Clarkson on Aussie cars. File under C for cultural engagement
03 June 2009
You can learn much about our great country and the history of motor sport in this little review. Here's a taster...
At the Bathurst race from which this limited-edition Vauxhall takes its name, there are pitched battles between gangs of Ford and GM fans. Proper bike-chains-and-flamethrower, Hell’s Angel-type stuff. And the only time they ever came together was when a chap called Jim Richards won in a Nissan Skyline. Such was the torrent of catcalls as he climbed onto the podium, he leant into the microphone and called the entire crowd “a pack of arseholes”.
(more here)
tags cars, linkage, review, thinking
Car Alterations*
23 February 2009
It’s lazy Sunday afternoon and my mobile phone rings. It’s Davo. Usually when we call each other there’s a bit of silly brotherly banter and maybe an impression of our Dad… but not this time there’s a no-nonsense tone in his voice.
“Now listen carefully man. I’m serious. I’ve had an accident in the car. I’m Ok and in Launny in the Hospital.”
My guts sink in me. “You ok then?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Camry?”
“It’s a write off."
“Oh well don’t worry about that.” (I‘ve always had a love hate relationship with that car).
“Do you want me to pick you up?” I say looking at Christine to see if it’s ok.
“Sure.”
“I’ll leave straight away seeya soon.”
I don’t think I’ve moved faster out the door in my life. Redbull check. Water check, ipod check, and I’m off. The road isn’t too busy and the traffic is light. I drive with the headlights on and the speedo bang on 110. Drink water, overtake, Campbell Town, egg and bacon pie. Time moves quickly. Two hours pass.
Davo walks out to meet me as I pull up outside the hospital. I give him a big hug that he probably doesn’t like. He tells me what happened. He’s pretty calm, Dave and are usually are pretty calm when s**t hits the fan. He tells me how the car slid off the road and how the tree just missed him. He tells me how people picked him up with all his bike stuff and helped him strip the car of it’s small Sony stereo and battery. We spend 15 mins talking to the insurance company to make sure they can recover the car before heading.
We pick up Davo’s stuff from a short stocky friendly guy we chuck it in the back of my newly fixed Corolla… it all fits. We drive back. We talk but don’t chit chat much, we don’t need to. We’ve travelled together many times before. It’s like communicating in code. We get back and it’s about 9pm. I drop Dave off after visiting Mum and Dad who are surprisingly calm.
It’s 10pm and wearily open the door to our flat.
“That you Mike?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m having some strong contractions.”
*Davo thought of this title.
My epic Corolla Seca... the story continues
05 February 2009
I've blogged about my car before and people weren't hugely interested but I'll persist anyway. Please know dear reader that I heard you inwardly groan as you read the title of this post. Still with me? Well read on I'll be brief. As reported back here my car looked a little like this...
The insurance company wrote the car off and gave me $4000 dollars and the wreck back... that was in September last year. Much time and effort later Jonny and I finally got it back on the road.
You can see all the rest of the photos of the build over on facebook here. The job isn't completed quite yet. Next week it'll visit the body works then after that the air conditioning will be re gassed. Don't worry I'll keep you posted.
tags cars, linkage, pictures, shameless self promotion
Empowering leadership...
08 December 2008
Don't think the credit crunch is that bad? Well spare a thought for car manufacturer General Motors (who own Australia's own Holden). Time Magazine reports they are loosing money at the rate of $2 billion a month. Think that's bad? The company lost a total of $38 billion in 2007. Toyota on the other hand has weathered the storm relatively well. What's made them succeed you ask?
"They made the workforce integral to improving the system. Workers were not mere labor inputs... it required a buy in from the shop floor so that everyone was dedicated to improvement... [Toyota] relies on contributions from employees . It feels vulnerable but your willingness to be open to vulnerability is what helps you make it work."Pastors/General Motors take note. An ability to empower people on the production line is part of the reason for automotive/ministry success. You can read more about empowering leadership here*.
*Cheers Mikey for link
tags cars, christian, ministry tips, thinking
An epic tale of woe Part #3
19 September 2008
With only a few more minor things to sort out my fun little sports car met a sticky end. It was fully insured but it's impossible to regain the time effort and money that I spent. The insurance company has decided to write off the whole car. I may sound matter of fact about it but I can assure you the whole matter is pretty upsetting especially because I didn't crash it.
An epic tale of woe Part #2
17 September 2008
The tale continues. You can read Part #1 here
Having got the car down to Tasmania using David Allen's tried and true organizational method I made a list of the problems and projects I set about beginning to fix them one at a time.
I visited wreckers and managed to locate a stack load of the interior parts I needed.Jonny and I then pulled out all the old ones and installed the "new ones". We got the central locking working and boot and bonnet opening smoothly.
We removed the old stereo that didn't work along with a car alarm that also didn't work.
Here Jonny models some sunnies that came free with the car... bonus!
