Nominate a Mate's Worthy Winner! 14 October 2015 11:51 Rare Spares Rare Spares (0) ShareBack in July, Rare Spares hosted the Nominate a Mate promotion on Facebook. It was a competition where entrants could win a $1000 Rare Spares gift voucher for their mate’s restoration. As you would expect, we were inundated with entries, however there could only be one winner, and what a worthy winner he was. Daniel Earle nominated his father and best mate Wayne in his touching entry. Wayne, not only battling a serious illness but also all of the other difficulties associated with having to take time off work for an extended period, had to sell his beloved Toranas. As part of his rehabilitation, Wayne was able to buy “a rusty old HQ” so he could get out of the house and have something to work on. The $1000 Rare Spares gift voucher will hopefully come in very handy not only for Wayne’s HQ, but also for Daniel’s LJ GTR Torana. In a heartfelt message on Facebook, Wayne let everyone know just how much it meant to him. "Hi Guys, I have just received my package in the mail. I am unsure if you would like to put it on your page with my massive thanks to my son Daniel and you guys at Rare Spares. I am lost for words for what Dan has done and I am truly appreciative of this,” said Wayne. From the team at Rare Spares, we hope your prize helps in an even speedier recovery Wayne and assists in finishing off the HQ restoration so you can get out and enjoy it.
Roxburgh Park Sandown Round Sales Event 06 October 2015 01:00 Rare Spares Rare Spares (0) ShareSandown Raceway, 25 kilometres south east of Melbourne has played an important part in Australian motorsport since the 1960s. The biggest names in the business, from Fangio and Moss to Brabham and Brock have all raced there. Only five races are allowed every year due to its suburban location which makes every event extra special and they don’t get more special than the V8 Supercars Sandown 500. To coincide with the Sandown 500, Rare Spares puts on one of its biggest annual events, the Rare Spares Sandown Sale. Held at Rare Spares Roxburgh Park recently, it was always promising to be an extra special sales event. “The Rare Spares Roxburgh Park VIP night that was held on the 9th September was another very successful event and a great turn out,” said Silvio Nanfaro, the 2IC at Roxburgh Park. With the doors opening at 6 o’clock, customers were greeted with a traditional Aussie sausage sizzle out front. Once inside, customers were treated to a massive 20% off all Rare Spares products. Not content with spoiling our customers with bangers and bargains, next was the chance to mingle with current V8 Supercar Star Jason Bright, along with Leo Tobin, Brett Youlden and Gary O’Brian from the Touring Car Masters (TCM) series. And if that wasn’t enough, everyone had the chance to win some truly awesome prizes. The lucky winners were: Sandown double pass – F. Carbone Sandown double pass – M. Weaver BJR Hot Lap –R. Jones BJR Hot Lap – J. Giroud $100 Voucher – C. Zahra TCM Merchandise Pack – G. Vlahos Rare Spares Merchandise Pack – C. Zahra “Many thanks to all the car clubs and Rare Spares loyalty members who attended the event, as well as to the drivers who made this night a success. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!” said Silvio. For your chance to win some fantastic prizes like these, make some huge savings and mingle with the stars of motorsport, register with Rare Spares at www.rarespares.net.au
Rare Spares Distributor of the Year 29 September 2015 05:40 Rare Spares Rare Spares (0) ShareThe Rare Spares Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 29th August 2015 and is the yearly opportunity for the Rare Spares family of Distributors to come together from around Australia and New Zealand, celebrate, network and award their Distributor of the Year. Rare Spares has recognised the efforts of their network since 1981 with the Distributor of the Year (DOTY) award which recognises dedication, support, improvement and the desire to strive for excellence. For 2015, the award was presented to Rare Spares Christchurch and received by store manager and owner Ian King. “It’s a great feeling to be awarded Rare Spares Distributor of the Year and I and the team are very happy. We are very fortunate to have been awarded DOTY five times over our 28 year existence, but receiving it once again is much appreciated and still a surprise,” said Ian. Rare Spares Christchurch has been flying the Rare Spares flag for 28 years in New Zealand, as the country’s only Rare Spares Distributor. The team of eight provide a comprehensive range of Rare Spares parts as well as the relatively unique offering of a full mechanical workshop that specialises in classic vehicles. “There is always room for improvement, but being passionate and having a team passionate about cars means we have the experience and expertise to provide great service and really understand customer’s needs,” said Ian. “Ian and the team at Rare Spares Christchurch are always operating at a high level and this year we are proud to honour them again for their commitment to both Rare Spares and their customers,” said Rare Spares Director Lance Corby, who presented the award. “Rare Spares Christchurch is regularly a contender for the award and this year showed why, thanks to their dedication, customer service and continual improvement,” said Melissa McVeigh, Marketing Manager/Director of Rare Spares. Rare Spares are proud of their Distributor network and want to congratulate Rare Spares Christchurch and also runner up DOTY Rare Spares Welshpool for their outstanding performances over the past year. To find out more about Rare Spares and for a full list of Distributors, stockists and resellers across Australia, visit www.rarespares.net.au
