Turkish delighT Gavin Turk creates a

moving canvas

CenoTaph CyClingFrom Edinburgh

to London

over in a splash Kayaking across

Scotland for charity

August 2014

QualiTy redefined Vauxhall reveals the fourth-generation Corsa

The magazine for vauxhall staff and retailers

TORQUE

Vauxhall’s Mohammed Farooq talks about his second job

BalanCing aCT

02 TORQUE magazinE

TorQue augusT 2014

In THIS ISSUE

24Of ice and men: Luke Brittle recounts his ice hockey career

geT in TouCh, make our day! Have an idea for a story? Please tell your on-site correspondent or email the Editor at benjamin.penty@vauxhall.co.uk. Events, personal and work-related achievements, efforts for charity, unusual or interesting hobbies or sports – we want to know! This is your magazine, so tell us what you would like to see in it.

04Head over wheels: Next-generation Corsa set to continue model’s success

25What a trooper: D-Type Staff Car helps mark World War I centenary

20Chain of Command: Combining life at the plant with mayoral responsibilities

REGULARS03 IGNITION11 GM NEWS20 PEOPLE25 HERITAGE26 COMPETITIONS27 MARkETPLACE28 MEET THE TEAM

page 07Hire power: gMe president announces 550 new jobs

EDITORBen Penty01582 427190MANAGING EDITORJos Sharp, 01582 427 173EDITORIAL PANELDavid Fishwick, andrew Biernacki, andy Robson, Fiona Collins, Helen Parker, marie Roberts, martin Lay, mike Hutchin, Sandy macRitchie, Simon Hucknall

Torque is written, designed and produced by beetroot, 68 Leonard Street, London EC2a 4QX (Tel: 020 7749 0180, Fax: 020 7749 0179), and printed by newnorth, on behalf of general motors UK Limited, Luton.Corrections, complaints, queries, suggestions? mail ben.penty@ beetroot.co.uk

PHOTO CREDITSmike Poloway/UnP (Cover, p5); gareth Owen (p9); Bob Johns/UnP (p20); marie Therese/UnP (p28)

CORRESPONDENTSEllesmere Port plantmonica RaisbeckLeigh RimmerGriffin House annisa WhitehallLuton plantCharlotte macLaren Jennifer LokkoWarehouseFaye Johnson

03aUgUST 2014

igniTion

A host of artists were on hand to display their original and limited edition pieces from the back of new and vintage Vauxhalls at this year’s Art Car Boot Fair.

The star of the fair was British artist Gavin Turk, who turned a Vauxhall Ampera into a mobile canvas named Mummy. The entire Ampera has been wrapped in cotton duck canvas allowing nature to take its toll, with everything from the weather to exhaust fumes making their mark on the car as it travels.

He explained: “The idea was to completely wrap the Vauxhall Ampera in canvas and then let nature take its course so the car in a way becomes the painting.

“I loved the idea of using the car as a way to reflect society and our environment.”

Gavin has been a feature of every fair since its inception in 2004, selling works including tax disks, road signs, car tyres and car bumpers. Attendees at Brick Lane, London, even had the chance to buy one of 50 unique pieces, named

Emission Edition, from Gavin. Created by holding a canvas against an exhaust pipe and accelerating, each piece is completely individual.

Cars have been a staple part of Gavin’s work in the past. In new York, he produced a series of interconnected works relating to automotive components, including a popular piece called Exhaust Drawings.

Other high-profile works on display included the Art Cargo, a specially customised Vauxhall Vivaro full of equipment to create original artwork, and The Go Forth Plinth, a series of special artworks displayed aloft the roof-racks of a fleet of Vauxhall cars.

The fair has now hit the road, stopping at the Liverpool Biennial in July and the Folkestone Triennial in August. By joining these art shows, the fair will add new and exciting artists to its established collection of talent.

A short film featuring Gavin’s Ampera and many other artists’ work can be seen here: http://tinyurl.com/gavinturk

ThaT’s a wrap weird and wonderful: an eclectic range of art was on display

04 TORQUE magazinE

igniTion news from vauXhall

Head over wheelsVauxhall has revealed its fourth-generation Corsa to the world ahead of the car’s official unveiling at the Paris Motor Show in October.

The new Corsa is set to raise the benchmark for drivability, comfort and practicality, while retaining its perfect combination of compact exterior dimensions and clever use of cabin space. The model is near-identical in length to the current model but almost every other element of its design and engineering has changed, significantly improving the car’s driveability, efficiency, connectivity and overall ownership experience.

A new 1.0 three-cylinder ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo will power the petrol offerings, while a 1.3 CDTi will feature in the diesel. The 1.0 ECOTEC is part of Vauxhall’s powertrain offensive and is the only three-cylinder engine on the market with a balancer shaft, making it smoother and resonance-free. The engines will be backed up by two new six-speed gearboxes, with a choice between manual and automatic.

Available as a three or five-door hatchback, the range will feature all-new body panels that provide greater definition between the sporty three-door and the premium five-door models. There has also been a complete overhaul of the existing chassis, with no carry-over componentry and an emphasis on rolling refinement, ride quality, precise handling and stability.

Inside the Corsa, a new driver control centre sits within a newly designed

instrument panel and it will also be the first high-volume Vauxhall to be available with IntelliLink – the innovative communications system already available on the ADAM.

new safety systems make sure that the Corsa is well-served for driver safety. Hill start assist, automatic park assist and tyre pressure monitoring come as standard, while customers can choose from features such as side blindspot alert, high beam assist, lane departure warning, bi-xenon lights and a rear-view camera.

“Corsa remains the best-selling car in Vauxhall’s range, which is testament to the continued appeal of the current model to UK buyers, supported by innovative sales programmes that make the car even more enticing,” said Managing Director Tim Tozer.

“So the new Corsa has its work cut out – both as a worthy replacement for the existing car later this year and as a new challenger in a highly competitive class. We’re confident that it will jump both hurdles with ease.”

tiM toZercHairMan & Md,VauXHaLL Motors

Six months after joining Vauxhall and reflecting upon all my visits, meetings and events to date, what strikes me most is the passion and commitment shown by everyone involved with this amazing British brand.

Our plant teams, for example, show phenomenally high levels of engagement and enthusiasm in building our cars and vans, and I have been equally impressed with the positive attitude and dedication to the brand shown by Retailers. I have exactly the same feeling when meeting head office employees, either informally on the stairs in Griffin House or more formally in meetings.

Indeed, the pride and passion shown by Vauxhall employees has been recognised outside our organisation with the award of gold Investors in People status, the highest recognition possible from this well-established and respected organisation – something everyone at Vauxhall can be very proud of.

When GM’s President Dan Ammann visited the UK last month, he made several unprompted references to the Vauxhall team’s obvious dedication and passion for the brand, so this spirit really is clear to all and can be felt in the air.

In July, Dr Karl-Thomas neumann, President of GME, visited the UK with the European board, who were equally impressed. It was fantastic that Dr neumann could confirm Vauxhall’s hiring of 550 new employees at our Ellesmere Port and Luton plants in 2015. This is the first significant new-hire programme for a decade and is necessary to meet demand for the exciting new vehicles both sites are gearing up to build this year and next.

I am absolutely convinced that Vauxhall’s collective team spirit and the massive European investment currently going into new products and engines is a winning combination that is great news for both Vauxhall and British manufacturing.

view from The Top The new Corsa sets a benchmark for style

“Corsa remains The BesT-selling Car in vauXhall’s range, whiCh is TesTamenT To The ConTinued appeal of The CurrenT model To uk Buyers”

05aUgUST 2014

Vauxhall’s Insignia Sports Tourer proved its pulling power at the annual Tow Car Awards, taking top honours in the Best Petrol Engine category.

Run jointly by The Camping and Caravanning Club, Practical Caravan

magazine and What Car, the Insignia saw off rival vehicles from Mercedes-Benz and SEAT.

The judges looked at more than just hauling ability when deciding a

winner, recognising that even the most avid caravan user will spend more time driving unhitched.

Head judge David Motton, Practical Caravan’s Tow Car Editor, said: “The 1.6-litre turbocharged engine proves that the best petrols can make very capable tow cars.

dan The man President of General Motors Dan Ammann’s schedule was certainly chock-a-block for his three-day tour of Vauxhall in June.

Dan’s first port of call was the Luton Plant for the new Vivaro’s media launch, where he offered up a few words of encouragement and watched Paul Swift’s spectacular precision driving. He then joined the plant’s leadership team for an overview of the facility and a Q&A session, before addressing a packed employee restaurant at Griffin House.

Managing Director Tim Tozer joined Dan for the next leg of his journey, as the pair travelled to London to visit UnITE, the union. While in town, there was also time for Dan to meet Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – a great supporter of Vauxhall and an important ally of the booming UK car industry.

Dinner was served at the RAC Club, with Dan on hand to meet a group of 18 UK business and motoring media for a lively debate about GM, the state of the global motor industry and Vauxhall’s rosy future.

