Evolve #8

PUSHING THE LIMITS Using tech to rewrite the record books

PLUS

WORKSHOP SPOTLIGHT ON KILLARA GARAGE

A NEW VIEW ON THE AUTO REPAIR AND SERVICE INDUSTRY FROM HSY | #08 ISSUE 2018

IMPROVEMENT Striving to improve ourselves, the business and as a result improving outcomes for workshops and technicians across the country is a never-ending quest - and one we deeply enjoy.

When we speak about improvement, an event we look forward to is Automechanika Frankfurt. This huge automotive trade fair is a place for us to observe and understand industry trends, scope new products and technology and to build and foster partnerships and opportunities.

From a company perspective, hsy senior management attend the event for a variety of reasons. My fellow Director Mark and I focus on maintaining existing partners and forming new relationships. Barb works on the purchasing and logistics matters, Nick is on site from a marketing and sales perspective and Fred the product management aspect - examining quality, range and packaging options. The hsy Steering Committee also joins us and we value their perspective and input throughout the fair.

The hsy Steering Committee is an integral part of improving how we operate and how we can better serve you, our customers. The committee is a group of respected workshop owners who form an industry voice that helps hsy better understand what is happening at the coal face of workshops around the country. They offer invaluable feedback to hsy management on how our business can better serve them and the industry, the types of products/technology they are looking for, feedback on product quality and much, much more.

We are very excited by the EuroMechanica Roadshow, which has recently toured Australia. It is a joint venture between hsy and EuroMechanica and is uniquely designed for workshops to improve their online exposure - and importantly, providing a simple digital booking system all in an extremely cost-effective way. This is a terrific initiative for our industry and has received great feedback from customers.

Our move into Capricorn was another way we have improved our offering and six months into the relationship, the transition has been exceptionally smooth. We continue to receive positive feedback on the benefits of this partnership from our customers.

At hsy, we don’t offer training to customers for the purposes of a promotional opportunity, we genuinely believe that product and technology training, together with our suppliers, is an integral part of giving workshops and technicians the knowledge to stay up to date and maximize their performance in what is an ever increasingly technologically complex industry. The training feedback is extremely positive and we are proud of this support we provide.

At hsy we remain resolute for our customers, day by day, improving our service to you and improving our systems, such as myhsy - because ultimately the best recommendation we can receive is from one workshop to another of hsy’s value, which we will continue to improve.

Sidney Tworowsky — hsy Autoparts Director

CONTENTS 4

HSY FRANKFURT BOUND FOR AUTOMECHANIKA

22

EUROMECHANICA ROADSHOW

7

AUSSIE CAR PARC SNAPSHOT

24

NEXT GEN LIGHTING

9

UPDATING THE AUTOMOTIVE FUTURE

27

IN THE FAST LANE WITH HSY RACING

10

SPOTLIGHT ON KILLARA GARAGE

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METAMORPHOSIS ON THE RACE TRACK

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RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN

20

MOTORSERVICE LAUNCHES SENSOR RANGE

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HSY FRANKFURT BOUND FOR AUTOMECHANIKA Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Automechanika Frankfurt is the world’s largest and leading trade fair for the automotive service industry and for hsy, an integral industry event. Hsy representatives will travel to Germany as part of their ongoing commitment to work with the best brands and products to supply Australian workshops.

“Considering we nearly exclusively deal with European suppliers and the fact Australia is a long way away despite advances in communication technology, personal contact is still critical,” said Nick Redmond, National Sales and Marketing Manager.

Hsy’s Steering Committee, a group

seen changes that have directly made a difference to hsy and our customers,” said Tworowsky.

“A simple example that comes to mind is having the manufacturer include a new and/or improved specific seal/gasket with a transmission filter package, so the customer does not have to order a separate part.” They are just small things but many small improvements can make some jobs a lot smoother.

“THE DECISION MAKERS ARE ALL IN THE SAME ARENA, SO IT IS AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TOOL. THERE IS EVEN THE CHANCE TO ENGAGE SOCIALLY, TO BETTER BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE EVENT.”

A biennial trade fair, Automechanika Frankfurt will take place September 11th – 15th and host over 130,000 trade visitors from more than 170 countries. An incredible 4,800 exhibitors will showcase their newest products, emerging technologies and industry trends. Technical lectures, training sessions, presentations and networking events build further value into this essential exhibition.

“We view Automechanika as the number one trade fair for hsy to attend. The existing partnerships we nurture, new partnerships we form and lessons we learn continues to build hsy’s foundations so we can offer the best brands, best after sales service and support to our customers,” said hsy Director Sidney Tworowsky.

of local independent workshop owners, will also travel to Automechanika. For OEM’s, being able to receive direct feedback from independent workshop owners on their views about servicing, products and the challenges they face has been a unique and appreciated aspect of hsy’s Steering Committee attendance at Automechanika.

“Although there is a general understanding that large companies are slow to change based on information they are hearing and improvements that are requested, they are listening, and we have

For the Steering Committee, Automechanika also opens their perspective to the challenges that OEM’s have in relation to timelines to change when problems arise, inventory management, packaging and many other issues that crop up in manufacturing and distribution.

