Nominations for the 2013 CAT Awards are open!
This year there are more ways to get involved in the nominations process. Do you know a factor that goes above and beyond your expectations every time? Is one of your customers a garage that's beating the franchises at their own game? Perhaps you know an independent retailer that's staying strong on the high street? The CAT Awards is your chance to get them recognised by the industry.
And don't forget, it only takes ONE nomination.
[caption id="attachment_8959" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The show attracted thousands of visitors"][/caption]
So that was our first Automechanika.
Apart from our Publisher David Harris the CAT team had never visited the aftermarket show before, and truth be told we didn't know what to expect.
Exhibitors love aftermarket trade shows like Automechanika because it allows them to do six months worth of meetings in just a few days.
Journalists love it too because it allows us to catch up with so many companies with the same purpose in mind, good business.
Walking through one of the many Frankfurt halls today I've already seen deals being struck and new customers being made. It is great to see the aftermarket selling itself so well.
At the same time I'm still astounded at the sheer size of the show. It's just taken me half an hour to get from a stand in Hall 6 to the press centre to post this.
There are some nice big, and small, facts and figures to consider when you think about Corteco and look into the history of its parent company, Freudenberg.
Fantastic. On the eve of my first visit to the gargantuan Automechanika show in Frankfurt, Lufthansa cabin crew have decided to go on strike. And, of course, I'm flying Lufthansa.
See that? We built that, we did.
We think you'll agree the finished product looks excellent, and there's a chance for you to own one too.
These models are all part of a competition being run by Bosch. It's a colouring competition for children between five and ten, and the winner will receive this self-build model of a Bosch Car Service garage.
[caption id="attachment_8647" align="alignright" width="150" caption="60 drivers, one track, and one need for speed"][/caption]
The aftermarket had a huge amount of fun at the second CAT karting event last night.
Sixty of the finest aftermarket drivers descended on Daytona in Milton Keynes to do battle on the outdoor track.
Great news to hear that the service, maintenance and repair industry has increased in value to nearly £9 billion in 2011.
That figure excludes the value of MOTs, too, so the pickings are even more rich than this total suggests.
Good news for motorsport fans, BEN is back raising money with its Twilight Challenge, a two hour endurance karting race.
Now we know how competitive the aftermarket can be, and it's all for a good cause, so contact BEN to register your team now!
Harry Adams is a budding engineering genius. He's exactly the sort of person the motor trade needs - passionate, talented and dedicated to his work.
At just 16 Harry is already well on the road to success, winning several prestigious industry awards (the latest being the Painter Stainer award) and being the lucky recipient of an Arkright engineering scholarship.