Issue 3 April - June 2012
ALIGNMENT
Now its 'Wheeler Dealer'
Supertracker!!
In fact Edd has enjoyed a long standing and continually
successful association with Supertracker and he says, “A
number of years ago I needed some alignment equipment
for a forthcoming TV show and Supertracker kindly
provided an alignment machine and as they say – 'the
rest is history' and my association with Supertracker has
continued and developed over the years.”
Edd China oversees his new Grease Junkie project
Supertracker has a number of varied customers
throughout the UK automotive industry but none quite so
unique and unconventional as Edd China, otherwise
known as The Grease Junkie. As a well known TV
presenter of Wheeler Dealers on the Discovery and
Discovery Real Time channels, Edd is something of a
motoring icon to many dedicated Petrol-heads and he
has also made several guest appearances on that other
famous motoring Show – Top Gear!
However apart from his TV fame, Edd also manages two
businesses – Grease Junkie (naturally) and also Cummfy
Banana which is famous for producing those quirky and
totally 'crazy' customised vehicles in the form of
settees/coffee tables, beds, sheds, office desks, bathtubs
and toilets, to name just a few.
Tel: 01489 773888
Due to the time element and complexities involved in the
filming Wheeler Dealer show, Edd realised that being able
to carry out his own alignment checks was essential and
now, all wheel alignments carried out on the programme
and with Grease Junkie and Cummfy Banana is courtesy
of Supertracker equipment. Edd adds,” Without a doubt
Supertracker has become a very important part of our
operation throughout Wheeler Dealers, Grease Junkie and
Cummfy Banana and without them we would be 'stuck'.
Time is so important with three successful projects on the
go and the Supertracker alignment equipment is now
firmly part of our daily business function.”
Edd has recently relocated to a custom built base in
Bracknell, Berkshire where he is currently overseeing a
massive and adventurous campaign to present a unique
one-stop-shop and recreational centre for everyday
motoring enthusiasts and specialist kit-car fans. In due
course, there will be up to five individual workshop pods
where anyone can come and work on their vehicles under
the supervision of Edd and his team of trained 'Grease
Junkies' and receive valuable advice and help as and
when required.
Once this outstanding 'motoring enthusiasts project' is
completed it will include MOT and Servicing on a daily
basis, a luxurious Coffee Lounge, Parts Shop, Baby
Fax: 01489 773889
Continued on page 2
www.supertracker com
Trev's
Comments...
First of all, the photo of me in the last edition has been
changed as I looked like I had been 'out on the town' for
a week. I feel happier with the new one above. However
I'm sure you agree I'm not likely to be snatched up by a
modelling agency...anytime soon!
On the 13th July Supertracker celebrates its twenty fifth
anniversary and it seems only yesterday that the company
(originally trading as K L Products) was launched. It is
interesting to look back at developments over the past
three decades, not just in the wheel alignment market,
(although this has changed dramatically as well) but also
in general business practices.
Computing has changed business procedures beyond
recognition and Supertracker's original Amstrad 8512
word processor, with its black screen and green letters
has become completely obsolete today. Also, mobile
phones with batteries the size of house bricks that
needed a regular workout at the gym, just to carry
around. Fax machines were new then and I remember
how fascinating it was to send a fax to Australia, knowing
that as the paper was going in your machine, another
piece was coming out the other side of the world!!
Who would have thought that today you would be able to
listen to music, watch films, send emails and text
messages, go on the Internet as well as phone calls and
generally organise your life from a Smart Phone. Perhaps
the negative side of all this amazing technology is we
have developed our mind sets to match these advances.
Leading to an attitude that everything has to happen
Continued from page 1
Changing facilities and other impressive 'home comforts'
to make the centre not only 'female friendly but also a
great place to hang out for all types of vehicle manics!!!
instantly. I wonder where we will be in another twenty five
years? It will be fascinating to find out.
It is also encouraging to see a positive development
emerging out of the recent doom and gloom. At
Supertracker we have seen an increase in our sales to
franchised dealerships, particularly in areas not easily
available in the past such as the Audi/Volkswagon Group,
Mercedes and BMW. Dealers have traditionally had their
'hands tied' to a certain approved brand stipulated by the
vehicle manufacturer. Now these enterprising dealers are
looking to use equipment that benefits their business.
Companies are moving away from their slow and
laborious equipment in order to improve productivity in
their workshops and Supertracker products have an
established reputation as being 'easy to use', accurate
and durable and providing an impressive return on
investment. Our company ethos has not changed in the
first twenty five years and will not change in the next
twenty five years.
If you have not yet viewed our www.youtube.com film
illustrating how swiftly Supertracker's computer aligners
can produce initial readings with print out then take a
look. It will only take a minute. Over eighteen cars can be
measured in just thirty minutes which has to be positive
benefit to your business.
Finally, my prediction in our last edition of an improvement
in the business market has started to come true as there
appears to be a lot more confidence in the market which
is most encouraging. So I suggest you keep to my
business plan, don't read the papers and avoid watching
the news on TV. Go to Greece for your holidays where
you will be warmly welcomed and looked after. Follow this
sensible advice and things can only get even better.
Trevor Lovesy
Full details will be announced in due course and promise
to ensure Supertracker enjoy their anniversary in fitting
style.
