MOTOR
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Stephen Moir reflects on 15 years as Group CEO of the MTA WA as he looks towards new challenges
REFLECTING ON 15 YEARS AT THE HELM OF MTA WA
With MTA WA Group CEO Stephen Moir
Welcome to this, my very last Torque Time as the CEO of the Motor Trade Association of WA.
It was just over 15 years ago that I walked into the MTA WA Offices at 35 Great Eastern Highway to start my time as the CEO of this great association. Whilst I had a passion for motor cars, I had a very limited knowledge of the automotive industry and to say that the learning curve was steep would be an understatement.
I was fortunate to have the strong support of my Board and the staff at the MTA and I very quickly got up to speed with what was important to the membership.
This learning curve was accelerated in March 2010 when, just four weeks into the job, Perth experienced a severe hailstorm which caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to member’s businesses.
Reflecting on the past 15 years, considerable changes have occurred in our industry so it seems appropriate
to mention a few as time passes very quickly these days and we often forget how far we have come.
In 2010, the Holden Commodore was the top selling car with 45,956 sales, followed by Toyota’s Corolla and Mazda’s 3 series. Toyota’s Hilux 4x4 was eighth with 24,961 sales. Australian consumers were still wedded to their family cars, particularly wagons, but change was coming.
Holden, Ford and Toyota were all still producing cars in Australia, but high production costs were having a crippling impact on their competitiveness and the end came quickly when Ford ceased their Australian production in 2016, followed by both Holden and Toyota in 2017.
But it wasn’t just the high production costs that saw the end of Australian automotive manufacturing. Consumer buying patterns were changing and local manufacturing simply failed to
respond. Australians were shifting their focus to 4WDs and SUVs, none of which were made in Australia.
Today Toyota’s Rav 4 sits at the top of the sales table with 58,718 sales in 2024 followed by the Ford Ranger 4x4 with 57,960 vehicles and the Toyota Hilux 4x4 with 45,869 sales. SUVs and dual cab utes are now fixed in the Australian psyche and there are no signs that the market is shifting. If proof were needed, BYD and Kia are now producing dual cabs for the Australian marketplace.
In 2010, electric vehicles were still a bit of an enigma with Mitsubishi’s i-Miev being the only model available in Australia. Nissan followed with their Leaf in 2012, but both struggled to gain any real traction. Prior to 2020, EVs represented less than 0.5% of new car sales, but with government incentives and improved infrastructure we are seeing substantial growth and today EVs
In 2010, the Holden Commodore was the top selling car with 45,956 sales. Today Toyota’s Rav 4 sits at the top of the sales table with 58,718 sales in 2024.
represent more than nine per cent of new car sales.
This growth will accelerate over the next few years with a swath of new manufacturers, particularly from China, looking to establish their brand in the Australian market. The already well established BYD and MG brands will be joined by models from Geely, Zeekr, Xpeng and Lynk & Co and consumers will be spoilt for choice across all price points.
One of the more interesting developments over the last 15 years has been the decline in car
ownership amongst young people. Improvements in public transport and initiatives such as capped price fares, along with the emergence of ride sharing platforms such as Uber, have redefined the ownership patterns of young people. It is now cheaper for my son to Uber to work and back than to run his car and pay for parking in the city. Cost of living pressures and housing affordability are also playing a part in this trend.
Arguably one of the most impactful events of the last 15 years was the
COVID pandemic and the unforeseen shift in consumer behaviour. Prior to the pandemic, WA recorded consecutive declining new car sale results but COVID changed that. Perhaps it was because people couldn’t travel overseas – or that some believed this was the end of existence – but whatever the reason, car sales soared along with used car prices. Caravanning became cool and sales of 4WD/caravan packages boomed which, in relation to car sales, has not slowed significantly in the ensuing years.
Together with our members, staff and industry stakeholders, we have built the MTA WA into one of the State’s most influential business organisations –which is testament to our growing voice across both industry and government.
Technology has played a significant part in how we use our cars. Features such as in-built infotainment systems such as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are now standard in most cars as is advanced safety technology such as lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. We have come a long way from the eighties when even airconditioning was an optional extra. And, of course, we can’t forget that technology has also now given us the ability to order our new cars on-line –without ever having to test drive and haggle on pricing.
While the industry has all this newer technology playing out, there has been a resurgence in nostalgia and the love of classic cars, including the long lost Holdens and Fords. Such is the growth in this sector that I recently read one article from an advisor who placed collectable cars ahead of real estate and wine when considering investment avenues.
We also seen a huge growth in the aftermarket sector – particularly the 4x4 modification sector. Recreational use of our cars is now much more popular than 15 years ago and it is a growth sector.
And finally, we are seeing governments play a much bigger role in influencing how we select and use our cars. The Federal Government’s 2024 announcement of the national vehicle efficiency standards is a good example of government intervention. The NVES will levy fines against vehicle manufacturers who fail to reduce or offset their Co2 emissions, and the
graduated regime will commence this year.
The NVES is designed to force manufactures into importing more EV-based vehicles while at the same time reducing the range of ICE vehicles available to consumers. This policy needs to lead to a review of the taxation system as it applies to motor vehicles as revenue sourced from petrol sales reduces as more EVs hit the roads.
With the exception of the Button Car Plan in 1985, there has not been a government policy that will have greater impact on both the automotive industry and consumers, and time will tell whether the NVES will be criticised or celebrated.
The one aspect over the last 15 years that has remained consistent, despite all the changes and challenges described above, is the outstanding level of service provided to the automotive sector by the MTA WA. I am incredibly proud of the role that the association has played in improving business conditions for our industry and in the outstanding team of people here at the association who work tirelessly on behalf of our members.
We have grown over that time from an organisation with 24 staff training 17 apprentices to today employing some 60 staff directly and 370 apprentices through our Apprentice Employment Service as well as providing training to over 1,000 learners.
Today the MTA WA is the largest
employer of automotive apprentices in WA and the largest training organisation educating light vehicle technicians. In 2024, MTA WA Training was awarded the Large Training Provider Award at the State Training Awards and took bronze at the nationals.
Together with our members, staff and industry stakeholders, we have built the MTA WA into one of the State’s most influential business organisations – which is testament to our growing voice across both industry and government. Importantly, we are well set up to meet the challenges that the next 15 years will present. So, the timing of my departure is appropriate as the business is in a very strong position. Members can be assured that the excellent service delivery from the MTA WA will not change and that our industry will continue to be represented strongly at all levels.
I want to sincerely thank you for your support throughout my tenure. It has been an honour to represent the interests of our members and to work towards a stronger, more sustainable future for our industry – work I know will continue unabated.
I am incredibly proud of the dedicated and passionate team we have at the MTA WA and I have full confidence in the commitment, expertise and drive they bring to the ongoing delivery of strong advocacy, trusted guidance and meaningful support for your business.
Digital safety data access FREE for members
The MTA WA has partnered with Chemwatch, the world’s largest chemical management database, to provide members with a vital resource – and it’s FREE!
Under Western Australia’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations, all businesses that use or store dangerous goods or hazardous chemicals must have up-to-date Safety Data Sheets (SDS) readily accessible in case of an emergency.
SDSs are essential documents that provide vital information about the hazardous chemicals used in the workplace—including their potential risks, safe handling procedures, and appropriate first aid measures.
What was once a time-consuming and often overlooked responsibility has now become far easier for MTA WA members.
Thanks to a partnership with Chemwatch, the world’s largest chemical management database, members now have free access to a resource valued at approximately $800 per year. With over 150 million SDSs available at the touch of a button, managing this previously onerous task is no longer an issue.
“This is a fantastic tool and every member should be using it,” said Andy McLean, MTA WA’s Work and Health Safety Coordinator.
Previously a WorkSafe inspector, Andy has seen firsthand how frequently automotive businesses fall short in this area.
“In around 50 per cent of cases, workshops are not meeting their legal obligations for SDS,” he said.
“Too often, these sheets are just printed documents sitting in a dusty folder at the back of the workshop. They are forgotten about, never updated and, in a worse case scenario, unable to be found when required in an emergency.”