“Automechanika Frankfurt is truly the next level in size and scope and it surprises me every time I attend.

The problems and challenges are the same around the world and as an industry we continue to work together to make things better for everyone. Our team look forward to achieving many positive outcomes over the week of our attendance.” said Tworowsky.

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Clear visibility for your safety

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AUSSIE CAR PARC SNAPSHOT

We take a look at some key statistics that offer a snapshot of the Australian car parc with a focus on European brands, during 2017 and into 2018.

58,004

NO 1 EUROPEAN BRAND BY SALES

Despite running out of Tiguan and Amarok V6 stocks, Volkswagen overtook Nissan to claim 7th position overall in sales by brand during 2017, representing a 2.5% increase.

6.3%

Average age of all vehicles registered in Australia (unchanged from 2015).

18.8m 75%

Registered motor vehicles in Australia.*

DIESEL POWERED VEHICLES Diesel vehicles in national fleet in 2017 was 22.2%, up from 15.9% in 2012.

1.1%

10.1 YEARS

Passenger vehicles.

PETROL POWERED VEHICLES Petrol vehicles represent 75.7% of the national fleet.

MERCEDES-BENZ CARS – 3.1% MERCEDES-BENZ VANS – 14.4%

EUROPEAN BRANDS UP

VOLKSWAGEN – 2.5% SKODA – 12.4% BMW – 15.7%

EUROPEAN BRANDS DOWN

AUDI – 9.3% VOLVO – 20.4%

*As at 31st January 2017

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Replacement Parts in Original Equipment Quality LEMFÖRDER sets standards in safety and quality. The automotive industry has confidence in this and shows its appreciation to the brand by way of a partnership in original equipment which has already lasted for decades.

You too can put trust in LEMFÖRDER.

LEMFÖRDER – Safety in Steering and Suspension

www.zf.com/lemfoerder

UPDATING THE AUTOMOTIVE FUTURE ZF JOINS ESYNC ALLIANCE

As vehicles are prepared for the digitalised future, outfitted with sophisticated, automated features, and with further autonomous functions looming on the horizon, up-to-date software is crucial in ensuring road safety, cybersecurity and efficiency.

However, returning your car to a dealership or independent workshop to install the newest software is cumbersome and costly, especially for fleet operators.

In an effort to simplify and streamline this issue, ZF has joined the eSync Alliance, a multivendor initiative for Over-the-Air (OTA) update and diagnostic data solutions that could potentially save the automotive industry billions of dollars each year.

Over-the-Air (OTA) updates help to minimise this expense by transmitting newer software versions directly from the cloud into the vehicle via a data connection, and with no waiting time.

The eSync Alliance, which ZF has now joined, is based around the eSync system, a platform combining both cloud and in-car components.

The platform was originally developed by Excelfore to provide secure transactions with electronic end devices installed in vehicles.

In addition, the system works as a shield against threats from outside the vehicle.

aims to establish a unified standard.

By taking part in the Alliance, companies benefit from a simplified development environment enabled by a customisable, scalable open platform with standardised features and API’s (Application Programming Interface).

ANALYSTS ESTIMATE THE EXPENDITURE FOR SOFTWARE RECALLS WAS $3 BILLION IN 2016, IN THE US ALONE.

“The eSync Alliance is leading the way in OTA technology and advanced diagnostics, providing a framework for its member companies to benefit from standardised and interoperable OTA components,” said Franck Lesbroussart, Head of Advanced Digital Software Development at ZF. “ZF will take an active part in the Alliance, and by working together with our new partners, we can advance the industry as a whole.”

For ZF, the open and secure eSync platform also provides opportunities for their extensive portfolio of non-automotive products, such as rail, marine and other industrial transmissions.

It also provides two-way communication enabling software and firmware updates over-theair, and collection of real-time diagnostics and telematics data from end devices in the vehicle.

There are currently many OTA systems competing in the market, each with specific update mechanisms. The eSync system

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SPOTLIGHT ON KILLARA GARAGE Killara Garage has been a successful independent European service specialist and dealer alternative since 2004 and for owner Rafael Jelich, it all began servicing Volvo’s as a 16 year old.

Raf began his apprenticeship with Concourse Volvo, a dealership in Haberfeld Sydney in 1986 where he learnt, nearly exclusively, the ins and outs of servicing and repairing Volvo’s.

These first years gave Raf a great base but wanting to gain experience in other makes, in 1991 he found a position at Pacific Motors, a general service specialist that leaned toward European vehicles.

had effectively been running a workshop, taking the responsibility for its success and putting in the long hours. I felt my experience and hard work could be channeled better as an owner, motivating me further and providing opportunity to see the reward for those efforts.

Raf partnered with two previous bosses to start Killara Garage.

Building the new business from scratch, the biggest question was how to attract new customers.

The owners must have been impressed with Raf’s work ethic and business nouse, and by 1999 he took over as the Workshop Manager, a position he held until 2004 when Pacific Motors decided to relocate. At that time, Raf took stock of where he was at from a career perspective and where he wanted to be.

