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Source: Drive.com.au 

 In what can only be seen as a long overdue measure against people getting behind the wheel after using illicit drugs, Police finally have the power to carry out random drug tests of drivers. Queensland premier Anna Bligh has announced that drug tests will soon be carried out alongside random alcohol breath tests.

 The number of drug tests carried out will pale in comparison to the number of alcohol breath tests however, with an expected 20,000 drug tests compared to an estimated three million alcohol tests. It’s a start I suppose and something is better than nothing. The tests involve taking a swab of saliva from the driver to detect drugs such as speed, ecstacy and cannabis, with the tests taking between three and five minutes.

 The maximum penalty for motorists caught driving under the influence of drugs is a $1000 fine, three months imprisonment and a suspended driver’s license.

 One grey area that still remains is drivers using prescription drugs. Now, I am no goody-two-shoes and a handful (ok, two handfulls) of years ago Friday after work was spent at the local beer garden with more than a few wacky tobaccy smokes being passed around, and yes we all drove home and thought nothing of it.

 Although I find myself to be a bit hypocritical about this subject, I think times have changed and so has the availability of what we used to call the ‘harder drugs’, speed, ecstacy etc. Not many people could afford these drugs in my day (jeez, I sound old) and fewer people knew how to get their hands on them.

 From talking with younger people this situation seems to have changed alot and more and more people are using these easily obtained ‘harder drugs’. To give you an example, I know of a couple that enjoy a ‘brekky cone’ or two, pop a pill of whatever they have to help them through the day and then drive their young daughter to school! If this is not an accident waiting to happen I don’t know what is.

 By the way, I do not associate with these people but I have seen them in action on a number of occasions when I was there to fix their car. I think this sort of behaviour needs to be stamped out and as a family man I keep a close eye on my kids when I see their car pull into the drop-off zone at school!

 What do you think on this subject, is driving drug affected, both illicit and prescription just as dangerous as drink driving? I think so but at the end of the day I am not in a position to critisize, having been there before myself. Please let us know what you think.

Craig

 After the death on September 8th, 2006 of Australian driving legend Peter Brock, his ‘Brock Commodores’ have become one of the most sought after cars in the country. Record prices are being reached for both the cars and any memorabilia associated with the nine-times Bathurst 1000 race winner.

 After reading an article on drive.com.au about the sale of Brock’s Holden Dealer Team and the subsequent plans to release ‘all new Brock Commodores’, I for one thought that it may have been a plan to cash-in on the legends death however after reading about the new owner of HDT it seems that there was a close relationship between the two and the ’new’ cars were on the drawing board before Peter Perfect’s untimely death.

 The new owner of the Holden Dealer Team, Peter Champion, knew Peter Brock very well and owns no less than 40 Brock Commodores, from road going to race versions. Peter Champion was also a driving force behind the build up of a replica of Peter Brocks first race car, an Austin A30. So it seems that Peter (Champion) has more than a vested interest in the future of the Holden Dealer Team and the business is in the best possible hands.

 But now back to the cars. The ‘new’ cars are based on the current model Commodore SS and HDT is offering what looks to be simply a body kit and paint work based on the original cars from 20-odd years ago. At this stage mechanical enhancements are not being offered so as to not void the Holden new car warranty. I have to say that I am not impressed with the look of a modern car wrapped in old car styling and a Brock Commodore without engine and suspension enhancements can be likened to a meat pie without sauce!

 That’s only my opinion of course, however owning a VK Group A replica myself, I just can’t get past the use of a classic car style on new metal. Have a look and tell us what you think. 

Craig

The man and the original cars and below an artists impression of the new cars.

A popular site with new car shoppers, CarSeek.com has recently added new features, in addition to car reviews, photos, and news. CarSeek.com now helps connect potential car buyers to desired models, and connects the appropriate car dealers to customers who are ready to buy. Consumers are relying on the Web for comparing new car prices, options, and dealerships more every year. The quicker they find the car they want, the more likely customers will make a purchase.

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A customer who visits CarSeek.com can read a review of the vehicle he wants, compare it to other vehicles, and have dealers provide price comparisons, within minutes. The price quote section of CarSeek.com asks a few simple questions and securely forwards the answers to dealers in the geographic area that was specified. CarSeek.com processes all leads for validity before they are forwarded to dealers. Dealers who have the exact model will send their price quotes to the customer by email, traditional mail, or phone, depending on the selected choice. CarSeek.com assures all of its visitors that it uses security measures to prevent misuse of any information.

For auto dealers who process leads as a way to increase sales, CarSeek.com leads put car customers who are ready to buy in contact with dealers.  The CarSeek.com lead program helps dealers two ways: by verifying the lead information before forwarding it to dealers, and by confirming that the dealers have the model the customer wants. When new car shoppers get dealers to bid for their business, they will get the best deals. When car dealers obtain fresh, valid, new car buyer leads, their sales people get to do what they do best, sell cars. The new features at CarSeek.com make both happen.