| 97 Four decades of dedicated service Kelly Deeks Now celebrating 40 years of ownership by the Holmes Family, Southland Honda is proud to be one of New Zealand’s longest-standing Honda dealers, providing top of the line farm, road, and motocross bikes and outdoor power equipment for generations of satisfied customers across Southland. Southland Honda originally started out as Vernon Russell LTD, operating out of the original shop a few doors down. Originally holding franchises for Honda, Kawasaki, Jawa, Vespa and Triumph. In 1981, farm supply company JE Watson took over Vernon Russell LTD and changed to Southland Honda. In 1984, Gary Holmes and Keith Kennedy purchased Southland Honda, and Gary and his wife Liz bought it outright in 1996 Gary had worked for both Vernon Russell and JE Watson, including doing his trade apprenticeship as a motorcycle mechanic in 1971. In turn, Gary and Liz’s son Jeremy started sweeping the floors at Southland Honda in 1998, then did his motorcycle mechanic’s apprenticeship before taking over the running of the workshop. He became a shareholder in 2011 and today runs the business as Gary and Liz move towards retirement. “40 years later and we’ve got a lot of customers who we’ve been looking after for a long time,” Jeremy says. “We are very proud of that.” With a dedicated team of 12 motorbike enthusiasts, including six qualified mechanics, Southland Honda understands the concerns and requirements of its customers and delivers a personalised service with effective solutions tailored to their needs. Southland conditions can be tough on gear, particularly farm gear, and the Southland Honda team has the expertise it takes to keep bikes in excellent shape, whatever the season. Jeremy says Southland Honda’s sales and service prowess backs up the products of the world’s most reliable motorcycle brand. “Honda is pretty amazing with its research and development,” he says. “They are essentially at the forefront of development in most things. They’ve got the Dual Clutch Transmission which automates the clutch and shift operations while maintaining the advantages of a manual transmission. RURAL SERVICES » Southland Honda Motorcycles It’s a super smooth gear box especially in our Pioneer 1000, and the other brands don’t have it.” Honda’s Pioneer range of side-by-side multi- purpose utility vehicles have become a firm favourite on New Zealand farms, with three engine sizes available, added safety protection, and the ability to get into places you can’t get into with a tractor. For two-wheeled farm machines, the fuel injected farm hand the XR190CT combines Honda’s typically super reliable engine with smooth strong power, and is ready to get to work with generous carry rack capacity, dual side stands, lever guards, and extra mud protection. Recent developments from Honda include the Honda E-Clutch, an electronic control technology that automatically controls clutch operation without the need for the rider to operate the clutch lever at tall, enabling smooth starting and gear shifting. We’re here for the good of the country. NOT A FARMERRR? NO DRAMA’RRRS. 03 214 9440 stirlingauto@outlook.co.nz 10 Tyne St, Invercargill • WOFs• Servicing • Repairs • Tyres • Batteries • Brake & Clutches • CV Joints • Oil Changes • Scan Tool Diagnostics • Same Day Service YOUR AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALIST! Marine Vehicles Rhino-Rack RVE 204a Spey St, Invercargill m 03 214 42 83 k info@vexusupholstery.co.nz www.vexusupholstery.co.nz formerly Howard Anderson Upholstery The Honda Outdoors power product range offers the same reliable, easy-start four stroke engine matched with select features. “We are lucky with the Honda brand that we have such a big umbrella to operate under,” Jeremy says. “We cover a large range of products here and they all do the best job.” Jeremy, Gary & Liz. The showroom in 1974 when it was Vernon Russell limited (below).
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