Auto Channel 16 - AUGUST 2019 by Via Media

ISSUE 16 AUGUST 2019

THE VOICE OF THE NEW ZEALAND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

AUTO CHANNEL

COVERING OVER 90% OF THE NEW ZEALAND CAR PARC BRAKE PADS THAT MATCH

OE QUALITY & DEPENDABILITY

R& BATTERIES TARGETS SPECIALIST BATTERY MARKET SPECIALIST BATTERY SUPPLIER R&J BATTERIES AIMS TO REPEAT MARKET SUCCESS STORY ON THIS SIDE OF THE TASMAN

Warrik Skulve General Manager R&J Baterries NZ

&J Batteries is a relatively new supplier to the New Zealand market but it aims to match its Australian parent company’s achievement of being the third-largest and fastest growing

battery supplier in the market. New Zealand general manager Warrik Skulve says you can’t assume business success on one side of the Tasman will be repeated on the other side as they are very different markets, but he has confidence in the R&J way. “The New Zealand battery market is already very competitive but our recipe for success is simple,” he says. “It’s good old-fashioned service, and supplying quality products at competitive prices.” To deliver that service, the privately-owned company has focused on finding, training and developing great staff. Warrik says having good quality interactions with customers and building trust is the key to winning and keeping trade customers. He says the company’s founders who went out on their own and started the company in Australia 24 years ago, Ray Robson and John Webb, remain friends with many of their first customers. Ray as

Available from these sellers

Win an Automaster Tyre Changer! Worth over $36 00 See page 15

managing director now operates 20 stores with 170 staff supplying more than 7000 outlets in Australia and New Zealand. “He knows from experience how much trade customers value good service. Finding and developing the people who can create those relationships is one of our founding principles,” says Warrik. The next step is to deliver excellent service. Price and product quality are always part of the mix but knowledgeable and trustworthy service and support take on an extra dimension in on-going trade

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 projecta.co.nz

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Contents

From the Ed.

40 R&J Batteries targets specialties

Cover / 4

BOC Welder goes to a worthy winner

Washing car parts with bugs

Torque to yield bolts — get the facts

Win a tyre changer worth $3600

Garage 360: Mag & Turbo Porirua

Holden launches Project Monaro

It’s time to wake up and smell the emissions

Castrol celebrates 100 years

Ford Tools for Ford fans

Where is NZ’s oldest Heshbon and Sice gear?

Setting up for an ADAS future

The road to 400mph — part 5

Welcome to our biggest ever issue of Auto Channel. We’ve pushed out to 56 pages this issue, from 48 pages. That’s a strong indication of the support we are getting from the industry. To still be growing strongly 18 months in shows this publication is meeting an industry demand, and that demand is growing louder. It’s also gratifying to see the breadth of businesses who have stories to tell. It’s really starting to look like we are reaching all corners of the automotive trade. Congratulations to the winner of our BOC welder promotion, Blue Dorward from Blues Way Works in Hastings. It’s great to help create winners so this issue we are starting a new competition, to win an Automaster tyre changer, worth more than $3600. Check out page 15 for details. There’s another great competition from Holden’s aftermarket division in this issue. You could win a Holden Monaro, or the ultimate home garage, so make sure you know how to enter. Among the spread of news from industry players we’ve also got a few pieces of technical advice, on knowing your head bolts, how to help our car fleet meet the country’s emissions targets, how to get to grips with ADAS, and on how to start a new trainee off on the right foot. And in Car News, we have tips on how to get some payback from your kids for all that running around you do for them. Auto Channel is looking after you in all kinds of ways, but if there’s anything we’re not doing and you’d like to see it here, just drop us a line at editor@autochannel.co.nz. Ian Parkes, Editor

Auto Channel is distributed 11 times per year. To receive your free copy or to change your address simply visit: autochannel.co.nz

ISSUE 16 AUGUST 2019

THE VOICE OF THE NEW ZEALAND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

AUTO

COVERING OVER 90% OF THE NEW ZEALAND CAR PARC BRAKE PADS THAT MATCH

OE QUALITY & DEPENDABILITY

CHANNEL

R& BATTERIES TARGETS SPECIALIST BATTERY MARKET SPECIALIST BATTERY SUPPLIER R&J BATTERIES AIMS TO REPEAT MARKET SUCCESS STORY ON THIS SIDE OF THE TASMAN

Available from these sellers

Win An Automaster Tyre Changer! Worth Over $3600 See page 15

Warrik Skulve General Manager R&J Baterries NZ

&J Batteries is a relatively new supplier to the New Zealand market but it aims to match its Australian parent company’s achievement of being the third-largest and fastest growing

“The New Zealand battery market is already very competitive but our recipe for success is simple,” he says. “It’s good old-fashioned service, and supplying quality products at competitive prices.” To deliver that service, the privately-owned company has focused on finding, training and developing great

managing director now operates 20 stores with 170 staff supplying more than 7000 outlets in Australia and New Zealand. “He knows from experience how much trade

staff. Warrik says having good quality interactions with customers and building trust is the key to winning and keeping trade customers. He says the company’s founders who went out on their own and started the company in Australia 24 years ago, Ray Robson and John Webb, remain friends with many of their first customers. Ray as

customers value good service. Finding and developing the people who can create those relationships is one of our founding principles,” says Warrik. The next step is to deliver excellent service. Price and product quality are always part of the mix but knowledgeable and trustworthy service and support take on an extra dimension in on-going trade

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 projecta.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 46020, Herne Bay, Auckland 1147

AUTO

CHANNEL

EDITOR Ian Parkes, editor@autochannel.co.nz

relationships. Warrik says the company, which supplies batteries nationwide from its distribution centre in Onehunga, Auckland, has worked on training staff and building up their technical and product knowledge. They aim to make sure good people want to stay and develop their careers in the company. Product quality is the other main element in the formula. “If R&J Batteries is going to stock them, the products have to be good,” says Warrik. They have sourced batteries from around the world that represent the best in their respective fields. R&J Batteries can supply all automotive and commercial needs but also aims to cover the field in specialist and lower volume applications such as trucks, buses, earth movers, boats, jetskis, RVs, EVs, golf carts, mowers, motorcycles, forklifts, mobile platforms as well as solar and UPS applications. It uses proven technologies in flooded, calcium, silver calcium, absorbed glass mat (AGM), and gel constructions, plus a wide selection of lithium sizes. The company has sought out superior products in these fields, and that quality shows through in R&J Batteries having less than one per cent in warranty claims on all of the brands it sells. Delkor batteries are the company’s choice for the higher volume market,which they distribute exclusively in New Zealand. R&J Batteries also stock Fullriver deep cycle batteries, which Warrik saysare arguably the best absorbed AGM deep cycle batteries available in the country, in sizes from 1.2 amp/hour through to 400 amp/hour. For heavy duty vehicles, earth movers and diesel generators R&J offers Hardcore batteries, mostly in the silver calcium ‘problem solving’ construction. R&J Batteries are now the official Australia and New Zealand distributors for U.S. Battery deep cycle batteries for electric golf carts, forklifts, cherry pickers and scissor lifts, solar and UPS applications. For motorcycles and jetskis, R&J Batteries stocks Predator batteries — which is also the brand for hard-to-get sizes of batteries for automotive and commercial applications. German company BAE specialises in electrical power systems such as solar and wind power, off-grid

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

systems, traffic systems and other types of back-up and critical power. Warrik says the different brands have different strengths. Some, like Optima and Odyssey, specialise in high capacity cranking and temperature and vibration tolerance for high-performance applications. Others, like Relion, specialise in deep cycle and lithium iron phosphate starting batteries for boat, EV, golf, military and switchgear applications. “While R&J Batteries is relatively new in New Zealand we can build on 24 years of experience with specialist battery makers. We can be confident in their quality, and their performance record, and that we have the right focus within our team to deliver the right solution for every customer.” For more information on R&J Batteries contact them on 09 636 5980, or email salesauckland@rjbatt.co.nz.

DESIGNER Day Barnes PHOTOGRAPHER Adam Croy MEDIA SALES Mike White, michael.white@parkside.co.nz CONTENT MANAGER Helen Adams-Blackburn ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Danielle Williams ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Renae Fisher ADVERT

AUTO CHANNEL IS PUBLISHED BY

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

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

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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, Air conditioning repairers, Heavy machinery dealers, Trucking and transport

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Blackfern celebrates five years FIVE YEARS AGO, THE NAME BLACKFERN MIGHT HAVE SUGGESTED A NATIONAL SPORTS TEAM. IT’S NOW WELL-ESTABLISHED AS THE NAME OF THE SECOND LARGEST MOTOR TRADE COOPERATIVE BUYING GROUP IN THE COUNTRY Time capsule: Adminstrator Richmel Castleton holding the framed Blackfern voting slips from the first co-op meeting with director Kevin Tunnell (centre) and managing director Roger Castleton

s the Blackfern group looks to celebrate its fifth anniversary on August 4, co-director Roger Castelton reflects on a hectic five years. “Since that cold August evening in the Masterton cossie club when 14 workshop owners out of 15 voted in favour of the co-op’s creation, we have grown to over 700 members nationwide — plus an increasing core of loyal suppliers.” Besides growing the number of members, which has helped everyone in the group extend their trading networks, Roger says Blackfern has worked hard on providing other ways to help businesses succeed.

“We want to give people new tools and knowledge that will help people through the ever changing minefield of business risk. Recently Blackfern has partnered with Centrix NZ, which will provide easy cost effective access for members to conduct credit checks. It just another example of the strategies we bring that help workshop owners sleep at night.” Growth has also enabled Blackfern to expand its field force of local area managers who can help business owners face-to-face with particular challenges, meaning it’s not such a lonely world out there — for Blackfern members, at least.

And that team spirit has also led Blackfern to secure exclusive behind the scenes access for members attending the March 2020 Formula One in Melbourne (see above/below/ page <<?>>) Members can also use their accumulated reward points to contribute towards costs. “A big thank you to all of those of you who have supported yourselves and your colleagues in Blackfern in our first five years, as we look forward to even greater benefits over the next five years,” says Roger.

BOC welder goes to a worthy winner BLUE DORWARD OF BLUES WAY WORKS IS RAPT WITH HIS NEW WELDER, COURTESY OF BOC AND AUTO CHANNEL lue was the winner of an Auto Channel promotion in association with BOC, which won him a BOC Smootharc Advance II MIG 250R welder and Weld Guard helmet worth more than $3000. “It was unreal, I couldn’t believe my luck,” says Blue. “It’s the first time I’ve ever won anything in my life!” Blue (on the right) is pictured taking delivery of the welder from BOC area manager Shanon Hope. Blue had an old welder already, “But you can’t even compare! It’s just so smooth, and very user friendly.” And he really appreciates the remote feeder which means he can leave the unit near the power socket and work 10 metres away in the next bay. Blue is currently building a farm spraying unit so the new welder is getting a good workout. Blue has run the business for about 12 years, mostly working on classic cars. He specialises in Jaguars and BMWs and he’s currently preparing a Jaguar for a land speed record attempt at Bonneville. His Hastings workshop is also his home. “It’s the ultimate man cave, I reckon.”

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

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The SmartWasher Bioremediating parts washing system is specially formulated to quickly cut through oil, grease, burn-on carbon, and diesel exhaust fluid. SmartWasher increases automotive technicians’ productivity due to the reduction of time spent cleaning. The CRC SmartWasher® Bioremediating Parts Washing System is both self-cleaning and environmentally friendly. 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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Fuelmiser — cost effective repairs with OEM parts FUELMISER IS THE ONE STOP SHOP FOR OEM FUEL AND ENGINE MANAGEMENT PARTS he fact that cars get cheaper to replace as they age puts the squeeze on the cost of mechanical repairs, leading to the question “is it worth it”? Once a car is out of warranty customers naturally want proper repairs with top quality parts but the cost of OEM parts from dealer networks can be intimidating. For thousands of fuel system and engine management parts at least, help is available. Fuelmiser has been the market leader in supplying fuel, spark and engine management components for many years. All Fuelmiser products are sourced for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) or original equipment suppliers (OES) and are covered by a two-year, 40,000km warranty. And, to provide peace of mind to both the repairer and the customer, if required, Fuelmiser products are

labelled individually, clearly identifying the relevant brand in the box. Fuelmiser has one of the broadest ranges of fuel, spark and engine management system parts, sourced from the some of the world’s largest OEM parts suppliers. It offers more than 5500 parts in over 45 different product groups. In fact, Fuelmiser believes no other aftermarket supplier offers such a large range of products. The range covers popular and late vehicles including comprehensive listings for European and Korean vehicles. These components are manufactured by some of the largest OEM manufacturers in Europe guaranteeing top quality. Parts categories include ignition parts, sensors, switches, senders, EGR and other control valves, emission control, fuel pumps, injectors, and

Washing car parts nature’s way THE CRC SMARTWASHER WASHES AUTOPARTS SAFELY — AND IT CLEANS UP WORKSHOPS’ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ashing car parts in a kerosene or solvent bath is wrong in so many ways. It exposes people to skin irritants and vapours, it creates toxic liquid waste and you end up trying to clean parts with a filthy liquid. The CRC SmartWasher changes all that. It uses a pH neutral, non-hazardous, non-flammable water-based cleaning solution charged with 15 types of microbes that literally eat grease and oils, converting them to CO2 and water. That leaves just about 3.3kg of inert solid waste to dispose of a year, compared with the 377kg of hazardous waste — plus disposal fees — for solvents changed every six weeks. And washing parts at a comfortable 42 degrees in a SmartWasher can even be a pleasant job on a cold morning. CRC’s Steve Colson says there’s nothing like SmartWasher on the market and the microbepowered SmartWasher massively outsells simpler water-based units that still require liquid waste disposal, and have a less effective cold wash. There’s no need to change the liquid in a SmartWasher. Just change the filter mat once a month and top up the ‘OzzyJuice’ cleaner as required. The filter traps larger particles and the emulsified waste drops into the tank where microbes consume it at the rate of one to two litres per week. Steve says when he started out, customers were mostly driven to SmartWashers because of a bad

reaction to parts washer solvents on their skin. Now that owners and bosses also carry liability for workers who don’t use PPE with hazardous parts washer solvents, proactive safety is even more of a motivation — for staff and for the environment. Steve says SmartWashers have been a big hit with larger workshops and dealers wanting modern equipment that improves safety and efficiency. And, says Steve, managers faced with an annual waste reduction target can often hit it with just this one move. The benefits are just as great for smaller workshops, which have the same WorkSafe liabilities. “People want to use safer and more environmentally

carburettor and distributor parts from suppliers including Valeo, VDO, Denso, Delphi Technologies, FAE, Hitachi, Huco, YEC, Walker and Facet. The other key element in repair efficiency is the time it takes to get the right part. Distribution through Repco takes advantage of Repco’s ability to hold comprehensive stocks, and its sophisticated logistics which can pick ship, track and deliver parts fast through its nationwide network. Fuelmiser offer customers a complete one stop shopping experience. The full range is available from Repco, Appco and Ashdown-Ingram. Check out the Fuelmiser catalogue next time you are instore.

responsible parts washers today, and we’ve even put branding on some workshops which want to show their customers they are dealing with waste responsibly,” Steve says. But is a ‘bioremediating parts washer’ as effective as a solvent bath? Steve says they are just as effective, sometimes better. The OzzyJuice detergent type cleaner has been reformulated and improved several times over the years and that has ramped up again since CRC bought SmartWasher four years and applied its much greater R&D resources to the product. “Solvents attack deposits from the outside whereas a surfactant breaks the bond between the part and the dirt, so it lifts off rather than dissolves.” That means cleaning action looks different, but it can dislodge deposits some solvents won’t touch. For more information, see www.crcsmartwasher.co.nz, contact Steve at: colsons@crc.co.nz or call 021 747 606.