Old interior parts perished by sun and age
Out they all go and in go the 'new' secondhand ones.Next I had to locate the water leaks. I tore the whole interior out of the car. I literally took out everything including the seats carpet (which was beginning to rot form all the water leaks). I then located all the water leaks and sent the car went to the bodyworks. There they removed the front windscreen and the rust cut out of the roof and pillars at the back of the car. This all cost a bit but I figured I didn't really have a choice.
Here you can see the rust where the window joins the bodywork
and againMeanwhile I cleaned every single piece of the interior making till it looked like brand new. (sorry no pictures of that)
The side strip was all messed up
That's what it looks like cleanedOnce I got the car back from the body works it looked wonderful. I set about getting the carpet cleaned and dry and began the task of putting the whole car back together.
I ordered another second hand rear wing from Sydney only to discover that it wasn't a whole lot better than the one I already had so this task remained incomplete. I also changed over the registration (beautiful new Tasmanian number plate) and got the car insured.
Things were starting to look good and the car was starting to come together... finally.
tags cars, shameless self promotion, stupid award
An epic tale of woe Part #1
11 September 2008
A while back I bought a car. The eagle eyed among you may have noticed that I haven't really blogged about it since my mate Jonny brought it down about a month or so after I bought it. There's a good reason for this which explain under three headings. (Sounds like a sermon).
The Good
- The engine is a ripper. It's a true sports motor revving out to nearly 8000 rpm. It has a low 180,000kms. Very good for it's age.
- The car handles beautifully with it's front strut brace doing the biz.
- It's faster, lighter, more economical, more way more fun than my old Camry (see below).
- It's not been tinkered with by wannabe boy racers.
The Bad- The front wheel bearing needed attention.
- The gearbox was slightly worn.
- Some parts of the interior were worn.
- The bloke lied in the online ad about the age of the car (It was 1989 not 1992).
- Crap tyres.
The (very) Ugly
- The rear wing fell off in Sydney while I was waiting to get the car down. It turns out that the dodgy bloke I bought it from had sikaflexed it back on when it had fallen off before.
- One word. Rust. Meaning that the car leaked like a sieve (see above).
- I paid too much for it. Considering the condition of the car it was worth closer to $2000 to $2500.
tags cars, pictures, shameless self promotion, stupid award
Who is the Stig?
28 July 2008
If you are a fan of Top Gear Hop on over to Jonny's blog for a very very funny post.
I bought a car
23 May 2008
9 things you should know about it;
- Like my wife I found it on the internet.
- It's my dream car...
- ....a 1992 Toyota Corolla SX
- It's currently in Sydney.
- I'll probably sell my Camry at some stage.
- If you'd like to drive it down for me and visit beautiful Tasmania...
- ...I could negotiate something...
- ...So that you weren't out of pocket.
- This list is getting a little tiresome.
Confessions... star stuck... Targa
20 April 2007
I have to own up to something tonight... I enjoy motorsport... I know please try not to fall asleep.
Jonny and I spent this evening watching Targa. We took his nephew Brandon along to catch the night stage under lights at the DEC. I reckon there were over five thousand people out there.
After dropping Brandon home, Jonny and I pushed on down to Wrest Point to get a closer look at the cars. Usually there are stacks of people and you can't get close at all... but this evening there were hardly any people round. The atmosphere was much more friendly (lacking in bogans). Jonny and I chatted with mechanics and drivers as well as getting a very good look.
We also saw... but I didn't want to get too close.
He's in the center of frame... still no ideas?
(Click the picture for a bigger view) Jim Richards and Barry Oliver have won this race 8 times. This is their brand new (Less than a 1000kms) $300, 000 Porsche GT3
This little puppy is another rare beast
A brand new $500, 000 Austin Martin Vantage... I know think of all those people you could feed in Africa.(pictures updated)
Cars, being a nerd and other stuff
22 September 2006
I’m thinking of taking a break from my blog for a bit while I sort out some talks I have to write for an evangelistic camp next month. Apologies if my updates are a little spasmodic.
Things that you can pray about in the meantime
- Finally getting all the paper work sorted for next year.
- That Christians will be generous and give me and FOCUS the money for next year.
- For the talks I have to write and for me not to get stressed out about them.
- For people that I have spoken to and will speak to with regard to working for FOCUS next year.
- For Christine and I to work hard on our relationship especially for me as I think about the future.
Today I have...
- Been out helping a mate get his car Dyno Tuned* (see pic). Most people who read this probably don’t know I’m into cars and to a certian exstent I'm not… anyway the chances are that you won’t know what a dyno is or a dyno is... guessing anyone?
- Written the protocol for editing out website content (finally)
- Thought about making some progress on the talks (they are about half done)
- Filled in some more forms for work next year.
- Chatted with an old school mate.
- Helped my parents battle computer issues.
- Helped Nixter battle Skype issues.
- Battled some more preference settings on Adium (like msn messenger only 1000 times better)
- Updated this blog
- Talked to Christine.. twice
- Gotten angry because AAPT doesn't have a good usage meter for their ADSL plans.
tags cars, christian, ministry, pictures, update
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