There was no time to rest on day two, with a visit to the Heritage Centre first on the agenda. Waiting to take Dan to the venue was a rather special taxi, the historic 30-98.

From the Heritage Centre it was on to

Ellesmere Port, but not before stopping by all-new Vauxhall Retailer Thurlow nunn for a look at the dealership and Vauxhall’s new product range. There he met the leadership team before embarking on a tour. He praised the dedication and enthusiasm of employees, their love of the Vauxhall brand and their high levels of engagement.

The final day of Dan’s visit was a little more relaxing, as he visited one of the world’s greatest motoring events – the Goodwood Festival of Speed. He even had the opportunity to don a Vauxhall race suit and take to the wheel of a Vauxhall VXR8 on the hill sprint, joined in each of his four drives by a UK motoring editor.

Surprised that no GM brands were included in the event, Dan vowed that GM would be back in the future with its brands and products taking their rightful place in pole position!

To Boldly Tow

“At speed, the Vauxhall feels reassuringly solid. Even when tested at speeds above the legal limit, there’s hardly any movement from the caravan.”

Insignia & Ampera Brand Manager Ross Allison was over the moon to receive the award.

He said: “We are delighted that the new Insignia has been named as the

inaugural winner of the Best Petrol Engine category. The new 1.6 Direct Injection Turbo engine launched last year offers customers an exceptional mix of refinement, economy and performance.”

work in progress: dan tours ellesmere port

md Tim Tozer welcomes dan to vauxhall

pull stop: insignia adds to trophy cabinet

“aT speed, The vauXhall feels reassuringly solid. even when TesTed aT speeds aBove The legal limiT”

TORQUE magazinE06

igniTion news from vauXhall

Choice changesVauxhall’s hard work securing the gold Investors in People (IiP) accreditation has earned the team a well-deserved teamGM Transformers Award.

February’s assessment required a significant period of restructuring and change to prepare, with key areas of focus including the Leadership Development Programme, consolidation of the business into one company and working to secure a robust talent pipeline.

In short, Vauxhall demonstrated the drive for change and innovative thinking the teamGM Transformers Award was created to recognise.

“The principles of Investors in People underpin every aspect of Vauxhall Motors’ strategy, and Vauxhall is

using the standard to shape its future direction,” said HR Director Phil Millward.

Changes made for IiP have already had a noticeable effect, with an overwhelmingly positive set of results received for this year’s Workplace of Choice assessment.

An engagement score for the UK of 67 per cent shows a marked increase from last year’s 63 per cent. not only does this score sit above the average benchmark, it’s close to the best employer global benchmark as well. Overall, every Workplace of Choice dimension has increased, with teamwork continuing to be the strongest category at 83 per cent. Globally, the GM score has improved to 62 per cent - a huge 16 per cent higher than last year.

luTon’s goT TalenTLuton Plant has demonstrated its continued commitment to developing talent by increasing the number of engineers professionally registered with the Institution of Mechanical Engineering.

The plant has initiated a monitored professional development scheme to encourage employees to demonstrate their commitment to engineering.

Benefits of becoming professionally registered include structured career development courses, scholarships, awards and networking opportunities.

“The Institution has supported our Vauxhall plant in bringing a number of engineers into membership and professional registration,” explained Plant Director Mike Wright.

“The difference we see now is that engineers are proud of their professional status; undergraduates entering our schemes are responding to our professional expectations, and graduate recruits are attracted by, and keen to know more about, the ways in which Vauxhall will support their career development.”

awards galoreThere are almost too many accolades to list, such is the amount of awards and recognition Ellesmere Port employees have recently received.

Apprentice Hollie Hughes has taken home the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Award for Excellence in the first year category. Hollie was praised by Brian Clarke, Chairman

of the Institution, for her consistently high performance both practically and academically.

Two sponsored students have also gained an impressive final grade in

their degrees. Marcus Walsh, Paint Sealer Engineer, received a first class

degree in mechanical engineering from Staffordshire University, while Charlotte Lane, HR Services

Assistant, received a first in business and management from Salford University along with the Dean’s Award for Excellence, given to the

highest achieving placement student of the year.

As if that wasn’t enough, Commercial

Apprentices Shauna Craig and Dominic Holden have been crowned Students of the Year by West Cheshire College in HR and Supply Chain respectively.

Vauxhall have even won an award themselves, thanks to a nomination from Body Shop Maintenance Manager Allan Martin. Allan nominated the company in the Most Supportive Employer of Adult Cadet Force Volunteers category at the Armed Forces Business Awards.

He said: “Having received fantastic support for my commitments as the Commanding Officer of Chester Sea Cadet unit and the body unit’s commitment to our CSR day, I think the award was thoroughly deserved.”

07aUgUST 2014

igniTion news from vauXhall

Hire power During his visit to the Uk, GME President Dr karl-Thomas Neumann (pictured) took the opportunity to announce that Vauxhall will be taking on 550 new employees across Ellesmere Port and Luton – the first significant new-hire programme for a decade.

Around 300 jobs will be created at Ellesmere Port. The new employees will be phased in over the first quarter of 2015, ahead of production of the next generation Astra beginning later that year. The contract to build the new Astra represents a £125-million investment in the plant.

Luton will be taking on around 250 new employees, following the announcement by Dr neumann that a second shift will be added from January 2015. The new employees will help the facility meet next year’s increase in output following the launch of the all-new Vivaro.

“This is great news for Vauxhall and for British manufacturing,” said Managing Director Tim Tozer. “Both of our UK manufacturing plants have won long contracts with all-new product and as the business strengthens, we now need to take

on more people to build these exciting new Vauxhalls.”

Dr neumann praised Vauxhall employees during the announcement. “I’m really

glad to be able to make the announcement today as

when I came here three quarters of a year ago things were very different.

“The outlook for manufacturing in the UK is very positive and with the energy, enthusiasm and engagement that we felt at the management reviews and in the factory, we have the right recipe for

success.”

seCond siTe A brand new website that provides Vauxhall owners with an online toolset to manage everything about their vehicle has been launched.

The Vauxhall Drivers’ Centre has been reinvented as myvauxhall.co.uk as part of ongoing investment into a new global platform.

Vauxhall is the first part of General Motors to use the platform, with plans for a European and global rollout to follow.

The site has a wide array of features that make managing your Vauxhall as easy as possible. You can manage a garage of Vauxhalls, keep your personal details up to date, save your favourite Retailers to a digital address book, create a calendar of reminders and watch how-to videos for smarter driving tips.

On the more practical side of things, My Vauxhall can also be used to book a service or MOT and reactivate a vehicle’s Lifetime Warranty.

“We wanted to enhance what we currently have and work towards a global platform that sets us on the right track for future customer lifecycle management,” said nicola Scott, Digital Marketing and Website Manager.

“From mobile phone and tablet integration to a packed feature list, the website lays foundations that we can continue to build on.

“In the future, My Vauxhall will also be home to managing OnStar and tracking your vehicle through the build process, with many more things to come.”

“in The fuTure, my vauXhall will also Be home To managing onsTar and TraCking your vehiCle Through The Build proCess”

dr neumann and the gme board at luton plant

TORQUE magazinE08

igniTion news from vauXhall

on The road To eXCellenCeMore than 70 Retailers are on course to win Vauxhall’s highest accreditation for customer service, the Customer Excellence Award.

With 75 sites currently eligible to win the award, the number marks a significant increase on the 46 sites that received the award at the end of last year. Based on combined purchase and service customer satisfaction scores, this highlights the

Learning on the job

increased dedication across the entire Retailer network to delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Retailers that have provided outstanding customer focus and dedicated service so far this year have been recognised with a mid-year Customer Excellence Award. The award takes

the form of a hamper of Cadbury chocolates for all Retailer employees to enjoy, as well as a greeting card acknowledging

their hard work and effort. not only does the mid-year

Customer Excellence Award provide an opportunity

to congratulate current top performers, it also encourages them to keep up their excellent work with

a view to winning the highly coveted 2015 Customer Excellence Award.

Ellesmere Port is now home to three purpose-built learning centres thanks to a partnership between Vauxhall, Unite and West Cheshire College.

The centres give employees the opportunity to improve their English and maths skills by gaining a level 1 or level 2 qualification in numeracy or literacy. There will be access to computers as well as library books within the plant to support their learning.

A special ceremony was held on 19 May to mark the occasion. notable guests included nigel Davies, Principal and Chief

Executive of West Cheshire College, and MP for Ellesmere Port Andrew Miller, who applauded Vauxhall for being the benchmark for employee investment on which other companies should measure themselves.

“Vauxhall is delighted to announce the start of these new courses, which will give employees the chance to gain the equivalent of a GCSE qualification,” said Phil Millward, HR Director.