The Chemwatch system transforms how workshops manage their chemical
safety requirements, significantly reducing risk and improving workplace health and safety.
“The online platform and app are incredibly user-friendly,” Andy added.
“And because SDSs are automatically updated, businesses are only ever accessing the most current version –something that’s absolutely critical.”
One of standout features of the Chemwatch Gold FFX management system is the ability to generate a tailored chemical register for individual businesses, which can be saved as a PDF.
“You can print and laminate a QR code linked to that register and display it around your workshop,” Andy explained.
“Any employee with a smartphone can scan the code and instantly access the full list of chemicals used on-site, complete with direct links to each SDS.”
One of Western Australia’s largest dealership groups, Magic Enterprises, has been quick to get on board with the Chemwatch resource.
Caitlin Johnson, the group’s Human Resources Manager, said their previous system relied on hard copies stored in an office filing cabinet.
“That system technically met compliance requirements, but it wasn’t as practical or accessible,” she said.
“The app is extremely user friendly and we have encouraged all our staff to download it to their phones so that everyone from an apprentice to a workshop manager has instant access to safety data sheets at the touch of a button.”
Caitlin said that the roll out of the resource across the organisation had created a stronger health and safety culture as even staff who were highly unlikely to come into contact with chemicals now had a greater understanding of the importance of SDS access.
“As the Human Resources Manager responsible for work health and safety compliance, I am very appreciative that the MTA WA have introduced this resource and I would encourage all businesses to take advantage of it,”
Caitlin said.
SDS Access
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SDS Access
Access the latest safety data sheets (SDS) for every chemical you handle.
Mobile App Access
Quickly retrieve SDS information on your phone or tablet.
Mobile App Access
Quickly retrieve SDS information on your phone or tablet.
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INDUSTRY MATTERS
With Mel Greenhow General Manager Training
Automotive acceleration
Lessons from Shanghai Motor Show (and flying cars)
Irecently had the chance to travel with the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) on a Vehicle Discovery Tour to the Shanghai Motor Show — and what an experience it was.
As one of the biggest automotive events in the world, the show offers a frontrow seat to the latest innovations in car design and technology. But more than that, it gives you a clear sense of where the global car industry is headed — and make no mistake, China is moving fast. From the moment I walked into the exhibition halls, I could feel the pace. Dozens of brands. Hundreds of vehicles. Every display buzzing with people and energy.
However, what surprised me most wasn’t the technology — it was how similar many
of the vehicles looked.
That might sound like a criticism, but it’s actually telling. Across the Chinese domestic brands, there was a clear design consistency — clean lines, high-tech interiors and a general focus on function over flair.
It felt like potential buyers were choosing the kind of car they wanted — compact SUV or city sedan — and then picking a brand that could deliver that model in the right colour and with the desired trim and tech options.
Brand identity took a back seat to the practical delivery of perceived needs and wants.
There was something oddly efficient about it. Everything looks and feels
streamlined. This is not just a statement reflecting current design trends but an overarching impression of how the whole industry seems to work.
That sense of uniformity reflects something deeper about China’s market: it’s ever-evolving and responsive with a laser sharp focus on giving customers exactly what they want, as quickly as possible.
One presentation during the tour really drove this home with a live example during the event. After shattering his phone screen, the presenter made one call and, within the hour, a technician had arrived on-site and repaired the phone. No waiting. No hassle. That example is not an exception — it’s the level of service people expect in China
and that mindset flows right through the car industry.
That should ring alarm bells for us here in Australia. In the past, we had the advantage of time when it came to new vehicle technologies. Innovations would first appear in premium models and gradually filter down to more affordable cars. But that’s no longer the case. In China, as soon as a new technology is ready, it goes straight into mass production — regardless of the vehicle’s price point.
That means we, as an industry, need to get faster at adapting. Workshops can’t wait for a “transition period” to get comfortable with high-voltage EV systems, integrated AI, or autonomous features. These things are already becoming standard, even in entry-level models.
Technicians and workshop staff need to be constantly learning – not just reacting when the first model rolls through the door. The bar for what’s considered “basic knowledge” in a workshop is being raised –and fast.
Autonomous driving was another big
theme throughout the show. Many vehicles on display were already built with the hardware needed for full autonomy – even if the infrastructure isn’t quite ready yet. It’s clear that manufacturers aren’t waiting for governments to catch up. They’re building cars for the near future and trusting the rest will fall into place. And just when you think that’s cuttingedge enough, you turn a corner and see the flying cars.
Yes, flying cars!
No longer confined to the world of science fiction, at least half a dozen vertical takeoff vehicles were on show – some more developed than others, but all being taken seriously. These companies are putting real money, time, and engineering talent into this space. It’s not a gimmick, it’s a direction – and one they expect to take off in the next few years.
Walking out of the Shanghai Motor Show, I felt equal parts amazed and challenged. There’s no doubt China is
Vale Cliff Byfield 1923-2025
Cliff Byfield, a revered figure in the Western Australian motoring community, passed away peacefully on July 12 at the age of 102.
A testament to his skill and passion, Cliff hand-built in his Bayswater backyard workshop more than 15 cars to an exceptionally professional standard during his retirement years. After returning from service in Europe during WWII, Cliff completed his coach building apprenticeship before establishing the Byfield Motor Works, specialising in the manufacture heavy earth moving equipment.
With vehicles in short supply post war, his first creation was a futuristic looking car created from a burnt out Citroen.
Such was his talent and reputation, Cliff was involved in the design and fabrication of several notable Australian racing cars in the 1950s, including the now famous Repco Holden Special.
Due to changing business fortunes he taught high school level manual arts for many years before retiring in the late 1970s and resurrecting his passion for building cars.
Responsible for the design and engineering of his creations, Cliff’s talents also extended to the building of frames and chassis and the shaping of bodies in hand beaten aluminium.
One of his most impressive vehicles, the Byfield XJS V12 HE built in the 1980s, is a striking mid-engined, closed-top two-door sports car with the exotic presence of a supercar. It is one of three of his hand-built vehicles on display at the Motor Museum of Western Australia in Whiteman Park.
When interviewed for MOTOR last year , Cliff said: “It’s fantastic to have the ability and time to create what you feel something ought to look like and then to be able to stand back and say ‘I built that.’”
sprinting ahead and believe me the automotive world is going to look very different very soon.
For Australia, this should be a wake-up call.
We can’t afford to lag behind just because we’re more cautious or because our market is smaller. The next wave of vehicles coming to our shores in the near future will be packed with new technology, built to be autonomousready and embraced by customers who expect them to just work — without delay or compromise.
If we want to keep up, we’ll need to shift our mindset — and quickly. That means investing in training, embracing change and staying open to new ways of thinking about cars, customers and service.
The future isn’t just coming – it’s parked outside. We just need to make sure we’re ready to open the garage door.
Cliff pictured with two of his creations at the Motor Museum of Western Australia on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
INDUSTRY MATTERS
With Graham Cawley General Manager Membership and Industry Engagement
Engagement on many levels
The MTA WA Membership and Industry Engagement team has been actively connecting with members across all sectors of the automotive industry, facilitating meaningful discussions on key issues and future opportunities.
In recent months, our presence at events like the Joondalup Festival of Motoring, the coordination of targeted business development courses and the delivery of several industry-specific
forums have formed the backbone of this engagement.
Our industry forums have continually proved to be exceptionally valuable, providing a platform for professionals, technical experts and stakeholders to share insights, identify challenges and contribute to collective problemsolving.
These sessions are instrumental in informing our strategic advocacy
efforts in order to shape policy recommendations that address both current and emerging industry needs.
Traditionally, our industry advocacy has been guided by the input of sectorspecific committee members. While this remains essential, our forums expand that model by inviting broader participation from all members without the ongoing commitment of a formal committee. This inclusive approach ensures every voice has an opportunity to contribute to sectorwide improvements.
In 2025 so far, we’ve delivered forums across a range of sectors, including:
• Motorcycles
• Caravan Dealers
• Commercial Vehicles
• Licensed Motor Vehicle Dealers
• Rental Vehicles
• Body Repairers
• Automotive Parts Recyclers
Each forum has revealed unique challenges and opportunities, which are now being reviewed. Priority projects are being scoped to support practical, policy-driven outcomes.