Unlike most states, NSW has compulsory yearly safety inspections of all vehicles older than 5 years old, before you can renew your registration. Killara Garage capitalised on this with a very simple catch phrase placed on a sandwich board out the front that said ‘Rego’s while you wait”.

“Pacific Motors relocating gave me the catalyst to take the leap into business ownership. I

This quick turnaround offer proved to be a golden ticket for attracting new customers, as did opening on

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Saturday morning. Retaining those customers came from quality work, fair prices and great communication.

Word of mouth soon became a fantastic business multiplier.

The other major challenge in the first years was making the partnership work.

“We all had different personalities and to a certain extent different ideas about how to best run the business, so this took some communication on all sides to move forward,” said Raf. Form that first year with a team of four, year by year the business continued to grow and today the team is eight strong, consisting of a service manager, book keeper, three qualified technicians and three apprentices. Raf is also now the sole owner of the business, the other two partners having moved on.

“A CAR IS USUALLY THE MOST COMPLEX PIECE OF MACHINERY PEOPLE OWN.” “We are seeing an average of about 12 cars a day in and out from a servicing/repair perspective, plus 5 more coming in for the rego while you wait option. We are a one stop mechanical shop, and do virtually everything in house from engine rebuilds, to gearboxes and transmission work and electrics through to new tyres and wheel alignments.”

Having half of his workshop staff as apprentices may raise eyebrows of other business owners, but the apprentice issue is one that Raf has given a lot of thought to.

“One of the biggest issues across the industry is the difficulty in finding good qualified technicians. Well trained technicians are assets to a business and don’t often move on.”

“The first thing I say to industry colleagues, is ‘put apprentices on’.

They respond that they don’t have the time, it costs the business money or there will be some disaster, etc.”

“Ultimately though, if you don’t put effort into training people, you won’t get the quality mechanics that are in

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need now and in the future. There is challenges choosing the apprentice course, but persevering pays off as a business, and as an industry.”

“I lost two technicians a couple of years ago and there is no doubt it’s disappointing when you have put in so much training and fostered an apprentice only to have them leave, but the alternative is you may not have anyone to fill roles in your business for the future.”

“I’d love to see changes in the apprenticeship side of the industry that not only encourages the next generation to take up trades, but also mechanisms that better protect the investment trade business owners of all types are making with their apprentices.”

Independent workshops continue to face other challenges.

“With manufacturers offering longer new car warranties, in some cases out to 7 years, it makes the life of independent workshops harder to lure these owners away from dealerships, so we have to push the benefits of why we are great dealership alternatives.”

“From price to convenience, the diversity of the offer (such as tyres and wheel alignments), lower service lead times, accountability, the fact you are a small family owned business and the personal attention are all great facets to spruik.”

“Stand by everything you do.

Communicating on the customer’s level is particularly important to build rapport and trust.

As is the case in many industries, it is those who can adapt and embrace the changes in the automotive industry that will thrive.

In a twist on the usual forward thinking requirement, Raf finds it interesting to consider that there is going to be a call for ‘old school’ mechanics, skilled in the art of carburetors and older vehicles as these mechanics retire, with many of these skills starting to be lost.

One thing is for certain, Raf and Killara Garage will continue to proudly represent the industry they love and they look forward to the future.

MECHANIC SPOTLIGHT – KILLARA GARAGE

RICHARD MINACA

As the old saying goes, you are only as strong as your team, and technician Richard Minaca is undoubtedly an important component of the success of Killara Garage, through his experience, skill and dedication to quality work.

Nickname - ‘Carlos’ Why did you decide to become an automotive technician?

I had a passion for cars from an early age. My father and brother always tinkered with cars and I did the same.

How long have you been an automotive technician?

I started my apprenticeship with Killara Garage 14 years ago and here I am still going strong!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I like the challenges of working on newer generation cars. The technology keeps evolving, so we have to keep evolving our knowledge at the same time.

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Do you have an area of special expertise within your job?

I generally tackle the larger jobs, such as engine rebuilds but I am experienced in all areas of service and repair.

What car you own?

I don’t actually own a car at the moment!

Dream car?

When I was younger I used to enjoy and own an S13 Nissan Silvia, but my dream car would be a R34 Nissan Skyline GTR. What you do in your spare time for fun?

I enjoy travelling both interstate and overseas.

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RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN From above the clouds on Pikes Peak to the forest lined Nürburgring in Germany, electricity and technology proved to be the record breaking combinations for Volkswagen and Porsche, with both manufacturers recently re-writing the record books at these iconic motorsport locations.

While technology marches on relentlessly, in the domain of motorsport it has often been technical regulations that have stepped in to slow or contain this development. This is not because motorsport regulators are the fun police, rather that free reign on development increases costs exponentially, reduces competitiveness across category fields due to the varied financial positions of teams, and creates safety implications when cars become ‘too’ fast for the circuits they compete on. The safety factor will remind many of the infamous ‘Group B’ rally cars, which were eventually outlawed due to their speeds.

