Darren moss' blog

[caption id="attachment_10661" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Liqui Moly has sponsored Team Engstler for years"][/caption]

As you’ll see in the latest issue of CAT Magazine I was recently a guest of Team Engstler sponsor Liqui Moly at the latest round of the World Touring Car Championship in Hungary.

An article on dealer-focused website Motor Trader caught my eye this weekend.

The article laid out the results of an online investigation in which the Motor Trader team approached 40 dealers through social networking site, Twitter, looking to buy a car. Those dealers all had active Twitter accounts.

So how many of those 40 do  you think responded with offers of test drives and bookings? Just 12.

Of those, only half responded within an hour and just three engaged the pretend customer in conversation.

[caption id="attachment_9474" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The winter could still bring you work"][/caption]

This winter hasn't yet turned out to be the white blizzard some expected it to be. I say yet, because January and February are traditionally our coldest months, so the snow and ice could still cause serious problems.

Voting for the CAT Awards 2013 closes this Friday, 21st December.

Make sure your votes are in before this date, as votes cast after this date will not count towards the final result.

If you need reminding of who is in the race for this year's awards, here's our nominations rundown.

Or, if you just need to cast your votes, click here.

This year has already attracted a record number of nominations and votes, with businesses from all areas of the aftermarket fighting it out to be crowned the top of their game.

The end is now in sight for the CAT Awards 2013. Voting for this year's awards closes on the 21st December, so you have until then to vote for YOUR aftermarket heroes.

The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony in February, and a full report will be in our special awards edition of the magazine soon after. Of course, you can follow CAT Magazine on Twitter and Facebook for live updates throughout the day, too.

[caption id="attachment_9246" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Finished belts ready to be boxed"][/caption]

Gates' Balsareny production plant in Barcelona is one of three sites in Europe which make the company's new Micro-V Horizon belt.

[caption id="attachment_9075" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The banking is still a steep climb"][/caption]

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.