One such initiative emerged from the Motorcycle Sector Forum, where members raised growing concerns around the proliferation of illegal e-rideables.
In response, we have developed a draft policy position, held meetings with Ministers and the Road Safety Commission, as well as engaging with the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) policy group. These discussions are already progressing toward a clear, strategic approach to resolve the issue.
Another area of focus is the complexity of navigating jurisdiction inconsistencies across Australia. Despite new vehicles being regulated federally, individual State variations in registrations, modifications, and licensing – particularly in the heavy vehicle space – are creating operational inefficiencies.
The MTA WA is committed to reviewing how we can improve interstate alignment, ensuring WA-based businesses are not disadvantaged and that our processes are respected and accepted nationally.
A major development in the Body Repair sector was the national review
of the Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry Code of Conduct. The MTA WA brought together body repair members to provide critical feedback on key elements of the Code. This engagement was essential in ensuring that the revised Code reflects the realworld needs of repairers and fosters a more balanced, collaborative relationship with insurers. We sincerely thank all members who contributed their insights during this pivotal consultation.
Meanwhile, members of the Automotive Parts Recycling sector enjoyed a standout networking event at the recent Grill and Grow, hosted at the impressive new JTW Autoparts facility in East Rockingham. The event attracted more than 45 parts recyclers from across WA, offering an evening of connection, industry insights, and business inspiration.
A special thank you to MTA WA members Dave Smith and Michael Beasley for their warm hospitality and for sharing their
professional journey with attendees. We also thank eBay Australia for their generous sponsorship and for sharing
THE MTA WA IS DELIGHTED TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
Powerplant Motorcycles
Locked In Garage
Bunbury Donnybrook Mobile Mechanics
Tyrepower - Port Hedland
Knight Industrial Brake & Clutch Co
Omega Vehicle Engineering
Collie Radiator Service
ADAS Solutions Australia
Automotive Inspection Services
Euro Technik - Subiaco
Bridgestone - Armadale
Aardvark Mechanical Repairs
The MTA WA and its business partners provide exclusive discounts on a range of products and services that aim to keep more money in your pocket and make easier to operate your business.
Easy Wholesale
INDUSTRY MATTERS
With Melanie Pool Member Services Manager
More networking events planned for Auto Women
We were thrilled to host the inaugural Auto Women event earlier this year in March, welcoming around 80 passionate and insightful guests at the Scarborough Surf Life Saving Club. Thanks to the members who contributed to a powerful day which provided the opportunity to explore key issues and celebrate the strengths within our industry.
We’re honoured to now display prominently in the MTA WA boardroom the stunning dot painting artwork that was created at the Auto Women launch event.
This beautiful piece is more than decoration—it’s a powerful symbol of connection, culture, and shared stories.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this meaningful creation. Next time you visit the MTA WA’s Balcatta offices be sure to come and have a look at this amazing work.
The feedback and insights gathered throughout the event and through the attendee questionnaire were instrumental in helping us better understand the unique challenges faced by women in the automotive sector. Our goal is to use this valuable input to shape future initiatives and create a more inclusive, supportive industry for all.
At the MTA WA we believe that a stronger, more inclusive automotive industry benefits everyone. Following the success of our recent Auto Women events, we are proud to be curating
a series of follow-up initiatives designed to keep the momentum going. These events are more than just networking opportunities – they are platforms for empowerment, education, and real industry change. We are currently exploring ways to develop a more structured support program that provides ongoing value to women across all areas of the automotive sector. From apprentices to business owners, our goal is to create a space where women feel seen, supported, and equipped to thrive.
To bring the vision to life, we’re proud to announce Toyota as the official sponsor of the next Auto Women event.
Auto Women Speed Connect –Powered by Toyota
This dynamic speed networking event is designed to foster meaningful professional connections among women in the automotive industry. Through a series of short, structured conversations, participants will have the opportunity to expand their networks, exchange insights and engage with peers and industry leaders in a high-energy, relaxed and friendly setting.
As we gear up for this exciting evening, we invite you to get to know the inspiring individuals who make up the Auto Women community — the innovators, leaders, and changemakers driving progress across the sector.
Date: Thursday 23 October
Time: 5.00pm – 7.00pm
Location: Toyota WA, Kewdale
Partner with us
Sponsorship opportunities are now open for future events and programs. By partnering with Auto Women, your organisation will be championing gender diversity and leadership in the automotive space.
As a valued member of our community, your sponsorship also includes the opportunity to be featured as a “Member in the Spotlight” – a platform designed to showcase the people, purpose, and values behind your business. It’s a chance to elevate your profile, celebrate your contribution and gain meaningful exposure within our growing network.
If your organisation shares our commitment to building a more inclusive and forward-thinking industry, we’d love to connect.
15 years leading the MTA WA “the greatest privilege”
After more than 15 years at the helm of the Motor Trade Association of Western Australia, Group Chief Executive Officer Stephen Moir is stepping away from the position, confident that the organisation is stronger today than at any point in its 90-year history.
Appointed in March 2010, Stephen inherited a small team of just 16. Since then, the
MTA WA has grown significantly in both staff and scope, reflecting its continued diversification and improved support to members.
He describes leading the association during this era of transformation as one of the major highlights of his corporate career and a great privilege.
Stephen’s previous role as Managing Director of the Western Australian Small Business Development Corporation provided a strong foundation for his new role with the MTA WA, despite knowing very little about the automotive industry initially.
MTA WA Group Chief Executive Officer Stephen Moir is looking forward to having more time to enjoy his Austin Healey 3000.
“I was passionate about cars, but it was a very steep learning curve,” Stephen recalls. “Understanding the industry and the challenges our members face took time, and I spent those early years meeting and talking with business owners.”
His number one priority –championing the interests of members – has remained consistent from the outset.
“Industry engagement to really understand what needs to be achieved is essential, particularly given that our sphere of influence with government and other stakeholders is now significantly higher than it was 15 years ago thanks to building very positive relationships,” he said.
“Some associations think their role is to beat up on government and bureaucrats but I’ve always believed in building trust with the view to finding consensus.”
Stephen is quick to point out, however, that advocacy is just one aspect of the job.
“As an industry association, it’s really important to remain relevant to your membership but also to diversify your business model so you can continue to do all the work behind the scenes while maintaining a strong membership base,” he said.
While MTA WA’s membership remains above 1,500, Stephen acknowledges one of the biggest challenges is ensuring members are aware of the wide range of benefits on offer.
“Given my previous background helping small business, if I were running an organisation with under 10 staff there’s no way I wouldn’t be a member of the MTA WA.
“For a nominal fee we offer a range of services from human resource and industrial relations advice to providing apprentices and post-trade training – to name but a few.
“And unlike a lot of associations which charge a fee for service, if does not matter how many times a member accesses specialist advice – it’s all part of the one membership package,” Stephen said.
Using occupational health and safety compliance as an example, Stephen said providing all members with free access to the most up-to-date safety data sheets through the Chemwatch database was worth $800 annually alone.
‘‘Industry engagement to really understand what needs to be achieved is essential, particularly given that our sphere of influence with government and other stakeholders is now significantly higher than it was 15 years ago thanks to building very positive relationships.
Stephen Moir, Group Chief Executive Officer, MTA WA
One very important development during Stephen’s tenure has been the spectacular growth in training – a major accomplishment that was formally recognised last year when MTA WA Training was named Large Training Provider of the Year at the Western Australian Training Awards, and received bronze at the Australian Training Awards, placing it in the top three providers in the country
“In 2010 we had 12 apprentices on the books. Today we have over 840 apprentices in training and over 300 technicians will complete post-trade qualifications this year,” Stephen said, outlining that 15 years ago automotive was the least favourite vocation for young people but is now the most popular apprenticeship pathway.
“Brokering the successful merger between the Motor Industry Training Association and the MTA WA and pulling the two organisations together was, I think, one of the best outcomes for members and the industry as a whole during my 15 years in the position,” he said.