In due course, Edd is looking to also open a totally
awesome Museum of Cummfy Banana vehicles as well
as facilities for visitors to actually view the filming of future
programmes of Wheeler Dealers.
2012 is a year of celebration for Supertracker as it is their
25th Anniversary and the company and Edd China are
currently looking to explore the opportunity of working
together later this year to significantly mark this historic
event in the companies development. Take one of the
UK's leading wheel alignment specialist and a famous
automotive personality, mix them together and you have
what is guaranteed to be a memorable celebratory event.
One of Edd's famous quirky vehicles
Customer Corner
A unique alignment service for Vauxhall
Picador Group
Supertracker alignments are a daily event at Vauxhall Picador
The Picador Sholing headquarters
It would be fair to say that virtually all of Supertracker's
business is generated through the sales of their
accomplished and professional wheel alignment
equipment. However Vauxhall Picador in Sholing,
Southampton are an interesting exception.
Picador Plc is one of the South of England's largest family
owned and managed car dealership groups who have
been selling the entire range of Vauxhall vehicles in the
Southampton region since 1963. From their headquarter
base in Sholing, the company operate just one basic
Supertracker alignment system and in fact have never
upgraded their equipment. What sets the Picador Group
apart from other customers is that they have always been
located within a close proximity to Supertracker's
Southampton base and up to a couple of years ago they
operated from the same business centre.
Chris Power, Service Manager at Vauxhall Picador says,
“For almost twenty years now, we have enjoyed a very
close and successful association with Supertracker and
benefited from being able to take our vehicles to them for
alignment work to be carried out on their latest equipment,
as opposed to installing machinery in our workshops.
“Even now that Supertracker is based several miles away
in Hedge End, we have continued with our policy of
exclusively using the company for all our alignment
requirements. The reliability of Supertracker aligners has
always been exceptional and we have never encountered
any problems with the products or service.”
The Supertracker aligner at Picador's Sholing centre is still
used on a daily basis for alignments in the Fast-Fit service
area and Chris is keen to point out, it is still as reliable as
when it was purchased years ago. However the Bodyshop
is one of Southampton's largest and approved for all major
insurance companies with a fleet of over 50 courtesy cars.
He adds, “Therefore our Bodyshop sends (on average)
between 15 to 20 vehicles to Supertracker each week as
all crash repair work legally requires a 'full alignment'
check before a job can be signed off which is why the
expertise of Supertracker is so vital to the Picador Group's
daily operation.” Supertracker is also able to offer the
reassurance of readily available support and guidance
from their Service Engineers as and when required.
As South Hampshire's best selling Vauxhall dealership
group, with an annual sales performance of around 2,500
vehicles resulting in many business accolades and
recommendations plus a totally dedicated, experienced
and customer focused personnel team.
Picador pride themselves on always providing the absolute
ultimate standard in Customer Care and Personal service
and their ongoing partnership with Supertracker continues
to flourish.
Chris concludes, “Even though we are not one of their
most accomplished sales statistics, at Picador we
consider ourselves very fortunate to hold the unique
position of being one of (if not 'the') Supertracker's oldest
and closest customers.”
Team Fact File:
Simon Phillips
Simon Phillips:
In a totally new feature, we
would like to introduce all our
customers to our dedicated
team members, so each
edition from now on will
highlight one employee,
starting with Simon Phillips.
Simon (33) works in Supertracker's After Sales Customer
Service department as part of our dedicated and
experienced team whose sole objective is to deal with
customer enquiries both swiftly and efficiently.
Having worked for the company since 2006, over the past
six years Simon has progressively developed his skills to
become a vital member of the Customer Service
department, dealing with mechanical, electrical and
computer queries and problems.
Simon co-ordinates the Supertracker service engineers
throughout the UK with the objective of providing either the
same day, if not next day service to our customers. He is
also responsible for ensuring the engineers are fully stocked
up with spare parts to enable them to complete as many
jobs as possible in a single visit in line with Supertracker's
policy of a 'First Time Fix'.
Simon says, “Our engineers are fully trained in all
Supertracker products that have been produced over the
past twenty five years, yes we still get requests to repair
aligners this old!!
Wherever possible we try to get our customers operational
as soon as possible”
All Supertracker aligners are capable of measuring fine
tolerances so it is important to have a regular calibration
routine. Therefore, not only is Simon responsible for this
service but he also organises all the company's training
requests and requirements. At the same time, the ordering
of spares and accessories and software upgrades also
come under his control as well.
Dealing with a complete cross section of Supertracker
accounts from small independent through to National
accounts, Simon has a busy day...every day!
Outside of the office, Simon, who lives in Southampton, is a
keen sportsman having played Cricket, Rugby and Hockey
at County level. He concludes, “I am an active sort of guy
who relishes a constant challenge and working at
Supertracker gives me exactly what I need out of my
working life.”
Contact Supertracker
For further information on any of our wheel alignment systems,
products, services and tracking please contact us.
Supertracker
Unit 1, Nelson Industrial Park, Manaton Way, Hedge End,
Southampton, Hampshire, SO30 2JH. England
T: 01489 773888
F: 01489 773889
E: Click here to email us.
Office opening times:
8.00am to 5.30pm Monday To Friday
Workshop Opening Times:
8.00am to 4.30pm Monday To Friday
Tel: 01489 773888
Fax: 01489 773889
www.supertracker com
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