Every Peter Brock fan would have seen the classic old photo of Peter behind the wheel of his original Austin 7, throwing it hard into a dirt corner and tearing up the family farm. Well now, some 48 years later, brother Lewis Brock has recreated the famous photo in on the same dirt track in Victoria driving Peter’s original fully restored Austin farm racer.
The classic beast, dubbed the ‘Brock 01’, was painstakingly restored by avid collector Peter Denman with aid from the Peter Brock Foundation to ensure the vehicle is not forgotten about and can be showed in the flesh to his army of dedicated Brock fans.
‘Brock 01’ made its track debut at Winton last Sunday completing a parade lap before the car is geared up for display at motoring exhibitions around Australia.
30/05/07 Drifters slide into Wakefield Park
If you love full opposite lock sideways action sitting hard on the rev-limiter then you better head out to Wakefield Park this Sunday for round one of the Toyo NSW Drift series.
With a prize pool of almost $12,000, drifters are going to be giving it everything they have in a effort to win over judges with the biggest drifts and most linked corners.
Gates open at 7:30am with on-track action kicking off from 9:45am. Tickets are available from the gate and cost $30 for adults with kids under 14 getting in free. For more information, visit the Drift Australia website at www.driftaustralia.com.au or phone Wakefield Park on 48 2228111.
30/05/07 SC Car of the Year getting closer
That’s right ladies and gentlemen, the Street Commodores Car of the Year competition is getting closer and closer and we think this year could be the most difficult to chose from yet. The list is currently being kept under 24 hour armed guard and will make it’s official debut on the release of issue 129 of Street Commodores.
Readers will also have the ability to win an awesome incar entertainment system thanks to the great guys over at Alpine. The system includes an in-dash DVD player, two separate screens, front split system, rear 6x9 speakers, two 12” subwoofers and three separate amplifiers! That’s over $7,000 worth of gear just for voting for your favourite Commodore!
30/05/07 Consulmotive now online
Let’s face it, we all modify our cars at at least one point in our lives whether it is fitting an aftermarket supercharger system or changing the factory stereo with most modifications needing an engineers report to certify ADR compliance. How do we know what does or does not need engineering? Well, the best way to answer this question is to ask an engineer himself. John Varetimidis, owner o ride certified.
The website contains feature articles written by John for various magazines that go f Consulmotive, has officially launched his website for anybody looking at getting theirinto detail about all the necessary modifications required to fit items such as roll cages, bigger fuel systems and aftermarket seats. Be sure to check it out HERE
30/05/07 Poll results are in!
In case you have missed it, our IT guys have recently added a poll to our homepage and over the past few weeks we have run a variety of polling options which have seen over 1,600 people register their opinions to a variety of automotive based questions. So what have the results been from the previous polls? Read on to find out exactly what people have thought.
“Are the governments heading the right way with P-plate laws in their attempts to reduce the youth road toll?”
Out of a total of 525 votes for the first ever poll, 20% had said yes while the clear majority at 80% had disagreed on the government’s stance of P-plate laws.
“How often do you take part in off-street motorsport events?”
51% of the 71 total people who voted claimed they never have taken part in any form of off-street motorsport, 34% claim they participate between one and three times a month while only 15% had stated they take it to the track more than three times in a single month
“What gearbox do you have in your Commodore?”
499 users in total had voted at this poll with, surprise surprise, automatic owners coming out on top with 59% of the votes while manual shifters had to settle for just 41% of the pie.
“Is your Commodore naturally aspirated or force fed (turbo, supercharged, nitrous etc.)”
With only a handful of Commodore models having come from the factory with forced induction, the results of this poll were no great shock. 75% of the 297 votes received claimed their Commodore breathed naturally, while the remaining 25% had told us they were enjoying a little bit more thanks to some forced feeding.
“Do you think HSV are wise to venture back into the 4 cylinder market?”
In what was our closet poll result to date, 257 visitors had given their opinion and the two options were divided by only 25 votes. 55% of votes had stated they believed HSV were foolish for diving back into the world of the 4-cylinder performance market while 45% had believed it was a smart move to ensure the brands future survival.
Remember to keep voting in up and coming polls, which a new topic is changed every Monday. If there is a Commodore or general automotive related question that you would like to see asked, contact chris@streetcommodores.com for your chance to have it asked.
29/05/07 Powercruise confirms dates for next events
We all love Powercruise, and with very good reason as what more could a rev-head want that non-stop full throttle power skid action! Gup, the event organiser, has confirmed all the dates for the next up and coming Powercruise events which will see the massive car show go from Queensland Raceway Right through to Sydney’s Eastern Creek.
The first event on the Powercruise Calendar is the kick-off of Powercruise’s 1 day Powerplay event which will see Queensland Raceway get inundated with the hottest cars from all over Queensland in one massive event kicking off on 23rd of June. It doesn’t stop there for Queensland Raceway either, next is Powercruise 10 held on the 6th to the 9th of September and promises all the usual non-stop Powercruise action that you have all come to expect.
Next on the list is the return of the Powercruise Streetcar Shootout series to be held at Willowbank Raceway on the 17th of November, so whatever you do, mark it down in your diaries to avoid missing out!
Due to the massive success Gup had with the previous Powercruise held in Sydney, the next event will now be a 4 day show kicking off on the 28th of February and finishing up on the 2nd of March, 2008. For more event details or booking information, visit their website at www.powercruise.net
29/05/07 BA/BF Falcon brake hose recall
Ford owners love sticking to us if Holden issue a recall, so why not return a little fire. While not classed as an official recall bulletin, Ford have found a way to tip toe around the whole horrible ‘recall’ connotation by cleverly adopting a new term to call a part malfunction.
The issue in question is a brake line fault, which potentially affects 0.5 percent of the BA/BF Falcon population. Ford have stated that it’s an un-common fault which is said to cause the rear brake hose to wear excessively thin and can cause a loss in brake pressure.
The loss in brake pressure is enough to trigger the vehicles on board warning systems, but not enough to cause a great deal of concern for BA/BF owners according to Ford. Either way, a vehicles braking system is not something you want to have any issues with so I suggest you tell any mates with BA/BF Falcons to get to the dealership to have the issue checked over. Either that or trade it in on a brand spanker VE.
28/05/07 SC Roadshow 2 roars onto The Mountain!
The Street Commodores Roadshow juggernaut traveled to Bathurst over the weekend, with a big cruise and a barbeque on the iconic Mount Panorama Race Circuit. Arriving in town on Friday night, the boys were welcomed by cold, but clear conditions, and hunkered down in the warm Dudley Hotel for a beer and a wicked feed.