Fastener delays fixed in a snap CARCLIPS IS A SPECIALIST AUTOMOTIVE FASTENER SUPPLIER HOLDING THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST RANGE OF CLIPS AND FASTENERS. ou know the problem: you are close to completing the job and the trim clips are missing. The OEM dealer can get them but how long will it take, and at what cost? Carclips has a better answer. Carclips’ Gary Senior says the company’s mission is to supply all kinds of clips and fasteners fast, for a reasonable price, through an extensive website and online ordering portal. Repairers can search by OEM part number, vehicle brand, or by fastener type. And if they can’t find the right item, they can email a photo with dimensions and the team will find it, or a close equivalent. “We are continually developing the website to make it the first place a repair professional or hobbyist will turn to when looking for a particular clip or fastener.” A specialist supplier to the paint and panel trade

founded Carclips four years ago out of his own frustration in trying to source these small parts. Gary and Katie Senior now own the business and they have expanded the range to more than 1500 different clips and fasteners and they have just added option for Blackfern members to charge purchases to their Blackfern accounts. All clips and fasteners are available either individually or in packs of 25 or in major brand kits, or in a popular 216-piece workshop kit.They currently offer a limited edition Blackfern clip kit with 205 clips and a bonus clip removal tool, for $59 + GST. The Carclips team prides itself in super quick service and, with over 24,000 fasteners in stock, overnight delivery is virtually assured. For more information, see carclips.co.nz, email sales@carclips.co.nz, or call or text 0210 685 369.

New heavy duty oil for modern diesels UNITED OIL COVERS NEW DIESEL ENGINE OIL STANDARDS nited Oil has introduced Eco-Max CK-4 diesel engine oil to meet one the Category 11 specification relevant to heavy duty vehicles in New Zealand. The CK-4 oil Eco-Max 15W-40 exceeds the performance of API CJ-4 oils but they are designed for both new engines and engines that have been using earlier traditional heavy-duty categories. CK-4 oils are designed to provide additional fuel efficiency

while maintaining durability. United Eco-Max not only meets API credentials, but also the latest original equipment manufacturers’ performance specifications, and the self-certifying requirements of ACEA E9. 1st Auto Parts has introduced the Eco-Max range at $791.99 for a 200-litre drum. For more information contact 1st Auto Parts 09 638 6439 or see 1stparts.co.nz.

New guarantees on new lifts TREADWAY EQUIPPED OFFERS THREE AND FIVE YEAR GUARANTEES ON STEINER AND CHALLENGER LIFTS readway Equipped has added Steiner and Challenger lifts to its workshop fitout portfolio and is backing the brands with three- and fiveyear warranties respectively. Treadway Equipped’s Loren Bill says Steiner lifts are new to New Zealand. They offer features of higher priced lifts at great prices. But they are also robust enough for him to back the full range with three-year warranties, if they are installed and serviced by Treadway Equipped. “They are great value lifts and we are very happy to stand by them,” Loren says. But if you go for the more up-market Challenger lifts — one of United States’ most respected lifts alongside Rotary — Treadway Equipped will offer

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

a five-year warranty on the same terms. Treadway Equipped is also offering a ‘100 for 100’ deal. You can use the lift for 100 days, and if after that time, you decide it’s not right for you, Treadway will take it back, and refund you 100 per cent of the purchase price. “We can’t say fairer than that,” says Loren. For more information on Steiner and Challenger lifts, contact Treadway Equipped on 0800 436 436, or see treadwayequipped.co.nz.

OF THE SUPERCARS

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Keeping cool with Repco red or green REPCO OFFERS COOLANTS YOU CAN RELY ON utomotive coolants are one of those long-life products you won’t know is performing badly until you have a serious engine problem. There are a lot of products available at various price points so it made sense for Repco to offer its own version. Repco has the scale to get this product made to meet or exceed industry specifications while delivering the value customers expect from Repco branded products. Repco is offering the two most commonly specified formulations, denoted by industry standard red and green colours, as well as other colours. Repco’s Red Long Life Concentrate Coolant is safe for vehicles requiring a premium organic type A red coolant. Vehicle brands specifying this type of coolant include Audi, BMW, Ford, Holden, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo, VW and more. It is compatible with aluminium radiators. The specially formulated Organic Acid Technology (OAT) inhibitor package stays in solution longer. It is more stable than traditional coolants, providing extended life. It will not form solids inside cooling systems, or become abrasive to water pump seals. It is suitable for vehicles already using red or orange coolant but it should not be mixed with conventional non-OAT technology coolants.

Repco’s red coolant eliminates the need for supplemental coolant additives in diesel engines. It reduces the incidence of localised or hot spot boiling, and is particularly effective in controlling cavitation and erosion around wet cylinder liners in diesel engines. Repco’s Red Long Life Concentrate Coolant meets or exceeds the performance requirements of the following coolant system specifications: OEM Specification for OAT coolants ASTM D-3306 / D-4985 / D-6210 AS 2108-2004 for Type A Coolants JIS 2234 SAE J1034 GM 6277M Ford WSS-M97B44-D Repco’s Green Long Life Coolant Concentrate is safe for vehicles requiring a premium type A hybrid green coolant including Audi, BMW, Ford, Holden, Hyundai Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo, VW, and more. It is formulated to protect vehicles even in extreme hot and cold conditions. It combines ethylene glycol with a powerful corrosion inhibitor that provides rust protection, maximising corrosion protection, even at high engine loads. It meets the demands of

‘Torque to yield’ head bolts are not your average bolts THE KEY FACT TO KNOW ABOUT ‘TORQUE TO YIELD’ BOLTS IS THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER BE REUSED. HERE’S WHY orque to yield cylinder head bolts, commonly referred to as angle torque or stretch bolts, are used in most of today’s modern engines. Torque to yield bolts (TTY) offer the engine manufacturer several advantages including reduction in component costs, more accurate assembly, and reliability of seals. Engines designed to utilise TTY head bolts need fewer head bolts to achieve the desired clamping loads than those using conventional bolts, which also allows for greater design flexibility. While torque-to-yield bolts are attractive to engine manufacturers, there are disadvantages to engine repairers, which can be costly if the bolts are not correctly identified. That’s because torque to yield head bolts, by definition, deform in use and should never be reused. They are designed to stretch. Under the application of load, bolts exhibit four main phases. The elastic phase, the plastic phase, the yield point and the shear point. In the elastic phase, a bolt will stretch

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

under tension but return to its original length when the load is removed. As we continue to apply load, the bolt reaches the plastic phase from which it can no longer recover to its original length. It is now permanently stretched. The point that separates the elastic phase from the plastic phase is called the yield point of the bolt. Finally, if we continue to apply load, the shear point is reached, and the bolt breaks. Like conventional bolts, TTY head bolts are tightened in a series of stages and in sequence, but they are not tightened to a predetermined torque; they are tightened through a series of specified angles. This procedure ensures that friction does not cause an uneven bolt loading and that the correct tension is achieved during assembly. While the first step in the tightening process is normally stated as a torque figure, it is done only to provide a baseline from which the true load is then applied. This is commonly referred to as a pre-load or snug torque.

high performance multi-valve engines and turbo or supercharged engines. The Green Long Life Coolant meets or exceeds the performance requirements of the following coolant system specifications: AS 2108-2004 for Type A coolants ASTM D 4340 Heat Rejection Aluminium Test ASTM D 1384 Glassware Corrosion Test ASTM D 3306 ASTM D 4985 GM 1825M / 1899M HOLDEN HN2043 Ford ESE M97B44-A Ford M97B51-A1 SAE J1034 Both formulations are phosphate free so they can be used with hard water. For more information see your local Repco or Appco store.

TTY bolts are tightened beyond their elastic range and past their yield point (which means torque numbers can no longer give a true picture of what’s going on). The bolt is permanently stretched. They should not be reused. While replacing the head on an engine designed for TTY bolts requires new bolts, the cost is small compared with having to repair an engine for the second time because the old bolts would simply not clamp properly. For more information on TTY bolts, head gaskets and sealants, see nz.gaskets.co.nz/distributors.aspx to find your nearest stockist.

nzgaskets nzgaskets limited

nzdistributor

limited

nzdistributor

Now available at leading auto parts stores. Now available at leading auto parts stores.

Nolathane Academy passes 2000 students NOLATHANE HELPS BUILD INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE THROUGH ITS FREE ONLINE ACADEMY hen it comes to complicated things like suspension setups, everyone would prefer to deal with someone who knows what they are talking about. Nolathane, which has been in the business of designing and supplying aftermarket suspension bushes and components since the 1970s, has a lot of information to share — and a few myths to dispel. Realising that everybody would be better off if that information was better known, Nolathane launched the Nolathane Academy 18 months ago. After passing the milestone of 2000 registrations and introductory modules completed, Nolathane general manager Andrew Nolan has pronounced the move a success. “The Academy has been extremely rewarding initiative, simply on the sheer numbers to date but more so because of the positive feedback we have got from people on the content,” Andrew says. Most of the students registering with the online learning portal are automotive aftermarket professionals but access is not limited to qualified mechanics. “It is suitable for everyone from apprentices and trainees through to call centre operators, counter staff, and sales representatives,” says Andrew.

“More knowledgeable workshops and sales reps earn more trust, and do better business. They have fewer problems and more satisfied customers. That’s good for everyone.” While the content provides information on all things Nolathane, academy students also come away with an improved understanding of the broader suspension category, thanks to the short informative videos featuring motor racing commentator Mark Larkham. The videos are followed by a multiple choice question and answer format. On successful completion, Nolathane issues a personalised certificate to the graduate which can become part of their training record. Andrew says there some out-of-date perceptions still doing the rounds so the academy is also bringing that knowledge up to date. He says urethane bushes were originally designed to replace solid brass bushes in competition cars so, back then, they were all hard. Since then, softer compounds have been developed for road use, and in some applications, patterns are cut in the material so they can deflect at different rates in different directions. Specific products have also been designed for

off-road vehicles, addressing problems for wheel alignment caused by raising vehicle height. And all Nolathane products now come with a lifetime guarantee. Anyone interested in a lesson in suspension basics can join the Nolathane Academy. They can complete the courses in their own time via desktop, tablet or on a mobile device at nolathane. com.au/academy.php. Nolathane is readily available through stockists Repco, Appco and Cooldrive Autoparts.

NZ MECHANICS TRUST Nolathane suspension bushings synchronise your suspension system for optimal safety, handling and performance. They are the most positive link between your vehicle’s springs, struts or shocks. Spring Eye Rear Spring Shackle Shock Absorber

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Sway Bar Mount

Sway Bar Link Leaf Spring Pad/Saddle BACKED BY A LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

NO 1. CHOICE FOR ALL YOUR NOLATHANE NEEDS!

Spring Eye Front Mark Larkham. Nolathane Technical Ambassador.

WIN THIS AUTOMASTER TYRE CHANGER WORTH OVER $3600! NOT ONLY IS THIS A GOOD VALUE TYRE CHANGER, IT COULD BE YOURS, FREE! uto Channel is partnering with Automaster to offer this brand new tyre changer, worth more than $3600, free to an Auto Channel reader. 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! And remember, your odds of winning this competition have got to be the best of almost any competition you could enter this year. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not open to anyone and everyone. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an exclusive offer, only open to the automotive trade in New Zealand, and to the readers of this magazine. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great prize. 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 vertical and horizontal clearance

from the rim. It also comes with with plastic jaw protectors and head inserts for damage-free handling of delicate alloy rims 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.

