SUMMER 2008
CONNECTTRACK THE MAGAZINE FOR
CUSTOMERS
TESTS W RTH PRODUCTS TACKLE F1, LE MANS AND WORLD SUPERSPORT
PLUS… 650BHP W RTH CAPRI TURBO TOP SUMMER EVENTS NEW W RTH PRODUCTS
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15 WAYS WOW! CAN BOOST YOUR BUSINESS RUST TO RESTORATION A RARE ALVIS IS BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE LIFE’S TOO SHORT ENDURO HERO, MICK EXTANCE ON HIS OBSESSION WITH THE DAKAR TANKS A LOT THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE AA’S FUEL ASSIST SERVICE RESULTS WITH REPLAST STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE 16/7/08 14:04:52
WĂźrth I Bike Division Motorcycle Wash 1 Litre Specially formulated cleaner for all types of motorcycle. Highly effective cleaning agent suitable on all surfaces including: metal, plastic, paintwork, glass, chrome and rubber.
Brake and Chain Cleaner Advanced cleaner for the safe and effective removal of contaminates, will remove brake dust, fluid and oil from discs, drums and callipers.
Engine and Wheel Cleaner Effective blend of cleaning agents that removes oil, grease and dirt. For use on all metal surfaces either painted, alloy, chrome or lacquered.
Full range available from stockists throughout the UK Visit www.wurthshop.co.uk for your nearest dealer
UK’s number one distributor
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CONTENTS 03 SUMMER 2008
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BULLETIN Britain’s latest bike racing talent, new Würth products, partnering the Toyota Academy, 650bhp Würth Capri Turbo, and win tickets to the DTM at Brands Hatch
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16 MICK EXTANCE
MAGIC FORMULA Würth’s high-performance products tackle the toughest tests in world motorsport
12 WORLD OF WURTH The highest ORSY in Europe, new Trade Stores in Ireland, keeping seafood cool in Rotterdam, Würth clocks up customer number 3,000,000 IT’S A HAPPY REFLECTION of the diversity of Würth’s products and services that we supply such a wide range of different customers and their businesses. So, in this issue of CO ONNE ECT T you can read why Gerard Lecoq, chief mechanic of Panasonic Toyota Racing, is such a fan of Würth’s Brake Cleaner, and why enduro rider Mick Extance will be relying on High Performance Dry Chain Lube when he heads out to South America for the Dakar rally. Elsewhere in the magazine, we’ve got 15 ways in which Würth Online World (WoW!) can improve your business, we meet the specialists using Würth products to restore a rare Alvis drophead, and feature Würth’s fuel additive range and e-ordering system that’s proving such a hit with the AA Fuel Assist fleet. Closer to home, we’d like to wish Gary Thompson success at our sister company Winzer Würth, while congratulations go to Wayne Moss who has been promoted from Cargo division manager to Managing director. Finally, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Würth UK, there are five pairs of tickets to the British round of the DTM to be won. Enjoy the issue. ANDY TRAFFORD | WAYNE MOSS MANAGING DIRECTORS, WÜRTH UK
15 ANALYSIS Does the Government understand what it’s doing with the MOT?
16 EXTREME EXTANCE Britain’s most successful Dakar rider Mick Extance on going to war with the Dakar
18 RESTORATIVE POWERS A rare Alvis starts its journey from corroded hunk of metal to thoroughbred drophead – with help from Classic Restorations
23 10 THINGS... Summer’s greatest events. Go on, take a picnic
24 WoW! FACTORS Save time, make money, service weird stuff – just some of the reasons why your business should use WoW!
26 FUELISH BEHAVIOUR AA Fuel Assist and Würth’s fuel additives ride to the rescue of mis-fuelled vehicles
18 CLASSIC RESTORATIONS REVIVE AN ALVIS
24 DIAGNOSTICS EASE WITH WoW!
28 COMMUNITY Würth’s Super A/C Leak Stop and Rapid Polish System get the thumbs up from top customers, a day out with Graeme Fullerton, Regional director Würth Scotland, Arron Rogers uses his dad’s workshop to build a new Norton
32 NICK’S MASTERCLASS Your step-by-step guide to using Replast
34 WHAT I’VE LEARNED Bettina Würth on taking on her father’s role
CONNECT WITH US... WURTH UK 1 Centurion Way, Erith, Kent, DA18 4AE, UK. Tel +44 (0)8705 987841 ■ wurth.co.uk ■ connect@wurth.co.uk
CONNECT is published for Würth by Atom Publishing Ltd, 45-47 Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0EB, UK. Tel +44 (0)20 7490 5595 ■ atompublishing.co.uk ■ info@atompublishing.co.uk
CONNECT Würth Marketing/ Editorial consultant BARRY HUNT Würth Marketing manager STEVE BUTTERFILL
Editor TIM OLDHAM Assistant editor BRENDON HOOPER Art director GRAHAM SMITH Publishing director EMMA TILLEY Production manager GEORGINA WOBER Managing director STEPHEN QUIRKE Repro PIXEL COLOUR IMAGING Print HEADLEY BROTHERS LTD
CONNECT
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04 BULLETIN THE LATEST WÜRTH PRODUCTS AND PROJECTS, PLUS A FEW FUN DIVERSIONS
A FLAMING CLASSIC For a few – all too brief – seasons in the late 1970s and ‘80s, German circuits rocked to the sight and sound of the awesome Ford Zakspeed Turbo Capri. Designed and built by Zakspeed at their Neiderzissen base, the Turbo Capri made its debut in 1978 and by 1980 was competing in both divisions of the Group 5 German Racing Championship. Masters of turbocharging, Zakspeed developed a 1.4-litre Cosworth BDA-based turbo engine for one division and a 1.7-litre turbo for the bigger capacity class. With a KKK turbocharger and twin intercoolers, power output was up to 600bhp plus. With a lightweight aluminium frame, a huge rear wing (later banned) and some serious ground-affect aerodynamics, the
DRIVER KLAUS LUDWIG AND THE ‘UNTOUCHABLE’ ZAKSPEED TURBO CAPRI
distinctive Würth-sponsored car driven by Klaus Ludwig was virtually untouchable – winning its class in 1980 and the overall title the following year. British race fans got the chance to see it race at a special one-off event at Donington Park in July 1980 but the Turbo Capri’s racing life effectively ended in 1982. Happily, the Würth Capri campaigned by Ludwig has since been immaculately restored by Zakspeed engineers and the company is open to offers. If you need any persuading, take a look at the footage below. Commentary is in German, but the sight of Ludwig disappearing into the distance, shooting four-foot flames is all the translation you need. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAIX48KfnCA
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WIN
THE DTM’S ROLLING IN – MAKE SURE YOU’RE THERE, TOO
TICKETS
THE DUKE OF KENT ATTENDS THE OPENING OF THE TOYOTA ACADEMY
ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE A £14 million centre of excellence in automotive and engineering training has opened in Nottingham, offering a wide range of courses and featuring state-of-the-art facilities, technology and equipment. The purpose-built Castle College Highfields Automotive and Engineering Training Centre will provide opportunities for school and college students based on Toyota’s Technical Education Programme. It is also home to the highly regarded Toyota Academy. Here, Toyota will deliver training programmes
for 350 apprentices for its Toyota and Lexus retail network, as well as 60 manufacturing engineering apprentices for plants in Burnaston, Derbyshire and Deeside, North Wales. Toyota is supplying the centre with training materials and vehicles and will also share developments in new technology. And as a key partner, Würth has also supplied a range of products and racking. “We’ll be looking to work with the Academy in further product development and training,” says Nigel Dixey, Business development manager, Würth UK.
BUMPER BIRTHDAY BASH Würth UK is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, but in a change of protocol we’re dishing out the presents – to five lucky customers. Yes, we’ve secured five pairs of tickets to round nine of the DTM championship at Brands Hatch on 30-31 August. What’s more, the passes will grant access to the pit lane. Würth has been a long-term supporter of the DTM championship – supplying workshop consumables to the Audi and Mercedes-Benz works teams. Now it’s your chance to share the race excitement. For your chance to win one of the five pairs of tickets, answer the following question: Which former Formula 1
driver joined the DTM this season? Send your answer to: connect@wurth.co.uk by 15 August 2008.