Outside the confines of race series requirements or as part of one off events like Pikes Peak, there is opportunities for manufacturers to unleash their considerable resources, marketing budgets and talented employees to create all new advanced projects or improve on existing technologies to create

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vehicles with a new level of performance potential.

These endeavors don’t come along often but if you are even remotely interested in motorsport or motoring technology in general for that matter, it is a special treat, with results that enable us to sit in awe, dream and for a moment be reminded of that pioneering spirit when teams come together in the pursuit of achieving new levels of speed.

ABOVE THE CLOUDS The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is a unique spectacle, with real danger lurking at every turn. From the trees

PIKES PEAK HILL CLIMB Turns: 156 Distance: 19.99km Average Climb Grade 7.2% Total Climb: 1,440m Finish Line Height: 4,300m

lining the road at the lower levels, to the photogenic yet incredibly dangerous sheer drops without guard rails, the famous hill climb is a test of man and machine.

For air and fuel burning combustion engine vehicles competing at Pikes Peak, the thin air at altitude creates an engineering challenge, which plays havoc on engines ability to maintain safe operation and maximum operating efficiency. The thin air also creates aerodynamic challenges for every car tackling the mountain.

For Volkswagen and the incredible one off I.D R PIKES PEAK record setting vehicle, the thin air wasn’t a consideration for the all-electric motor, and with experienced racer Romain Dumas behind the wheel, the I.D R PIKES PEAK eerily quietly snaked its way up the 156 turn hill climb at astonishing speed, in the process smashing the previous outright record set by Sébastien Loeb’s one off Peugeot 208 T16 by 16 seconds with a 7m 57.148s.

This record breaking vehicle and record attempt wasn’t years in the making either. The entire project, from conception to the record breaking run, was a mere 250 days, pulled off by a dedicated team at Volkswagen. Mechanics, engineers and employees all came together with a clear focus and goal to build this special vehicle.

The I.D R PIKES PEAK was designed specifically to tackle the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, with a design brief to have the minimum weight, as much downforce as possible, and maximum power. The I.D. R Pikes Peak’s E-engines, together generate 500 kW (680 PS) and a mountain load (pardon the pun) of torque.

Including its battery cells, the I.D. R Pikes Peak weighs less than 1,100 kilograms. The acceleration results are staggering.

THE I.D. R PIKES PEAK IS CAPABLE OF 0 TO 100KM/H IN 2.25 SECONDS— FASTER THAN A FORMULA 1 CAR. Volkswagen employed simulation software to calculate how to achieve the optimum in energy demand and performance for the record attempt on Pikes Peak. The flat, streamlined chassis and huge rear wing were designed to compensate for the loss of downforce caused by the thin air high on the mountain.

Charging technology was another area that required new thinking, with event regulations stipulating that if the race had to be suspended, it must be possible to completely charge the car in under 20 minutes.

At the same time, Volkswagen wanted to accomplish this with the minimum environmental impact.

With a high tech charging system designed, the electricity required was provided by generators at the foot of Pikes Peak. Glycerol, which in chemical terms is a sugar

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TOP SPEED AT THE NÜRBURGRING WAS 369.4 KM/H.

alcohol, was selected as the fuel.

A by-product of the manufacture of biodiesel, for example, Glycerol combusts with virtually no harmful exhaust fumes or residues. Glycerol itself is non-toxic and is even permitted as an additive in the food and cosmetics industries.

With seemingly every box ticked by the Volkswagen team, it was only the record itself that needed to be beaten. For the I.D R PIKES PEAK to then beat the previous outright record set only a couple of years earlier by manufacturer Peugeot with 7 times World Rally Champion Sebastian Loeb behind the wheel of a one off 208 T16 was simply an incredible accomplishment.

“It was a fantastic day for Volkswagen and one, of which we are very proud. The I.D. R Pikes Peak is the most innovative and complex car ever developed by Volkswagen Motorsport. Every employee involved in the Pikes Peak project has constantly had to push their boundaries and show extreme commitment and dedication.

Without this, it would not have been possible to repeatedly overcome new challenges and come up with new solutions.” Sven Smeets, Volkswagen Motorsport Director.

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SMASHING THE GREEN HELL On May 28th, 1983, Stefan Bellof started a flying lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a Rothmans Porsche 956 C during qualifying for the 1000km WEC sports car race. As he crossed the line in a then record time of 6m 11.13s, Stefan couldn’t have imagined that time would remain uncontested for over 35 years.

On the morning of 29th June, 2018, that record would be finally beaten, in fact smashed by over 51 seconds, with Timo Bernhard driving the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo around the 20.832km race circuit in 5m 19.55s. This results in an average speed of 233.8 km/h (145.3 mph) on what is revered by race drivers, engineers and enthusiasts alike.

The incredible record comes only two months after driver Neel Jani gave the modified Porsche 919 Evo a shakedown at Spa in Belgium, resulting in a new track record, lapping faster than the existing Formula 1 record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2017.

The Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo may look familiar, as it is based on the car that took outright victory at the

Le Mans 24-Hours and won the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2015, 2016 and 2017, but it has now been unleashed from the WEC regulations, allowing Porsche to tweak the power train and aerodynamics.

The 919 hybrid power train, is in of itself a feat of engineering.

The base power is derived from a two-litre turbo charged V4cylinder engine, plus two energy recovery systems – brake energy from the front axle combined with exhaust energy. The combustion engine drives the rear axle while the electro motor boosts the front axle to accelerate the car with four-wheel drive. At the same time it recuperates energy from the exhaust system that otherwise would pass unused in to the atmosphere. The electrical energy that comes from the front brakes and the exhaust system is temporarily stored in a liquid-cooled lithium ion battery.

Removing the FIA imposed fuel flow restrictions from the V4, and equipped with updated software and regular race fuel (E20, containing 20 per cent bio ethanol), the Evo version increased engine power significantly from 500hp to 720 hp.

Because the amount of energy from the two recovery systems that could be used was limited in the WEC championship in terms of electric megajoule per lap, the systems stayed far below their potential. With full boost now being available, the e-motor output increased by ten per cent from 400 to 440 hp.

racetrack, with a with a resume that includes five overall wins at the Nürburgring 24-hours, outright winner of the Le Mans 24-hours twice and is reigning World Endurance Champion with the Porsche 919 Hybrid.

Despite knowing the track like the back of his hand, Bernhard would have had to recalibrate his brain to

THESE MODIFICATIONS RESULT IN A COMBINED SYSTEM OUTPUT OF 1160 HP. IN A CAR THAT NOW WEIGHS ONLY 849 KILOGRAMS THANKS TO A 39KG DIET, THE POWER-WEIGHT RATIO FAR EXCEEDS 1:1.

To ensure the car stayed glued to the road at such extreme speeds, the engineers also updated the aerodynamics of the 919 Evo. The new, larger front diffuser balances the new and very large rear wing, both of which have actively controlled drag reduction systems (DRS). The hydraulically operated systems trim the trailing edge of the front diffuser and opens up the slot between the rear wing main plane and the flap respectively in order to reduce drag. Combined with other aero tricks, the modifications resulted in 53 per cent higher downforce and an increase in efficiency by 66 per cent compared to the 2017 WEC spec vehicle.

Driver Timo Bernhard certainly had the credentials to handle this hyper fast race car at this unforgiving

cope with the speed at which each corner was coming up in front of him.

“Thanks to the aerodynamic downforce, I was flat out at sections I never imagined you can stay on full throttle. I’m pretty familiar with the Nordschleife. But today I got to learn it in a new way”, said the 37-year old German.

NÜRBURGRING NORDSCHLEIFE

Distance: 20.8km Elevation Change: 300m Public Toll Road Cost of a lap 23€ ($36AUD)

The speed and grip of the car during the lap of the Nürburgring has to be seen to be believed and the on board video has gone viral since being published. If you have not had a chance to sit down for those 5m and 19s in front of the computer or TV, do yourself a favour, and try not to giggle.

THE FUTURE Both the Pikes Peak and Nürburgring records were set by manufacturers, and both involved merging power train technologies. While Volkswagen chose an all-electric platform, Porsche pursued its already well developed Hybrid systems in their WEC Championship winning 919’s.

Not only are these incredible record breaking achievements marketing master strokes, importantly they allow manufacturer’s the free reign to test the limits of emerging technologies that push efficiency and environmental friendliness. The learnings then filter through, to the benefit of the consumer vehicle market.

The new records are huge leaps on previous records, but it is only a matter of time before the planets align inside the offices and factories of another major manufacturer, who will have its eyes set on a record of their own. Where, what and who is next? We look forward to the possibilities.

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MOTORSERVICE LAUNCHES EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE SENSOR RANGE MS Motorservice International GmbH has expanded its product range in the sensor field, now offering OE quality aftermarket exhaust gas temperature sensors.

The 30 new sensors cover around 1,400 vehicle types.

The new Motorservice exhaust gas temperature sensors were designed to provide long-term reliable functionality. They feature impressive temperature resistance in the range from - 40° to 1,000°C,

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exceptional accuracy and, thanks to their thin-layer platinum resistors, a short response time.

In addition, the sensors demonstrate excellent product quality with a high-grade stainless steel housing, high long-term stability and outstanding resistance to mechanical, thermal and chemical strains.

These sensors are great all-rounders when it comes to usability, with the 30 variations covering around 1,400 vehicle types for passenger car diesel engines from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Opel/Vauxhall, Saab, Seat, Škoda and Volkswagen.

REPAIRSOLUTIONS 100 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT EXPERTISE FOR A FIRST-CLASS REPAIR RESULT www.ms-motorservice.com

OUR HEART BEATS FOR YOUR ENGINE.

EUROMECHANICA ROADSHOW

Free Online Marketing and Booking System for EuroMechanica Members With an invitation that read, ‘Exclusive free offer valued at $5,000 per annum,’ it’s hardly surprising that the 2018 EuroMechanica National Road Show proved to be a huge success.

