September 2019

W ell, I’m back from my summer break, and it has been fantastic. Mrs P and I managed a couple of weeks off, lazing around in the sun. I was delighted to get back to my garage and get back to work! That said, all that time off gave me chance to think about what had gone on over the last few months. At the start of the summer, the Top Technician and Top Garage competitions concluded for 2019. It all ended with a bang at the Top Technician and Top Garage Awards Dinner. Mrs P and I had a fantastic time. What? You didn’t see us? Well, we were sitting towards the back. Anyway, as you may remember from my previous missives in this particular magazine, I have in the past been a regular entrant in the Top Technician competition, without ever getting to the final. Or the semi final. Or even the third online round. I also pointed out at the time that this was a form of modesty on my part and that I was deliberately not winning. I may have been putting a good face on the situation there. The truth is that all those boys who are getting to the public part of the competition, where they broadcast the names of the players, were head and shoulders above me, let alone those shining examples of our trade who go on to win. “No Arthur- we always value your technical observations” I imagine I can hear you crying out. Can’t I? No? Really, oh alright then. Well, I know some of you value what I do. I get letters written to the magazine – the Editor told me! Anyway, it seems that when it comes to the third round, like the song says, “I’m five years ahead of my time” or maybe five years behind. Whatever is in that pesky test, either I was all over that topic five years before and have subsequently moved on, or else I have not got there yet. Anyway, I get a bit tired of being ahead of the curve. I was also ready for a new challenge too, so I shoved a couple of my boys down the Top Tech route, and took Parkit Motors into Top Garage. As you regular readers will doubtlessly know, I have also been offering many pearls of business wisdom via this regular article for years now. I thought it was about time we had a go in Top Garage. Now, that was challenging too, in a different way. Business knowledge tests, questionnaires about Parkit Motors, a video of our garage. Well, sadly, we lost out to some fantastic businesses, but the process was definitely worthwhile. I would love to have gotten to the final, if only to give those judges the chance to share my wisdom first hand. Of course, since we entered, it was pointed out to me by the Editor that as a regular contributor to Aftermarket, according to the terms and conditions of both Top Technician and Top Garage, I am probably ineligible to enter either. There are other ways to take part though. I can plan ahead and make myself available as a judge for 2020… FIVE YEARS AHEAD OF MY TIME 66 AFTERMARKET SEPTEMBER 2019 TEABREAK: MEMOIRS OF A MOTOR MECHANIC www.aftermarketonline.net