20 Years in Lubricants Industry and now at BG Products
Are you familiar with Sidecar and Motorbike racing Legends Doug Chivas, Barry Brindley, Jeff Leisk, Andre Bosman, Dave Kellet, Steve Abbott, Jamie Briggs and Darrin Treloar? Striving from a racing background to becoming a respected Key Account Manager for one the most reputable oil companies and now selling fuel system cleaners and oil additives. Come on, mate. This is a short story and introduction of our newest team member Dave Bowyer.
Barry Brindley and Julian Tailford in Spa Francorchamps Belgium 1988.
Dave, welcome to the dark side. :) I remember you joking on our first day that you have turned to the dark side. Do you still think this way? I mean, coming from one of the most prestigious oil companies BP/ Castrol, to working for BG Products here in Australia.
Well, in the Automotive Lubrication World, the additive industry was a rude word and frowned upon by using those products that might put the oil out of spec and void any warranty if something was to happen to an engine. Since joining BG, I've seen a different side of this industry; having said that, BG manufactures its products, whereas others mainly package or market theirs with no actual certification or of knowing where it's produced.
Before going into business matters, tell us what you used to do before starting to work for real?
I started my working life as an Apprentice Carpenter in 1978 through to early 1988 when I packed up the tools and headed off to Europe to work with Doug Chivas, the Australian Road Racing Sidecar Champion at the time to Race in the 1988 World Sidecar Road Race Championships. He had sponsored me for a few years with my racing, so I saw this as a great opportunity to see the world and go racing overseas.
Unfortunately, Doug ran out of funds after only four rounds of the season, so we spoke to a British Race Team to take me over to England to finish off the year working for Barry Brindley & Sabre Tools Racing taking part in both the British Championships, which we won, plus competing in the rest of the World Sidecar Championships.
On my return home at the end of 1988, my mate Jeff Leisk knocked on my parent's door. He'd just returned from racing Motocross for Honda and Yamaha USA to compete in several domestic races before heading to race for Honda HRC Europe in the 1989 500cc Motocross World Championships. Jeff asked me to mechanic for him at the races back here, to which he won all three and at the end of the race meeting in Canberra, he told me on our way back home to Sydney he wanted me to help him in Europe working with Honda HRC Europe.
Jeff Leisk in 1989 with Honda CR 500
We won plenty of races for Honda in 1989, both European Domestic Races plus World Championships Rounds finishing 2nd overall, which led to a full-time position for 1990.
I stayed home for most of 1991 before heading back to Europe with Andre Bosman and Dave Kellett; they asked me to be a mechanic competing in the 1992 World Sidecar Championships. Long story, but I found myself back with my British mate Barry Brindley for the remainder of the year.
Returning home in 1994, I worked for Bridgestone Motorcycle Tyres as a sales rep in NSW. In 1996 I started working for AMCAP BBK, which changed its name to become (AHG) Automotive Holding Group. I worked in their sales team for NSW, looking after the Motorcycle Market. Two of our main products sold were Castrol and Arai Helmets which led to me carrying out Race Service in Japan for the Factory.
There are many other race teams that I've worked with over the years, from Speedway Sidecars with Darrin Treloar 3 x times World Sidecar Champion to mechanicing for both MV Agusta & Aprilia in the Australian Superbike Championships with Trinder Racing.
Steve Abbott & Jamie Briggs World Sidecar Championships 2002
I’ve also worked with Steve Abbott & Jamie Briggs above at the last three rounds of the 2002 World Sidecar Championships, which they won. This came about after Barry Brindley passed away suddenly when I was heading to Europe for a few weeks to watch another Australian Champion I’d sponsored and worked for Kevin Curtain.
I ended up staying in Europe for six weeks working with Steve Abbott and winning the championship. Barry would have been stoked for the team.
It must have been quite a journey travelling through Europe before collapsing of eastern European countries like Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and DDR, dealing with all those different border formalities and currencies before European Union and Euro Currency. What did you do after all the fun with racing ended?
Yeah, dealing with all of the border guards back then was certainly a huge challenge asking for as many free T’Shirts to get across the border.
I’ve since worked in the Oil Industry for Castrol for over 25 years. I have experience in sales for the past 30 years selling to the Largest Automotive Dealership Groups in Australia like AHG, AP Eagers, Pagent Group (Autosports), Tony White Group, Col Crawford Leisure Group and Brian Hilton Group. On top of them, I have worked with Independent Auto Groups & Workshops, plus the Motorcycle Market.
Dave’s personal collection of passes and photo’s.
I was employed with BP/Castrol from 2000 till 2020, working in the NSW Automotive Team and winding up as the NSW Key Account Manager Automotive Trade from 2014 to 2020.
In that role, my responsibility was managing my sales territory dealing with GM's, DP's, CFO's to F/Opps, and SM's. Along with communicating with our own sales team working across NSW that serviced the Automotive Industry, keeping them informed about the changes occurring with the OEM's & our industry.
You spent over twenty years with Castrol. What is the biggest thing you carry with you from those years?
I'm probably most proud of all of the strong relationships I've forged within the Automotive Industry over my 20 years which can only help moving forward, plus all of the close friends I've met at Castrol over the years.
Tell us what you have seen over these few months with BG Products?.
I've seen how a BG Performance Service can clean an engine & improve its fuel economy. I have seen the other side of what can happen to an engine due to poor fuel and missing service intervals. Plus, the product we have in BG Dynamic Engine Cleaner to help clean severe oil sludge.
I've also noticed over the past few months how the automotive industry needs a company like BG to educate both the industry & consumers about the importance of proper maintenance.
Why does the oil industry talk about asset protection in heavy space, but they talk about OEM approvals in the passenger car market?
Having not worked in the heavy space, I'd say it's probably due to the high machinery & maintenance costs.
As in the Automotive Market, Car Manufacturers (OEM's) work closely with world global oil companies to have products produced to meet their specifications, which drives the Automotive industry demands.
Now, Dave, this is a test? What is it we do at BG Products?
"Drink Coffee & Sell Boxes! Just Kidding lol …"
We are a manufacturer of premium automotive products to help clean engines, help up the environment, & save the consumer hip pocket from a huge bill.
Also, we give every industry professional the same courtesy to become a BG Service Partner; however, not every workshop is going to be a BG customer.
Dave, welcome to BG family. Prepare for success!
If you want to reach out for Dave.
Email: dave.bowyer@bgaustralia.com.au
Tel: 0499183630
RIP Doug Chivas 2020 at age 73, Legend.
RIP Barry Brindley 2002 at age 49.
The Story of Andre Bosman
The Story of Kevin Curtain
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