Our petrolhead mechanic team

You get to deal directly with passionate car enthusiasts, petrolheads that love anything automotive, so come meet the team.

Darren Hill – Senior Mechanic

Where were you born and where did you grow up
Born Tottenham, London, UK. Family moved to West country in ’73, where I stayed until 2003 then France till 2014, then moved to Australia

First car you drove and did your parents know about it at the time
Jag XJ12 on Weston Super Mare Beach 1980

How old were you when you learnt to drive
First learned to drive around ’83/’84. I was given a Mk1 Escort from the mechanic at the garage I worked at on Saturdays. I used to tear around the local waste ground (we call it a tip here in Australia)

First car you owned
Datsun Cherry, it was cheap and started every time (also many motorcycles)

First motorsport event
Donnington Park 1989, Superbikes, watching a Norton rotary win

Best motorsport event
Isle Of Man TT 1997 incredible

Favourite cars
Mk2 Jaguar, Triumph 2500 saloon, Rover P6 v8, Alfa Romeo (Alfas never makes sense but doesn’t matter)

Best car driven
Renault 5 GT turbo, MK2 Golf GTI perfectly formed giant slayer

Mechanical speciality
I’ll tackle anything, my determination to always fix it comes from motorcycles, you have be able to work in all fields of repairs – engine builds, tuning, electrical faults, transmission, suspension etc

Anything else we should know about you?
Raced motorcycles 600s, 750, 350 in the ’90s and 2000s. Ran my own shop in UK and France for many years. Keen MTB rider last 20 plus years, and taxi to two kids 16-18 (although they’re driving now) and I’ve been married 28 years

Noel Mews – Senior Mechanic

Where were you born and where did you grow up
Born in Sydney. Grew up in Blacktown and have lived in Auburn and Five Dock. True Sydney boy.

First car you drove and did your parents know about it at the time
Too far back to remember

How old were you when you learnt to drive

First car you owned
Austin Freeway

What cars do you own now?
1954 Hillman Minx

1979 MGBGT

2015 Nissan Navara

First motorsport event
Speedway at Sydney Showgrounds, age about 11

Best motorsport moment
I always loved watching Bathurst. The year I finally went they moved the V8’s & the 2 litre Touring Cars were on. I had come down from QLD to see the V8’s live.

Favourite colour
No favourite colour and no favourite on a car either

Favourite car or type(s) of cars
Favourite was my XB Fairmont 76 hard top, burnt orange with a vinyl roof

What do your mates call you and why
Mewsy. Typical blokes, easy nickname to remember.

Best car you’ve ever driven and why
Honda Accord Euro. Owned and loved that car. I had a Volvo wagon that was ugly as sin but I loved it. Navara is my current car, best car I’ve driven in a while

Mechanical specialities
All rounder, will give anything a go, but love the classics

How long have you been qualified and how long have you been in the industry
Started in 1975, been in it on and off ever since. Went into automotive retail for a couple of years but found my way back to the tools

What do you do when you’re not working on cars
Sleep, and dream about classic cars

Anything else we should know about you?
Loving being part of the Peninsula team. Great group of people here.

Brandon Boudville – Mechanic

Where were you born and where did you grow up?
Perth, WA. Made the move to Sydney in October last year, but Perth is still ‘home’

First car you drove and did your parents know about it at the time
94 Toyota 4runner. They knew that I had the car but never knew I would to take it out before I had a licence

How old were you when you learnt to drive
15

First car you owned
94 Toyota 4runner

What cars do you own now?
2005 HSV VZ Senator

1987 Holden VL Berlina

2005 Toyota Corolla Sportiva

1989 Toyota Corolla MkII

Favourite colour
Purple

Favourite car or type(s) of cars
All-time favourite is the JX100 chaser. My favourite cars are any 4 door Toyota. Partial to any Japanese or Australian car really.

What do your mates call you and why
Brandito. Best mate Jack called me that one day and it just stuck

What got you hooked on cars and/or motorsport
My grandad, my dad and my uncles. My grandad was a mechanic and the family were always mucking around with cars at the front of his house. Have nice memories of that. Love anything with a motor and wheels. It’s in our blood.