Despite stepping away from the MTA WA, Stephen is not quite ready to permanently leave the industry he has come to love.
“Ideally I would like to stay engaged with the motor trades – perhaps sitting on an industry Board – where I can continue to utilise my experience and expertise to progress the industry I am genuinely passionate about,” he said.
Stephen speaks with great affection about the people that make up the motor trades industry, describing the huge majority as “really good, solid people who are incredibly passionate about what they do.”
“The same passion is reflected in the staff and the Board of Directors we have here at the MTA WA. We’ve built something really special,” he said.
“We’ve got a really good Board, a great Executive team, fantastic staff and a great brand that’s got prestige and quality assurance written all over it so, going forward, I know that I leave the MTA WA when it’s in really good shape.”
Before he was ready to step away, Stephen had set three key goals: achieving three years of strong financial returns, developing MTA WA Training into one of the nation’s leading automotive training organisations, and raising the profile of women in the industry — all of which have been met.
“I’m particularly proud that we hire on talent, not quotas, and we have many very talented women on our management team, not to mention that our Board is made up of 40 per cent of women.
“Jodi Kerr is our first female President, and she is joined on the Board by Robyn Cook of Peel Tyre Service, and Moira D’Cruze of Wembley Autocare,” he enthused.
With these three benchmarks achieved, Stephen believes the timing is now right for him to step away from the position.
“A strong organisation should never falter when a key player like a CEO leaves. The MTA WA could easily operate for 12 months with just a nominal CEO because the team is that capable.”
As he looks ahead to a well-earned break — including a “bucket list” sporting trip to the UK next year to attend the British Open, the British Grand Prix, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed — Stephen admits that his final day in September will be emotional.
“It’s going to be tough,” he says. “I love the job, the industry, and especially the people I work with. I’ve got people here that I really care about and I’m going to miss them enormously.
High speed history on Albany streets
The streets of Albany once again came alive to the sights and sounds of historic racing cars over the WA Day long weekend in June.
This year marked the 34th running of the Albany Classic, an event that has cemented itself as one of the major highlights on the calendar for Western Australia’s enthusiastic historic motorsport community.
Organised jointly by the Vintage sports Car Club of WA (VSCCWA) and the Albany Classic Motorsport Club, this is one of only two such events run in Australia – the other being held through the streets of Northam.
With over 150 vehicles descending on Western Australia’s southern most city to race around a temporary concrete lined circuit in Albany’s CBD, the event also attracts a huge number of spectators.
With vehicles running in five classspecific groups, from pre and post war vintage and veteran racing cars through to classic cars from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the variety of motorsport history on display is truly remarkable.
In order to satisfy Motorsport Australia requirements, entries are limited to cars manufactured prior to 1985 and the Classic is run as a regularity event with drivers aiming to
consistently achieve a nominated lap time.
“Although each ‘race’ is not strictly a race in the traditional ‘first past the chequered flag wins’ sense, spirited driving is encouraged and with 30 cars out on track at the same time, it’s a truly exhilarating experience for everyone involved,” said Sheryl Swarbrick, secretary of the VSCCWA and part of the organising committee.
“We always have more interest than available places, but this ensures that, for the most part, the cars competing are period correct.
“One of the other great aspects of the Albany Classic is that competitors
do not necessarily need a full blown race car.
“Many of the vehicles are road cars fitted with a few mandatory safety items such as a fire extinguisher and the drivers get to experience the thrill of being involved in this fantastic event,” Sheryl said.
The event would not be possible without the work of a large number of dedicated volunteers who transform the Albany CBD from a publicly accessible precinct on Saturday afternoon to a dedicated Motorsport Australia approved racing circuit by the time the sun is rising on Sunday morning.
Road closures and track set up all happens under the cover of darkness with over 750 large concrete blocks forming the barrier between the race cars and the thousands of spectators that line the streets.
Once the blocks are in position, a crew is responsible for chaining them together while separate crews install safety fencing, bunting and two temporary overpass pedestrian bridges. In several parts of the track, specifically engineered curbing, traffic islands and even a round-about are removed.
The whole process is then reversed once the event is over.
Road closures and track set up all happens under the cover of darkness with over 750 large concrete blocks forming the barrier between the race cars and the thousands of spectators that line the streets.
First race in 1936
The Albany Classic is steeped in history with the event aiming to recreate the original ‘Around the Houses’ style racing that was the norm in much of Australia post WW1.
Race meetings were familiar sights in towns throughout the country for many years before purpose built tracks – complete with safety features such as run off areas – were developed and hay bales were essentially the only barrier between the machines and spectators.
Taking its cue from European style events of the time, Albany can lay claim to being a pioneer of Australian motorsport with the first Around the Houses style race in this country held over a 2.5mile (4 kilometre) circuit around the town on March 8 1936.
The Albany Tourist Trophy, as it was called, was a 25 lap handicap race contested by nine entrants. A massive crowd of 10,000 were in attendance and the success of the event was built upon in subsequent years.
Notwithstanding a break during WWII, the event was held until 1962 when safety concerns over the everincreasing speed of car and several high profile fatal accidents in Europe ultimately lead to its demise.
Fast forward to the late 1970s and a group of prominent historic motoring enthusiasts begun formulating ideas to resurrect the Around the Houses racing concept in a way that would satisfy the safety concerns of the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (now Motorsport Australia) and their insurers.
A solution was found in the form of ‘regularity’ where competitors are rewarded for staying as close to a nominated lap time as possible rather than racing flat out to be first at the chequered flag.
The inaugural ‘York Flying 50’ in 1980 was the first such event and continued to be popular for many years.
With tremendous support from the City of Albany, the VSCCWA first organised the Albany Classic in 1990 and the event is today one of the key attractions on the calendar for the City, second only to the ANZAC Day commemoration in popularity.
Next year marks the 90th anniversary of the original Albany Tourist Trophy and plans are already underway to make the already iconic 2026 Albany Classic a very special event indeed.
Albany mishap won’t dent Tim’s Jag passion
Tim Skinner, owner of Autocraft Smash Repairs in Booragoon, is no stranger to returning damaged cars back to their owners in showroom condition.
A master of his craft, Tim is highly respected in the insurance repair world and revered in the classic car community.
In fact, he has become the go-to specialist for meticulous restorations of British classics—especially among Jaguar enthusiasts—having expertly
year’s Albany Classic while racing his 1963 Mark 2 Jaguar sedan, there was arguably no one better equipped, or more motivated, to bring the car back to life than the man behind the wheel.
“I’ve managed to source most of the parts locally including a front suspension cradle, lights and indicators and we’ve got the car on the robot to start straightening it out,” Tim said.
“About the only thing I don’t have is a grill and the correct front bumper
of support from fellow enthusiasts and competitors.
“One of the upsides, if you can call it that, has been the generosity of people offering to help – from getting the car back on the trailer to connecting me with potential parts suppliers,” Tim said. Tim’s history with Jaguars runs deep. Having restored several Mark 1 and Mark 2 models over the years, he purchased his white Mark 2 from a fellow member of the Jaguar Car Club of WA just over two years ago.
Autocraft’s Tim Skinner with one of several E-type Jaguars he has restored for clients.
serious regular Jaguar racers, Albany beckoned.
“Some of the members of the club who regularly race in the pre-1965 class at Wanneroo and also compete at the Albany Classic said you’ve got to get involved – it’s a brilliant weekend,” Tim said.
In 2023, the family went down as spectators to “have a look around and see what it was all about”, and were hooked.
“We decided then and there to come back the next year as competitors,” Tim said.
While largely a road-going 3.4-litre car, Tim’s Mk 2 has undergone a few race-ready upgrades including Minilite wheels with competition tyres, larger sway bars front and rear, adjustable shock absorbers and the mandatory safety gear like a fire extinguisher, tail shaft strap, and sump plug lock wiring.
Unfortunately the Albany Classic hasn’t been kind to Tim, with electrical issues curtailing his first year in 2024 after only completing practice and half of race one, and the accident this year. However, it certainly hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for the event, considered by most competitors to be the highlight of their motorsport year.
