Bay to Birdwood 2024 | History on Wheels

Automotive Enthusiast from South Australia has a passion for the cars of yesteryears, and it is evident when it comes to local car meets like the Cars & Coffee at Blackwood or the All Japan Day held nearby in Glenelg in the City of Holdfast Bay. It is something to be inspired by and admired as this event has been since in the 80s. The event has been an annual tradition for celebrating heritage, classic, and vintage cars and their history.You have to appreciate their individual stories and at the same time capture their images on the road from West Beach to the National Motors Museum.

Aussie Classics | The Holden HJ

There are traditions and there are family traditions that you’ll rarely ever come a across a story about. But one lecturer at TAFE SA has one interesting narrative which something to do with cars. In Australia they take their Holden cars to heart like they are part of the fmaily. It was bitter sweet news end of last year when you realize there has been a rich history behind the cars. Holden has become part everyone’s life namely in South Australia where the last factory has closed and here is the Holden HJ that keeps going shiny as it was rolled in the factory.

Auto Journals | Slow Wednesday Grind

It was just any other Wednesday as I go down the stairs from the locker room as he mechanic I assited with the pre-dev double checked what I did from yesterday. He torque the wheels on the pre-delivery of the 2018 red Mazda 3 before brought it down the basement. The day seemed to be fast but it’s also the part when things become slow in-between. It’s challenging to compare it from last year when there was no down time in sight. But this always comes to any job either in the workshop or in any industry there will always going to be those days when everything was slow.

Auto Journals | OJT Week at Reynella Mazda

On-Job Placement week once again at Reynella Mazda and the experience was a learning experience the last time I was here. Though as an apprentice there’s much more to learn about becoming a technician and this is the place I also enjoyed it. Being a mechanic or a technician as some dealership defines this job takes a lot of knowledge and skill to become one. This time around it’s more about being familiar with the process in servicing a vehicle. Besides that have the patience in taking each process as an additional work experience.

All Japan Day 2018 | Sunday Highlights

Car meet-ups are an event among enthusiasts and hobbyist. Annual gatherings related to one theme are part of the car culture. All Japan Day is one event that focuses on imports from the land of the rising sun. Its one of the annual events, that is worth making the visit if you’re a Japanese car fan. In South Australia the Japanese cars has invaded this state that cultivated a growing community. The Japanese imports are certainly the heart of this event that makes interesting how some brands have built their legacy seen in this last day.

American Classic | Chevrolet Impala

Chevrolet as a brand has established itself under General Motors some of the most iconic cars of yesteryears. Most of them are still being manufactured to soothe anyone needs in their everyday life. They are impressive cars, but one iconic name in Chevrolet’s illustrious fleet of cars stands out and that is the “Impala” a name most car enthusiast will know because it has heritage and one lecturer from TAFE South Australia happens to own one just parked inside the Regency Park campus.

A Lion's Roar | The Commodore VFII SS-V

Holden’s Commodore VFII SS-V is top of the line sedan that was manufactured by the company as its last product. For those who are not familiar with the Commodore its made in South Australia’s Elizabeth plant that closed some time in October. The company’s crowning achievement in producing their very own brand car may not end here. Though almost six decades of car manufacturing in South Australia has changed, but for anyone who owned a Holden will keep this in memory forever.

Any Given Reason | Burger Meet VII Announced

Christmas Day just ended yesterday and Boxing Day is happening in Australia. In South Australia before the year ends two car events is happening one already going to start later this afternoon and the other a pre-New Year extravagant. Any Given Reason or AGR has finally announced the seventh Burger Meet again happening at Penny’s Hill along the Main Road of McLaren Vale. It’s going to be another car culture worth driving for any gear head out there.

Jafs Last Cruise | End of the Year Ride

Jaf’s Last Cruise is an annual event held at the parking lot of Westfield Tea Tree Gully, which originated as a usual hang-out between car guys that become a phenomenal gathering for anything that has something to do with automotive. The event for this year surely will be a big one, which usually happens on Boxing Day in South Australia.

Auto Journals | Last Day Training

Last day for the placement and its going to be another hectic time for Mazda Reynella, which doesn’t come easy though the last four days was educational getting to know how working as a mechanic is fast pace and sometimes too much down time. But that’s how life being employed in a workshop offers a different perspective. It may be end of the week for everyone, but not here at Mazda Reynella as they’re opened until Saturday. Though with a bit of short working hours still their dedication to accommodate servicing over the weekend means they’re here to help with your car.

Auto Journal | Getting Over Thursday

When you work as a diagnostic technician or a mechanic it’s a challenging job. It takes a lot of effort and management to get things done. At Mazda Reynella it’s a team effort that make the servicing a well-oiled machine. Thursday was one of those days that give you understanding that this ob doesn’t come as easy as anyone thought. But personally it was a rewarding experience getting to know the people at the workshop. At the same time having that patience to keep things together is essential in a very demanding work environment.

Auto Journal | Learning Experience

Like any Wednesday it was a hump day going through the middle of the week on the third day of the placement at Mazda Reynella. The momentum through the servicing of vehicles was fairly right on target with different kinds of tasked was given to each car that went in the workshop. There where instances that between the services it was just dead stop pretty much no cars coming in. But yesterday was a full on the development and learning thanks to Dylan, one of the technicians who was generous about sharing his inputs.

Auto Journal | Workshop Life

Tuesday rolled in with a pending job for a vehicle and at the same time new ones being parked on each bay area. It wasn’t that full-on when work started yesterday it was more like a slow grind for most of the apprentice technicians who worked on each of the cars assigned for them. I assisted on the cars handled by Dylan, being generous and accommodating without the need for permission from his workshop foreman he was gracious enough to let me be his assistant for the rest of the day.

Auto Journal | Vocational Training

The “Vocational Placement” at TAFE is part of the requirement for the Light Vehicle Course. It’s also a requirement from immigration to take this as part of the curriculum in completing the studies in related to become an automotive technician. This also gives the would-be apprentice the knowledge in applying all the skills in becoming a skilled mechanic. The first day would have been light with the workload, but the day would become full when the cars rolled over the workshop for some quick servicing. The apprentice at Mazda Reynella is all set and ready for the day.