Vale Bill Pye 23 September 2015 05:48 Rare Spares Rare Spares (0) ShareOn the 29th of July, the Australian Motorsport community lost one of its own when Bill Pye was tragically killed in a light plane crash near one of his properties just north of Deniliquin in New South Wales. Bill, 54, a competitor and race winner in the Touring Car Masters series since 2010, first drove the Chevrolet Camaro previously driven by John Bowe. He then went on to drive a Porsche 911 before returning to another Camaro. TCM paid tribute to Bill on the day of the accident. “The Touring Car Masters family is shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of our friend, fellow competitor and great racer, Bill Pye,” read the tribute. “Bill was a committed and competitive racer and was a fantastic part of the TCM paddock at every round. He was a fighter on the track, a great part of our paddock off it and he will be missed." “The Touring Car Masters management team, on behalf of the broader TCM family, offers their support and thoughts to the Pye family and their friends at this time.” As a successful sheep and wool producer, Bill was able to indulge in his passion for motorsport. He also competed in the Heritage Touring Cars series in an ex-Dick Johnson Ford Mustang, a car which he loved. He’d recently added an ex-Peter Jackson Glenn Seton two-litre turbo Sierra RS500 to his collection, which he had hoped to run at HTC’s Muscle Car Masters round in September. Bill also competed in the Targa Tasmania nine times between 1999 -2010 with his navigator and mechanic, Grant Geelan. The pair successfully placed many times in their Porsche 911 Carrera, highlighted by two second place finishes in the Classic Outright, and a win in 2007 in the Classic Handicap. Rare Spares would like pass on our sincere condolences to Bill’s family and friends.
A Car Is Born 15 September 2015 08:26 Rare Spares Rare Spares (0) ShareIn an age of automation, computerisation, Instatwit and Snapbook, it’s difficult for some of us, and impossible for others to remember that there are real people behind the products we use. Even in our beloved auto industry, modern production methods have meant that humans are increasingly taking a back seat in the manufacture of the machines we love, only to be replaced by a team of cheap and reliable robots. For those of you with a hankering for some nostalgia, look no further than “XA Falcon Assembly.” This charming mini movie from the early seventies takes place in New Zealand and shows the production of an icon of Australian motoring, the Ford XA Falcon. It obviously lacks the modern day Hollywood production values and cutting edge CGI, but that’s what makes it so charming. Real people with real skills making things. From the unboxing of the parts, the welding of panels, the grinding, bolting, sanding, painting, polishing, gluing, hammering and drilling. All performed by hand by people that had a pride in what they did and cared about what they made. Sure, the haircuts and the fashion sense may have been a little dodgy. And the commentary and background music could have done with a few tweaks, but that’s missing the point. The beauty of these iconic cars like the XA Falcon is that with the help of Rare Spares, a trip down memory lane in your very own hand made classic is possible. Whether you’re into Fords, Holdens, or the many other makes and models we cater for, Rare Spares have literally thousands of parts in stock to help you with bringing an old classic like the one in the movie, back to life. To find out how, head over to www.rarespares.net.au And to check out the "XA Falcon Assembly,” head to the link: https://youtu.be/7VUrNWRY7dw