After a good nights sleep, the next day dawned bright and clear – and freezing! – and the team traveled out to the cruise meeting point at Orange. The cars started arriving at 10am, and with about thirty cars in convoy we headed for Bathurst, via Blayney and Milthorpe, for a very scenic drive. Unfortunately a series of road-works meant some very slow sections, to save the paint for some of the amazing cars that were in tow.
We turned onto the Mount Panorama circuit around lunchtime, and the laps began. Plenty of cars couldn’t make it out to Orange, but met us at Bathurst, bumping the numbers up to about the sixty mark. Parking at the top of the hill, at McPhillamy Park, every body stopped for a chat, a sausage sizzle and the chance to grab some Street Commodores merchandise.
All in all it was an awesome day, and there couldn’t be a better location than the track that makes men of boys. Thanks to all those who made the trek, especially Damien Lowe in his awesome CHU88Y, and Sean and Brad Fardell with MR HDT and EAT HDT respectively. We must also send a massive thanks to Scott Hutchison, for his amazing hospitality. We’ll be sure to let you know where the next Street Commodores Roadshow is headed.
All the pictures from the day can be found in our online gallery HERE
25/05/07 Management roles shift in GM infrastructure
Former GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Denny Mooney was officially named today as the new GM vice president of global vehicle systems and integration based in Detroit, Michigan. Replacing Mooney’s position as Holden’s main man will be Chris Gubbey who is currently positioned as executive vice president of Shanghai General Motors.
Gubbey has been chosen due to his excellent resume earned even prior to working for GM which included playing key roles for companies such as GJN Hardy Spicer, Toyota Motor UK and the Ford Motor Company where he earned a position as the process engineer manager.
Denny Mooney is pleased to achieve global upgrade in the GM corporate world, claiming that GM Holden will always be the forefront as pioneering the global rear wheel drive market.
"It has been a privilege to have been involved with such a strong brand as GM Holden. The automotive industry has undergone significant changes in recent years and the passion, skill and dedication of the GM Holden team has create products that are now sold successfully not just in Australia, but all over the world," Denny Money lamented.
“With the launch of the VE Commodore range we saw GM Holden cement its role within GM globally and underline its future as the home of the rear wheel drive vehicle development of the company.
“I am very confident in GM Holden’s ability top continue to be successful in the highly competitive global automotive business for years to come.”
25/05/07 Ex feature car hits eBay
VK lovers out there will no doubt remember the surgically clean VK of UNEASY. Painting in a custom purple colour, this VK didn’t need a body kit to get its point across. Selling less the motor, this rolling shell boats some pretty neat features that make its starting price at $5,750.00 seem like quite the bargain. Custom features such as VR dash conversion, 9” rear end and purple pearl spray job all would make the perfect donor vehicle for anybody featuring a pre-built tuff motor.
The eBay auction can be found HERE and currently has 6 days to go.
25/05/07 Rally driver crashes into lake
This YouTube video is a fantastic representation of just how quickly things can go pear shaped. One minute your drifting around corners having an absolute ball, the next your wondering of you are about to take your last breath. It’s quite a shocking clip that has your brain telling you breathe, breathe damn it!
Rest assured the driver and co-driver did make it out alive. I'm still not sure which is more scary, being trapped in a rally car while being flooded with water or the prospect of Holden releasing the Matiz as written below.
25/05/07 Say it ain’t so, the Holden Matiz
The Daewoo Matiz was one car that copped massive amounts of slack thanks to its lack-lustre performance caused by its chronic asthmatic 1-litre powerplant. I remember back in the day when the Matiz was new to the market, just out of sheer morbid curiosity I went down to my local dealer and test drove a top notch automatic 1-litre Matiz. I had to use every last ounce of energy to stop myself from exploding in fits of laughter as the car frantically hunted for an appropriate gear to keep the thing in steady motion. Needless to day, I walked out of the dealership without one.
Fast forward to 2007 and it appears that Holden are looking at the new Matiz, with a certain glint in their eye. Now to be quite honest with you, I’m a little worried about this. I know petrol prices are high and people are generally looking for smaller car and blah blah blah, but this just plain wrong. Think Starfire 4-cylinder wrong.
Holden have neither confirmed nor denied the rumour, stating that they have a very open mind and are more than happy to think through every possibility for all future vehicles. It is one thing to be open minded, it’s a totally different game all together to even utter that dreaded word ‘Matiz’ in relation to new product structure. Let’s hope Holden think this one through and not suffer the same fate as the new shunned Korean derived Barina.
24/05/07 How to survive a 120-feet fall. Just need to be SMART
Most people wouldn’t believe you if you had told them you fell from a 12-story high building and survived. In fact, I’d go as far as to say they would probably get fairly insulted that you look at them at being so gullible. Well, the guy you about to hear about will have to deal with it for the rest of his life.
Darko Mirinovic was on his balcony over 120-feet above the street surface when for unknown reasons he quickly found him self hurtling towards the solid concrete street below. Lucky for Mr. Mirinovic it wasn’t the street surface that his body made contact to. The lucky Slovenian’s terminal velocity fall was stopped abruptly when a SMART car got in between him and the pavement below. The SMART car was destroyed in spectacular fashion, and Mr. Mirinovic was left imbedded in the mangled wreck wondering what the hell had just happened. The structural strength of the SMART car has always been criticized due to its miniature size, but it’s one thing to have an accident between a human and a car only to have the car come off second best.
24/05/07 Polyurethane bushings released for VE
Those wanting to stiffen up the feel of their VE as it rides on the road have got a new avenue of improvement to go down. Fulcrum has just announced their new SuperPro polyurethane bushings to replace the standard bushings used in the VE Commodore’s suspension geometry.
Fulcrum have paid close attention during strenuous levels of testing to find out just which areas can be vastly improved in the name of better handling. One particular area that was noticed in these tests found was that one bushing had up to 8mm in travel in the rearward direction, while posing a 3mm travel range in the forwards direction. Those then wishing to gain noticeable handling improvement can replace these with firmer and more durable polyurethane unit from Fulcrum.
24/05/07 Victorian Government tackles skills shortage
Great news for anybody living in Victoria and wanting to gain sustainable long-term employment in the automotive industry. The Automotive Industries Organisations group in Victoria have teamed up with the Victorian Government‘s Department for Victorian Communities to spearhead a new initiative to directly combat the automotive skills shortage being experienced.
