. Enviro+ C2 also meets the requirements of Ford WSS-M2C950-A for use in Ford diesel engines such as the Mondeo and Ranger PXII, Everest, and Endura.

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Specific vehicle applications include: • Toyota Hilux, Prado, Land Cruiser, Fortuner, and Rav 4 • Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Mito • Fiat Panda • Ford Ranger, Everest, Kuga, Mondeo, Focus, Endura • Honda CR-V • Iveco Daily • Jaguar F-Type, XE, XF, XJ, XK • Jeep Renegade, Cherokee • Land Rover Discovery 4, Freelander • Peugeot 308 • Range Rover Sport • Subaru Forester, Outback • VW Touareg V10, T5 The high-performance base oil prevents sludge formations and offers reduced piston deposits for maximum engine efficiency.

Discover the full Penrite range at penriteoil.co.nz or call 0800 533 698.

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15

WIN THIS $3600 AUTOMASTER TYRE CHANGER! TOP QUALITY AT THE BEST PRICE: FREE! utomaster is teaming up with Auto channel magazine to give you the chance to win this new tyre changer, worth more than $3600.

How? Just look up autochannel.co.nz, enter your business email address, choose your industry category, and you will go into the draw to win this brand spanking tyre changer!

This is the best possible prize draw to be in. Your odds of winning this competition have got to be the best of almost any competition you could enter this year. It’s an exclusive offer, only open to the automotive trade in New Zealand, and to the readers of this magazine.

The Automaster 202 IT is ideal for mechanical workshops that do their own tyre work, but it is robust enough for small tyre shops. Its stainless steel bead-breaking cylinder delivers 3000kg of punch.

The heavy duty shafts and a four-jaw turntable have the power to handle the toughest tyres on 10-inch to 22-inch diameter rims. The pneumatic tilting post, once set, returns to exact same position for each tyre and the locking system automatically gives

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vertical and horizontal clearance from the rim.

It also comes with plastic jaw protectors and head inserts for damage-free handling of delicate alloy rims. It’s a great prize and sure to become a workshop favourite.

You can also add optional helper arms to assist with low-profile performance tyres and, for even more power, you can choose the high-torque threephase, two-speed motor that also gives you a two-speed turntable. The machine has a built-in pedal-controlled inflation system that includes a fast inflating air blaster to help with those flat stacked tyres. The AM202IT comes complete with a Japanese-made water trap and oiler, quality bucket of tyre lube and lube brush, a heavy duty tyre lever and a one-year warranty.

RRP is $3195 + GST. Don’t delay, go to autochannel.co.nz now and get your entry in.

BNT and Fram create world cup winners FRAM FILTER SUPPLIERS FILPRO AUTOMOTIVE AND BNT ARE GEARING CUSTOMERS UP FOR THE RUGBY WORLD CUP he 2019 Rugby World Cup is just around the corner and Fram has invited all BNT trade customers to show their true colours. Buying Fram filters from BNT put customers in the draw to win one of 20 home team ‘ultimate supporters packs’.

All customers who spent over $100 + GST (this was aimed at the trade) went in the draw. In addition, the first 300 customers over that threshold in the first month received a promotional key ring. Spot prizes for qualifying spends in the following two months were flags and then drink coolers. All of the spot prize winners went in the draw for the main prizes with other qualifying purchasers, which would see them covered in team kit from head to toe, in caps, scarves, jerseys and more, ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup this month.

Some of the 20 winners are still being contacted.

Darin Burns of Waiuku Automotive received his prize after the All Blacks’ win over the Wallabies. “I’m glad it was this week and not last week,” he joked. The prizes were shared with his co-owner Simon Collins and staff. “it will definitely get used,” he said. Darin said he appreciated the prize from Fram. “We’ve been using them for years and never had an issue. That’s the main thing — keep with a good product.”

Grant Wenzlick of Penrose Motors was another lucky Fram purchaser. He distributed his winnings among family. “We are proud kiwis and we support anything

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

New Zealand,” he said. He explained that Penrose Motors has several large corporate customers and he is happy to specify Fram filters for their vehicles. He said the prize was also a nice ‘welcome back’ to BNT. When he heard he’d won an ultimate supporter’s pack, South African-born Car Care owner Brendan Horsford asked if his staff were trying to complete his Kiwi conversion. He says the prize pack was a big win at home — his kids are Kiwi born. One thing won’t change though: Brendan says he will be sticking with Fram filters.

BNT manager Damian Smuts (left) and Scott Brokenshire (right) congratulate prize-winner Brendan Horsford

Simon (left) and Daryn (right) accept the prize from Fram’s Scott Brokenshire

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The pH neutral cleaner called OzzyJuice is used to effectively clean parts, removing grease and grime while the naturally occurring process of bioremediation is used to turn those potentially hazardous contaminants into a harmless by-product of carbon dioxide and water. Simply put, the OzzyJuice cleans the part while the bioremediation process cleans the fluid.

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

Smartwashers — the view from the sink MICROBE-POWERED PARTS WASHERS ARE GOOD IN THEORY. HOW DO THEY WORK IN PRACTICE? n ecologically friendly parts washer: Nice idea but they probably won’t work — or at least not as well as the good old-fashioned, ecounfriendly but effective solvent bath.

That was Total Mechanical’s Jarrod Rogers’ view.

“Usually anything environmentally friendly doesn’t work as good — but this works!” he says.

Even after being told of the benefits, Jarrod, who runs the truck and tractor and gearbox (and everything else) workshop in Motueka, was sceptical, but he decided to try out a friend down the road’s Smartwasher .

“He got one before me. I was dubious but I used his a couple of times and I was impressed,” he says.

“It does brake systems and hubs and it works just as good as the old white spirits used to do.

And it’s nice and warm during the winter.”

The bath and tank stays plugged in to maintain around 40 degrees, the temperature at which the bacteria in the tank are most active. They munch their way through the oil and grease washed off by the proprietary detergent cleaner in the parts bath. Jarrod now looks forward to cleaning parts on cold mornings. He even washes most of the dirt off his hands in the bath before using hand cleaner.

Jarrod is happy to avoid the whole business of having to buy solvents, store those highly flammable liquids on site, and dispose of them. “We are just not using solvents now,” he says.

His only task now is to replace the filter mats between the bath and the tank about once a fortnight, or once a week if he has had a lot of dirty gear to clean. The mats are impregnated with fresh stocks of hungry bacteria.

Ray Rennie Automotive in Tahunanui also gives the Smartwasher a thumbs-up. Ray says some people might be put off by the upfront cost of buying a Smartwasher but he says the savings make it a no-brainer.

“We used the old bath with parts cleaner and we’d buy 20 litres at $100 a time, and they’d take 50 litres, but the bottom of it was always full of sludge so no one would use it and we’d use cans of brake cleaner. ”We used to get through two or three 20-litre containers of brake clean per month. Now we use one every two months.”

His model of Smartwasher is on wheels so he rolls it under a car on the hoist to clean the engine to find an oil leak, or to clean brakes. Previously they would have used a lot of brake cleaner to do the same job.

“It’s much better than using the old solvents and how do you dispose of them? You just can’t,” he says. “And it’s better for all of us, on our hands.”

Ray also got a sweet deal on the maintenance. The company that sold the Smartwasher to him three years ago comes in weekly to clean it, change the filter and check up on the fluids — but that works

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for them as they are on-site to sell him anything else he needs at the time.

Solvent parts washers use hazardous chemicals to clean parts, such as mineral spirits, benzene, xylene, or trichloroethane. They are hazardous to the employees in direct contact with the parts washer, and employees in the same vicinity who can also inhale the volatile chemicals in the solvents. And even proper disposal of this hazardous waste results in ongoing handling hazards, energy consumption, and environmental impact in making it safe.

Bioremediating parts cleaners use microbes to remove or neutralize contaminants, converting

harmful materials into non-toxic by-products.

The microbes in the CRC Smartwasher tank break grease, oil, and grime down, creating by-products of carbon dioxide and water. The only waste from the process, the expired non-toxic filter, can go in the normal waste stream and represents just a tiny fraction of the waste produced from conventional solvent washers. On a yearly basis, Smartwashers produce about 3.3kg of inert solid waste compared with the 377kg of hazardous waste, plus disposal fees, for solvents changed every six weeks.

For more information, see crcsmartwasher.co.nz, contact colsons@crc.co.nz, or call 021 747 606.

Total Mechanical’s Jarrod Rogers scrubs up

19

A smarter spring for tough terrain TERRAIN TAMER HAS RELEASED A NEW PARABOLIC LEAF SPRING FOR TOYOTA HILUX errain Tamer’s new spring for Hilux KUN25/26 and GGN25 models uses the same parabolic design created for Land Cruiser models in 2018, and adds to Terrain Tamer’s extensive suspension range.

Terrain Tamer’s parabolic design contains fewer leaves than regular leaf springs which provides a quieter and more comfortable ride. The springs get their name from their tapered parabolic design. The spring is thicker in the centre and thinner toward the ends, giving greater progression than the usual linear design.

Through extensive research and development, Terrain Tamer has also found that the new shape allows for smoother ride, with better axle articulation.

The parabolic design also allows the spring to be more flexible, while still being strong enough to bear the weight of heavy loads. This is particularly useful in 4WD applications when carrying extra load on the driveline or when challenged with difficult terrain. This more flexible design also allows the differential housing to rotate with the springs a little when the driver hits a bump in the road, which effectively reduces the shock transferred to the crown wheel and pinion.

Standard leaf packs stay set with almost no flex or rotation, transmitting more shock to the vehicle

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and driver.

Eliminating the weight of thick traditional leaf packs also dramatically reduces the unsprung weight of the vehicle.

Tech tips: replacing a clutch slave cylinder HOW TO PREVENT DAMAGE WHEN INSTALLING A CLUTCH CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER (CSC) SCs are subject to wear and tear but most CSC failures take place during fitting or bleeding, so it pays to do it right first time. To avoid damage, Clutch Industries recommends the following dos and don’ts.

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The lack of interleaf friction also minimizes issues with rust build up — one of the major causes of failure in standard leaf springs. The parabolic design allows the spring to compress or extend as designed, without interference from other leaves, until there is a reasonable load on the vehicle, up to 500kg.

For more information on Terrain Tamer’s Parabolic Leaf Springs, as well as the rest of its product range, visit terraintamer.com.

Dos Clean, clean, clean: clean the old gasket or replace it; dust off connection areas and clean the transmission input shaft.

Refer to the vehicle’s original manufacturer for specific installation and bleeding procedures. While CSC installation may seem to be a generic procedure, modern CSCs can have varied installation and bleeding procedures.