“We held the celebration to share the good work that we are doing. Vauxhall is committed to investing in its employees to

drive their skills forward and in recognition of this we have recently been awarded with the Investors in People Gold Standard, which only three per cent of Investors in People accredited companies receive.”

John Cooper, Plant Convenor, added: “The launch of the new learning centre will boost employees’ skills in a way which will benefit them both professionally and personally.

“We ran a similar initiative a few years ago and it was a fantastic success, so we are confident that we will repeat this success again.”

open says-me: andrew miller mp helps open a new learning centre

09aUgUST 2014

igniTion news from vauXhall

sTall sToryVauxhall’s undergraduates got a taste of life outside their department thanks to the Bigger Picture event held at the Heritage Centre.

The careers fair-style event was organised following feedback from previous undergrads, who commented that they would have liked greater awareness of career options in different departments around Vauxhall.

Each department’s undergrads had one month to design a stall that gave visitors a unique and interesting view of their department.

Third year apprentices were tasked with managing the project, with undergrads from all sites in the south attending.

in with the new

Sarah Featherstone, Commercial Apprentice and Team Leader, was thrilled with how the event went: “Organising everything was challenging at times but co-ordinating more than 50 undergrads to ensure the content on their stall was engaging was an excellent way to develop our project management skills. To see the event go so successfully was really rewarding.”

Customer Experience Undergraduate Alex Battipaglia attended the event. He said: “It furthered my understanding of various areas of the business and I was able to find out information about other departments I would not have otherwise known. It was also a great opportunity to educate other undergrads about the Customer Care & Customer Experience side of the business as well as public policy.”

luton's heritage Centre was buzzing with excitement

A new set of undergraduatesjoined the Vauxhall team in July

MAx WOOTTONCRM ANALyST “I’ve always been interested in the automotive industry and this placement is a great opportunity to have an impact on it.”

ANNA MATHIESENCOMMERCIAL VEHICLES MARkETING ANALyST“I am looking forward to putting what I’ve been studying into practice.”

SHEENA PAULPRODUCT MARkETING ASSISTANT“The scheme is an excellent way of getting used to a business environment before finishing university and starting my career.”

ALEx BUDDRETAIL MEASUREMENT SPECIALIST“Working for Vauxhall is a chance to learn new skills that will make me more employable in the future.”

CHRIS HAyHURST IT BUSINESS PLANNING ANALyST “I love motor vehicles and the scheme is really well organised, so it was an easy decision to make.”

TORQUE magazinE10

igniTion news from vauXhall

eXCiTe CluB Vauxhall employees have received ExCITE awards for their hard work, dedication and first class service.

For a 12-month period, the monthly award will be given to those who display Customer Driven behaviour – the C in EXCITE.

Paul Green, Mobile Field Engineer, received the May award for what his nominee described as “patience and support that were second to none”.

“I am delighted to have received the award and must thank my colleagues in the Customer Care field team for their continued support,” he said. “To be recognised by an external source has made it especially meaningful.”

Regional Team Leader Toni Giddins won June’s award for showing exceptional leadership and going the extra mile to solve a work-related problem. Her

nominee said, “she makes me want to be a better team member”.

A standalone sales area league, named A League of Their Own, has been launched to reward Retailers who regularly go above and beyond the call of duty to deliver great sales volumes and fantastic customer service.

Retailers receive a score in three different categories, mystery shop, sales volume bonus and purchase satisfaction surveys. The scores are then combined, with Retailers placed into a league table. The league runs twice per year, from January to June and July to December.

Each sales area has a separate league, with eight different areas in total. The top two Retailers in each league receive an award as well as money to spend on a day out for up to 45 employees.

Retailers must maintain a score above the national average to maintain a place in

Premierleague

the league – usually around 90 per cent.Trips chosen by Retailers in the past

include comedy nights, paintballing and Greyhound racing.

“The leagues are designed to drive sales

and reward the whole Retailer team for their success,” said Retail Sales Director Steve Catlin. “I look forward to hearing more about what days out successful Retailers have been on.”

Toni receives June's eXCiTe award

md Tim Tozer presents paul with his award

goldsmith and allcorn enjoyed a trip to The shard

“I was overwhelmed when I was told I’d won, it’s really touching,” said Toni. “I’m lucky to work with a fantastic team who make every day at work a pleasure.”

Both winners were presented with the EXCITE award for the month and £100 of vouchers by MD Tim Tozer.

“i am delighTed To have reCeived The award and musT Thank my Colleagues in The CusTomer Care field Team for Their ConTinued supporT”

11aUgUST 2014

kiT’s a hiTChevrolet celebrated their new seven-year kit sponsorship of Manchester United with an online reveal of the team’s new shirt.

Fans worldwide were invited to participate in a unique digital experience at www.chevroletfc.com, which gave them the chance to virtually wear and share the new shirt via social media.

A video featuring the club’s players, legends and fans was released for the 7 July reveal. The video plays homage to historic Manchester United shirts, beginning with

the club’s 1878 offering and ending with the new kit being revealed for the very first time.

“Our presence on the new Manchester United home shirt is a highly anticipated moment for the club’s more than 659 million followers around the globe and for the Chevrolet brand,” said Tim Mahoney, Chief Marketing Officer, Global Chevrolet.

“From the beginning of our partnership with Manchester United more than two years ago, we pledged to bring fans closer to the game. This celebration of the new shirt honours that pledge by making them part of the unveiling.”

igniTion gm news

new manufacturing lead

l Cathy Clegg has been appointed the new North America Manufacturing

Vice President. She will lead a team of 74,000 employees, with responsibility for 55 facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“Cathy’s proven track record in key labour and manufacturing roles and her passion for innovation will be an asset to GM and her team,” said Jim DeLuca, Executive Vice President, GM Global Manufacturing. “Her demonstrated commitment to employees and our customers will help ensure our continued focus on safety and quality.”

friends reunited

l A ’79 Chevrolet Corvette owner has been reunited with his favourite car

- 33 years after it was stolen.George Talley was presented with the

vehicle at General Motors’ headquarters, just three miles away from where it disappeared in 1981. General Motors even offered to ship the car to his home in Detroit.

“It was a lucky day to hear that my car had been found,” said George. “They told me it was running, had 47,000 miles on it and was ready for me to pick up!”

green machines

l Chevrolet has made its debut at number 32 on leading brand

consultancy Interbrand’s annual Best Global Green Brands report.

The report measures market perception and actual environmental performance of a company and its products.

“People want to buy fuel-efficient cars from companies that share their social and environmental values,” said Alan Batey, North America Executive Vice President and President, General Motors. “Chevrolet is engineering innovative technologies into all of our vehicles to improve fuel economy, and our customer-driven sustainability philosophy is driving many new customers to our dealerships.”

sid

elig

hTgood

viBraTionsEngineers at General Motors’ new brake testing facility can now simulate weather conditions ranging from Alaska to a tropical island thanks to their new brake chassis dynamometer.

The new dynamometer was developed in conjunction with supplier Link Engineering. The state-of-the-art facility can run 24 hours a day, simulate underbody airflow and change temperatures and humidity.

This means vehicles can now take up to 1,900 stops in two and a half days as opposed to 1,000 stops in two weeks using previous methods. The end result of this rigorous testing is quiet braking which customers associate with a quality vehicle.

“If we do our job correctly, the customer won’t notice our work,” said Brent Lowe, GM Performance Engineer for brake noise development. “Watch any movie and you’ll hear brakes squeal every time a car stops because Hollywood loves to add the brake squeaking sound effect, and nothing bugs me more. We work to make sure our brakes lead the industry in silence.”

pride of place: united's new shirt

a Buick encore being put to the test

ellesmere anniversary

TORQUE magazinE12 TORQUE magazinE

efore its illustrious career producing cars began, Ellesmere Port’s job was to supply engines

and other key components to Vauxhall’s Luton and Dunstable operations.

Construction work on the plant concluded in 1962, but it would be two years before employees could celebrate the first car rolling off its production line. That time came around quickly, however, and on 1 June 1964, a white HA Viva rolled off the

Almost half a century to the day since the first car rolled off the line, we look back at the history of production at Ellesmere Port

appetite for production

production line – the first of a staggering five million vehicles the plant would go on to produce.

Ellesmere continued to build the Viva, which cost £527 7s 11d at launch, until 1978, when it was replaced by the Chevette. It was during that time that production was at its peak, with around 12,000 employees working on site. Production was so rapid, in fact, that there was even time to produce 2,000 Chevettes to send to West Germany

B

“This is a momenTous oCCasion for The planT, whiCh has seCured iTs plaCe in The CommuniTy for years To Come”

– Ellesmere Port's first ever export. That was the beginning of a trend, and since the consolidation of Vauxhall and Opel into parent company General Motors the plant has exported more than half its annual production.

Vauxhall’s first front-wheel drive car, the best-selling Astra, was built at the plant on 16 november 1981 and continues in production to this day. The Astra proved to be such a success that there was even a £65-million investment programme to prepare Ellesmere for the car’s second generation in 1984.