BOY WONDER’S BLAZE OF GLORY
SCOTT REDDING (MIDDLE) TAKES FIRST PLACE IN THE 125GP
Scott Redding’s sensational victory in the 125GP at Donington Park in June was a fantastic result for British bike fans. And it was a pretty special result for Würth, too, as the 15-year-old British rider and his Bluesens Aprilia team are supported by Würth. Würth UK has been supplying the motorcycle aftermarket for more than 30 years and now boasts a dedicated Motorcycle Division. These specially trained consultants are, above all, bike
enthusiasts and many were there to see Scott end Britain’s 35-year winless run in 125GP. It was a proud moment for the company and everyone associated with the team. It’s almost impossible to put Scott’s win into context. He’d never raced at Donington, it was only his eighth start at world level, yet aged just 15 years 170 days, he had become grand prix’s youngest-ever winner. Not even Valentino Rossi had stood on the top step of the podium so early in his career. Surely it won’t be long before Scott’s making a challenge for the world championship.
CONNECT
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06 BULLETIN ROUND UP GLOBAL GEAR SHIFT There are certain acts you would not want to follow – never mind compete with. That said, both Australia and the US are all set to roll-out versions of Top Gear featuring their own presenters. In Australia, SBS received over 4,000 DVD entrants but whittled it down to race commentator Charlie Cox, cartoonist Warren Brown and racing driver Steve Pizzati. There’s an Aussie Stig. Over in the States, there’s comedian Adam Carolla, Bourne Ultimatum stuntman Tanner Foust, and US DIY legend Eric Stromer. So how will it go? Get your own voice and style guys. Any attempt to copy will be doomed. TOP MARKS FOR THATCHAM Thatcham’s Apprentice Training Centre has been given a glowing first report from OFSTED, the government’s Office for Standards in Education. The report praised the high success rate, resources, and development. The facility offers 300 vehicle crash repair technicians the opportunity to study three-year apprenticeships in Panel, Paint and MET (mechanical electrical trim). Würth has supported the centre from the beginning – providing tools, products and consumables – the perfect start for young apprentices. BLUE LIGHT SHOWS Members of the emergency services should keep their diaries free for 2-3 September for the 35th Police Federation Fleet Managers Show at Cheltenham Racecourse. The show will bring together a range of exhibitors – including Würth. With its range of diagnostic, ORSY and bodyshop products, Würth already has an impressive list of customers in this competitive sector, including both ambulance and police services. www.wiltshire.police.uk/napfm
NEW PRODUCT
MOTORCYCLE METAL POLISH
HONDA’S HYDROGEN HOPES The world may not be quite ready for hydrogenpowered cars, but it hasn’t stopped Honda from pressing ahead and delivering a limited number of its new FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicles. The FCX Clarity is produced in Japan on a dedicated fuel cell vehicle assembly line that includes processes unique to building a fuel cell vehicle, such as the installation of
the fuel cell and the hydrogen tank. However, your chances of seeing one are pretty limited as most will be leased to customers in California and Japan, or have been snapped up by A-list celebs. Honda aims to produce up to 200 over the next three years, but it’ll be some time before you’ll need to figure out how to repair a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell.
(75ml) 1893 121 375 This high-shine polish is highly effective on many metal surfaces such as stainless steel, chrome, aluminium, brass, silver, copper and nickel. Special ingredients in the polish create a water-resistant coating that protects against rust. The polish is strong enough to remove oxidisation, surface rust, tough stains and acid rain spots from metal surfaces, yet gentle enough for use on even highly polished metal pieces.
“YES, YOU CAN PARK OUTSIDE MY DRIVE – YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE GOOD TASTE”
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF Next time you feel you’re not getting exactly what you want, then take a leaf out of Ferry Porsche’s book. Sixty years ago, the first Porsche prototype 356-001 received its official approval after Porsche had found it impossible to find his dream car and “decided to build it myself.” There must have been something pretty special about 1948 as 60th birthdays are everywhere. The 2CV was launched in ‘48, Silverstone staged its first race in that year, and Land Rover’s Series 1 made its debut. Apparently, the latest Defender still shares an oil filler plug and canvas tie with the original.
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BOILING POINT Back in January, Connect met up with the British Steam Car Challenge team as they figured out how to pack around 3km of boiler tubing inside a very tight space. Their aim was to build a car that would set a new land-speed record for a steam-powered vehicle, and having overcome numerous setbacks, we’re glad to report that the team recently unveiled the car at Thorney Island MOD Base, Portsmouth. The next step will see the steam car head to Bonneville Speed Week for tests before making its world steam car record attempt some time around 25 August. With the team confident of cracking 190mph, the 102-year-old record of 127mph set by Fred Marriott looks there for the taking. But the team are not underestimating the challenge. Altitude and high temperatures mean less oxygen for the burners, while turning the car around within the regulation one hour for the second run is far from
straightforward. The 7.6m-long car is loaded on a trolley and towed, while charging batteries, air, water and LPG tanks takes time. Even starting the car takes EIGHT MINUTES eight minutes. AFTER START-UP, IT’LL BE READY TO While we’re on the subject of SMASH A RECORD unusual speed records, John Rennick and his team are planning to break the current sidecar land-speed world record of 169mph. Having tested their machine on military training grounds this summer, the team are flying out to Bonneville between 2-6 September, where they’re hoping to push it to a tarmac-shredding 225mph. Good luck to both teams.
NEW PRODUCTS
THE JEAN GINA Here’s one for the future. Rather than steel, BMW’s Gina concept is covered in a flexible fabric stretched over the metal structure – no wheel arches, side panels, roof, bonnet. A series of electrohydraulic controls allow the driver to move some parts of the substructure – the most striking example being the bonnet unzipping like a bag. The headlights close like eyelids when not in use, too.
AUTOMATIC WELDER’S HELMET
RAPID WINDSCREEN CLEANER
DECAL ADHESIVE REMOVER
0984 650 Alongside an ergonomic shape for safety and comfort, the helmet features a specially-designed sealed viewing window that protects against UV rays.
0892 333 250 Also known as summer screen wash, the cleaner prevents streaking and protects the glass. And with a 1:100 ratio, the 250ml bottle will make 25 litres of fluid.
1893 141 100 Würth’s technical department worked with the Blue Light industry to produce this effective decal remover, which can remove all sticky residue from transfers.
CONNECT
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08 MOTORSPORT
ONE WEEK IN JUNE WÜRTH’S PRODUCTS OPERATE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF WORLD MOTORSPORT. CONNECT WENT TRACKSIDE WITH PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING, PARKALGAR HONDA AND TEAM MODENA TO SEE HOW THEY COPE WITH THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES WORDS TIM OLDHAM
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CANADIAN GRAND PRIX, MONTREAL, 6-8 JUNE 2008 GERARD LECOQ, CHIEF MECHANIC, PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING
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very Formula 1 circuit poses different challenges to the team and driver. At Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, it’s brakes – more specifically keeping them cool. “The circuit can best be described as long straights and heavy braking,” says Gerard Lecoq, chief mechanic Panasonic Toyota Racing. “The drivers slow from 300km/h to 100km/h four times on each lap and this puts a lot of energy through the brakes. Generally, the brakes operate at around 650°C, but here you see temperatures as high as 900°C.” Other circuits such has Monza have similar characteristics, but with so many ‘stand on the brakes moments’, at Montreal, the cars get less time running flat out forcing cooling air over the brakes. “It’s important for the mechanics to be vigilant at Montreal.” says Lecoq. “We work hard to ensure the cooling fans are on all four brakes as soon as the car comes into the pits during practice or qualifying.” Just a few seconds can make a big difference, so working swiftly and efficiently in the confines of a Formula 1 pit garage is all part of the performance package that contributes to a successful race. “There are a lot of people in the garage, but the important thing for the mechanics is to keep cool and focus on their job,” says Lecoq. And as an official partner of Panasonic Toyota Racing, Würth is doing its bit to enhance the team’s performance, too,
supplying a range of workshop consumables. This is the first season of the partnership, but one product has been an immediate success. “It was obvious that Würth’s Brake Cleaner could easily be integrated into the team because it performs very well and requires no change to our processes,” says Lecoq. “It’s important for a Formula 1 car to be clean inside and out, so we use Würth’s Brake Cleaner to remove oil, rubber and other contaminants from the car and also from the garage itself. For example, whenever a car leaves the garage, it leaves a trail of rubber on the floor, which needs to be removed to avoid affecting the tyres when the car returns. This process has to be completed quickly, especially if the car is only doing a short run. “It’s simply the best product for removing the kind of difficult substances which you find on a Formula 1 car. When rubber and oil are exposed to great heat they can stick to other surfaces, making them tricky to remove. But with Würth’s Brake Cleaner we can do this quickly without damaging any surfaces, even the high-tech materials which are used on some parts of the car.” As ever, the Canadian Grand Prix took no prisoners, but Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli drove brilliantly to score a double points finish for Panasonic Toyota Racing. And Trulli built on that confident result with a terrific drive in the French Grand Prix to take a well-deserved third place, and seventh at slippery Silverstone.
