Section: Australia
Written By: Seyth Miersma
May 14th, 2008 10:45 AM
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Making a play for Parent or Guardian of the Year: Australia Edition, is a man from the small community of Alice Springs.
Pulled over for driving an unregistered sedan, the unidentified man was stopped on the Ross Highway just south of Alice Springs this weekend. After approaching the car officers said they were “appalled”’ to find that the driver had put a seatbelt around his newly acquired “slab” (meaning “case”) of beer in the front seat, while letting a five-year-old child go unrestrained in the back seat.
While it’s clear that the gentleman wasn’t using any sort of good judgment by not strapping in the tot, we can’t help but wonder why he could have been so preoccupied by the welfare of the brew? In any event, the fellow isn’t doing a lot of good to dispel the stereotype of the beer-loving Australian. Guess those Fosters commercials were right after all.
+ ABC news: Driver straps in beer, leaves kid loose
Written By: Seyth Miersma
May 7th, 2008 4:30 PM
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Someone with a rather fine sense of humor and plenty of spare time, has been torturing the funny bones of the Australian town of Frankston.
The Frankston Leader reported recently on a spate of weirdly humorous road signage appearing out of nowhere. Many of the locals get the joke and find the original signs just as funny as the mystery man responsible for them. But other Frankstonians aren’t quite so bemused, finding signs like the one picturing an amorous couple which reads “Hump,” both “blasphemous” and “obscene”.
Have a look at some of Frankston’s finest in our gallery below.
+ Autoblog: Mystery joker installing funny road signs
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Winding Road Staff
April 10th, 2008 1:00 PM
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The Holden VE Ute is what the Chevrolet SSR could, and should, have been. Fortunately, it seems that the VE Ute is what in the not to distant future the new El Camino will be, albeit with a different emblem on its grille.
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Written By: Winding Road Staff
April 2nd, 2008 1:00 PM
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From Australia, with love and 361 horsepower, comes a whole new kind of Pontiac sedan.
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Written By: David Yang
April 1st, 2008 9:00 AM
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Ateco, the exclusive importer of Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Citroen cars in Australia and New Zealand recently penned a contract with Chinese carmaker Chery for importing three models Down Under.
According to Ric Hull, the managing director of Ateco, the three possible models - namely the A1, A5 and Tiggo 3 - will comply with all ADR (Australian Design Rules), including the comprehensive and severe crash testing requirements.
The Chinese company has exported its cars to 69 countries and regions to date, and will likely export to another 10 countries this year. With its advantages on price, it’s predicted that Chery will become a fierce competitor to the South Korean automaker Kia in the Australian market.
Chery sold 27,926 models in Feb, 2008, finishing as the third best selling Chinese auto brand for the month. The top two sellers were Shanghai Volkswagen and Shanghai General Motors, both joint-venture companies under Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.
(Click on the thumbnails below to check out Chery’s Australian range.)
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 16th, 2008 11:00 AM
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Formula One star Lewis Hamilton kicked off his 2008 season in commanding fashion, rolling to a first place finish at the Australian Grand Prix early this morning. Hamilton had very little trouble in collecting his first ten championship points of the season, while the rest of the grid seemed to struggle considerably.
With traction control and other driver aids missing from their cars for the first time in more than a decade, the F1 field seemed to be learning as they drove in an error filled race. Only seven drivers crossed the finish line under the checkered flag, with mechanical failures or crashes claiming the remaining 13 drivers.
(Click through the jump to read more including the full race results.)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 14th, 2008 8:00 AM
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Recent news has been mostly bad for the future of Formula One’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, as Bernie Ecclestone continues to demand that future races be held at night, and Australian state officials continue to say that they won’t pay the extra cost. But yesterday’s press conference with F1’s drivers showed that, if they had their way, the race Down Under would stay as is.
Many of the drivers made F1 debuts in Melbourne owing to the GP’s long-standing place on the race calendar, and have a special feeling for the event. Italian Giancarlo Fisichella said how much he liked Australia mentioning, “I have great memories of Melbourne. I had my first race here in 1996 and I won here in 2005.”
