Krikke puts business in the shed

After almost four decades as a household name in the South West for selling used cars, Ron Krikke has decided it is time to devote more time to his speedway passion.

Mr Krikke will close the gates at the Ron Krikke Auto Centre for the final time on Saturday after selling cars to South West motorists for the past 38 years.

The Krikke name is well known around the nation in the car industry and racing scene, and now Mr Krikke wants to focus on promoting events at the Quit Bunbury Speedway.

“There have been a couple of things come up which have made me decide to close, ” he said.

“With the speedway going so well I want to put my time into the sport and the car trade has dipped off a bit so it is about the time to make a change.

“I want to do promoting next, generally just at the Speedway and running shows out there which will give me a bit of a wage.

“I might play bit of golf as well to get my handicap down a bit.”

Mr Krikke said the car industry had been good to him.

“It has been a good ride, I managed to earn some money in it and had a great time, ” he said.

“It looked after my motor racing which was good.

“I have been selling cars for 38 years and been in the car industry for 43 years.

“I was an apprentice panel beater and a reconditioner as well as having a few other odd jobs.”

Mr Krikke said in the past five years he had the inkling the time would come to shut the car yard and he wanted to finish his working life at the speedway.

“I was probably, in my own books, complete as a racer and now I want to be complete as a promoter, ” he said.

“I don’t think I will miss the industry – people ask me if I miss racing and I don’t.”