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32 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2021 TOP TECHNICIAN AND TOP GARAGE www.toptechnicianonline.co.uk AND THE WINNERS ARE... Following an extended competition run, Top Technician and Top Garage 2021 reached their conclusions in October A misty veil was being drawn back from the face of Northampton as the finalists for Top Technician and Top Garage arrived early in the morning on Saturday 9 October. The location: In Town Automotive, the site of the semi- finals a month earlier. Familiarity really did breed content, as sponsors TechMan again provided their garage facilities for the day. Last time, it was just the techs, but this time both businesses in Top Garage and the mechanics in Top Technician were facing the judges. The judges and their support teams put together the tasks as the contestants began to gather, and prepared the tools that were required. Once everything was set, the day was ready to begin. Top Technician – the final The final of Top Technician, as before, saw five technicians competing for the prize. In alphabetical order, Adam Cannell, Sam Gibbons, Simon Parkinson, Kevin Toms and Andrew West were all back, nervous but determined. They had worked their way from the original 1,000 who took the first online test, through 2021’s first-of-its-kind mid-point sudden- death semi-final and all the way back to Northampton for the 2021 final. They all wanted to be here, even if they said the exact opposite. “I’d rather be working,” joked Andrew West. “We are all pretty nervous I think,” added Kevin Toms. The judges included James Dillon, 2017 winner Karl Weaver, along with Rob Lewis, Global Technical Trainer at Jaguar Land Rover, himself a former contestant, 2013 winner Steve Smith, Elliot Smith from technical trainers Pro Moto and project manager Ian Gillgrass too. Aftermarket's team made themselves useful also, helping with time-keeping. Just before the first task, Ian’s pep- talk was short and to the point: “Tasks are 50 minutes, we have a bell for the 10-minute warning, we have a digital clock doing the 50-minute countdown. Good luck everyone.” Tasks For the five finalists, there were, as you would expect, five tasks for them to compete.They were as follows Volkswagen Golf E: Non-charge Kia Niro: Non-start BMW: Lower engine fault BMW i3: Non-charge Range Rover: Non-start In the past, there has been an element of misdirection with the finals, via the placement of an unlikely vehicle in the workshop intended to throw the contestants. On this occasion, the closest thing to that was a Le Mans car on-site for some of the day courtesy of sponsors MOTUL. Fortunately, that was not in the workshop with the techs. Reflections With the day drawing to a close, the finalists began to reflect on their Top Technician experience. Kevin Toms said: “The time constraints really push you.” Andrew West observed: “I originally entered to test my knowledge. The only downside is that if you win, you can’t enter again.” Sam Gibbons commented: “I would thoroughly recommend anyone doing it – it shows you what you don’t know.” Simon Parkinson said: “The challenges of different information systems, and learning it on the fly on things are all valuable. It makes you go back to basics, using what you already know to get yourself through the unfamiliar. You can use what you do know to work it out. In the workshop that job took you two hours, the next time it will only take you one hour.” Adam Cannell added: “It’s a competition, its’s not supposed to be easy.” Understanding Once the tasks were all complete, the judges were full of praise for the contestants. Steve Smith said: “I was exceptionally impressed with how people picked out the problem. Hat’s off guys, you had 50 minutes and you were closing in on it.” Rob Lewis said: “You did really well chaps, it is a struggle. Look at all the bits, gather the evidence and it starts to work itself out. Well done.” Eliot Smith observed: “We were impressed with how you stayed