IT’S SIMPLY THE BEST PRODUCT FOR REMOVING THE DIFFICULT SUBSTANCES ON AN F1 CAR
CONNECT
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10 MOTORSPORT
LE MANS 24 HOURS, LE MANS 14-15 JUNE 2008 GRAHAM SCHULTZ, TEAM PRINCIPAL, TEAM MODENA
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n any other race, stripping and rebuilding a gearbox is simply not an option. But Le Mans is not just any race. And when your Aston Martin GT1 is chasing a third consecutive finish in the world’s greatest test of endurance, you pull out all the stops to get it home. “After 12 hours of racing, our DBR9/101 had been reliable and quick,” says Graham Schultz, team principal of High Wycombebased outfit Team Modena. “We hadn’t qualified that well, but other than a slow lap after a tyre deflated on lap 50 we were on the pace of the class leaders.” At the halfway point, the three-driver team of Jos Menten, Christian Fittipaldi and Terry Borcheller had completed 173 laps – over 1,460 miles of racing at an average of almost 122mph. In 23rd place overall, the team was closing in on the fifth place GT1 car. With
another 12 hours ahead, team hopes were high of a strong finish. The predicted rain duly arrived at 4am, and, shortly after, Team Modena’s chances were also dampened. “Christian reported problems with the downshifts so we decided to bring him in rather than risk breaking down out on the circuit,” says Schultz. “It was a tough decision, but we’d lost all the dog rings in the gearbox so the downshifts were getting tougher, then the upshift started to go the same way.” Le Mans regulations dictate you cannot replace major components, but can work on them. For the next two hours 21 minutes and 19 seconds, Team Modena’s mechanics worked a miracle rebuild of the Aston’s gearbox – getting through a range of Würth consumables in the process. “We’ve used Würth products for some time,” says Schultz. “The mechanics used
Würth sealers, tie-wraps, washers and nuts in the gearbox rebuild. And we always use Würth’s hexagonal bolts to secure the floor, which we took off twice during the race.” The car finally returned to the track just before 7am. The team had lost almost 30 laps to its GT1 rivals, but there was still the matter of another eight hours of racing to get through to maintain the car’s 100 per cent finishing record. In the end, it was left to the team’s youngest driver, Jos Menten, to bring the car home on its 302nd lap – completing an amazing 2,561 miles of racing despite losing so much time in the pits. “The team did a great job,” says Schultz. “You can’t do this event without a team. We brought the car home in its third Le Mans – making it the most successfully campaigned Aston in history.” And there’s always next year.
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AT MONZA WE HIT 290KM/H. IT WAS THE FASTEST OF ANY SUPERSPORT BIKE
WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP, NÜRBURGRING, 15 JUNE 2008 SIMON BUCKMASTER, TEAM MANAGER, PARKALGAR HONDA
THE MECHANICS WORKED A MINOR MIRACLE TO REBUILD THE ASTON’S GEARBOX
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itting second on the grid, Craig Jones might have thought he could avoid the over-optimistic manoeuvres associated with a race start. Not so. A wild card rider steamed in way too hot at the Nürburgring’s first corner, collecting Jones’ Parkalgar Honda on the apex and causing mayhem. “Having Craig and Miguel (Praia) taken out was a disaster,” says Simon Buckmaster team manager, Parkalgar Honda. “However, a red flag meant we could use our spare bikes and both guys did the team proud.” A fifth place finish for Jones kept him in touch with the championship leaders, and with back-to-back rounds at Brands and Donington, the 23-year-old British rider is looking to make good his aim of winning the prestigious World Supersport Championship. “Make no mistake, this a competitive championship,” says Buckmaster. “The regulations dictate that the forks, brakes, calipers, swing arm and wheels on our
Honda CBR600RR are all standard. So it’s a real team effort to give the bike that edge. We’re up against factory outfits from Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda, but we’re doing something right – at Monza we hit 290km/h, the fastest of any supersport bike. And as technical partner, Würth is a significant part of that team effort. “I used Würth products when I managed teams in World and British Superbikes so I was keen to continue that partnership when I started here,” says Buckmaster. “Würth’s Brake Cleaner is a fantastic product, but we use everything from duct tape, bike wash, rivet kits, drills – Würth is an invaluable technical partner. Since then, Jones has gone even better, second at Misano reflecting the growing momentum in the Louth-based team. The last race of the season will be held at the brand new Parkalgar race complex in Portugal. Where better to seal that world title?
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IRELAND FINGLAS TRADE STORE Following a highly successful opening of a Würth Trade Store in Ballymount, Dublin two years ago, Würth Ireland has launched another in Finglas, towards the the south-west of the city. The new store houses a 10,000-strong range of Würth products, which are particularly handy for nearby construction customers. “We stock it all from safety gear to power tools, from nuts and bolts to silicones – basically everything needed for first and second fixings in construction,” said store manager Peter Murtagh.
NORTH SEA ISLAND-HOPPING SALES SERVICE You’d need a pretty detailed atlas to find the North Sea island of Langeoog. But even though it’s just eight square miles, Franz Trentmann, Metal Division sales consultant for Würth Germany, knows it very well. Motor vehicles are banned from the island, so Franz takes the ferry and cycles over the island to supply customer Jörg Börgmann and his beach chair repair team. Some of the 1,700 classic wicker chairs are up to 12 years old, so need regular maintenance. “His visits are extremely important for the workshop, since it’s difficult to get materials on the island,” said Börgmann.
GLOBAL
FOCUS
OVER DEEP SEAS OR HIGH MOUNTAINS, WÜRTH’S SALES CONSULTANTS STOP AT NOTHING TO SUPPLY THEIR CUSTOMERS
SWITZERLAND EUROPE’S HIGHEST ORSY The Jungfraujoch in the Bernese Alps is one of Switzerland’s tourist highlights, featuring Europe’s highest train station, an ice palace, breathtaking glacial views, and Europe’s highest ORSY. At an altitude of 3,454m up to eight technicians maintain the infrastructure, and with extreme weather conditions placing severe demands on quality, a large stock of Würth’s products is critical to the team. “Availability is extremely important to us, because we cannot simply have replacements sent up here at short notice,” said Andreas Wyss, Head of technical maintenance at Jungfraujoch.
AUSTRIA 3 MILLION AND COUNTING Würth’s reputation for quality recently enticed Franz Hahn of Böheimkirchen, Austria to make a first order for his DAF and Citroën sales and repair company – an order that made him Würth’s three-millionth customer. Franz Hahn Vehicles is one of the largest DAF partners in Austria, and has over 130 employees. “Würth Austria is very happy to welcome Würth’s three-millionth worldwide customer,” said Manfred Reichhold, Managing director of the Automotive Division.
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13 DENMARK WORK AND PLAY Employees at Würth Denmark found an enterprising way to handle the recent nursery teacher strikes by bringing their children with them in to work. The strike action lasted for about a month, but with Würth managers dedicating a few employees to child care it meant parents didn’t have to take time off and use up their valuable holiday time.
NETHERLANDS KEEPING THE FISH ON ICE With 18 cooks serving 140 guests, Las Palmas in Rotterdam is the largest fish restaurant in the Netherlands – if not the world. And while guests are tucking into a menu of lobster, crab, shrimp and oysters, they’re kept cool by an enormous air-conditioning system, all held together by Würth products. The cooling system is also part of the interior design. “The plugs, brackets and rails for fastening the air-conditioning to the ceiling serve as functional and decorative elements,” explained Jürgen Verhoeven, Product manager at Würth Netherlands.
AUSTRALIA SPRAYS, SCREWS AND SAUSAGES With great weather all year long, Australians love a good opportunity to roll out the barbeque and invite some friends round. So the team at Würth Australia’s headquarters in Melbourne did just that to celebrate the opening of their adjacent Trade Store, inviting customers within a five-mile radius to join in the party with a free lunch and plenty of giveaways. “The outlet has been highly successful as we have the full product range in the neighbouring building – something that a stand-alone outlet may have difficulty achieving, due to size and cost restrictions,” said John Tsakoumangos, Marketing manager.