In late 2016, Liqui-Moly’s Australian partner, MotorActive, launched EuroMechanica; Australia’s largest network of European Specialist Workshops. Now almost 100 workshops strong and growing, members benefit from being part of a well branded network – while maintaining their independence.

Membership is open to European specialist workshops, who use LiquiMoly and meet a strict quality criteria.

For 2018, EuroMechanica is ramping things up with an offer of free digital assistance for all members. To explain the program offer in person to workshop owners across the country, a national roadshow tour was created, visiting Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

The roadshow was headed by two of the automotive industry’s leading thinkers, Bruce Morrison, Managing Director of MotorActive and driving force behind EuroMechanica, and Dale Brittain, Founder of Australia’s Automotive Marketing Specialists, DBC2.

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Here’s the what, why, where and how of this exciting new platform.

HOW DO CUSTOMERS FIND YOU? Advertising is a potent way to attract new business. For the longest time, this typically took the form of a local newspaper, or Yellow Pages ad. ‘Not happy Jan,’ has taken on a whole new meaning now that Google has totally taken over from these traditional avenues. The problem is, when people start searching and/ or researching, Google deliberately directs them to certain sites – heavily preferencing Google friendly websites.

WHAT IS A GOOGLE FRIENDLY WEBSITE? All websites are far from equal – simply having one is not enough.

Google will push you down the search rankings if your website doesn’t meet key performance benchmarks. The main attributes of a Google-friendly website are;

relevant and regular content, mobile device optimisation, page speed and SSL Certificates (which is all about securing customer data).

Collectively all this comes under the umbrella of Search Engine Optimisation, or SEO. FREE WEBSITE CREATION While some workshops have an existing website, many other workshops do not.

For those with websites, time and costs associated with the maintenance of the website is tough when most workshops are flat out repairing and servicing cars.

And having the expertise to tackle and maximise this ever evolving domain is rare. For valued EuroMechanica members, EuroMechanica is offering to setup your own workshop website – for free! Typically, such a service would cost $5,000 per annum plus a set-up fee.

FREE ONLINE BOOKING FACILITY Even if you’ve created an interactive, Google friendly website that is attracting new customers, you still haven’t completed the deal. You’re relying on the additional step of potential customers picking up the phone to book. Increasingly, huge numbers of searches are conducted ‘out of hours’, so you’re relying on them waiting until the following morning to pick up the phone, which is a barrier.

With EuroMechanica’s free workshop

For more information on this exciting, new offer, or to join the EuroMechanica Network, contact your local hsy or Liqui-Moly representative.

NSW: Damian Sifonios 0427 119 662 and Patrick Elliott 0423 471 501. Victoria: Dirk Van Heer 0447 215 517 and Kristian Palumbo 0413 267 231. Queensland: Debbie Keans 0422 776 287. Western Australia: Michael Baltovich 0410 679 133. South Australia: Matthew Harrison 0419 866 432.

locator and integrated 24 hour online booking system – it’s only one more click for potential customers to seal the deal and make that booking, resulting in a better customer conversion rate.

MAKING YOUR LIFE EASY If you’re thinking an online booking isn’t practical, or you don’t need one here’s some sobering stats;

54%

OF ALL BOOKINGS MADE ARE NOW COMPLETED ONLINE.

40%

OF ALL BOOKINGS HAPPEN ‘OUT OF HOURS’.

66%

OF ALL ONLINE BOOKINGS ARE MADE ON A MOBILE DEVICE.

Air travel, restaurants (e.g dimmi) and medical services are but a few industries now dominated by online bookings. Consumers are demanding online booking – which effectively turns your website into your silent salesperson. Yes, in some circumstances a courtesy call to the customer may be necessary, however, remember that you’re calling a customer that’s already ‘booked in’.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS To take maximum advantage of your new website and further enhance your visibility online, EuroMechanica offer a dedicated, industry-leading Organic SEO Package, along with AdWords as cost effective optional extras – that you can opt in/out of at will. This package will include regular organic content created specifically for your business, plus a tailored AdWords campaign to ensure customers can find you even easier.

Collectively, the major European manufacturers (VW, BMW, Mercedes and Audi) are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars per month in Australia on AdWords. How can you compete against that? Fortunately, with the buying power of EuroMechanica, interested business can purchase a smarter and equally-effective AdWords and/or dedicated SEO campaign at a fraction of the usual cost. These

are built-to-order programs, so talk to EuroMechanica for details and costings.

The EuroMechanica system incorporates other benefits, including; built-in customer retention and marketing programs, professional monthly customer emails (EDM), email databases, customer reviews, SMS alerts and full reporting – all designed to benefit your business and make your life easier.

Nick Redmond, National Sales and Marketing Manager of hsy has been blown away by the response of the initiative that he believes is a game changer for independent workshops across the country that are often struggling to keep up with modern online marketing requirements.

“Given workshops are time poor, the ability to have EuroMechanica offer a free website, complete online booking solution as well as the SEO and Adwords side of the equation all under a uniform umbrella is a fantastic solution and one I know many workshops have been looking for,” said Redmond.

