"Road-Tests.com came into being as a result of a chance conversation between Graeme Perry, StratCon Partnership Limited Director, and the then Fleet Sales Manager of Holden New Zealand, Glenn Flinkenberg. HNZ was looking for "..an honest and critical.." report on their vehicles; one which appeared, at that time, to be difficult to find.
Graeme Perry conceived the idea of writing reports from a fleet manager's perspective, and using a variety of drivers to provide their views on the vehicle. The first ever report was undertaken on the then recently launched Holden Vectra CD. From that point on Road-Tests.com has grown into a veritable treasure trove of evaluation and information, now freely available to anyone-not just the Motor Industry and their fleet clients.
Over the past four years gathering volunteers to drive cars has become a selective process, not like the early days when the queue was round the block to be involved. Nowadays the team is tightly knit and all participants have to be able to write concisely and clearly about their experiences with the vehicles. And be reliable.
The Road-Tests.com crew has, over time, consisted of; a retired fleet manager, a 6'8' basketballer - now plying his trade in Europe - a variety of male drivers, including the now notorious squash team (winners of no less than 5 pennants since Road-Tests.com commenced) and that's the guys. The ladies have been remarkably consistent with the petite tester being the sole survivor since inception - which is just as well as Survivor is her favourite TV programme - and we need those size 4 feet! Followed rapidly by professional woman as she is known who completed her 200th test in mid-2008. Well done.
The Teen Testers have been separated, one now resides in Wellington, the other will - shortly - be en route to Palmerston North. The Tot Tester only comes out to play when Mum lets him, and as he grows in stature and inquisitiveness those days are less frequent.
Those who have read this far should note that the Road-Tests.com crew are all unpaid volunteers, doing this for fun and personal satisfaction - not to mention the opportunity to drive a wide range of exciting vehicles.
Last year (2007) we bade farewell to the Mike Copyright organisation who have gone on to pastures new and we wish them well. At the same time we lost our webmaster Jared Isle to promotion at work and a huge career step. He is, we're pleased to say, working wonders out there.
Finally, since Road-Tests.com started the programme has grown out of all proportion - sometimes the office car park is filled to overflow with test cars - and we are flattered that the Industry comes to us to evaluate cars yet to be launched in New Zealand.
All together this, Road-Tests.com believe, makes our kind of test unique certainly in New Zealand and possibly the world.
Oh, and in 2008 Graeme was elected to the New Zealand Guild of Motoring Writers - so we are in exulted company.
