Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

Gaming experts are tipping that the next instalment of the hit car theft game will go on sale in 2012. And theft experts believe GTA and similar games are behind a dramatic drop in car stealing. Mainly because thieves have turned into couch potatoes with the rest of us.National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council executive director Ray Carroll says the number of car thefts in Australia has plummeted 65 per cent from a peak of 129,923 in 2000/01."One of the reasons I believe is that youth culture has changed over the last decade," he says. "Where stealing a car on a Friday or Saturday night used to be the thing to do for bored youths, now they have moved on to a more electronic world and are just as likely to be home playing Grand Theft Auto on the Xbox than out doing the real thing. It's one of those things we think is happening; we can't be definitive. But a lot of car theft was spontaneous theft for joyriding by young people. Now they are doing a lot less physical things."The latest National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council report shows most stolen and recovered vehicles are still taken by local thieves for short-term purposes, such as joyrides.The most dramatic falls have been in short-term thefts for joyriding (down 70 per cent from 114,766 in 2000/01 to 34,155 last year), rather than profit-motivated thefts by professional crooks (down 23 per cent from 15,157 to 11,659).In the last financial year, more than 60 per cent of cars were recovered within 10km of where they were stolen and 45 per cent were in the same suburb.Cars stolen and dumped in the same suburb were more likely to be recovered within one day and two out of 10 after 14 days. Local joyriders target cheaper cars which are easier to steal, the research found.Carroll says another key ingredient in reducing car theft is that they have been made more difficult to steal with the introduction of immobilisers in all new cars from 2001."You can't hot wire a modern vehicle, so thieves have had to get smarter by stealing keys and transponders. There are also still about five million older, unsecured cars on Australian roads without immobilisers. So you can't necessarily stop someone from stealing a car but you can make the effort of disposing of it or turning it into cash more difficult or risky."Carroll points to tougher state registration laws regarding written-off vehicles.However, he says most stolen and non-recovered cars are taken for profit so crooks will "modify their behaviour" to find a way around the legislative barriers."They are shifting to new methodology such as theft for scrap or parts," he says. "They often steal a car off the side of the road and are not worried about re-registering. We think the crooks will switch to methodology such as using stolen parts in the legitimate and non-legitimate repair trade and then scrapping what's left of the car."While car theft has decreased, theft of motorcycles has increased over the past five years with the growing popularity of two-wheeled transport, Carroll says."They are particularly difficult to deter crooks because half of the bikes stolen are off-road bikes and not registered," he says. "It's like trying to stop people stealing TVs which are not part of any registration system. They're also particularly open to dismantling and selling for parts. People can dismantle one in their loungeroom if they want to. And the parts are really popular especially for more expensive road bikes which only have to fall over in the garage to damage expensive fairings. So there is a very active and lucrative black market in bike spare parts."He says bike portability also makes them prime theft targets."You can have immobilisers, but two people can just pick one up and throw it in the back of a ute. We suggest people chain them to something strong and immovable, although the crooks just come along with powerful bolt cutters, anyway."The council report shows that almost 60 per cent of all stolen and recovered motorcycles are found within the same suburb, indicating they are stolen for local transport. Carroll says light trucks, vans and trailers are greater theft targets than big prime movers."Very few prime movers are stolen and not recovered. However, trailers are big targets," he says. "Truckies leave them parked at the side of the road and thieves usually steal trailers for its cargo so it usually turns up abandoned." 