The Victorian Automotive Industry Training Board have just recently joined the list with many other industries that are currently working with the Government initiative that will directly target key problem areas such as skills shortages in motor mechanics, automotive electrical, vehicle panel beating, vehicle painting and vehicle body making.
Victorians wishing to find out more in becoming part of the initiative should contact Automotive Training Victoria on 98661294 or email semiliani@atv.org.au
24/05/07 Victoria’s export numbers fall to record lows
The Australian Bureau of Statistics have released new figures that indicate Victoria’s export have dipped to an all time historic low. Indicated within that data, Victoria’s total export has fallen to a low 10.5 per cent of Australia’s total export quantities. At the end of 1999 when the Labor government came into power, the total export figure was around 19.2 per cent. Nearly double what it is today. Shadow Minister for exports David Davis is blaming the Bracks government for failing to take action against the declining figures.
“Today NSW exports are valued at almost 70 per cent more than Victorian exports,” Mr Davis said.
“The Bracks Government can claim everything is rosy but the hard facts are Victoria’s economic position has, and continues, to deteriorate.”
23/05/07 GRM V8 Supercar team faces 200k bill
The Garry Rodgers owned GRM V8 Supercar team has been forced to dig deep after a shocking few rounds of V8 Supercar racing that is costing the team an estimated $200,000 in repairs. Crashes to both team members Dean Canto and Lee Holdsworth cars has forced the team to work massive amounts of overtime to get the cars well prepared for the next race meeting. In the worst of the crashes, Lee Holdsworth’s Commodore impacted with a concrete safety wall while travelling backwards at around 150km/h. The backwards impact was shielded by Lee’s racing seat which helped cushion G-forces involved in the 150km/h impact.
We’ve cut the back end off and got 14 guys working non-stop to fix it. It’s been some really expensive damage and money doesn’t grow on trees anymore,” Rodgers commented.
“But we will do it properly and get it tested before the Sydney race.”
The fifth round of the V8 Supercars hits Sydney’s Eastern Creak Raceway this Queens Birthday Weekend, 9-11 June.
22/05/07 V8 Supercars go green
In order to counteract the effects Australia’s favourite motorsport has on the environment, V8 Supercars Australia has plans to go green. The new strategy titled ‘V8 Racing Green’ is a V8 Supercars funded initiative that will see 10,000 new trees be planted throughout Australia. The program is a joint initiative between the V8 Supercars, Bigpond and Future Climate Australia which is aiming to increase climate change awareness by tapping into the mass media attention the sport gets throughout Australia.
The program has plans to visit schools to further educate the younger generation to get on board and do their part towards the global problem. To further decrease the V8 Supercars’ footprint on the environment, a 10% Ethanol blend is being used in their fuel, an effort which V8 Supercars CEO Wayne Cattach believes will reduce greenhouse gasses.
22/05/07 Two suspension suppliers merge as one
Redranger and Whiteline Automotive have decided to join forces and merge into one new specialised suspension company called Redranger Pty Limited. After lengthy discussions by both parties, the two companies amicably decided that the best way forward was to merge together a decision made equally by both parties and is emphasised as being a merger, not a takeover or acquisition.
There will no immediate changes to either Whiteline’s or Redranger’s product line-up with business as usual planned until further discussions can be made. Neither brand is looking to appoint any new distributors as both companies agree that the current setup is travelling well.
22/05/07 Drag Tag turns 1 year old
It’s been one year since Drag Tag officially opened its doors to the public and Drag Tag are celebrating by putting on a great night filled with prizes and giveaways. Rush to the skid pad between 7 and 8pm and enjoy free Motorkhana while the first 5 cars scrutineered and lined up by 8pm for the burnout competition will also score free entry!
The Drag Tag Car Park Street Meet dates have changed from the second Tuesday of every month to the first Thursday of every month, so make sure you spread the word and fill those spots!
More information ca be found on Drag Tags website by clicking HERE
21/05/07 EATHDT up for sale!
The drop dead sexy Saffron Gold painted 383 VK known as EATHDT has been officially put up for sale in search to find a new loving home that will give the ex-feature car the respect and attention it deserves. The ex-feature car from way back in issue 111 features extensive detailing through out the entire vehicle that has helped the car build up a solid reputation of performance and stunning great looks everytime the car is shown.
Brad is happy to talk with anyone who is seriously interested in purchasing the beast and is looking for offers up around the $25,000 mark. EATHDT’s for sale thread can be found by clicking HERE
21/05/07 Turbosmart’s e-Boost2 gets updated
Back in 2005, Turbosmart released a successor to the massive selling electronic boost controller known as the e-Boost. The new updated model, the e-Boost2, found its way into dashboards across Australia and received great reviews from racers and tuners far and wide. Turbosmart have gone back to the drawing board and have taken all user feedback into account to come up with a new updated version of the e-Boost2, the 2007 Update model e-Boost2.
The e-Boost2 has undergone a few changes which will no doubt make it a winner amongst boost lovers everywhere. The face has received a new makeover to include a new ergonomic bezel design with larger, easier to use buttons to flip between boost settings as well as a brand new feature, Boost On Demand, lets the user switch between boost groups after a pre-set amount of time.
The e-Boost2 is supported by a massive range of accessories and spare parts to make this one enticing package for anyone who takes their performance seriously. The e-Boost2 retails at $795 for the 40psi rated unit and $895 to handle up to 60psi.
For more information phone Turbosmart on 1300 735 506 or visit their website at www.turbosmart.com
21/05/07 Ex-feature car owner dies
It comes with great sadness that we have heard of the unfortunate passing of one of our ex-feature car owners, Michael Castle. Michael, who owned the Mango Orange VN from issue 107, was reportedly killed when he fell asleep behind the wheel while on his way to visit a sick cousin in hospital. Sincere condolences go out to all family and friends who are affected by this horrible tragedy. Rest in peace.
18/05/07 Final Transformers trailer released
The final trailer to the up and coming Transformers movie has hit the WWW. Filled with more explosions than you can poke a stick it, this movie looks to set new grounds in the ever evolving world of CGI. Who cares about plot when the action looks this good? The movie is set to hit cinemas on the 4th of July, so no doubt watch the web get flooded with pre-release handy cam versions. If there is one movie you see this year, makes sure it’s going to be this one!
Some people take their remote control cars pretty seriously, like this guy for example. What you see below here is an 80% complete project to supercharge his miniature funny car. One could only image the patience required to undertake such a unique job, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it in the end. Hopefully all will go well on its first run and I’m sure we will see a YouTube video off the pass shortly afterwards. Now all it needs is a neat little front mounted intercooler and trumpet blow-off valve.