“I just love the event,” Tim said. “The range of cars is amazing, the track is very challenging and exciting and the camaraderie is second to none.
“If you break something, there’s always someone willing to lend a hand or a spare part.”
Australia’s finest E-type a result of Tim’s work
Among his many achievements, Tim Skinner quietly takes pride in having restored what is widely regarded as one of the finest Jaguar E-types in the country.
The prize-winning car was subject to a full bare metal respray, but that was only half the story.
“Our customer wanted the best E-type in Australia and there was no settling for anything that wasn’t absolutely perfect,” Tim said, explaining that getting bonnet and door gaps millimetre perfect on an E-type is an almost impossible challenge.
“It was a mission and it was here for a very long time, but we got there in the end and seeing it win the Concours d’Elegance award at the 2019 Jaguar celebration in Albury Wodonga made all the hours worth it.
“Everyone in the Jaguar club saw the car and that major award win certainly cemented our reputation for perfection,” Tim said proudly. Tim is very gracious and humble when he talks about the restoration work, but the quality of work is truly outstanding.
Cont. next page
“It is a bit of a love-hate relationship working on a car like that to such meticulous detail and it can be a source of great frustration,” he says.
“But then another project comes in and it’s like you’ve forgotten all the pain and you’re ready to do it all over again.
“I won’t deny there is a great sense of satisfaction in seeing the end result,” Tim said.
That project began under the stewardship of Patrick Dick, a fellow Jaguar lover and founder of Autocraft. Tim worked alongside him for a decade before taking over the business with his wife Susie in 2021.
“Pat had been pulling back in the years leading up to the handover and he used to say just treat and run the business like it’s yours,” Tim said.
Always a panel beater and passionate about cars from a young age, Tim finished his apprenticeship in 2003 and, in his words, “has never looked back.” With his brother also following a similar career path, there is no doubt that enthusiasm for the motor trades is a family trait.
Autocraft operates with a clear rule: one restoration in the shop at a time. With a steady flow of insurance work, Tim says it’s imperative to strike that balance between passion and practicality.
“The restoration work is so time consuming and you can never quote on a job or put a time on when it might be finished because you have no idea what you are going to find until you start sanding and grinding,” Tim said.
Family time on the weekends also dictates this one restoration at a time rule although Tim’s seven-year-old son, Jack, is a frequent visitor to the workshop.
“He just loves the old Jag and loved Albany and watching me race,” Tim said proudly.
“When we started assessing the damage and I yanked a piece off the body, Jack picked the chunk of twisted metal off the floor and started hammering it flat.
“He was so proud of that piece of metal that he carried it everywhere for a few days and displayed it proudly on his bedside table.
“It’s kind of perfect when your personal life and your passion come
together like that and my son and I can hang out together while I am still working on the car,” Tim said.
Given the strong mechanical and panel beating DNA running through the family, it isn’t hard to imagine young Jack following in his father’s footsteps and maybe one day racing the Jaguar around the streets of Albany.
If so, it’ll be just another chapter in the Skinner family’s ongoing love affair with old Jags, motorsport, and the pursuit of perfection.
Tim Skinner and seven year old son Jack enjoying time together at the workshop.
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Starring role in performance AMG tuning
Designed for enthusiasts seeking a more thrilling driving experience from their cars, Mercedes-AMG has carved out a niche market with upgraded, more powerful versions of some of the marque’s models.
However, for those owners who want to take their AMG to the next level – or even a level or two beyond that – MB Star Performance in Balcatta has become Perth’s ultimate tuning destination.
Established by MB Star Motors owner Adrian Nizich and former apprentice Spiros Magoutas, the performance arm of the business was born out of a growing demand from AMG customers wanting to take their cars beyond the already impressive factory specifications.
“Customers were asking for more power or a more aggressive exhaust note and I could sense that there was an untapped market in Perth for tuning Mercedes-AMG,” Adrian said. It was around this time that Spiros Magoutas – an outstanding apprentice Adrian had mentored years earlier –returned to the business.
Now a partner in MB Star Performance, Spiros was hungry for a new technical challenge.
Adrian Nizich (left) and Spiros Magoutas
WORDS AND PICS: PAUL ROBERTS
“I had actually done some work experience with Adrian when I was 14, spent two years of my apprenticeship with a Mercedes-Benz dealership before finishing it with MB Star and then worked here as a technician for a few years,” Spiros said, explaining that searching for his ultimate career passion had also involved some time spent as a heavy diesel mechanic on the mines, fitting roller doors and working as an electrician.
“It’s fair to say that I was looking for a stimulating challenge and getting involved in unlocking the performance of these cars, solving problems and learning how to run a business has more than fulfilled that ambition,” Spiros said.
With no one solution fitting all customer requirements, his enthusiasm is infectious as he talks about the process involved in matching the level of tune to a client’s expectations and some of the huge performance upgrades the team have been responsible for.
One of the more extreme cars Spiros has developed for a client is an AMG A45 S track car featuring a huge high flow turbo, exhaust, suspension and brake modifications, methanol injection and major ECU upgrades.
“It is an absolute beast of a car and I have spent countless hours getting it to this stage,” Spiros says proudly.
“Other clients may just want their daily driver to deliver a bit more power and sound a little more unique so there is wide range of different tuning and
performance upgrades that we offer,” he said.
At the heart of MB Star Performance’s philosophy is honest, tailored service— not just performance for performance’s sake.
“Performance tuning is a want, not a need and sometimes carefully working out the difference between what a client thinks they want as opposed to what they really want can be as much a challenge as the performance upgrade itself,” Adrian said.
Diplomatically tempering customer over-enthusiasm is a skill Adrian and Spiros have become very adept at over the years.
“Sometimes we have to talk people down from going too extreme,” Spiros says.
“They come in asking, for example, a stage two tune with all the bangs and pops and you have to explain to them that the novelty will probably wear thin very quickly, their neighbours will hate them and they’ll start to get nervous driving the car.
‘‘Performance tuning is a want, not a need and sometimes carefully working out the difference between what a client thinks they want as opposed to what they really want can be as much a challenge as the performance upgrade itself.
Adrian Nizich, Owner MB Star Motors & Performance
“Sometimes the client is absolutely adamant that this is what they want so you tune it to their perceived desire and while they’re super happy with the performance upgrade, two weeks later they’re back asking for the pops and bangs to be turned down a bit – just like we knew was going to happen.
“Many first-time tuning customers think they want to go straight to the extreme – they want everything – but I think it is very important to prioritise tailoring the solution to the client’s real world needs.
“We make sure customers understand what each tuning stage offers and, where possible, we demonstrate with a car we’ve tuned so they know exactly what to expect,” he said.
Unlocking the potential of these cars mostly comes down to tweaking the factory ECU software and adjusting the engine mapping – that’s where MB Star Performance teams up closely with EvoTech Motorsport.
Their Balcatta workshop also features a state-of-the-art, all wheel drive dyno in a purpose-built, sound-insulated room in order to safely and accurately tune and data log the cars.
Depending on the modifications, clients can experience anything from a modest increase torque with smoother power delivery to a near-doubling of horsepower.
While both men are excited by the incredible performance to be unlocked through tuning some of Germany’s finest engineered vehicles, they remain pragmatic about the fact that the car’s potential – even in standard AMG tune – cannot fully be exploited legally on Australian roads.
“It’s a bit of a disappointment in a way because Mercedes-AMG cars are so incredibly capable,” Adrian says.
“However, although Australia lacks the Autobahn and its high speeds, these cars still deliver for owners an absolutely phenomenal driving experience that definitely showcases what they were designed to do.”
From bespoke furniture automotive ex
In an unexpected twist of fate, Adrian Nizich, owner of MercedesBenz performance tuning specialist MB Star Motors and Performance, can thank his asthma for changing his career path from working with wood to working with cars.
With very little idea of what he was going to do after completing high school, a few work experience placements with kitchen cabinet makers convinced Adrian that this was where his future lay.
“I landed a wood machining
apprenticeship with Jamel Industries in Osborne Park, making bespoke, high-end pieces out of beautiful timber and I absolutely loved it,” Adrian recalls.