GERMANY OLYMPIC SUPPORT Nearly 3,600 athletes competed in the sixth Würth-sponsored Special Olympics Deutschland, held in Karlsruhe, Germany in June. Arranged by the Special Olympics International, the organisation helps people with intellectual disabilities and their families compete at a national level in sports such as football, swimming, volleyball and athletics. Würth has been involved with the Special Olympics Deutschland for many years, with Carmen Würth (wife of Rheinhold Würth) on the board as Vice-President.
CONNECT
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WINDSCREEN repair • Würth UK provides a wide range of windscreen repair and fitting products including: windscreen adhesives cartridge guns glass cleaners windscreen knives glass repair sets glass sealants work benches insertion tools suction handles replacement tools
• We provide technical knowledge and support
• Next working day delivery on orders placed before 2.30pm
• For further information contact info@wurth.co.uk tel 08705 987 841 fax 08705 987 842 visit our online catalogue www.wurth.co.uk
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ANALYSIS: BRIAN TAYLOR 15
THE WAITING GAME PROPOSALS TO PUT BACK THE MOT TEST TO EVERY TWO YEARS POSES A DOUBLE RISK FOR THE INDUSTRY
■ Brian Taylor is a speaker & consultant on aftermarket issues, with expertise in the automotive sector
CONNECT
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t appears that the industry and motorists will have to wait even longer before the Government announces its new plans for the MoT. The longawaited consultation with MoT testers has been delayed – and it’s not clear why. It was back in early 2007 when a Government enquiry recommended that MoT tests should be revised. The proposal was to put back a car’s first MoT from three to four years, and then to test every two years rather than every year – the so-called 4-2-2. Crucially, the plan demonstrated a complete misunderstanding of the business implications of such a move and the dynamics linking the annual test to parc condition. The Government clearly hasn’t got a clue about the way MoT test centres are funded. They have no idea about the other profit centres required to keep these businesses going on a local and convenient basis. The economic model does not stack up as a standalone business without huge test volumes being carried out per site. Lack of business and a decline in competition could see many businesses suffer – with rural motorists then having to drive further afield for the test, and all the other valuable services that rural garages currently provide. The recent history of the Post Office is a good example of what would happen. As for the test itself, in truth it’s really quite basic. It takes little account of wear factors so a car could pass the test and then have the brakes fail the following week. But it is the only mandatory legal check on vehicle safety. Without this prompt, much required work would not get done until safety is compromised. The Government has said that it will include proposals for bi-annual testing in its consultation on the MoT regime, stating that they would only be adopted if there was enough evidence that road safety would not be compromised. They must have missed some of the recently published data so I’ll remind them. • Around 22 per cent of cars fail their first MoT test at three years of age. Remember this is after many have had faults rectified after a pre-MoT test service or inspection. Yet the Government is looking at extending the first test to year four. • Around 75 per cent of used cars inspected by the RAC had faults that would result in an MoT failure.
• One in four low profile tyres fitted to cars currently used on UK roads is illegal. Without the MoT test it would be higher. • How much evidence does the Government want? It has been calculated that changing to 4-2-2 would result in around 50 per cent of all vehicles becoming unfit for road use. That would correspond to an extra 150 road deaths each year and many more injuries.
CHANGING TO 4-2-2 WOULD RESULT IN HALF OF ALL VEHICLES BECOMING UNFIT FOR ROAD USE The only way they could reduce the test frequency and not compromise safety is by introducing mandatory servicing. That would protect the integrity of the service and repair network for motorists and the industry, improve safety on the roads and protect the environment because a well-serviced car uses less fuel and puts out reduced pollutants. In these days of high fuel costs the Government is very keen to be seen as the motorist’s friend. If it could get away with a more relaxed test regime it could then keep fuel taxes high and probably apply VAT to a deregulated MoT test regime. Garages must support their trade associations and be extremely vigilant on the Government’s real agenda.
ILLUSTRATION KEV FEB
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16 MICK EXTANCE
“YOU AIN’T GOT ME…” IT’S A DEFIANT MESSAGE – BRAVE TOO. BUT IT DEFINES MICK EXTANCE’S PHILOSOPHY AS HE PREPARES FOR HIS SEVENTH DAKAR CHALLENGE WORDS R I C HA R D FLE UR Y
T
he Dakar Rally is like no other race on earth. Despite a history of danger, destruction and death that would have finished any other sporting event, this epic annual charge through the North African desert has always seemed unstoppable. But last year, faced with a serious threat of terrorist attack, organisers did the unthinkable and cancelled the event at the eleventh hour, as bikes and cars waited in scrutineering. The decision was devastatingly disappointing to everyone involved, from the multi-million pound professional teams to the privateers. For Mick Extance, a selfdescribed ‘ordinary working bloke’ who has remortgaged his house and sacrificed family holidays to compete for the last six years, the reaction was disbelief. “How can the Dakar be stopped? The whole emphasis of the Dakar is ‘never give in’,” says trials and enduro rider Mick. “The dream was over before we’d had chance to ride our bikes. It was horrible. I’ve never seen so many grown blokes crying.” Thankfully it’s not the end of the road for the world’s wildest race. Instead, it relocates to South America for 2009. And, thanks to the determination which turned this former concrete paver from Derbyshire into Britain’s most successful Dakar rider, Mick Extance will be on the start line for the seventh time. “I strongly believe the race will be bigger, stronger and better,” he says. “And we’ve got five days of desert so it will be tough.” Tough is an understatement. The Dakar demands a commitment from competitors that goes almost beyond mere sport.
P H OTOGR A P H Y FE R G US G R E E R
According to Mick, the Dakar experience is “like going to war”. “It’s a very extreme challenge,” he says. “You’ve done your day’s 1,000km, maybe seen a few fatals along the way and you’ve made it through the odds. That gives you a buzz – in a sick way, you might say. But when you arrive back in the evening, you sit against a tent-pole, take your helmet off and it’s a really bizarre feeling that you’re still here. You ain’t got me… “I’m kind of lucky, I rise to that challenge,” says the 45-year-old father of three. “My longest day was 18 hours. And if it’s been the worst day of your life and your hands are bleeding, you have to be able to laugh at it. It’s all about having that single-minded attitude. And enjoying it because I’ve paid a lot of money to be here and for years I have ate, slept and dreamed the Dakar.” Which isn’t to say Mick hasn’t suffered his share of bad luck – almost always on day 13 of the rally, spookily enough – but he’s always picked himself up and ridden to the finish line. Even after he went over the handlebars at 80mph and knocked himself out in 2005... “I was caught walking in the wrong direction without my bike,” he says. “A fellow competitor tapped me on the shoulder, put me straight and I followed him to the finish.” A skilled mechanic – his current day-job is spannering for Nottingham Honda dealership Pidcocks – Mick is more than capable of repairing his own CRF450X Enduro bike if something goes wrong on a long stage. He carries a small toolkit, spare clutch parts, fasteners, lubricants and, crucially, spare chain links on the bike with him. Because desert sand eats motorcycle chains. “If you use a sticky chain lube out there, the sand sticks to it and it wears out much quicker,” says Mick. “A lot of people have problems with chains breaking and it’s
serious,” he says. “It could put you out of the rally. It’s all over.” When he takes on the Andes in 2009, Mick’s Honda will be protected by a secret weapon: Würth’s High Performance Dry Chain Lube. “Once on the chain, it’s dry straight away,” he explains. To make it Dakar-ready, Mick’s Honda race bike is fitted with a 30-litre bigger fuel tank, satellite and navigation equipment, and three litres of survival water in a special sump. But it’s kept as close to the standard CRF450X spec as possible, to make parts easier to source (“You can’t go shopping in the desert!”). The frame, suspension and engine are all unmodified, although the gearing is lowered to help Mick stay within the rally’s speed limit of just over 100mph when the adrenalin’s pumping. A boyhood ambition, the Dakar became Mick’s obsession after losing his father to cancer in 2001. “When I walked out of the hospital I knew I was going to do the Dakar in 2002,” he says. “No ifs, buts or doubts in my mind. Because life is very short. “Anything is possible if you want it bad enough,” says Mick, summing up a philosophy based on phenomenal dedication. “The Dakar was my dream and I’ve fulfilled it by being bloody-minded and selfish. Because that’s what it takes.” Mick’s personal goal is a top 20 finish, something he almost achieved in 2006 when he was the 26th rider to cross the line. Not a bad effort for an ‘ordinary bloke’. But then perhaps Mick Extance is not so ordinary after all.