Completely replace a damaged CSC. Repairing a damaged CSC is usually impossible anyway. It’s also highly recommended that a CSC should be replaced with every clutch installation to last the lifespan of the new clutch.

Don’ts Don’t use any lubricants or cleaning agents as this can damage gaskets and rubber components.

Don’t use a pressure bleeding device — unless recommended by the manufacturer — as this can damage the CSC. Don’t manually compress the CSC. This can damage the internal seals.

Repco stocks Clutch Industries’ vast range of clutch kits many of which come with CSCs, although Repco also sells replacement CSCs by themselves. To find out more, call Repco.

20

Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

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Garage 360: Jaguar Workshop THIS WORKSHOP OWNER’S PASSION FOR THE MARQUE HELPS MORE PEOPLE INTO JAGUAR OWNERSHIP hen you find a workshop you trust and you feel the people there understand you and your car, especially if it’s a bit special, then you are going to stick with that workshop.

Loyal customers are a big part of Jeremy and Thuy Hatch’s business at the Jaguar Workshop in Greenmount Drive in Auckland’s East Tamaki. The business has been running for four years in its current guise but Jeremy has worked on Jaguars as long as he has known which way to turn a spanner.

His dad was a Jaguar enthusiast and used to race them. Jeremy says there has always been more than one in the family collection. He wouldn’t say exactly how many Jaguars he owns himself but it’s well into double figures. He admits “it’s a bit of an obsession”.

Prints of two classy paintings, of a Mark II Jaguar and a Mark VII, which once adorned the walls of a Jaguar dealership, now take pride of place in the Jaguar Workshop’s reception.

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SERVICING THROUGH TO FULL RESTORATION When it comes to working on Jags, Jeremy and apprentice Jack Smith cover the field. They carry out servicing and mechanical repairs and bodywork repairs. They are ideally placed to carry out restoration work, having all the metalwork skills on hand.

Also on the wall are a couple of prized certificates.

Jeremy trained as a panel beater and won first place in the 2002 SkillEx regional competition as an apprentice. He also got third in the national final — a result that still rankles today. He missed an instruction to finish off a workpiece with orbital sanding. Had he done that, Jeremy would surely have placed higher as that piece showing his hammering and filing skills was put on display at the competition.

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

On the day Auto Channel visited there were two Mark II Jags in the workshop showing Jeremy’s handiwork. One was being prepared for painting and another nearing the end of a complete restoration.

Jeremy says his expertise and specialisation in the Jaguar marque has helped insulate his business from some of the impact insurance industry practices have had on the body repair industry in recent years.

“It certainly helps that Jaguar owners say ‘I want to take it to the Jaguar Workshop’,” he says. And some insurers appreciate the efficiency resulting from their specialist knowledge in the repair process.

“There isn’t an element of any model of Jaguar that we have not replaced, repaired, serviced, or restored,” says Jeremy.

RIGHT PARTS, RIGHT PRICE While Jaguar is a premium brand, the Jaguar Workshop has a pragmatic view of its business, which has grown from Jeremy’s long familiarity with the cars being an everyday part of his life.

His business is based on delivering value to Jaguar owners. “We make owning and maintaining a Jaguar a more affordable proposition for a lot more people,” says Jeremy.

One of the key parts of this strategy is the Jaguar Workshop’s parts business. As an independent operator, the workshop is able to tap into sources not officially available to dealer workshops.

They stock, source and supply new and used quality Jaguar parts to workshops around the country.

They have developed a global network of OEM suppliers and Jaguar specialists, including companies remanufacturing parts for all cars dating back to the ’50s, and beyond.

Their reputation depends on the quality of their support for the marque, so they will only supply high-quality parts.

Combining the efficiency that comes from their specialisation and best value parts supply add up to solid savings for customers.

FAVOURITE TOOLS That value to both customers and the repair industry extends into repairs. It’s not uncommon for other workshops to call for advice on Jaguars or to send tricky problems their way. A typical example would be workshops having problems interpreting results from diagnostic tools. This can be complicated by software updates which can overwrite versions that worked for older cars, meaning they don’t deliver results technicians could get in the past.

Jeremy has a diagnostic tool dedicated to Jaguars with access to a complete library that ensures he’s got the right tool for the job. That makes it one of Jeremy’s favourite tools.

Another favourite tool is the Car-O-Liner chassis and body straightening equipment. It does the heavy lifting in realigning chassis and body damage.

It enables Jeremy to put his hand skills to work to rescue damaged cars that would otherwise be written off.

23

Hybrids, not full EVs, are best case for the planet TO REDUCE CO2, THE WORLD’S SUPPLY OF BATTERIES WOULD BE BEST ALLOCATED TO HYBRIDS RATHER THAN EVS s automotive battery capacity is scarce, expensive and suffering supply problems, the deployment of this limited resource is critical to maximising CO2 reduction. And the most effective way to reduce global vehicle emissions for the foreseeable future is not full battery EVs — but mass adoption of hybrid vehicles.

That’s the conclusion from Emissions Analytics, the world’s leading independent specialist for the scientific measurement of real-world emissions.

With tardy consumer adoption of battery electric vehicles, BEVs and slow infrastructure roll-out compounded by concerns about the supply of batteries, it is essential to find the fastest, most efficient way to reduce CO2 now.

“One of our biggest challenges is fleet turnover, with vehicles staying on the road typically for up to 12 years,” explains Nick Molden, CEO of Emissions Analytics. “It means that refreshing the entire fleet is a very slow process. Due to CO2’s long life in the atmosphere, a small change now is far better than a large change in the future.” Through extensive real-world testing of electrified vehicles, Emissions Analytics has found that hybrids, whether in gasoline or diesel form, offer the highest CO2 reduction per kWh across all electrified powertrains.

Using mild, full and plug-in hybrid real-world emissions test data, from both European and US vehicles, Emissions Analytics compared hybrids with their internal combustion engine equivalents.

Using the company’s standardised on-road cycle, it determined the average CO2 reduction from hybridisation was 23 per cent for the EU and 34 per cent for the US, with an average of 30 per cent

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

across all pairings.

Emissions Analytics then calculated the distancespecific CO2 reduction per unit of battery size (capacity), in g/km/kWh, for mild, full, plug-in hybrids and BEVs. The results indicated that mild hybrids are the most efficient way to reduce CO2, given limited global battery capacity. With a reduction of 73.9g/ km/kWh, the technology was a clear favourite, with full hybrids coming in second at 50.5g/km/kWh. Due to their disproportionately large batteries, BEVs were the worst of the available options, with a mere 3.5g/km/kWh reduction. The size of BEV batteries tends to be large to accommodate infrequent, extreme use cases — like high-mileage trips, not often undertaken by average drivers — and do not make the best uses of limited supply.

The calculations did not take into account the upstream CO2 in fuel extraction, refining and transportation, or the production and distribution of electricity. Some studies suggest the upstream CO2 of electricity is greater than for gasoline, but the relative efficiency calculations here implicitly assume they are equal.

“Electrification has proved to be a promising path to reducing tailpipe emissions,” continued Nick Molden. “The most extreme form of the technology — fully-electric vehicles — are often hailed as the solution. Paradoxically, full BEVs appear to be a highly inefficient way to achieve an urgent and meaningful CO2 reduction. With supply chain issues and consumer acceptance challenges including range and price, there is cause to investigate alternative use of our limited battery capacity.”

Improving the air quality in cities is another popular

reason for those championing BEVs. It is, however, a false assertion that they are needed to fulfil this purpose. Existing technology is more than capable of bringing European cities within compliance, the primary polluters being vehicles with older internal combustion engine technology.

Molden outlined two potential paths that are immediately available. One is a switch from gasoline to diesel, reducing CO2 by 11 per cent, coupled with a mild hybrid system, providing a further six per cent reduction. A final swap to full hybrids would deliver an addition 16 per cent reduction for a 34 per cent total. Alternatively, switching directly from gasoline to gasoline mild hybrids provides an 11 per cent reduction, with a further 23 per cent from the move to full hybrid.

The EU’s post-2021 CO2 reduction target for passenger cars is 37.5 per cent by 2030. Emissions Analytics tests clearly shows that, even with current technology, widespread hybridisation would achieve over three-quarters of that target.

Given a decade of further advances and innovations, it is possible that the goal could be met without the need for BEVs at all. Beyond the 37.5 per cent reduction target, more extensive electrification would be required to bring whole fleet emissions down.

“The ideal solution is an immediate transition to petrol and diesel hybrids, with a further decade spent refining the technology, infrastructure and battery supply chain to allow the adoption of BEVs,” concluded Molden. “By 2030, the EU and the US would have had another decade to develop expanded, cleaner electricity generation capacity, improving the lifecycle emissions of BEVs. “Alternatively, by 2030 the availability and price of renewable energy may well fall to a level at which hydrogen fuel cells could be economically viable.

These avoid the environmental and geopolitical issues caused by largescale battery production and would likely offer even lower lifecycle emissions. The overall message is this though: it is paramount that governments and industry take into consideration real-world data when promoting technologies to efficiently reduce CO2.”

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Automotive co-operatives — one or both, or neither?

TWO AUTOMOTIVE CO-OPERATIVES ARE VYING FOR WORKSHOPS’ AND SUPPLIERS’ ATTENTION, OFFERING A RANGE OF BENEFITS. WE PUT THEM HEAD TO HEAD s consolidation among distributors and retailers continues in the industry, small independent workshops can get concerned about being at the mercy of bigger players.

Who is fighting their corner? And what can they do to get more customers in their pipeline, trade outside their local area and achieve the economies of scale open to the bigger players?

Many workshops have seen joining a co-operative as the answer, and for many years the only option was Capricorn. In 2014 a former staff member, Roger Castleton, and some like-minded independent operators, decided there was room for an alternative that offered something different. How different is it — and do the benefits of membership outweigh the associated overheads, or could independent traders negotiate better deals on their own? We asked Capricorn and newcomer Blackfern the same questions.

Andrew Baird, Head of Sales New Zealand, Capricorn Society Ltd answered for Capricorn, and managing director Roger Castelton answered for Blackfern Cooperative. We have edited answers for length.

Capricorn Risk Services provides access to cover that’s tailored for the motor trade.

We also host a number of events to benefit the sustainability of the industry as we connect members and preferred suppliers.

We have a number of upcoming initiatives outside of vehicle parts but essential to the successful running of a workshop. In short, there has never been a better time to join Capricorn and not only survive but thrive.

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4: What advantages do you provide suppliers?

(Why would a supplier want to join your organisation?)

Being a Capricorn preferred supplier means having access to more than 4200 workshops across New Zealand — a significant sales opportunity. Other practical benefits include guaranteed payments (even if the member doesn’t pay Capricorn), no bad debts or chasing payment, no setting up individual accounts with members and being part of one of the most generous reward schemes in Australasia.