“Unfortunately I only lasted a year because it got to the point where my asthma was so bad I was using my Ventolin puffer all the time and coughing up a lung every night.
“I had to tell my boss—Mel Princiotto
to cellence
just couldn’t continue as it was literally killing me.
“Expressing his appreciation of my work ethic, he said he totally understood and then out of the blue asked me if I would be interested in working on cars,” Adrian said. Sometimes things are just meant to be and as the owner of a pristine MercedesBenz 420SEL, Mel knew his specialist mechanic was looking for an apprentice. He introduced the young Adrian to the owners of The Merc Shop (now The Star Shop) in Osborne Park and Adrian’s new
“Although I’d always loved cars growing up, I’d never actually considered being a mechanic,” Adrian said.
Serendipity seems to be a recurring theme
A one year trip to the United Kingdom in 2003 with his then girlfriend (now wife) “to see a bit of the world” turned into a four year adventure and provided the opportunity for Adrian to take his Mercedes Benz experience to the next
A phone call to the service manager of one of London’s top Mercedes Benz dealerships resulted in an immediate job offer and access to what Adrian describes as an incomparable amount of training and support to enhance his skills as a specialist
“The resources at your fingertips and the investment in on-going training once you’re in the dealer network over there is phenomenal and I learnt so much during that time,” Adrian explained.
Returning to Perth in 2007 to start a family, Adrian re-established links with his old employer before taking the giant leap into self employment in early 2011.
From those early days of wondering whether it was the biggest mistake of his life to developing a niche business providing AMG owners with bespoke levels of performance tuning is testament to his courage and determination as well as an appreciation of the quality behind the engineering of the marque.
“When we first started the business, I was just a one-man show and while my expertise was in Mercedes Benz,
‘‘ All manufacturers do things differently and while you may sometimes question why something is built a particular way, specialising in one marque allows you to develop an affinity with the way they put a car together and it just starts to make sense.
Adrian Nizich, Owner MB Star Motors and Performance
I did need to get the business off the ground and generate cash flow so I would work on all cars,” Adrian said.
“However, all manufacturers do things differently and while you may sometimes question why something is built a particular way, specialising in one marque allows you to develop an affinity with the way they put a car together and it just starts to make sense.
“It’s almost as if you start to sync with how the engineers were thinking when they developed the car and that level of understanding can only come from experience,” said Adrian.
MB Star currently operates out of a much larger workshop in Balcatta and has a team of 14, with the business continuing to grow.
“Reflecting back now on where we’ve come from I think it’s all the little things that sort of lined up to get us to where we are today – day-today life lessons that at the time you don’t realise are so important to your business and personal development,” Adrian says.
“I’ve learnt so much about the cars, how they work and the amazing engineering and technology that goes into building them, but from a business perspective it’s all the day to day stuff that is so important to success like how to deal with customers, marketing yourself correctly, making yourself relevant and explaining things clearly.
“Ultimately, I think it’s honesty and the desire to want to continually learn and be better that has created our success.”
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Joondalup Festival of Motoring Memories in motion
Measuring the success of a major event is a very objective thing. Metrics will focus on the number of spectators, participation in eventrelated activities, the absence of major incidents and the all important dollar spend by attendees.
While all of this is front and centre in the mind of Joondalup Festival of Motoring (JFOM) organiser Justin Hunt, he has a more emotive measure for success – did the event create memories?
With very positive feedback from both participants and spectators alike following the third annual running of JFOM in early May, there is little doubt that Justin is well and truly creating those lasting memories.
As a life-long motorsport enthusiast, both as a participant and as a volunteer, Justin is well versed in the ability for motoring based activities to cultivate unforgettable and shared experiences.
“My family has always been involved with cars and motorsport as a hobby, as well as being volunteers for events,” Justin said.
“My experiences on both sides of the motorsport fence have not only created some amazing friendships, but also taken me on some incredible adventures.
“Adventures create memories – which I think we all crave – and I have this passion for inventing and then executing events which fulfil that aim,” he said, outlining that his past motorsport adventures included many years as a co-driver in the Australian Rally Championship.
From being part of the Tourism WA team responsible for Rally Australia, a round of the World Rally Championship held in Western Australia during the 1990s and early 2000s, to organising and running the off-road Australian Safari between 2007 and 2014, Justin’s experience in the world of event management – particularly in the motorsport sphere – is vast and varied.
logistics during the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and more recently joined US-based Transport Management Services helping with the people logistics at this year’s International Rotary Convention in Calgary, Canada, which attracted 15,000 delegates in June.
With a small, dedicated team helping Justin throughout the year-long organisational phase and over 150 volunteers ensuring the safe and smooth running of the event during the actual weekend, JFOM is a huge logistical undertaking.
Justin describes it as a “passion project”, explaining that he has a great love of the area having grown up in the northern suburbs.
However, the major catalyst for the event’s existence was a promise made during a stressful time for the closeknit family when Justin’s father was undergoing treatment for a lifethreatening illness.
“As a family, we’ve always participated in club motorsport with dad heavily involved with the Mini Car Club competing in events like motorkhanas and hillclimbs,” Justin said.
“JFOM essentially came about because when dad was unwell, I promised that I would design an event for him and his mates to ‘play’ in their Minis once he’d beaten the disease.
“It was all a bit tongue-in-cheek but once dad had the all clear and started getting on with living again, he reminded me of that promise,” Justin said, explaining that at about the same time the City of Joondalup expressed
Hands-on involvement for MTA WA apprentices
Ensuring that every car on the track meets strict safety standards is a vital part of any motorsport event. This year, the Motor Trades Association of WA provided a unique opportunity for several of its apprentices to experience this responsibility firsthand by participating as scrutineers at the Tyrepower City Sprint, a key event within the Joondalup Festival of Motoring.
Jack Dymond, a third-year light vehicle apprentice with Moore Mechanical in Butler was among those helping out was. For Jack, it was an unforgettable experience.
“I’ve always had a passion for car racing, so I grabbed the opportunity to get up close to the competing cars with both hands,” he said.
It was a sentiment echoed by second year apprentice with Joondalup Autocare Zach Elliott.
“For me it was a tremendous experience seeing the different competition vehicles, how they have been built and set up and talking with the drivers about their cars as we were conducting the required safety checks,” Zach said.
Working in teams of two, the apprentices assisted with vehicle scrutineering—inspecting cars for loose items, fluid leaks, seat belt integrity, brake function, and other critical safety aspects.
“We were essentially checking that everything was in order to ensure the event ran safely for both competitors and spectators,” Jack explained. “The drivers were very cooperative, even when an issue was found that needed to be fixed before the car could be cleared to race.”
While most scrutineering took place on Saturday ahead of the Sunday event, the apprentices returned on race day, eager to lend a hand with track setup, final inspections, and general event support.
“The Sunday was just awesome,” said Jack, who has previously had experience as a pit crew member for a racing team in Queensland. “Being part of the event’s operations gave me access to areas offlimits to general spectators—it was a real privilege to watch the action from that perspective.”
Echoing the enthusiasm of his peers, Jack expressed hope that the opportunity to be involved in the event would be extended again next year.
The MTA WA’s presence at the Festival extended beyond apprentice involvement. The organisation also showcased its V8 Drive Day car in demonstration runs and had staff on hand in its marquee promoting its core services, including apprenticeship and employment pathways, registered training, accreditation, and support for members.
interest in an annual around-the-houses style motor race in order to activate the city centre.
“The idea of a full field of cars racing around the streets is fantastic but the reality is that risk, liability and compliance factors make such an event very hard to deliver due to safety concerns,” Justin said.
His proposal incorporated a challenging course which would see one car at a time out on the track racing against the clock as part of a weekend long festival style motoring themed event.
Met with great enthusiasm by the Council, the first event was held in 2022 in terrible weather and while it was very well received by participants and spectators alike, Justin considers it a limited success and a huge learning curve.
With lessons learnt, a bigger and better JFOM scheduled for November 23 2023 was ultimately postponed when major bushfires tore though the Wanneroo area.
