Fun Stuff

Sign up to The Guide weekly newsletter to receive great tips on buying and selling your car, keep up to date with the latest models and how they rate along with the most up to date motoring news.Sign up nowCompetition opens 0:01 (AEST) 01/07/11, and closes 11:59 (AEST) 31/07/11. Competition is drawn at 10:00 (AEST) on 03/08/11 at Salmat Interactive Level 2, 116 Miller Street, North Sydney NSW 2060. For full terms and conditions click here. Authorised under permit numbers; NSW LTPS/11/05163; ACT TP 11/02284

The shoes are laid out in the hearts of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne as a reminder of the 1,500 people killed each year on the country's roads, as well as a rallying call for the fifth annual running of Fatality Free Friday.The event is supported at all levels from workplaces to schools and local councils, with more than 27,000 people also pledging their individual support.The safety event is expected to grow overseas soon, just as Clean Up Australia Day has gone global, with interest from a number of other countries.This year the Salvation Army is making a big commitment by providing the shoes - all pre-owned, on a use-and-return program - for the three individual installations of 1,500 pairs."This is definitely our biggest year. And it's getting bigger every year," says Russell White, a road safety expert who is the founder of Fatality Free Friday. "Each pair of shoes represents someone killed each year on the road.  It's a very moving reminder when you see all those empty shoes and think of a person who should be wearing them."White says the event has grown rapidly since the original installation of shoes in Brisbane, with Sydney joining the Queensland and Victorian capitals this year."We'll have an installation for the first time in Circular Quay, in addition to Federation Square in Melbourne and the top of the Queen Street mall in Brisbane," he says. "There are a stack of other regional events, too. We've got support from councils, schools and individual workplaces."White says the message for Fatality Free Friday is simple."We want people to think consciously about their road use. They could be on two feet, two wheels, four wheels or more, and it's about little things like courtesy, patience, looking ahead in traffic," he says. "These are the sorts of things that start to shape a behavioural change. I like to treat it like Clean Up Australia Day or Red Nose Day, where people get a reminder on the day and so do something a bit different the next day. Lots of people are passionate about road safety and this helps them take the first step.""Statistically, five or six people die every Friday in Australia. If we can save those lives and build from there it would be a bonus."White says the impact and success of the Australia event could see it expanding internationally in the next couple of years."We're getting interest from Canada, the Middle East and the UK. It would be good to see it heading overseas as well."For more information, visit the Fatality Free Friday website.

But you have to admit, the store people here are pretty calm about how close they come.Sent in by Mike Duffy

Obama's presidential limo may be bomb proof, but has shown itself to be far from beach proof during the President's stay at the US embassy in Dublin.

Zooming around a track while demolishing targets with paintballs fired from a bonnet-mounted cannon.The catches? It's in a Captiva rather than an 007-styled Aston Martin -- which limits the dynamic potential of the zooming a little -- and it's being done only in the UK at the moment to mark the launch of the vehicle there.However, if the new sport catches on as Carsguide thinks it deserves to, maybe we'll see it here before long.Holden Commodores at 20 paces, anyone?

Make fellow campers do a double-take in this full-sized replica of the cult classic 1960’s Volkswagen camper van. Just like the original VW Kombi, an average person can stand up inside it. It’s also generous in size – sleeping up to four adults. All that's left to do is bust out the incense and dream of paisley. Visit Firebox.com for more information.  

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Indi 500, Hot Wheels stunt drivers will make a record-breaking attempt for the biggest jump by a four-wheeled vehicle. Hot Wheels have let loose this teaser ahead of the May 29 event.