MCNEWS Third Edition
As we move into autumn, we’re excited to bring you all the highlights from what has been an eventful and vibrant summer here at MC. From personal milestones like weddings and the arrival of new babies, to exciting new projects and achievements, there’s plenty to celebrate.
In this issue, we’ll also be sharing important company updates from across our depots and departments to keep everyone informed about new developments and initiatives.
We’re especially excited to introduce a brandnew feature—The Hobby Hub! We know
our team is full of talented individuals, and we want to hear from you and your families about your hobbies or success. Whether it’s painting, hiking, gardening, coaching the local team or anything in between, we’d love for you to share your hobbies and any recent successes or stories or even awards or competitions you or your loved ones have.
So without further ado let’s get stuck into the Q3 review and remember keep your updates coming. If you have anything you’d like to share, be sure to contact: emily.waller@mcgroupltd.co.uk we want to hear from you.
Happy reading!
DEPOT DEVELOPMENTS
MAIDSTONE
Maidstone has enjoyed a well-deserved glow-up this summer with the installation of sleek, new external signage. The modern look perfectly complements the head office, setting the tone for a more contemporary and professional aesthetic—one that aligns with the forwardthinking direction of the business.
In addition to the signage upgrade, Maidstone depot has made some investments in its facilities. The depot has gone from one to two brake testers, enhancing its capacity to meet growing customer demand. Part of this upgrade includes the installation of Generation 6 rollers on the ATF lane, representing the latest in brake testing technology.
The previous rollers have been removed and re-fitted in the workshop, allowing for additional brake testing capacity and ensuring that Maidstone continues its ongoing improvement efforts.
DEPOT DEVELOPMENTS
HYTHE
Hythe Depot Gets a Fresh New Look!
This summer, it was Hythe’s turn to receive the porta cabin treatment, all part of an exciting depot refurbishment of course. The transformation is impressive, reflecting our ongoing commitment to providing top facilities for both our customers and employees.
Gone is the dated, cluttered look of the past. In its place stands a bright, open, and inviting space that aligns with the modern, professional image of MC Truck and Bus. This fresh design creates a welcoming environment that reflects the forward-thinking direction of the company.
In addition to the completed improvements, renovations to employee areas are now underway, ensuring that staff will benefit from upgraded facilities as well. Stay tuned – we’ll bring you all the updates on this progress in the next issue!
As with the other recent refurbishments across our depots, Hythe’s upgrade underscores MC’s reputation as a successful, well-established company with its eyes firmly on the future. These improvements are all part of our broader effort to ensure we continue to deliver the highest standards to everyone who walks through our doors – whether they’re a customer or a team member.
We’re excited about the new look and what it represents: progress, professionalism, and a continued focus on creating the best possible experience for all.
BDM BREAKTHROUGHS
To ensure everyone is up to date, here are some of the latest aftermarket developments happening across MC. From new customers to impressive achievements, it’s been a challenging, yet exciting quarter for the team!
Smart Tacho Law Change Brings New Business to Hythe
A recent law change for smart tachographs has opened up new opportunities for us and has meant Darren Heales secured a major order for Hythe. This includes the conversion of 60 Volvo trucks and 30 DAF vehicles to meet the new regulations, an impressive win!
EWM In at Southampton
EWM Transport has expanded their fleet with the purchase of 12 ex-MC Rental units. These vehicles will be serviced and maintained at our Southampton depot under a convenient PayAs-You-Go (P.A.Y.G) service plan, strengthening our partnership and commitment to customer support.
Adam Joins the TeamSend a Lead, Get a Cake!
We’re excited to welcome Adam to the team! Not only can you find out more about him in this issue but rumour has it if you give him a parts customer lead, he’ll show his appreciation by treating you to a cake. So get those leads coming in, and enjoy a slice of success with Adam!
Successful Quarter for Maintenance Contracts
Q3 has been a strong quarter for maintenance contracts with 76 contracts secured at a total value of £639,870. This includes a record number of 26 new contracts valued at £271,074—our best performance to date in new business on maintenance contracts within a quarter!
