Friday night was “happy night” in Vestey Drive, Mount Wellington at the Automotive Supplies head office and distribution centre as automotive workshop owners and staff flocked to this year’s annual Autostop trade show on March 18.
Just fewer than 40 suppliers were represented, with many new products on show, and the giant marquees specially erected for the event were at times packed as the visitors wound their way through the show case for Autostop/Automotive Supplies NZ Ltd’s vast range of automotive spare parts, equipment, and consumables.
The suppliers who represented and displayed their products were again at a very high standard, but more important were the comments that the customer interest was the highest they have experienced in any trade show, and the “on the night” specials were a real hit, so hence some great sales.
Suppliers present were: 3M, Abro Consumables, Ark Trailer Parts, Auckland Bearings, Automaster Equipment, Autostar Chemicals, Autostar Steering & Accessories, Bendix, Bonding & Cables, Bosch Automotive, Bosch Batteries, Bosch Power Tools & Accessories, BVL Seatbelts, Capricorn Society, CRC, Exedy, Fremax Disc Rotors, Gates, GMB Waterpumps, Gulf Western Oil, Hella, IBS Cylinders & Frenkit, KYB, LED Lighting, LUK Clutch & INA Tensioners, Mackay Hose, Maxlife Batteries, Motorspecs, Nelson Brake Hoses, NGK, Powersonic Batteries, Remsa Brakes, Ryco, SP Tools, Tridon, Wayco Equipment, Wix and XP Brakes & Bearings
Back this year was the Remsa Spanish corner, with fine Spanish wine and paella, and there were also many supplier prizes drawn throughout the night, plus three $100 vouchers from the MTA.
The SP Tools door entry prize of an SP Tools limited edition Rattla Motorsport tool kit worth $3,523 was won by Hunua Motors, while the pre-registration prize of a Carman i-700 Scan Tool worth $7,052 went to AAA Vehicle Testing & Service Station. The Arcade Racing prize of a Gulf Western Oil Prize Pack, including Xbox and GW Race merchandise, was won by P & S Auto Centre.
Other supplier prizes were:
3M New Zealand Ltd • 3M warmer/cooler bin
Ark Trailer Parts • bottle of spirits
Auckland Bearings • gift basket
Automaster Equipment • fleece jacket & cap
Bendix • bottle of champagne
Bosch • Batteries C7 battery charger
Bosch • Power Tools angle grinder
BVL Seatbelts • spirits
Capricorn • deep fryer
CRC • CRC bag of product
Exedy Clutch • jacket, thermos,
Freemax Disc Rotors • bottle of whisky
Gates • $100 voucher
Gulf Western Oil • GW jacket
Hella • sports bag & gear
KYB • spirits
LED Lighting • LED spotlights
LUK Clutch & INA Tensioners • DTM model car
Mackay Hose • $100 voucher
Maxlife Batteries • gift basket
Motospecs (VHT & Fuelmiser) • $100 MTA voucher
MTA • vouchers
NGK Spark Plugs • Bottle of whisky
Powersonic Batteries • single malt whisky
Remsa Brakes • prize pack
Ryco • $100 Mitre 1O gift card
Tridon • chisel & punch set
Wayco Equipment • air body saw
Wix Filters • Two Wix jackets