History of Challenge Car Washes

Challenge is another small-player in the fuel market that only operates a handful of Car Washes. Many of these are original's from sites purchased from other fuel companies. Challenge commenced operations in 1998.

## Ryko Monarch II

Challenge owned two sites with an almost identical design, one in Porirua CBD and one in Fairy Springs, Rotorua. Both sites had wash bays identical to a design used by Caltex. The site in Porirua had a Ryko Monarch II, which was removed in 2009 and the site closed down altogether in 2010. Sadly, Google Streetview isn't close enough to the wash bay for a view of it.

The Fairy Springs site also closed down in 2010, and sadly Google Streetview did not visit the area in 2009, so we only have some really crap 2008 Streetview, in which you can just about see the old machine, which was also a Ryko Monarch II.

In a twist of fate, Waitomo opened a new self-serve station on the site of the former Fairy Springs Challenge in early 2020, and it is also the site of their first Car Wash. The wash bay of the new Waitomo is in almost the exact same place as the original wash bay, and is also Touchless (Laserwash 360plus)!

We're not sure if these sites were built new or purchased from Caltex....the wash bays are identical to one of the designs to that used by Caltex, but we're not sure if Ryko were still making the Monarch II in 1998.

## Ryko Premier XL (ex. Caltex)

Two Challenge sites on the South Island, Greymouth and Hokitika, are locations purchased from Caltex that came with their original Ryko Premier XL's. The site in Greymouth had its original plain-Red brushes. The site in Hokitika originally had Red & White brushes, which were recently replaced with plain-Red brushes during a machine Refurbishment.

Both of these were replaced in 2020 with Istobal M'Nex 22's.

## Mark Vii TurboJet XT L-Arm (2015)

Challenge opened two brand new sites in Canterbury in 2015 - in Dartfield and Lincoln. the first of these, Lincoln has a Mark Vii TurboJet XT L-arm. This rare machine is reportedly no-longer made, so we can assume that no more of these will be installed.

In July-August 2020, this machine was replaced with a Chinese Leisuwash 360, a rip-off Laserwash.

## Istobal M'Start (2015)

The second of two new Car Washes opened in Canterbury in 2015, Dartfield, has an Istobal M'Start, with Red & Black striped brushes.

## Leisuwash 360 (2020)

Challenge Lincoln selected this Chinese-made Touchless wash to replace the Mark VII. As you might have guessed, this machine it complete rip-off of the PDQ Laserwash 360....even the machine's name "Leisuwash 360" is a rip-off! This is the first of these machines to be installed in NZ (and hopefully the last).

NB: This photo is of a similar machine at another location (private car wash centre).

NB: Photo of similar machine at another location
## Istobal M'Nex 22 (2020)

Challenge Chose the Istobal M'Nex 22 in 2020 to replace the old Ryko Machines at sites in Greymouth and Hokitika. The Greymouth machine has Blue & Grey brushes, whilst the Hokitka Machine has dark blue brushes.

Challenge HokitikaChallenge HokitikaChallenge GreymouthChallenge Greymouth
## Unknown (2022)

A brand new Challenge with a Car Wash opened in Tauranga in 2022.....but what car wash does it have? We'll have to wait and see!