5: Where is your business based?

Capricorn has more than 20 locally based area managers and risk account managers throughout New Zealand that are backed up by our support office in Perth. But the only flag we fly is the one on behalf of automotive repairers.

Andrew Baird 1: When was your business established in New Zealand, and what prompted your entry in this market?

Capricorn had its beginnings in 1974 in Western Australia and expanded to all states of Australia. It was a natural decision to establish an operation in New Zealand. In May 1997, Capricorn commenced business in New Zealand. Over the past twenty plus years, we’ve developed an unparalleled network of preferred suppliers delivering unrivalled returns to each and every Capricorn member, from Kaitaia to Stewart Island.

For us it’s a really simple equation. As an industry, we’re stronger together. The more members who join, the more benefits we can return to them.

2: How many members do you have (in the motor trade — workshops/suppliers)?

In New Zealand we have more than 4200 members and over 400 preferred suppliers...offering but not limited to aftermarket vehicle parts, new parts, recycled parts, electrical parts, agricultural parts, truck parts, paint, software, workshop equipment, stationery, training and tyres.

Of course, our New Zealand members also benefit from the combined strength of Capricorn’s 21,000 member workshops across both Australia and New Zealand.

3: What advantages do you offer members?

(Why would a workshop owner want to join your organisation?)

Capricorn continues to grow from strength to strength, working with businesses to maximise the efficiency and profitability of each member’s own enterprise.

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

As a Capricorn member you are rewarded just for doing your everyday business. With no membership fees to pay, why wouldn’t you want to join?

Benefits that save members time include: Instant trade credit with all preferred suppliers across New Zealand. All purchases… are consolidated on the one simple monthly bill. This means no more mucking around with stacks of invoices, saving members hours in accounting every month.

Financial benefits for members include: Capricorn members earn 1.5 reward points on almost every dollar spentthat can be used to effectively discount their purchases with 100 reward points redeemable for 1 dollar.

Exclusive promotions from preferred suppliers include “Bonus Reward Point” offers.

Members own Capricorn and, as shareholders, receive dividend payments. Capricorn has paid dividends over the last 6 years that far exceed bank deposit interest rates representing in gross terms, just over 15% in each of those years.

Members are also eligible to earn trade rebates.

Capricorn has paid a total of $10 million in trade rebates back to members over the last two years.

Additional business resources for members include: Subscription to Capricorn Service Data, which, powered by Autodata, gives members detailed service information for more the 34,000 vehicles.

Specialised business tools and resources to help them optimise their business operations, marketing, employee management and customer service.

Loans from Capricorn Finance. This includes short term loans that are completely interest free.

6: What’s your key strength or main point of difference from others?

Capricorn delivers a range of member benefits that no other automotive cooperative comes close to matching. Capricorn members get more financial rewards, more complementary industry resources and more business advantages than any other trans-Tasman automotive cooperative. All for no membership fees.

In addition, the range of parts and services Capricorn is able to offer its members is unrivalled. Capricorn shows that the real power in the auto industry, is power in numbers.

7: Does your organisation have a role in the motor industry beyond trading amongst members?

The Capricorn Trade Account is an important member benefit but it’s not why Capricorn exists.

Capricorn exists to help our members grow their businesses and be successful. That’s why Capricorn offers a range of business resources at no charge.

It’s also why Capricorn runs industry initiatives like the Capricorn Rising Stars, Apprentice of the Year competition which is designed to address the shortage of qualified repairers by giving members an opportunity to recognise, reward and retain their outstanding apprentices. Events like the recent “Futures Collide” Collision Repairers Conference is another example of the many events Capricorn runs each year... This conference brought together panel repairers, manufacturers and insurance representatives from all over New Zealand

and Australia to discuss the impact of modern diagnostics.

8: What is the ownership structure?

Capricorn is 100% member owned. That’s why all benefits and profits go back to members, not to any external or private shareholders. Capricorn is a cooperative whose purpose is to benefit members.

9: How do you provide assurance that members are getting the best prices?

Capricorn appoints its preferred suppliers selectively assessing their ability to meet member needs based on their geographic coverage, choice offered, and pricing. This assessment is ongoing and it is important for our preferred suppliers to maintain this preferred status with Capricorn and ensure a competitive offering to our members. Our team of local area managers is close to the action and across these types of issues.

We had one more question. Question 10 was: The state of the industry: What are the biggest issues for independent repairers at present and how do you see their future?

On this question, both parties hit issues almost ball for ball and we couldn’t separate them. Their answers were extensive, too big to fit in here but it’s a topic we will return to in a future issue of Auto Channel.

Roger Castelton (answers on behalf of Blackfern)

1: When was your business established in New Zealand, and what prompted your entry in this market?

Blackfern Cooperative held its first meeting on the 5 August 2014. People at that meeting agreed there was a clear need for an alternative local based group to inject a competitive option. Subsequently, 14 out of 15 workshop owners voted unanimously to create a cooperative buying group.

2: How many members do you have (in the motor trade —workshops/suppliers)?

Currently we have in excess of 700 trading workshop members throughout New Zealand.

This is growing at a staggering rate which confirms the initial industry need identified back in 2014.

Regarding suppliers, well, we are new in this field so the raw number wouldn’t be impressive but we have looked for and found valuable suppliers that we rate highly for their quality and their ability to operate cooperatively and add value for our members.

We won’t take suppliers just to have them on the roster. Above all we will be fair to all stakeholders and loyal members who trust the value of their membership within the Blackfern fold. I can say we have a balanced mix of regional and national suppliers being mostly New Zealand companies and well-known brands. We are proud to assist small emerging local suppliers compete also.

3: What advantages do you offer members?

(Why would a workshop owner want to join your organisation?)

One simple account is often cited as the main driver for members and it’s clearly easier to manage, freeing up businesses to get on with earning income.

Supporting a New Zealand–based cooperative is another reason. You know the cash exchanged within the co-operative and for member services are staying within New Zealand. No monthly, nor annual fees and association is voluntary. We also have friendly, helpful administration staff, who care and work for the members both during trading and after hours. And we have a level of personal service that offers less complication around amending or resolving any facilitation issues. Another benefit is collective competitive pricing and specials. Group Travel options for example, F1 Melbourne group tour for March 2020. No fee deferred payments offered on equipment purchases. Reward points which can be redeemed anytime because they never expire. Free access to shared business information through member forums. As well as sharing our own knowledge we can also offer structured advice from advisors from both within the industry and from the wider business world. On the technology front we are also pushing ahead offering access to suppliers using a smart phone via our website. Oh and a final point: membership of Blackfern does not exclude you from membership of any other groups, it’s all about having choice.

4: What advantages do you provide suppliers?

(Why would a supplier want to join your organisation?)

Guaranteed early payment. Simple remittance reports. Administration savings, not having to send out statements to individual members. Automatic prequalified customer list. Blackfern also has a number of simple tailored options to submit data.

Trading reports are provided. Collective and effective marketing. Much of the cost is built in to our lower competitive fee. Suppliers also have an option to become trading members and enjoy member benefits. Suppliers are a valued stakeholder in the Blackfern story and treated accordingly, their success is our success.

5: Where is your business based?

Our office is rural-based, in the South Wairarapa.

Phone calls will often have the distant sound of

livestock in the background which signifies the kiwi grassroots of our small but emerging cooperative business. Operating only in New Zealand we are set up to comply fully with New Zealand legislation and tax obligations.

6: What’s your key strength or main point of difference from others?

We believe we offer a balance between our small size and our potential size — I know this sounds like a riddle, but we are not out to be the biggest.

We believe there is a sweet spot where you get the benefits of small organisations who share a vision and know what everyone is doing and the benefits you get where an organisation adds up to more than the sum of its parts. We are small enough to grow with industry change and stay in tune with members needs as different challenges that arise, instead of trying to channel members interests to fit a certain model. In a relatively short time, on the buying group side of the business, we have become large enough to make a difference. We have also found a big demand recently around our credit services. This takes nothing away from other providers. It just means we can adapt and develop strengths and expertise in this area and pass that knowledge on tailored for the workshop.

7: Does your organisation have a role in the motor industry beyond trading amongst members?

Our members are vital parts of the communities they operate in and one of the ways we can play a role in that community is for example, educating drivers about the WOF changes. That could and should be a paramount focus for many service organisations in our industry right now. Blackfern will certainly do our bit around this where we can and encourage others to do the same for the good of the industry and public safety.

8: What is the ownership structure?

We are wholly owned by our members and all benefits flow to them. It is worth pointing out that not all co-operatives are the same. The rules allow many different versions and the distribution of dividends can be organised in different ways.

Blackfern offers and issues shares in accordance with New Zealand Co-operative Companies Act 1996. We paid our first dividend last year.

9: How do you provide assurance that members are getting the best prices?

Blackfern hangs it hat on a non-disadvantage clause. Participating suppliers agree that no member will be disadvantaged on price or service facilitating through Blackfern. What this translates to is, that a supplier will provide the member the current same price or better from that particular supplier. As we grow, suppliers see the value in Blackfern and often volunteer a reduced price break or member only specials for our members. We noticed a large shift on this subject from suppliers once we exceeded 500 members. We are small enough to have those honest conversations one on one with those suppliers, but big enough to support a price break. It’s important that suppliers are also members so they see the need and apply member breaks where possible. Members also enjoy reward points for any transactions through Blackfern which should also be a consideration.

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Car news

Jaguar is changing the definition of ‘car’ JAGUAR POINTS OUT ITS I-PACE AND OTHER NEW-TECH CARS ARE OUTPACING THE LANGUAGE aguar is changing the definition of ‘car’, or at least trying to. Jaguar is spearheading a campaign to get the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and oxforddictionaries.com to change their definitions of the word ‘car’.

According to Oxford, Jaguar’s all-electric performance SUV the 2019 World Car of the Year, isn’t even a car. The OED, the principal historical dictionary of the English language, defines a ‘car’ in its online dictionary as: “a road vehicle powered by a motor (usually an internal combustion engine) designed to carry a driver and a small number of passengers, and usually having two front and two rear wheels, esp. for private, commercial, or leisure use.”

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That’s at least more inclusive than the definition of a ‘car’ on oxforddictionaries.com, a collection of dictionary websites produced by Oxford University Press (OUP), the publishing house of the University of Oxford. Its definition is: “A road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine and able to carry a small number of people.”

To remedy the situation, Jaguar has submitted a formal application to the OED and oxforddictionaries.com to update the definitions to include additional powertrains, including electric vehicles (EVs). Jaguar Land Rover New Zealand general manager Steve Kenchington said the largely symbolic campaign shows how rapidly automotive technology and design are changing.