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Premier Auto Trade expands range GROWTH IN ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DRIVING EXPANSION IN AFTERMARKET PARTS INDUSTRY he increasing sophistication in vehicle technologies is seeing a virtual explosion in the range of electronically controlled products and part numbers available from aftermarket suppliers. As vehicle engine management systems now require much more sophistication in sensing and control, the aftermarket relies more than ever on reliable replacement sensors and components. Fuel and engine management specialist Premier Auto Trade is fully engaged in this market and technology direction and is undergoing rapid expansion, introducing many new products. Its range of fuel, ignition, emission and sensor components now comprises more than 10,000 product lines in 50 product categories. A major expansion to oxygen and air fuel ratio sensors now includes more than 800 direct fit oxygen sensors for Japanese, Korean, American and European manufacturers, making it the largest range in the market. Direct fit oxygen sensors, offer significant advantages over universal fit, ensuring correct wire configuration with less chance of incorrect resistance. A key part of this expansion was the addition of NTK, the world’s largest manufacturer of oxygen sensors, to its Premium range which also includes Walker Products, Bosch and Denso. Premier Auto Trade’s Premium range specialises in original equipment (OE) products from the world’s leading manufacturers., Other manufacturers on the roster include Delphi, Pierburg, Hitachi, TI Automotive, Walbro, Hella, BMC Air Filter, TE Automotive, Airtex, NTK, VDO, Bremi, Valeo and Intermotor. The EGR valve offering now covers more than 100 parts. The range also includes EGR coolers and combined EGR valve and cooler assemblies. The bulk of the range is for turbo-diesels from Japan, Korea,

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

the US and Europe. The growth in diesel four-wheel drive and utes has seen the range for diesels expand to include fuel pumps, crank and cam sensors, throttle position sensors, throttle bodies, air flow meters, map sensors, coolant, fuel, oil and air temperature sensors; transmission speed sensors, relays, oil pressure switches and senders, brake pad wear sensors, wheel speed sensors and common rail injectors. The wheel speed sensor range includes over 330 parts, featuring direct OE replacement sensors, equipped with the correct plugs, wire sheathing and mounting brackets for faster, easier installation. The Premier Auto Trade range also includes electric valve solenoids, variable cam actuators and intake control valves. Premier Auto Trade has also launched an extensive range of more than 200 ignition coils under its Icon Series brand, engineered for correct fit and seating, durability, temperature stability and resistance to

moisture and vibration. In addition, it offers 450 Premium range coils from original equipment manufacturers. Premier Auto Trade has also recently added 60 mechanical fuel pumps to the 280 electric fuel pumps and modules in the Icon fuel range, It now has over 800 fuel pump part numbers covering in-tank, external, fuel pump kits and module reservoir assemblies, covered by a two-year 40,000km warranty. Premier Auto Trade parts are distributed in New Zealand through JAS Oceania (NZ) and BNT. For more information, see jasoceania.co.nz or call 0800 527 335.

European, 4x4, Japanese, Australian, Commercial... Whatever your requirements, BNT has the solution for you. European, 4x4, Japanese, Australian, Commercial... Whatever your requirements, BNT has the solution for you.

bntnz.co.nz bntnz.co.nz

Garage 360: Holland Collision Repair A PANELBEATING WORKSHOP IS MOVING TO A NEW WAY OF WORKING INSPIRED BY EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND. s this the tidiest panelbeating workshop in New Zealand? Holland Collision Centre in Rolleston, Christchurch, is one of the newest at one month old (which always helps) but if managing director Cameron Holland’s plan works out, it will stay that way.

His company has invested in a whole new workshop, an add-on to the existing business over the road, specifically to handle structural work. But, with the help of his brother, who runs an engineering supply business in Timaru, Cameron decided to do something different. They put a lot of effort into planning for workshop efficiency. Cameron is a member of a national panelbeaters’ association. He has seen a lot of workshops around the country and says the biggest causes of downtime are having to move vehicles around and “looking for stuff”. “Panelbeaters traditionally supply their own tools and you get a big mix and match. And they take tools home and don’t bring them back, so they are not there when you need them. If we have everything on hand it’s going to speed things up,” says Cameron. He took the decision to invest in supplying all the tools for the workshop, which would sit in a properly organised tool centre. They also spent time driving types of vehicles in and out, and moving them around to make sure the work stations and hoists would be

Chris Haig, Ryan Parish and Cameron Holland in the new workshop

sited for the best workflow. The difference — the lack of clutter in the workshop —

of best practice and the idea of using that model for a

or more, while the older workshop will specialise in

is immediately obvious. All of their gear — hand tools,

new way of working that would address a known issue,

smaller one to three-day jobs.

power tools, safety gear and consumables — is located

took hold.

Structural repair technician Ryan Parish is one of two

in a new and impressive Teng Tools racking and storage

The fact that this efficiency and professionalism would

staff who moved over to the new shop.

system. All individual tools sit in moulded trays so

be clearly visible to visitors and insurance assessors

“It’s quite nice having your own bay and everything’s

anyone can see at a glance if a tool is missing. Trays are

was another key benefit for Cameron. “It makes a

new and tidy — and it’s so easy to keep clean. That’s

also labelled so no time is wasted opening the wrong

powerful impression and it’s a real point of difference

the first thing I liked about it,” says

doors or drawers, and shelves can be re-arranged if the

for us,” he says.

He says having to put tools back in the storage unit is

staff find a different layout is more efficient.

The fact he also has a more traditional workshop over

“a bit of a change” but it’s one he likes. It makes tool

Cameron says his brother, got the concept from the

the road will make for an interesting comparison,

checks fast and easy. Nothing has gone missing and it’s

Teng Tools supplier, ISL, who explained Emirates Team

although they do different work. The new workshop

far less likely too.

New Zealand’s similar set up. That’s clearly an example

will handle larger structural jobs that could take a week

“Having all the gear is great and all the shelving is labelled, I like that. It’s a good layout and the flow is good,” he says. Key account manager for the Teng Tools supplier Paul Saunders says he was impressed that Hollands had taken the Teng Tools approach on board so fully. “That’s the whole Teng Tools philosophy — to organise your tools,” he says. “The tools are where you need them and you don’t need to search for them. And it’s good for health and safety. In a traditional tool box, with everything just dumped in there can be blades or spikes or other sharp edges in there…” He says setting up the workshop like this represented a significant investment but Paul believes it is a smart move that will pay dividends for years to come.

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

Favourite Tools SPOT WELDER Ryan says the new spot welder has an auto calibration function so you don’t need to measure and key in the thickness of the steel, saving time and aiding workflow

MILWAUKEE HALF INCH DRIVE IMPACT GUN “It’s a godsend to a workshop,” says Ryan Parish. “You don’t need a power bar.” Managing director Cameron Holland talked to his two best team members when drawing up the shopping list. “We both like our Milwaukee so we pitched this to Cameron,” says Ryan. “It was the first item on our list, to be honest.” LABELLING It’s a simple thing but large, clear labels on the racking system cuts down the time and frustration of having to look through multiple drawers to find the right tool. It also means that if you decide to rearrange them, you don’t get caught out, opening the old location. CONSUMABLES Having stocks of consumables organised in the same way tools are organised also works well, for the same reasons. It also makes it easy to keep the cupboard stocked, avoiding the frustration of finding you have run out in the middle of a job.

EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND BASE - Total of 27 tool kits comprising more than 6000 pieces and 16.8 Meters of racking. Custom designed work stations for each department including engineering, boat building, electronics, hydraulics, rigging, on water operations, chase boats and more.

Putting the Accent on Apex tools ACCENT PUTS ITS WEIGHT BEHIND GEARWRENCH AND CRESCENT TOOLS IN NEW ZEALAND

ccent Tools Ltd, distributor of well known power tool brands, is moving into the hand tool market in New Zealand, with a newly formed partnership with Apex Tool Group. Apex Tool Group (ATG) is one of the largest global manufacturers of premium hand and power tools. Its range includes automotive tools and storage, drill chucks, chain, and electronic soldering products. Accent Tools Ltd became the exclusive agent for all ATG brands in New Zealand — Crescent, GearWrench, Weller soldering irons, Lufkin measuring tools and Wiss snips and shears on August 1. Accent Tools’ managing director Andrew Way says Accent set up the partnership with ATG in the wake of managing the global rebranding of Hitachi power tools as HiKOKI in New Zealand. “It gave us a lot of experience in how to accelerate the marketing of a global brand and it gave us an appetite to do it again. We began looking for brands that could do better in this market.” They identified ATG’s brands as having growth potential and ATG was open to forming a partnership that would provide the resources and marketing strength to grow their market share. Andrew said the fact that ATG had just carried out a brand rationalisation, moving tools from several legacy hand tool brands under the iconic Crescent brand, also appealed. That thinking aligned with their own strategy. “We are not one of those businesses that want to accumulate a long list of brands to represent,” said Andrew. “By focusing on the two well-known ATG brands,

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

GearWrench and Crescent, we will be able to harness their legacy and build on the strong brand equity and affiliation they already have with New Zealand tradespeople.” Andrew says one of the challenges in the move into hand tools was that Accent was set up to distribute high value, physically larger items. Adding 3000 new SKUs of varying sizes to their portfolio required careful planning of stocking levels and making sure the logistics could step up. Online channels also had to be populated with the new data and processes put in place to make it easy for dealers to purchase their inventory. Andrew says they have strong existing channels to market through retailers many of whom had been part of the HiKOKI success and were looking forward to working with Accent to promote the new brands. He says they had 90 per cent of the market covered through existing channels. They also brought on ATG’s New Zealand sales manager, James McLellan, as their hand tools business manager to step up the brand’s presence, and to link into the remaining specialist markets. “James has a wealth of experience in this market, and a passion for delivering value and opportunities for his customers,” says Andrew. Existing ATG dealers throughout New Zealand can transition seamlessly to Accent’s dealer platform. James says there’s a ‘huge’ opportunity in New Zealand for these brands. He had joined ATG as a fan, but operating with limited resources, he didn’t have the scale to grow fast. He says Accent’s move

“creates a really exciting opportunity”. He says retailers are enthusiastic about extending the range in store, knowing they will be backed by Accent’s service and support. Asked what Accent does differently, Andrew says passion and commitment make the biggest difference. He says Accent’s 30 years of experience, with shareholders’ working in the business, has built the platforms and trust retailers want. GearWrench and Crescent will now join HiKOKI, Nilfisk, and Shinano in Accent Tools’ portfolio of professional brands. Andrew says they are working on an aggressive plan for growth which will capitalise on lessons from the comprehensive HiKOKI programme. And, he says, ATG’s portfolio had the product quality that was another essential part of that successful formula. “As a business we represent quality brands,” says Andrew. “And we have a proven track record of marketing and growing those brands in the New Zealand market. The strong heritage, innovation, and exceptional quality in these tools are attributes that New Zealand tradespeople will gravitate towards.” Martin Davies, Apex Tool Group’s national manager, adds, “Accent Tools is already a highly regarded distributor and representative of high quality brands in HiKOKI, Nilfisk, and Shinano, so we see this future alliance with them as a perfect fit in representing our premium hand tool brands.” For more information on Crescent or GearWrench tools or to become a retailer, contact James McLellan on james@accent-tools.co.nz, or call 021 194 0671.

A very special reimagined, refined & improved CV8 Monaro

1st prize A very special CV8 Monaro Earn entries where you see this badge.

2nd prize Lowndesyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ultimate Holden Garage

Monthly winner gets $300 to spend in the Red Bull Holden Racing Team Shop

Find out more and register today at holdentradeclub.co.nz/monaro Promotion runs from 1 July 2019 to 31 March 2020.

Holden launches ‘Project Monaro’ HOLDEN IS BUILDING A SPECIAL DRAW PRIZE IN PROJECT MONARO aying homage to one of their modern classics, the V2 Monaro, Holden is embarking on the restoration of a 2004 VZ CV8. Best of all, when the car is completed, one of their lucky customers will win it. Project Monaro is a real ‘money-can’t-buy’ kind of car – as close to a brand new CV8 as possible, only reimagined, refined and improved from the ground up using Holden Genuine, ACDelco and Chevrolet Performance Parts. Teaming up with motorsport icon Craig Lowndes, Holden will also be demonstrating their ongoing commitment to Australia and New Zealand, by drawing on the wealth of talent within Holden as well

as in their dealer network. “I am truly proud to continue my long-term association with the Holden brand,” said Lowndes. “Like many Australians, I grew up with the Monaro. It’s such a thrill to be working on such a special project with the team at Holden.” The Port Melbourne based design team, which includes some of the original V2 Monaro designers, has been tasked with contemporising the car both inside and out. Their engineering team, along with the help of the Red Bull Holden Racing Team and some key build partners, are in charge of improving the big three performance characteristics of the Monaro — its go, stop and turn capabilities —and

Penrite squares off its offering INNOVATION COMES IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND CUBES ARE BEATING DRUMS ustralian lubricants manufacturer Penrite Oil is adding to its new ‘cube’ packaging family with the introduction of a 20-litre square pack size. Unveiled in early July, the 20L pack is available across more than 30 of Penrite’s top selling products, including engine, gear and hydraulic oils. The range is expected to grow over the coming months. The 20-litre cube joins the existing 10-litre variant, and the recently launched 7-litre cube. Penrite says the 7-litre pack is designed to accommodate evergrowing vehicle sump capacity, with this volume being suitable for close to five million vehicles on our roads. The cube replaces the outgoing 20-litre drum. Penrite says the cube offers increased strength and greater stability over the circular design. The cube is also more stackable, allowing less wasted floorspace in workshops. All products in the cube family range are supplied with Penrite’s free Flexi-Nozzle, which extends up

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

to 300mm in length. An integrated breather tube ensures anti-glug pouring while increasing the flow rate greatly. For convenience, a bung for inserting a tap is also featured. “We’ve been able to address a number of issues with the old design and correct them with the new pack,”

bringing it up to current day performance standards. As part of Project Monaro, Lowndes will take the audience behind-the-scenes in a series of minidocumentaries. From the concept development, through body, interior and mechanical restoration, culminating in the final shakedown of Project Monaro at Holden’s the top-secret Lang Lang Proving Ground with Lowndesy himself behind the wheel. The car is not the only prize up for grabs as part of promotion. Second prize is ‘Lowndesy’s Ultimate Holden Garage’. The runner up will win everything they need to deck out their dream garage, from tools and workshop equipment to a collection of Lowndes-themed memorabilia. Along with monthly Red Bull Holden Racing Team merchandise vouchers, the prize pool surely has something for everyone. How can you win? Holden is opening this promotion to both trade and retail customers in Australia and New Zealand. If you’re in the automotive trade, enter through your Holden Trade Club website, holdentradeclub. co.nz. Then every $100 (ex GST) you spend on Holden Trade Club parts between July 1 and March 31, 2020 will automatically get you an entry into the competition. The more you buy the greater the chances to win. You can also enter by spending $100 (+GST) on Holden Genuine or ACDelco parts through a Holden dealer in a Holden dealer service department or by spending $100 (+GST) or more on an ACDelco battery from a Holden dealer or from an authorized ACDelco battery reseller. To ensure you’re in the running, simply jump onto ACDelco.com.au/offers website and submit your receipt. For terms and conditions, see ACDelco.com.au/offers.

says Penrite Oil’s marketing manager David Kirby. “The cube offers greater structural integrity, combined with a smaller footprint; all while being easier to transport and handle” Mr Kirby said. Penrite’s 7, 10 and 20 litre cube range is now available at all leading auto and lubricant retailers. Check out the full Penrite range at penriteoil.co.nz or speak with your Penrite rep.