With Ellesmere’s advancing age came advances in technology. The plant was the first to adopt catalytic converters for petrol-engines and delivered some of the first cars sold over the internet as Vauxhall became the first vehicle manufacturer to sell online.

Keith Tabiner was employed by Vauxhall as a Sprayer when the first Viva came off the line. He returned to the plant for the anniversary celebrations and was pleased to see that 2014’s employees share the

same work ethic of those from 50 years ago.

“When the plant started producing vehicles, I joined as part of a mass induction,” said Keith. “For the first six months, it was my job to spray 60 Vivas an hour with black bitumen underseal.

“I worked at Ellesmere for 40 years, finishing my career 13 years ago as a foreman. Although a lot has changed, the professional attitude of the workforce has not. I was extremely impressed with everyone who worked there and, at the end of the day, they are the reason the plant continues to be a success.”

Over the years, the plant has weathered motor industry storms and in more recent times has even been threatened with closure. Things are now starting to look up though, with production of the next-generation Astra beginning at the plant in the autumn of 2015.

Stefan Fesser, Plant Director, said: “This is a momentous occasion for the plant, which has secured its place in the community for years to come.”

viva la revolution: ellesmere employees celebrate the plant's first car

The plant's team recreated 1964's photo

13JUnE 2014

siBeria Challenge

t the beginning of July, a trio of ex-service personnel set off from the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, in an

attempt to drive to Magadan, Siberia. Travelling from the most westerly to

the most easterly point in Europe, their two-month journey covers 12,000 miles across 14 capital cities, 21 countries and two continents. They will be using three all-new Vivaros to get the job done, proving that the vans are just as comfortable on the side of a mountain as they are on the UK’s streets.

The team will cross Europe alone until they reach Azerbaijan, after which they’ll be joined by a guide in each of the countries they visit. Terrifying sounding locales the team have to brave include natural gas field The Door to Hell in Turkmenistan and the M56 Kolyma Highway in Russia – also known as The Road of Bones. Things don’t get much more cheerful when they reach Magadan either, which houses Gulag memorial the Mask of Sorrow.

All three members of the team hope to

aappetite for production

Three injured ex-service personnel, three new Vivaros, 12,000 miles

Sub-zero to hero

push themselves to the limit, with the goal of raising £10,000 for Help for Heroes.

The three heroes consist of former Lance Corporal Ian Wright, who hopes the challenge will help his post-traumatic stress disorder and boost his self-confidence, former Sergeant Kes Bradley, taking part to push herself and to show others with post-traumatic stress disorder that they can do the same, and former Lance Bombadier Stefan Godfree, who now spends most of his time in a wheelchair and wants to explore the limits of his disability to find out what he can do, rather than what he can’t.

They will be joined by a talented backup crew comprised of team leader Mac Mackenney, doctor and photographer Rich Wain-Hobson and mechanics Tony Mole and Paul Marsh.

Every one of them has gone through a rigorous selection process to prepare them for the trip and has even trained in off-road driving. For safety reasons, the three Vivaros will always be driven in a tight convoy, so practical skills to help them work closely together are essential.

Luton Plant Technician Tony said his participation on the trip came through a chance meeting with Mac: “He came in and I thought he was another dealer just looking at the vehicles.

“Someone said he was going to take three Vivaros to Siberia and as a joke I asked him if he was looking for a mechanic. He said yes but I thought nothing of it. Two weeks later my manager asked me if I wanted to do some driving and I said yes, but I didn’t know it was for this and then all of a sudden I was put on it!”

You can help the team reach their fundraising goal through the challenge’s JustGiving page. To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/vivarosiberiachallenge

Tackling hills in Bulgaria

12,000 miles

21 CounTries

14 CapiTal CiTies

2 ConTinenTs

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london To BrighTon

14

he ADAM’s Family commitment to the London to Brighton cycle ride was plain for all to see, as they

gathered outside Griffin House at a yawn-inducing 5am. Employees from across Vauxhall took part, with a pair of cyclists from the European IT team even flying in from Opel in Russelsheim to be involved.

Despite the early start, the team soon set off in a motorcade consisting of two coaches, two articulated lorries and two vans, ready to join more than 30,000 cyclists taking part in the annual event. The motorcade did not include everyone taking part, however, as a number of particularly hardcore cyclists in the team decided to ramp up the mileage by cycling from Luton to the start as well!

Vauxhall’s eighth year of participation is a particularly poignant one, following the sad loss of colleague Gavin Cook to a heart condition late last year. The 2014 ride was dedicated to raising funds for the British Heart Foundation in Gavin’s memory.

The London to Brighton is a staple part of many cyclists’ calendar, with an iconic route that takes participants from London all the way down to the Brighton seaside. The toughest part of the course is the Ditchling Beacon, a monstrous one-

mile uphill climb 50 miles into the event. Thankfully, the team managed to success-fully tackle the steep slopes unscathed and were able to enjoy a comparatively relaxing descent into the home straight, no doubt looking forward to the barbecue that awaited them on the beach. It would be a short barbecue for some though, as a number of the team were already prepar-ing to continue cycling on to Paris over the two days following the event!

The Vauxhall and Chevrolet contingent was organised by IT Manager Faye Wid-dowson, who praised the cyclists and crew involved: “Congratulations to the team and a big thank-you to the ADAM’s Family beach crew who gave up their weekend to keep the massive team fed, hydrated and

A 155-strong GM ADAM’s Family descended on Clapham common on 15 June to take part in the annual London to Brighton cycle ride

safe. not only did they serve 220 burgers, 220 sausages,hundreds of cups of tea and a mountain of cakes, crisps and drinks, they also helped the British Heart Foundation hand out medals at the finish line!

“We were riding in memory of friend and colleague Gavin Cook, who we sadly and suddenly lost to a heart condition last year. The team have so far raised £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation, with funds still coming in! next year is also the 40th anniversary of the London to Brighton, so I would love to see as many people as possi-ble getting on their bikes for what is always a fantastic day out.”

The Griffin House Knitting Club also pitched in by knitting ‘mugs hugs’, which are available to purchase downstairs at the coffee bar. There’s still time to reward the team’s efforts with a donation too, just visit http://justgiving.com/JasonBrownL2B

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day trippers

pedal to the medal

Bike it or lump it

“I didn't know what hurt the most, my backside or my legs. All I could think about was finishing as quickly as possible and getting off my bike!” Mike Carrey, Press & Body x82 Integration Manager, Luton Plant

“A huge thank-you to Faye and all her team. We had a really great day, albeit a long one, and the facilities provided were excellent. Well worth every penny.” Chris McLaren, Quality Engineer, Luton Plant

“I was pretty nervous before the start line but once we were on our way it was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever done. The feeling coming into Brighton, racing with those around you and crossing the line as the crowd cheered was amazing.” James Galloway, Materials Flow Coordinator, Luton Plant

15aUgUST 2014

vivaro sTunT

he new Vivaro is already the best looking van on the market but Vauxhall is keen to show the world it’s

got just as much going on under the hood.Enter aptly named precision driver Paul

Swift, who pushed the van to its absolute limits to create an exhilarating new promotional video.

The action begins on what looks like a normal day at the Luton Plant. As employees go about their business, Paul casually gets into a new Vivaro, fastens his driving gloves and pumps up the volume. What follows is an incredible mix of J-turns and handbrake turns around the plant, as seemingly unruffled employees look on.

As the action intensifies, Paul even manages to get the vehicle up on two wheels, before skidding it back into its place on the assembly line. He then exits the van and strolls off as if nothing happened.

Plant Director Mike Wright released a firmly tongue-in-cheek statement to accompany its release: “As Britain’s largest LCV manufacturer, we want to ensure that every customer receives the very best van that we can produce, and that means putting it through the most demanding manoeuvres we can think of.

“Our official test driver – known as Stig-aro to the men and women on the production line – has now got his procedure down to such a fine art that it barely raises an eyebrow in the factory. They just let him get on with it. But please don’t try this at home!”

The video has been an instant hit on YouTube, notching up more than 360,000 views since its release. Journalists who visited the plant for the Vivaro’s press launch even had the opportunity to see Paul perform a selection of stunts from the video first-hand.

Despite pulling off some truly incredible manoeuvres for the video, Paul remained as calm as ever when talking about his preparation.

"It was a unique opportunity to perform inside the plant,” he said. "We had a couple of rehearsals at Croft Circuit beforehand which helped us find out the capabilities of the Vivaro.

“Vauxhall have put a lot of development into the handling characteristics. It was surprisingly agile and performed a lot like many current cars I've driven.”