Growing Business with Enterprise
Our relationship with Enterprise is going from strength to strength with a total spend of £57,694 of new business for Q3 alone. We’ve got an exciting pipeline of nearly 50 new vehicles destined for Burgess Hill, which will see even more growth in the months ahead.
Nationwide Platforms Joins Southampton
We’ve welcomed Nationwide Platforms as a new customer at our Southampton depot. Their fleet, consisting of 4 vehicles and 4 trailers, is now set up on a Pay-As-You-Go service. We look forward to working with them!
SALES SUCCESS
Q3 has been a positive quarter for orders, with several encouraging developments. We secured 141 Volvos and 10 Isuzus, as well as additional regional fleet deals for 2025 with Day Group and R Swains. Despite challenging market conditions, both activity and quoting have shown positive momentum.
Steve Moon says...
The market remains difficult, particularly with the construction sector still very depressed and overall truck registrations for the UK likely to drop by around 2,000 units. The competitive environment is keeping haulage rates low, making it more of a challenge for us to maintain healthy profitability.
Despite these difficulties, MC has managed to increase our market share year-on-year, in a stagnant market to Q2 which is very encouraging news. Our share is currently sitting at 24%, which is a great step, as we strive to get back to our historical figures in the mid-20% range. Furthermore, Volvo have recognised the overall downturn and revised our targets which now gives us a positive boost to finish the year on target and achieve some bonus.
One highlight of this quarter has been the successful delivery of our first FH Aero models. These trucks, which are proving their statement of being 4% more fuel efficient than standard FH models, have been very well received by our customers. Not only have these orders benefited our customers with improved fuel savings they have helped our Vecto score with Volvo as we are reducing the CO2 impact through the truck specifications.
While the electric vehicles remain a challenge in a cost-sensitive environment, we’re taking proactive steps to stimulate interest. We are launching a new initiative to assist operators with the transition to electric with some shorter term offerings at more competitive rates. If you have any customers with shorter journey times who might benefit from these offerings, please reach out to a member of the sales or rental teams for more information.
We’re also pleased to welcome James Allen, our new Isuzu sales specialist, who will be joining us on 1st November. James comes from a strong background in car sales and will be refocusing on the Isuzu range. Please give him a warm welcome when you see him.
Finally; Truckfest proved another high point of the quarter, with positive feedback from customers that attended. We showcased the full range of Volvo and Isuzu products, with the main focus being on the FH Aeros, which attracted the most interest. This positive feedback and interest from customers secured a couple of new orders, which is a great outcome.
As we head into Q4 our aim is to build on the current market optimism and finish as strong as possible to build a good start for 2025.
Customers who ordered in Q3:
B Haulage
Buildstop
C L Transport
Charles Jay
Colmer Plant
D & B Haulage
Day Group
Derek Linch
Essex Tankers
Europlant
Evoliner
SALES SUCCESS
F M Conway
Fabspeed
Fleetwood Transport
Four Jays
General Express
Hampshire Fire
J R Car Spares
Jamjar
John Bywater
KER Transport
Lanmax
LimeLogistics
Mark One Hire
P J Cole
R Swain
Riverside Building
Rotamead
Shane Huntley
Sharp Skips
Somerford Equipment
Star Leisure
Star Platforms
Stewart Finnie
Streetspace
T A Reader
T G Porter
TLC Southern
Tomato Plant
Triagg Construction Unitruc
W & H Marriage
Waite & Sons
AN EVENTFUL SUMMER
MC Hosts
Successful Ride
and Drive at Brands Hatch
national Volvo Trucks roadshow, and what a fantastic event it was! Held at the iconic Brands Hatch, we welcomed over 70 guests for a day dedicated to showcasing the newest innovations in the Volvo Trucks lineup. The event was a resounding success, with attendees praising both the event itself but more importantly the trucks on display. Guests were particularly impressed by the range of vehicles, which included a mix of diesel and electric models, such as the highly anticipated Aero cab, the Volvo FM low-entry
cab, and the electric FH and FM. Many took advantage of the opportunity to test drive the trucks on a designated road route, getting a true feel for their performance and cutting-edge technology.
