Smash Repair Team at Bathurst

Motorsport

The NRMA Insurance Smash Repair Team attended the Bathurst 1000 in October to lend a hand in helping to repair the V8 Supercars.
NRMA Insurance recently increased the level of sponsorship that enabled the Smash Repair Team to expand its operation interstate. This provided an opportunity for two extra apprentices from repairers in the RACV Insurance network, Victoria to participate in this year's motoring event.
This year's Bathurst 1000 was one of the quietest in more than 10 years, for panel beaters in the team. Only one major repair needed to be completed throughout the race. This was on the Smiths Trucks VT Commodore driven by Dean Crosswell. Both of the apprentices from Victoria were given the opportunity to work on the car. Repairers started the job on Friday evening and worked throughout the night to have it back to original condition by 5:30am on Saturday morning.
The other panel beaters took the opportunity to carry out more work on the Ferrari 355 that the team is restoring for Ross Palmer and will be donated to the Motor Museum at Bathurst. This is the car that was All of the other areas such as signwriting, fibreglass repair, metal fabrication, welding, fitting and machining were kept constantly busy with several hundred assignments being completed during the week.
Another highlight of the weekend was the presentation of a 1998 Toyota Camry to Garry Coleman as part of the NRMA Cars for Causes program. Garry has been the head of a group of ministers who act as Chaplain to the motorsport and wider community. Garry has been involved in this capacity for over 16 years and is highly respected by the motorsport community. The Mayor of Bathurst, Ian McIntosh and the local NRMA Insurance representative Ian Behan presented the vehicle on the day.
The NRMA Insurance Smash Repair team don't have far to travel for their next event, the 24-hour race scheduled in November at Mount Panorama, in Bathurst. This promises to attract a large number of overseas drivers racing around the famous mountain throughout the night.

Barra unveiled at Bathurst
The Bob Jane T-Mart Bathurst 1000 saw the first public viewing on an Australian motor racing track of Ford's BA Falcon, designed to put a smile on the face of Ford Motor Racing fans and Falcon drivers.
The New BA Falcon was eased into its motor racing career as the official pace and safety car for the toughest motor race in Australia -- the Bathurst 1000.
When the decision was taken by AVESCO, the controlling body of the V8 Supercar series, to give the BA Falcon a new paint scheme fitting the quality, elegance and exceptional craftsmanship, Spies Hecker was the first and only choice.
The vehicles were painted by Bob Jones and his team at Cartrek Automotive in Footscray, Melbourne. Jones is a long-time user of the complete Spies Hecker product range, and as usual the quality of the workmanship on the vehicles was exceptional. Robert Jones (Bob's son) also played a key role in applying the graphics to the vehicles and also had the privilege of being the pace car driver for the big race on Sunday.
However, Robert admitted the pace was a little slower on Sunday than he is used to as a regular driver of the Spies Hecker Colors Unlimited V8 Konica Supercar.

Lowndes gives Spies Hecker winners ride of their life
Imagine tearing around Eastern Creek raceway in a 00 Motorsports Ford V8 race car . . . with Craig Lowndes at the wheel. For 14 lucky Spies Hecker customers, this became a reality recently.
The drive day was held for the winners of the Spies Hecker national 'Ride of your Life' promotion.
Congratulations to the 14 winners of the Spies Hecker 'Ride of your Life' promotion:

Grant Garratt Express Smash Repairs, NSW
Troy Mathison Grand Prix Repairs, NSW
Lindsay Wilkins Silver City Smash Repairs, NSW
Graham Irvin High Country Smash repairs, VIC
Alan Costello Surry Panel Care, VIC
Graham McCulloch McCulloch Bodyworks, QLD
Col Shipstone Col Shipstone Smash Repairs, QLD
Craig Steen Roger Steen Crash Supplies, SA
Peter Impedovo Casanova Crash Repairs, SA
James Hall Romano's Smash Repairs, WA
Colin Symonds Esperance Smash Repairs, WA
Paul Probin Bruv's Bodyworks, TAS
Paul Philipson Autopanels, NZ
Neville Olshon Waltham Paint & Panel, NZ