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THE DAKAR WAS MY DREAM AND I’VE FULFILLED IT BY BEING BLOODY MINDED AND SELFISH
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18 RESTORATION
FROM LEFT: MURRAY BLAIR, WALTER BRIGHT, FRANK BELL, STUART NEEDS AND IAN MURISON. AND THE ALVIS THEY INTEND TO RESTORE
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H
ere’s something that doesn’t really make any sense to those outside the classic car loop. This pile of corroded scrap is not heading straight for the crusher. It’s about to be turned back into the superb British thoroughbred car it was on that rose-tinted day, in 1961, when it purred out of the Coventry factory that had lovingly crafted it. What’s more, the work could end up costing about 60 grand… and that’s likely to be more than the car’s worth at the end of this painstaking process. “It’s as bad as I’ve ever seen one,” frowns Charles Palmer, possibly stating the obvious. “Then again, after we’ve finished, you’ll never know it’s been like this.” And Würth is going to play its part at each stage of the restoration project, too. Charles Palmer is the founder of one of the biggest car restoration companies in Scotland. His Classic Restorations renovates the sort of collectors’ cars most of us can only dream of owning: Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, Bentley. And Alvis, of course – elegant, rare, beautifully engineered, and oh-so-British gentleman’s sports cars manufactured between 1920 and 1967. Right until their sad demise, Alvises were built the traditional way, with a stout separate chassis, a hardy straight-six engine entirely lacking in electronics, a handmade body created using traditional coachbuilder’s skills, and an interior where the art of the cabinetmaker and leatherworker is displayed in all its tactile glory.
BACK TO LIFE THE SPECIALISTS AT CLASSIC RESTORATIONS WILL BE USING THEIR EXPERTISE AND WÜRTH PRODUCTS TO RETURN THIS TRAGIC ALVIS TO ITS FORMER GLORY
WORDS GILES CHAPMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY KAYHAN
CRAFTING A COMPANY Charles, who is 69 and says he’d rather die than retire, left school at 15 and was apprenticed in a country garage where his training ranged from bodywork repairs to welding farm machinery. He’s built up his own company to employ 17 craftsmen and now routinely takes on a callow youth, as he once was, to apprentice in the rapidly vanishing skills of classic car restoration. Among his staff are engineers, coachbuilders, and experts in interior trim work. He has an unrivalled contact book of outof-house expertise, much of it in Scotland, to
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20 RESTORATION
THE CRAFTSMEN Meet the Classic Restorations craftsmen who take the ‘nervous’ out of ‘wreck’. These five highly-skilled individuals will be restoring the Alvis over the coming months, working 8am ‘til 4.30pm every day, and they’re all absolute experts in their fields. And now, gentlemen, to work…
THE CHASSIS IS SOLID, HAVING BEEN PRESERVED IN LEAKED OIL
whom he subcontracts such specialist tasks as machining, instrument renovation and even reproducing original enamel radiator badges. His driver, meanwhile, pounds the roads of Britain and Ireland in a specially strengthened Ford Transit and trailer, collecting and delivering cars and components. You can well imagine his expression when this particular Alvis TD21 convertible – or what’s left of it – turned up. It’s the passionate ambition of its owner, an executive in Aberdeen’s booming oil industry, to see it returned to as good as, if not better than, new. He’s entrusted the entire job to Charles and the boys but, so far, has been too busy to even select the paint colour he wants (maybe he should go for black and gold) or the
MURRAY BLAIR The Mechanic
FRANK BELL Bodywork Foreman
Murray Blair (right) will be conducting the detailed engine rebuild, as well as looking after the refurbishment of the entire driveline including suspension and brakes. Murray is 35 and trained as a mechanic at Jaguar before moving to Porsche. After a stint in the aerospace industry, he joined Classic Restorations.
This is the company’s bodywork foreman, Frank Bell, also 35 (above right). The car’s panels are his responsibility, and he’ll be shaping, soldering and welding until that elegant metal is line-perfect. He joined the company straight from school, undergoing his apprenticeship and subsequently becoming a true artisan.
leather he’d like the seats re-upholstered in. Not that that matters right now: there’s plenty to get on with.
good,” says Charles. “There were just too many moisture traps, particularly in the rear wing. Condensation is the worst thing for old cars. They used underseal but that would often trap water inside. Then again, they just didn’t have the sealing materials we have these days… and I don’t think this car has ever had its wheelarches hosed out.” The very good news at the start of this project, though, is that the chassis is basically solid, fortunately having been preserved because the Alvis wallowed for years in a lake of leaked oil. A strong chassis is crucial to the work ahead; it acts as the jig for assembling the bodywork, and the engine, back axle and suspension have all got to be in situ before the new panels are lined up for position. It’s not absolutely exacting – to the nearest quarter-inch is fine – but a level floor in this tentative assembly process is vital to gauge drop distances and, ultimately, achieve neat alignment. From then, though, it’s all systems go as the car comes apart again and Classic Restorations’ specialists get to work Charles reckons the Alvis’s owner can expect to take ownership in nine months. The good news is that we’ll be following Classic’s craftsmen during that time, so make sure you get the next issue to check progress.
ALL SYSTEMS GO Not all classic cars enjoy the bonus of off-theshelf replacement body panels. But Alvises do. Well, almost: a Coventry company acquired the assets of the carmaker years ago, including all the tooling, and can supply virtually all the exterior metalwork for a model like this, some remanufactured in batches and others on a one-off basis. This car is going to need most of its crumbly steel bodywork (doors, bonnet and boot lid are aluminium) totally renewed, especially at the back where it’s corroded into little more than large cornflakes. Bought-in replacements will be augmented by some small pieces that Classic Restorations will fabricate in-house. These will exactly match the originals because, as Charles points out: “If Alvis put a flange or a swage in it, there must have been a good reason.” This kind of respect for the original is tempered by inside knowledge. “The bodies were made by Park Ward, which was actually part of Rolls-Royce, but I don’t think the original quality was very
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STUART NEEDS The Coachbuilder
IAN MURISON Trimmer
Stuart Needs (above left) joined Classic Restorations fresh from school. Stuart, 29, is the senior bodyshop technician and responsible for chassis and jig work. All the technicians are multi-skilled, but the Alvis will call on Stuart’s skills as a coachbuilder and joiner as he gets to grips with the aluminium, steel and ash frame.
WALTER BRIGHT The Painter
Ian Murison is 25 and another of the promising young guys Classic Restorations was eager to recruit and apprentice. All the material needs of the car’s interior are going to be his responsibility, from upholstering the seats and lining the hood to fitting carpets and trimming the doors.
Walter Bright, 61, is one of Classic Restorations’ elder statesmen, having been with the business for 10 years, and he’s something of a walking guru on the exacting job of car paintwork. Walter will soon be preparing the Alvis for the laborious priming, painting and polishing that lie ahead.
WHERE WÜRTH COMES IN
WÜRTH’S CARBURETTOR CLEANER AND ACID ETCH PRIMER ARE JUST TWO OF THE PRODUCTS ESSENTIAL TO THE RESTORATION OF THE ALVIS
Würth products – plus, of course, expertise at Classic Restorations – will be used throughout the phoenix-like resurrection of this Alvis. To begin with, Würth’s high-quality Crafty Rost Off is called for to coax the ‘Meccano’ of the car apart. Very little of its body is salvageable but, once the new panels arrive from Coventry, the bodyshop will set to on making – from scratch – the smaller internal panelwork that’s needed for the inner wheelarches and the hood well, using Würth’s excellent high-speed cutting and grinding discs for steel. Reassembling the body, a mammoth task, relies on the chassis being sandblasted and then powder-coated first. A very important process is the expert application of a
top-notch etch primer, once again supplied by Würth, to all the body panels, which gives a consistent base for the paintwork on both the steel and the aluminium sections. While this is in progress, elsewhere on the 6,000sqft premises the engine rebuild is getting underway. A set of brand-new shell bearings is the main replacement task in what’s basically a sound motor. Würth’s specialised carburettor cleaner will be used to flush out the SU carbs and fuel pumps. Classic Restorations’ gaffer Charles Palmer says he’s surprised and pleased that the Würth representative Sam Dibley is so happy to come out to Alyth, which is 20 miles from Perth, to discuss his needs. Few suppliers can be bothered, apparently. However, even
Würth can’t supply absolutely everything: the wooden structural post in the Alvis’ door frame, for instance, must be ash sourced from America. “Less knots, straighter grain,” Charles confides. Now that truly is the inside line… Thanks to Würth’s extensive product range, Classic Restorations won’t be short of the right materials for every stage of the project. For starters, they’ll be getting a delivery of the following: Crafty Rost Off, Crafty Rost Off pump dispensers, rust convertor, air hacksaw blades, nylon fibre grinding wheels, high-speed cutting discs (for steel), sanding belts, spot weld drill bits, D200 welding wire, zinc weld spray and industrial hand cleansing wipes.
