Mazda offers more parts prizes

News

Mazda Australia is offering mechanical and smash repairers the chance to win 120 overnight hotel packages and a $10,000 travel voucher. The prizes are part of Mazda's Get Genuine and Getaway parts trade program that runs from now until 31 December.
The program follows Mazda's successful Keep It Genuine and Keep It promotion that ran over the last few months and received entries from 5500 trade customers.
The Get Genuine and Getaway program, each month for three months, offers 40 overnight Getaway Hotel deals that include one night's accommodation and dinner at a four-star Novotel hotel. The packages, which will be offered across the country, are valued at $250 each.
The grand prize; a $10,000 Harvey World travel voucher, will be drawn at the end of the program.
All trade customers are eligible to enter and for smash repairers every $500 of Mazda genuine parts bought each month generates an entry into the monthly and grand prize draws.
Mazda Australia's market and sales manager, parts and service, Greg Downes said: "The Get Genuine and Getaway program gives the company a great opportunity to reward our valued trade customers. I'm sure our latest campaign will prove just as popular as our Keep It Genuine and Keep It offer as it provides some great prizes."
Alpine Smash Repairs of Mermaid Beach, Queensland won a Mazda Tribute Luxury valued at more than $44,000 in the 'Keep It Genuine and Keep It' campaign recently.
There were also plenty of monthly winners -- Stud Park Panels; Lustre Panel Works and Brighton Panel Works, all in Victoria and Terry's Service Centre, NSW, were the lucky winners of TAG Heuer men's watches. Large screen Panasonic TVs went to BNT Smash Repairs, All-Ride Smash Repairs and Warren Ridge Auto Centre -- all in NSW and Cramp Bros Bodyworks, Tasmania. DVD players were won by Charleston Garage, SA; Smashcare, Queensland; The Headlight Factory, Victoria and Cambro Motors, Victoria.
Another 40 Mazda trade customers walked away with Mazda Merchandise Tribute packs.

MTA awards members
Leading collision repairers dominated the recent MTA NSW and ACT Awards. Terry Flanagan took out the inaugural MTA President's Award. Besides representing Australia at the 1958 Empire Games as a cyclist and formulating the official MTA 'Times Manual', Flanagan developed the first estimating and management software program in Australia -- Auto-Quote.
MTA-ACT Member of the Year was body repairer and former MTA-ACT president Denis Sargent. Male MTA Motor Industry Businessperson of the Year, sponsored by VACC Insurance, went to Graham Smith of Blacktown City Smash Repairs, a high profile and tireless supporter of the industry through his initiatives to set up better opportunities for apprentices. MTA Metropolitan Body Repairer of the Year went to Ace Panel Beating, an NRMA Preferred Smash Repairer, while the Country Body Repairer of the Year Award was taken out by Supalook Smash Repairs.

Motex to launch in Australia
Several insurers are set to trial a new bodyshop management and estimating system in Australia and the system is aimed to be rolled out nationally some time next year. The company behind the system -- UK-based Motex, has been successfully operating its systems for many years overseas. Motex Australia managing director Gil Lockhart and his team have been hard at work 'Australianising' the Windows-based system. The company came into being in July of this year and is aiming for a comprehensive launch early in 2002.
The estimating and parts ordering segments of the system are unique in that they use colour-coordinated images of every part. A lot of effort has gone into obtaining parts data and translating it into images. The system will not only carry car details, but a comprehensive motorbike database.
RACWA and Western QBE in WA are due to pilot the new system after its completion, and many more companies, including car manufacturers, refinish suppliers and insurers are said to be at advanced stages of negotiations to trial the system.