Australian Car Advice | News Blog

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48 per cent of respondents from New South Wales do not know how to travel through a multi-lane roundabout correctly. That number rises to 49 per cent for Queensland and gets worse at 58 per cent for Victoria and and a shameful 62 per cent in South Australia.

31 per cent of Victorians do not know who should give way at a T-intersection, compared to 21 per cent in NSW and 23 per cent in Queensland.

State vs State aside, what about male vs female? The survey found that 78 per cent of men overall knew who should give way at a T-intersection compared with 70 per cent of women.

“Perhaps this calls for a major rethink from our motoring bodies on how to curb these statistics, they may need to ask themselves whether there’s any value in making written tests compulsory for drivers every 10 years.” The insurance company’s general manager John Dujmovic said

We agree, although we would like to see a compulsory practical test every five years. What do you think the government needs to do to keep drivers aware of road rules.

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He may have a point. Statistics show that sales of the top ten scooter models in Australia have risen 57 per cent during the first six months of this year, compared to the same period last year.

“But the federal and state governments are still to recognise the true importance of scooters. As well as a cheap alternative to cars, scooter use benefits the environment because they leave a tiny carbon footprint, they reduce congestion on roads and they reduce pressure on city parking spaces.” Mr Purchase said.

Just how exactly can scooters be better recognised? By adding so called “Safe Routes” designed specifically to allow scooters to travel via designated paths. Mr Purchase also believes the addition of safety boxes, access by scooter riders to certain designated bicycle lanes and allowing boxed turns on certain busy intersections will go a long way to promote safer scooting.

Although a somewhat bias question to ask our legion of car fans, but what are your thoughts on the increasing number of scooters on Australian roads?

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To qualify for the focus groups, you must have either lost your licence through demerit points or driving under the influence. Not everyday that criteria can be useful for anything except jail!

SAC will begin with newspaper advertisements to recruit the ‘bad drivers’. All costs will be paid by SAC, who is expected to recommended new punishments to the State Government within the next 12 months.

If you’re interested, you will have more luck if you’re a young male, aged between 20-24 as that age bracket forms the highest risk group among disqualified drivers.

Statistics show that disqualified drivers tend to break other driving laws as well, partially due to their “nothing-to-lose-attitude” whilst also being involved in a proportionately higher number of road crashes than licensed drivers.

“We want to know what motivates them, what might deter them and what they think of the fairness of driving laws, if people think the laws are unfair, they are more likely to disobey them.” SAC chairman Arie Freiberg said

Victoria is currently the only state that imposes a mandatory jail sentence of one month for repeat disqualified or suspended drivers, a law which SAC has already recommended abolishing due to potential explosion in Victoria’s jail population.

SAC now recommends impounding more vehicles, licence restrictions and compulsory rehabilitation courses instead of jail terms.

If you have driven with a disqualified or suspended license, what were your reasons?

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It was found that the Toyota Aurion AT-X equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission costs an average of $226.20 per week to run - $13.24 less per week than its main rival, the VE Commodore Omega.

This figure equates to a cost difference of $688.47 per annum, with the AT-X already priced $1,635 below its main rival.

“Motorists are looking at running costs more closely than ever, so the RACV study underlines another dimension to Aurion AT-X ’s overall affordability as the least expensive vehicle to run in its class,” said Toyota Australia’s senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner.

From a field of five which took part in the same category - including an LPG-equipped Falcon and Dual Fuel Commodore - the Aurion AT-X also boasted the least depreciation, interest charges and total registration costs of any car in the survey.

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With more working bees planned, we’ll be sure to keep you posted shovel in hand on the progress of our undertaking as time goes by. It is hoped that as we grow, so too will this small legacy, our own little gesture of environmental good will.

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The Federal Opposition has used its majority in the Senate to refer the Bill to a Committee that is not due to report until at least August 26 2008; however the new LCT increase will come into effect regardless.

As a result, the VACC has urged that the Government reconsider its July 1 implementation date.

“The LCT is to increase without the approval of the Parliament and, as a result, new car dealers are placed in an intolerable situation in having to apply a tax that is not yet law, and may not pass the Parliament when the Bill is returned.”

“Car dealers are faced with the ridiculous situation of having to say to customers –‘You can pay this tax now, but if the legislation is defeated we’ll give you a refund on the amount later’. Or, ‘if you don’t pay this tax, and the legislation is passed, we’ll get the tax off you later on’.”

VACC Executive Director David Purchase has also advised that potential buyers in this situation have every right to say ‘it is not law and I don’t want to pay’.

“Car dealers are asking why they should collect the tax, when it is not yet law. They are furious the Government is prepared to risk their livelihoods in business by bulldozing a tax increase through and pre-empting the outcomes of the Parliamentary process.”