“We deferred because it wasn’t right for us to be running a fun event when our neighbours on the other side of the lake were in danger,” Justin said, outlining that he was also conscious of not adding to traffic congestion in the wake of an emergency.
The event – ultimately held in May 2024 – was an outstanding success with 20,000 spectators enjoying activities that included over 1000 cars on display and 140 entrants tackling the street circuit course.
The recently held 2025 JFOM refined the model even further and additional attractions over the two days included an
automotive ‘trash and treasure’ jumble sale, a Q and A with V8 Supercars driver Jack Le Brocq and even a special screening of the comedy classic Talladega Nights on Saturday evening.
Acknowledging that there are “only so many people you can fit in between a residential area and a shopping centre at any one time,” Justin believes the event, while still evolving, has been a boon for the City of Joondalup.
“We know that the City is well activated on the Sunday because of the City Sprint and associated motoring attractions, but ultimately my aim is to have a high level of engagement from patrons on the Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday evening as well,” Justin said.
“I don’t want people just dropping in, I want people staying and spending money with the local businesses throughout the entire weekend.”
Offering accommodation packages for the weekend through Quest Joondalup proved very successful with the hotel fully booked on the Friday and Saturday night.
While JFOM was always going to draw Perth’s passionate motoring enthusiasts to Joondalup, one aspect of the event that Justin considers to be very important is attracting northern suburb residents to the City centre over the weekend.
“Enthusiasts love their cars so they are always going to come to an event like this,” Justin said. “I don’t have to chase them.”
“However, it was fantastic to have so many local spectators enjoying
what was on offer and to witness a large number of people having parties and barbecues on their balconies while cheering the competitors.
“The northern suburbs has so much to offer and it is brilliant when you can deliver a great experience for people in their own backyard.”
Looking towards the future, Justin is very keen to ensure that the highlight of the weekend, the timed City Sprint, remains accessible and affordable for car club members and enthusiasts.
“I’m a big fan of the concept of ‘passion drivers’ because if you can create something that people can be passionate about, they will automatically be motivated and driven to be a part of it because of the fun element,” he said.
“This level of motorsport is very much driven by passion and it can be done on a sensible budget using a car that is fun to drive.
“It is very important to me that the entry fee remains affordable for enthusiasts and we continue to have a diverse mix of moderns and classics competing for the pure fun of it,” he said.
At the end of the day, Justin is as much an enthusiast as the thousands of spectators who enjoyed the sights and sounds of the racing.
“Standing in the corporate tent on Sunday afternoon watching my 80-yearold father hammering his Mini Cooper S through a chicane cheered on by thousands of people was very cool and I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved with the Tyrepower Joondalup Festival of Motoring,” Justin said.
From doubt to distinction: Apprentice shines at WorldSkills
WORDS AND PICS: PAUL ROBERTS
When Joe Giura, Managing Director of heavy vehicle repair specialist Westrans Services, nominated one of his apprentices for the Perth regional WorldSkills competition late last year, his young charge was hesitant.
“I didn’t have the belief in my skillset, but Joe convinced me to give it a go,” recalled Harry Foulds. “If nothing else, I thought it would look good on my CV that I had taken part in the competition.”
What began as a leap of faith turned into a career-defining moment.
A gold medal win against his Perthbased peers in the Heavy Vehicle Mechanics division of WorldSkills was both a major surprise and a massive confidence boost for the 23-year-old fourth year apprentice.
“I really enjoyed the experience, but the real bonus was the validation that I’m doing well in my job,” Harry said. “I’ve carried that confidence with me ever since.”
It is a sentiment echoed by Westrans’ General Manager Daniel Nankivell.
“Harry has always been keen to get involved in all the different aspects of the job, but in the past year he has really begun to excel and this new level of confidence means he is now one the leaders and very willing to mentor the younger apprentices,” Daniel said.
Harry’s win at the Perth regional event, held in front of a live audience during the Careers Expo at the Perth Convention Centre in July, earned him a place on the Western Australian team for the national WorldSkills Australia competition in Queensland.
Held at the Brisbane Convention Centre in mid-June, the national event brought together the top nine heavy vehicle apprentices from across the country and after three days of rigorous assessments, Harry was awarded the bronze medal – further recognition of his growing talent.
For more than 40 years, WorldSkills Australia has given young apprentices from over 60 trades the chance to test their skills in a competitive, real-world setting with the ultimate aim of representing Australia on the international stage.
The international competition is held every two years with Australia’s gold medal recipients competing against 86 other nations for the title of the world’s most skilled country. The next WorldSkills will be held in Shanghai, China in September this year.
Describing both events as a very rewarding and enjoyable experience, Harry said it was a total surprise to have won the gold medal in Perth.
“I actually thought I hadn’t done very well,” he said, explaining that the little bit of self doubt he had about his abilities has definitely lessened since the competition.
“It was a fantastic surprise to receive the letter in the post several weeks later informing me I had won and would be part of the WA team flying across to Brisbane.”
After being honoured at a gala medal presentation breakfast at Crown Towers in November, Harry began preparing for the more demanding challenges ahead.
Unlike the regional competition, which comprised five one-hour assessments in a single day, the national event spanned three days with apprentices having to complete considerably more complex tasks with much longer time frames
Tasks were assessed across specific areas including hydraulics and electrical fault finding through to engine management systems and predelivery inspections.
“For some of the assessments, we had to find and diagnose in-built faults but of course you have no idea what they are so it’s a matter of analysing schematic diagrams and problem solving,” Harry explained.
He also had to adapt quickly to working on unfamiliar, state-of-theart brand new Volvo and Mack trucks –quite different from the older models he usually services at Westrans.
“We also had to pull apart, inspect and measure a hydraulics valve block from an excavator and that was particularly challenging for me as we never work
on plant equipment, just the trucks,” Harry said.
However, following three days of intense competition he was thrilled to be called to the stage as one of the top three heavy mechanical apprentices and then announced as Australia’s bronze medal recipient.
“Without doubt this has been a major confidence boost while at the same time reinforcing that I have truly found my passion,” Harry said. Harry’s journey into the trade wasn’t always so certain. After a year in concrete repair left him unfulfilled, a pre-apprenticeship placement at Westrans led to a full apprenticeship offer. With strong mentorship from both his employer and the Motor Trade Association
of WA Apprentice Employment Service, he hasn’t looked back.
Now a fully qualified heavy vehicle mechanic, Harry is considering a dual trade qualification in plant equipment mechanics and is excited to see where his career path will take him.
“This doesn’t feel like work to me,” he said. “It’s challenging, but ultimately incredibly rewarding working on a big truck and then seeing it drive out knowing that I have been responsible for getting it back on the road.”
Congratulations also to Jacob Whiteside who represented Western Australia in the automotive mechanics division. Jacob was awarded a Medallion for Excellence.
(From left to right) Harry Foulds and gold and silver winners Michael Twitchett (NSW), Lachlan Wright (Qld).
WORDS: PAUL ROBERTS
The (superfast) art of tuning rotaries
Micheal Buckley clearly remembers his first introduction to the world of Mazda rotary engines when, as a 16 year old school boy just over 30 years ago, he began two weeks of work experience with Perth tuning experts Rotomotion.
“I was dumbfounded — I had never seen or heard anything like it. The rotary engine made absolutely no sense to me at the time,” he recalls with a laugh.
However, the now co-owner of Rotomotion has more than just understood the rotary concept – he has mastered it and some of the fastest Mazdas in the country are built in the
Maddington workshop.
A passionate drag racing enthusiast, Michael has spent years developing his own Mazda RX-7 into a blisteringly quick, sub-seven-second, 200mph quarter-mile weapon.
Indeed, several of the Mazda rotarypowered cars that race down the drag strip at Perth Motorplex owe their performance to the combined expertise of Michael and fellow enthusiast – and business partner –Todd Stacy.
“Todd and I work really well together and share a serious passion for drag racing,” says Michael. “It’s what we love most.”
Todd’s involvement in Rotomotion has
deep family roots. Michael actually completed his apprenticeship under the guidance of Todd’s father Terry, who was the workshop machinist at the time, and Todd’s uncle, Brad, who looked after welding and fabrication.