It’s time to wake up and smell the emissions AECS TECHNICAL SPECIALIST AND TRAINER PAUL CORBETT URGES WORKSHOPS TO TAKE THE LEAD ON IMPROVING OLDER CARS’ EMISSIONS n recent weeks the government has proposed a clean car discount scheme to encourage drivers into lower emission vehicles. Paul Corbett contributed this article encouraging workshops to help out — while helping their own businesses at the same time: The hope is that the government’s move in applying an additional purchase tax to the most polluting vehicles and reducing the cost of the most efficient vehicles will make efficient cars more attractive to new car buyers. As a country we have signed up to the 2016 Paris agreement which effectively commits our country to reduce our greenhouse emissions to slow the increase in global temperatures. New Zealand’s agricultural and vehicle sectors are the biggest contributors to our emissions total and the government is rightly trying to do something about it in a hope that we might get close to the commitment we have made to the agreement. While this may encourage us into less polluting vehicles (although this is yet to be proved) it does absolutely nothing about the vehicles already running around on the roads of New Zealand. Our vehicle fleet is currently only tested for the emissions they produce at the point of entry into the country during compliance where they must meet the standards laid down by the NZTA. Once on the road they are never checked again, which seems odd when a vehicle’s overall efficiency decreases as it ages, servicing becomes less frequent and its emissions increase. In Europe and many other parts of the world annual emission testing is commonplace at WOF and COF checks (and their equivalents) to maintain those original vehicle standards. Vehicles that fail these regular tests are taken out of service and off the road until remedial action has been taken and the emission standards are met.

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

The average vehicle in New Zealand is nearly 15 years old. The chances of an emission test pass at this age is, at best, low. To simply ignore this fact and to blindly carry on without trying to maintain an efficient and clean fleet is burying our heads in the sand. To make matters worse, some workshops are even removing the very emission control systems designed to reduce harmful particulate matter (soot) from diesels and lower the NoX (nitrous oxides) levels through DPF delete kits and ECU reflashes. This is simply idiotic and says, “I don’t care about emissions” and “working around a fault is the only option I can manage”. In fact, it seems bizarre that it’s perfectly legal to purchase such delete kits when it is illegal to change the emission system on vehicles after 2011. Have you stopped to consider what this says to the outside world, if you allow this to happen to your own or vehicles on your commercial fleet? There will always be disreputable companies in business whose only mission is to make a dollar from just this kind of situation. You should perhaps ask yourself if they have any interest in what’s best — or even legal — for you; or if they’re in it to line their own pockets while flipping the middle finger to the rest of the planet. Emission testing is not yet mandatory in New Zealand. However, this doesn’t mean we should ignore this issue while waiting for the government to force us into testing vehicles in our workshops. The opportunity is there for people in this industry to take the lead on this and actually do something about it. Modern emission testing equipment is already available. Gas analyzers with DPF filter probes for NoX diesel and petrol engine testing, and diesel particulate (smoke) testers, are easy to set up and understand.

AECS supplies much of the emission testing equipment currently used in compliance stations and workshops throughout the country. We believe that as an industry we should now take the lead and catch the green environmental wave that is washing around the world. Now seems like the perfect time to get into regular emission testing as it is doing the right thing for the environment, the country’s commitment to reduce emissions, and for your business. Proactively testing and diagnosing faulty vehicles at the point of entry to a workshop can and will generate more work, while outwardly saying to the rest of the world, “I’m actively doing something about it”. Your customers will appreciate it, your children, and their children, will appreciate it and the planet will also appreciate it. We only have one world. It’s time for a tidy up. For more information on emissions testing equipment call AECS on O6 874 9077 or email info@aecs.net.

06 874 9077

info@aecs.net aecs.net

Castrol celebrates 100 years in New Zealand CASTROL OIL HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE EVENTS THAT SHAPED THIS NATION astrol Oil has been a part of the New Zealand motoring landscape for 100 years, and helped shape our physical landscape as we made New Zealand the country it is today. On its first appearance in New Zealand the company was still known as Wakefield Castrol, after founder Charles Cheers Wakefield, who set up shop in the UK in 1899. The company added the name Castrol to the brand after researchers added castor oil to their recipes. Castrol became a household name here as soon as cars became household items, and its fame was spread by its association with exploits that helped define our nation. Castrol took out an advertisement announcing Castrol was chosen for the royal tour here by the Duke and Duchess of York in 1927. The vast majority of roads the royal couple were driven over were rugged, winding gravel tracks back then, so that’s a stronger endorsement than it might appear. As the ad, says ‘when failure was not an option’, the royal motor carriages went with Castrol. Just on a decade later, in 1936, New Zealand’s own ‘queen of the skies’ Jean Batten set a record flying from England to New Zealand in 11 days and two hours, and she was happy to pay her dues extolling the contribution of Castrol. Castrol also played up its point of difference from other oil companies that also sold petrol, suggesting it was a superior product. It’s a sentiment nicely captured in the print advertisement quoting a driver saying, “Ah! There’s a good garage. They sell Castrol.” But it was motorsport sponsorship that powered Castrol’s fame through the middle years of the century, a time of massive growth in motoring. Burt Munro set a land speed record in 1967 on his 1920 ‘world’s fastest Indian’ lubricated by Castrol Oil. His son John Munro said “Dad was a devoted user of Castrol products, I still remember the distinctive smell of Castrol R in the garage when I was a kid”. That distinctive smell came from the castor oil, first added in the early 1900s, which helped the oil form a thin film on metal parts, avoiding damage at start-up. Success was almost immediate and Castrol oils were used in record-breaking cars and aeroplanes right through to the ’50s. It was even a kind of secret weapon in the First World War, as it allowed British planes to fly higher and into colder air than their German opponents. Castor oil was dropped from general purpose motor oils in the 20s but was retained in its high-performance formulations until 1953.

1919

1928

1930

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

1946

Castrol has always appreciated the value of motorsport success and hosted the famous Castrol Six Hour motorcycle races here and in Australia in the 1970s and 80s. Kiwi Aaron Slight led the Castrol Honda team in the World Superbike Championship for several years, eventually triumphing with teammate John Kocinski in 1997. Greg Murphy has been associated with the brand for more than 20 years and Castrol was with him for his ‘lap of the gods’ at Bathurst 2003. Overseas, Castrol has been involved in Formula One and the World Rally Championship, the Paris Dakar rally, Nascar and many other major motorsport events, on land sea and in the air. Castrol’s New Zealand channel marketing manager, Jayne McEwan, says she is proud of Castrol’s contribution to this country and the special place it has achieved in the Kiwi consciousness. “We are proud of our strong heritage and we are motivated to live up to it. Castrol is a trusted brand so, no matter what market segment we are in, customers know they will get top-performing products,” says Jayne. “Castrol made its name with innovation in the original formulation, and in products like Magnatec and Edge with fluid titanium, and now we are leading the way again with a growing range of certified carbon neutral products. That’s a new direction for an oil company but it’s part of Castrol’s long tradition of making a genuine contribution to our way of life in New Zealand.” For more information, see castrol.co.nz.

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Contact Filpro Automotive | Scott Brokenshire sbrokenshire@filpro.co.nz | 022 401 8651

Ford tools now available for Ford fans GLOBAL CARMAKER FORD IS ALSO GLOBAL TOOLMAKER FORD ord tools may not be a common sight in workshops yet but exclusive distributor Ford Tools New Zealand is aiming to change that. Director Anthony West says Ford-branded tools are available in 50 countries around the world but they are a relatively recent arrival here, launching just over a year ago. But, since then, their promotional presence at events like V8 Supercars, Big Boys Toys

and the CRC Speed Show has been putting Ford tools in front of a lot of Ford fans. “That’s definitely our target market,” says Anthony, as well as brand conscious Ford dealerships and specialist workshops. Anthony is in talks with Ford dealers on various promotions and he and sales manager Ivan Boshoff are also keen to talk to other automotive retailers interested in stocking Ford tools. Ford Tools NZ offers almost everything you would expect to find in a workshop in the distinctive Ford blue, through socket sets, spanners, and all manner of hand tools in plastic or metal cases. The range includes Ford tool chests, carry bags, hydraulic jacks, stands, creepers, power drills and drivers, even compressors, jump starters and generators. And when you need a rest you can sit on a Ford branded bar stool. Anthony says Ford tools are more than a branding exercise. “The quality of the tools is a point of pride for us.” Its power tools and designed in London and Shanghai, and its hand tools and lighting lines are designed in Buenos Aires. Ford manufactures most of its ‘built tough’ tools at factories in Detroit, Dubai

and China. “They are serious trade-tested tools at competitive prices,” says Anthony. Ford Tools NZ already has extensive stock on hand for quick delivery from its Auckland warehouse but can also deliver any item from the catalogue of more than 2000 items, Anthony says. As well as workshop hand and power tools, the range includes lighting and merchandise. For more information, see fordtools.co.nz, or call Anthony on 0274 397 015, or Ivan on 0274 397 025.

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Where is New Zealand’s oldest Heshbon and Sice? CENTURY DISTRIBUTORS IS ON THE HUNT FOR NEW ZEALAND’S OLDEST HESHBON AND SICE EQUIPMENT entury Distributors has been representing Heshbon lifts in New Zealand for 20 years this year, which prompted the company to wonder where the oldest gear, still working, might be. And it is offering prizes to power up the search. Century’s Todd Jenkins says he often comes across Heshbon lifts well into their second decade and still doing sterling service. “It’s always good to see this old gear still performing. It might look like it’s seen better days but if it’s still going strong that’s something to be proud of. It says a lot about the quality of the product,” Todd says. “So we’d like to find New Zealand’s oldest Heshbon lift and celebrate its long service.” The same goes for Sice tyre changers, wheel balancers and aligners, which are also Century product lines. Todd says Sice wasn’t represented in New Zealand between 2007 and 2018. “But there are still machines out there over 15 years old still working.” Century has decided to give prizes for the oldest bits of gear from each brand. “We’ll also offer a spot prize for the oldest piece of automotive industry

The Sic e 616M balancer is one of the best preserved Todd has seen. The balancer and the two Heshbon lifts are all 2003 vintage.

equipment from any brand, not just our own.” As long as its age can be verified to a reasonable degree. The prizes for the oldest Heshbon or Sice gear is the Drill Doctor 750X drill bit sharpener: 2.5 – 19mm, with a RRP of $465 + GST. The second prize will go to the oldest piece of equipment of the other brand, giving us the oldest of each. That prize is the Drill Doctor 360X drill bit sharpener: 2.5 – 14mm, RRP $229 + GST. The prize for the oldest equipment of any brand is a $150 Repco voucher. “People can enter by sending us a photo of the equipment and the serial number to our facebook page — just search for century equipment nz — or email todd@centurydistributors.co.nz.” Entries close on August 31. The winners will be announced in Auto Channel and on the Facebook page and notified personally. Todd says if taking a look at your old equipment also prompts you to think about upgrading it, now is a good time to do it. Century Equipment is offering interest free terms over three months, and lease options and finance are available through Capricorn. For more information, contact Todd at the email address above, call 04 567 1405 or see centurydistributors.co.nz.

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Setting up for an ADAS future WORKSHOPS NEED TO LOOK FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, THE SAME WAY CARS DO NOW t is time for workshops to think about what they are going to do with ‘ADAS’, says GPC Asia Pacific’s diagnostics sales and training manager, Dean Guilford. Ten years ago, automotive repair was something that almost anyone could do with a bit of mechanical knowledge and a bucket of hand tools. Now the electronic systems controlling cars have become so complex trained automotive repairers can soon find themselves in over their heads. One of the biggest drivers of change at present is the world of new technologies collectively known as ADAS. ADAS includes radar cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, around view monitoring or 360° camera systems, rear collision warning, night vision systems, autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian collision warning, traffic sign recognition, and more are continually being developed. While these aids only featured on top of the line luxury models in the past, manufacturers, who are in a race to develop autonomous vehicle systems, are installing them and developing them in more and more basic vehicles. Dean says these systems now interconnect with each other and, importantly, with

vehicle control systems like the steering, accelerator and brakes. This means more reference to OEM manuals, more upskilling, and of course, more specialised equipment are all required. ADAS means workshops are going to have to take their scantools to the next level. Automotive technicians are not alone in facing this challenge. Diesel specialists, panel beaters, and even windscreen repairers are all in the same boat because it is becoming virtually impossible to avoid ADAS. Dean describes two everyday examples; replacing a water pump in a 2015 VW Passat and replacing the left hand side mirror on a 2014 Nissan X-Trail. The correct factory procedure on the VW is to install the service pins into the front of the chassis rails, disconnect the entire radiator support assembly and move it forward to create enough space to get in to do the job. But to do this, the radar cruise control and lane departure warning cameras have both been moved and now require recalibration. On the Nissan, removing and replacing the wing mirror is easy enough but this vehicle has a 360° camera system which has a camera mounted in the mirror housing, so this system also requires calibration.

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Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

This is becoming an everyday occurrence in crash repairs and the glazing industry with cameras and sensors mounted on front windscreens. So how to calibrate ADAS? Dean says calibration can be broken down into two categories: static and dynamic. Static or fixed calibrations are carried out on a flat, clear, level surface, with decent lighting and suitable calibration equipment. All static calibrations require the use of a diagnostic platform (scantool) with ADAS calibration software, a front calibration frame, wheel clamps with positioning lasers, and targets or pattern boards as specified by OEMs. Select the vehicle on the scantool, then follow the step by step process as instructed by the scantool. The second type of calibration is ‘dynamic’ or ‘in use’ or ‘mobile’ calibration. This involves initialising learning mode using a suitable scantool, then performing a drive cycle as specified by the OEM. Dean says there are various brands of calibration systems on the market, including those offered by Autel and Hella Gutmann. Josam offers a system for heavy duty applications as well. Systems start from around $27,500+ with charge out rates ranging from $250 to $750 depending on vehicle and system complexity. “Cost of ownership is something that needs to be looked at, but it is inevitable that these systems will continue to reach deeper into the vehicle fleet,” he says. For a while at least, workshops will have a choice; to hold off, or to embrace the change as a business opportunity, perhaps even building expertise and becoming a supplier of these services to workshops who don’t want to or don’t have the room to take this on. “Looking further ahead it seems likely that a calibration system will quickly become as commonplace as a wheel alignment system in the modern workshop.” For more information on ADAS calibration systems, contact Dean Guilford or see your local Repco Appco, Sulco, ASL Extreme or Ashdown-Ingram representatives in store.