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As easy as 1, 2, 3...
1. Does your workshop look like this?
The tailor made
Stock Management System 2. Would you like your workshop to look like this?
Dispenser Cartons
Lockable Drawers
3. It’s easy. Just speak to your Würth consultant, who will be able to help you choose the correct ORSY RACKING to suit your needs. Tel. 08705 987 841 to find out more or visit www.wurth.co.uk.
Assortment Trays
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10 THINGS TO DO 23
W O R D S B REN D ON HOOPE R
10 THINGS TO DO THIS
SUMMER
IF YOU HAVE A THIRST FOR SOME HIGH-OCTANE FUN THIS SUMMER, WHY NOT GET ALONG TO SOME OF EUROPE’S BEST RALLIES, RACES, AIR DISPLAYS AND FIESTAS
1 WORLD SUPERBIKE
4 SUPERLEAGUE FORMULA
5 TRUCKFEST Europe’s biggest road haulage and trucking event
CHAMPIONSHIPS Loud, superfast, superbike action returns to the Kent countryside, where former double WSB champion Troy Bayliss will be looking for a double victory on his final visit to the circuit, along with hopes of sealing a third championship crown. Spain’s Carlos Checa will be hot on his tailpipe though.
has two more stops this year, north and south of the border. Along with showcasing some of the latest truck technology in the industry, there’ll be the spectacle of preening show trucks plus devastating monster trucks in the main arena. And some telly celebs.
1-3 AUGUST,
Like football? Like motorsport? Well Superleague Formula has been dreamed up just for you. Funded by the fans of some of Europe’s major football clubs, each 750hp, V-12 Superleague Formula car is identical, except for the colours of the team, for some old-school racing. Brits can root for the UK’s entry – Glasgow Rangers FC – unless of course, you’re a Celtic fan.
BRANDS HATCH, KENT.
30-31 AUGUST, DONINGTON.
BRANDS-HATCH.COM
SUPERLEAGUEFORMULA.COM
2 BRISTOL BALLOON FIESTA
6 DUXFORD 90TH
8-9 SEPTEMBER, BEAULIEU,
The sensational Flying Gunners (see Connect spring issue) will be performing at the 30th anniversary of Europe’s biggest free ballooning event.
ANNIVERSARY AIR SHOW Marking Duxford’s 90th anniversary a series of dazzling air displays will include a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
NEW FOREST. BEAULIEU.CO.UK
7-10 AUGUST, BRISTOL.
6-7 SEPTEMBER, DUXFORD.
BRISTOLFIESTA.CO.UK
HTTP://DUXFORD.IWM.ORG.UK
3 THE DUXFORD CLASSIC CAR SHOW Though mainly known as an aircraft museum, Duxford also hosts some of the best Car Club events, such as this special day, which will feature a whole host of classic and modern cars that you’d usually only dream of being close to. 10 AUGUST, DUXFORD. HTTP://DUXFORD.IWM.ORG.UK
2-3 AUGUST, ROYAL HIGHLAND CENTRE, INGLISTON, EDINBURGH. 13-14 SEPTEMBER, HAYDOCK PARK, LANCASHIRE. TRUCKFEST.CO.UK
7 BEAULIEU AUTOJUMBLE
9 GOODWOOD REVIVAL
One of the biggest outdoor motoring ‘jumble sales’ in the world. Over 2,000 stands sell every item you can think of for cars and bikes – perfect for collectors and restorers after that elusive part.
Featuring swish and beautiful motorcars from the fifties and sixties, the Revival “closes its gates on the modern world for three wonderful days.”
8 ROAD TO KRAKOW Fancy a trip out of the ordinary? If you’ve got a £200 banger or a classic car older than 25 years, there’s still time to join in with Motoscape’s seven-day, 1,500-mile jaunt through seven countries.
19-21 SEPTEMBER. GOODWOOD.CO.UK
10 DTM AT BRANDS HATCH High-speed, bumper-scraping action is guaranteed – with the Würth-sponsored MercedesBenz driven by Bernd Schneider in the thick of it. What’s more, we have five weekend passes to give away (see Bulletin page 5). 30-31 AUGUST, BRANDS HATCH. BRANDS-HATCH.COM
13 SEPTEMBER, ST OMER (FRANCE) TO KRAKOW (POLAND). MOTOSCAPE. CO.UK
AT THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL THERE ARE RACING CARS NOT JUST SHOW CARS
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24 WoW! DIAGNOSTICS
WoW! FACTORS HERE ARE A FEW REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PUT WoW! TO WORK IN YOUR BUSINESS W O R D S T I M O LDHAM
IL LUSTRATION S PE NCE R WILS ON
01 Service a Moskvich 408 or 426
03 Get free stuff
Let’s face it, other than Russian eBay you’re unlikely to find a service manual for one of these rare beauties. Not that they’re the most sophisticated car on the planet, but if a customer returning from the Ukraine suddenly presents you with a 408 or 426, WoW! technical data has it covered.
Once you’re totally happy with your WoW! set-up, Würth UK offers a second license free of charge. And further licenses are just 25 per cent of retail.
02 Free up shelf space WoW! is the gateway to a wealth of technical information. It holds data on over 11,000 car models from 1959 to 2008 so there really is no need for piles of out-of-date, wellthumbed data books cluttering up the place. Should you need a hard copy, then the professional printouts cover everything from tightening torques, to tyre pressures and service schedules.
04 Protect yourself against dodgy trade-ins How many times have you been hit with hidden faults on a trade-in that have damaged the profit margin on the car? Instead, plug-in and use the WoW! scanning facility, check all the electrical components and control units on the car and have any faults flagged up inside three minutes. Armed with this information, you can offer a more accurate figure on the value of a customer’s car while safeguarding your profit margin.
05 Save time If you regularly need to take repair jobs to a local main dealer to run it through their diagnostics then you’re wasting time. WoW!’s sophisticated diagnostics machine boasts a comprehensive car parc, which means an end to relying on other dealers – and the start of carrying out more work in-house.
06 Stay ahead of the game Along with two CD updates a year, you can also subscribe to Würth’s regular updates, downloaded straight to your computer from a dedicated server. It’s a one-click operation.
07 Simple data searching a) Select the year of manufacture b) Select manufacturer c) Select model d) Select model variation That’s it. Off you go…
08 Create customer files WoW! has evolved its storage module to incorporate repair time estimates and invoices. This means you can have a digital customer history of previous work. F1X3D
09 Generate more business With its sophisticated fault finding scan facility, WoW! will find problems that you will not pick up. No offence. Look on the bright side, WoW! will be generating more work.
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14 Impress your customers Rather than watching them dash off the premises, why not scan a customer’s car and show them the repairs – if any – that are needed. Later, you can repeat the scan to show the repairs you’ve made. This protects you and the customer.
15 Keep up with the MoT regs 13 Be mobile
10 Pay as you go… Würth UK has recently introduced a range of easy payment schemes to make WoW! ownership even easier. Würth UK offers six months interest-free terms (subject to acceptance) while leasing and flexible payment options can also be arranged through an approved financial company.
Don’t take the job to the information, take the information to the job. Würth’s range of mobile diagnostic devices are ideal – particularly for the recovery business – thanks to its extensive bank of fault code data enabling a quick, efficient diagnosis to be made at the roadside.
By January 2009, all MoT test stations will be required to use the new specification diesel meters designed to deal with the lower emission levels produced by the latest generation diesel engines. Keeping one step ahead, Würth has recently launched a WoW!-branded emissions testing machine that will provide MoT test centres with a state-of-the-art solution that meets these new regulations. Look out for more information on the WoW!-branded emissions testing machine in the next issue of Connect
11 Hands-on for everyone Perhaps WoW!’s greatest feature is that it’s user friendly. From the start, Würth took great care to ensure the system is usable by anyone and everyone – not just Bill Gates. Each stage is explained in simple language and diagrams. Arthur Pope, 60, had never even owned a computer before he got his WoW! data-loaded laptop. A selfconfessed ‘numpty’ with computers, he was up and running within hours and now wonders “how I ever worked without one.”
12 Forgotten your password? Once you’ve been set up with your WoW! system, there are dedicated helpline numbers available should you need assistance on hardware and registration, or technical help for diagnostic queries or hints.