UK car market declines amid rules confusion EVEN HYBRIDS TAKE A HIT AS INCENTIVES ARE REMOVED K new car registrations declined for a fourth consecutive month in June, with year-on-year demand falling 4.9% to 223,421 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 1,269,245 new cars joined British roads in the first half of the year, down –3.4% as ongoing confusion over low emission zones and diesel, the removal of key ultra low emission vehicle incentives, and an overall decline in buyer confidence affected the market.

Demand fell in all sectors, with private registrations seeing a decline of –4.8%, while larger fleet and business registrations also fell, down –2.5% and –37.1% respectively. Declines were also seen across every vehicle segment except ‘dual purpose’ which grew 7.3% year-to-date to take 22.6% of the market. Superminis remains the UK’s best-selling segment, making up 31.0% of all registrations in

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the first six months.

The month saw growth for petrol and battery electric registrations, up 3.0% and 61.7% respectively, but this was not enough to offset

KEEPING THE PUBLIC ON BOARD “The concept of our understanding of how a car operates has remained consistent for generations but we are now entering a period of rapid evolution in the industry that will fundamentally change the way we use our vehicles,” Kenchington said.

The introduction of increasingly autonomous vehicles, expected in the next decade, will even “challenge our definition of driving,” he said.

He says Jaguar Land Rover is working to ensure consumer awareness of innovation “is kept at a level that will ensure public acceptance of the new technologies”.

Jaguar unveiled the I-Pace, its first all-electric vehicle, last year. The car has a 90kW lithium-ion battery, two Jaguar-designed motors, and a bespoke aluminium structure. The I-Pace is capable of 0–100km/h in 4.8 seconds and a range of up to 470km (WLTP).

Jaguar is inviting people to suggest new definitions for the word ‘car’ on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using the hastag #redefinethecar.

the continuing decline of diesel, which fell for the 27th month in a row (–20.5%). Significantly, plug-in hybrids continued the recent downward trend, falling by a massive –50.4%, while hybrids also fell, by –4.7%. The performance tipped the overall alternatively fuelled vehicle sector into negative growth for the first time since April 2017, undermining efforts to reduce emissions through fleet renewal of the latest ultra low emission vehicles. This is despite ongoing investment, which has enabled manufacturers to offer British car buyers more choice than ever before with more than 350 models now available in the UK — 44 of them plug-ins.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes criticized confusing policies and the premature removal of purchase incentives after manufacturers had invested billions in more efficient technologies.

“Fleet renewal remains the quickest way to address environmental concerns today and consumers should have the confidence — and support — to choose the new car that best meets their driving needs, whatever the technology, secure in the knowledge that it is safer and cleaner than ever before,” he said.

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UK vanity plates reach a different level High-powered EV chargers roll out in Europe NEW HIGH-POWER CHARGING STATIONS CAPABLE OF TAKING A 150KW VEHICLE TO 80% IN 30 MINUTES y 2020 the Ionity joint venture, which unites Daimler, Ford, BMW, and the Volkswagen Group, aims to have 400 high power charging (HPC) sites on stream across Europe offering a combined total of up to 2400 chargers. The network has been designed to facilitate pan-European travel, with a focus on ultra-fast charging times and convenient motorway locations. HPC is widely regarded as essential to the increased adoption of electric vehicles, making long distance journeys far more viable than is currently the case when the more commonplace 50kW chargers are relied upon.

As EV battery technology develops, charging times as low as eight minutes at these stations will increasingly become the norm, making the case for foregoing fossil fuel even more compelling.

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Every charge point in the network is also provided with 100% renewable energy by Ionity partner Octopus Energy’s Electric Juice, greatly reducing the environmental impact of every journey ‘fuelled’ by one of the stations.

Being the first series production electric vehicle to be rechargeable at up to 150kW, the Audi e-tron can reap the efficiency rewards offered by Ionity’s latest high power fast charging station in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, which opened in July. It is equipped with four high power 350kW chargers which can replenish the e-tron using renewable energy to 80% of its battery capacity from a full drain in around 30 minutes, and charge it fully in around 50 minutes. It is the second of a planned UK network of 40 sites.

European city-based vans going electric LONDON’S LOW-EMISSION ZONE DRIVING A CHANGE TO ELECTRIC VANS K sales of the fully electric Nissan e-NV200 have increased by 200% in 2019 as small business leaders look to increase fleet efficiency and reduce costs, amid changing emissions legislation and the introduction of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone.

The surging demand echoes the results of a recent Nissan survey, showing that 24% of UK small businesses expect van fleets to be fully electric within a decade.

One in three UK van fleet operators also says that business efficiency is its main motivation when adopting new technologies, followed by cost saving (17%). The e-NV200 is perfect for addressing this demand, with running costs from 2p per mile, and

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

zero tailpipe emissions that ensure the vehicle is exempt from low emission charge zones.

The director of Nissan’s LCV business unit Paolo D’Ettore said, “The success of e-NV200 truly demonstrates that we have the right product at the right time. The acceleration of fleet electrification — especially in city centres — is a challenge for our customers, so we recognise the need to work with them and provide the optimal ecosystem to support a smooth transition to electric vehicles.

“Thanks to its intelligent design and zero-emissions powertrain, the Nissan e-NV200 is the perfect tool to help businesses maximise their operational success and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

THE LAST OF ITS KIND GOES UNDER THE HAMMER Retired businessman Ian Guest from Barnard Castle stunned all during the second day of DVLA Personalised Registrations’ 30th Anniversary auction in Cardiff by successfully securing ‘IG 1’ for £222,000 (NZ$427,000).

With fees taking the total sum to be paid to £287,792, IG 1 becomes the agency’s third highest-selling personalized registration, behind ‘25 O’ and ‘1 D’, which went under its gavel for £400,000 in 2014 and £285,000 in 2009, respectively.

Mr Guest’s determination to buy was based on IG 1 being his “ultimate registration” to represent his initials, but he was surprised to learn IG 1 was also the last two letter, single number registration in the DVLA’s vast portfolio.

Moments after his success, Mr Guest said: “That was incredible. When the price went to £100,000 everything really became a haze. My wife expected me to pay between £240,000 and £260,000 but I never thought it would go so high. That said, I drove down with a limit of £400,000 in mind.”

‘IG 1’ will be placed on his prized Bentley Continental GT Speed.

The Nissan e-NV200 was the best-selling zeroemissions light commercial vehicle in 10 markets across Europe last year, including the UK, Italy, Norway and the Netherlands.

Since it was first launched in 2014, has delivered over 20,000 new e-NV200 vehicles to customers.

Ford and VW collaborate on autonomous and electric vehicles FORD AND VW TAKE EQUAL SHARE IN AI DEVELOPMENT COMPANY ord Motor Company and Volkswagen AG are expanding their global alliance to include electric vehicles. Volkswagen CEO Dr Herbert Diess and Ford president and CEO Jim Hackett announced Volkswagen is joining Ford in investing in Argo AI, the autonomous vehicle technology platform company led by Argo AI CEO Bryan Salesky.

Working together with Ford and Volkswagen, Argo AI’s self-driving system (SDS) is the first with commercial deployment plans for Europe and the US which also makes it the largest geographic deployment potential of any autonomous driving technology to date.

Volkswagen and Ford will integrate Argo AI’s SDS independently into purpose-built vehicles.

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Argo AI’s focus remains on delivering a SAE Level 4– capable SDS for ride sharing and goods delivery services in dense urban areas.

EQUAL STAKES Ford and Volkswagen will have equal stakes in Argo AI, and combined, Volkswagen and Ford will own a substantial majority. The remainder will be used as an incentive pool for Argo AI employees. The full transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

“While Ford and Volkswagen remain independent and fiercely competitive in the marketplace, teaming up and working with Argo AI on this important

technology allows us to deliver unmatched capability, scale and geographic reach,” Hackett said. “Unlocking the synergies across a range of areas allows us to showcase the power of our global alliance in this era of smart vehicles for a smart world.”

Company leaders also announced Ford will become the first additional automaker to use Volkswagen’s dedicated electric vehicle architecture and Modular Electric Toolkit, or MEB, to deliver a high-volume zero-emission vehicle in Europe starting in 2023.

Ford expects to deliver more than 600,000 European vehicles using the MEB architecture over six years, with a second all-new Ford model for European customers under discussion.

Escort $150,000 — non runner ESCORT FANATICS — AND ESCORTS — COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES f bling is more your thing than driving then this is the perfect car for you. It’ll never be roadworthy, but this Ford Escort is worth a fortune. Why? It’s a one-off 1:25-scale model made from silver, gold, and diamonds.

The project has been a slow-burning labour of love for professional jeweller — and petrolhead — Russell Lord. The owner, over the years, of 55 fullsized Ford Escort cars, Lord first began work on this amazing model 25 years ago, pouring thousands of hours into completing the car.

The body is made of silver and the car also features gold brakes and spoiler, 18-carat gold wheels and bonnet hinges, 18-carat white gold front grille,

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72-point diamond headlights, orange sapphire indicators, and ruby rear brake lights.

“It’s been a hobby that I’ve come back to again and again but three years ago I determined to finish it. I know this car inside out — so there were no plans I just built it from the ground up piece by piece,” said Lord, from Essex, in the UK. Based on the works rally car driven by Ari Vatanen in the late 1970s, the Mk2 Escort cost $150,000 in materials.

Details include spinning pulleys on the front of the engine, a moving diamond-encrusted platinum gear stick, and the glass windows — which involved smashing countless vases to find sections of glass with exactly the right curve.

Skin products bad news for cars SUNSCREEN AND HAND SANITIZER TAKE THEIR TOLL ON PAINT AND PLASTICS nce summer arrives, we will start to slip slap and slop but that slopping part is bad news for cars.

Chemicals found in some commonly applied lotions designed to protect human health can react with vehicle surfaces, causing them to wear prematurely unless they are protected by special finishes.

This is a challenge that Ford engineers deal with daily, continually testing new products on the materials that are used in its vehicles and supporting the development of resistant coatings that can ensure they look good for years to come.

“From hand sanitizers to sun lotions to insect repellent, consumer trends are constantly changing, and new products are coming on to the market all the time,” said Mark Montgomery, senior materials engineer at the Materials Technology Centre, Dunton Technical Centre, UK, for Ford of Europe. “Even the most innocuous seeming product can cause problems when they come into contact with surfaces hundreds and even thousands of times a year.”

Higher sun protection factor lotions contain greater

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quantities of titanium oxide that can react with plastics and natural oils that are found in leather, especially when it is hot. Diethyltoluamide, or DEET, is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents. The European market for hand sanitizer, including gel, foam, and wipes, many of which contain ethanol, is expected to rise by 60 per cent.