In addition to the hands-on experience, we invited along some of the product and service specialists to give further insight and answer customers pressing questions or address concerns. Rachel
Botcher from Volvo Connect, John Comer, Volvo UK’s Product Manager, and Mark Collins, Volvo Electric Trucks sales person, provided valuable insights into the latest advancements in telematics, safety systems, and product developments. Our own MC Rental team was also on hand to offer information about our rental, contract hire, and used trucks services.
Overall, the feedback we received was extremely positive, with many guests showing a keen interest in Volvo’s newest offerings. The combination of expert discussions, test drives, and incredible venue made for a memorable and informative day.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making this event such a great success.
MC Stands Out at Truckfest South East 2024
For the first time in years, MC Truck and Bus proudly exhibited at Truckfest South East— and we certainly made our mark! With the incredible support and generosity of our customers, we set up a stand that was truly unmissable, showcasing some of the best and brightest in trucking.
Truckfest, one of the largest and most popular truck shows in the UK, is all about celebrating the trucking industry. It brings together enthusiasts, operators, and manufacturers to showcase everything from the latest trucks and technologies to vintage vehicles. The event is not only a great opportunity for truck lovers to get up close and personal with their favourite models, but it also serves as a community event filled with live entertainment, competitions, and interactive exhibits.
One of the biggest draws at our stand was our electric demo, which generated a lot of buzz and interest among visitors. Alongside it, we displayed an impressive array of customer trucks in full livery, bringing our pitch to life. We’d like to extend a special thanks to our partners who made this
possible: Shane Huntley, Hallett Silbermann (R Swain), SCS, Britanniacrest, Hobart, Neil Yates, Day Aggregates, Harlex Haulage, Alcaline, and Shaw Haulage. Your contributions helped make our display a true showstopper.
In addition to this lineup, we also featured a dedicated Isuzu area, displaying trucks ranging from 3.5 to 13.5 tonnes with a variety of body types, demonstrating the incredible versatility Isuzu offers across industries.
Held at the South of England Showground in Ardingly from 17th–18th August, Truckfest South East is the place to be for the truck community. Not only did it give us the chance to engage with the local businesses, customers
and prospects, but it also provided the perfect platform to showcase our latest offerings. The event was action-packed, with monster trucks, stunt bikes, and vintage truck parades lighting up the main arena—ensuring there was something for everyone. MC also had our moment in the spotlight, proudly showcasing our phenomenal trucks to the crowd. We got the chance to wave, sound horns, and take part in a Q&A session, offering in-depth details about the vehicles. Back at the stand, we enjoyed connecting with a wide range of people, giving them the chance to explore our trucks up close and personal. A special shout-out to our MC employees who
stopped by to say hello—we hope you had as much fun as we did!
We were thrilled to see many of our customers with their own setups, including Lanmax, Alcaline, Steward Transport, R Swain, TW Plummer, and DazTrans. A special congratulations to those operators who made the finals of the judges’ competition categories— your trucks provided a truly impressive lineup.
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone involved in making this event a success— from prepping vehicles to transporting them and ensuring everything looked show-ready. Your efforts paid off, and it was all worth it!
MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT FEATURE
In the last edition of MC News, we took an in-depth look at our Parts operation. This time, we’re shifting the spotlight to our Maintenance department, giving you a closer look at the work that keeps our fleet and customer vehicles running smoothly. From managing breakdowns to overseeing service schedules, Let’s dive in to learn more about the crucial part the Maintenance team plays in our operations from the manager, Nick Thorne.
The MC Rental maintenance dept holds a multi-faceted role within the rental operation, and is key to both the operational goals internally, and crucially, the customer experience.
We have to operate in many different ways, which demands real flexibility in how we approach the challenges that face us daily.
Trucks will often breakdown at the most inopportune times, and we have to cater for that, and have to have 24/7 availability.
We have a core team in the maintenance department at Larkfield, headed by myself, and ably assisted by Chris Humm, our technical manager.