18/05/07 Bathurst camping tickets now on sale
Bathurst is one of those times of the year that almost any rev head looks forward to. The Holden vs. Ford rivalry that transpires on the Mountain is something that everyone must experience to fully understand the Bathurst attraction. The best was to soak up all of the events that take place over the weekend is to camp at the dedicated track side camping grounds through out the Mount Panorama complex.
For those planing to make the religious pilgrimage to the Mountain this year, we have some great news. Camping tickets have officially gone on sale for all camping areas of the Mountain and can be purchaced through any Ticketek agency.
For more information including pricing and camping map layouts, click HERE
18/05/07 Take an original one owner VL Calais with 34,000kms...
It’s everybody’s dream to one day stumble across a low kilometre, single owner car of their dreams and for one lucky bugger, his dream became a reality. Chucky, the Street Commodores reading VL enthusiast from Canberra, couldn’t believe his luck when he stumbles across this immaculate, single owner VL Calais with a low 34,000kms on the clock. Not only that, this particular beast was owned by a elderly lady. Doesn’t come much better than that does it?
This VL wasn’t bought without a purpose in mind however, big plans on the horizon will see this clean example go from one extreme to the next as this Calais will be aiming for the 9 second territory thanks to a power house 355ci 8 banger in the works. As you can see from the pics, the rear end is copping some extreme treatment in the way of a 4-link 9inch and a nice set of tubs. We’ll keep you updated!
17/05/07 G8 scores a music video appearance!
Whether you love or hate the music, one can’t deny that they sure know how to make a good music video. Usually filled with scantily dressed females and Lamborghini Gallardo’s riding on 22-inch wheels, 50-cent (or just Fiddy as he likes to be known) has chosen the likes of the new Pontiac G8 and G6 GXP to feature along side those aforementioned scantily dressed females in the music video to his latest tune, Amusement Park.
Don’t get too excited however, as the Pontiacs only score about 4 seconds of screen time. I’m thinking next time Fiddy or any of his buddies needs a music video done then they should stop by the office, so least then instead of seeing a 340hp rear-wheel drive sedan sitting there idle we would see some major circle work in what would result it two blown rear tyres.
Either way the music video can be found on YouTube at by clicking HERE
17/05/07 Fuel prices not worrying the power hungry
The steady rise in the petrol prices we pay at the bowser has put immense pressure on the local car segment, particularly the larger six-cylinder class. More and more fuel efficient medium sized models are becoming available and customers seem to be favouring sacrificing the available cargo space for the extra increase in petrol mileage. One would image that this effect would carry over to the V8 market, gaining magnitude and threatening the performance Aussie market’s very foundations.
In true Aussie style, facts and figures released have shown that the market has done the exact opposite and achieved over twice the growth in sales over the past 10 years that has well and truly shown that Aussies love their V8’s
GM Marketing Director Alan Batey is pleased with the mix of V8’s in the sales line-up. “It's amazing. HSV has had record sales. There are hardcore people in this country who like exciting cars and fuel price on its own will not discourage them. People still want performance cars.”
The XR6 Turbo and XR8 Falcons are also continuing to yield impressive sales performances, so it seems like the trusty 8 banger has got a few years of life left in them yet.
16/05/07 1000hp barrier gets shattered at the SC VIC Dyno Day
The Horsepower Factory in Victoria was inundated over the weekend by a wave of Street Commodore fanatics that witnessed 28 vehicles hit the rollers for ultimate bragging rights. Many different models turned up that ranged from a VL Walkinshaw Group A SS to the latest VE Commodore. No matter what the engine combination, it was all in the name of fun.
The N/A six cylinder class was taken out by NTI-028 spinning off a healthy 115kWs at the treads while the forced six cylinder trophy went to the Yella Terra whipple blown Ecotec Ute of BLOW-6 that managed to pump out an awesome 278rwkW. The N/A 8 cylinder gong went to MANARI that managed to spin the rollers to the tune of 285rwkW while the forced induction 8 win and top overall horsepower went to Dane driving his CALEYS blown LS1 powered beast that managed a sweet 341.9 flowing through the rear bags.
There were a few demonstration runs through the day such as the Higgins 408 stroked LS1 monster that thundered off a few kW’s shy of 450 naturally aspirated rear wheel kW’s. Then it came time for BLO-402 to see some dyno time. Once the intercooler setup was packed with dry ice, the horsepower demon spooled up to the tune of 939rwkWs, or over 1240 horsepower in the old money. Salem in his ex-Street Commodores cover car also managed a very impressive power run reeling off 539.1rwkW’s on PULP fuel.
By all accounts the day was a success, with many spectators opting to bring their rides along for the next Victorian Dyno Day. The forum thread of the day can be found HERE while our online photo gallery contains additional images from the day and can be accessed by clicking HERE.
16/05/07 Driver thrown from drag crash, walks away unharmed
I don’t know if I would call this guy lucky, as if we really were that lucky I’m sure he wouldn’t have crashed to begin with, but you can’t help wonder just how somebody could pull off a stunt like this with all their limbs intact.
15/05/07 Powercruise selling pit garages, proceeds going to charity
Powercruise’s one day Powerplay event is getting closer and closer and pit garages and car ports are now selling on eBay! Pit car ports are starting at $99.99 while the full house garage units are starting at #300 with any funds over $100 raised in each auction going straight to charity. Hurry as there are already a few bids being laid down with limited numbers available.
Powercruise’s Powerplay event is being held on the 23rd of June at Queensland Raceway, more details can be found on the Powercruise website HERE
15/05/07 Bresciani quits drag racing, PANNIC up for sale
With a name so synonymous with VL Turbo’s and 8 second drag passes, you would defiantly not expect to hear a name such as Bresciani to throw in the towel and giving up drag racing. After multiple recent disputes with Calder Park Raceway, Bresciani have decided to call it quits and sell off one of the most famous VL Turbo’s in Australia, the former ‘PANNIC’. The car is currently in hold at the moment, pending payment, but with an asking price of $65,000, the 8 second beast falls well out the price range of most mortal car owners.
There will surly be a big hole now in the infamous VL Turbo garage wars, with competing workshops even shocked by the announcement. PANNIC will be racing a Heathcote Raceway until sold.
14/05/07 See, electric vehicles can go fast!
