Our MD Steve Giles is in Germany to meet our partner IL Motorsport
Part 1
As I look outside the window of my hotel room perched on the end of the runway at Cologne/Bonn airport, there's an inch of snow on the ground, gritters can be seen flashing up and down the runway between touchdowns and it couldn't look less like ideal MX-5 weather if it tried.
However, the reason I find myself in such a situation is that I'm looking forward to two days of meetings with Mr MX-5 himself, in other words, Ingo Leidiger - the IL in IL Motorsport.
As part of the Management Team of the MX5parts business, I look forward to the three or four times per year that myself and our team meet up with Ingo and his crew at IL to discuss all things MX-5 and generally put the world to rights!
As many MX-5 enthusiasts will know, IL Motorsport has firmly established itself as a leading brand name in the world of the most popular roadster on the planet, with its products attaining all of the credibility one tends to associate with a brand built on German engineering.
What never fails to be lost on me is the enthusiasm that Ingo retains for the vehicle and his strive to continually expand and improve his product range. It's that passion that helps to focus our own drive to remain at the head of the field in terms of being the authority for MX-5 parts and accessories.
We are truly proud to be the only official UK partner for IL Motorsport and it's a position we respect greatly.
Having arrived into Cologne tonight en route from another European meeting, I'll be joined by Andy and Chris from the MX5parts camp early tomorrow morning before Ingo whisks us off to IL HQ to review the latest new products in development and look over what's hot and what's not in the MX-5 world. With 2019 being the 30 year anniversary of the car, the 25th anniversary of IL and the 20th anniversary of MX5parts there's much to be celebrated this year and hopefully, that will result in a few extra special products and projects that we can bring to market in the near future.
In between lots of healthy discussions, schnitzel eating and beer drinking I'll be making the time to do a whirlwind shop tour of the IL Motorsport headquarters and gathering images of a particularly special MX-5 that occupies pride of place in the IL showroom, but that will have to wait for round two of this blog!!!
Part 2
So our visit to IL Motorsport didn't quite get off to the best start...
Whilst I was already safely on the ground in Cologne as the snow came down, Chris and Andy were still tucking into a Terminal 2 'Full English' back at Heathrow.
Breakfast soon became lunch and it was nearly 5 hours later than scheduled before the boys finally left West London and set off for a very wintery Cologne.
If you've ever visited Cologne/Bonn airport you'll know there's not too much to do to keep you amused although a young man who occupied the grand piano at the arrivals bar provided some excellent entertainment for a least half an hour of the 5 hours that I resided at the terminal building. He was so good in fact, that I resisted the temptation to tinkle 'the ivories' with my rendition of Frère Jaques that I remember learning back in school some many moons ago in fear of not quite living up to the standard he had set.
The purpose of our visit was to have a catch up with Ingo and his team at IL Motorsport. There was much to discuss with plans of new products to bring to market, discussing the performance of sales on the IL range of products from 2018 and moreover how we can help further develop the IL brand in what is a very exciting year ahead for us all. 2019 not only marks the 30th year of the MX-5 but it's the 25th Anniversary of IL Motorsport and the 20th Anniversary of MX5parts.
For anyone not familiar with the IL Motorsport brand, it's far more than just a smattering of MX-5 parts and accessories in some snazzy red and black boxes.
The thought, time and effort that goes into developing the IL range is considerable and it's what makes it a brand that can be depended upon for quality and reliability.
You don't have to spend long in the company of Ingo to be completely taken in by his enthusiasm for what is clearly a labour of love.
Beyond the threshold of his well-equipped showroom is an Aladdin's cave of engineering with the latest samples of up and coming IL products to be found everywhere you look.
When we talk about IL Motorsport being a 'quality German engineered brand' that is truly what it is. Over 300k worth of 5-axis CNC milling machine occupies pride of place in the IL development centre and the latest product being tooled up for is a brand-new ND air-intake kit. As Ingo proudly shows us one of his very latest developments, we move into the real nerve centre of the and oversee the IL team programming the 3D data which will bring the product to life.
That one project in itself is a pretty impressive undertaking but as we work our way around the room it's hard to resist picking up other little pieces of treasure each of which open up a new story of yet another product development coming to life. ND door handle trims, sequential rear indicator bulbs, ND exhaust and diffuser and a stripped out ND interior also exposes a short shifter which will be yet another product soon to roll off the IL line.
At MX5parts, we're renowned as being the 'go to' place for the great and good of parts and accessories for what is the best 2 seater roadster on the market and we're not shy of saying it! Given our time served in supplying our goods to the MX-5 market, we could be forgiven for thinking we've got every angle already covered, however, that's the beauty of the IL Motorsport brand. The thinking of their team means that there's always a new product just around the corner, there's always another solution to be found or an improvement that can be made. The hours spent working with the IL team and helping to shape the creative path of the next wave of products are what keep the business exciting, and as the proud Official UK distributor of the IL Motorsport brand, we cannot wait to receive the next batch of shiny red and black boxes full of gems to share with you, our fabulous customers.
Until next time...
Happy Motoring
Steve
Managing Director - MX5parts
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