Jake, Robyn, Kerry, Jade, Elliott, and Hannah, our team of maintenance and authorisation controllers are all well prepared for the reactive nature of the role, and will always tell you there’s never a dull moment, as you never know what the day will bring!
Our team field calls from our customers, ranging from roadside breakdowns, to flat batteries, and everything in between, and will manage the call from first contact right up to completion.
We hand this task over at 5pm to our out of hours provider Dynes Recovery, with the intention that the same service is offered as if the customer is calling during the day, using tranman to log and track the cases seamlessly, regardless of the time of day.
Whilst our priority is to keep the fleet on the road, the other side of the equation lays with managing our costs, particularly in a rising price environment. A section of our team is responsible for fielding all the authorisation requests we receive daily, and analyse these for costings, and viability, taking each circumstance into account individually. Is the vehicle under warranty? Has there been
driver error, do we repair or replace? All these things are considered in conjunction with the suppliers, with the vehicle downtime also adding to the considerations.
With this in mind, we constantly review our supplier base, to ensure that we are receiving the service and purchasing power that we need.
An integral part of the maintenance operation is our returns division, overlooked by Liam Fagg, assisted by Jordan Harris.
Whether we are re renting a vehicle or selling it as part of our pre-owned division, we are responsible for the post-hire inspection and refurbishment, while making the necessary estimates and reports enabling us to fairly charge for damages, and ensure that the next customer is driving a vehicle in its best possible condition.
At any given time, we have in excess of 500 logged jobs, 50 job authorisations an hour, over 100 supplier invoices in query, and fielding 100’s of telephone calls from customers, and suppliers certainly makes for dynamic days and a hectic but exciting environment!
HR BULLETIN
CHANGES TO THE UK IMMIGRATION SYSTEM
The Home Office is replacing physical immigration documents with a digital proof of immigration status called an eVisa. As part of the move to eVisas, anyone who uses a physical immigration document and who does not already have a UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) account will need to take action and create an account at www.gov.uk/evisa.
This includes individuals with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), a Biometric Residence Card (BRC) or legacy paper documents such as a passport containing an ink-stamp or visa vignette sticker.
Individuals who currently prove their immigration status using a biometric residence permit (BRP), or a passport containing an ink-stamp or visa vignette sticker, need to visit www.gov.uk/evisa to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. This move to eVisas does not impact any individuals’ underlying immigration status.
Creating a UKVI account is free and straightforward and an eVisa is a secure and
HEALTH & SAFETY
convenient way to prove immigration rights that cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with. Individuals who do not take action to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa may face unnecessary delays when demonstrating their immigration status. Videos explaining the process are available here on GOV.UK.
Once accessed, eVisas can be used to generate a share code to prove immigration status and associated rights such as the right to work and the right to rent using the view and prove service at www.gov.uk/view-proveimmigration-status.
Further information, support and guidance is available at www.gov.uk/evisa.
A Commitment to Strengthening Local Community Ties JOINS
GILLINGHAM FC BUSINESS CLUB
We are excited to share with you MC Group is now a member of the Gillingham FC Business Club, marking a significant step towards fostering stronger connections within the local community.
By joining the Gillingham FC Business Club, we are aiming to enhance our community involvement and contribute to the vibrant local economy.
“We are thrilled to become a member of the Gillingham FC Business Club,” said Gina Ritrovato, Director of Business Development. “This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting local initiatives and creating opportunities for meaningful engagement with the residents and businesses of Gillingham. Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and we believe this collaboration will allow us to build stronger relationships within the community.”
The Gillingham FC Business Club offers a platform for local businesses to connect, collaborate, and support the club. MC‘s involvement will not only benefit our business operations but also provide numerous opportunities for community outreach.
Mike Sullivan, Commercial Manager/Club Partnerships of Gillingham FC, expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnership:
“We are delighted to welcome MC Group to our Business Club, becoming a new member of the Gills Family and being onboard on our really exciting journey forward this season”.