What type of cars/boats/bikes/machines etc have you worked on
All types ranging from 4WD’s, trucks, one tonners, motorbikes and dirt bikes

Mechanical specialities
Anything turbo related. I was a turbo technician for 2 yrs

How long have you been qualified and how long have you been in the industry
Qualified in 2013 & completed my apprenticeship in 2010. Been in it ever since.

What do you do when you’re not working on cars
Look for car parts, but don’t tell the wife haha

Anything else we should know about you?
I just got married!

Patrick Connolly – Apprentice Mechanic

Where were you born and where did you grow up?
Born and grew up in Sydney and always lived here

First car you drove and did your parents know about it at the time
First car I drove was 1976 Honda Civic and yes my dad taught me to drive in it

How old were you when you learnt to drive
16

First car you owned
Mini Moke Californian

What cars do you own now?
1962 MGA Deluxe (very rare only 3 in Aus)

1948 MGTC

2005 VW V6 Multivan

First motorsport event
Bathurst 1000 in 2003 a great weekend sleeping on the hill trackside Saturday night to get position

Best motorsport moment
Peter Brock’s Memorial at Bathurst 2006 Amazing to be there as thousands remembered and celebrated a true Australian legend

Favourite colour
I like Red and British Racing Green

Favourite car or type(s) of cars
My favourite car is my father’s MGTC also enjoy a good old Holden V8

What do your mates call you
Moses for my beard

Best car you’ve ever driven
MGA Mk2 a great balanced comfortable driving experience where I really feel connected to the car

Mechanical specialities
Have been playing with cars as long as I can remember and finally starting my mechanic training officially

What do you do when you’re not working on cars
Windsurfing is my sport and I’m back competing at the nationals after a long break

Anything else we should know about you?
Already teaching my 10yo son to be a car nut like me…

Radford Hall – Restoration Specialist

Where were you born and where did you grow up
Sidcup. South East London UK

First car you drove and did your parents know about it at the time
Porsche 924. No they did not know

How old were you when you learnt to drive
17

First car you owned
1972 Mk1 Escort

What cars do you own now?

1964 MGB Roadster

1968 Mini Cooper S

2005 AC Cobra 5.0 ltr Boss

2021 Ford Ranger

First motorsport event
Banger racing at Arena Essex

Best motorsport or motoring moment
Doing 185mph in my TVR Cerbera

Favourite colour
Blue

Favourite car or type(s) of cars
AC Shelby Cobra. Most 60’s to 80’s cars

What do your mates call you and why
Rad, cos I am

Best car you’ve ever driven and why
Tough one between my AC Cobra and my TVR Cerbera. Both beautiful cars and wicked fast.

Mechanical specialities
Restoration and anything Mini

What do you do when you’re not working on cars
Work on Houses

Anything else we should know about you?
I love music, reading and travel.

Richard Blanks – Mechanic’s Assistant

Where were you born and where did you grow up
Aldershot (home of British Military)

First car you drove and did your parents know about it at the time
Ford Capri Mk2 1.6L (and yes)

How old were you when you learnt to drive
16

First car you owned
Ford Capri Mk2 1.6L

What car do you own now?
1966 Cortina GT MkII

First motorsport event
Banger racing at local circuit 10mins from home. Had events every Thursday night ranging from Mk2 Escort category to demolition derbies. Loved the smells, sounds and sights and really lucky to have it so close by.

Best motorsport or motoring moment
Attending a Santa Pod Drag Racing meet – Top Fuel and Funny cars are absolutely insane!

Favourite colour
Red

Favourite car or type(s) of cars
UK Fords (Capri’s & Escorts) and Jags

What do your mates call you and why
Blanksy (usual adding of a Y) or Woody (went to a fancy dress party thinking I’d nailed the Clint Eastwood look and a girl asked me if I’d come as Woody from Toy Story, mates weren’t going to let that opportunity slide!)

Best car you’ve ever driven and why
Lamborghini Gallardo – awesome sound and pure smile factor.

What do you do when you’re not working on cars
parenting, home renos, music (listening, vinyl stores, live gigs)

Anything else we should know about you?
Love my UK football (soccer ) – Chelsea’s my team and have an affinity to WWII planes via my Grandad, my favourite being the Spitfire which I was lucky enough to fly in this year.

Come and visit the workshop. We’ll chat about cars, lament the rise of soulless, silent electric vehicles, & debate which model was best for each example of the cars currently in house.