MOST of the dozen Australian owners of the world's fastest production electric car use them for daily chores. So says Tesla Motors Australia boss Jay McCormack. But with acceleration to 100km/h as quick as a V8 Supercar and a body and suspension based on the quick-handling Lotus Elise, it's no wonder some owners are taking them out for track days. And that is where I had my second test drive in the limited edition Roadster, at Queensland Raceway.VALUEMcCormack says they have sold 12 since January and expect to sell 30 by the time production winds up. They arrive at $160,000 but with various duties and taxes they cost $206,188, despite the fact that electric vehicles attract no stamp duty in Australia. Add in the on-road costs and it is one expensive daily runabout. But if you consider the acceleration, Lotus pedigree and intrinsic value of being an early adopter, it could start to make sense for some rich eccentrics.If you are one of the 15 per cent who opt for the Sport variant you can add an $30,000. For that you get an extra 50Nm of torque (400Nm), adjustable Bilstein rear suspension, forged alloy wheels, a "more capable" AC motor and a "slightly different software program" for the cooling process. A full charge will only cost $8 and if you drive in the "range" mode you get 394km of range. There is also a "standard" mode and a "performance" mode with range determined by your driving style.The resale value is very good, according to McCormack."I cant see many being re-sold, but some have sold for more than they cost new. I would expect most customers to hang on to them. If you look at the beginning of the modern electric car, this is history."TECHNOLOGYThis is actually the fourth iteration of Roadster. Like computer software program names, it started with the 1.0, then 1.5, 2.0 and now 2.5. Only the 2.5 has been sold here, although I last drove a privately owned 2.0 at QR in 2009.The 2.5 has the same AC motor and gearbox but slightly different software, 30Nm more torque and an extra 3kW hours of storage.At the heart of the Tesla is a battery of small lithium-ion liquid-cooled cells powering a four-pole AC induction motor which provides the sort of performance power and torque figures you would expect from a sportscar; certainly more than the petrol-powered Elise on which it is based.Tesla claims it will hit highway speeds in less than four seconds which is the same as a V8 Supercar.You can charge it at home, but it will take about 15 hours on 10 amps. At the track, we plugged into a 32 amp charger which takes about six hours to fully charge.Tesla claims 394km range in "range" mode, but after some furious morning laps by potential customers, at 266km it required lunchtime charging.DESIGNIt's based on the stylish Elise and adds tonnes of carbon fibre including the detachable roof and has a space-age interior. There is little room for any luggage and the interior is fairly Spartan.SAFETYIt comes with two airbags, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes, stability and traction control, but no crash test results. There are two Yokohama tyre options - Neova and extra-grippy A048 which we drove on the track.DRIVINGThe Roadster saves some of its battery life by not having power steering which makes it heavy to steer around pit lane, despite the light weight of the vehicle. Just after the pit lane 40km/h speed zone ends, I flatten the throttle and experience an uncanny linear acceleration feeling like a rocket. But it takes longer to go from 100km/h to our top speed down the main straight of about 170-180km/h.It's a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive car, but it doesn't handle like one. Turning into the first few corners, the steering goes light and the front end pushes with understeer. With the sport option Yokohama tyres fitted, there is plenty of lateral grip for good mid-corner speed, but it runs wide coming out of the corner because it is difficult to invoke oversteer. That is because acceleration is linear and not peaky, so it is difficult to break traction or suddenly shift the balance to the rear with power.The bumpy Queensland Raceway circuit provokes plenty of kickback through the steering wheel and with no power assistance the driver fights the wheel and has to hang on tight. Ride is also fairly stiff and it would probably be fairly uncomfortable on normal roads with that hard sports seat.The last time I drove the Roadster, I set a lap record for an electric car on the Queensland Raceway truncated "sportsman" circuit of 1:13. This time it was dry and, although we didn't have the lap timer running, it would have been much faster with the grippy Yokohama tyres.Last time we experienced brake fade and an overheating motor, but despite higher track temperatures, there were no such problems this time, although the brake pedal is soft and stopping power requires pre-empting the usual braking markers.VERDICTThis is a piece of history that you can drive on a daily basis and take to a track day for some fun with a relatively clear environmental conscience. Left-hand-drive Roadsters have ceased production and there are only about 100 right-hand drives to come before production ceases. With so few available, it might even make sense to an investor or collector to grab one and put it in storage.TESLA ROADSTER 2.5Body: 2-door roadsterMotor: 3-phase 4-pole AC induction motor, 185kW/350-400NmTransmission: single-speed gearbox, rear-wheel driveBattery: 53kWh lithium-ion cellsRange: 394km maximum in "range" modeDimensions: 3946mm (L), 11873mm (W), 1127mm (H), 2352 (WB) Kerb weight: 1235kg