How to train a new tech DON’T COUNT ON ‘COMMON SENSE’ WHEN IT COMES TO TRAINING A NEW TECHNICIAN erhaps you have taken on an apprentice or you’ve taken on someone new to the industry to see how they work out. If that person turned up for work, having made it through the interview or the other hoops of the hiring process, you are off to a good start. Hopefully you have a plan in place for turning them into a productive technician and not scaring them away. Also hopefully you got a good idea of the employee’s experience and knowledge prior to taking them on. But it’s best to play it safe, remembering people are tempted to tell you what you want to hear when looking for work. Another reason to recheck the capabilities of your new employee is to help you decide the next steps, so you can start from the point of most benefit. If they show some good basic knowledge and skill, you can spend less time on that. On the other hand, they might have very little practical experience. In the good old days, you could expect young guys to have worked on their own cars and done any number of practical projects. Nowadays handskills get scant attention in school, so even those with an aptitude may not even know that’s what they will be good at, because they have never had the chance to show it. And, as you know, modern vehicles actively discourage tinkering. There’s not much scope for just diving in and having a go. Remember too, what seems obvious to many people is simply outside the experience of younger generations. Witness the video of two teenagers trying to work out how to make a phone call using an old circular dial phone. They couldn’t do it. So, automotive trade school instructor John Burkhauser recommends having a new tech shadow an experienced techs for a week. During this time the newbie is not permitted to do anything except watch and ask questions. That may appear to be costing you money but the newbie will be absorbing good information and learning how your shop flow works and, more importantly, they won’t be making expensive mistakes. It will also give you chance to see how they how follows directions and their level of motivation. Do they ignore the “just watch” rule? Do they ask questions? Do they look interested or are they switching off?

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

If they don’t look interested or are failing to follow instructions, you will know where you need to start with them. All going well after the watching period John suggests getting them to do an oil change. First you need to set out detailed instructions, incorporating good practice tips, as below. How well they follow the process is another useful indicator. The lead tech get them to drive vehicles into bay and put them on up on the lift while they watch and check each step. Set up a process like this: 1. Open the bonnet. Remove the oil cap and pull the dipstick up part way to show there is no oil in the vehicle when it’s lowered. 2. Raise the vehicle partially and check tire condition and pressure, adjusting it as necessary. 3. With the vehicle hoisted, show where the oil drain goes, how to position it for minimum spillage and shifting it as the flow decreases. 4. Remove the old oil filter and feel the filter base to be sure that the filter gasket has not been left behind. 5. Lubricate the new filter gasket and install by hand. Install and torque the oil pan plug. Clean up any oil that may have dripped on the engine or exhaust. Remove the oil drain and empty it. 6. Lower the vehicle, get the proper oil type and amount and pour into the engine. Replace cap and insert dip stick.

7. Start and run the engine, checking underneath for leaks. 8. Turn off the engine, reset the maintenance minder, check and clean up any spilled oil under the hood, check the dip stick and verify proper oil level. 9. Close the hood check that it latched, apply reminder sticker and pull the vehicle out of the bay. This may seem over the top but if the trainee has to do it several times, you will see if they are performing every step consistently. Are they focused? Are they making the steps flow smoothly without taking shortcuts? Another advantage is that, if the steps are followed properly, you can almost eliminate the mess and destruction that occurs from double gasketing the seal, or installing the oil pan plug badly. From this point onward, the lead tech can start giving them other jobs to complete but they should continue monitoring their work. Remember that in aviation, which has an enviable safety record, all physical work is checked by another engineer, no matter how qualified they are. Over time the employee will become more adept to performing many services and jobs on a vehicle and can be weaned away from the lead tech to work independently with less oversight as they build trust. But don’t think that the training ends here. It needs to go on. As technology is constantly evolving in vehicles, training must continue to keep up with the changes. Any workshop or garage that does not recognise this is risking physical safety and their business. “No one can afford to learn by poking around in today’s vehicles like you could twenty years ago. Bad things will happen that could really hurt or kill someone,” says John. “Yes, training costs money and takes time, but you will find that with proper training your efficiency will improve, and you will have less comebacks. You can also reduce your liability because you know better being less likely to make a fatal mistake.” Training needs to be a required part of the technician’s job. It is too risky to learn as you go on a vehicle. Whether they are a newbie or experienced tech, everyone benefits from training. Shop owners and managers need to stop looking at the costs and time required and understand that training needs to be a part of your shop’s success plan. All you need to do is look for it and get it done.

Car News

Ford takes plastic bottles onboard FORD SUVS SUPPLIED WITH THOUSANDS OF RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES ord is wiping the floor with plastic bottles. Each EcoSport SUV that the company produces for the UK market is fitted with carpets made using 470 single-use plastic drink bottles. And since Ford launched the EcoSport in most global markets in 2012, it has provided a new lease of life for more than 650 million 500-millilitre bottles, weighing an estimated 8,262 metric tons. If laid end to end they would stretch more than twice around the world, says Ford. Since first using recycled plastic in Mondeo more than 20 years ago, Ford now recycles 1.2 billion bottles globally per year. “Consumers have a hugely increased awareness

of the harm that simply discarding plastic can do, but we have long been on a mission to increase the proportion of recycled and renewable materials that are used in every new car we make,” said Tony Weatherhead, materials engineer, Ford Motor Company. Turning plastic into car carpets first involves shredding both the bottles and their caps into tiny flakes. These are then heated to 260°C and melted down before being formed into fibres the width of a single human hair. Those fibres are spun into a yarn by twisting multiple fibres together – and it is this material that is woven into carpets. In Europe as a whole, only 30 per cent of plastic waste is recycled.

New corner concept for public transport NEXT GENERATION BUSES COULD BE MORE NIMBLE THAN CARS ‘corner module’ concept that integrates powertrain, steering and suspension technologies within a single product could revolutionise public transport. The module, called Protean 360+, is thought to be the first of its kind offering a limitless 360-degree steering capability. It also features innovative suspension, pneumatic ride-height control and an in-wheel electric motor. Protean Electric – an automotive technology innovator, and a world-leading developer of inwheel motors – is developing the Protean 360+ module for next-generation urban transport vehicles. The module’s compact packaging will allow for a flat vehicle interior floor and space for wheelchair

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

access via front, rear and side doors. This also means the vehicle can park front-, rear-, or side-on to the kerb, and occupants can disembark straight onto the pavement without having to step into the road. The 360-degree steering system will allow parking in tight spaces with absolute precision. Once stationary, the pneumatic ride height control of Protean 360+ will enable the vehicle to ‘kneel’, dropping the vehicle entry-point to kerb level. Autonomous vehicles will be required to negotiate complex combinations of fixed street furniture as well as unexpected obstacles in their path. Because the corner modules will enable the vehicle to spin through 360 degrees within its own footprint, it could easily navigate narrow urban streets, tight corners at junctions, parking lots and loading bays. Crucially, it will allow ultimate precision in manoeuvrability for the final metre when approaching the kerb to park up. The 360-degree steering capability is made possible by a patent-pending rotating interface that sits above the corner module’s main arm. The top of the rotating interface is fixed to the vehicle; the lower interface is fixed to the module arm.

The electric steering unit (by-wire controlled) is located above the interface, so that the axis points to the bottom of the wheel. From the lower rotational interface, control cables for the motor, hydraulics, and pneumatic ride height controls are channelled down the module arm and are connected to a second static interface within the hub and into the wheel motor unit. As the arm module rotates through 360 degrees, the full component set rotates with it. As a result, the connections and cables are not twisted or stressed. The primary challenge for the suspension system was the compact packaging required to ensure that the system takes up the minimum internal space. The patent-pending quad-pivot double-wishbone ’spider’ movement enables high-strength force transfer with both compact packaging and full-range suspension travel. It also allows the suspension system to exhibit identical behaviour and performance in all directions of travel. As a result, a single common module design is optimised for all four corners of the vehicle, negating the need for left and right or front and rear versions, thereby reducing development and production costs. ProteanDrive constitutes a permanent-magnet synchronous motor with an integrated inverter and a dedicated liquid cooling circuit, all tightly packaged within the wheel rim. A friction brake disc and caliper are packaged in the wheel with the ProteanDrive motor, complementing its regenerative braking capability. The rotor of the electric motor connects directly to the hub, delivering torque from the motor to the wheel and removing losses in power transfer. The direct drive configuration is reflected in the hightorque, low-speed design of the ProteanDrive motor. The motor features an outer rotor to maximise torque; this outer rotor configuration allows the rare earth-magnets to be surface-mounted without retention features that would otherwise compromise performance. Each ProteanDrive Pd18 motor (to fit an 18-inch wheel) develops 1250 Nm (922 lb-ft) peak torque and 80 kW (107 hp) peak power.

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Skoda helps out with equitable parenting NEW SMARTPHONE APP BANKS KILOMETRES IN EXCHANGE FOR CHORES koda has developed a new smartphone app, Škoda Parent Taxi, which lets parents charge their kids via the currency of chores. The app was created in response to research by Škoda UK which found Britain’s parents drive approximately 2000 additional kilometres a year ferrying their children around. Two thirds of parents said they sometimes felt they were simply providing taxi services for their kids; spending on average an extra three hours in the car each week driving their children around. The Škoda Parent Taxi app acts like a real taximeter allowing parents to exchange kilometres for chores such as cleaning the car, feeding the family pet, tidying their bedroom, and doing the washing up. The app works by tracking the car journey via GPS. Parents or guardians can decide how many kilometres equate to a single chore. Once the driver has reached their passenger’s destination, the app totals the distance travelled and reveals the chore/s for the journey. The driver can share the completed journey directly

to the passenger’s smartphone via text or email and even gives the option to share the details on social media. Other functionality includes the ability to view past journeys and fares, create a bespoke chore receipt, and track the total amount of journeys. Having completed several journeys using Škoda Parent Taxi, blogger Jo Middleton said: “This is the app I’ve been waiting for! It’s true that kids generally have a better social life than adults and, as a result, that can mean a lot of car journeys each week. Although I love encouraging them to get out and do more, I think it’s a great idea to swap miles for some help around the house in return.” And it could benefit kids, too. Studies have now shown that encouraging younger children to help with household chores, such as tidying away their toys and games, can improve their motor development. While parents are spending significant time on the road, nearly half (47 per cent) admitted to using the time to catch up with their kids, and 44 per cent don’t mind the extra miles as they’d rather their kids were out doing things.

Ford and VW co-operating on vans and pickups NEXT VW PICKUP TO COME FROM FORD DRAWING BOARD ord and Volkswagen on track to deliver medium pickup trucks for global customers, aiming to start in 2022, followed by commercial vans. Ford will engineer, source and build the previously announced medium pickup for both companies for customers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and South America, with trucks expected to arrive in key markets as early as 2022. For both companies, Ford intends to engineer,

source and build larger commercial vans for European customers starting in 2022, and Volkswagen intends to develop, source and build a city van for sale in Europe and other select global markets. Volkswagen and Ford both have strong model lineups in these markets, including the Ford Transit and Ranger and the Volkswagen Transporter, Caddy and Amarok.

Electric car beats Formula 1 car track record VOLKSWAGON’S ELECTRIC ID.R CLAIMS GOODWOOD HILLCLIMB RECORD

he all-electric Volkswagen ID.R has broken the outright Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb record, 20 years after it was set by ex-F1 star Nick

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Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

Heidfeld in a McLaren MP4/13. By stopping the clock at 41.18 seconds the state-of-the-art ID.R averaged 101.4mph along the challenging 1.16-mile course. Driven by two-time Le Mans 24 Hours-winner Romain Dumas, the Hillclimb record is the third landmark for the all-electric machine. The ID.R established a new electric vehicle lap record around the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife, with a time of 06:05.33 minutes in June, to add to its outright record on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA, (07.57.15 minutes) set in June 2018. In 1999, McLaren set the fastest time on the 1.16mile Goodwood Hillclimb with its MP4/13 F1 car, driven by then-F1 driver Nick Heidfeld in a time of

As both companies expect customer demand for medium pickups and commercial vans to grow globally in the next five years, collaborating on these key segments will allow better technologies and more innovation to reach their respective customers more quickly – with better plant capacity utilization.

00:41:60. It has taken 20 years for the record to be broken, with the ID. R beating its winning 2018 time of 00:43:86 to break the outright record this year. Volkswagen Motorsport had systematically modified the ID.R for its outing at the ‘Goodwood Festival of Speed’. Among other things, the latest evolution of the electric race car was lighter than when it set records on Pikes Peak and at the Nürburgring. “We used a smaller battery than at the Nürburgring and optimised the power output. As such, the new sprint version of the ID.R weighs less than 1000 kilograms, with the driver on board,” said François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director at Volkswagen Motorsport. The ID.R also completed its record-breaking run without the drag reduction system designed for the highspeed sections of the Nürburgring, as the tight track at Goodwood made this superfluous. With a further year of development behind it, the allelectric ID.R produces 500kW (670bhp) and 650Nm of torque. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.25 seconds, topping out at 168mph.

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The Hayman Reese LED Hitch Step is an easy-fit rear step with built-in ultra-bright LED lights. The step is non-slip, aluminium checker plate and powerful integrated LEDS provide lighting for attaching trailers, reversing or temporary site lighting. Designed to fit most towbar tongues and towball mounts, the LED Hitch Step comes pre-wired with a 7-pin flat plug and a multifunction switch to work with reverse lights and park lights. It can also be configured to specific vehicles. Call 0800 698227 for more information.