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26 AA FUEL ASSIST
INTERMEDIATE BULK CONTAINER (IBC) Developed in partnership with Whale Tankers, the Intermediate Bulk Container has a maximum capacity of 330 litres, accommodating six to seven average-sized tanks of contaminated fuel. Technicians decant the contaminated fuel at a Safety Clean waste management depot where, after processing, the end product is recycled to power cement kilns and furnaces.
PUMPS Each vehicle houses two pumps, one to retrieve the waste fuel from the ‘casualty’ (left side), the other to decant it (right side). At full flow, these pumps can displace fuel at up to 40 litres per minute, depending on connecting valves and pipework. Draining a 50-litre fuel tank, from the technician’s arrival to disconnection, takes around 45 minutes and costs £150 plus VAT (non-members £170 plus VAT).
FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS LAST YEAR, AROUND 150,000 UK MOTORISTS PUT THE WRONG FUEL IN THEIR CARS. IN RESPONSE, THE AA LAUNCHED AA FUEL ASSIST, A SERVICE THAT DRAINS, FLUSHES AND REPLACES MIS-FUELLED CARS AT THE ROADSIDE. AS PART OF THE SERVICE, THE AA RECOMMENDS WÜRTH’S FUEL ADDITIVES WORDS NEIL ROBERTSHAW PHOTOS FERGUS GREER
T
wo Würth products play an important part at the flushing out stage and are now carried on all of the AA Fuel Assist vehicles. Motorists mis-fuelling petrolengined cars with diesel are offered Petrol Injection Cleaner to reduce the engine’s smoking. More commonly, where diesel owners have accidentally re-fuelled with
petrol, Diesel Additive Common Rail is recommended to help re-lubricate the fuel system’s moving parts. “Once we’ve got good fuel in, we suggest quite strongly that these additives should be put in, too,” says Andy Powdrill, AA Fuel Assist’s Technical Training and Development Specialist. “We’re not trying to frighten people but there’s
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JULIAN PUGSLEY Specialising in fuel drains rather than general breakdowns, mobile fuel technicians undergo six weeks of training, covering both ADR (transport of flammable liquids) and SPA (filling station forecourt safety) qualifications, as well as the AA’s own specialist driver instruction. Eighteen technicians are deployed regionally, while two more are currently completing their training. On average, each will attend four mis-fuelled vehicles a day.
WÜRTH PRODUCTS
AA FUEL ASSIST VEHICLES The AA Fuel Assist fleet is made up of seven Mitsubishi L200’s and 13 newer LDV Maxus vehicles. Each is divided by bulkheads into dry and wet areas – the former to store tools and equipment, the latter to accommodate the Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) and pumps. In the event of a spillage, the vehicle’s bunded area can contain up to 140 per cent of the IBC’s capacity.
always likely to be some impact, especially if a diesel has been driven any distance on petrol. According to our research, the additives will reduce that impact.” Trialled for a year from December 2006, AA Fuel Assist now operates nationwide and has already helped thousands of embarrassed motorists, including a former F1 driver...
In most cases, the Petrol Injection Cleaner and Diesel Additive Common Rail products are used to flush the contaminated fuel system along with 10 litres of clean fuel. Stocks of additive are easily replenished via Würth’s e-ordering system, which allows the AA Fuel Assist technicians to arrange delivery by e-mail from their vehicles while still on the move.
DON’T TELL ME, YOUR MIND WAS ELSEWHERE AND YOU FORGOT THAT IT’S A DIESEL
Like to know more about the Würth products mentioned? Speak to your sales consultant or call +44(0)8705 987841, quoting CONNECTSUMMER
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28 COMMUNITY
REAL STORIES, REAL LIVES, REVVED UP ADVICE FROM WÜRTH’S CUSTOMERS AND STAFF
UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE WHEN ARRON ROGERS WAS SEARCHING FOR A PROJECT FOR HIS FINAL-YEAR DEGREE IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, HE DIDN’T HAVE TO LOOK FAR
ARRON’S FULL-SIZE M28 FEATURES THE FUEL TANK DESIGNED INTO THE CHASSIS
An industrial design student at Coventry University, 22-year-old Arron Rogers looked to the classic Norton International for inspiration for his final-year project. It’s fair to say that his full-size Norton M28 concept is a very tasty interpretation. Arron’s been around Nortons most of his life. Dad Stuart raced them at circuits such as Daytona in the early 1990s, before setting up his own business in spares and repairs for the vintage motorbikes, based in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. “It’s been such a lot of fun doing this project,” says Arron, who started constructing his Norton concept in October last year and completed it late June.
“I had to submit initial design plans before the build started, then put together the bike in stages. It’s been hard work, but being able to use Dad’s workshop has been a big help.” Former racer Stuart stocks a range of Würth products in the workshop that Arron’s been able to use on the project, including files, cleaning products, lubricants and Time-Sert, “a very useful asset,” he says. Arron expects the final marks for his project sometime this summer. Frankly, we’d give him top marks just for that exposed engine details but in the meantime he’s been asked to display the Norton M28 at Coventry’s Transport Museum.
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THE SPEC
FAST FACTS
ADAM FLYNN
SUPER A/C LEAK STOP
Director, Fast Test, Ipswich
■ Contains specially formulated additives for sealing small refrigerant and lubricant leaks in evaporators, condensers and all types of rubber hoses, o-rings and gaskets.
Number of staff: 6
If you’d like to know more contact your sales consultant, or call +44(0)8705 987841, quoting CONNECT SUMMER.
KEEP IT COOL PINPOINTING A LEAK IN A CAR’S AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM CAN BE TOUGH. WHICH IS WHY ADAM FLYNN OF FAST TEST RELIES ON THE COOLIUS RANGE FOR HIS CUSTOMERS “Five years ago a friend of mine was running the garage here. He needed help with the high-end electrical repair work, and as my background is in electronics, he employed me for a six-month period to find electrical faults. Near the end of my stint, the opportunity came up for me to buy the business. So in April 2004, I did just that. When I thought about it, I realised it was too good an opportunity to miss because of the increasing demand for quality electrical repairs.
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We get about 25 cars here each month, mostly VWs and Audis, but pretty much everything. We do a great job finding and repairing faults using Würth’s WoW! It sorts out the high-end electrical problems that can be so frustrating for customers. It’s a similar story with a car’s air conditioning; when it’s not working it can be tough to pinpoint exactly where the problem lies. We’ve had around a dozen vehicles come in with faults recently, mainly cars over five
with older air con systems that tend to lose pressure, deteriorate and leak. It was a real breakthrough when we started using Würth’s Super A/C Leak Stop from the Coolius range. It does a great job in sealing all the small leaks in the metal and rubber components of the air conditioning system. We’d been looking for something like this for some time, and I’m happy to say it’s been a great success. Customers also complain about their air conditioning
giving off bad odours. We’ve found this happens mostly in cars with manual air con systems, which accumulate moisture and bacteria when they’re not used much and then smell bad in the summer. Würth’s Air Conditioning Disinfectant Spray is great for clearing contamination and the long hose means you can get right in the system. We tend to buy the more expensive products as they last longer and are better quality – which is good for our customers’ cars.”
PHOTO: MARK HARRISON
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30 COMMUNITY
BOBBIES ON THE BEAT Thanks to the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, elderly and vulnerable people affected by house crime in the Wiltshire area can get valuable advice and support in securing their properties. And to mark its 10th anniversary in May, the trust took possession of three brand new Mercedes-Benz vans, which were funded by the charity and supplied by Wiltshire Police, via the Rygor Group. Part of Würth’s Partnership Programme, the family-run Rygor Group started with just two trucks 40 years ago, but is now a multi-million pound enterprise employing 400 people, with seven Mercedes-Benz commercial van dealerships along the M4 corridor. It was one of the first companies in the UK to provide a fitting centre for Würth’s ORSY-mobil, and Würth’s bespoke in-van racking system has been fitted into each Bobby Van. The vans are manned by Crime Reduction Officers, who give specialist advice on house security and are also trained as carpenters and locksmiths to repair broken doors and windows, at no charge to the resident. The crime prevention service relies on charity donations to run throughout the year. If you’d like more info or to make a donation, visit www.wiltshirebobbyvan.org.uk
ON THE ROAD
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WÜRTH’S IN-VAN RACKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN FITTED INTO EACH WILTSHIRE TRUST BOBBY VAN
Garden machinery, jet-skis and role playing – a day in the life of Graeme Fullerton, Regional Director of Würth Scotland
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“I have been with Würth for just over two years now, and each Monday morning I arrive at the regional office in Wishaw, near Glasgow [1]. I start the day with a oneto-one meeting with an Area Sales Manager and review internal KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), such as delivery or sales performance. These are a good chance to have some constructive time with my managers [2].