“Sometimes what we do requires a bit of detective work,” said Richard Kyle, materials engineer, also based in Dunton. “There were instances of particularly high wear in Turkey and we managed to trace it back to ethanol potentially being a contributing factor, and most likely a popular hand sanitizer that contained 80% ethanol — far higher than anything we’d seen before. Once we knew what it was, we were able to do something about it.”

The Ford teams in Dunton in the UK and Cologne, Germany, test at temperatures that can in some cases reach 74°C — the temperature the inside of a car parked at the beach on a hot day might reach. In other tests they simulate extended exposure to the

sun, with samples bombarded with ultraviolet light, equivalent to the brightest place on earth, for up to 1152 hours (48 days).

They also test plastics for strength at temperatures as low as –30°C, when they become most brittle, repeatedly bouncing rubber balls 10 times heavier than a regulation football on surfaces to ensure the plastic doesn’t crack.

WORDS: MARCUS GIBSON AND JACKY TSE

Flex fuel: how flexi is it?

IN THIS EXPLORATION OF ETHANOL FLEX-FUEL SYSTEMS WE TALK TO JACKY TSE FROM JTUNE TO FIND OUT WHAT’S REQUIRED TO RUN ONE AND WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Typically, E85 requires 30 per cent more volume to produce the same energy as 98 octane, as it contains 30 per cent less energy per litre. However, the added usage is far outweighed by the benefits, such as the higher octane rating of 105–107 for pump variants and 112 for race-blended E85s n this modern world, everyone wants flexibility — in the way we work, in the way we dress, and, most importantly in the circles within which we navigate, in the fuel we choose to power our dyno killers.

Can you really have your cake and eat it, too — high-octane ethanol on the weekends for racing, then traditional petroleum-based 98-octane fuel for the week day shenanigans? That is precisely what a flex-fuel system allows, and it allows it without the need to run two separate fuel tanks.

It’s a common feature on many American and Australian OEM machines, as ethanol (E85) is available from the pump at the gas station — something that’s also starting to happen here. It’s because of this that retrofitting such systems to performance cars is a growing trend here in New Zealand.

The key component to a flex-fuel system is the sensor that is plumbed into the fuel line. It detects the ethanol content in the fuel by testing the conductivity of the fuel as it passes through.

Ethanol is a more efficient conductor than petroleum, so the higher the conductivity, the higher the reading. This information is then sent to the ECU, as with any other digital input, so that it can adjust the fuel trim table and retard the timing; the lower the ethanol percentage it reads, the less fuel and timing.

In OEM application, this is obviously all taken care of at the factory. However, in an aftermarket ECU, it can mean a very long and therefore expensive stay on the dyno, as each and every percentage would need to be configured — unless it is a high-end ECU that offers self-tuning function. Some common standalone ECUs don’t even have a specific input for flex

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fuel, and it needs to be done via a digital input such as the fuel temp.

What we wanted to test was both the validity of switching fuels in the system on the fly and just how accurate it would be. Could you simply dump your 98 on Friday night, fill up with E85, and go racing for the weekend? To showcase this, we would first set up a bench test inside the engine lab at Jtune. Jacky had set up a jerry rig consisting of a Zeitronix ethanol content analyser with gauge, a Walbro in-tank pump, and 10mm lines. We would later real-world test with an Evo II on the dyno.

Our test day begins by filling up two fuel cans at our local E85 pump — something those in the greater Auckland region are spoilt in having. Using our jerry-rigged Zeitronix ethanol content analyser with gauge, we set about testing the E85’s accuracy.

This will typically vary a small percentage either side of 85%, but this was a good batch, hitting its mark of 85% ethanol displayed on the gauge. We then dropped the same rig into a tub of 98 octane, after draining it as well as possible. Jacky tells us that the gauge would typically read between 3% and 4% in

For the test, we run Gull Pro Force E85, currently the only ethanol available from the pump in New Zealand. Made from a dairy industry by-product, casein, it’s a totally renewable resource and about as Kiwi as it can get. In other countries, the ethanol is produced from corn, wheat, sugar cane, and sorghum

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Excellent Service I Knowledgeable Staff I Top Quality Parts

Pure Kiwi

blackfern.coop quarter page.indd 1

14/06/2019 2:16:18 p.m.

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98 octane, but we were sitting much higher. It took us four rinses with fresh 98 to achieve the 3%–4% reading. Now, imagine that in your average full-size fuel system. That’s a serious amount of residue; even if you emptied the tank via a drain bung, achieving either pure 98 or pure E85 would take a serious amount of flushing and lots of wasted fuel.

To further push the point, we switched the rig back to the E85 tub and mixed in 98 in 10ml increments until we were reading E60. It took only the smallest amount of petrol to bring the number down dramatically. That’s when things got really interesting — or, should we say, confusing. Jacky began adding water to the blended fuel, and, as more water was added, the gauge began reading higher and higher numbers. So, we effectively ended up with a low-octane mixture that will falsely tell the ECU we have 105–107 octane ethanol in the lines. This occurs due to water’s conductivity, and, as we mentioned earlier, the fact that an ethanol sensor is a hygroscopic sensor testing conductivity.

Confused? Yip, fair enough.

So, if you can’t rely on the sensor to read the true ethanol content of the fuel, how can you rely on it for tuning purposes?

“Letting the ECU adjust the tune entirely based on an ECA sensor when running flex fuel is very risky. A good wideband oxygen sensor should be used, and set up with closed loop feedback, as well as a knock sensor to detect any knock. I always recommend running two wideband sensors in case of failure and giving out incorrect input to the ECU for ST Tuning (short-term fuel trim),” explained Jacky.

Our final test was a real-world example of switching a car from 98 to E85, as the owner wanted to have tunes for both fuels. With the fuel tank on empty, we filled the Evo II with 40 litres of pre-tested ethanol.

When we fired the Evo up, the gauge showed E15; then, as it sat idling and circulating the fuel, the figure rose and the idle became rough. After a quick fuel map adjustment, it was left to idle for 10 minutes, achieving a best reading of E70.

So, you can see that a simple swap-over, even with an empty tank, is never going to achieve a true E85 mix. In order to achieve that, the fuel would need to be dumped, the tank and surge tank drained, the filters and pumps dried out, and all the lines and rails flushed with E85. A big exercise no doubt, and something to be considered by all the weekend warriors out there swapping fuels on the regular without an ethanol content analyser set up. If your tune is on the ragged edge, it could spell disaster as that octane rating fluctuates.

Ethanol absorbs water, so care must be taken when storing the fuel, as the more water it absorbs, the lower the octane of the fuel, while the sensor will tell the opposite story. Petrol, on the other hand, does not absorb water. A good indication that your E85 has absorbed water is if it has turned cloudy

Running a higher octane allows for more timing, more boost, and more compression, but this is where the risk comes in. If your E85 tune is running on that ragged edge and the content drops, so does the octane rating, and that could spell disaster of the engine-blown kind

34

Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

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Products

The latest automotive products

Sice the day The Italian-made S200 tyre machine is the best solution for speed, efficiency and operator comfort.

It handles rims up to 30 inches and has intuitive controls and automatic side-swing arm which saves repositioning time and space. Its built-in bead presser and patented leverless technology saves operator effort. The axial mounting turntable allows bead breaking on both sides without having to turn the wheel. There’s also an optional wheel lift system. $17,999 + GST delivered.

Contact todd@centurydistributors.co.nz or visit centurydistributors.co.nz for more information.

Wheel balancer for pros

Get CPlus, spare the copper!

Automaster’s AM-412 Heavy Duty Pro Series balancer for workshop or tyre shops features auto data entry of offset and diameter and comes with multiple balancing programmes to suit all types of steel or alloy wheels. It also features a split hidden weight function.

Supplied standard with a safety hood, foot -operated holding brake and a two-year warranty for only $2990 + GST. Find out more at automaster.co.nz or call Automaster on 0800 214 604.

CPlus brake pads are low-coppercontent ceramic brake pads, which reduces contamination of waterways and come in three formulations: CP Synergy for low dust and noise in everyday driving; CM Metallic, a semimetallic (no copper) pad for heavy duty and towing, and CX Endurance for 4WD and the larger SUVs. For more information, contact a BNT branch or bnt.co.nz.

Delkor Batteries setting the standard Delkor Batteries has a powerful solution for any automotive make or model.

The company’s products have won the Korean Standard Quality Excellence award for 13 years running. Built stronger with ‘Powerframe’ grid technology, Delkor batteries will provide long-lasting battery power for any 12-volt application.

Exclusively distributed by R&J Batteries, contact your local store for more information on 09 636 5980, or see rjbatt.co.nz.

Industrial light and magnetic Narva’s SeeEzy magnetic underbody workshop lamp has two 5W COB LEDs pumping out 6000°K of white light in a broad spread. Output is selectable, single (350 lumens) or double (700 lumens). The lithium-ion battery provides 6–15 hours of use from 6.5 hours of charge time via USB. It features a light but workshop sturdy construction in aluminium, ABS, and polycarbonate. Available from automotive stores throughout New Zealand. See narva.co.nz.

36

Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

4Terrain clutch for beefed-up Land Cruisers The Land Cruiser VDJ was an instant classic when it was launched in 2007 and it has attracted several performance upgrades since.

So it makes sense to upgrade the clutch to match and transmit that power to the road. 4Terrain has launched a VDJ twin-disc clutch system which will pass through up to 1600Nm of torque while still delivering excellent drivability. The clutch kit is a direct fit and includes a flywheel and slave cylinder. For more information, give your local Repco or Appco store a call.

Ryco 4WD Service Kits Bundle up the Ryco Filters for your next 4WD service with a Ryco Service Kit. All Ryco Filters are designed to meet or exceed the OE equivalent, offering peace of mind protection. Some kits include a cabin air filter (denoted by the suffix ‘C’ on the part number) — great for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. Search the Ryco catalogue at ryco.co.nz.

Shine mate!

Shine Mate’s orbital polishers are available in a range of backing-plate and orbit dimensions but they all feature vibration-elimination technology.

The Dust-Devil multi-hole backing plate also keeps the compound/polish/finishing pad temperatures low and the soft-start feature reduces product splash and wastage, while the speed stabilizer offers constant speed output. For more information, contact the Smits Group team on 0800 227 422, or head to smitsgroup.co.nz.

KMC Reverb The KMC Reverb is the result of an evolution.

A favourite of truck and SUV enthusiasts, the KMC Reverb blends concave and deep lip styles with a new small button cap. Available in 20 inches and 22 inches in satin black with a black lip finish, or silver with a brush face finish. For pricing, fitment and to find your nearest DTM dealer, visit dtm.co.nz.