A small but mighty lift The Automaster Portable Mid Rise Scissor Lift, AM7530D, takes up minimal floor space, you can park a vehicle over it, when necessary or move it with a wheel kit.There’s an optional van llit and a low car ramp extension kit. It has a 3-tonne capacity, it’s supplied with a 10 amp single phase plug, water trap and oiler, 4 x 40mm and 4 x 80mm lifting blocks. Available in red or blue for $4275 + GST. Visit automaster.co.nz or call 0800 214 604.

Penrite’s trade only Pro workshop range is designed for workshops and vehicle service centres. Utilising the latest additive technology and full zinc anti-wear packages, Penrite’s industry-leading Pro oils are API licensed to deliver assured quality performance. The extensive range of full synthetic, semi-synthetic and premium mineral oils is designed to suit all modern petrol and diesel vehicles. Products sizes include the new 20-litre cube, while also being available in Penrite’s 20-litre Enviro Box, 60 litres, 205 and 1000 litre sizes. To find out more, contact your Penrite rep, call 0800 533 698 or visit penriteoil.co.nz.

Tough Sice tyre changer The Sice S45 Basic puts the power where you need it. The automatic swing arm saves repositioning time and space. It has a self-centring, four-jaw chuck with two clamping cylinders and the three-phase powered turntable is two speed in both directions. The 31KN stainless steel bead breaker is double acting with a patented demount head design and an enlarged wheel pad. Outside clamping is 11” – 22” and inside 13” – 25” for rims up to 350mm wide. $6299 +GST delivered. See centurydistributors.co.nz or Century Equipment NZ on Facebook.

Better batteries for stop-start cars

Steiner Wheel Balancer — Italian precision

Engine ‘stop-start’ technology aims to help meet reduced global CO2 emission targets but the extra demand for cranking amps, and smart alternators which let battery voltage drop before recharging, are tough on batteries. Century ISS Active Stop-Start batteries are specially designed for stop-start systems and have the extra power needed to run onboard electrics while the engine is switched off. For more information on Century’s products and services, contact your local Century representative on 0800 93 93 93 or visit centurybatteries.co.nz.

The 100% Italian electronics and design Steiner ST420 Wheel Balancer has 5 ALU and 2 ALU smart balancing programs and can also balance motorcycle wheels with an optional motorcycle adapter. It is accurate to one gram and the LED sidelight illuminates the inside of the wheel for easy weight attachment. Balancing wheels up to 70kg, and 44” in diameter with widths from 1.5” to 20” inch means all vehicles are catered for. Backed with Treadway Equipped’s 100-day, 100% satisfaction guarantee, it is $3490 + GST delivered.

Redarc powers up idle cars Redarc’s 12v 30A Showroom Charger, co-branded with Norwegian manufacturer Defa, is ideal for showroom vehicles or stored vehicles like RVs, caravans or boats. Designed for 12V lead-acid, AGM, EFB, and GEL batteries, the one-button, seven-step charger will deliver 14.4V to achieve maximum charge, dropping to 13.6V at a maximum of 30A during the long-term charging phase. It is spark-proof, secured against reverse polarity and short-circuiting, and comes with a 2-year warranty. RRP $1033.15. See redarcelectronics.co.nz/30ampshowroom-battery-charger.

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

Gv Oils hydraulic fluid GV Oils’ hydraulic oils hit all the right numbers to satisfy multiple international standards and comes with the latest zinc anti-wear additives, oxidation and corrosion inhibitors and anti-foaming agents. It’s a highly thermally stable fluid capable of handling the hard work done by excavators, truck hoists, fork lifts, backhoes, loaders, mowers, pumps, tractors, and all manner of mobile and industrial equipment. It satisfies the demands of manufacturers like Case, Class, Kubota, Komatsu, Hanomag, Yanmar, Hyundai, Mitsibishi, Kawasaki, Hitachi, Laverda, New Holland and more. It comes in ISO viscosity grades 32, 46 and 68 in both 10 and 20 litre bottles.

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Cleaning car parts with biology SmartWasher bioremediating parts washers are self-cleaning and environmentally friendly.The selected bacteria in the filter mat literally eat the oil and grease washed into the tank, reducing waste disposal from hundreds of kilogrammes of hazardous liquid annually to just a few kilogrammes of inert solid waste. The SmartWasher’s unique OzzyJuice fluid, heated to a comfortable 42 degrees, breaks the bonds between parts and dirt, meaning it can also remove some deposits even solvents can’t shift. For more information, see crcsmartwasher.co.nz.

Some Ford Ranger and Mazda BT50 3.2Ls may now OIL need FILTER major cylinder head surgery so Kiwi Cylinder Heads &has added aftermarket High Efficiency High Capacity

cylinder heads for the 5-cylinder common rail diesel engine, the P5AT engine (2011 onwards). They already supply heads for its 4-cylinder brother, the 2.2L P4AT. They are available as bare cylinder heads, or assembled with new valves and springs, head gasket, headset, and head bolt set, and with a 12 month warranty, unlimited kms including parts and labour. Contact Kiwi Cylinder Heads on 0800 549 429, info@ kch.co.nz, or see cylinderheads.co.nz.

Serious and smart professional jumpstarter The new, heavy duty Projecta 1500A 12V lithium ion jumpstarter with ‘Rapid Recharge’ technology is ideal for busy workshops. After five seconds of cranking, leaving it connected for 20 seconds of Rapid Recharge via a 40 Amp alternator will recover 80% of the energy drained, and 40 seconds will recover 100%. With 550 Amps of clamp power, the 1500A will handle diesel engines up to six litres and petrol engines up to eight litres. Available from leading automotive stores throughout New Zealand. Contact them for pricing.

Lucas Multi-Purpose Parts Cleaner Lucas Oil is introducing the new Lucas Oil Parts Cleaner and Degreaser made with polyetheramine (PEA) detergents for cleaning carburettors, chokes, brake callipers, rotors, air intakes, throttle bodies, and unpainted metal parts. It is effective at removing unwanted gum and varnish deposits without harming catalytic converters and oxygen sensors. It is especially effective as brake cleaner. For more information, visit LucasOil.com and on Facebook atfacebook.com/OfficialLucasOil.

Restore hydraulic seals Rislone Hydraulic Seal contains a premium, high-quality, durable, zinc-based additive package for both low and high-pressure hydraulic systems, formulated to work with ISO22, 32, 46, 68, 100 viscosities, and others. It does not thicken hydraulic fluid so the oil stays in grade. Additional rust and oxidation inhibitors reduce sludge, varnish and acid formation and it features Rislone’s signature stop leak technology which reconditions and restores hard, shrunken and worn out seals, o-rings and gaskets, reducing fluid leaks during operation. For more information, contact the Smits Group team on 0800 227 422, or head to smitsgroup.co.nz.

High mileage Kumho The five rib design, the combination of polyester casing and steel belts increases the durability of the TA11. It was designed for high tread mileage, featuring a wide tread and low-heat silica compound. International treadwear rating is 700, possibly the highest rating for any tyre in its class in the world. And it delivers a quiet, comfortable ride. All TA11 Tyres are made in South Korea. For more information on Kumho tyres, contact Blairs Supertyre Distributors on 0800 80 90 96 or see blairs.co.nz.

WORDS: MARCUS GIBSON PHOTOS: AUTO CHANNEL

Mazdaspeed Resurrection FOUR YEARS AGO, A NEAR-ROTTEN MAZDASPEED MARCH 84G ROLLED OUT OF A CONTAINER FROM JAPAN. WE COVER THE RETURN OF THE TRAILBLAZER TO THE TRACK AFTER THREE DECADES

he old adage ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ never rings more true than in the world of cars. It’s through these connections that true gold can be unearthed, or perhaps those parts you simply can’t find anywhere for sale these days magically appear. So, when your circle of friends includes motorsport legends such as Yoshimi Katayama or T Okura, then those little gems tend to be some truly special pieces of Japanese automobilia, as evidenced by the string of Mazdas that Warwick and Andre Mortimer have purchased and imported over the years — cars that would never have been offered to the general public. Of this lot, arguably the most important and significant piece has been the March 84G chassis No. 7, which Mazdaspeed campaigned for one

race only: the 1983 Fuji 1000, where it survived 153 laps of a possible 226 before a turbo failure ended Mazda’s hopes. It was Mazda’s first foray into Group C racing, and it would lay the framework for what many call Mazda’s greatest achievement: the ’91 Le Mans win with the 787B. While the DNF at Fuji might be seen by many as a failure, to Mazda it was an important stepping stone in rotary engine development, this being a serious road test for the first 13B turbo power plant, which would later find its way into the FC3S RX-7 chassis. The failure at Fuji was the one and only time chassis No. 7 was raced before it was gifted to driver Yoshimi Katayama for his service to Mazda’s race efforts. The car would lie dormant for decades, first on show in

The engine is now based on a Series 6 block with bridgeported plates and balanced rotating assembly. An EFI Hardware throttle body sits on an IDA manifold, replacing the old mechanical injection set-up, which had rotted away

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

Yoshimi’s Kobe Mazda dealership, then later stashed in his storage facility. The car could have been lost forever had it not been moved when it did, as strangely, only a week after it was shifted to another storage location, the facility was crushed as a result of the ’95 Kobe earthquake. Sadly, all the spares for the March were lost as a result. It would be almost another decade before the March moved again, this time into a container destined for Matakana. It was evident even before the rebuild began that this would be no small feat. While the car was 100 per cent complete, with not a single part missing, its dormant time had not been kind to the March, and it was close to the point of disrepair when it landed in 2015. Early plans were to get it rebuilt and ready to race inside a year, but the more deeply the team looked at it, the bigger the restoration time frame became. Headed up by Mortimer Motorsport’s long-time head mechanic Gary Roper, the restoration became a fastidious project to exacting details, as close to the ’84 spec as possible despite the fact many parts were completely rotten. A painstaking process began that would span three years of Gary’s life, in-between the rest of his racing duties at Mortimer Motorsport. Work began with the tub itself. Built in the time before carbon was widely used in race car construction, the March consists of an aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis and a fibreglass body. Having stripped the Mazda completely bare, Gary and the team could assess the neglect and make a game plan. Period glues and rivets were located, surprisingly close to home. However, with many of the magnesium suspension components in complete disrepair, replicas needed to be constructed with the help of BSL Racing and Salter Fabrication. Tubular components were drilled to inspect internally for rot and replicated if necessary. Much like the chassis rot, the old fibreglass body

Nick named ‘the lobster claw’ thanks to the large opening in the front end feeding the large rear diffuser. The March 84G features an aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis, double wishbone suspension, and rear transaxle. This was the last of the 84 cars built, with most running Chevrolet-based V8s as opposed to the small 1300cc Mazda

THE WORLD’S FIRST 13B TURBO

had seen better days. Early on, the plan had been to run the replacement body, which had been purchased out of the UK, but it was found not to fit all that well and would require some serious adjustments. The solution — and one that we think the project is all the better for — was to reuse the old body and simply matte clear it in all its unmolested glory, complete with half-peeled and cracked sponsor stickers. The result gives the car a real sense of history, and complements all the shiny new underpinnings perfectly.

The original engine combination from the failed Fuji campaign remained in the car. A prototype 13B twin turbo, a unique configuration saw the turbos mounted over the rear axle, and a top-mounted intercooler. The 13B itself was a prototype block, with intake port locations higher in the plates than we’ve seen in any production-based 13B turbo that succeeded it. Rather than attempt to resurrect the old engine, which was deemed too valuable to tear apart, a new 13B based around a Series 6 13B was race prepared by Grant Munro from Rotorsport Racing and Engine Balancing. It was bridgeported, just as the original had been, Grant commenting that some serious, and impressive, work had gone into the original porting. Sadly, some original components were just too far gone, such as the injection system. “We pretty much just replicated what was there but modernized it somewhat,’’ says Grant. In its place is an EFI Hardware throttle body with IDA manifold. Thankfully, some pieces, such as the Mazdaspeed dry sump front cover, were salvageable. The turbos,

which, strangely, are Hitachi units with 20B cast into the compressor housing — take from that what you will — were rebuilt locally at MSE and sit on a manifold that replicates the original, with extremely long runners. Dtech Motorsport was brought in late in the resto to handle the electronics and tuning. Dave and his team elected to use an Emtron SL8 and Ign1a coils, and construct a mil-spec loom. One thing Dave would have liked to do was retain the distributor from the original build, and that could be something that is changed in the future. The Emtron has been hidden out of sight under the tub, and all the factory gauges have been restored to working condition so as not to distract from the resto. When it came to tuning the car, Dave was somewhat hamstrung by the original layout — the placement of items such as the exhaust manifold and the wastegate was not ideal given the knowledge we now have. Then again, this is not about making a modern race car. Some stuff couldn’t be overlooked, though — such as the team discovering the way the twin turbos were plumbed, using a T piece

Having been almost left for dead, the car arrived in New Zealand in 2015 with many of the components completely rotted away. Fortunately, nothing had gone missing over the three decades since it was run in the 1984 Fuji 1000

The dash has been restored right down to the correct handwritten labelling of what each gauge shows. Everything is again in working order

rather than a Y piece, which would have given the turbos equal pressure and volume. The oil pickup was moved to the front cover to give more volume. If all this had been done back in ’84, it could have changed Mazda’s whole development trajectory. “We weren’t chasing the tune, really, just trying to make it run smoothly. It’s only running 14–15 psi at the moment — it’s a bit lazy — but we are stuck with the design of many parts. If you were going to race it, you’d probably change a bunch of stuff,” Dave says. He reckons the biggest hurdle that the car will face on its debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed is the gearing, which is for longer tracks like Fuji and Le Mans as opposed to a tight driveway, where it’s not likely to make it out of the first gear, which will make it extremely difficult to drive. Ahead of the March being loaded into the container for Britain, a short shakedown at Hamptons Downs with Warwick Mortimer behind the wheel with a makeshift seat gave the team the chance to tweak a few things in the tune and overcome some other bugs. However, with such a tight time frame, Dave was forced to shelve a few things he wanted to

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

complete; jobs that will likely be done on the car’s return — if the car returns, that is. Offers have come in already, so we would likely not see the March returned to our shores if the right figure is penned onto a cheque; time will tell. If it’s not sold, there are plans for some other big events in the USA and Japan before it comes home to Matakana.