... in Queensland blaming low demand, a lack of supply caused by the floods and the need to meet NSW ethanol demands.Biofuels Association Australia CEO Heather Brodie says E10 bowsers are not being withdrawn in NSW because it has a mandate that 6 per cent of total petrol volumes must contain 10 per cent ethanol."Bowsers have been removed which is unfortunate because there is a growing consumer awareness and desire to be able to purchase the fuel," she says."Unfortunately biofuels need to be mandated to encourage their use."Brodie says oil majors such as BP and Shell have removed E10 bowsers in Queensland and Victoria, while independents such as Neumann, Matilda and United are increasing their E10 availability."The independents are very much behind the product," she says. "Caltex has also been increasing their E10 bowsers. It's obviously a management decision as to the product line-up they are going to have, but I'd love all servos to have E10."BP Australia spokesman Richard Wise says the E10 bowser issue in Queensland was caused by the January floods."Our supplier declared force majeure and wasn't able to supply for about six months so we had to make a quick decision to convert all of our bowsers to ULP," he says."Sucrogen have been back up and running for about a month or so. We've taken that supply and are using it in NSW under our obligations to the mandate and we are assessing how to role E10 back into the Queensland market once we get a level of security of supply. Probably from the first quarter of next year."Shell Australia spokesman Paul Zennaro confirms they are removing E10 bowsers.He says there have been "troublesome" issues with supply even before the floods, but says the key factors in their decision are the "sustained low demand for E10 and increasing demand for premium products and diesel"."Our underground tanks can't supply every type of fuel," he says."Demand for diesel fuel is growing because of the increasing number of diesel passenger cars and light commercial vehicles using diesel. Another important factor is the increasing number of imported vehicles requiring 95 octane fuel. We don't recommend using E10 94 in 95-rated vehicles."A government mandate on E10 has been resisted by the RACQ, claiming it takes away consumer choice and the fuel is not suitable for older vehicles, power equipment and motorcycles.However, Brodie says research by the University of Queensland and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce found that of the new vehicles available last year 99.44 per cent are E10 compatible."So the overwhelming majority can take it," she says."Of all the vehicles in the Australian carpark more than 80 per cent can take E10. The average car in the carpark is no more than nine years old and those pre-1986 cars that can't take E10 are now 26 years old. For the consumer who wants to do something environmentally friendly, in some instance they have had that choice removed from them."

... full of all the tools he'd ever want to fix, service or restore the automotive love of his life. Repco trade sales manager Malcolm Dunning accepted our challenge to put together the ultimate in tools for our Dad's Dream Garage project. Prices range from an affordable $14.99 cleaning gift pack to $1299 for a portable fridge with a total price of $5680.97 for the most worthy of dads. It all starts with a big tool kit on rollers, of course, filled with spanners, sockets, screwdrivers and more. Getting your fingernails dirty is fun, but scarred knuckles from the wrong tools is not, says Dunning. He says quality is the most important ingredient to avoid injury from inferior tools. "The best is dropped-forge chrome vanadium and make sure they meet or exceed the industry standards for hardness and durability," he says. "That way they'll last forever." Dunning chose their 126-piece Repco tool kit with six-drawer chest and seven-drawer trolley which includes imperial sizes for working on old cars and metric for new machinery. Any home mechanic needs a creeper so they can crawl under the car with ease and not hurt their back. They cost as little as $44.95 for the Mechpro which also folds up into a seat. Getting under your car can be cramped, so Dunning suggests getting a floor jack and a couple of stands, but make sure they are rated to hold the weight of your car. You'll also need some good lighting under the car and in the engine bay. LEDs are the brightest and whitest lights to get. Dunning says modern home mechanics are becoming more high-tech with their tools. He says air compressor are becoming popular to operate the many time-saving air tools available these days such as degreasing guns, impact wrenches, tyre pumps, and spray painters. Dunning suggests getting one with belt drive which is quieter around the home. Another popular tool for today's car restorers is a MIG welder, he says. "They are popular for people doing panel work on their car or for things around the home like welding a gate," he says. "The old arc welders you couldn't work on fine sheets of metal like these can. You should look for good ampage. The more amps, the more power and the thicker metal you can weld." Dunning says a 900amp jump pack is also handy to restart old batteries. After all that panel beating, welding and greasing, your Dream Garage is bound to get dirty. Dunning suggests a wet/dry vacuum cleaner and a high-pressure water hose. He says they don't need to be expensive, but the most important thing to look for is high pressure. The Mechpro high-pressure cleaner is rated at 1600psi. You'll also want to clean and polish your car with a range of liquids and lotions. The job is made easier with a battery powered polish and buffing kit. And when all the work is done, it's time for a coldie. "I keep an Engel 240/12 volt fridge in the garage," says Dunning. "It means you don't have to go into the house in your dirty overalls and leave greasy fingerprints on the fridge door." The Engel can also pack up and go with you on your next 4WD adventure, camping holiday or fishing trip. DAD'S DREAM GARAGE Repco 126 Pce AF/Metric 1/2" and 1/4" Drive Apprentice Tool Kit in 6 Draw Tool Chest $950 Repco 7 Draw Tool Trolley $699 Mechpro 40 Ltr Twin Piston Belt Drive Air Compressor $299 Mechpro 3/8" Air Ratchet and 1/2" Dr Impact gun Combo Kit $79 Wall Mount Compressed Air Hose Reel $79 Pro Lift  1400kg Floor Jack and Car Stand Combo Pack $59 Repco 7 Stage 8 amp Battery Charger $99 Repco 126 Pce Apprentice Tool Kit $950 Mechpro 900 AMP Battery jump pack $69.99 Mechpro 3 Door Wall Cabinet $99 Mechpro 150AMP Mig Welder $349 Mechpro Variable Shade Welding Helmet $89 Mechpro 36" Floor Creeper / Seat $44.99 Repco Hi Intensity Rechargeable LED Inspection Light $99 Repco 95LED Under Bonnet Rechargeable Work Light $105 Mechpro 1600 psi 5.3ltr per min water flow 240 volt Pressure Washer $99 Supervac Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner $99 Repco Eclipse Car Cleaning Gift Pack $14.99 Mothers Polish and battery powered buffing kit $99 Engel Fridge $1299 (Prices from Repco Fathers Day Catalogue from August 18 to September 4) What would be in your dream garage? Tell us your ideas in the comment section below.