Mr Purchase also regrettably acknowledges that that only segment of the local vehicle manufacturing industry which is growing or maintaining sales is caught up in the middle of this nonsense.

“The Government has failed to consult with the industry before introducing this Bill and as a result created an unworkable mess,” Mr Purchase said.

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Based on Ford’s recently launched FG Falcon XR8 sedan road car, the new Blue Oval weapon will feature a striking ‘Nitro’ blue with white themed livery.

The FG01 prototype will reside in pit lane for the duration of the event, from where Team Vodafone driver and V8 Supercar Champion Craig Lowndes will steer the new race car on a number of demonstration laps of the twisty 3.1 kilometre track.

Channel Seven pit reporter Grant Denyer will be riding as passenger, giving the V8 Supercar world a glimpse of Ford’s future in the sport.

“There has been a lot of excitement at Ford surrounding the launch of the new FG Falcon road-going series, and that excitement has certainly extended to the development of our new race car,” said Ford Racing Manager, Ray Price.

“Our new V8 Supercar has been in development for over 18 months, and it is great that we have been able to get FG01 out on the track so quickly off the back of revealing the new model Falcons.

“Ford’s V8 Supercar teams have been invaluable in having the car we have numbered FG01 ready for a mid-year homologation.”

FPR, Triple 8 (T8) and Stone Brothers Racing (SBR) played a pivotal role in building the FG test car which is called T2 internally – T1 was the test car for the currently raced BA/BF V8 Supercar model.”

“FG01 signifies a fresh look for the Fords, the best way to describe it is that it’s much more aggressive, I think everyone will be really pleased,” said FPR Team Principle Tim Edwards.

As the official Ford homologation team, Triple 8 has been involved in the development of FG01 and they are responsible for technical compliance of the vehicle within the TEGA ‘Blueprint specification’.

Additionally T8 contributed its aerodynamic expertise, designing and supplying components for testing.

Stone Brothers Racing (SBR) assisted with various technical elements of design and integration

“A mid-season homologation will ensure Ford teams are awarded the maximum amount of preparation time for when we’re ready to bring the FG to the track to race,” Price said.

The FG V8 Supercar and Ford’s traditional line-up of Falcon’s will hit the track this weekend at the Midas 400, Sandown Raceway June 7-9, further information at www.sandown400.com.

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This week, both Federal Parties, Labor and Liberal, were divided on how best to tackle the issue.

“VACC is concerned that there are few answers coming from Canberra. Where then, motorists might ask, is a considered resolution going to come from?” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.

“While VACC acknowledges that the prime reason for rampant pump prices is the rising cost of oil on world markets, there are certain obvious measures, which if taken immediately, would go some way to reducing costs for road-users,” he said.

VACC says that on the question of competition, the oil companies and their supermarket alliance partners have nearly total vertical control of the market, and their “comfortable oligopoly,” as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) refers to it, must be broken.

VACC contends that oil companies, through their supermarket partners, are attempting to remove independent operators from the market through predatory pricing practices, to gain total market control. The ACCC must act to stop predatory pricing.

It says supermarket shopper dockets are a con. Few motorists can now believe that they are not paying for the so-called ‘discount’ through the supermarket check-out. This con must be exposed by the media.

Taking up a growing call the VACC says; “GST on the excise component of petrol is indefensible and counter to the former Howard and Costello Government’s pledge when it introduced the 10% ‘Goods and Services Tax’ in 2000. This tax-on-a-tax must be abolished which will save motorists nearly four cents a litre.”

VACC questions the relevance of world parity pricing in the current distorted world market where speculators are in large part responsible for the record barrel prices. It is time that world parity pricing was reviewed.

It also says the $2000 vehicle rebate for LPG fitment must be maintained until 2014 as planned. Australia’s local vehicle manufacturers would have a clear market advantage if LPG was designed to fit integrally into more of their locally produced models, and fitted at the production stage.

Finally it says the Victorian Government must introduce new road safety initiatives to make it safer for commuters to choose two-wheeled vehicles.

“To achieve this, VACC proposes a designated system of “Safe Routes” with safety boxes, access by scooter riders to particular identified bicycle lanes on some city arterials, boxed turns on certain busy intersections, and initiatives to improve road-sharing practices by drivers.

“VACC agrees with the Prime Minister’s assertion that there is “no silver bullet” to solve the high fuel prices.

“However, we can’t simply throw our hands up. Australians, Australian business, and the economy, relies very heavily on road transport.

We must take some creative solutions if the price of fuel is not to cripple the country,” Mr Purchase said.

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Bugatti Bonanza for Winton Historic

During the 1920s and 30s, Grand Prix Bugattis experienced unparalleled success around the world and have been credited with winning more Grand Prix events in their day than any other make during the long history of motor racing.