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WORDS AND PHOTOS: MARCUS GIBSON

The Road to 400mph — Part Five WE FOLLOW THE LEAD-UP TO COOK MOTOR RACING’S 2019 BONNEVILLE ASSAULT, AND THE BUILD OF THE 1000HP-PLUS SR20 TURBO POWER PLANT WITH WHICH IT HOPES TO CRACK 400MPH AND THE TWO-LITRE GAS RECORD

f you’ve missed the first four instalments of the 1000hp-plus pump-gas SR20DET engine build for Cook Motor Racing (CMR), we suggest that you go back and read those first. For those of you following along, you’ll know that the deadline date we spoke about has come and gone. So by the time you’re reading this, a ship will be crossing the Pacific, and on it will be a container packed with the CMR trailer, and inside that, we’re proud to say, are two 1000hp billet SR20s. One is a shrink-wrapped long block, and the other is bolted inside the streamliner Wairua and ready for war — well, kind of … Last time we checked in at CMR, they had struck a few part supply blows, which pushed the final engine assembly right to the end of the deadline. This cut down the window for both fabrication and tuning the ECU. And when we say tuning, we mean configuring the MoTeC M150 to control the complex set-up and have the ability to swap between fuels. The container made it onto the third boat Reg had hoped to make it on; it was also the last one that will arrive in the USA in time for Bonneville Speed Week. This gives them a 36-hour window in Salt Lake City to complete any last-minute jobs, the biggest of which will be installing the wiring loom that is yet to be completed. The tuning of the MoTeC M150 has been a huge

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

challenge. The M150 is a brilliant ECU and is almost completely configurable. You just need to know how to write the code, as Reg told us. “We found there was a lot of background set-up that needed to be sorted. To do this, you’d want someone who is very experienced with the M150, really. Dwight Scott and Jack Richardson are just learning it as they go. In the end, they got it right. The tune was complicated but it’s right. I don’t think we will need to change the set-up from our first 1000hp tune.” Getting it sorted meant the mule engine using a

stock block really got put through its paces on the dyno, clocking up hundreds of runs, many of those over 800hp. To everyone’s surprise, it lived to tell the tale. Yes, that’s right — the mule engine is actually a beast! Reg credits its longevity to the fact that it uses stock bores and a steel girdle, so all the strength has been retained in the block. While it’s good that this engine survived the 1000hp quest, it somewhat hamstrung the learning process. “The test engine lasted a lot longer than we thought. We expected it to kill it, build

an improved version, and then kill that one. We expected, in pulling those two engines apart, we’d learn what we’d need to do for the billet ones, but it just kept going. So in terms of learning from that engine about bearing clearances and gaps etc., we learned nothing, as it’s still together.” Reg continues, “For all the people that have been knockers of SRs, they are wrong.” Mechanically, what has gone into both the billet blocks is not too different, the biggest change, apart from the blocks themselves, are the custom alloy rods. Given that the blocks and rods are alloy and have a different expansion rate to steel, the bearing

clearances were changed to suit. Surprisingly, Reg has elected to run standard P12 Nissan ring sets, something that surprises many. The gaps are as follows: .018 -.021-inch for the top ring, ring, .022 -.024-inch for the second, and. 015 -.019-inch for the oil rings. The piston-to-bore clearance is .004, which is only achieved given the engine will be preheated before starting. The rod bearing clearance is .0008 and the big ends are .0028. The bearings used are Calico-coated ACL Race, so not your typical ACL Bearings, but this coating is something Reg swears by. The final compression for these two engines is 7.8. Both of these engines saw dyno time and were run up to over 800hp, but there was no time to strip and check everything before shipping out. But with no copper mines in the oil, it’s safe to say that nothing major gave way. Interestingly, some relief valves 2mm wide and 2mm deep that Reg had machined into one of the blocks showed that there was some head lift, and gas was sneaking past the copper cylinder head seals even with the ½-inch ARP studs. These channels allow that escaping pressure to simply vent rather than pushing all the water from the cooling system, and that was only at 35psi of boost. It’s expected that boost pressure will need to be around 45psi at the altitude of the Bonneville Salt Flats in order to make the same power they did on the engine dyno here in New Zealand. The good news is that all the debate about compound turbos has been put to bed; the combo of the smaller G25 and larger (22kg) G42 Garrett, both supplied by Autech, works. Combined with the specially ground cams, it produces more than enough power, as they found out, with boost coming on at 4500rpm, with

peak power achieved only 1000rpm later. To put this in perspective, when running only the larger G42, peak power wasn’t achieved until 7800rpm. Making so much power and torque down low is a double-edged sword. While it’s needed to get the streamliner off the push truck as quickly as possible, it’s also an extremely hard surface to put power down on, so traction control will also come into play. The MoTeC traction control is notoriously tricky to set up, and they have to do it on a few runs if they hope to make the most of their time at Speed Week. They expect to only get six runs total in the quest to reach 400mph — and that’s if nothing goes wrong. Turbo streamliners are notorious for fires, something CMR obviously want to avoid. To reduce the risk of fire, the entire contents of the 110-litre ice box that is used to cool the two water-to-air intercoolers, and a water-to-oil cooler and water-to-water cooler, are dumped into the engine bay during shut down. What this means is that the engine-bay loom needs to withstand an extremely harsh environment, and we’re not even talking about the corrosive salt. “It’s like taking your wiring loom, wrapping it around you, having a shower, and then expecting it to work ten minutes later. Some things in there you have to use a proprietary connection, so you can’t get a motorsport connector for it.” The entire loom will be heat shrunk and the best connectors they can get their hands on used throughout. This is just one of a handful of jobs the team need to sort in that 36-hour window before the salt opens — and that’s if the salt opens (not that we’ll get into that here). But to Reg, his team has already kicked some serious goals. “We have already made the cake. To get a record this year will just be the icing on the cake.” If you’ve been following CMR over the years we’ve covered it, you’ll know that all this work is just part of the journey to run their ultimate goal of 500mph in the next streamliner which is about to begin construction. But more on that car later.

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

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WORDS: TODD WYLIE PHOTOS: AUTO CHANNEL

1970 Dodge Challenger THIS MAY NOT BE THE FAMOUS WHITE DODGE CHALLENGER FROM THE MOVIE VANISHING POINT, BUT IT’S SET TO BE EQUALLY AS FAMOUS FOR REASONS OF ITS OWN!

ike Kowalski, the main character of the cult hit movie Vanishing Point, Nick Ross has driven his share of impressive cars, at speed. But, unlike Kowalski, who was a paid car-delivery driver, Nick is a true racer. Having started in karts back in 1991 and progressed to Formula Ford in 1997, and on to NZV8s from 2001, he’s had success in each class as he’s stepped up the ranks. The rise and rise of his racing career saw the team at Mitchell Race Xtreme (MRX) build a Nissan Ultima touring car from scratch for the BNT NZV8s class a few years back. It was at the launch of this vehicle that Nick’s dad, Mike Ross, who’s always supported Nick’s endeavours both financially and emotionally, got talking to MRX’s Nick Mitchell. Nick Mitchell recalls: “Mike started talking to me about building a new muscle car for him and his brothers. Straight away, my thought was towards something that wasn’t a Chev or a Ford. As a massive Challenger fan myself, I made the suggestion of the Dodge Challenger. That was it; game on.” The Ross brothers are no stranger to muscle cars, with Nick and his brothers Tony, Tim, and Simon having between them quite possibly one of the most impressive collections in the country. Included within that is a Dodge Challenger, so they didn’t really need a whole lot of convincing. The unrestricted appeal of GTRNZ was certainly tantalizing, but a muscle car — even a thoroughly modernized version of one — deserves to be raced against other muscle cars. So, with this in mind, Enzed Central Muscle Cars was the class of choice. Although a theme wasn’t essential for the build, the plan was to create something that stood out. A replica of the lime green Challenger driven to Nascar success by Sam Posey back in the ’70s was the first plan, but, since there was already one of those in the

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

class, they had to think outside the square. What’s the next most famous Challenger? The star car of Vanishing Point, of course — white on white. With the brief therefore being limited to white and fast, MRX set to work to make it all happen. With zero interest in rust and the reality that only a body shell and no other genuine Challenger components were required, a brand-new body shell was sourced. This, in itself, proved to be a touch more complicated than expected, as Nick recalls: “I saw online at that year’s SEMA Show that a US company had reproduced a brand-new Challenger shell. I shared the news with Mike — his response: “Get it!” So we did, but, as that shell at SEMA was the prototype and Mopar hadn’t officially signed off on the sale of the new shells as yet, we had to

wait, then wait a bit more. About nine months later, all the while keeping in touch with the Yanks, our order was taken for the new shell and all-new outer body work and trims.” And, just like that, the first commercially available body shell was theirs. During this wait period, MRX ordered the rest of the components, meaning that, once the shell was in the team’s possession, essentially, it’d be a giant jigsaw puzzle — one that just needed a few assembly and a few hundred hours of fabrication. On that, Nick Mitchell states: “When we started this build, I always envisioned the completed car sitting inside the family’s museum, so our aim wasn’t just to build another muscle car but a show piece for all involved, something that would really get people talking.”

Product Safety Recall REDARC Electronics Tow-Pro Elite V2 Electric Brake Controller sold at various independent automotive/towing stores between the 1st September 2018 to the 21st January 2019.

Tow-Pro Elite EBRH-ACCV2

Defect – There is potential at any time during use for the Brake Controller to fail to engage the trailer brakes (indicated by a flashing yellow/red warning lamp). (Trailer should brake normally if installation was carried out exactly as specified by the product manual using dedicated wiring from a single battery - owners should seek out a repair regardless).

Hazard – If the trailer brakes fail to engage, there may be an increased risk of an accident of the tow vehicle or to other road users. What to do – If a consumer is affected, they should either go back to their installer to seek free repair or call REDARC Electronics Technical Support line to receive details on a dealer network to arrange a free repair. If the Tow-Pro V2 electric trailer brake controller is not installed on a vehicle, the consumer should contact REDARC to arrange a free replacement.

SUPPLIERS OF QUALITY Suppliers of quality ENGINE PARTS engine parts

Ford Ranger / Mazda BT50 5 Cylinder 3.2 Common Rail Diesel New Replacement Cylinder Heads Kiwi Cylinder Heads are proud to announce the release of the new aftermarket cylinder heads for the Ford Ranger/ Mazda BT50 3.2L, 5 cylinder Common Rail Diesel Engine. 2011- onwards.

Affected customers can contact REDARC Electronics by calling 09 222 1024 between 10:30am - 7:30pm Monday - Friday, or by email at service@redarc.com.au Customers can also check the REDARC Electronics at (www.redarcelectronics.co.nz/recall-notice) and use the serial number checking tool to see if their product is in the affected batch.

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See recalls.govt.nz for other New Zealand consumer product recalls

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SPECS Vehicle: 1970 Dodge Challenger Engine: 358ci Gillett Evernham Nascar V8, four-barrel carb, Holley Hydramat, Fuel Lab fuel pumps, Fuel Lab regulators, MSD 6AL ignition, MSD coil, Moroso leads, stepped four-into-one headers, F1 merge collectors, custom muffler, C&R alloy radiator, Setrab oil cooler, Aeroflow lines and fittings Driveline: Hollinger five-speed gearbox, Tilton triple-plate clutch, nine-inch diff housing, Winters alloy third-member, Sinters solid axles, 31-spline spool, Endevour Engineering cambered hubs, two-piece drive shaft Suspension: Custom chromoly A-arms, spindle stiffeners, three-link rear, adjustable Watt’s link, Penske three-way shocks, Eibach springs, knifeblade sway bars, cable controls Brakes: Tilton under-heel pedal box, Tilton master cylinders, Endless 330x32mm rotors, AP Racing six-piston calipers, Endless pads, 290x24mm rear rotors, AP Racing four-piston calipers, Endless pads Wheels/Tyres: 17x10-inch Forgeline G43R wheels, 275/45R17 Hankook tyres Exterior: Reproduction body shell, fibreglass bolt-on panels, modified bonnet bulge, powdercoated chassis, matte white RT graphics Interior: Racetech 4119 seat, Sparco steering wheel, custom shifter, Auto Meter special-order gauges, Chromoly roll cage, MoTeC PDM Performance: 800-plus horsepower

DRIVER PROFILE Driver: Nick Ross Owner: Ross brothers Age: Old enough Previously owned cars: All of them Dream car: Have them all Why the Challenger? We were talked into it by Nick Mitchell Build time: About right Length of Ownership: Two years The Ross Brothers thank: The team at MRX, Cambridge Panelworks, Dave ‘Millsy’ Mills, Mike Lucas Electrical Getting people talking seems to be something that MRX has a knack for, and this car is no exception. The usual extensive chromoly cage is in place, as are fabricated chromoly arms, a three-link, and a nineinch cambered rear end — but these are just the start of the features of the build. “Each body shape throws up its own challenges — excuse the pun — in the design process,” claims Nick, but one thing that didn’t need a whole lot of excess thought was what the power train would consist of. Nascar power was the only option, 358ci of Gillett Evernham origin to be exact. Dirk Dirt (apparently his real name), a US-based Nascar seconds dealer, not only supplied the Gillett Evernham engine but also a spare that was originally used by the Penske team. As these engines used within Nascar are so similar, teams generally don’t let the carburettors out of their sight, which was the case with these two, so Dave Mills in Pukekohe was called on to set up a carb to suit, filled with his own almost-as-secret horsepower formula. The engine in the car was mated to a Hollinger five-speed H-pattern dogbox assisted by a Tilton triple-plate clutch. Of course, fitting that was simple compared with the work required to setting up the rear end — where plenty of custom fabrication was required to turn the nine-inch diff housing, Winters alloy third-member, 31-spline spool, and Winters solid axles into a functioning combination. Besides the big AP Racing four-piston calipers on each side, there are also Endevour Engineering cambered hubs to assist with handling. Mind you, the bulk of this is taken care of by the three-link rear end, adjustable Watt’s link, and Penske three-way adjustable shocks. The front suspension and steering system is more complex again — remember, there were no Dodge parts here to begin with, so everything’s custom,

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

but built to match the CMC rules — which means that the suspension geometry must remain as per the original vehicle, and the steering configuration must also meet specific requirements. A Woodward steering column and Sparco wheel send the driver’s input through to a left-hand-drive Subaru rack, while TIG-welded suspension arms ensure that the geometry is as good as can be. At the pointy end, a set of six-piston AP Racing calipers, fitted with Endless pads, works in conjunction with 330x32mm rotors to slow down the 800-plus-horsepower package. These brakes are set behind 17x10-inch Forgeline G43R wheels wrapped in 275mm wide Hankook tyres — the largest the class allows. Nick’s pretty proud of his choice of wheels — and with good reason too, as they’re something that we’re yet to see on another street car here, let alone a full blown race car. Kris, Hayden, and Luke at Boss Powdercoating in Hamilton were an equally essential part of

the build, being called in to coat the roll cage, chassis, suspension arms, and diff. Likewise, highperformance coating (HPC) has been applied to the high-temp and high-wearing components, with anything not coated polished to a near-mirror finish. The dedication to the white-and-polished theme crosses over to the interior, where MRX had Racetech create a pair of custom white gel-coated seats. But, of course, it’s the polished spoilers front and rear that receive the bulk of the comments! With all eyes on those, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the bonnet wears a far-larger-than-stock hump in it, thanks to Fibreconcepts in Tauranga — the business also responsible for the composite doors, guards, and boot lid. All of this composite good news was hidden by the hard work of Ken at Cambridge Panelworks and his spray gun. As yet, the car hasn’t gone through the scrutineering process or hit the track in anger, but it’s already garnered a solid fan base. Once Nick Ross gets behind the wheel, it’s sure to become a thing of legend, much as the other white Challenger that inspired it.