Hannah has had an interesting career journey at MC so far, having joined us in July 2017 as one of the company’s first female apprentice technicians. She was even featured in Volvo’s marketing campaigns!
From a young age Hannah knew she wanted to be a mechanic—but not just any mechanic. While many want to work on cars, Hannah set her sights on a broader challenge, which led her to pursue a career in commercial vehicles. After attending college and gaining some work experience, she applied for a position at MC Truck & Bus, becoming an apprentice.
Despite the unexpected delays caused by the pandemic, Hannah completed her 5-year apprenticeship and officially qualified as a technician in 2022. Last September, Hannah transitioned into a new role within MC Rental’s Maintenance Department, where she continues to work hard.
“Hannah brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. Her calm and reassuring nature instils confidence in our customers, making her a pleasure to have around,” says Maintenance Manager Nick Thorne. Her technical expertise and ability to adapt quickly make her a crucial asset to the team.
Hannah’s role is very varied. She is involved in several important processes that ensure smooth operations at MC Rental, including:
• Supplier authorisations
• Managing the breakdown process from start to finish
• Handling proformas and resolving invoice queries
In addition to these core responsibilities, Hannah has taken on an array of duties to support her team and provide cover where needed. She thrives on the variety her role offers, saying that “every day is different, and there’s always something new to learn.”
With her combination of technical knowledge and a calm, customer-focused approach, Hannah has become a key part of the Maintenance team. And as a Chelsea supporter—she’s earned her a few extra points with some of the team (Nick)!
Volvo Truck and Bus Apprenticeship Programme
IT ALL BEGINS WITH U
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Wedding Belle’s
Celebrating the Brides of MC
This summer brought an extra touch of joy as two of our team members celebrated their weddings. We have the great honour of congratulating these lovely ladies as they embark on this new and exciting chapter of their lives
Sharon Kingsland Aftermarket Support Manager
Many of us know and admire Sharon, formerly Peck, for her outstanding 40-year career at MC. Sharon has been a constant source of support and knowledge across the business. Now, we’re delighted to announce that she has added a new title to her impressive list –Mrs. Kingsland!
On July 24th, in a picture-perfect ceremony at East Sutton Church, Sharon tied the knot with her husband, Mark. When asked how she’s enjoying married life, Sharon laughed and said, “It feels so strange saying husband, but I love it!”
As we reflect on Sharon’s incredible journey, we’re reminded of her commitment to MC –and we can’t help but mention, after more than four decades of service, she looks as radiant as ever! Sharon, congratulations to you and Mark. We wish you both endless happiness in the years to come.
Lucia Stroud
Service Administrator
Another stunning bride who stole the show this summer was Lucia Stroud. On July 6th, Lucia married her new husband, Ronnie, in a heartfelt celebration at Lordswood Leisure Centre. The day was filled with laughter, love, and joy as they exchanged vows in front of family and friends. Lucia shared that the day “couldn’t have gone more perfect”—and we’re sure she made it look effortless!
After their beautiful day, the newlyweds jetted off to sunny Portugal for their honeymoon. We have no doubt that they enjoyed every moment of their well-deserved getaway!
Congratulations from all at MC
To both Sharon and Lucia, and of course, your lucky husbands, a huge congratulations from everyone at MC. Here’s to a lifetime happiness and many more memorable moments to come!
Baby Boom
This summer has been full of joy for some of our team who welcomed adorable new additions to their families. Congratulations to all the proud parents on their bundles of joy. Here’s a little look at the latest arrivals:
• Chris Humm and Robyn Ford from Maintenance celebrated the arrival of their baby boy, Rory Humm, born on 26th August, weighing a healthy 7lb 15oz.
• Kerry Foy from Maintenance became a proud mum to a beautiful baby girl, Olive, who was born on 10th July, weighing 8lb 8oz.
• Chelsea Potter welcomed her little one, Elsie Hollie McGuinness, a baby girl born on 18th September, weighing 7lb 10oz.
• Tom McKay from Maidstone is now a new dad to baby Luca Thomas McKay, born on 19th September and weighing 8lb 4oz.