Bugatti cars achieved many thousands of victories in just a few decades. The little Bugatti Type 13 famously swept the top four positions in the Grand Prix de Voiturette at Brescia, Italy in 1921 giving rise to the name ‘Brescia’ for the model.

The 1924 Bugatti Type 35 is probably the most successful racing car of all time with over 2,000 wins. Bugatti’s final racing success at Le Mans is well remembered, Jean-Pierre Wimille and Pierre Veyron won the 1939 race with just one car and meagre resources.

Bugatti racing cars were also instrumental in helping to establish the fledgling motor sport industry in Australia. In a six year period between 1928 and 1933, half of the first three placings in Australian Grand Prix events went to Bugattis and they won outright four years in a row.

The type 37A Bugatti driven by Arthur J Terdich in 1929 had a runaway victory. It averaged 99km/h over a distance of 336km around the then rough and unsealed Phillip Island circuit.

The vehicle had been imported into Australia in late 1928 without the rear half of its body, to avoid paying duty. It was then fitted with a wooden tail which was painted with a copy of the Light Car Club of Australia badge.

This was the first Bugatti to win an Australian Grand Prix and it initiated the winning success of Bugattis in local events during the early 1930s.

The vehicle, which now resides in the Powerhouse Museum, was the work of brilliant Italian designer Ettore Bugatti. Ettore Bugatti was reputed to be the greatest designer of world famous racing cars until fellow countryman, Ferrari appeared on the scene in more recent years.

Between 1909 and 1939, more than 10,000 Bugattis were built spanning 36 different models. The make is easily recognised by its exquisitely designed tapering body and distinctive horseshoe radiator.

As part of the extended celebrations for Bugatti, a wonderful collection of these beautiful old racing cars will be on show at 2008 Historic Winton, with the majority of them appearing in competition events. This will be the biggest line up of Bugatti vehicles at any historic race meeting for some years.

Holden Celebrates 60 Years & GM 100 Years

This year celebrates the centenary of General Motors and close to home the 60th anniversary of Australia’s own car, the Holden 48-215 or FX as it was to later become known.

Gary Poole, Derrinallum will have his FX Holden on display at this year’s Winton Historic. One of only 650 ever made, this is one of two are known to still be racing, the second raced in GB and Australia two years ago by the late Peter Brock.

The Green Hornet

In the late 1950s, Arthur Cornelius (the ’special builder’) came up with an ‘Austin and Morris beater’ for Stan Mills.

The hybrid consisted of A Model Ford mechanicals sitting on a 1927 Willys-Knight chassis which had been inverted and slung underneath both axles. In suitable period fashion the engine, slightly warmed, was fitted with a Ford 97 carby and stub exhausts. A body was considered unnecessary weight.

Stan competed and became well-known in the district with his A Model ‘bedstead’ and after about a year, he and Arthur realised a dream by opening a new and permanent circuit at the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve.

Stan again conferred with Arthur and arranged for a body to be constructed to his own design. Around 1958, the Green Hornet emerged.

With its altered FX Holden bonnet topped with a radical and contemporary fin for a tail and its two-tone green and white livery, the car cut a dashing profile and complemented its unique stub-exhaust sound. It became for a time the ’signature vehicle’ for the Wahgunyah Circuit.

Stan Mills raced the car with a reasonable amount of success until approximately 1963. It changed hands a couple of times until 1973 when Bruce McLoughlin of Albury Car Parts purchased it and used the car for promotional purposes in his Albury business.

It remained there until 1984 when Dan Claridge obtained the vehicle. The car still ran and appeared to be in the same condition as when it last raced, but was very weathered. Dan restored the car over the next year or two and, apart from a couple of demo runs, it has sat in his shed since. In May 1985, CAMS granted Group L(b) classification to the car.

Austin Healey ‘Bug Eye’ Celebrates 50 Years

Often described as the greatest little sports car of all time, the Bug Eye Sprite was designed to fill a rather large hole in the market for those that were seeking a small, low cost sports car.

The Bug Eye was launched exactly 50 years ago and went on sale at a price of $699. It used a tuned version of the Austin A series engine and many existing components from the Austin A30 and Morris Minor in order to keep cost to a minimum.

The Bugeye had coil springs and wishbones in the front, semi-elliptical leaf springs at the back, rack and pinion steering, drum brakes and a four speed manual gearbox. This simple vehicle with its 948cc engine and twin SU carburettors was generally acclaimed as being capable of 80mph and 30 miles to the gallon.

Some 48,987 of the original series-one Bugeye were produced between 1958 and 1961 before the body shape was altered and the distinctive headlight profile became more conventional. Most went to the USA and almost half are claimed to be still in existence.