To see Paul in action as he puts the new Vivaro through its paces visit http://tinyurl.com/vivarostunt

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To celebrate the launch of the new Vivaro, Vauxhall has revealed a radical test-film

The fastest van on two wheels

lights, camera, action!

paul puts the vivaro through its paces

“our offiCial TesT driver is known as sTig-aro To The men and women on The produCTion line”

ChariTy Challenge

ou find out unusual things about yourself when under severe duress. For example, I discovered

in the middle of Loch ness that when right up against it, my mind copes by looping the theme tune to Antiques Roadshow.

This journey of self-discovery began back in January, when Purchase Manager Mick Aiers announced that the latest charity challenge for undergrads and other Vauxhall employees would be a three-day kayak trip across Scotland, starting in Fort William and ending in Inverness. The route known as the Great Glen Way normally takes five days, so in true Mick style we would attempt it in three. naturally, not one of the 11 who signed up for this had any experience of kayaks, so we signed up on a course at the Viking Kayak Club in Bedford to find out how to get in, out, and paddle them all about.

With our accreditations attained (after several dunkings in murky urban rivers) the trip itself began all too soon. We started on a grey Thursday morning at Bannavie near Fort William, the previous night’s liquid courage having deserted us. In true selfless style, Retail Sales Support Coordinator Dan Howarth decided at that point to take one for the team, tipping over into the drink in a bid to appease the river gods. It certainly worked; no one else fell prey to the water and the weather brightened up and remained dry and even sunny throughout the trip.

Our first day was spent gently navigating the Caledonian Canal before crossing the nine-mile long Loch Lochy. It may have a truly unimaginative name, but the absolutely stunning scenery and glassy smoothness of the water made it an unforgettable experience. Sadly, the infamous biting midges of Scotland also thought they would give us their own brand of souvenir. not a pleasant sensation when hundreds of them

y

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are trapped inside the kayak by your legs…Luckily, they were notably absent on day

two, but this was where our luck ran out. After a morning making good progress from South Laggan, we reached our nemesis – the legendary Loch ness. Frankly, I don’t think a mythical sea beast could have made it any worse. The powerful headwind, large waves and tide coming at us meant some serious paddling was needed just to stay still, and after having already done ten miles it was quite a challenge seeing the shore go in the wrong direction when you stopped! It was here we discovered the power of song, and the name That Tune game kept our minds off what seemed an impossible task.

We finally hobbled out of our boats into the hostel having covered a third of the monstrous lake, glad of a decent meal. Aching arms meant even raising a glass was a challenge! We decided to set off even earlier the next morning to avoid the growing wind, but just as it seemed the conditions could get no worse, Mother nature took pity on us. After stopping for a break at the picturesque ruins of Urquhart

loCh and QuayA group of Vauxhall employees took on an epic three-day challenge to cross Scotland by kayak, all for charity Help for Heroes. Doug Peck reports

17aUgUST 2014

a Trip To TedworThVauxhall visits Help for Heroes rehab unitMoney raised by the kayakers was used to purchase paracanoes for injured veterans Joe Humphrey and Nikki Paterson. Joe lost his left leg after being shot by a Taliban sniper, while Nikki lost her right leg through the knee following a road traffic accident.

Both went through rehabilitation at Tedworth House, Hampshire, one of four recovery centres run by Help for Heroes. The house provides support to serving and veteran members of the armed forces who have been wounded, injured or become sick.

Communications Assistant Annisa Whitehall was part of a group of Vauxhall employees who visited Tedworth House to present Joe and Nikki with their paracanoes. She said: “Meeting Joe and Nikki was an incredible experience. It was amazing to see their positivity despite going through hell and back. After seeing how happy they are, it really makes all the aches and pains of the kayak challenge worthwhile.

“We presented them with their paracanoes as well as a card wishing them luck for their future endeavours in the sport, as both of them are hoping to compete for the British Paralympic team at Rio in 2016.

“There was also the opportunity to take a tour of the house itself. They have more than 50 rooms where people can go to recover, including one sponsored by Vauxhall. They offer world-class sporting facilities, an art gym complex and even an indoor ski simulator. It’s great to see that these people, who have given so much for our country, are being so well looked after.”

Castle, the wind started to do a 180-degree turn to push us towards our goal; had it remained as it was I’m not sure how we would have coped. We pushed on anew, and without the waves we made good progress towards the relative sanctity of the River ness.

The final push took everything we had left; but it was a mere seven kilometres to the finish line at that point and spirits were still intact. An interesting encounter with a hen party at one of the lochs provided some comic relief, and then suddenly the beauty of the river turned to a more familiar urban waterway, complete with cider can buoys. We knew we were close to Inverness.

Our greeting party of 12-year-olds hanging out at the Muirtown Lochs didn’t exactly give us the heroes’ welcome we deserved, but we were beyond caring. The champagne was popped, and we knew we had done it. We were exhausted, elated and in some disbelief that we had just paddled 60 miles in three days.

To date we have raised over £5,500 for Help for Heroes, and gained personal achievements that will stay with us forever. Of course, behind every great paddler is an equally magnificent support team. It simply would not have been possible without Mark Poulton and Emily Preston, who made all our lunches and snacks, transported us around, documented the trip and generally made sure we survived.

If you’re thinking about signing up for next year’s adventure with Mick, all I can say is, do it – you might find out something surprising about yourself!

“The aBsoluTely sTunning sCenery and glassy smooThness of The waTer made iT an unforgeTTaBle eXperienCe”

Joe and nikki were delighted with their paracanoe

our vehiCles

18 TORQUE magazinE

ost people donating to charity will usually be happy to pop a few quid in a collecting tin and think nothing

more of where their donation is going. not so for twin brothers Mo and Abdul El-Tobgy, who are making sure their donation of a Movano ambulance gets to the people who need it – by driving it to the capital of Mongolia, Ulaan Baatar, 10,000 miles away!

Mo and Abdul will be driving the second-hand ambulance (nicknamed Amber) across Europe to Turkey, before crossing Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia, finally taking on the all-encompassing wilderness of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.

It’s a trip that requires faith in your vehicle as Mo explained: “We bought it second-hand from an acquaintance that had sourced it from South Western Ambulance Service, and although it had lots of service history we contacted Vauxhall to see if they would help us get it ready for the trip. They completely serviced it for us, replacing all the tyres, servicing the brakes, changing the fluids, and checked it all over to make sure it would take the rough terrain. The technicians said they were very impressed that it was in such

m

Two brothers are delivering a Movano ambulance to Mongolia, passing through 17 countries on the way and clocking up 10,000 miles…where

are They now?

in our regular feaTure, we look aT some of The more unusual vauXhalls in use around The CounTry

great condition for its age and now it’s pretty much perfect!”

Amber the ambulance will be delivered to charity Go Help, which operates a number of initiatives in Mongolia. It works closely with local communities through providing ambulances, mobile libraries, child protection and education scholarships, and Amber will be an invaluable asset to them according to Mo: “It’s a passenger transport ambulance so it has installations for oxygen and storage for equipment; there's also enough space on board for a stretcher. It will be used to transport passengers to and from hospital and will be very valuable to people across Mongolia.”

Mo envisages that they will spend roughly three days in every country: “We want to make sure we can take it a bit easy and not put too much strain on ourselves or the ambulance – we want it to get there in one piece!” Since november, the brothers have raised £ 3,500 for the ambulance and an additional £3,000 for fuel costs and visas, with any extra going straight to the charity. By the time you read this, they’ll be halfway across Bulgaria, all going to plan, so we wish them and Amber all the best in completing their delivery!

Technical apprentice matt allen gave amber a quick check while the twins met md Tim Tozer

aUgUST 2014

10 years of vXr

he VXR brand roared on to the UK market for the first time in 2004 and has rapidly grown in popularity over

the last 10 years.VXRs have always had a keen following in

Britain, with total sales exceeding 20,000. It's the leading market in Europe for Vauxhall/Opel performance cars with just below half of European performance trim coming to the UK market. The first cars to wear the VXR badge, the VXR220 and the Monaro VXR, were launched at the British Motor Show in 2004 and the number 00 VXR220 can still be viewed in the Heritage Centre to this day.

There are currently five cars in the VXR

range: the Corsa VXR, Corsa VXR ClubSport, Astra VXR, Insignia VXR and VXR8 GTS. With a combined power output of nearly 1,600PS, the VXR range is certainly no slouch!

Performance cars and rear-drive saloons aren’t the only cars that have had a VXR makeover either. The Zafira and Meriva MPVs may not have been an obvious choice but with chassis development at the nurburgring and a raft of cabin upgrades added, they soon proved doubters wrong.

More recent models, such as the Astra VXR and Corsa VXR ClubSport, feature sophisticated differential technology to help handle ever increasing power outputs. The

Drexler manufactured units apply power more effectively through bends, giving the driver the impression they are being pulled towards the apex under power.

Other technological enhancements featured in the VXR range include torque vectoring and magnetorheological damping (VXR8 GTS), adaptive all-wheel drive (Insignia VXR), FlexRide adaptive damping (Astra and Insignia VXRs) and HyPerStat front suspension (Astra VXR).

