Newsletter No 77
09 September 2013
> HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ALL!
This September I celebrate my return to Namibia and 20 years of
successful tuning in this beautiful country. I leave you to read the press write-up at your own leisure. After 20 years I still
enjoy walking into my workshop in the morning, wondering what fun we will have
today :-)
Since most of you receiving this
newsletter are past or present customers, I say a sincere “thank you”! Without you, I would not be so fortunate to enjoy the
Namibian life, as it should be enjoyed. I hope you can also say that I brought
a benefit to your vehicle (and therefore into your life), in one way or
another.
This is not just my work - it is my life, it is my passion.
I am grateful to be constantly
developing something new or improving something we did in the past. So if we
did not do it yesterday, it does not mean that we cannot do it today :-)
The chart below clearly demonstrates
what one can achieve with each step in the development process.
> TO REPAIR OR NOT?
I am sharing this with you as cars are becoming more expensive,
forcing us to consider alternate options.
A longstanding customer sent me an
email in which he mentions a few things concerning a lot of us. Are we still
prepared to work on old cars, such as the 70’s Ford F250 bakkie? I applied in
the affirmative, as age makes no difference :-) Should he repair such a vehicle or buy himself a new Cruiser
for 450 grand? I have gone through same considerations
and in the end decided that I would rather not over-capitalise in my old Hilux
with a complete rebuild. I reasoned it would be more economically viable to buy
a 2’nd hand Cruiser in its stead. Also, I was tired of packing a tool-box
whenever I ventured into the bush.
Same client then asked me if it was
worth buying a aluminium intake from company XYZ for
his I300 motor. I recommended either rebuilding the stock carburettor or
fitting a Weber 38. I am not going to commit myself to supporting another
company selling a product unbeknownst to me. Also, who will then tune that combination?
The last question was whether it would be worth installing another diff
ratio to bring the RPM down. I think it a better option to install an overdrive
box and a bigger motor. Most cars through the ages had the drive ratios pretty
well matched to the power output of the motor.
> THE WAY I WORK
WHO’S RESPONSIBILITY IS IT?
I love it when a customer tells me how
to do my job :-(
Please tell me what results you expect & then I know beforehand whether
that should be possible. If you tell me what to do, then I will do so. But YOU
will take full responsibility. When I do it my way, then I am responsible :-)
I DON’T FIX
If your Engine is missing (not the
having to go to the police type), do not bother bringing it in for a tune up by
me, unless I miraculously have time. First find what causes the miss and then
fix it. I often find prehistoric spark plugs or incorrect ones fitted to
engines that miss.
I do not repair things, I optimise them to the best of
their ability :-)
NO GUARANTEE, NO JOB
As you might have gathered, I do not
like SA-made
aftermarket engine management systems. I will not tune them,
even at the owners risk. I think it not fair to do a
job which I cannot guarantee.
TURBO POWER
Petrol Turbo cars are different, as I
can set them up properly, but I cannot take into account changes
in condition. Obviously, I cannot make more raw power on an
unscrupulously tuned GTi, but I can make more safe power ;-)
DYNO FIGURES
I think the way
we publish Power figures
are by now self-explanatory.
If somebody else publishes significantly different figures, than check how they
are derived please ;-)
> K&N ORDER
I will soon order my end of the year shipment from K&N. If
there is something you wish me to stock, please advise
me soonest?
As you
might have heard, K&N has expanded its range with:
> In-line Fuel/Oil
Filters
> HD dry-type truck
air-filters
> Replaceable HD canister-type
Airfilter with housing
> Replacement Air Filters for Small Industrial Engines
> Please peruse their website, as there are
too many items
to list
here.
> TO GREAT YEARS AHEAD
I would like to leave you with the following thoughts, as I
celebrate 20 years of Tuning in Namibia:
> I am sure nobody makes better,
reliable & drivable power than we do :-)
> Our solutions are Customised and NOT
“off the rack”
> All our parts and services are
guaranteed
> We are the oldest tuning company in
Namibia, by far.
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without Passion”
Cheers
Nick von Bergen
Tel. 216884
feedback@nicksracing.com