Holden managing director Mike Devereux told the first Alternative Fuels Summit in Brisbane yesterday that "the little old internal combustion engine has come a long way," pointing out that the average fuel efficiency of Australian vehicles has improved 15 per cent in the past decade. "When we launched VE (Commodore) in 2006 we had about 10.8 litres per 100km in the Omega and over the last five or six years we've been able to take that down to 8.9. That's an 18 per cent improvement in fuel economy. It's largely due to our approach to things like direct injection, a smarter approach to the way air flows underneath the vehicle and tiny things like a change last year to the tailgate of the vehicle to make air flow more efficiently off the back of the vehicle. So there are ways to improve the old internal combustion engine and right now our fuel economy targets of 8.9 we are trying to take down to the mid 8s as we go forward into our next gen of Commodore which is about two years from now. We are going to do that through significant light weighting, significant uses of things like aluminium for the panels, things like electronic power steering, looking at every component in the car and trying to make it in a much more lightweight fashion.'' Devereux also declared all V6 and V8 Commodores will be E85 compliant from next month. That's not free,'' he says. "Holden has actually invested ahead of wide availability of the fuel (ethanol) across the country. I don't want you to cry for Holden because it's a strategic decision we're making, but it costs us about $100 per car to make those vehicles capable of running on E85. We put a stake in the ground and said every Commodore will be capable of running on E85.'' Devereux told the conference he was encouraged when he came to Australia 18 months ago (from his previous position as president and managing director of GM Middle East) by "how involved the local manufacturers were in promoting of alternative fuels''. "Ford actually have a fantastic new LPI system in their Falcon and we are launching an all-new mono-fuel LPG system in our Commodore next year,'' he says. For the first time, he confirmed that the mono-fuel Commodore will have the LPG tank under the floor instead of in the boot. He says the barriers to LPG acceptance include the loss of cargo space, the "bomb-like'' tank and the availability of LPG. "For some people it's kind of disconcerting when you open up the back of the car you see this very high-tech looking tank full of LPG. Our Commodore early next year will take the tank out of the back of the vehicle and put it under the vehicle, freeing up that space. It's all about removing the barriers and the perception that 'oh my god, there's a bomb in the boot' thing and making LPG seem like a very reasonable, easy to adopt technology.'' He says there are also barriers to acceptance in the limited supply and the slow pumping process. Devereux also told the summit that Australia could become a world centre for LPG expertise over the next five years. "It is incredibly naturally abundant and the technologies to run this fuel are all here in this country,'' he says.