(Click through the jump to read more.)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 12th, 2008 8:30 AM
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While other members of the Formula One racing fraternity might be thinking about race preparations, early expectations, or even the Australian nightlife when they fly into Melbourne for the upcoming Grand Prix, veteran Red Bull Racing pilot David Coulthard’s mind turns toward his drawers.
The Scot mentioned at a recent news conference that his first stop in Melbourne would be to pick up a massive lot of new underwear at a local shop. The stockpiling of underpants isn’t because of the overwhelming fear that racing might cause, but rather because Coulthard’s favorite brand, called Holeproof Underdaks, are only sold in Australia.
To Coulthard’s mind Underdaks are the last word in racing gear, and the driver has said, “I’ve got a bit of Australia wrapped around my nether regions when I do all my Grand Prix.” No other underwear will do while racing, according to Coulthard, and the driver says that he’ll buy 40 pair before the opening event this year.
We thought we’d let David know, just in case his supply runs low, he really doesn’t need to make the 20-hour flight to Oz just to pick up a pair. Holeproof Underdaks, just like everything else it seems, are sold online as well.
+ F1-Live: Coulthard buys Aussie undies for F1 season
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 12th, 2008 8:00 AM
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While the future seems to dim for the Australian Grand Prix in its traditional location at Melbourne, Sydney is trying to pick up the racing mantle for Oz. Despite Formula One’s Bernie Ecclestone already dismissing Sydney as a potential F1 host, the city is stirring the pot a bit by saying that it would be willing to hold the GP at night.
A nighttime race has been the sticking point for Ecclestone and Melbourne officials, with Bernie demanding that races be run at a time that will be relevant for a European television audience. Knowing that to be the case, New South Wales state premier, Morris Iemma, has vowed to look into installing the infrastructure needed to hold a night race at Sydney’s Eastern Creek circuit.
Said Iemma, “It’s not a blank cheque, but it could be held at a place like Eastern Creek, obviously with modifications.” Currently a venue for the A1GP series, Iemma said that the circuit could be “converted to suit” the needs of F1.
+ F1-Live: Sydney willing to host F1 night race
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 10th, 2008 8:00 AM
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Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has reportedly told Formula One’s Bernie Ecclestone that the Victorian state government will not foot the bill for a night race in Melbourne. This news after Ecclestone has repeatedly ramped up the pressure for such a race, in order to secure a more Euro-friendly time slot for the season opening grand prix.
The Daily Mail quoted Ecclestone as saying, “I’ve spoken to Kevin Rudd and he’s told me it would cost too much to re-stage the race, so I guess that’s it. We won’t be going to Australia for too much longer.”
(Click through the jump to read on.)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 8th, 2008 5:00 PM
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An Australian man may have set some kind of record for the world’s longest test drive recently, when he took a new Honda Accord sedan out for a spin.
Tam Thai Luu arrived at a Melbourne Honda dealership and filled out all the paperwork necessary for a legitimate test drive. But Luu pulled out of the lot before the salesperson could make it into the car, and then proceeded to drive for over 3,800 miles across the Australian Outback.
Luu’s unprecedented test took him through Australia’s Northern Territory, and spanned an unbelievable five days. His joy ride finally ended in an old mining town called Tennant Creek, where he was apprehended by authorities after allegedly failing to pay for a tank of gas. Police have charged Luu with the unlawful use of a motor vehicle, but have not disclosed if he intends to purchase the well broken in Honda.
+ Motor Authority: Man goes on 3,800 mile test-drive across Outback
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
February 29th, 2008 11:00 AM
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GM unveiled the production-ready Holden VE Sportwagon yesterday at the Melbourne International Auto Show. The VE Sportwagon is the wagon variant of the popular Commodore sedan.
The VE Sportwagon can be equipped with a wealth of different engines, including a 3.6-liter V-6 and a 6.0-liter V-8. The engines output ranges from 240 horsepower on the V-6 to 360 horsepower on the 6.0-liter V-8. The Sportwagon has the option of a four-speed, five-speed, or six-speed automatic transmission, depending, obviously, on the engine option. A six-speed manual is available on a few of the engine choices.
(Click on the thumbnails to view the gallery. Press release after the jump)
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