Shop Profile: Miami Smash Repairs sits in Hibiscus Haven

It's more like an entrance to a block of luxury home units, but right here in Hibiscus Haven, Miami, Queensland, Jamie McHugh makes a mean job of repairing the Gold Coast's prestige autos, reports Will Tuck.

THE GRAND ENTRANCE driveway, replete with ornamental hedges and camel coloured pillars, hides a busy workshop and a recommended repairer for everything from Land Rovers, Jeeps, Saabs and Audis to BMWs, Alfas, VWs and Porsches. It wasn't always like that. Miami started in Hibiscus Haven, on the Miami/Burleigh Heads border, 26 years-ago.

He was joined by brother, Mark and father Geoff who has since passed away. McHugh's ultra-efficient wife Sharon is office administrator. Miami always had a target - to repairprestige cars.

"Word of mouth operated well on the Gold Coast when we first set-up and still does," McHugh says.

"The area had a lifestyle of boats and a touch of the millionaire about it with a lavish existence. Autobody repairers grew up servicing that type of customer business.

"The new premises which Miami now operates is far removed from the original workshop, two doors down, that was a panel shop under its former owner. Later we expanded into premises that were owned by a surf ski shop, a surf clothing business and a mechanical shop."

In 2000 Miami Smash underwent an extreme make-over to encompass a caravan building workshop, a smash shop, two paint shops at each end book-ending an office that fronted a detailing area. Spray booths are Lowbake and there's also an Inhab infra-red booth. All booths are gas heated.

In his downtime McHugh is busy building a massive caravan which will be used to take autos to car races and service a number of customers on the road.

In total he employs 22 painters, panel beaters and support staff in the smash shop, with three apprentices and three full-time tradesmen in the caravan shop.

Marketing is never far from McHugh's mind. He surveys his customers to find out how they feel about the work that has been done for their vehicles and the customer service that they receive. He runs a fleet of loan cars with Hyundai Getz vehicles carrying the Miami logo and he says that this one act alone produces referrals. He also has a VIP customer service which provides a mobile estimator "to your door" with a free loan car and a 24-hour towing service which is an advantage on this part of the Gold Coast. The paint system they use is Spies Hecker. "The German quality suits the prestige vehicles we service."

McHugh's able smash repair team is headed by Simon Watson, a BMW-trained technician who managed a BMW Shop in the north of England. Watson is familiar with most European cars and has up-to-date information on such issues as Waterborne paint applications and technical information gained with his BMW training.

Shop foreman Peter Pinel, a 10 year Miami veteran is across all facets of the business and is a strong skills provider for Watson and the team.

But as the lead player in the Miami team, McHugh has a secret. Sitting across from the quietly spoken Queenslander, you would never guess how a burning ambition to race super sedans would take him to the top in Australia. This year the shy, retiring McHugh thrashed across the line at Mildura's Timmis Speedway to win the Australian Super Sedan Championship.

Two years previous McHugh had quit this type of racing only to return when offered a spot by Ian Boettcher, whose Mazda RX8 was being raced by Darren Kane, but who parted company with Boettcher Racing. It was a chance that McHugh wanted to take, despite his retirement, and it proved a good move. He won just about every race he entered,
culminating with victory in South Australia that won him the national title.

He is understandably happy with the win, not just for his own gratification but for his family, friends and the team. He was especially happy for Boettcher, who McHugh says was over the moon about the victory. "It was a fitting reward for his dedication to the sport."

Immediately following the final race, McHugh announced his track retirement. "I have to give time to my family and my business. My kids have all sorts of pursuits that they want to share with me and I owe it to them to do so."

McHugh also confides there may be another racer in the family, his son Lachlan,10 who is already into crossing the line first in go-karts. There are a few hints at Miami Smash as to McHugh's racing past, including the Mildren Maserati that needs a rebuild. It was driven by Australian greats including Alec Mildren, Kevin Bartlet and Frank Gardiner.

McHugh hopes the Maserati will hit the track sometime soon, but perhaps this time it will be the classic race style.

Just, perhaps, a little more sedately driven.