THE last time I rode the Triumph Rocket III Touring I had a heart-in-the-mouth incident involving a locked rear tyre on a wet downhill slope. My review said the bike needed ABS like the Harley Touring family. Well, ask and you shall receive. It now comes standard with ABS.VALUEThe good news is it doesn't cost any more now with ABS. At $25,9990 it beats the American opposition (Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail $29,995 and Victory Cross Roads $26,990) and compares favourably with some of the Japanese "metric" cruisers. There is extra value in the fact that the windscreen is quickly detachable as this makes it more of an all-seasons proposition.TECHNOLOGYThe Rocket has the largest engine of any production motorcycle in the world, bigger than most medium-sized family cars. It's 2.3-litre, three-cylinder heart has the lustiest beat of any bike on the road.Don't be discouraged by peak power of 80kW which is down from 104kW in the Classic as it is tuned for a fat midrange of 209Nm from just 2000rpm. The transmission is via a faultless and smooth five-speed gearbox and shaft drive.SAFETYHave I mentioned it now comes with ABS? Not that the contact patch on the big front and rear wheel tyres lack for grip, but with the low centre of gravity, there is a lot more stopping power in the rear brake than on most bikes, so it can be easy to lock up the rear wheel, especially in the wet. However, ABS takes car of that. On a weekend two-up ride through country with some damp sections, I never felt the ABS come into play, but it was comforting for my nervous pillion to know that it was there if needed.DESIGNThe Touring model turns heads wherever it goes. It looks like the Classic model with a windscreen and panniers, but the only parts they share are the rear light, mirrors, brakes and the engine. Even the seat is different, with two separate layers of cushioning of different densities and a gel pad in the pillion seat. These are among the 59 accessories designed exclusively for the Touring variant, including back rests, mufflers, heated grips and chrome parts.It comes with hard panniers and a look-over windscreen, but you can replace these with after-market options. The top-loading and lockable 36-litre standard hard luggage compartment is neat and streamlined. However it is a bit narrow, so it won't fit much gear. Both the luggage and windshield have a quick-release system that is easy to remove and fit.Riding position is good for long stints with your legs splayed around a fat tank and feet on wide footboards with an adjustable heel-toe gear shifter. However, I found the straight-out reach to the wide bars a little fatiguing.RIDINGNot that I should refer to my wife as a load, but most of this test was spent two-up and the big triple didn't seem to notice the extra load. Gearing is tall and torque is huge so you don't need to rush through the gears nor do you find yourself in fifth looking for one more cog.My wife commented that the gel seat is comfortable, but the seat sash is useless as a grab handle. Instead, she held on to me, which is nice, but not ideal. She would also opt the optional sissy bar for back support.Handling is actually improved a little by the extra weight over the rear wheel as it prevents that bouncing feeling over big bumps. It could do with a little more rebound damping in the rear springs.Small, high-frequency bumps are handled well and the bike never bottomed out over the big hits, even two-up. A pillion also helps the steering, making the front a little lighter and more nimble for counter-steering into corners. The narrow rear tyre also assists agile turn-in. Lean angle is good with the peg scraping only when your are pushing hard or hitting a mid-corner bump with a pillion on board.VERDICTIt's called the Touring and invites two-up riding over long distances. The only limiting factors are the narrow panniers and the 22.3-litre tank which has range of about 300km when fully loaded.TRIUMPH ROCKET III TOURINGPrice: $25,990Warranty: 2 years/unlimited kmService: 10,000kmEngine: liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 2294cc triple, 80kW/209NmTransmission: 5-speed, shaft driveWheels: 25-spoke 16-inch alloysTyres: 150/80 R16; 180/70 R16Suspension: Kayaba 43mm forks (front), Kayaba twin shocks, with preload adjustment (rear)Brakes: 320mm floating discs, Nissin  4-piston fixed calipers (front), 316mm disc, Brembo 2-piston floating caliperFuel: premium, 22.3-litre tank, 7.7L/100km (tested)Dimensions: 2608mm (L), 895mm (W), 1182mm (H), 736mm (Seat), 1708mm (WB) DRY WEIGHT: 362kgColours: black (with hand-painted silver pinstripes), black and white, black and red, and two-tone blue.Visit www.triumphmotorcycles.com.au for more information.