The electric powered vehicle is quickly loosing the slow and gutless connotation that plagues them thanks to a few high powered, and very quick examples emerging. The Ohio State University is planning to make a serious attempt and smashing that reputation even further by building the world’s first hydrogen-powered landspeed streamliner. We are talking some fairly impressive numbers here using a custom 700-plus horsepower electric motor fuelled by onboard hydrogen to oxygen processes to create and electrical charge. Sounds complicated? Well, it actually is! The end result is what it’s all about however with about 60$ - 80% of the chemical energy being converted into electrical with the only by-products being heat and water. The vehicle will be carrying a very minute 1kg of hydrogen on-board which is stored at an amazing 5,000psi.
Its predecessor, the Buckeye Bullet 1 currently holds the electric national and international land speed records at 315mph and 272mph respectively and was the first electric car to break the 300mph barrier. The Buckeye Bullet 2 is set to compete in the EIII Class at Speedweek in 2007 which sees international visitors for all classes to compete in the fastest form of motor racing on the planet.
14/05/07 Holden needs to plan for a bigger pool room
It seems that if there is award out there that the VE Commodore is eligible to enter, then it has a very good chance of claiming the gong. Since the VE and WM range was introduced into the Australian market, they have cleaned up the Wheels Car of the Year award, Motor Magazine’s Bang For Your Buck, News Ltd Car of the Year and to top it all off, it won Drive.com People’s Choice Award. Well, Holden better clear some more space in that ever bulging trophy cabinet as the VE and WM models have each picked up an award recognising excellence in design at the Australian Design Awards ceremony held last night.
GM Holden’s Design Director, Tony Stolfo, has very pleased in the outcome of winning the two awards, stating that winning two awards across two distinct models are a testament to the consistently high design standards that have been achieved.
“Automotive design is one of the most challenging of all design disciplines given the long lead times from conception to launch, as well as the number and diversity of individual components, suppliers and processes that need to be seamlessly blended together to create the final product.
“From the architecture that underpins the vehicles through to the exterior and interior look and feel, the design team were challenged to come up with solutions that had the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of model variations – each pinpointing a very specific customer profile – whilst also being capable of being adapted for export.”
More information can be found at the Australian Design Awards website at www.designawards.com.au
14/05/07 Limited edition SVZ wagon and utility hit the market
With the arrival of the VE ute and wagon models looming around the corner, It’s no wonder that Holden are trying to push the old VZ derivatives out the doors, piling as much incentives into the deal as possible. Nothing wrong with that however, as that means a sweeting dealer for us. If you’re in the running to purchase a new wagon or ute now might just be the perfect time to buy.
Holden have just released new SVZ models of both their wagon and ute line up, meaning you get a whole much of added goodies that would normally cost you your first born child. The SVZ ute gains a few tasty features over its SV6 stable mate such as 18-inch CV8-R alloys, performance brake package with red painted callipers, Onyx leather seats and door trims with SVZ embroidery and of course, we can’t forget the SVZ exterior badging.
The wagon also gets a host of features over the base VZ model which includes 17-inch alloy wheels, distinctive front fascia with fog lamps, sports-luxury suspension, chrome exhaust extensions, body coloured mirror scalps, roof racks and body coloured rear wind deflector and roof rails. You also get a few interior touch ups to sweeten the deal such as Anthracite cloth seats with leather bolsters, 6 disc in-dash CD player, front and rear power windows and leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift selector.
For more information, visit www.holden.com or visit your nearest Holden dealer.
11/05/07 HSV sales grow as dealer network expands
He have reported over the past few months that HSV sales have continued to rise, well it seems the HSV dealerships are finding it hard to cope with such a demand to move the volumes of stock required. Now, HSV have launched a variety of new dealerships to help come to an aid and expand its national dealer network footprint. New dealerships have opened their doors at Malouf HSV in Mt Isa, Anderson City Auto in Gladstone, Von Bibra Twin Towns in Tweed Heads, Hawkesbury HSV in Windsor, Heartland HSV in Castle Hill and Port Macquarie HSV in Port Macquarie.
Official sales figures have been released by HSV which show very impressive sales figures in the last quarter of 2006. With sales starting to climb already this year, it seems that HSV might be in for a few more record setting months yet.
October 2006 – 490 units
November 2006 – 515 units
December 2006 – 519 units
January 2007 - 362 units
February 2007 - 357 units
March 2007 - 491 units
11/05/07 Ford kills LWB, Holden export ensures survival
The announcement of Ford’s plans the axe their LWB line up comes as no real shock to the automotive industry as abysmal sales continue to plague the flagship nameplate. In the month of April, Ford managed to move only 99 of Fairlane models while the LTD models sales performance was nothing short of woeful, moving only 3 models. Holden’s luxo-o-barge sales figures for the same month showed a much stronger performance with 201 Caprice and 161 Statesman models all finding new homes.
Holden’s strong export sales of these upper luxury vehicles have ensured their survival and made up a large segment of their total export vehicle numbers.
10/05/07 Checked out YouTube lately?
In our efforts to take over the world and supply the best Commodore action possible, we are always adding more media into our YouTube Street Commodores channel.
The latest video addition is a quick compilation of drag racing and burnout action from yesterday’s Wicked Wednesday held at Western Sydney International Dragway. If you are like us and Commodores are your life blood, check out our YouTube channel by clicking HERE or watch the drag compilation below.
10/05/07 Toyo NSW Drift Series announced
From the same guys that organise the Drift Australia phenomenon that has taken off in recent times comes a new series to satisfy those drivers who can’t stand looking where they are going through their front window. The Toyo NSW Drift series has gone official and by the sounds of it, will quench any drifters hunger for action.
The series kicks off at Wakefield Park on Sunday the 3rd of June and then moves to Oran Park’s Driftland for the second round in October. The series then concludes at Oran Park’s south circuit which is held on December the 15th.
“Toyo has a major commitment to the national championship but we also recognise that for the sport to continue its growth it needs to be supported at the grass roots level as well,” said Toyo’s Clinton Joyce
Drift Australia’s Luke Southam believes that the event not only gives NSW residents the chance to attend, but also opens the door for some interstate rivalry.
“Although it is aimed primarily at NSW based competitors, interstate drivers will also be welcome to participate in the Toyo NSW Drift Series,” Luke said.
It seems that we can’t be right all of time, and we would just like to clear up an error in out latest Street Commodores Issue 126. In the Quarter Pounder drag racing section, Nathan Higgins’ naturally aspirated LS1 Ute was mistakenly referred to as having a complete live axle 9” conversion, this is in fact not true with the black T56 shifted Ute still retaining the factory IRS rear end.