One important part of my job is to take an active role in the recruitment of new staff – I think this is an important task for any manager. This picture [3] shows a final interview, where we did a bit of role-play. I’m pleased to say that Angela got the job as a Würth Automotive Sales Consultant – so you’ll probably be seeing her in the Glasgow area soon.
Here I am visiting MGM Ltd with consultant Lorraine Gemmell in the Motherwell area [4]. Their main business is garden machinery maintenance and vehicle repairs, and we recently installed an ORSY rack in the workshop. We’ve been supplying them for nearly a year, and they’ve always been impressed with our product quality and service.
All senior managers at Würth keep themselves very close to the customers. I believe this is vital to our success and spend as many days as possible on the road with our sales consultants.
Finally, this is the way I like to unwind at the end of the day – yes, it’s me on my jet-ski off the Solway coast in southwest Scotland [5]. I find that our very own Würth Ultra 2040 is a great product to use on the jetski, as its water-displacing characteristics are better than any other product on the market.”
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THE SPEC HENRY PEARMAN, Owner, Eagle, Sussex Number of staff: 12
EAGLE LEGENDS FOR HENRY PEARMAN OF EAGLE, THERE’S ONLY ONE POLISHING SYSTEM THAT GIVES THEIR CUSTOMISED E-TYPES THAT HIGH-QUALITY FINISH “I’ve loved E-Types ever since I saw one on that Milk Tray advert in the late ‘60s, where it leaps across the broken bridge. It really inspired me at the time and they’ve been my lifelong passion. Our E-Type specialist company Eagle was founded in 1982 – in fact we’ve just had our 25th anniversary, but have been so busy we haven’t celebrated yet. We’ve been dedicated to repairing, selling and customising E-Types for all those years, though in the early days we were also involved in racing. We moved here to rural Sussex in 1991 and after completing
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a request from author John McLaren we decided to offer complete E-Type restorations. Now we have two divisions, one responsible for the construction of our customised Eagle E-Type, and one for the sale and repair of regular E-Types. When we start restoration, we process every single part of the car, making it more driver-friendly and adapting it to modern driving conditions. Each one can take up to 4,000 hours and cost up to £100,000 – which is why we only make two per year. There’s a threeyear waiting list. Because we completely reconstruct the bodyshell,
we need to get the best showroom look for the finish, and we’ve found Würth’s Rapid Polish system the best for that purpose. We’ve been customers of Würth for about 20 years, using all sorts of products, but we use the polish on all the E-Types for its high-quality, fresh feel. We get customers from all over the world ordering cars so they’ve got to look the best they can. After all, there’s only a couple of thousand left.” A selection of Eagle’s E-Types will be on show at the Goodwood Revival. Tel: +44(0)1825 830966 or visit www.eaglegb.com
FAST FACTS RAPID ONE / RAPID FINISH •Removes scratches, holograms and road film •Effective on high solid, ceramic and ultra-violet lacquers •Can reduce polish usage by up to 50 per cent due to small amount required If you’d like to know more contact your sales consultant, or call +44(0)8705 987841, quoting CONNECT SUMMER.
PHOTO: MARK HARRISON
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32 STEP BY STEP
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO REPLAST
There’s a bewildering variety of plastic materials used in the automotive, motorbike and cargo industries. Fortunately, Würth’s Replast is the only plastic repair kit you’ll need. Whether it’s repairing a fairing or bumper, Würth UK’s training manager Nick Broad guides you through the process
1. Using a milling drill, cut through the split
2. From outside, cut away the sides of the
3. Sand down inside and out using P180
4. Cut the matting to the shape around the
drilled area with a sharp knife to create a v-shape. Don’t use sanders or orbital grinders as they can generate heat that will seal the surface of the plastic.
sandpaper, then clean all surfaces with Replast plastic cleaner. Apply an even coat of Replast plastic primer and allow to air for two minutes.
repair area, ensuring 20-25mm overlap.
5. Using application gun with fresh nozzle.
6. Apply matting with the glue to the back of
7. After 30 minutes, the glue will be fully
Apply the glue directly to the matting, keeping the nozzle inside product to prevent air pockets.
the repair until excess glue squeezes through to the face surface. Smooth away excess.
cured and ready for sanding with coarse P180. After using fine sandpaper P320 to smooth the area, the surface can be primed and varnished.
or damaged area, checking the panel has no stress points. Ensure a minimum of 4mm area is cleaned out to allow adhesive through the panel.
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A world of knowlege @ the click of a button
IQ300
IQ100
Snooper
WÜRTH ONLINE WORLD MODULAR DIAGNOSTICS Don’t waste time sending cars away to be diagnosed. Save time and money by diagnosing faults and repairing them in your own garage! It’s easier, faster and more cost effective than you think! Würth Online World (WOW!) offers a modular diagnostic system that can be tailored to your requirements: • Laptop and handheld based solutions • Receive regular updates over the internet • Diagnose wirelessly with Bluetooth Technology • Can-Bus Enabled • Multi-marque vehicle diagnostics
IQ200 Request a WOW! demonstration
TEL: 08705 987 841 FAX: 08705 987 842 EMAIL: WOW@WURTH.CO.UK
www.wurth.co.uk/wow
THE BLUETOOTH® WORD MARK AND LOGOS ARE OWNED BY THE BLUETOOTH SIG, INC. AND ANY USE OF SUCH MARKS BY WÜRTH UK LTD IS UNDER LICENSE.
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34 WHAT I’VE LEARNED
BETTINA WÜRTH THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE WÜRTH GROUP ON HONESTY, MODESTY AND TAKING ON HER FATHER’S ROLE
Like all mothers, I have a working day that starts right after I wake up. My two older children go to boarding school but our youngest son, who’s seven, routinely wakes us up before the alarm goes off. He is such a bundle of energy early in the morning. I start my working day around 8am. I have one appointment after the other as my office keeps a very tight schedule for me. The evenings are often filled with business dinners or events of the committees I am a member of (more than 15) so that my working days often last until late in the evening. And if I do get to go home earlier, my son is already waiting for me. My parents taught me values such as honesty, straightforwardness, predictability, discipline, persuasive power and a healthy modesty. All of these positive attributes are firmly embedded in our corporate culture, and I like to lead the company in accordance with them.
I trained as an industrial clerk. I also did internships at a business consulting firm, a kindergarten and a travel agency in Spain. When I started my apprenticeship at Würth, I was not seen as Bettina but as the boss’s daughter. So I always had to do better than my trainee colleagues to show I was more than this. Taking on the responsibility for the German Construction division was a huge hurdle. Firstly, the tone of communication in this sector is rather coarse and brusque. Secondly, all of a sudden, I was in charge of a sales force that consisted mainly of men who were not used to a female boss. This taught me how to get by all by myself – which is very helpful for learning how to be in command in certain situations. Unfortunately, I don’t have much time for hobbies. In view of my very tight schedule, I devote every free minute to my
MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME VALUES SUCH AS STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS, DISCIPLINE, PERSUASIVE POWER AND MODESTY. THESE ATTRIBUTES ARE FIRMLY EMBEDDED IN OUR CORPORATE CULTURE family. However, time permitting, I like to go jogging or hiking, or to read a good book. When I was little, I always wanted to be a ballet dancer. Nevertheless, I feel comfortable at our company and never regretted having chosen this path. In 1996, I fulfilled a dream by founding marbet, an incentive and event agency with 139 employees and annual sales of €58million (2007). I’ve also always wanted to establish a cloth trade – a plan that I’ve yet to put into practice.
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• Würth UK provides a range of automotive air conditioning products for service and repair • We provide technical knowledge and support • Next working day delivery on orders placed before 2.30pm • Online catalogue www.wurth.co.uk • Point of sale products • For further information and advice please contact info@wurth.co.uk
Würth UK Ltd 1 Centurion Way Erith • Kent • DA18 4AE Tel 08705 987 841 Fax 08705 987 842 www.wurth.co.uk
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WÜRTH UK LIMITED 1 CENTURION WAY, ERITH, KENT, DA18 4AE, UK. ■ TEL: +44(0)8705 987841 ■ FAX: +44(0)8705 987842 ■ WWW.WURTH.CO.UK
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