Australian automobile clubs report that batteries account for between 36 per cent of all emergency callouts in New South Wales and 46 per cent in Queensland and South Australia. Motorists can avoid battery problems by keeping the terminals clean and topping up the fluids in older non-sealed types. The next biggest reason for motorists calling on an emergency breakdown service is drivers locking their keys in the car which varies from 8 per cent in Victoria to 13 per cent in South Australia. It appears modern vehicles are much more reliable these days with engine faults representing less than 10 per cent of all callouts to auto clubs. British company Warranty Direct has found electrical faults account for 27 per cent of all car failures, up by about 17 per cent on five years ago. However, in Australia, electrical faults only account for 11 per cent in South Australia and as little as 3 per cent in Victoria, despite modern cars being packed with electronic wizardry. While Australian auto clubs keep callout data on members, but not the make of vehicle, Warranty Direct has found the car most likely to suffer an electrical fault is the Renault Megane, with a staggering one in three sustaining a malfunction each year. Just under a third of British drivers who own the Peugeot 607 pay for electrical glitches, possibly due to its well appointed cabin and relatively luxurious specification. BMW's Z4, with its clever electric folding roof, is third, followed by another Renault and a brace of Audis and Land Rovers. The quirky Smart Roadster and A4 Convertible complete the rundown with around a quarter incurring problems with their electrics. EMERGENCY CALLOUTS RACV Battery 45% Wheels 9% Engine, brakes, transmission 9% Fuel 8% Lockout 8% Cooling 5% Ignition 4% Electrics 3%. NRMA Battery 36% Wheels/tyres 10% Lockout 10% Electrics 9% Cooling 5% Fuel 5% Ignition 4%. RAA (South Australia) Battery 46% Lockout 13% Electrics 11% Wheels/tyres 6% Fuel 6% Ignition 5% Cooling 4%. RACQ Battery 46% Lockouts 9% Fuel 4% Wheels/Tyres 9% Electrics 7% Cooling 3% Ignition 2.5%. ELECTRICAL FAULTS (UK) Renault Megane (02-09) 34.66% Peugeot 607 (00-10) 31.28% BMW Z4 (03-09) 29.86% Renault Modus (04-11) 29.61% Audi A2 (00-06) 29.02% Land Rover Range Rover (02-11) 28.75% Land Rover Discovery (04-11) 26.94% Audi A3 (03-11) 26.58% Smart Roadster (03-11) 25.67% Audi A4 Convertible (05-09) 24.44% (Supplied by Warranty Direct)

The six-time Bathurst winner takes over as V8 Supercars Commission chairman for two years from October after he races with Craig Lowndes at Mt Panorama."Whilst I'm chairman of the commission I can't drive in V8 Supercars competitively," he says, stressing the last word and gesturing enthusiastically with his hands."So I won't be able to do Bathurst next year. But things that I would be able to do is test some cars and still keep my hand in. It's important for me to stay current with these things. I'm going to drive the Car of the Year (the 2013 V8 Supercar) not this test, but the one after."Racing is also still on the cards for the six-time winner of the top touring car category in Australia."I've also been approached to do some other racing next year which wouldn't conflict with this at all," he says. "I can't say what just yet, but there are a couple of overseas opportunities plus some local stuff. I wouldn't mind doing that so long as it's not too taxing and it wouldn't take too much of my time."Skaife stunned the V8 Supercar world when he announced his retirement from full-time racing on October 29, 2008. But like John Farnham, he has been attracted back for more.First it was an unsuccessful tilt at Bathurst with veteran colleague Greg Murphy in 2009, then it was a classic reuniting with his old Holden Racing Team partner Craig Lowndes for last year's Bathurst where they held the trophy aloft at the end of the day.Even Lowndes thinks that at the age of 46 Skaife could be too old and rusty to return even to part-time racing in 2014. "Clearly as an absolutely outright professional race driver those days are gone," Skaife admits."What I'd like to do though is pick the eyes out of the events which suit and then I'll contemplate how that works. "I'm not far from making a decision on whether I actually retire from V8 SC racing per se."I've been thinking about it quite a lot and I went and had a couple of weeks holiday and I probably still have a couple of sessions with my wife (Toni) before I decide that totally. Because if I'm not in the car and not competitive I wouldn't want to do it and couldn't physically do it at a level that would make me happy."But even if he hands in the keys to the V8 Supercar, there are overseas racing possibilities on the horizon for Skaife who raced extensively in Europe in the 1990s at Le Mans, the category under F1, French touring car championship rounds and the world cup for touring cars in Monza as well as events in Asia."Some of the ones that still turn me on are the premier ones; some of the really good quality international events like Le Mans and Nurburgring. I know Craig enjoyed the stuff he's been doing this year and under the right circumstances if it wasn't too time consuming I would like to have a look at those," he says.When it comes to partnering Lowndes in these events, he replies, "You never say no do you? It's a weird world, motorsport. You wouldn't have said even five years ago that Craig and I would be driving at Bathurst together. So things are always a moving target in this game."Skaife is confident he is still