The appropriate beatings were administered and Ben now has many hours to think about his error while he lies in his hospital bed, sipping his meals through a straw.
09/05/07 Only in America, unfortunately
We are used to hearing weird and wacky stories from the land of the US and it has certainly created an immunity to its mysterious ways. Well, now there a story coming out of the US which is rather surprising to say the least. In the US state of Nevada, the Senate has agreed to remove all red-light cameras by an astonishing 15-6 vote. It seems the suits in the Senate are dead-set against any form of automated photo ticketing system.
When a few of the top police officials attended the committee hearing, they testified that the automated red-light enforcement systems are a vital asset to all motorists and pedestrians road safety.
The Senate, not entire convinced, retorted by using a little statistics of their own to result in a non-revenue based solution.
“In looking through your written handout, I note the statistics from the Philadelphia study show violations dropped after yellow night periods were extended,” Dr Heck of the Senate commission said.
Frank Adams from the Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association responded by stating “I am not familiar with any efforts.”
It seems that it’s not just us Aussies that are questioning the effectiveness of automated ticketing systems and their stance on ‘guilty until proven innocent’.
Now, if only we could follow the same rationale of thinking.
09/05/07 More images circulate from transformers movie
There is no doubt surrounding the popularity that will surround that bright yellow Chevrolet Camaro when the film Transformers finally gets released. We at the office here tip that this car will go down in history as being one of the most successful cult cars to grace the silver screen. Yes that’s right, we think this muscle car concept will eventually be looked upon high in the ranks of automotive actors such as the great ‘Eleanor’ Shelby GT 500 from Gone in 60 Seconds, the Steve McQueen Mustang from Bullitt and who could forget the ultra tough black and blown Charger from The Fast and the Furious.
Here is another teaser pic of the concept 'Bumblebee' Camaro in action with all of his mates along side. Judging by the evolving teaser pics from the movie, this is one that is going to on my ‘must see’ list that’s for sure.
09/05/07 Pro Flow VS runs for the last time
Some of you may have heard of the Pro Flow VS Ecotec Commodore running some awesome numbers using the stock L36 Ecotec bottom end, well this Friday night the guys are running the ‘LAGSUX’ beast for one last time before going for a full rebuild using the stronger L67 Supercharged bottom end.
To capture this momentous occasion, the Street Commodores film crew will be out and about at Calder Park this Friday night covering all of the drag racing action including this poor Ecotec’s final night at the drags.
So make sure you grab a few mates a head down for a great night of racing, who knows, you might even end up on the next Street Commodores Live! DVD!
08/05/07 Volt could hit the road in 36 months
The slowing GM sales have starting hurting the giant automakers hip pocket, and it desperatly wants its market leadership back. Believing that leading the way via technology is the key, the Chevrolet Volt concept might be the lock in which it needs to use they key. The Volt has been officially added to GM’s production pipeline, a 36 month process that means the Volt could be seen in the Chevrolet showroom as early as 2010.
What we also know about this technological masterpiece is that it has been planned to utilise GM’s Delta platform, which will also be shared with other new models such as the Cobalt and Astra. We also know that it will cost an absolute bucket load of money to develop, Bob Lutz has priced the figure at around 500 million dollars. That’s half the cost of our beloved VE Commodore right? Wrong. That $500 million figure is US dollars, and don’t forget our price tag included the engineering cost of creating the entire Zeta platform from scratch. This will be one serious dollar project.
Though GM is keen in marketing the Volt as being a ‘world car’, GM has firmly decided to build the Volt entirely in the US citing their Lordstown plant in Ohio as first option. The biggest hurdle as of current according to Lutz is the supply of the new state of the art lithium-ion batteries, which he believes if over come, GM would be willing to initially loose money on the car in order to get production off the ground.
08/05/07 Street Commodores hosts its first WA Dyno Day
It’s official! Street Commodores will be hosting its first Western Australian Dyno Day on Saturday November the 3rd. We know it’s a fair way off yet, but this way it gives everybody a chance to get their Commodores in top running order and a chance to gather all the mates you can and make this one just as big and successful as our other states.
No word on pricing yet but be sure to register your support via our online discussion forums HERE.
08/05/07 Street Commodores are going to Drag Tag!
Own a Commodore? Live in Victoria? Want to be on the Street Commodores DVD? If you answered yes to these three questions then now is your chance! The Street Commodores DVD crew will be at Drag Tag this Thursday night to capture all the Commodore drag racing action and frantic burnout fun! If you have never been to Drag Tag before, then this is your perfect chance to get out of the house and have a great night of fun!
Gates open at 6pm and racing commences from 6:30pm until late. Burnouts are free for members and non-members cost only $5. There are nightly prizes to be won so be sure to tell your mates and round up a crowd for our camera crew.
Not sure what Drag Tag is all about? Visit their official website HERE and find out what all the fuss is about, or visit our discussion forum and register your interest.
08/05/07 On the lookout to enter the Dutton Rally?
One of most famous LS1’s in the country is currently up for sale giving one lucky person the chance to own this awesome track car. That’s right, you can own Martin Donnon’s Gen-TTR HSV Clubsport for the bargain basement price of only $48,500.
The car has a list of specifications spanning over many pages with only the best bits money can buy being added into the horsepower recipe. Dynoed at 485rwkW at only 14psi at Summernats, it’s easy to see why this HSV could upset some big dollar machinery in the Dutton Rally series.
The Clubby is track ready with already having a CAMS approved roll cage with full race seats featuring head restraints. If you are interested in owning this killer track package, shoot the office a line and we’ll pass on your details.
07/05/07 Attention all Street Commodores forum members!
When our last monthly eNewsletter was sent out over 11,000 email addresses in the system had bounced back, meaning that most member’s user account settings are way out of date!
We are asking all forum members update their details in the user settings screen to avoid being culled from the list when the next eNewsletter gets sent out in a month’s time. So what are you waiting for, check your email details now!
07/05/07 Drag Tag opens new May Burnout Championship
For those that live in Victoria and love your burnouts, better head down (or up for that matter!) to Drag Tag and have a crack at their May Burnout Championships, a new concept at Drag Tag.
All you need to do is have a shot at any Thursday or Friday burnout sessions with the winner on the night going into the final championships held on the first of June. The grand final winner will receive a brand new set of Bridgestone G Grid 215x60R15 tyres to replenish the tyre stockpile back up courtesy of Fawkner Wheels and Tyres. Nightly raffles will also be taking place for all burnout competitors which go in the draw for their chance to win a variety of gift vouchers from Fawkner Wheels and Tyres to the total value of $150 per night.