Blairs backs Kumho tyre with a 90,000km treadwear warranty TRIED AND TESTED IN NEW ZEALAND, KUMHO BUILDS A NEW LONG RANGE REPUTATION Blairs Supertyre Distributors, the importers and distributors of Kumho tyres, says the brand is going a long way towards making a name for durability. The Kumho Crugan HT51 has been in New Zealand for just over 12 months. It came with all the correct credentials of a 720 tread-ware rating which, statistically, gives huge tread mileage. And it achieved and an excellent rating from a Tire-Rack in USA. But how would it fare on New Zealand’s chipseal highways? Kumho was prepared to commit to a 90,000 km warranty but Blairs Supertyre Distributors sales manager for Kumho, Mike Baldwin, wanted to test the tyre on New Zealand roads first. He believed if any tyre could reach those numbers this Kumho could, but the reality of New Zealand roads would be a stern test. After extensive tests and customer feedback, Blairs decided to offer the HT51 tyre in New Zealand with a 90,000 km treadwear warranty. He believes this is

the highest tread-ware rating for any tyre available in New Zealand In the Tyre Rack USA survey the Kumho HT51 topped the rankings with 8.9 rating, beating a Michelin tyre into a close second at 8.8. The HT51 is available in nine SUV sizes at the moment, but the success of this tyre means the range is expanding quickly. “Kumho is world renown for its 4x4 all-terrain and mud tyres but it will soon be known for high mileage on road tyres,” predicts. The warranty is credited on a pro rata basis, offering credit for any shortfall in distance and also stipulates regular service checks. Meanwhile, BMW has announced it has selected Kumho as OE fitment for its 5 series sedans, naming the Kumho Ecsta PS91 for the sports and luxury cars. Kumho’s association with BMW spans many years with Kumho supplying tyres for the German brand’s

MP W World’s fastest, RO VE most accurate Wheel Aligner D &I

1, 2 and 3 Series ranges, as well as for the BMW X3 and the Mini Countryman. Kumho tyres have also been used for a wide range of Mercedes models, including the G-Class range, which is fitted with the Solus KL21 SUV tyres. Kumho has a strong OE market share in Germany having also won supply contracts for the Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia. For more information on Kumho tyres, or to become a distributor, call 0800 80 90 96, or see blairs.co.nz.

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

Book a demo! Call 0800 436 436 0800 653 246 enquiries@treadwayequipped.co.nz www.treadwayequipped.co.nz

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

AUTO CHANNEL COMPANY

Supplier Directory

YOUR GUIDE TO NEW ZEALAND'S LEADING AUTOMOTIVE TRADE SUPPLIERS

E S, ER , , , / , S: S, W AK S: IT : S ES DS S: IDE : RS, RS G: NDS T: PO IE Y K LE SOL NG , BR NE ES AN N R N , B D , E: BOX UIL E E L I AS S, S I T : ITTI LES E RS PAI NTE E CS IS O O IV : RS G A O AR R L C B R S E B K I B I S S R Y R T E M , B E L E A R G I H A S , L O EN P RI AL E E AC K R S, F MA UM AE R C M T, ES RV EA RE G & A RS IS H R YP CE RTS RIV UI CT ECI PP AT S, IES ST R OC S REP IPE TY YRE SU SE L, G INE IN NS E, A IN AS RA SU AN H & TS, SH AC PA P, D SU ERN TOR ER EQ ELE , SP NT O PP S, C N OL LUS EF SM , SP TION IR ICA NG OL EENHIP , W NT S & T, T ON , N S C T T N P , T , O S E R I A S A , E A C S C P TS ER O TS L M C CO S, F 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 HO AN AN 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 PE BA BEA KS RIC CLE EL HEA SIO IN REE MI M E ER R A DI TS EN C S R S O S R R A , O , O L , N R B , E , , , N S EN N P O U S T RF , P W SC SS STO W TIC HA ICE SE , G UID TO ER PEN ST DY INT SU DS ES G O RE ING IN W S, L IVE S S S, RV D A U AF PE UP RE BO PA AU ND US IN ON P S RO SH IL FL , S IN GL C S EM NC NO OL SE O O AR MP OM LI AG RA IE BU IO ES W T A O E Y G R T B O D C L R B CO A T C A AU BA DI AU D

CONTACT

0800 472 787 0800 200 100 0800 445 889 0800 333 125 0800 722 022 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. 52

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

Situations vacant CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Know the difference between a Four Post Hoist and a Scissor Lift? Tired of working in the tyre industry or being in a mechanical workshop??? Want a role which is Monday to Friday with no weekend work? Then we have the role for you! Bapcor Limited is Australasia’s leading provider of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories and automotive equipment. Bapcor’s New Zealand businesses cover the Trade and Specialist Wholesale automotive aftermarket segments, with services offered across both islands at more than 100 locations. Our New Zealand brands include Brake and Transmission (BNT), Truck and Trailer Parts (TATP), Diesel Distributors (DDL), HCB Technologies and Autolign. The Precision Equipment division is the newest business stream to the Bapcor Group selling a range of vehicle hoists, and wheel service equipment. About the role As our newest Customer Service Representative, you will work as part of a team who are reliable and driven. You will be dealing with clients all over New Zealand whilst working autonomously to deliver their requirements, with duties including: • Creating solutions for our customers on the counter and on the phone • Ordering parts and entering transfers and purchases • Stock management and other warehousing duties • Despatching of goods and associated administration About you Do you have technical and logical problem-solving skills to help provide exceptional customer service? We are looking for: • Previous experience in the Tyre industry or an automotive mechanical workshop is preferred • A team player with good communication skills • Excellent computer skills • The ability to learn new procedures and systems • A strong work ethic and reliability • A forklift licence would be an advantage You are an outgoing, engaging person with a passion for the technical side of equipment. Perhaps you are a mechanic who wants to get off the tools, or you’re looking for a role to take you to the next level in the heavy equipment industry. What’s in it for you? We have great opportunities for the right individuals to grow and develop their career and, in return, we offer a competitive salary recognition and reward for achievement. Did we mention there was no weekend work involved? To apply go to: bapcor.recruitmenthub.co.nz/Vacancies

ASSISTANT BRANCH MANAGER | LOWER HUTT 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

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN NEW ZEALAND’S WIDER AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Want to work in job that has a great team culture and where work is fun? Join one of our teams across all Bapcor Brands: BNT, HCB, Autolign, JAS, Diesel Distributors, NZ Break Co, Track Trailer Parts. We are looking for Customer Service Representatives to join our teams across New Zealand We are looking for someone who knows their way around car parts to join the team in a customer service capacity. You will be sharing your passion and knowledge for cars with our extensive loyal customer base. We will help you develop you existing sales and customer service skills while we teach you how to develop that car knowledge into an expert parts specialist! Daily, you will be: • Organising outwards goods orders • Communicating with customers by phone, email, and face-to-face • Advising and recommending parts to customers • Cross and upselling customers on all their car-part requirements! You will bring to the role: • A passion for cars and trucks • A great sense of humour • Team collaboration and willingness to help • Drive to learn and grow

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS SPECIALIST | NORTH SHORE 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 like-minded people.

We pride ourselves on our opportunity for career advancement and ongoing training. Further to this we offer industry-leading hourly rate plus an achievable team bonus structure.

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!

To apply go to: bapcor.recruitmenthub.co.nz/Vacancies

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

PARTS SPECIALIST | TRANSMISSION & 4X4 We are looking for an Automotive Parts Specialist to join our Ashdown-Ingram / Motospecs team at our Auckland branch (Penrose). You are the first point of contact with our customers in person and over the phone, consulting and assisting them with product information and queries. Your key focus will be to ensure customer satisfaction whilst maximising sales in a team oriented environment - your role is crucial to our team and the success of our business. Skills & Experience: Ideally you will have hands on experience as an Auto Transmission / 4x4 Mechanic, or experience in the automotive aftermarket and/or parts interpreting, with a focus on transmission and 4x4 components. What you need to be successful: • Passionate about providing a high level of customer service • Enjoys working a part of a team • Interest and knowledge of the automotive industry • Strong communication & relationship building skills About Us Ashdown-Ingram is Australasia’s largest distributor of automotive electrical and thermal control parts to the independent automotive aftermarket. Stocking some of the most respected and sought after products available, we are the home of leading brands. With continued growth for over 50 years, Ashdown-Ingram has a wide distribution network to cater for the needs of automotive specialists. We are backed by GPC Asia Pacific and are a company built on the strength of our people. We pride ourselves on our diverse culture of leadership, continuous improvement, innovation, quality and safety.

BRANCH SUPERVISOR ONEHUNGA R&J Batteries is Australasia’s fastest growing battery company, supplying applications including automotive, commercial, motorcycle, marine, deep-cycle, solar and industrial batteries. Due to rapid growth since our entry to the NZ market in 2018 we are seeking candidates for a newly created Branch Supervisor role. We are looking for a dedicated, ethical and responsible supervisor who can help to grow our business whilst strengthening existing customer relationships. Responsibilities will be supporting the daily operational and customer service requirements of the Onehunga branch and its close-knit team of four. The successful candidate will have: • Previous supervisor experience • Excellent communication skills and experience in motivating a team • A good level of physical fitness (some heavy lifting is required) • Ability to pass biosecurity and dangerous goods certifications plus a full Class 1 NZ driver licence We are offering an attractive salary, and employee benefits of company vehicle, fuel card, and phone. Appointment will be subject to the successful applicant completing relevant behavioural psychometric testing and having satisfactory preemployment medical, police, and driving history checks. Email your resume now to hr@rjbatt.com.au

Send your CV to careers@gpcasiapac.co.nz

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

ACCOUNT MANAGER/ SALES REP PUKEKOHE About the Role In this role you will be based on the road, seeking new business opportunities while also maintaining relationships with our already established automotive trade customers. You will assist our trade customers in finding the best products to meet their needs, and ensure that they receive a level of service superior to what our competitors offer. Skills & Experience To be successful in this role you will have proven sales and account management experience and enjoy working towards KPI’s and targets. Our clients are experienced automotive trades professionals, so experience and/or knowledge of the automotive industry is essential, as well as a clear and personable communication style. Building relationships will come naturally to you, as well as the ability to work within a fast paced environment. It’s an exciting time at Autostop, (a division of Automotive Supplies) we have embarked on a milestone change for our industry, and this is your opportunity to be a significant part of it. Founded originally in 1975, the business was acquired by Genuine Parts Company in 2016, giving us truly global scale and aligning us with other prominent automotive brands such as Repco, Appco, Motospecs, Ashdown Ingram and more! Send your CV to careers@gpcasiapac.co.nz or call 09 574 1204

Three decades of rollers for DTM ack in 1989, the Tordoff brothers, Brendon and Mark, took their passion for the automotive industry and turned it into one of the biggest wheel and tyre dealer networks in the country. Now, 30 years later, we have a lot to thank DTM Wheel & Tyre for, having pioneered many of the most popular brands and styles over the last three decades. They continue to push the boundaries of what is currently on offer to ensure the scene never becomes stagnant. In the ’80s, there weren’t many size, design, or finish options for wheels that were manufactured in New Zealand, so Brendon and Mark turned to the overseas market. “We travelled around the world to find the best. Japan was big on aftermarket wheels. They were expensive back then. We’d buy 20 wheels to start with ... it was a bit of a trial-and-error process. We realized there was more of a demand for the cool stuff that we diversified into. We started getting our own wheels made, and it grew from there,” says Brendon. “Keeping up with them is a tough job. You’ve got to continuously think ahead. You’re trying to predict what is going to look cool next year or what the next

trend is going to be … it’s a minefield”. The company’s own in-house brand, DTM Wheels, has seen a surge in popularity over the last year, largely due to its affordability and extensive range. It’s difficult to put a number on the range of DTM wheels that have been created since the brand’s inception in 1995, but it remains the most popular wheel brand within the DTM brand stable. “The first design was the DTM 057, for Japanese imported vehicles. We sold a lot of them. We had a couple of sizes to start before we expanded the range to include 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18”. Brendan explains. “We did always sell DTM Wheels pretty fast. It got to the stage where we would pre-sell half a container before they arrived. People didn’t want to miss out.” Since then, DTM Wheel & Tyre has grown to offer the widest range of wheel brands in the market, including MHT Wheels, Wheel Pros, Lenso, DTM, DTM HD wheels and many more; and saw the addition of tyre brands such as Nexen Tyres, Atturo, Altenzo, Hercules, and more, in 2008.

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

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 #17 distributed 3 September

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.

Auto Channel Issue #16 August 2019

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BEST FATHER'S DAY EVER. Your Chance To Win a Ford Mustang GT.

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.

0800 472 787

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