competitive. In fact, he says he is far better prepared for the endurance rounds at Phillip Island and Bathurst than he was this time last year after having driven the TeamVodafone 888 car at first practice sessions at most venues this year including yesterday's first two practices at Queensland Raceway."I've had more time in the car this year and I'm fitter," he says. "I've had my trainer with me for the last two-and-a-half months and we've worked rally hard and will work harder the next couple of months leading into that race (Bathurst)."When I drove in Townsville in the co-drivers section I ended up second and at the last test day I was only a couple of 10ths of a second away from Craig. I also feel more at ease about it this year because I know the team now. I know everyone's names and Craig and I have a real camaraderie going."I've been lucky all my racing career to work with the best. Gibson Motor Sport was the best team in the '90s and Holden Racing Team was the best in the 2000s and it's good late in my career that I can join the best team around now in pit lane."But Skaife is under no illusion that V8 Supercars is a tough sport. "If you walk down pit lane there is not an average team or average driver in any of those cars," he says. "While I'm happy that I feel more prepared this year, I don't want to linger and sort of run past a time when I feel competent and competitive."Driving is something I have been really passionate about and love. It has been my life, so stepping away from it is difficult. But things change. Things don't go on forever."Skaife has just stepped out of a four-hour commission meeting but is still firing on all cylinders and keen to talk about his new role in the sport he loves."I'm really turned on by this sport and industry and as time goes by I've done more and more of those things in the sport like TV commentary, track design (he designed Sydney and Townsville and re-designed Gold Coast) and now the commission so there are a lot of the elements of the business I really enjoy."The commission deals with the regulatory side of the business, judiciary matters, rules, race formats and the nitty gritty of the sport. Skaife says it will improve the sport for fans and drivers, alike, providing more consistency with penalties and rulings."What people want is good fair consistent decisions," he says. Skaife also points out that the sport is always trying new things such as the two-race format for today (SATURDAY) which, if successful, could be rolled out at other events."From an event billing standpoint I can confidently sit here and say the V8 Supercar race that we will put on this weekend is as good if not the best quality sedan car racing in the world," he says."The new format on the Saturday will have excitement and theatre. It's essentially a bit of a rally concept in some ways with a service time in between two stages which I think has some novelty and uniqueness about it. In addition I love the 4x2 concepts," he says, referring to the round of the Australian Superbikes being run at the Ipswich event this weekend."Over the years Australian motorsport culture has had a lot of synergy between bikes and cars, whether it's been Wayne Gardner finishing riding bikes and coming back and driving cars or it's been the same sort of fans. I go to Phillip island for the MotoGP. I love the event and I see the same people there who attend our car races. So there's a lot of crossover between the fans of those two motorsport arenas."Although Skaife seems just as passionate about his administrative roles, his attention keeps going back to racing at a time when he is staring down the barrel of retirement."I don't want to rush to make a decision that this might be my last Bathurst because that's a pretty big thing to say. It's something I'll think very hard and very carefully about."You are still better off to say I might call it quits while I'm going all right. "I chose to do that with my full time career and I would rather do that after winning those races with Craig last year and doing the races this year."MARK SKAIFE'S BESTBest driver: Craig Lowndes. "He's the best all-round driver, but you would have to say Jamie Whincup is the benchmark in the sport at the moment."Best team: TeamVodafone.Best track: Bathurst. "No doubt."Best event: "Either Clipsal (Adelaide) or Sydney."Best engineer: Craig Lowndes's race engineer, Jeromy Moore. "He's a really impressive young man. He's got a great future in this sport.Best young racer: Daniel Ricciardo who won the British Formula 3 Championship in 2009.BIO:Born: April 3, 1967 in GosfordRacing: Started in karts in 1980s and moved to cars in 1984, joining then Australian Touring Car Championships in 1987. Retired from full-time racing in 2008.Career: 5 touring car championships; 6 Bathurst wins; 218 races; 41 round wins; 85 podium finishes; 87 race wins; 41 pole positionsAwards: 2004 Medal of the Order of Australia