Entry for members is free for on Thursday nights for the burnouts with non-members costing $5. For Friday night burnouts members pay only $5 admission fee while non-members cost $15.
07/05/07 Skaife clocks up 20 years on the track
As Skaife heads into the next round of the V8 Supercars this weekend he also heads into a new milestone in impressive motor racing career. Skaife, who has recently turned 20, will be celebrating 20 years of professional motorsport competition which witnessed Skaife kick it all off behind the wheel of a 2-litre powered Nissan Gazelle.
“Looking back, the 2-litre series was a great experience; the Gazelle had just over 200hp, weighed less than 900kgs and had a small tyre. It was a bloody good little car to drive,” Skaife said.
Skaife’s first taste of championship victory came in 1992 behind the wheel of a turbocharged, all wheel driven Nissan R32 GTR Skyline dubbed ‘Godzilla’. Skaife later went on to winning four more championships driving for Holden with the first occurring in 1994 with Gibson Motorsport before signing up with the Holden Racing Team.
Skaife has said that there have been three standout days in his 20 year career that he will never forget about.
“The first was in ’92 when I won my first Touring Car Championship in the Nissan and then being the youngest driver to have ever done so,” Skaife said.
“That same day we also won the Australian Drivers Championship in a Formula Holden open wheeler, so it was a great day.
“The second was winning the V8 Championship in 1994 with a Fred Gibson Commodore as it was Holden’s first title for 14 years since Brock and HDT in 1980.
“The 2002 HRT Bathurst win with Jim Richards was also one of my favourite moments, as it sealed the championship at the same time and came 10 years after my first Bathurst victory.”
Skaife is keen and confident, despite a shaky start the year in relation to team compliance, that the HRT cars will be frequenting the podium in their bid to secure another championship title.
“HRT has made a flying start to the season with our new day-glo VE Commodore up to speed, netting Todd Kelly and myself third and equal fourth so far in the championship – it all points to a really successful year.”
07/05/07 Australian vehicle sales on course for new record
Official VFACTS statistics have been released and show a strong continual growth of vehicle sales over the past year in Australia. It is recorded that the car market has grown around 9 per cent on the first four months of last year, which was up but around 5.5 per cent on the previous year. This month, total sales are 10.1 per cent higher that last year, moving a total of 6964 more vehicles.
According to Peter Sturrock, the chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, 2007 is set to record the first time in history that total year sales hits the one million milestone.
Mr Sturrock has also noted that locally made vehicle sales for the month of April were very encouraging. The large locally build car segment posted increases of around 15.1 per cent over last year and the upper large segment, which includes long-wheelbase models, were up by a staggering 51.0 per cent.
Toyota still holds number one position firm its grasps with total monthly sales hitting 16,383. This is followed by Holden in second position topping 11,166 sales and Ford in third place at 7741 total sales.
07/05/07 Jack scores a fresh new VE Supercar
The Jack Daniels Racing Team has scored another brand spanking new VE Supercar to make its debut at next week’s Benalla round of the V8 Supercar Championships. The fresh new VE will be driven by team member Jack Perkins who had his VZ Commodore damaged at the previous V8 round at Pukekohe last month.
Perkins was pleased with the end result of the build and is eager to take it to the track to stretch its legs against the competition.
“The guys have done an outstanding job,” Perkins said.
“It’s a $500,000 exercise to build one of these from scratch. That includes eight days full on fabrication and 2,000 man hours utilising the latest technology from Perkins Engineering.
“This is the 46th race car we’ve built since 1986 and took much less time than the previous VE build for Shane,” Perkins added.
07/05/07 Bluetooth car tuning now a reality
The life for vehicle tuners has just gotten a little easier thanks to a new portable tuning device that uses a Bluetooth link to connect to the remote tuning station, rather than using a dated serial cable an stone age laptop. This neat device has opened up a whole new world of portable tuning options with any Bluetooth compatible device potentially able to help tune the vehicles such as Pocket PDA’s mini-notebooks.
The new product developed by Innovate Motorsports has a range of up to 100 feet and is expected to sell like JD Slushies at a hot Summernats day.
The Rigoli built NSW VL Turbo known as BOOSTN has claimed the official title of Australia’s fastest VL Turbo at the Nitro Championships over the weekend. The un-tubbed RB26-30 combo clocked a blistering 8.6 @ 163MPH, just beating the old record set at 162.98 MPH. The high trap speeds indicate that BOOSTN has the horsepower to take the ET record, but lacks the traction to record reflective 60-foot times.
Congratulations to Jim and all the guys over at TRP!
07/05/07 Powercruise hosts 1-day Powerplay event
Those crazy guys that are responsible for the Powercruise car festivals are hosting a one day Powerplay event on the 23rd of June at Queensland Raceway that is marketed as “The wildest car show you’ll ever go to!”
Gup, the event organiser, has managed to cram cruising, power skids, drifting, jelly wrestling and even a Miss Powerplay competition into the one day event, so it’s sure to be a winner.
Entry is only $80 before the 11th of June with entry on the day also permitted.
For more information visit the Powercruise website at www.powercruise.net
04/05/07 Local dies in Gumball 3000 crash
The Gumball 3000 rally is a race across Europe that involves high rollers and expensive cars, and one that often witnesses its fair share of accidents. Yesterday, the TecArt Porsche 911 Turbo driven by Nick Morley and Matthew McConville collided with the VW Golf driven by two locals in Macedonia. The 67-year old driver of the Golf died en route to the hospital while his wife is currently in a critical condition and is said to be fighting for her life.
The two driving the Porsche have then allegedly hopped into the BMW of another Gumball participant in an attempt to flee the country and escape prosecution. The Gumball 3000 rally has been cut a day short and cancelled in Bratislava as a sign of respect for the passed driver of the Golf.
04/05/07 Transformers: The Game preview out now
Let’s face it, the previews for the new Transformers movie do look pretty cool especially since it features a few tough examples from the GM stable. Well, for all you game fans out there, is some good news for your guys. A high resolution trailer preview can be viewed HERE and contains some juicy insight into the new title. A newer version of Quicktime is a must to view the preview.
The official website for the crazy robotic mayhem flick can be found HERE
04/05/07 MACE Engineering delivers some goodies for the ‘Gull
Friday’s are always great, the weekend is just around the corner and it also seems to be the day that goodie bags arrive here at the office. It just so happens that this Friday was no exception to the rule with Steve over at MACE Engineering sending us one of his reversed Ecotec intake plenums, ported throttle bodies and ported LS1 MAF’s for use on our very own Project Seagull.
