Below is a list of businesses who we have found to offer very good service (not to mention very good products). None of these businesses sponsor our team, but we have listed them due to their ability to stand above some other less customer orientated organisations. Please support these businesses, if the opportunity presents itself. It's hard enough to find good help, but it seems even harder to find good customer service!
Next to each business, we have listed what parts or service they provided. If you would like contact details for any of the businesses listed below, please feel free to drop us an email.
Budget Motor Works (ACT):- Head porting, strut top design and an encyclopedia of advice. Mark has a very strong reputation around the rally scene in the ACT and is capable of everything from full house engine builds to suspension work to brake upgrades to simple servicing.
Lockleigh Enterprises (ACT):- Roll cage and front brake caliper brackets. Rod is an excellent fabricator who produces high quality work. The services Lockleigh Enterprises provide include roll cages, suspension fabrications, brake conversions, chassis prepartion (mounting of seats, harnesses, strut braces, etc) and a myriad of other fabrication services. Rod comes highly recommended.
Richardson Motorsport (ACT):- brazing of the fuel rail, 3.5 inch mandrel bend for the airbox. Errol produces excellent quality work and has a strong reputation with enthusiasts in the ACT. Richardson Motorsport does all sorts of fabrication work including custom alloy radiators, custom intercoolers, intercooler piping, surge tanks, TIG welding and a variety of other services. Along with Rod and Brian, Errol rates as one of the best machinist's/fabricators out there. Errol comes highly recommended.
Neil Bates Automotive (ACT):- Machining, machining and more machining!! Brian is the man who does the fabrication there and he is a total LEGEND. Brian has done everything from the surge tank in the boot, to machining rotors, to machining spring retainers, to shortening struts, to the rear caliper brackets and beyond. Essentially anything which has been turned on a lathe or a milled is credited to Brian, along with a mass of TIG work.
Peter Finlay's Advanced Driving Schools:- General Competition (C3) licence. There are really only 2 choices of driving school in the Sydney area to obtain you racing licence from. We spoke to a number of current competitors to ask their advice on which was better and the majority said Peter Finlay. Having spent 2 days doing the course with Peter and Darryl, I would highly recommend them. The school is professional, the tuition excellent and both Peter and Darryl were great people. If you're considering any sort of advanced driving from a Level 1 through to your racing licence, I'd definately recommend Peter's school. The Peter Finlay Advanced Driving School web page can be found here.
Pedders Suspension in Penrith (NSW):- Spax shocks and front sway bar. John Taylor is the proprietor and also a former (?? - haven't seen John out there for a while) Group 3J competitor. His knowledge of suspension is second to none and his business has provided an excellent level of service. Being a franchise, other stores may or may not be as good.
BRS Motorsport (NSW):- Cam Sprockets. Phil Rhyle is an ex-touring car engine builder. He can be credited with a number of competitive engines in a variety of classes. Phyl is also capable of producing throttle bodies, competition flywheels and a variety of other motorsport related parts. He also has an excellent knowledge of SR20's and FJ20's.
Road and Rally Centre (NSW):- while we haven't purchased anything from the Road and Rally Centre yet (next CR gearbox will come from here), Arthur Jackson has provided us with some invaluable advice. We have only spoken to him a handful of times, but have found him to be the Datsun Guru!
Ivan Tighe Engineering (QLD):- Camshafts. While a bit more expensive than other places in our experience, Ivan Tighe's really know their stuff and produce quality cams. Dean Tighe was the person we spoke to and found him to be extremely knowledgable and helpful. Dean was the only cam grinder we spoke to (out of 3 of Australia's recognised cam shops) with a schmick of a clue about what was required for cams for an SR20. The Ivan Tighe web site can be found here
Barry Smith Motorsport (ACT):- We only purchased the pads for the new front calipers off Barry Smith Motorsport, but they were very helpful with regards to compound selection and general queries.
Howards Race Brakes (Vic):- We obtained our pads for the old front brake combination through Howards and the service was excellent!
Gordon Leven Tyres (NSW):- Yokohama A032R control tyres. While Gordon Leven is the supplier to IPRA NSW, the service we've had from them has been excellent and deserves mentioning.
