Damian Lomax and Tony Winmill, founders of Stay Tuned Performance. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A national shortage of car mechanics is causing headaches across the country – and it’s a particular challenge for one Canberra business trying to grow.
Stay Tuned, based in Fyshwick, does everything from general servicing and repairs to custom fabrication. But it’s best known for its tuning work – adjusting modern engines to extract the most performance.
The business is ready to expand, but co-founder and head tuner Damian Lomax says finding the right people is getting harder.
“The people we need simply don’t exist.”
According to the Federal Government, motor mechanics are listed as being in shortage in every state and territory. Businesses receive about eight applications per job on average – less than half the national average – and only 39 per cent of jobs are being filled, according to the Motor Trades Association of Australia.
While tuning is a big part of what sets Stay Tuned apart, Mr Lomax says it’s not something you can study at TAFE.
4WDs hunting extra power or clearance are regular customers of Stay Tuned. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
“The tuning component of our work is not taught anywhere as a part of a trade,” he says. “There are online resources such as High Performance Academy, but otherwise, it’s on-the-job training, coupled with significant research and development.”
Gone are the days of the 1969 Mustang when you could physically fiddle with the carburettor or distributor. Modern tuning is heavily software-based. Mechanics use computers to adjust an engine’s control unit – or ECU – to improve how it runs. This can involve changing hundreds of settings in fuel, ignition and torque data maps.
“We use particular bits of software – there are hundreds of thousands of data tables in the ECU that may or may not need to be modified to get the end result you’re after.”
Stay Tuned is rearing its own staff in the ways of tuning. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The workshop is known for its work on high-performance cars from popular brands like BMW, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi and many more, but also for tuning Isuzu trucks – increasing factory power output by 80 per cent on manual versions and 25 per cent on the autos.
Mr Lomax says while specialist tuners such as himself are hard to come by, the more immediate need is for quality mechanics who take pride in doing things properly.
“We have very high standards and, in particular, need people who are diligent and care about the customers’ outcome,” he says.
He believes Australia’s mechanic shortage is largely driven by a low starting pay failing to attract new apprentices, and the fact “all the good diesel mechanics go to the mines”.
“And we’re also in Canberra, where jobs in the public service are very attractive, especially in winter,” he says.
“We just don’t have the talent pool we once had, and unfortunately, I can’t see that getting better until something changes.”
Checking data remains key to increasing output. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
For now, while Stay Tuned focuses on training up tuners from within its own servicing team, it’s also seeing more demand for EV servicing and upgrades. The team has already worked on Teslas and hybrids, and sees long-term potential in electric conversions for classic cars.
The team’s also expanding the auto electrical side of things – fitting 12-volt batteries and complex suspension upgrades.
“That’s probably the next biggest growth factor for the business in the near future.”
Visit Stay Tuned for more information.