The idea behind reversing the Ecotec intake plenum is to make the intercooler installation much easer as the throttle body and supercharger/turbocharger are usually mounted on the same side of the engine. Many people face this hurdle when applying some forced induction to their Ecotec, so it’s great to know that there is a company out there that can perform the work for you. The reversed plenum retails for $350 which includes the plenum cover, but does not include a throttle body. Ported Ecotec throttle bodies are available for an extra $250 change over, but look an absolute treat. Polishing is also done at an optional extra and is a must for those craving a little under bonnet bling.
04/05/07 Stolen car racket unearthed, 700 stolen cars seized
It’s a startling statistic; most people have, or at least know of somebody that has had their car stolen. It’s a leaves sickening taste in your mouth that is not one easily removed. When police in Canada walked into what they believed to be a legitimate scrap yard, they received the shock of their lives.
Found were no less than 700 stolen vehicles being stripped down and sold off for parts. The 100,000 sq. ft. are contained ripped-off items strewn everywhere from brake discs to headlights, complete motors to airbags. Police described the area as simply staggering.
The scrap yard, located north of Montreal, contained a vast variety of acquired motor vehicles that included high end varieties such as Mercedes-Benz’ and BMW’s. Police had noted that some cars contained zero miles on their odometers and were even stacked upon of each other.
Needless to say a few people have been arrested over the stash, and I’d say will be visiting the big house for quite some time. Something tells me that the police owe a lot of this find to watching Gone in 60 Seconds.
04/05/07 Lutz gives Zeta the thumbs up, but has other ideas
It was only about a month ago that we told you about Lutz’s indecisiveness about sticking by larger rear-wheel driven vehicles, but it seems that he has had a good hard think and came up with the idea that the Zeta platform is good to go.
It’s not good news however, Lutz has stated that fuel economy is a major concern with up and coming larger models and will be one are thoroughly assessed.
In the wake of the new proposals moving through congress regarding the fuel consumptions of new vehicles, Lutz has commented that the Zeta replacements for cars such as the Chevrolet Impala and Buick Lucerne would probably not be viable.
03/05/07 Round 2 of Drift Australia action set to hit the TV
Round 2 of the Drift Australia series was action packed and will be remembered for a long time to come, and now you can have the chance to watch it all again at home on the telly.
The action was focused around the battle between Robbie Bolger and local here Leighton Fine that boilded right down to the wire.
The highlights will be telecasted on SBS’ Speedweek over a one hour program this Saturday, and will also be aired in a Channel Nine package that will be aired after the following Saturday.
Keep watching Drift Australia’s YouTube channel for an online highlight of the round
03/05/07 Toyota knocks GM from number one spot
For the first time since 1931, GM is no longer top dog in the massive world of automotive manufacturing. Toyota took a large leap forward that secured control of the number one position and ended up selling 2.38 million cars and trucks to GM’s 2.26 million in the first three months of the year.
Analysts have speculated that the influx in Toyota sales has been centred on higher petrol prices and the continued demand for smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles.
The Japanese carmaker is also expected to report their seventh consecutive year of record profits with last year raking in a massive $11.7 billion.
03/05/07 MoTec releases ECU dedicated to the LS1
Great news for all you LS1 fans out there! MoTec have just released a new engine management that has been specifically designed for the LS1 and Lexus V8. The MLS series of engine management systems is tailored to working with the specifics of LS series engines, therefore reducing the overall price of the unit while retaining the quality of the unit.
MLS owners will be able to run the Chevrolet V8 with eight coils in wasted spark mode, leaving any unused outputs for other devices such as pumps or fans.
The software provided with the MLS engine management provides all of the same suctions as the big seller M4 and also features optional upgrades such as data logging, traction control, turbo anti-lag and wideband lambda support. However the MLS ECU will come with up to six hours of free wideband lambda logging to assist the tuner with the initial setup and tuning of the vehicle.
03/05/07 Vibration cancellation the key for a quieter drive
The pursuit for a quieter and smoother drive is one that all major vehicle manufacturers take quite seriously for the key to those higher end vehicle sales pivots on the vehicles NVH refinement.
German-based technology is soon to shine through and grab those vehicle creators’ attentions as this new technology all but eliminates in cabin vehicle noises and vibrations. How they have done it is no simple feat either with much more processes involved than just adding more sound deadener to the mix.
The technology, called Active Force Cancellation, uses powerful actuators mounted near the vehicles mounting points and produce waves of the opposite phase to that that the vehicle produces. Despite what you may have heard about opposites attracting from Paula Abdul in that annoying ‘90s tune, when opposite waves get together they create a cancellation effect that, in this case, will stop the vibration waves from entering the cabin of the vehicle. Clever eh?
“It sounds simple, but we have been working on it for more than a decade,” says Manfred Hofmann, technical director at Trelleborg Automotive’s Technical Center in Höhr-Grenzhausen.
The use of noise calculating actuators can not only eliminate engine and drive train vibration noise, but also have a dramatic effect of wind noise and road noise. Manfred Hofmann is confident that such a technology will render expensive balance shafts redundant and feels that the new noise cancellation method will take the automotive industry by storm.
02/05/07 Aussie invention set to curve vehicle fires
After collision vehicle fires are a massive problem and add a great deal of fatalities to the overall road toll. In the United States, over 2000 people were recorded last year to have died in after collision fires with another 10,000 having received shocking burns. An innovative new Aussie invention is set to curve the shocking statistics by offering a few ingenious devices that take away the fires fuel and ignition supply.
Called the Vehicle Safety Shutdown system, the VSS incorporates two shut off systems that cuts the vehicles fuel supply and isolates all available power. These systems activate in less than five milliseconds, or ten times quicker than it takes for the average airbag to fully deploy.
The system, developed by John Quee, is on of the most significant recent advances in road safety and is set to save thousands of lives every year from death and trauma.
There are two elements required to establish a vehicle fire – the fuel and some form of ignition that ignites the fuel," Mr Quee said. "In an accident if you can eliminate either one, then you have successfully prevented a vehicle fire and saved lives."
Mr Quee also stated, "For over 100 years we didn't know how to prevent these car crash fires that resulted in shocking deaths and horrific life-debilitating injuries, but now that we do have the equipment and the know how, he couldn't see any reason for delaying there inclusion into motor vehicles."
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