We couldn’t be happier for the new parents and wish them all the best as they settle into their new routines.
MCWelcome
We would like to give a warm MC welcome to all those joining the team in the last few months from July to September, it’s great to have you all on board!
Elliott Miles
Amrat Bhamra
Marley Cooper-Reed
Stephen Haynes-Snelgrove
Leon Newman
Elliott Niebergall
Victor Baloyi
George Myers
Walter Ramapuputla
Owen Wellspring
Matthew Skinner
Shire Ali
Kenneth Clarke
Dirk Van-Rooyen
Ramim Chowdhury
Jack Childs
Nicholas Pratt
Larkfield Depot Fleet Maintenance and Scheduling
Burgess Hill Depot Service Admin
Burgess Hill Depot Workshop
Hythe Depot Bodyshop Parts
Hythe Depot Workshop
Hythe Depot Workshop
Maidstone Depot Workshop
Maidstone Depot Workshop
Maidstone Depot Workshop
Maidstone Depot Workshop
Southampton Depot Parts
Southampton Depot Workshop
Southampton Depot Workshop
Southampton Depot Workshop
Thurrock Depot Workshop
Witham Depot Workshop
Witham Depot Workshop
Adam Grainger Regional Regional Parts
Fantasy Football League
As the football season kicked off so did the friendly competition at MC Group. The MC Fantasy Football league is now in full swing and shall we say it’s been a strange start to the season. Take a look at the league so far (correct at time of writing) and more importantly at this early stage of the game, check out some of the, shall we say ‘creative’ team names!
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
A CHAT WITH OUR NEWEST PARTS RECRUIT ADAM GRAINGER
After learning so much in the last issue of MC News about the Group’s Parts operation it seemed fitting to properly introduce their newest recruit in this edition.
Adam Grainger has joined MC Truck and Bus in a new role as Regional Parts Sales Executive and he has kindly agreed to have a chat with us to tell us all things about his role, experience and more.
Welcome to the team Adam! Can you tell us a little about your background and what led you to this role?
Most recently I was a branch manager at a car factory, prior to that I was a parts manager, so my background has always been parts. Transitioning from an ‘order taker’ to an ‘order generator’ was always my intended path so this opportunity was perfect.
What excited you most about joining our company as a Regional Parts Sales Executive?
In prior jobs I had small working relationships with MC and I never heard a bad word, which is quite rare in the industry, so to find a company I knew about offering a role that seemed a natural progression to me was a great fit.
What’s your experience in the parts or sales industry, and how do you think it will help you in your new role?
I’ve been in parts for years cars, truck and agricultural, all of which have their own challenges, allowing me to have a blended approach borrowing best practices from them all.
As a Regional Parts Sales Executive, what are your main responsibilities, and how do you plan to approach them?
I have a 2 pronged mandate, new business acquisition and lapsed customer retention, both require slightly different approaches but the core values are the same – demonstrate value to the customer and build relationships.
What’s your strategy for building strong relationships with our clients in the region?
Just being honest and upfront, sometimes hearing bad news presented professionally and courteously can be as beneficial as delivering good news. If I make a promise or offer something to a customer they need to know I will deliver.
People buy people so it’s a case of being polite, affable and talking to customers as humans rather than ‘targets’ and actually listening to what they have to say.
In your opinion, what sets our company’s parts apart from the competition? They are just better!
The actual parts themselves are better, but the support offered such as consequential damage makes our offering stand far above anything else.
Are there any trends or challenges in the market you’re particularly focused on?
The aftermarket seemingly grows every year, with new factors, new aftermarket brands popping up all the time, we have to keep up with new developments whilst making sure our customers see the value of our offering in an increasingly saturated market.
What’s something about you that your new colleagues might be surprised to learn?
I am a qualified chef from a previous life, having worked in Michelin starred restaurants as a much younger man.
How do you like to unwind after a busy day of sales meetings and client interactions?