EuroMechanica and hsy look forward to the positive outcomes that are sure to spring from this initiative that saw engaged audiences and a 100% sign up rate.

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NEXT GEN LIGHTING Modern lighting technology continues to evolve and become more complex, with a variety of light styles and options aimed at increasing vision and improving safety for the vehicle driver as well as other road users.

Working together with automotive manufacturer Audi, HELLA has integrated a unique lighting technology control unit solution for the new Audi A7 Sportback. The A7 is available with either LED, Matrix LED or HD Matrix LED with laser high beam lighting options.

The HELLA control unit is an advanced all in one lighting control system, handling the functioning of low and high beams, to wiping direction indicators and animations for welcoming and seeing off the driver.

The HD Matrix LED with laser high beam is the most advanced lighting specification available on the Audi A7 Sportback, with the headlight area consisting of twelve light segments separated by narrow gaps and 32 light emitting diodes in the HD Matrix LED module that can be individually controlled. The end result is some incredible lighting technology.

Communicating with the front camera, sensors and HD Matrix LED with laser high beam headlamps the HELLA control unit creates a picture and the optimum

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way to light the road. The unit takes into account factors such as natural light, roads (straight or windy) as well as vehicles ahead travelling in the same direction plus oncoming vehicles.

The technology all combines to actively adjust light production from the vehicle and dims the

WHAT IS JUST AS AMAZING IS THE FRONT CAMERA AND SENSOR INTEGRATION CAN RECOGNISE ROAD SIGNS AND ALTER THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT TO REDUCE DRIVER GLARE OFF THE SIGNS.

light hitting oncoming traffic, creating an eclipse of sorts that significantly reduces glare for other road users. Headlamp levels are also automatically adjusted based on the vehicles within close proximity to minimize lighting impact.

Safety was the highest priority for HELLA when designing the control unit for the latest generation Audi’s and on top of the features that maximise vehicle occupant vision and safety, plus other road user safety, the system is also equipped with a “fail safe” mode that will still produce enough light to allows the driver to see enough light on the road until repairs can be undertaken.

The HELLA control unit is also future proof, being easily reconfigurable for customised solutions or further technological advances.

With its incredible lighting technology being showcased in the A7, HELLA underlines its vision of actively shaping tomorrow’s mobility.

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IN THE FAST LANE WITH HSY RACING

At the start of 2018, hsy announced a new motorsport campaign known as hsy Racing, marking a new era for Australia’s leading distributor and supplier of new European OEM, OES and quality aftermarket parts to independent workshops. In collaboration with hsy’s valued partner suppliers - Ate, Pierburg, Liqui-Moly, ZF, Vaico, Schaeffler, Bosch and Hella, the 585hp hsy Racing GT3 Audi R8 LMS has been racing hard across the country, proudly showcasing hsy and our partners in an exciting format.

LIQUI-MOLY BATHURST 12 HOUR The hsy Racing Audi R8 LMS debuted at the most demanding and unforgiving circuit in Australia, Mount Panorama, for the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour. Ash Samadi, Dylan O’Keeffe and Daniel Gaunt were given the task of conquering the mountain across the weekend. After a solid start to race day, a brake issue on lap 66 sent the hsy Racing Audi sliding into the barrier at Turn 1, resulted in significant damage to the car and a broken collar bone for driver Ash Samadi.

Thanks to Bathurst 12 Hour proud supporting partner

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ADELAIDE 500 The next hsy Racing appearance came at the Adelaide 500 for the first round of the Australian GT Championship, with Theo and James Kondouris’s Audi R8’s flying the hsy colours on both of their vehicles while the primary hsy Racing car was still out of action. Both Theo and James were able to stand on the podium throughout the weekend resulting in some great exposure for hsy; however that maiden win remained elusive.

Thanks to Adelaide 500 proud supporting partner

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX

With the Formula 1 circus in town, the next stop for hsy Racing was Albert Park. A striking new orange and blue wrap adorned the fully rebuilt R8 LMS GT3. Driver Ash Samadi crossed the line in 13th in Race 1 and improved with a 10th in Race 2.

Unfortunately the car found the wall in treacherous conditions at the Melbourne street circuit in the final race, dampening an otherwise solid weekend.

Thanks to Australian Grand Prix proud supporting partner

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THE BEND MOTORSPORT PARK Hsy Racing travelled to the brand new 7.7km long The Bend Motorsport Park for the first endurance race of the 2018 Australian GT Championship.

Despite a dust storm cancelling racing on Saturday and horrendous conditions on Sunday morning for qualifying that yielded a respectable 14th position, drivers Ash Samadi and Dylan O’Keeffe drove consistently fast and moved forward in the feature race, managing an impressive 9th place finish.