“VXR is a halo product,” said Brand Manager Douglas McColm. “It’s aspirational for Vauxhall customers and enthusiasts but has grown to become its own brand.”

T

The addition of the VXR8 GTS to Vauxhall’s VXR range marks a decade since the much-loved performance brand’s debut in the UK

Built for speed

19

vXr Timeline - a deCade of power

august 2004 monaro vXr

october 2005 astra vXr

summer 2004 vXr 220

June 2007 vXr8

september 2009 insignia vXr

august 2011 Corsa vXr nurburgring

april 2013 insignia vXr supersport

march 2014 Corsa vXr Clubsport

march 2014 vXr8 gTs

July 2012 astra vXr

march 2011 vXr8 e3 maloo

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overdrive people

20

cover several tasks. It also creates a safer working environment and with quite a few repetitive actions to complete, it prevents any ergonomic issues that could arise. On this particular day, I start setting rear doors.

08:45: After a 10 minute-break, I switch to hanging doors – my second operation of the day.

11.25: With lunch out of the way, I change operations again and begin setting front doors.

13:40: Following my final 10-minute break, I switch operations for the last time and work on setting hoods.

a d

ay in

Th

e li

fe

14:44: Once my shift has finished, I head to my office and begin my mayoral responsibilities. I’ve worked at the plant for 36 years, so don’t find it particularly difficult to move between the two. Vauxhall have made the process incredibly smooth and are always very accommodating whenever I need to attend to official duties.

Becoming Mayor has been something I have been working towards for a long time and after being a councillor for so many years, I’m overwhelmed to have finally achieved my target.

Afternoon work in the office usually involves checking emails and preparing for any upcoming events I have to attend. Since I took office in May, much of my time has been spent visiting schools and meeting young people. I have worked with groups such as the Bangladesh Youth League, Mitalee Youth Association and the former Starlight Youth Club.

I’ve always enjoyed working for Vauxhall and have a fantastic group of colleagues alongside me. Whether I'm on the line or working as mayor, they have been incredibly supportive of my endeavours outside of the plant. Some might think that balancing two different jobs on a daily basis is a tough task, but it’s a problem I hope to have for a long time yet!

Chain ofCommandWorking on the production line and as Mayor of Luton at the same time makes Mohammed Farooq’s days a little more unusual than most.

6:00: A lot of people would balk at the prospect of having two jobs, but working at Vauxhall and as Mayor of Luton is the realisation of a lifelong ambition.

My day gets going when I arrive at the Luton Plant and get changed for my shift as a Door Setter on the production line. My main job function is to ensure that the doors are fitted to the correct specification using a standardised method to achieve the expected quality standards for gaps, flushness and closing efforts.

It takes approximately 125 seconds to complete a cycle of work, at which point the process begins again. We can get through 215 vehicles a day on average, with one in every 17 a new Vivaro.

I cover four different operations on rotation during the day, each for a quarter of my shift. It may seem counterintuitive to keep switching but it ensures every member of the team is flexible enough to

“They’ve all Been inCrediBly supporTive of my endeavours ouTside of The planT and are always There whenever i need anyThing”

overdrive people

aUgUST 2014 21

ChariTy Begins aT workA number of employees have recently taken up Vauxhall’s offer of a paid day off to support a local charity or community project.

Members of the Warranty Administration team spent a day at the Luton Foodbank on 12 June, mucking in with a variety of tasks including visiting collection sites, making up food parcels, cataloguing donations and delivering parcels.

“Before we went, we didn’t really know much about the foodbank, how it operates or who uses it,” said Calie Rushton, Warranty Analyst. “It’s not a big

Based on the distance participants need to cycle, the Hero Ride certainly has an appropriate name.

Simon MacConachie, General Manager of Retailer Sherwoods, pedalled more than 500 miles between Edinburgh and London with the Tartan Express Hero Ride, a party of wounded or injured servicemen and veterans, and volunteers.

He managed to raise £3,000 for Help for Heroes in the process, well in excess of his initial target of £2,500.

As a resident of Richmond, north Yorkshire, Simon said cycling through his hometown was particularly difficult: “We thought the borders were going to be the toughest but County Durham held its own in terms of difficult hills. By the time we reached Richmond, I was desperate to pop home, especially since it was raining!

“If I thought it was fantastic riding out of Edinburgh, reaching London turned out to be even better. There were 25 riders in my group and we met another 1,000 who had travelled from Manchester, Cardiff, Tedworth House and Paris for the final stretch to the Cenotaph.

“I sometimes wondered if my legs were going to get through another day but the bond we developed and my fellow riders’ sense of humour really spurred me on.”

absolute hero

Tree’s CompanyThey say great oaks from little acorns grow, which is why Vauxhall has funded the purchase of 300 trees to celebrate World Environment Day.

not only will the company plant and develop a Vauxhall Forest, you can even have one or more trees planted in your name with a certificate to prove it!

As part of the initiative, any purchases you make through Vauxhall's Shopping Mall will earn commission, which will then be used to plant more trees and further expand the forest.

To make this happen, all you have to do is shop online through the Mall instead of using Google or directly visiting a vendor.

The Mall gives you access to more than 500 online stores offering a host of bargains 24/7.

Simone Porter, PA, decided to name a tree after her daughter: “The Vauxhall Forest is a project that will help future generations, which is why I decided to name my tree after Darcie.

“It’s incredibly easy to do and takes no more than a minute, so I would really encourage my colleagues to hop online and name a tree!”

For more information, visit www.vauxhall-marketplace.co.uk and login using username: vx and password: offers

Touch wood: simone and darcie

Cyclists gather at the Centotaph

commitment for us but the help you can give them in one day is invaluable.”

Gary Bird, Sales District Manager, spent the day helping run a football skills programme at Solihull FC.

Organised by Birmingham’s Football Association, the free one-day event gave six to 11 year olds the chance to improve their footballing skills.

“I manage my son's team, so getting kids involved in football at a grassroots level is something I’m very passionate about,” said Gary. “I know a lot of the parents also appreciated the opportunity to put their feet up for the day!”

overdrive people

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park in spaCe If you’ve ever watched the odometer on your car tick over to 100,000 miles, you’ll know what a strangely satisfying feeling it is. For Vauxhall customers Rob and Jackie Barrett, this milestone has come around five times – in the same car!

Their 2001 Zafira 1.6 in Prestige Blue has clocked up more than 520,000 miles in their ownership, the equivalent of driving to the moon and back and then once round the earth for good measure. In that time the resilient people carrier has performed almost flawlessly, requiring just an ECU and a water pump as the only major replacement parts.

Rob said: “I’ve had four Vauxhalls in the past, and they’ve all achieved pretty high mileages, with my Cavalier reaching over

150,000 miles before I sold it. The Zafira has been fantastic, a really practical car which has seen us through house moves, shopping trips and holidays. The flexible seats in the back are particularly useful as we can transport our grandchildren around or fold them flat to carry large items.”

Since Rob and Jackie bought the car from Bridge Vauxhall in Banbury as an ex-demo vehicle, the mileage has been racked up through long commutes from the couple’s home in northamptonshire, as well as numerous trips to Scotland and Wales. But what’s his secret to keeping it on the road? “I’ve just kept it maintained and regularly serviced,” Rob explained, “and driven it with a light right foot. It’s got a few cosmetic issues but mechanically it is still going strong. I plan to drive it until it requires some major work but until then it has done my family and me a great service.”

love aT firsT fighTThere’s a whole generation of people who remember sitting down to watch the wrestling as a child and dreaming of one day being able to take to the ring.

Steven Quinlan, Logistics Manager for AC Delco, decided to follow that dream and become a wrestler after a colleague introduced him to a trainer at his gym.

now, after more than one and a half years of training, Steven has started fighting for Total Action Wrestling under the moniker Steven John Quinlan III. His character is that of a manager who takes matters into his own hands after being repeatedly attacked by other wrestlers.

He said: “My character is a heel that's used to wind the audience up. My storyline is that I got beaten up so many times I eventually decided to fight back.

For the first time in the event’s history, Vauxhall had a stand at this year’s annual Urdd Eisteddfod held in Bala, North Wales.

The event, organised by youth movement The Urdd, is a celebration of the country’s culture with a particular emphasis on the Welsh language.

A huge amount of work was done in advance to ensure that Vauxhall primarily used Welsh. Everything from spec sheets to signage was translated ready for the event, to the delight of organisers and visitors alike.

There was also the chance for attendees to drive an ADAM, albeit a pedal version. Urdd officials even got behind the wheel for a race to see which of them was the quickest on the specially constructed track.

“Vauxhall were there to represent Retailers across Wales,” said Tim Pritchard, a Director of north Wales Retailer group Slaters, who co-ordinated the event on behalf of Welsh Retailers. “It’s a great way of introducing our youth to Vauxhall and raising awareness of the brand.”

