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And exactly when he likes. The retired racer has Michael Schumacher on the speed dial, a private jet at the airport, an eight-figure bank balance, a nightclub in Las Vegas and - after winning won fiv consecutive 500cc world motorcycle championships from 1994 to 1998 - five important trophies at home on the Gold Coast.
Then again, he limps heavily every day as a result of the massive leg injuries that ended his grand prix motorcycle career and pain is his constant companion.
But pain is being replaced by pleasure today as Doohan rolls into Albert Park for a series of hot laps in a silver star pocket rocket that is already a $7.8 million sellout in Australia.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 Black Series is a cool tool that's been snapped up by 32 fast car fans with at least $245,000 in their back pocket and is the centrepiece for an AMG technology demonstration at the home of the Australian Grand Prix.
That's a nice way of saying Doohan and another retired racer, grand pix winner David Coulthard, will be showing what the Black Series belter can do on the same track where Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber are tipped for another Red Bull romp on Sunday evening.
They are uncorking a V8-powered monster capable of topping 300km/h thanks to 380 kiloWatts and 620 Newton-metres in the engine room, as well as giant disc brakes and huge 18-inch tyres to balance the safety equation and also translate power into control on the AGP track.
Doohan has the Black on track and really honking, sliding the rear and tripping the ABS every time he goes for the brakes. But that's not what he finds really impressive.
"What's great about these AMG cars is they are still Benzes. So you can go for a quiet drive to the shops, you can drop the kids off at school or you can have a family outing on the weekend," Doohan says to Carsguide.
"It's a performance car when you want a performance car but a regular road car when you don't want to go crazy. Then again, when you want to have a go..." He's been an AMG man for more than 15 years and, even though he gets a very special price from Germany, it's the car he chooses to drive. And he could easily go for a Ferrari or a Lamborghini.
"You can't fault them on the road. I like that it's not obvious, not wild, but it will still get up and go." Doohan has a special job at the grand prix this weekend, competing in a series of one-lap handicap sprints against a V8 Supercar and a genuine F1 racer. He's done it twice before and enjoys the challenge, and the speed.
"It's not really like race, but I've won a few times," Doohan laughs. "The Black Series is not designed for the racetrack, but it's still an amazing handling car and performance car on the track."
Riding with Doohan is not pretty, but it's plenty fast. He bends the Black to his commands, stomping the brakes, hauling the wheel and getting early on the power during an exclusive Carsguide hot lap.
Then it's my turn. And the Black Series raises the AMG bar to a new level. The car has 40 kiloWatts more than a regular AMG C63 but the impressive things are the stopping power of the composite brakes and the cornering grip. It always feels like the car has more in reserve, even if the traction control is working overtime during my quick laps.
It's just a taster but it's full of flavour and it's impossible not to be envious of Doohan and the lucky - and wealthy - few who will get a Black Series C63 sometime this year. Not just that but, just like a Hyundai or Kia shopper, they're getting a bargain.
The previous Black Series model came in at $299,000 but the new C63 is a snip at just $245,000.