Thanks to The Bend proud supporting partner

SANDOWN With Ash Samadi a late withdrawal due to ongoing complications associated with his accident in the Bathurst 12 Hour in February, Marc Cini got the call up to take the reins of the hsy Racing Audi for round 3 of the Australian GT Championship held at Melbourne’s Sandown Park. It didn’t take long for Marc to find his groove behind the wheel and despite a 14th under tough circumstances on Saturday, Marc was able to continually improve on Sunday, achieving a 12th and 8th for his efforts.

Thanks to Sandown proud supporting partner

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PHILLIP ISLAND 101 Ash Samadi and Dylan O’Keeffe were back in the driver’s seat to represent hsy Racing at the Phillip Island 101 endurance race. Dylan opened eyes in qualifying at the picturesque track, setting the fastest lap of the weekend, beating big names like Steve Richards and Garth Tander.

Race day was interrupted early with Ash making contact with another car resulting in damage that cost the team five laps. A determined refocusing saw both drivers bring the hsy R8 home in 16th by the end of the 101 lap race.

Thanks to Phillip Island proud supporting partner

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hsy is a CAPRICORN preferred supplier.

If you have any further questions please contact hsy on 1300 133 129.

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METAMORPHOSIS ON THE RACE TRACK Formula E Champion Lucas Di Grassi talks about the transformation and future of motorsport.

Race cars have been at the technological forefront of the automotive industry for more than 100 years now. Engineers in motorsport continue to drive developments forward. They design and build the fastest vehicles on wheels that can be moved by human hands. That makes this sport so incredibly fascinating.

As drivers, in every qualifying, in every race, we have to tame an uncontrollable beast again and again while driving at the limit. It makes no difference whether the race car is powered by internal combustion, hybrid or electric technology. You just try to eke out the maximum from all the components, from the tires, from the engine. If you manage to do that, you’ve put a perfect lap on track.

The second aspect of the fascination exuded by a race car is the sporting competition with your fellow race drivers. We all battle for who is best under very

similar prerequisites in an identical environment and on an absolutely high level.

The basis is the same in any racing series: moving the car at the limit in competition. Obviously, though, there are some differences. In Formula 1, the quality of the race car, especially in terms of aerodynamics, plays a major role.

If you’re not sitting in one of the fastest cars you’re not going to be in contention for victories no matter how good a driver you are.

The philosophy in the endurance races in the WEC is a completely different one. Although the cars there have to be fast as well, they have to be equally reliable. A race strategy not only has to have an effect on a few laps but, as in the case of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on a whole day. The drivers may be sitting in the car for three or four solid hours, even at night.

That’s an enormous challenge for the body and for the fitness of

every individual. And, ultimately, for motivation and concentration, too.

Formula E has caused an all-new aspect to emerge in motor racing: How can I manage to be fast while paying attention to the energy consumption of my electric race car in the process? For every racer, driving as efficiently as possible is the name of the game. This is a very complex subject that’s added to the factors which are typical in motorsport. On top of that, Formula E exclusively races on city street circuits. So, there’s practically no room for mistakes. If you make one, you’ll end up in the wall in no time and your race weekend is over.

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Essentially, the idea of motorsport has not changed ever since its beginnings. You get into a car, hit the track and try to be as fast as possible. Today, though, efficiency plays a major role besides speed.

We’re right in the middle of a state of transformation in terms of the energy that powers the cars – from the Internal Combustion (IC) engine to the electric motor. This is a path that must be pursued and will continue to be pursued.

At the moment, the automotive industry is conducting research into another technology that might move into motorsport as well: automated driving. That might change our sport completely. Drivers would no longer need to know how to control their cars or, putting it in even more drastic terms, race drivers would no longer be needed at all. We’d lose any reference to what it means to move a car at the limit because we

wouldn’t understand the limit. That scares me a little.

Motorsport must be sure not to lose its character. I wish for a competition in which the driver plays a greater role again than the technology. MotoGP is a good example. It goes without saying that the motorcycle is important too, but there the rider makes a really big difference. However, automated driving may be a great opportunity as well. Perhaps a way will be found to combine traditional racing and automated driving. In that case, we’d first have to understand how this new technology might actually enhance motorsport. It’s important that the entertainment factor for the fan remains at least equally high.

I could imagine, for example, that automated driving might have a part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The driver, for instance, might operate the vehicle for one half of the race

while the car would drive itself for the other, always taking turns. As a result, only one instead of several drivers would be needed. It’s just an idea, an example of the direction in which motorsport might develop.

I believe that there are still a lot of other paths that we’re not thinking about at all at the moment. I am, however, completely convinced that motorsport as such will continue to exist. For example, today nobody needs a horse anymore to get from A to B, like people perhaps used to a hundred years ago. But equestrian sports still exist, like show jumping or dressage riding. Motorsport in 50 years from now will have to face a similar question: Is it still necessary? Do will still need the drivers?

And the answer will be: Yes, but in modified ways.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Formula E Champion and Schaeffler brand ambassador Lucas di Grassi is one of the co-founders and first ambassadors of the all-electric racing series. The former F1 campaigner enjoys technical gadgets, develops electric bicycles with a startup and is CEO of Roborace – a company dedicated to advancing the development of automated driving with a spectacular uncrewed vehicle.

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