“I was delighted to see how committed Vauxhall were to the event and I must thank everyone involved for the huge effort they put in to get everything prepared through the medium of our language - Welsh. The organisers must have been pleased too, as Vauxhall were presented with a special plaque at the end of the event.”

native tongue

“For the last few months, I’ve been taking part in fights myself. I love the interaction with the crowd and the feeling you get when you know you’ve put on a good show.”

Gaining the adoration or, for Steven’s villainous character, the hatred of the crowd after a good performance is only half of why the sport appeals to him. He said the physicality and endurance needed during training also comes with its own benefits. “A session usually begins with a work out

and technique practice, before a little more fun stuff at the end.

“There is a level of discipline and confidence

required that can be transferred into everyday life. If there’s

one thing I’d say to anyone interested, it’s

that if an untrained 30-something like me can get

into wrestling, so can you!”

if i could drive 500,000 miles, then i could drive 500,000 more

let's get ready to tumble!

European Retail Experience and Measurement Director Dean Barrett recounts his time as part of a team who oversaw the restructure of Vauxhall’s Sales & Marketing and Aftersales departments, which included the merger of the previously separate Marketing teams back in 2000.

At that time, we had a Marketing team that worked out of Griffin House and an Aftersales Marketing team that worked from Chalton House near the Luton Warehouse.

Each team had a separate board director, Ian Coomber for Vehicle Sales & Marketing and David Poole for Aftersales. I worked for David as Sales & Marketing Director for Aftersales, which included managing the MasterFit brand. At Griffin House, Ian had an overall Marketing Director as well as a Director responsible for Marketing Communications.

Ian, David and the study team decided that we would be better structured with all Marketing, including the network Q used-vehicle brand, managed together at Griffin House. As such, a unified marketing department was created for all Vehicles and Aftersales, while a Customer Care

department was created to focus attention on Vauxhall owners after the sale.

The whole process took around four months to complete. It was a relief to finally reveal the plan to everyone, as it had been kept under wraps towards the beginning. Career-wise it was a great step for me, as I was then made the single Marketing Director.

Following completion of the restructure, synergy of thought improved immensely and we adopted a much more customer-focused approach. The vehicle marketing challenges we were working on included the Agila, Astra Coupé, VX220 and, what was at the time, the new Corsa.

We even worked to change the Griffin logo, taking the flat image we were using and adding more of a 3D effect to it. This came into play on our marketing and then in dealerships. That’s just one example of how forward thinking we became as we continued to look at ways to modernise Vauxhall.

Shortly after the change, Vectra production stopped at the Luton Plant. We used the opportunity to reinvent ourselves, keep spirits high and to be positive through our marketing. Soon after, we came up with one of Vauxhall’s most memorable campaigns – Put the fun back into driving for the Corsa. That is a great example of how the changes pushed us to improve and opened up a whole new way of thinking.

23aUgUST 2014

Pivot Point

“The vehiCle markeTing Challenges we were working on inCluded The agila, asTra CoupÉ, vX220 and, whaT was aT The Time,The new Corsa”

niCk of TimeAssistant Service Manager Nick Stuart recently celebrated an amazing 40 years of service with colleagues at Retailer Bridge Motors.

nick began his career as a 16-year-old Apprentice Car Mechanic at the Retailer’s Banbury branch – a job he found after mentioning to a classmate that he wanted to be a mechanic. Fortunately, his classmate’s father just happened to work for a nearby Retailer and he was offered the position soon after meeting him.

“I started out working on cars and did a bit of work on lorries as well,” said nick. “Because I was the youngest apprentice, I occasionally had to work in the office to cover colleagues on holiday. I found that

I quite liked working with customers, so continued to work on the desk whenever I could despite continuing as a mechanic for 20 years.

“Eventually, I got the job working full-time on service reception. Whenever someone asks me why I love my job, I always tell them it’s because I love dealing with our customers.”

nick was presented with an Armani watch by his colleagues, who all signed a card congratulating him on his career landmark.

“I did not expect it at all and was really touched by the effort everyone went to,” he added. “I’ve always said that anything I start is forever, so I hope to continue working with Bridge Motors for a long time yet!”

managing director Colin igoea (l) presents nick (r) with his watch

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24 TORQUE magazinE

of ice and men

hey say the younger siblings in a family always pick up things from the older ones, so I suppose I was

destined to end up as an ice hockey player! I have three elder brothers who play, and they introduced me to the sport when I was five years old. They have all competed at national level and have always helped me out by putting my name out there with influential people involved in the sport. Sometimes it’s about who you know and fortunately I’ve

often been aware of who I needed to talk to in order to progress

through the teams.I started playing at

club level in Telford’s junior ranks, and soon

progressed to play for the England U13s. Until last year, when I reached the age limit, I played for the Great Britain U18s. The next step would have

been the Great Britain seniors but I decided

against it as the level of commitment required would definitely have had

too much of an impact on my career.

During the season, between September and April, I train every Tuesday and Thursday night, often with two games at the weekend. It’s a huge undertaking but it keeps you

fit and the results have certainly justified the hard work.

It’s important to enjoy the sport, as I found out this year. I used to play for a team in the top league who were losing every match, and then moved to Chelmsford Chieftains who are in the league below. We had a fantastic season, winning both of the cups available in the league, the play-offs and the league title. It made me realise that getting involved, winning games and having a laugh with your teammates is necessary to stop the commitment becoming a burden.

Although the sport has something of a violent reputation, I am fortunate not to have had any particularly nasty scrapes. The worst I’ve had is a broken nose, which is nothing compared to some of the injuries my teammates have suffered from. Skating down the ice as a six-foot-five opponent careers towards you can be a daunting prospect, especially as I’m not the tallest person myself. Luckily my slighter stature allows me a bit more mobility, so I tend to use my skills and agility as opposed to brute strength!

The social aspect of the sport has always been a big plus for me. The hockey community isn’t huge, although that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as everyone tends to know each other. You may end up playing alongside a former opponent or have the opportunity to face off against a teammate you never really got on with. Due to the physical nature of the sport, people tend to put on a front to intimidate their opponents and gain a psychological advantage. Players can be the nicest people you know off the rink but once they’re on the ice it’s a different story!

T

get your skates on: aftersales marketing specialist luke ready to play

The quadruple-winning Chelmsford Chieftans

Luke Brittle explains why ice hockey is the sport for him

heriTage

The sun was shining for this year’s Classics in the Walled Garden, with motor enthusiasts relishing the chance to show off their vehicles in Luton Hoo’s historic walled garden.

Vauxhall employees drove six of the Heritage Centre’s cars to the event, the D-Type Staff Car, the Viscount, the Ventora, the HB Viva, the Astra MK1 GTE and the E-Type Wyvern. Others brought their own classic cars to join the display of more than 300 vehicles.

As the evening continued, visitors were treated to live music, with food and drink on offer for those who didn’t bring their own picnic.

Vauxhall’s attendees, armed with blankets and plenty of nibbles, were based in the paddock outside of Luton Hoo.

Samara nicholls, Carline Product Analyst, drove one of the heritage fleet to the event. She said: “It was a great evening and luckily the weather was ideal too. It was a fantastic opportunity to not only have a look around privately owned cars but to actually drive some of our heritage classics.

“I went in the Vauxhall Viva. I loved getting to drive a part of history and join in the convoy of owners heading towards Luton Hoo. It has definitely made me appreciate the brakes and power steering of modern cars a lot more!”

The legendary D-Type Staff Car has been busy making appearances across the Uk this summer as part of the World War One centenary commemorations.

First up was a visit to the Farnborough International Airshow as part of Brooklands Museum’s display, before a spell at the museum itself during the school holidays.

It then took part in the Brooklands Great War 100 event – a prelude to the Great War Centenary Parade in London.

There was even time to stop by the famous battlefields in Ypres for a photo shoot with Classic & Sports Car magazine.

Vauxhall was one of only a few manufacturers that supplied vehicles to the war effort, producing more than 1,500 D-Type Staff Cars for military use. They played a vital role during the conflict, allowing the military to quickly mobilise key personnel.

With a sturdy chassis and durable four-cylinder, sidevalve 3969 engine, the D-Type could achieve 60mph and deal with road

surfaces that would tax even the toughest of today’s cars.

The Morning Post summed up the importance of Vauxhall’s D-Type soon after hostilities had finished: “The four-cylinder Vauxhall cars have proved to be the most generally satisfactory of any British make for staff service.”