In 1977, the first Bugeye Sprite entered historic racing in Australia. Others quickly followed and soon Bugeye Sprites were amongst the most popular of the pre-1960 production sports cars participating in historic meetings around Australia.

Amongst the many attractions at this year’s Historic Winton is a dedicated group of Bug Eye competition vehicles competing for line honours, and well-supported by a large attendance of Bug Eye spectator vehicles on display in Shannons Classic Car Park.

Ford Model T Celebrates 100 Years

Launched in 1908 with the primary aim of making motoring affordable for the working class, the T Model Ford is legendary in motoring history. More than 15 million of these iconic vehicles were produced between 1908 and 1927 and it pioneered the art of production-line assembly.

Picture courtesy www.SDpics.com

The T Model Ford celebrates its centenary this year and motoring enthusiasts can witness a large group of these old-timers at 2008 Historic Winton.

A few of them will take part in trackside events throughout the weekend, the most notable being the Wikner T Model Special which has a competition history dating back to 1922 and is one of the oldest known Australian race cars.

A special viewing area is set aside in the Classic Car Park at Winton Motor Raceway for a Ford T Model Club display, and most of these vehicles will take part in parade laps early on Sunday afternoon.

Historic Winton is very fortunate to have the opportunity to showcase these wonderful old historic vehicles. Ford’s involvement in motorsport dates back to October 1901 when Henry Ford competed in his first and only official car race event.

Earlier that year, with the help of others, Henry Ford constructed a new vehicle nicknamed ‘Sweepstakes’, which was capable of 72 mph and he decided that racing was the ideal way to promote his name and business capabilities.

A crowd of eight thousand spectators gathered at the track to witness more than a dozen race cars, including the early favourite driven by Alexander Winton. Winton was not only a well-known local car manufacturer, he was also a most celebrated and competent race driver.

Because of mechanical problems with many of the vehicles, the finale to the day’s program became a showdown between Alexander Winton’s ‘Bullet’ and Henry Ford’s ‘Sweepstakes’. ‘Bullet’ produced about 70hp, nearly three times that of ‘Sweepstakes’, and the event was considered by many to be a total mismatch.

Ford’s inexperience as a driver did not help as he continually backed off in the corners and Winton soon drew ahead to a commanding lead. However, half-way through the 10 mile race, Winton’s car started to splutter and falter.

Ford, the underdog, eventually swept past Winton in front of the crowded grandstand and went on to win the event.

In 1925, the first Australian Ford plant opened in Geelong, producing Model T Fords. In 1927, the Model T was superseded by the Model A.

Wanderer Race Car

During the early 1920s, German car manufacturer ‘Wanderer’ sent a series of twelve incomplete vehicles to their Australian distributor, Wagner Bros Engineering of Melbourne for completion, as was the custom of those days.

Wanderer based chassis WW6261 was fitted with an attractive 2 seater racing body which was built in 1924 by Terdich Bros in Collingwood, and extensive modifications were made to the running gear and motor using various Wanderer parts

The Wanderer race car competed at Aspendale circuit, Wheelers Hill Climb and Melborne metropolitan speedways before being entered in the 1928 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

This is the very same Wanderer vehicle that you will see in all its glory at this year’s Historic Winton.

During its 84 years of existence, the vehicle has spent 50 years in storage and is believed to be the oldest unrestored Australian Grand Prix entrant and the sole surviving Wanderer race car in the world.

It was in regular use until 1939 in the hands of its original owner, Mr A Wagner. The car had little activity during the war years and lay in storage from 1948 until 1962, when it was sold to Arnold Terdich, who was extremely active in motor sport at the time.

The Wanderer race car was subsequently road registered and competed in a multitude of events for a long period before eventually being retired. It lay under covers from the late 1980s until it was purchased from Arnold Terdich’s estate in 2006 by his nephew Chris Terdich, the current proud owner. Since then, the vehicle has had only a sympathetic general clean up and a much-needed mechanical overhaul.

2008 Historic Winton is proud to showcase this most important part of Australian motorsport history. Matt and Paul from CarAdvice will be attending the event again this year so if you make it up there, please come say hi.

For further details on the Winton Historic, please contact www.historicwinton.org

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An additional exit ramp is to be built from the Bolte Bridge to take traffic toward the Burnley Tunnel which will see the Montague Street city-bound ramp at South Melbourne closed for in excess of 18 months from May 18.

More lanes and an extensive widening of the freeway to Kings Way will also be included.

The overall aim of the project is to create a smoother flowing corridor for the 160,000 motorists who use the West Gate Freeway every day.

Detours will be in place at Normanby Road, Clarendon Street, City Road and Power Street to access CityLink. For full details, contact VicRoads.

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