Only Garrett makes Garretts

CVT oil from United

Garrett has carried out product analysis comparing its own turbos with remanufactured turbos using non-original and copy components. It showed Garrett turbos deliver significantly better whole-life value than lower-cost non-genuine alternatives when taking into account reliability, performance, fuel efficiency and longevity. Garrett says some copy turbos failed within hours of installation. Bearing problems are most commonplace but the bolts joining the turbine housing to the centre housing can also ‘relax’, leading to gas leakage, mechanical damage and oil leakage. Insist on Garrett. For more information go to garrettmotion.com or email turbosales@garrettmotion.com.

United CVTF 100 fluid, designed for CVT transmissions, is blended from synthetic base oils and selected additives, including friction modifiers, detergent dispersants, oxidation inhibitors, viscosity index improvers, corrosion inhibitors, and defoaming agents.

United CVTF 100 Fluid is designed for a wide range of CVT-equipped passenger vehicles which transfer traction via steel traction chains or belts. It provides excellent friction, oxidation and thermal stability, shear stability for consistent shifting and excellent lowtemperature fluidity, reducing start up wear.

Retail price is $153.48 + GST for 18L and $42.30 + GST for 4L packs.

The 2-Post super symmetric advantage Steiner’s new LT245CF 4.5 tonne 2 Post is a new direct-drive lift with ‘super symmetric’ arms. This allows the front arms to be directly positioned to the lifting point without having to shuffle the vehicle back and forth as with many competing lifts. Height is adjustable from 4231mm to 4431mm overall.

Optional features include an LED light kit and single phase motor. Comes with Treadway Equipped’s 100-day, 100% guarantee for $5320.00 + GST delivered and installed. Find out more at treadwayequipped.co.nz or call 0800 653 246.

37

New Rola Low Mounts add style and practicality

or solid rails, for specific anchor points, and for gutter mounts. Vehicle owners can find the right low mount for specific vehicles at titantray.com.

The Low Mount comprises three types of components.

It comes with the right mounting feet for the specific

ROLA’S NEW LOW MOUNTS FOR TITAN TRAYS ADD SLEEKER LOOKS AND LOWER LOAD HEIGHT

vehicle — one of the four options mentioned. It comes

Titan Tray adds significantly more carrying capacity to any vehicle, especially for off-road adventures, but at other times you don’t need the extra visual impact, weight, or windage.

It’s especially effective on the shorter roofs of utes

add the stability needed to maintain the tray’s full

where bulkier mounts and bars have a much more

capacity. It also comes with low profile bars which

dramatic impact on the vehicle’s proportions.

connect to the end supports, or feet, and the tray. The

They are also ideal for SUVs when a full length rack is

Titan Tray is the ideal complement to the low profile

Rola’s new Low Mount system adds roof bars and

not needed. They offer lower overall height, which also

Rola Low Mount system.

allows the base of the Titan Tray to remain fixed

makes loading the rack or installing components of the

The Titan Tray can be converted from a low profile

in place and ready for use, but its sleek profile is

Titan Tray system that much easier.

flat tray to a full basket tray with the addition of

unobtrusive when the tray is not in use. It has much

The Rola low Mount system is vehicle specific, offering

separate sturdy bolt-on side rails, sold in pairs for any

less impact on the overall style and proportions of your

four different types of mounting attachments. Rola has

or all of the four sides, which provide many cargo

vehicle, and it reduces overall height and drag.

produced mounting feet for different vehicles’ open

securing points. One of the most versatile features of

A

with interlocking blocks that fit between the inner panels of the Titan Tray. They strengthen the tray and

the Titan Tray is the ability to add attachments to the tracks on the top side and outside edge of the frame rails all the way around the rack, as well as on the centre plates.

Rola’s accessories include water- or jerry-can or gas-bottle mounts, which secure the load with fabric strap tie-downs. These are stronger and more durable than some metal clamping systems. Other accessories include holders for high-lift jacks, axes and spades, spare wheels, recovery track racks, light bar mounts, and awning brackets.

38

Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

R U O Y y r r Ca

E R U T N E V AD r e h t r fu

Ready salted ONE MAN’S QUEST TO EXCEED 500KPH HAS RESULTED IN A TEAM-BUILT, DEDICATED SALT-FLAT MONSTER ave you ever wanted to go fast? Like really fast? Stu Goldsworthy has, but, rather than just dream it, he’s gone all out to achieve it.

“First and foremost, the inspiration came from racing legend Burt Munro and the The World’s Fastest Indian, and the dream evolved from there,” Stu claims.

That’s not to say he simply woke up one day and decided he was going to take the plunge into the bottomless pit of land-speed-record attempts.

No, he’s long been just the right type of mentally unhinged to play with fast cars and motorbikes, and, growing up around bad influences like Paul Manuell, he was never going to live life in the slow lane.

Life’s journey saw Stu end up being mates with motorcycle racer Andrew Stroud, and, through Stroud’s time on the legendary Britten motorbike, Stu met a chap called Ralph. Not your average septuagenarian, Ralph had hit over 280mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

His tales from the experience were enough to convince Stu that he needed to give land-speed racing a shot.

This was no long-term, well-thought-out plan, but a rush effort that saw Stu, brother Craig, and a freshly purchased Ducati rock up to the salt just three weeks later. There, he’d pop his salt-flats cherry by running a PB of an impressive 177mph.

Of course, being so woefully underprepared yet so close to hitting 200mph, there’s no way that Stu was going to make it a one-time event. Instead, more power was needed. He found that power in the form of a supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2R, which he

H

40

Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

pushed to a staggering 207mph.

With land-speed racing returning to New Zealand in 2017, Stu was quick to register the Ninja to race but somewhat upset to have already sold his Nissan R35 GT-R, which just happened to be packing a casual 1800hp …

Stu twisted the throttle for long enough for the timers to clock him at 218mph, while the GT-R’s new owner ran the car to a best of 222mph! Yes, that was in a road-registered car, and, more surprisingly, one that looks essentially stock from the outside.

So, when the speed freak decided that he wanted to hit 400kph (250mph) on a bike and 500kph

(311mph) in a car, he knew that he needed to enlist the best to make it happen, the goal being Bonneville Speed Week 2019.

“I was originally going to run in my GT-R, but, in the back of my mind, I wanted to run in a big block supercharged V8 Chevy,” Stu explains. “After some research, we decided a twin-turbo small block was a better way to go — so here we are.”

With the goal of 500kph, having something aerodynamic was going to be a huge help, and with the engine plans being shifted to a small block, of the LS variety, a late-model Corvette simply made sense, as it ticked his boxes of being a Chev; aerodynamic; and, of course, a style Stu liked.

Having never run a car on the salt, Stu’s road to the 500kph dream was always going to be a steep one, but the challenge was aided by starting with a completely blank canvas — a freshly imported, deadstock 2015 Corvette Z06.

Stu assembled a team of people who he knew he could trust and who had the experience required to make it all happen. Old mate Paul Manuell was on board from the get-go, and he soon pulled in race engine builder Royce McCort from Autospeed Engineering and race car fabricator Kerry Holland. Both of the guys had been instrumental in helping with Paul’s own racing career.

Kerry — the hands, brains, and poster boy of Top Gear Autotech, a mobile vehicle-fabrication business — took on the project of transforming the road-going machine into a dedicated high-speed salt-flat monster. The transformation, as wild as it is, was all completed in his two-car home garage.

The build process was an interesting one, and quite different from that used for any other type of motorsport. While carving corners or blasting down the quarter-mile is all about reducing the vehicle’s weight as much as possible, for the salt, adding weight aids stability and traction.

From the factory, the car was no slouch. In fact, with a 650hp rated LT4 in it, the car offered performance that most people can only dream of. Rather than try to work with this high-power street motor, though, Stu sold off that engine to allow himself to build up a dedicated race engine without any compromises.

While the architecture of the LS series of engines may be older than that of the LT series, there are countless proven performance combinations available, so, rather than pay the price of developing a relatively unknown — in New Zealand, at least — package, the build would be based around an LSX steel block.

To allow for serious boost levels, the bores are filled with custom-specced Diamond pistons, which are attached to Oliver rods and a custom Callies crank.

The result is a displacement of 400ci. Sure, the team could have gone larger, but that would also have changed the class in which the car would race.

As with the bottom end, no expense was spared on the top end, with Brodix alloy heads being filled with Jessel and Del West components before being bolted on. While these parts will help the engine to last for the extended periods at wide-open throttle that they’ll be subjected to, it’s the power-adders that make it interesting. The main component here is the twin Gen2 PT7685 Precision turbos, which are each rated at around 1350hp. Kerry was responsible for the fabrication side of things to make these fit, and that alone was no small task, due to the wedge-like shape of the vehicle and all the associated cooling components required.

Thankfully, some items, such as the custom ice tanks for the water-to-air intercooler system, could be mounted in the cabin, where not only was there more room, but they also assist with weight balance, offsetting the weight of the driver. Boost control is looked after by a CO2 system, while fuelling gets a bit more serious with an array of Aeromotive components.

All up, there are 16 fuel injectors plumbed into the runners of the Late Model Engines (LME) intake manifold, eight capable of flowing 1000cc and eight capable of 1550cc.

The cooling system, not just for the engine but also for the gearbox and diff, is a critical part of any landspeed vehicle, but, fortunately, with Paul being the New Zealand agent for the PWR brand of cooling products, that was easy to sort.