What a trooper

d-lightful: the d-Type staff Car in ypres

25aUgUST 2014

Car afield

wheel good time: getting to grips with hertiage classics

vauXhall Heritage CenTre open day

Sunday 24 Augustpark street, Luton, Lu1 3Hg

over 50 heritage vehicles along with some more current onesFree entry/parking

bbQ and children’s entertainment

“iT was a fanTasTiC opporTuniTy To noT only have a look around privaTely owned Cars BuT To aCTually drive some of our heriTage ClassiCs”

Offi cial Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption fi gures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall Corsa Excite and Corsa Limited Edition: Urban: 39.2 (7.2) – 64.2 (4.4), Extra-urban: 62.8 (4.5) – 83.1 (3.4), Combined: 51.4 (5.5) – 74.3 (3.8). CO2 emissions: 129 – 100g/km.#

*Offer subject to availability at participating Retailers only. Finance subject to status, terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 years or over. Finance by Vauxhall Finance, PO Box 6666, Cardiff, CF15 7YT. Offer includes Vauxhall contribution. Customer deposit shown after deduction of Vauxhall contribution. At the end of the Personal Contract Purchase agreement there are three options: i) Retain the vehicle: Pay the optional fi nal payment to own the vehicle, Corsa Excite £3,638, Corsa Limited Edition £5,035, ii) Return the vehicle, or iii) Replace: Part Exchange the vehicle, where equity is available. Offer applies Vauxhall Partners only. ‡First year insurance offer available on Corsa Excite and Limited Edition models only. All drivers must have held a valid full UK licence for a minimum of 1 year. All policies are underwritten by Ageas Insurance Ltd. Other insurance specifi c Terms and Conditions apply. ^Drivers aged 18-20 will make a contribution of £99 to their premium and must agree to the fi tting of a telematics box to the car: every 3 months, your policy will be reviewed and if you drive well, we will return part of this to you. The policy may be cancelled for consistently poor driving. Only available through ingenie. **The offer will cover the full premium for drivers aged between 21-75 (motor policy only). Only available through Vauxhall Insurance. Offer available on orders or registrations between 2 July and 1 October 2014. #Offi cial EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. For Partners Terms and Conditions go to partnersprogramme.co.uk/legal-notice-and-privacy-policy. Correct at time of going to print 08/07/2014.

www.partnersprogramme.co.uk

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT

Offers end 1st October 2014, to fi nd out more visit: www.partnersprogramme.co.uk, call 0844 875 2448 or visit your Vauxhall Retailer.

CORSA EXCITEWith Morrocana trim, 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth® connectivity, front fog lights, leather-covered steering wheel with audio controls.

CORSA LIMITED EDITIONWith 17-inch black twin-spoke alloy wheels, VXR Styling Pack, chrome exhaust tailpipe, sport suspension, air conditioning, cruise control.

CORSA FUNFROM £189 A MONTH, £189 DEPOSIT* PLUS INSURANCE OFFER

CORSA EXCITE£189 per month£189 customer deposit*, over 35 months.

CORSA LIMITED EDITION£199 per month£199 customer deposit*, over 35 months.

REPRESENTATIVEAPR0% FLEXIBLE PCP*

1 YEAR'S INSURANCE‡

18-20 yrs ONLY £99^

21-75 yrs FREE**

L_GMR_C1268_Q3_Torque_HP.indd 1 08/07/2014 10:57

CompeTiTions

26 TORQUE magazinE

Across3. Consecrate (5) 8. Of the nose (5) 10. Complete (5) 11. Yes, informally (3) 12. Investigate closely (5) 13. Protected (7) 15. Bereaved wife (5) 18. Charged particle (3) 19. Fruit (6) 21. Landscape (7) 22. Carry (4) 23. Summit (4) 24. Import illegally (7) 26. Heavily decorated (6) 29. Domestic fuel (3) 31. Bit (5) 32. Type of plant (7) 34. Attempted (5) 35. Manipulate fraudulently (3) 36. Light boat (5) 37. Type of shoe (5) 38. Regal (5)

Down1. Store for future use (3,2) 2. Whim (7) 4. nobleman (4) 5. Underground passage (6) 6. Beer mug (5) 7. Evil spirit or devil (5) 9. Body of water (3) 12. nom de plume (3,4) 14. Female deer (3) 16. Move to music (5) 17. Thin biscuit (5) 19. Boasted (7) 20. Razor sharpener (5) 21. Unit of weight (5) 23. Unplaced horse (4-3) 24. Hi-fi (6) 25. Joke, informally (3) 27. Vie with (5) 28. Thespian (5) 30. narrow-minded intolerant person (5) 32. Second Greek letter (4) 33. Pen part (3)

Crossword

sudoku

Solution to June

win a

£25love2shop

vouCher

win a£25love2shopvouCher

Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, each column and each 3x3 square contains all the digits from one to nine.

naMe

Location

address

naMe

Location

address

Congratulations to Joanne Cochrane from Leicester who won June's competition and £25.

Fill in your details below and send the completed grid to: torque sudoku,uK1-103-340, Vauxhall Motors, griffin House, osborne road, Luton Lu1 3Yt

Entries should reach us by 10 September 2014.

Congratulations to Alan Browne from Luton who solved June's Crossword and wins £25.Send completed entries to Torque Crossword, UK1-103-340, Vauxhall Motors, Griffin House, Osborne Road, Luton LU1 3YT to reach us by 10 September 2014.Solution to June crossword:aCross: 3.aspic 9.potash 10.nuance 11.signs 12.iron 15.steers 17.goliath 19.Let 20.Yearn; 22.casks 24.delay 25.salvo 27.dig 29.erudite 32.earned 34.snap 35.Lodge 37.Method 38.ignite 39.Young down: 1.sprig 2.stool 3.ass 4.shifty 5.inns 6.custard 7.Kneel 8.Least 13.romania 14.nicks 16.regatta 18.Heave 21.needs 23.saveloy 26.origin 27.deems 28.grate 30.infix 31.epees 33.dodo 36.egg

Offi cial Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption fi gures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall Corsa Excite and Corsa Limited Edition: Urban: 39.2 (7.2) – 64.2 (4.4), Extra-urban: 62.8 (4.5) – 83.1 (3.4), Combined: 51.4 (5.5) – 74.3 (3.8). CO2 emissions: 129 – 100g/km.#

*Offer subject to availability at participating Retailers only. Finance subject to status, terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 years or over. Finance by Vauxhall Finance, PO Box 6666, Cardiff, CF15 7YT. Offer includes Vauxhall contribution. Customer deposit shown after deduction of Vauxhall contribution. At the end of the Personal Contract Purchase agreement there are three options: i) Retain the vehicle: Pay the optional fi nal payment to own the vehicle, Corsa Excite £3,638, Corsa Limited Edition £5,035, ii) Return the vehicle, or iii) Replace: Part Exchange the vehicle, where equity is available. Offer applies Vauxhall Partners only. ‡First year insurance offer available on Corsa Excite and Limited Edition models only. All drivers must have held a valid full UK licence for a minimum of 1 year. All policies are underwritten by Ageas Insurance Ltd. Other insurance specifi c Terms and Conditions apply. ^Drivers aged 18-20 will make a contribution of £99 to their premium and must agree to the fi tting of a telematics box to the car: every 3 months, your policy will be reviewed and if you drive well, we will return part of this to you. The policy may be cancelled for consistently poor driving. Only available through ingenie. **The offer will cover the full premium for drivers aged between 21-75 (motor policy only). Only available through Vauxhall Insurance. Offer available on orders or registrations between 2 July and 1 October 2014. #Offi cial EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. For Partners Terms and Conditions go to partnersprogramme.co.uk/legal-notice-and-privacy-policy. Correct at time of going to print 08/07/2014.

www.partnersprogramme.co.uk

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT

Offers end 1st October 2014, to fi nd out more visit: www.partnersprogramme.co.uk, call 0844 875 2448 or visit your Vauxhall Retailer.

CORSA EXCITEWith Morrocana trim, 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth® connectivity, front fog lights, leather-covered steering wheel with audio controls.

CORSA LIMITED EDITIONWith 17-inch black twin-spoke alloy wheels, VXR Styling Pack, chrome exhaust tailpipe, sport suspension, air conditioning, cruise control.

CORSA FUNFROM £189 A MONTH, £189 DEPOSIT* PLUS INSURANCE OFFER

CORSA EXCITE£189 per month£189 customer deposit*, over 35 months.

CORSA LIMITED EDITION£199 per month£199 customer deposit*, over 35 months.

REPRESENTATIVEAPR0% FLEXIBLE PCP*

1 YEAR'S INSURANCE‡

18-20 yrs ONLY £99^

21-75 yrs FREE**

L_GMR_C1268_Q3_Torque_HP.indd 1 08/07/2014 10:57

markeTplaCe

Online Ticket Store is the award-winning, leading supplier to the Uk travel trade of theme park tickets, worldwide attractions, sightseeing tours and gift experiences. With over 8000 attractions in over 50 countries they guarantee to have something for everyone!

Whether you are heading for the thrill and spill of the Florida theme parks or the temptations of Thailand, make sure you know the advantages of ‘buying before flying’:

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Visit www.vauxhall-marketplace.co.uk, login using username: vx and password: offers, then click on to the offers section.

Save 12%at the Online Ticket Store

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