“Back when Ravenswood still hosted the drags, Terry was racing the same car that Todd runs today and I was keen to get involved so offered to pit crew,” Michael said. “That’s where my love for the sport really began.”
Ironically,Todd – a machinist by trade – joined the Rotomotion team 12 years ago as a master fabricator and is now a part owner following the retirement of Michael’s previous business partner, John Clements, in December last year.
Michael Buckley’s sub seven second RX-7 drag car.
Todd Stacy’s RX-7 at Perth Motorplex
The two men bring distinct yet complementary skills to their customers. Michael specialises in engine building, wiring and the engine management tuning, while Todd’s exceptional fabrication and design expertise means that nearly any component required can be custom-built in-house.
Their combined craftsmanship is best reflected in the jaw-dropping performance figures they consistently extract from the rotary powered cars they build.
“Over the years we’ve just been chipping away at making my RX-7 drag car faster,” Michael said
The car, which originally ran mid-nine second times when he purchased it from a customer, has undergone major development upgrades. As its speed increased, so did the need for stronger re-engineering and nearly every aspect of the RX-7 has been reworked by Todd.
Todd Stacy is a master craftsman when it comes to design and custom fabrication.
Currently running 60 pounds of boost through a massive Garrett turbocharger and revving to 13,000rpm, getting the car to achieve that level of performance has involved a lot of engine management trial and error.
“Initially at 40 pounds boost it was fine but then you’d take it to 45 pounds and a failure would reveal itself and have to be diagnosed,” Michael said, explaining that every five pound increase brought with it a new problem to be solved.
“You’ve just got to assess the data, try and understand why something might be failing and find the solution to stop it from happening again.”
Both Michael and Todd are keen to keep pushing the boundaries when it comes to boost pressure with the expectation that 80 psi is achievable.
To reliably handle such extreme loads, race-spec motors are built using stronger cast alloy billet housings –not cheap at approximately $50,000 per billet.
Mazda hasn’t produced a rotary-powered car since the RX-8 ended production in 2012. While there have been concept cars hinting at a revival, and Mazda have established a Rotary Engine Development Group, there has been no confirmation
of a new car. Still, enthusiasm for Mazda’s high-revving heritage remains as strong as ever.
Early rotary-powered models from the 1970s like the R100, RX-2, and RX-3 have become highly collectible with good examples now fetching over $100,000.
“They are out there, but there’s not many left now and it’s hard to find an owner willing to sell,” Michael said while inspecting a heavily modified triple rotor RX3 recently acquired by its new owner from NSW for $250,000.
“I remember seeing genuine RX-3 Coupés for sale in the Sunday paper 20 years ago running a 13B engine, a down draught Weber and a five speed gearbox – yours for $6,000,” he said.
“I wish I bought a shed load, but it’s one of those things – if there was still a heap of them around, they’d probably be worth nothing.”
Michael Buckley with one of the $50,000 billet housings used to build race-spec engines.
IF I COULD OWN ANY CAR...
‘‘Great power, an awesome sound, handling prowess, great brakes – it’s a recipe that Holden got oh so right towards the end of their manufacturing days. When the axe finally fell on Holden’s neck and the last Australian-built Commodore rolled off the production line at the Elizabeth plant in Adelaide at the end of 2017, I will admit to feeling a great deal of sadness. It felt like part of my identity was taken away.
You see, I’ve always been a ‘Holden man’. The majority of cars I’ve owned have been Holdens, and my very first experience of driving was in … yes a Holden – albeit something a little less powerful (and desirable) than my dream car.
I have fond memories of driving around the tracks surrounding my father’s market garden in Wanneroo from about the age of 12 in a Holden (Vauxhall) Viva. I ran that car into ground doing laps and much of my spare time was spent fixing it – when I wasn’t picking cabbages that is!
Ben Berlingeri
Director, Autospark Malaga
2017 HSV GTSR W1 in Spitfire Green
and a business owner for the last 15 years.
And throughout much of this time several Holden Commodores have graced my driveway, including a VL, a V8 VP, an HSV VP Senator and a HSV VP GTS.
My current ‘baby’ is a 2017 HSV GTSR in Spitfire Green. It says something about my passion for the GTSR that only recently have my family members been allowed to even sit in car!!
At a time when Holden’s departure from the Australian domestic car market was very close, it absolutely defied logic that HSV would develop this country’s most expensive, fastest and most powerful car ever.
For it wasn’t just a rebadge of an existing Commodore, but a total re-engineering project.
‘standard’ GTS – this is a true driver’s car.
And then there’s the noise. When the bi-modal exhaust opens and the note then teams with the supercharger whine – well there are no words. It is simply epic!
That little Viva fuelled my passion for all things automotive and was indirectly responsible for my future career path. I’ve been in the industry now for over 22 years
Would I sell it? Only in the unlikely event that its epic cousin were the car to replace it.
I’m talking about the GTSR W1 – a car that truly defined the acronym HSV as it is a very special Holden vehicle indeed.
The GTSR W1 featured a dry sump supercharged LS9 engine that had never previously been used in a Commodore, a stronger Tremec close ratio six speed gearbox and custom-tuned suspension developed by V8 Supercars supplier SupaShock.
Endless amounts of torque propelling the car forward at spaceship-like pace,
Only 300 of these very special and unique Commodores were built – 275 for Australian customers with 25 delivered to New Zealand. With a list price of over $170,000 when new (although owners reportedly paid much more to secure one), it was an expensive Commodore. Values have soured since 2017.
I just want one!!
‘‘
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake
Repairable write-off disclosure reminder to dealers
It has been 12 months since the changes to the Motor Vehicle Dealers (Sales) Regulations 1974 (the Regulations) came into effect, requiring dealers to disclose whether a vehicle they sell has been listed as a repairable write-off on the written-off vehicle register.
Consumer Protection believes this has been plenty of time for dealerships to adjust to using the revised prescribed forms (4, 5A and 6) and vehicle sale contract with current prescribed terms and conditions. Consumer Protection Inspectors have noted a wide and varied level of compliance since the new forms came into effect and have now begun to increase and strengthen compliance action.
This includes issuing infringement notices to dealers who use the incorrect forms, use forms that do not have the prescribed particulars completed or instances where the information completed on the forms is incorrect.
A penalty of up to $2,000 can apply for failure to make the disclosure, and any false or misleading statement or
representation on the Form 4 displayed on the car can attract a fine of up to $5,000.
Dealers must ensure the two new check boxes on the forms are completed and accurate as of the time the vehicle is being offered for sale. This includes completion of the “Yes/No” boxes indicating whether the vehicle has been recorded as a repairable write-off on any written-off vehicle register and whether the statutory warranty under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act applies to the vehicle.
In relation to repairable write-off disclosures, Inspectors are conducting spot checks to confirm the declaration on the forms regarding the written-off vehicle register status is accurate. Enforcement action may be considered in instances where this information is found to be incorrect or misleading.
Consumer Protection is aware many dealers are now using electronic dealer software programs to generate sales documentation, including the prescribed forms. Dealers are reminded it is their obligation and responsibility to ensure the software program they are using contains the most up-to-date version of the prescribed forms and the information is being populated correctly.
It’s strongly recommended dealers engage their software provider to update programs with the correct forms.
There is also some flexibility with the requirements for Form 4. While the updated forms have been made available to download from Consumer Protection’s website, there is no requirement to use the exact form as it appears on the website.
The Regulations no longer specify any minimum dimensions for Form 4 and the Consumer Protection logo or Government crest are not required.
The requirements are that Form 4 must be printed, typed, or written in a clear and legible manner and dealers must use the content from the prescribed forms that are set out in the Regulations.
The old pink and blue forms, commonly known in the industry as the pinkie or bluey, cannot be used by dealers under any circumstances. Dealers must provide consumers purchasing a used vehicle with a copy of the completed and signed sales contract, completed and signed Form 4 and relevant supplementary statement Form 5A or 6.
Remember, the changes to the Regulations on repairable write-offs and the statutory warranty status help build trust between consumers and dealers through added transparency.
If you have any questions or would like more information about these changes, please contact Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54 or consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au