My busy days don’t finish until 7:30 when my 2 young boys are FINALLY asleep. After that there’s not much time left, but perhaps unsurprisingly I love to cook and experiment in the kitchen and I’m lucky to live in a beautiful area not far from the sea and the South Downs, so I spend as much time as possible out and about, I’m a bit of a nerd for nature.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of work that you’re passionate about?
My main passion is nature and conservation and have built my own little nature reserve in my back garden where we get snakes, lizards and endless numbers of birds, it’s my own little paradise.
What are your short-term goals in this role, and how do you see your contribution making an impact?
Short term I’d like to get the needle moving and generate quantifiable results that help the company hit its targets.
Again, people buy people and having face to face time with customers makes them feel valued and therefore more likely to turn to us.
Where do you see the parts sales industry heading in the next 5 years, and how do you plan to stay ahead of the curve?
That’s difficult, right now we are on the cusp of a new revolution, AI and automation. Whilst some functions will lend themselves well to automation, you still need to have person to person time with the people who pay the bills, so I think it’s the best possible time to build and strengthen relationships that will stand the test of time..
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
Historical figure would have to be Churchill, how he did what he did for the country and the world. And he was a big drinker too so he’d be great company.
Celebrity would be David Attenborough, I don’t think there needs to be a reason!
Coffee or tea – which fuels your workday?
Neither, caffeine gives me migraines so how I wake up is how I am for the whole day!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
My ex RAF Glaswegian grandfather told me once ‘I’ve been all over the world and met people from everywhere, most I’ve forgotten, the ones I remember are the ones who did what they said they were going to, be that delivering on a promise or punching me in some military dive bar somewhere in the pacific’.
So to paraphrase –Do what you say you’re going to.
HOBBY HUB
MOTORCYCLE SPEEDWAY AND GRASSTRACK RACING
Welcome to the newest feature in MC News – Hobby Hub! This is the space where we celebrate the hobbies, successes, and personal achievements of our team members. Whether it’s something you’re passionate about or an impressive award you’ve earned, we want to hear all about it. Who knows, you might just inspire a new hobby in one of us!
Hi Folks,
My name is Geoff and I work at the Larkfield site at MC Rental.
I’ve been asked to write a little about my hobby which is motorcycle Speedway and Grasstrack racing.
My interest started as younger lad, watching our local speedway team, Crayford Kestrels, race on a Tuesday night .
Moving onto 1999 and through a chance conversation I ended up with a 500cc Weslake speedway bike of my own.
I’ve raced it as an amateur at Iwade, Lydd and Kings Lynn .
The glass cupboard in the lounge has a very small corner for my trophies. My most favourite one is Rider Of The Day from the race event at Kings Lynn. That was such a surprise as I
thought other racers were more deserving of it at the time.
I get up to the Scunthorpe speedway track, once a year, to have a practice at the Weslake Day there. It’s a fantastic event and I’m blessed to have my Northern Pit Crew come to spanner for me there as well as the beach racing at Bridlington’s “Race The Waves” event on a grassbike I renovated in 2020.
It’s a 200 metre drag race on the sand and we won all the races in our class in 2022/23.
The grassbike has competed at events in Kent, Essex and Norfolk. Its faster, bumpier and more scary than speedway but such a buzz.
Margate Beach was a fun event this year. Like Bridlington , it was a 200 metre sprint race and the grass bike did well getting to the Final in its class. We got 2nd place which wasn’t too bad
COMPETITION TIME
MCNEWS Edition 2 Crossword Winner
A big thank you to everyone who participated in last quarter’s crossword challenge.
Congratulations goes to Charlie Goodger, our lucky winner!
Please contact Emily to claim your prize emily.waller@mcgroupltd.co.uk
MCNEWS Edition 3
Guess the Year!
We’ve got something a little different for this quarter’s competition – can you guess the year of this classic MC photo? It’s that simple!
Enter for your chance to win this quarter’s coat. Send your answers to: emily.waller@mcgroupltd.co.uk
If more than one person guesses correctly, we’ll put the names into a hat and draw a winner at random. If no one hits the mark, the closest guess will take the prize. Good luck, get guessing!
The winner announced in the next issue.