Rather than keep the Corvette’s stock transaxle system, the switch was made to an air-shifted

2015 CHEV CORVETTE Z06 Engine: 400ci LS, LSX steel block, custom Callies crank, Oliver rods, custom Diamond pistons, custom cam, Brodix alloy heads, Jessell roller lifters, steel rockers, Del West valvetrain components, twin throttle bodies, twin Gen2 PT7685 Precision turbos, twin-entry exhaust housings, CO2 boost control, twin 65mm blowoff valves, custom ice water–to–air intercooler, cabin-mounted ice tanks, 55-gallon-per-minute water pumps, Aeromotive brushless 5.0 fuel pump, Aeromotive fuel-pressure regulator (FPR), Aeromotive fuel filters, eight 1000cc injectors, eight 1550cc injectors, fuel cooler, LME intake manifold, two 103mm throttle bodies, M&W Pro Drag 8 capacitor-discharge ignition (CDI), Custom 321 stainless headers with two-inch primaries and 2.25-inch secondaries, 2.5-inch wastegates, four-inch exhausts, custom PWR radiator, PWR oil-to-coolant heat-exchanger, PWR heat-exchanger, MoTeC M150 ECU, MoTeC PDM30 Driveline: Air-shifted Holinger RD6 transmission, dog-engaged straight-cut gears, direct fourth and overdrive fifth and sixth gears, internal pump and filter, external gearbox cooler, Tilton four-plate clutch, Holinger HFD nine-inch independent diff, full spool, 3.0:1 ratio, internal pump and filter, external diff cooler, custom axles, two-piece driveshaft Suspension: Stock aluminium double-wishbone, Penske three-way adjustable coilovers with remote gas canisters, spherical bearing conversion Brakes: Floor-mounted Tilton pedal box, removed front calipers, stock Z06 four-pot rear calipers and rotors Wheels/Tyres: 15x5-inch and 18x6.5-inch Autoart wheels, Mickey Thompson 22.5x5.5X15 front tyres, Mickey Thompson 26.5x9x18 or 30x9x18 rear tyres Exterior: Custom bonnet vents, adjustable rear wing, flat underbody belly pans, front air dam, custom skirts, custom strakes, assorted radiator grille blockers, custom roof rails, factory paint Chassis: Stock aluminium chassis filled with lead, notched rear rails Interior: TIG-welded chromoly roll cage, MoTeC keypad and dash display, fire-suppression system, three ice-water tanks, three Meziere electric water pumps, Woodward steering column, RJ Safety five-point harness, Kirkey aluminium seat, Sparco steering wheel, MoTeC C185 dash-logger display Performance: Initial tune 1600hp at 20psi

41

Holinger RD6 transmission with dog-engagement straight-cut gears, a direct fourth gear, and overdrive fifth and sixth gears. This is operated through a Tilton four-plate clutch and transfers power to a Holinger HFD nine-inch independent diff packed with a full spool and 3.0:1 ratio.

While the packaging of all the gear into the car has been a brain-teaser, the exhaust system was made a touch easier than usual, as the four-inch pipes and 2.5-inch wastegate pipes can simply vent straight out the side of the vehicle. The headers from the engine to the turbos start at two inches and lead into 2.25-inch secondaries, and, of course, with the weight of the turbos, require stand-alone bracing to keep them in place.

Internally, all of the Corvette luxuries have been removed, replaced with functional necessities, such as the comprehensive roll cage along with the aforementioned cooling system components.

A Tilton pedal box now resides under the dash, or, more accurately, where the dash used to be.

In its place now are just the essentials, such as a Woodward steering column and a MoTeC keypad and display. Signals for that display come via the MoTeC M150 ECU, which Jason Swan has wired in to run everything.

The boot area is equally jammed with components, such as the fuel system, and, wisely, has been panelled off from the cabin with a firewall lest the worst should occur. The fuel tank can hold 40 litres, which may sound like overkill, until you remember that the car will be held at wide-open throttle for around five miles at a time; the last thing anyone needs is a fuel shortage!

To allow the car to maintain the speeds that it’s expected to reach over such a distance, salt-flatspecific tyres have been added to the Autoart wheels.

Up front, they measure in at a narrow 22.5x5.5x15, while, on the rear, they’re not a whole lot wider at 26.5x9x18 or 30x9x18, depending on the gearing needed. That doesn’t give the car a big footprint but should, all going to plan, aid with the car’s rolling resistance, as well as allow it to cut through the soft salt to find traction below.

“Following its build, the engine was run in on an engine dyno, where it created roughly 1600hp at 20psi. While that’s impressive, it’s still a far cry from what the combo can produce, as the conditions of a dyno cell being simply too different to the salt, where they will continue to adjust and add more boost in as the salt surface allows.

Sadly, rain in the lead up to Speedweek left terrible salt conditions, putting any thoughts of reaching the 500kph goal well out the window for the week. The team did manage to run a best of 167mph collecting a ton of valuable cooling, traction control, aero, and suspension data in the process. The salt was so bad, that the PB was set using only 3psi of boost and no more than 50% throttle. The car has stayed in the USA and salt and, weather dependent, they will return in October/November for another crack. If all the data collected is right, and with another 20psi and 50% throttle up their sleeves, the team’s goal of reaching 500kph is well within their reach!”

42

Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

Your vehicle is becoming more intelligent every day…

EMCO is an Industry Leader in the distribution of lubricant and fluid equipment including: • Hose Reels • Pumps • Mobile dispensing equipment

but the most important part depends on you.

Technology is changing, but the pads, discs and other components of braking are here to stay, that is why Icer has more than 400 people working daily to guarantee your safety.

EMCO is a one stop shop, specialising in advice, installation of pipework and equipment as well as servicing of fluid management systems.

We distribute and sell a great range of lubrication equipment from leading brands including RAASM, GRACO, ReCoila and Macnaught.

Available from EXEDY NZ

Contact EMCO on 07 8505240, email sales@emco.co.nz or visit our website www.emco.co.nz

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Most vehicle alternators are not designed to fully charge an auxiliary battery, an insufficient charge rate will, at best, shorten NEW the life and performance of the auxiliary battery but may result in the battery being flat when least expected.

The REDARC BCDC in-vehicle battery charger AMP will ensure the auxiliary battery will achieve MO EL D and maintain an optimal charge regardless of its type or size.

50

Auto Channel has unsurpassed reach into the wider Automotive trade, direct mailed to over 11,000 business owners in New Zealand.

BCDC In-vehicle Battery Chargers Feature an in-built MPPT solar regulator Charge from solar and alternator simultaneously with ‘Green Power Priority’ Works with standard and variable voltage alternators Charges all major lead acid batteries and includes a lithium charging profile Works with 12 and 24 volt alternators, available in 25, 40 and 50 amp models

redarcelectronics.co.nz For more information visit your nearest auto-electrician or 4WD specialty store

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Call me to today to discuss ways I can help you grow your business through NZ’s highest circulating automotive trade publication!

Mark Everleigh - 09 222 1729 43

AUTO CHANNEL COMPANY

Supplier Directory

YOUR GUIDE TO NEW ZEALAND'S LEADING AUTOMOTIVE TRADE SUPPLIERS

: , E S, ER , , , / ES LS N , W AK S: IT : S ES DS S: IDE : RS, RS G: NDS T: PO IE Y K BL SO RCO NG , BR NE ES AN N R N A , D , E: BOX UIL E I L I AS S, S O I T : ITTI LES E RS PAI NTE E CS IS O O IV : RS G R R ,A L C B M R S E B K I B I S S R Y R T E E M , B E L E A U A E G I H A S , L O EN P RI AL E E AC K R S, F MA M T, ES RV EA RE G & A RS IS H R YP NS PE, CAR CE RTS RIV UI CT ECI PP AT S, IES ST R OC S REP IPE TY YRE SU SE L, G INE IN IN AS RA SU AN H & TS, SH AC PA P, D SU ERN TOR ER EQ ELE , SP NT CO S, P AR N OL LUS EF SM , SP TION IR ICA NG OL EENHIP , W NT S & T, T ON , N S T T N P P T , O S E R I C A S A T , E A C S C O TS L M C CO S, F O N S, P R , E CO CR , C RS ME EEL EN S, ES IO JO G N KE NC R RT , AL DI BAT O T TO IO LIE RE S SH OIS OO UIP RE ECT DS N, IR B SH ICA ER NS LL RIN CE E, LB AR A /W PA FFS , RA TS, DS N RR FI WH CEM PA TU AU RAT UPP OR M RM INT VI EAS BU RK , H D T EQ RK BR EAN PE BA BEA EL HEA SIO IN REE MI M E ER R A DI TS EN C S R S O S R A O , O , O L U , N R E L , , , N S EN N P T RF , P W SC SS STO W TIC HA ICE SE , G UID TO ER PEN W S, L S, C ST DY INT SU DS ES G O RE ING IN S S S, RV D A U AF PE UP RE BO PA AU ND US G E IN ON P RO SH IL FL , S IN GL C S EM NC NO OL SE O O RA ASIV AR MP OM LI IE BU IO ES W T A O E Y G T O D C L R B CO A T C R AU BA DI AU D AB

CONTACT

0800 472 787 0800 200 100 0800 445 889 0800 333 125 aecs.net or 06 874 9077 bntnz.co.nz or 09 414 3200 hcb.co.nz or 0800 422 228 precisionequipment.co.nz or 0800 246 478

ADVERT jasoceania.co.nz or 0800 527 335 dieseldistributors.co.nz or 09 265 0622 09 836 6673 autolign.co.nz or 09 574 2288 tatp.co.nz or 0800 268 266 smitsgroup.co.nz or 0800 227 422 smitsgroup.co.nz or 0800 227 422 griffithsequipment.co.nz or 09 525 4575 parts@1stautoparts.co.nz or 09 638 6439 mountshop.co.nz or 0508 866 686 bmw.co.nz or 0508 269 727 cyb.co.nz or 09 978 6666 0800 465 855 0800 549 429 automaster.co.nz or 0800 214 604 centurydistributors.co.nz patchrubber.co.nz or 0508 837 248 dtm.co.nz or 0800 621 233 penriteoil.co.nz or 0800 533 698 nzmotoroils.com or 0800 942 645 0800 383 566 06 306 8446 or blackfern.coop redarcelectronics.co.nz 0800 757 333 or fenixautoparts.co.nz

crc.co.nz or 09 272 2700

rjbatt.co.nz or 09 636 5980 treadwayequipped.co.nz or 0800 436 436

The Auto Channel supplier directory is your easy reference for sourcing a range of automotive products and services. This directory is a paid service for businesses who supply to the New Zealand automotive trade.

To secure your inclusion contact Mark Everleigh on 09 222 1729 or mark.everleigh@parkside.co.nz.

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Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

Situations vacant AUTOMOTIVE PARTS SPECIALIST | GREY LYNN About the Role You will draw on your mechanical/automotive experience and/or knowledge, assisting our Automotive Trade Customers with parts enquiries and orders. Duties include: • Liaising with trade customers to organise parts needed for service and repairs • Process order and ensuring delivery within a timely manner • Building and maintaining relationships with our trade customers • Over the counter service for any parts enquiries • Ensuring accurate documentation Skills & Experience Our trade customers are experienced automotive professionals, therefore you will need a strong understand of car parts to hit the ground running in this busy role. Whether you’ve worked in automotive parts, come from a mechanical background and are looking to get off the tools, or you’re someone who tinkers with cars at home, this role has you doing what you love with likeminded people.

About Us Repco was founded in 1922 and has since become one of New Zealand’s most well-recognised and trusted brands. Being at the front of the industry for over 95 years has allowed Repco to retain its reputation and status within the automotive industry. We employ over 1000 staff across the almost 100 branches New Zealand wide, while offering automotive parts and products to cater to everyone from car enthusiasts to mechanics within trade workshops. This is a chance for your to work for our largest branch!

