Mark Whittingham wins exclusive ZF prize

The Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA) selected Mark Whittingham of WH Whittingham and Sons in Rochford, Essex as winner of a ‘Five Supercar Challenge’ driving experience, after participating in a competition held at Automechanika.

Mark won his exclusive prize, donated by ZF Aftermarket and presented by technical manager, Matt Shakespeare, after visiting each of the original equipment (OE) suppliers present at the exhibition to get his OESAA card stamped. Each entrant then answered a tie-breaker question on the merits of only using OE parts on customer vehicles.

The company said that his ‘Fit OE, fit once and fit cheap, do it twice’ response perfectly highlighted the perils of using sub-standard components, particularly on a business’ bottom line.

“I consider myself to be a bit of a ‘geek’ who enjoys modern technology, and I especially like to keep my knowledge base up-to-date,” said Whittingham. “Events like Automechanika are the ideal way for me to stay informed.”

Trading in transport since 1830, W. H Whittingham and Sons put the first ever body onto a car in Southend-On-Sea. Established as a family-run business, the garage is still family-owned, with Mark’s son being the 8th generation of Whittingham to work for the company.

“I’m going to let my son take advantage of my Automechanika prize – he’s already stolen the tickets from me!”

Offering an extensive range of vehicle repair services, including servicing and MOTs, braking systems, diagnostics, transmission systems and air-conditioning, W.H Whittingham and Sons only carries premium-quality spare parts to guarantee that all work undertaken is of the highest standard.

“The participants in this year’s competition clearly understood the detrimental impact that non-OE parts can have on their businesses,” said OESAA chairman, Nigel Morgan. “This is great news, as ‘matching quality’ alternatives just aren’t worth the reputational risk.

“It’s really reassuring that so many garages aren’t willing to cut any corners whatsoever with their customers’ vehicles.”