DIY Garage Club Northampton

Aim

To purchase an industrial unit, equip it to function as self sustained DIY Garage for all the motorists that know how to maintain their cars

I have been an automotive and motorsport design engineer for more than 15 years. Some of my experience is linked with Formula 1 - Mercedes AMG HighPerformancePowertrains in Brixworth, Koenigsegg Automotive in Sweden and many other small and large automotive companies around Europe.

During these trying times more and more people are reaching out for the tools to do their own car maintenance right on the kerb side. When topping up fluids and checking the pressure of the tyres kind of tasks are suitable for this environment many other tasks require safe equipment and dry garage to do so.

I would like to offer to the car DIY-ers a place that has the adequate equipment that is well maintained to enable safe, quick and pleasant completion of a task at hand. This shall include a dry, warm, well lit, welcoming space with a number of bays, each having a different type of lift to accommodate different tasks. Each bay will have compressed air, metal top workbenches, few electrical sockets and exhaust fume extractor hose. No tools will be provided so the DIY-ers will have to bring their own tools.

As with any business there are going to be some limitations to tasks that are not allowed to be performed, i.e. anything that has the potential or increases the risk of damage or fire to the provided equipment beyond reasonable wear and tear like welding, plasma cutting, painting, engine tuning, etc.

The venue will be organised as a club membership which will require an upfront yearly payment and an yearly Health and Safety training that will allow for access to the garage with a unique pass code on entry. An online booking system to enable the members to see availability and book the workshop bay when they need it. During booking the tasks that are to be performed are to be declared upfront so an automated estimate will compare with booking and will flag any unreasonable booking being too short or too long. Members will have their door access code unblocked only if there is an active booking in the system with 1h before and 1h after. The booking system will be taking charge of linked bank accounts for the payment of slots, penalty charges, strikes, indoor parts purchase and refunds. Members will have to register their cars on the booking site and prove they are the registered owner of the vehicle with exception of a 30min service "Underbody inspection" of vehicles that are to be purchased. The garage will have on call a number of associate mobile technicians that would gladly finish a task that may have come too complicated or too big for a member of the club for the hourly price they agree on. As with any car maintenance task there are unfortunate possibilities that a part may not have been envisaged to be replaced and thus it is not procured prior to the initiation of the work - there are going to be some small items on offer at reasonable cost like light bulbs, fuses, cable ties, crimps, jubilee clips, hose, nuts, bolts, screws, gloves, safety glasses, etc. in the workshop via vending machines. During normal working hours there are three major parts suppliers close to the intended workshop location, GFS car parts, Euro Car Parts and Halfords. There will also be vending machines for coffee, tea and sandwiches in a small dining room with tables and chairs. Changing room, toilet and hand wash facilities to be available on site. Workshop to be open 6 days a week where one middle week day to be closed for cleaning and maintenance - provisionally Tuesday. Garage to provide a minimum of two parking spaces outside for queuing to enter members. No work on vehicles is going to be permitted in the parking area.

I personally have been a member of DIY garages in Germany and in Sweden and I believe this arrangement can be implemented here in the UK with a great success.

This will promote meeting and collaborating with like-minded people that will serve the society bonding closely together through common interests and lending a hand to a neighbour. 

Thank you for reading,

Lyczezar ILIJEW (Czezar)

This project closed unsuccessfully on 3rd August 2022