Send your CV to our Careers Team – careers@repco.co.nz About the Role You will draw on your mechanical/automotive experience and/or knowledge, assisting our Automotive Trade Customers with parts enquiries and orders. Duties include: • Liaising with trade customers to organise parts needed for service and repairs • Process order and ensuring delivery within a timely manner • Building and maintaining relationships with our trade customers • Over the counter service for any parts enquiries • Ensuring accurate documentation Skills & Experience Our trade customers are experienced automotive professionals, therefore you will need a strong understand of car parts to hit the ground running in this busy role. Whether you’ve worked in automotive parts, come from a mechanical background and are looking to get off the tools, or you’re someone who tinkers with cars at home, this role has you doing what you love with likeminded people.

About Us Repco was founded in 1922 and has since become one of New Zealand’s most well-recognised and trusted brands. Being at the front of the industry for over 95 years has allowed Repco to retain its reputation and status within the automotive industry. We employ over 1000 staff across the almost 100 branches New Zealand wide, while offering automotive parts and products to cater to everyone from car enthusiasts to mechanics within trade workshops. This is a chance for your to work for our largest branch!

Send your CV to our Careers Team – careers@repco.co.nz

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN NEW ZEALAND’S WIDER AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR TITLE – ASSISTANT BRANCH MANAGER | NEW LYNN About the Role We are on the lookout for an enthusiastic individual who would like to combine their management experience with their passion for automotive. This is an opportunity to get some real hands on experience, partnering with the Store Manager on the below tasks: • Drive branch sales & improve store performance • Motivating & organising staff on a daily basis to create a great team culture • Supporting the training of your team in with customer service and product knowledge • Maintaining a high standard of Branch presentation & contributing to merchandising • Ensuring adherence to company policies and procedures All About You You’ll be working both retail and trade, therefore you will bring a strong understanding of automotive. You’ll enjoy working with people, both staff and customers. For us, this isn’t just a job, it’s a career, with a view for the successful candidate to progress their automotive career further within our business are looking for: • Previous experience within a manager or supervisory role • Automotive experience and/or knowledge • Strong track record of driving sales & hitting KPI’s • A naturally ability to build rapport with customers • Strong problem solving and decision making skills • Excellent organisational and prioritising skills • High visual merchandising standards Most importantly, bring the right attitude - Work hard philosophy and a determination to grow within the Repco (and wider) business.

Send your CV to our Careers Team – careers@repco.co.nz About the Role We are on the lookout for an enthusiastic individual who would like to combine their management experience with their passion for automotive. This is an opportunity to get some real hands on experience, partnering with the Store Manager on the below tasks: • Drive branch sales & improve store performance • Motivating & organising staff on a daily basis to create a great team culture • Supporting the training of your team in with customer service and product knowledge • Maintaining a high standard of Branch presentation & contributing to merchandising • Ensuring adherence to company policies and procedures All About You You’ll be working both retail and trade, therefore you will bring a strong understanding of automotive. You’ll enjoy working with people, both staff and customers. For us, this isn’t just a job, it’s a career, with a view for the successful candidate to progress their automotive career further within our business are looking for: • Previous experience within a manager or supervisory role • Automotive experience and/or knowledge • Strong track record of driving sales & hitting KPI’s • A naturally ability to build rapport with customers • Strong problem solving and decision making skills • Excellent organisational and prioritising skills • High visual merchandising standards Most importantly, bring the right attitude - Work hard philosophy and a determination to grow within the Repco (and wider) business.

Send your CV to our Careers Team – careers@repco.co.nz

TITLE – ASSISTANT BRANCH MANAGER | NEW LYNN AECS is a leading training and equipment provider for the NZ and AU automotive market. We deliver modern automotive diagnostic systems with a very high level of technology in both our training and equipment to the automotive industry.

Our Training AECS Training delivers face to face technical training to automotive workshops and their employees. We train at multiple locations throughout New Zealand & Australia.

The Opportunity The role will have a dual role focus. The primary focus will be as our Technical Trainer, the position involves travel and working diligently to deliver AECS training seminars. You’ll inspire our trainees to work towards being the best in the industry, provide input on training curriculum and co-ordinate activities that support the training department and its team.

The secondary focus (when you’re not training) will be proactively working with our customers providing automotive and equipment technical support, either through our technical forums, visits, email and phone. Our customers are considered family and we make sure they have the best support and aftercare on our equipment and assisting with problematic vehicles.

If you are highly motivated with a passion for the automotive industry, and inspiring others to be their best, this would be the role for you.

The Candidate Required skills: • Minimum 5 years’ automotive industry experience (diagnostics); or previous experience in a technical training role.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• A passion for sharing knowledge and information.

• Professional appearance and presentation.

• Willingness to travel as required.

Preferred skills: • Experience and ability to work in a fast-paced, growth environment.

• Competent with Microsoft Office suite.

• Exceptionally self-motivated and directed.

• Superior analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving ability.

• Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, listening and communication skills.

• Strong planning, organisation and time management skills.

• Ability to coordinate multiple activities.

• High level of professionalism and integrity; good judgment.

• Superior work ethic and high energy level.

The Provisions We will supply you with: A Laptop, company credit card and vehicle (for training and support only).

Remuneration will be salary with performance-linked incentives.

Further conversation around salary will be discussed in the interview.

To do the job well it is important that you have: • A full clean New Zealand Drivers Licence.

• New Zealand Citizenship or Permanent Residency.

The Contact If you have read all the way through and you believe you’d make a great fit for our team, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@aecs.net.

Please note: You don’t need a previous teaching/ training qualification. We will train the right person. We place value on electronic qualifications, industry experience, being a good human to those around you and having the right attitude.

AECS is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, age, colour, religion, national or social origin, marital status, disability, relationship preference, veteran status, or any other legally protected factor.

MECHANIC / AUTOMOTIVE MACHINIST Do you know somebody looking for a change within the Automotive Industry? We have positions available within our company for an: • Automotive Machinist • Automotive Mechanic Experience with V8 Performance Engines and American vehicles would be an advantage with the opportunity to grow within the company.

West Auckland Engine Reconditioners is an iconic Automotive and Engine building workshop, well known within the Performance Industry.

Majority of our work is with American vehicles and if you are passionate about performance vehicles, this is a great opportunity to learn and further your career.

Training will be given to the successful applicants.

Auto Channel has unsurpassed reach into the wider Automotive trade, direct mailed to over 11,000 business owners in New Zealand.

Call me to today to discuss ways I can help you grow your business through NZ’s highest circulating automotive trade publication!

Mark Everleigh - 09 222 1729

Please send your CV to: waer@xtra.co.nz or contact Eric or Daniel on 09 838 7536

45

The next big industry challenge: retirement A GENERATION OF REPAIR SHOP OWNERS AND OPERATORS ARE READY TO MOVE ON. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? ore than half of independent motor industry repair shop owners expect to retire in the next nine years, and the majority plan to sell their businesses. That’s the situation in the United States according to research and similar trends will be happening here.

That research was carried out for conducted by Bolt On Technology, a supplier of technology solutions to automotive repair shops, and PTEN, an industry trade publication.

They felt it could contribute to a wave of consolidation, as we have already seen in other parts of the industry and it could leave drivers in search of a reliable neighbourhood workshop.

The survey, administered by Paramount Research in June 2019, asked 36,000 US repair shops about business concerns, technician training, use of and investment in technology and other related topics.

The survey found that 30% of shop owners plan to retire within five years, and 22% plan retirement in six to nine years. Of those retiring, 52% said they plan to sell the business. One in four (26%) plan to pass the business on to a family member, and one in six (17%) indicated they planned to close the business entirely.

That could have an interesting impact when car owners are holding onto their vehicles for longer.

Industry data reveals the average age of vehicles on the road in America today is 11-plus years and growing.

“The upswing in retirement across the industry means there’s going to be a glut of independent shops for sale in the next few years,” noted Sara Scullin, editor of PTEN. “So, it’s going to be a buyer’s market.

Owners who plan to sell should put processes in place now to improve business revenue and build loyal customers who keep coming back.”

The key to gaining repeat customers, she noted, is trust and, according to the survey, that was the top issue shops confront when engaging with customers.

The survey found that seven out of 10 respondents (68%) have encountered negative opinions or mistrust of repair shops. But the single biggest

M

concern for owners was the challenge of attracting and retaining skilled technicians.

The number of new technicians entering the auto repair business is at a historic low in the United States. Nonetheless, more than half of shop owners (51%) said they plan to hire one or more employees over the next year. Seventy percent of those hiring said new technicians were their top priority.

Mike Risich, founder and CEO of Bolt On said: “Workshop owners need to understand that to attract the millennial generation, who were reared on technology, it is critical they adopt the latest technology solutions to run their business. The results of our survey clearly demonstrate, the old ways of doing business are past; those who maintain the status quo, who aren’t using technology to optimize operations and maximize profits will be left in the dust.”

AUTO CHANNEL Auto Channel is the best way to reach the wider automotive industry. The publication is direct mailed to 11,298 New Zealand businesses in the following automotive sectors: ADVERT

The Numbers Nearly half of the auto shop owners (49%) were 60 years of age or older. Another one in three (34%) were between 50 and 59 years old.

Three out of four respondents (75%) have been in the auto repair business for 30 years or more.

Another one in six (15%) indicated they had between 20 and 29 years of experience.

Forty percent of respondents have owned their repair shop for 30 years or more. Another 26% have owned their shop between 20 and 29 years.

Nearly half of the respondents (46%) said they are using incentives to recruit or retain technicians. These included cash bonuses, weekends off, commissions and profit sharing.

Most shops require formal training of their technicians, with 55% requiring recurrent training every 1-3 years. Ongoing certification is required every 1-3 years among 47% of shop owners.

More than seven in 10 respondents plan to invest in diagnostic tools and equipment (78%) and/or training (71%) in the next 12 months.

Automotive workshops Parts importers and distributors Transmission specialists Automotive recyclers Towing operators Panel beaters and painters Crash repairers Tyre dealers Suspension and underbody repairers Steering specialists Towing operators Auto-electrical repairers New- and used-car dealers Air conditioning repairers Heavy machinery dealers Trucking and transport

Auto Channel Issue No. 18 distributed 1 October

Editorial: editor@autochannel.co.nz Advertising: Mike White michael.white@parkside.co.nz All other enquiries to: autochannel.co.nz Auto Channel is produced by Parkside Media, publishers of NZ’s three biggest-selling automotive magazines NZ Performance Car, New Zealand Classic Car, and NZV8.

46

Auto Channel Issue #17 September 2019

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Register and every $50 (incl GST) spent gives you an entry into the draw to win.

Repco and Appco trade account holders can register at www.repco.co.nz/tradewin or talk to your Rep or Branch Manager today.

Promotion closes 5pm, 30 September 2019. Full terms and conditions apply, visit www.repco.co.nz/tradewin.

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