Racing with Bendix at the AAAA show
Brake fitters and the Bendix team swapped news and views and enjoyed the thrills of racing when they got together at the Bendix stand at this year’s AAAA show in Melbourne.
Bendix showcased the new Bendix Race, and Street Road Track brake pads, unveiled new Ultimate packaging and gave visitors a sneak preview of the re-designed Bendix website.
The show-stopper was the Virtech Simulators Australia V8 Race Simulator. Designed and built in New Zealand by an engineer with a passion for race cars it provides racing thrills without the spills.
Hundreds of race car enthusiasts pitted themselves against the clock around a simulated Mount Panorama, Bathurst track using the purpose built software and control systems.
And a 17-year-old was the fastest driver. Reece Marchello notched up an impressive circuit time of 1 minute 48.6. A second behind him was his brother Ryan, 18.
They were at the show with their father Terry, who has competed in 6-hour and 24-hour relay races, the Sports Sedan Restricted Race meetings and Group 2E, on circuits such as Amaroo, Catalina, Oran Park and Winton Raceway.
Asked about his sons’ success on the simulator, Terry agreed that "racing must be in their genes”. Terry is an automotive engineer who has been in the trade for 33 years in Sydney and then Milton on the New South Wales south coast where he has been rebuilding V8 Commodores, restoring and servicing vehicles.
Ryan and Reece have worked with Terry at trackside preparing and setting the race cars and in the workshop.
Terry took time out to develop a rural subdivision and is about to get back into his automotive business, MRTeam, which is also known as Terry’s Automotive Repairs and Rebuilds. He is opening a new workshop at Ulladulla in August.
Terry says the AAAA show was a great opportunity to talk with Bendix reps, see the latest products and check out what’s happening in the auto industry.
“I’m looking forward to stocking Bendix products, particularly the Bendix 4WD brake pads.”
Terry says the show was “absolutely excellent” and perfectly timed with the new business starting-up.
“We just didn’t stop – the whole time we were there we were walking around looking at the different products and we went to all the exhibitions.”
Bendix Trade Marketing Manager, Heath Dickson says Bendix had some 1200 contacts with reseller and fitter customers and is following-up more than 200 trade inquiries from the show.
“It was a great branding opportunity to promote Bendix leadership in brake pad technology.”