Rare Spares and Men’s Shed Building Men’s Health Together 08 September 2015 05:22 Rare Spares Rare Spares (0) ShareRare Spares is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Australian Men’s Shed Association as part of Rare Spares’ commitment to Men’s Health issues. The new partnership will see Rare Spares and Men’s Shed work together on numerous initiatives to further the Men’s Shed cause. The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) is a not-for-profit organisation that formed in 2007 with the idea of using sheds around the country to offer men a comfortable environment to tackle various projects together, form friendships, break down barriers and in turn open up and communicate on issues that are affecting them. “Partnering with Rare Spares is a perfect fit for the Men’s Shed initiative considering the number of men that use Rare Spares parts to work on their vehicles in their own sheds at home. We’re happy to have the opportunity to work with Rare Spares and look forward to the positive effects this will bring to men around the country,” said David Helmers, Executive Officer of the AMSA. “There has been little encouragement for men to take an interest in their own health and well-being. Many men are reluctant to talk about their emotions or problems and that means that they usually don’t ask for help.” Men who are struggling to cope with no outlet often turn to alcohol, take risks and suffer more from isolation, loneliness and depression. Relationship breakdowns, retrenchment or early retirement from a job, loss of children following divorce, physical or mental illness are just some of the problems that men find hard to deal with on their own. The AMSA provide opportunities to broach these subjects in a familiar environment. “Rare Spares is proud to announce this partnership with the Australian Men’s Shed Association. The AMSA cause is a noble one and resonates with our team. I’m sure the greater Rare Spares community will also get behind the initiative and make a difference to men’s lives across the country,” said Melissa McVeigh, Marketing Manager/Director at Rare Spares. “Rare Spares will be launching a dollar donation campaign online and in store at the Roxburgh Park and Bayswater stores to raise funds for the AMSA. Further initiatives are planned starting in early September with the E-bay auction of a V8 Supercar Hot Lap ride with Jason Bright, where the winning bid amount will be donated to the AMSA.” To find out more about the Australian Men’s Shed Association or to find your nearest Shed call 1300 550 009 or head to http://www.mensshed.org/ To find out more about Rare Spares head to www.rarespares.net.au
Bayswater VIP Night 01 September 2015 05:24 Rare Spares Rare Spares (0) ShareOn the evening of Wednesday 19th August, the Rare Spares team at Bayswater, just east of Melbourne, hosted another very successful sales night. “Like our last sales event in March, it gives our customers the opportunity to make some great savings and we love talking to them about any projects they have on the go and if we can help,” said Bayswater branch manager Dylan Boyes. “We can’t wait for our next one in November!” he added. The Rare Spares sales nights heave become hugely popular with our customers and for good reason. A massive 20% off all Rare Spares products that aren’t already on sale would be reason enough to head on down. But it wasn't just the bargains drawing over 60 customers to this successful VIP Night. Where else but Rare Spares can you chat to an icon of motorsport like John Bowe whilst filling your basket full of bargains? That’s right, JB himself was on hand to mingle with the customers, have a chat and of course have a few photos taken. If bargains and sporting icons weren’t enough, there was also the chance to win some awesome prizes. A $100 Rare Spares voucher, Touring Car Masters Merchandise Pack and a Rare Spares Merchandise Pack went to three lucky winners. And with the sale running from 6:00 until 8:30, any customers feeling a little peckish were well catered for with heaps of pizza on hand. Four great reasons why the Rare Spares sales nights are so popular and four great reasons why you should head on down to the next Rare Spares sales night near you. To find out where and when the next sales night will be, join the Rare Spares Rare Owners or Loyalty clubs at www.rarespares.net.au/register
Prospect Sales Day 25 August 2015 12:19 Rare Spares Rare Spares (0) ShareSaturday 15th of August saw yet another fantastic opportunity for Rare Spares customers to not only snap up some bargains, but to also have the chance to win some more awesome prizes. This time the venue was Rare Spares Prospect, just west of Sydney. A Sydney SuperSprint double pass, a Muscle Car Masters double pass and a Sydney SuperSprint Hot Lap were all up for grabs, making the three lucky winners very happy indeed! Dean Oakey, a Rare Spares owner and manager for 21 years was very happy with the all-day sales event. “The weather was with us and we had a good turnout. Plenty of people came down and the place was buzzing,” said Dean. “We’re really looking forward to our Birthday sales event in February.” If the chance to win some amazing prizes wasn’t enough, a huge 20% off all Rare Spares products was sure to put a smile on the faces of everyone that came down to the Rowood Road store. With the doors opening at 9, customers had all day to browse and bag a bargain. And what Rare Spares Saturday morning sales event would be complete without a sausage sizzle and a cuppa? Well, the team down at Rare Spares Prospect had that covered too. For a chance to bag a bargain of your own and be in the running for some amazing prizes, head to the Rare Spares website at www.rarespares.com.au to find out when and where the next Rare Spares sales event will be near you.
