Tour blog 18

Tour blog 18

03 Nov 2008

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BEN charity trip hits Motherwell and finds that specialising in VWs is paying off for one technician

Monday 3rd November . . .

2:10pm – It’s a quick spin through Motherwell and the outskirts of Glasgow as Aftermarket On Tour visits more garages to help spread the BEN message.

Here’s a look back at our journey so far.


Craig Ferguson at Vicarburn Motors in Motherwell
This is one of those rare workshops that still sells petrol. There’s even a small consumables shops in the reception area that would, in any major petrol retail outlet, be filled with cappuccino machines and Panini toasters.

I could be wrong but I don’t get the impression that this area of town is really a cappuccino and Panini kind of place.

Still, Craig is very keen to know when his picture might go in the magazine and, because he doesn’t think he gets it, he asks to be signed up straight away.

The registration card is actually on the dashboard of our van as I speak (I mean write).


Steve McManus at Automac in Motherwell
This is a quick stop to check the guys at this clean and professional garage know and understand the BEN message.

Someone should really tell them that you can only see the sign for their garage if you drive down the hill. Strangely, it’s blocked by another sign for anyone heading in an upwards direction.

We carry on through the estate and head for our next stop, which is another cluster of garages on a rugged looking industrial estate.


Tom Sinclair at Autrac in Motherwell
Tom entered a competition on this website to win a V-Tech UK scan tool, which is why we’re paying him a visit.

He’s currently working on a Nissan with a helping-hand from Gary at Nissan specialist Aztec Autos on the same estate.

Gary’s got his head under the bonnet so we don’t disturb him. But we do go and say hello to John round the corner.


John Berry at Bedrock Veedubs
John’s company specialises in VAG vehicles and in performance suspension work. He also does a lot of restoration work on early Mk I and II Golfs.

He started the company 12 years ago and says the risks of specialising are really paying off.

“Some guys said I was a bit stupid setting up to work on just one type of car because there are so many types out there,” says John (pictured top right).

“But with specialising you get more work. People with Mk I and IIs are usually enthusiasts and spend a lot of money on them. Specialising was a big gamble at first because things were so quiet but it is definitely paying off.”

John tells me that VW owners come from as far afield as Bradford and Leeds to get specialist work done. “There’s even a guy from France who calls up for information,” says John. “People say they like us because we give people information and talk to them. Some companies are only interested in money and selling.”

The specialist nature of the business means John has been able to cut back on advertising spend. “People hear about us through forums and owners clubs.”


Gordon Young at Cumming Automotive
Another quick stop at another of those garages that is tucked behind a wall, behind a corner, past a gate round the far side of a trading estate.

The mazes psychologists use to study rats are probably easier to solve than some of the labyrinths we’ve had to negotiate to find garages.

Manager Gordon’s garage is part of the Bosch Car Service Network and he clearly knows all about BEN so we jump back in the van and head onwards.

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