After testing the new KTM 350EXC-F at the South-East Queensland Wyaralong Trail Bike Facility, the Crusty Demon stunt rider has decided to order one. "It's still light like a two-stroke which I've ridden all my life, but it has the advantage of being able to run on normal pump gas and the EFI (electronic fuel injection) system means there aren't any issues with changing the jetting when you change locations and elevation," he says. "To get decent two-stroke fuel is getting ridiculously expensive. The last batch I bought was $3.60 a litre." All four-stroke KTM bikes now come with Keihin electronic fuel injection. The 350 EXC-F is a new category for four-stroke enduro bikes, lighter than the 450s and more powerful than 250s. "The 350 is a great bike for the weekenders and guys who just like to go for a ride," Schubring says. "It's a good all-round bike; still light but you can cruise on it and flick through the tight stuff. People that ride 450s don't realise they can't ride the bike to its capacity and all they are doing is wearing themselves out really quickly. On a 350 they can have a lot more fun, ride longer and not wear themselves out." Schubring says he will use the 350 for his stunt work but will have to work on gear ratios and suspension settings. "I've got a bit of testing to do. It is going to be a big step after riding two-strokes for so long," he says. "With the 2-stroke I can look at any sort of jump and know what I can do. It will take a bit of time to figure that out on the four stroke." KTM & Husaberg Australia marketing coordinator Greg Chambers says the EXC range features a host of new technology, most of which was developed in the 350 SXC-F motocross bike ridden to a world title by Tony Cairoli last year. At the heart of the machine is the compact 350 engine mated to a new six-speed gearbox with precise shifting. There is also a new airbox layout with better protection against dirt and increased airflow for more power. The Twin-Air filter also can be changed quickly without tools. The chrome-moly chassis is 0.5kg lighter than any other in its class and has higher torsional rigidity and reduced longitudinal stiffness for more stability. The chassis is also designed to absorb energy created from the rear wheel impacts. The tougher and lighter PDS rear suspension made by White Power of Austria also increases ground clearance. Up front all EXC models have 48mm USD White Power front forks with new seals and improved bushings for more feel. Wheels now have zinc/nickel coated spokes for corrosion resistance and silver rims which reduce weight by 200g per wheel. All KTMs also feature Brembo brakes with lightweight wave rotors. They are fitted with slim nine-litre translucent polyethylene fuel tanks, but there are also 13-litre tanks available for the four-strokes and 10-litre tanks for the two-strokes. A useful feature is the lift handle in the outer rear fender, which is well protected against dirt from the rear wheel. Prices remain the same for all 2012 KTM products, with the 350 EXC-F listed from $12,495. While KTM off-road sales are down 11.5 per cent from 1991 to 1762 in the first half of the year, Chambers says their market share has increased. "There was a dramatic rise in sales leading to the global financial crisis and now things are back to the way they were," he says. "Overall KTM sales are going great. Our market share is actually higher now than it has ever been." Sister bike company, Husaberg, has also released its line-up for 2012 with only cosmetic changes including a new yellow frame and a clear fuel tank for easy level checks. Prices have dropped to match the KTM range. Chambers expects the top-selling Husaberg bike will be the FE570 listed at $12,995. KTM 2012 RANGE Off Road 4-Stroke: 250 EXC-F $11,995, 350 EXC-F $12,495, 450 EXC $12,795, 500 EXC $12,995 2-Stroke: 200 EXC $10,495, 250 EXC $11,495, 300 EXC $11,995 Motocross: 150 SX $9495, 250 SX $10,495, 250 SX-F $10,995, 350 SX-F $11,995, 450 SX-F $12,295 Mini: 50 SX Mini $2995, 50 SX $4495, 65 SX $5995, 85 SX SW $6995, 85 SX BW $6995 Husaberg 2012 4-Stroke: FE390 $12,495, FE450 $12,795, FE570 $12,995 2-Stroke: TE250 $11,495, TE300 $11,995

The release comes ahead of a new Isuzu ute and SUV coming within the next year, the company has released its third limited-edition D-Max model. Outgoing Isuzu Ute Australia managing director Hitoshi Kono says he can not confirm timing for the ute update or the SUV. "The new model of D-Max will be first and then the SUV on a new platform," he says. "We can't say yet when they will arrive, but it is no secret that we are developing an SUV." Incoming boss Yasuhiro Takeuchi says his mission is to double sales in the "next few years". "That will be easy, but I can't tell you why," he says, alluding to the coming SUV. Meanwhile, the third limited edition D-Max 4x4 crew ute has been revealed with an estimated $8000 in extra features and bling including removable racing stripes for $45,500, which is $600 more than the top-spec X-Runner. It comes in either black or pearl white and features chromed fog lights, a new egg-crate grille, chrome bonnet protector, chrome sports bar with high-mounted brake lights and a plastic tub liner with tie-down hooks. The liner fits under the rim so a hard or soft tonneau cover can also be fitted. Inside, the limited edition model gets leather upholstery and a six-speaker Kenwood touch-screen audio system with integrated Garmin satnav with reversing camera, DVD, iPod/iPhone connectivity and Bluetooth. Only 300 are available. Despite having only one model to sell, Isuzu is the 19th-selling brand in Australia. Sales and dealer development general manager Paul Vuko says D-Max sales are currently 54 per cent private. He says they are chasing growth through the fleet market, having recently scored deals with the Australian Defence Force, Queensland Police Service, mining companies and Q Fleet. Since coming to the market in late 2008, Isuzu has sold 12,514 D-Max utes and scored its biggest monthly sales in May with 624. "When we get the SUV we will have 20,000 sales a year," Vuko says.