Aussie Muscle Car Run 18 August 2015 10:52 Rare Spares Rare Spares (0) ShareThe Leukaemia Foundation is calling for car enthusiasts to take part in its Aussie Muscle Car Run events in WA and SA this year and Rare Spares is proud to be a supporting partner of this wonderful event. This unique fundraising event provides owners of cars manufactured during the period 1963-1977 with an opportunity to show case their cars in a seven day cruise throughout Western Australia in October and throughout South Australia in November. The Leukaemia Foundation’s Aussie Muscle Car Run has been held in South Australia since 2012 and has been a huge success, raising over $1.1 million to support people with blood cancer. This year is the first time the event will be held in WA and the Foundation invites Australians to get involved in both events and help raise funds to support its important work helping people with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders. The events are leisure paced motoring runs, providing Aussie Muscle Car owners with the opportunity to show case their cars to the wider community while having an adventure of a lifetime. “We invite car clubs and car owners to sign up and register for our events in WA and SA. It is an iconic event for car owners from this era and with places limited, it is an event not to be missed,” said Adrian Collins, CEO of the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia. The registration fee covers accommodation, breakfasts, dinners, motor sport, car livery, overnight security for the vehicles and more. Once registered, participants are then required to fundraise a minimum of $4000 per car to be eligible to participate. There are also places open for ‘special interest’ cars to participate (as determined by the event organisers). Modern muscle cars and other racing vehicles will be considered for entry. “Across both states, we are aiming to raise $500,000 from this event, to invest in the provision of accommodation at no charge for families from regional Australia who need to relocate to capital cities for blood cancer treatment,” said Adrian Collins. For more information about the event or to register visit www.aussiemusclecarrun.com or contact the Aussie Muscle Car teams on 08 8169 6042 for SA or 08 6241 1000 for WA.
Brisbane South Sales Night 11 August 2015 05:53 Rare Spares Rare Spares (0) ShareIt was Rare Spares Brisbane South’s turn to host its annual sales night recently on the 29th of July. Customers were greeted with the sweet aroma only a traditional Aussie sausage sizzle can provide, thanks to The East Coast Muscle Car Club, and the evening only got sweeter as the night progressed. With the doors opening at 6pm, the attention went from sausages to sales with a massive 20% off everything storewide. V8 Supercar Royalty and Rare Spares Ambassador John Bowe, along with fellow Rare Spares Ambassador and V8 Supercar Superstar Jason Bright were on hand to chat and sign autographs for customers. They were joined by Jason Gomersall and Ian Palmer. Manager and owner for the last seven years, Bruce Waldie was extremely happy with how the evening went. “The night went really well! Everything went to plan and with over 300 customers, turnover was great,” said Bruce. “The drivers stayed about 2 hours and appeared to have a great time. My wife Lyn looked after them. We were so busy I never had time to get outside until after the draws were over.” To top off a fantastic evening, customers, many of whom bought along their own cars to display, were given the chance to win a Double Pass to the Ipswich Supersprint, a $100 Rare Spares voucher or a Touring Car Masters Merchandise Pack. If you like your sausages followed by sales and superstars, find out where and when the next Rare Spares Sales Night will be by registering with us at www.rarespares.net.au