About us
My name is Mark Cooper; I am the founder of, and driving force behind the Vehicle Check concept.
I have extensive experience in the motor vehicle business going way back to 1974 when I was a car groomer for Budget Rent-a-Car in Wellington. I worked my way up to run branches for Budget in both Wellington and Auckland, and owned Budget franchises in Henderson, Pakuranga and Northcote until the mid 1980’s.
I spent a short time in new and used vehicle sales with both Mitsubishi and Daihatsu, and managed a Collision Repair business in Otahuhu for Wellington firm ‘Blair Wright Ltd’ in the early 1980’s.
In 1993 I purchased the Ford Advanced Driver’s School (now known as National Advanced Driver’s School, see www.nationaladvanced.co.nz ) and operated the school until 2005. I still act as a casual instructor and consultant to the School.
I am totally passionate about cars and driving, and have owned a wide range of modern and classic vehicles from Cadillac to Maserati, and nearly everything in between. I have had a short but successful motorsport career managing a class 2nd at the Pukekohe 6hr race twice, a class 3rd in the Nurburgring 24hr race in Germany in 2000 and a class win in the first EnergyWise Rally in a Ford Mondeo in 2002.
I understand the importance of vehicle maintenance, and want your vehicles to look and drive just how I like my cars to look and drive; just how the manufacturer intended them to!