Overdrive

In the foreword to John Smile's excellent book, “Formula One, The Australian and New Zealand Story”, Australia's former world champion Alan Jones said:

“Formula One remains a game of chance.

“It is true that you make your own luck, but in Formula One the house holds more of the cards than any casino.

Getting to race in Formula One is not always like a Hollywood movie where the good guy suffers adversity but invariably conquers all. There are many sliding door moments where a decision helps you to progress or stalls your chance to fully shine.

The life and times of a Formula One driver covers a wide range of people and situations. Twenty-four Australians have raced in Formula One championship events.

Tim Schenken was an Aussie who raced in the category in the early seventies. He competed in 36 championship events.

He has continued an association and officiating with motor racing and has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. He joins us on the line now.

Segments of the interview

1:22 – As a young lad, the first times he went and watched motor racing events

3:09 – Why he developed a liking for Sterling Moss

5:06 – “Borrowing” his mother’s car to “go to the beach” but ending up racing at Calder Park

7:38 – Natural driving skills and how he learned to drive fast

10:58 – Invited onto Lex Davison’s team then tragedy struck two other drivers. He drove the next week and the pressed asked “would he be next”. Some of the first dealings with the press

14:11 – of to the UK to seek success – four people sleeping in one bedroom.

17:27 – Early racing and scrounging parts bins to make car more competitive then getting into a professional team

24:32 – not just being fast but race craft

26:08 – The first chance at formula 1 – not in the best car

31:57 – Formula one cars had large tyres, more power and aerodynamics. How different did it feel

33:09 – Coping with increased G forces

35:01 – Joining team Brabham and working with team mate Graham Hill.

41:36 – Brabham is bought by Bernie Eccleston – a master of the deal and marketing

43:15 – Gong to Surtees – John Surtees was hard to work with

48:46 – Starting a race car building company – they built some 600 cars but not a way to make money.

56:41 – Had opportunities to drive some exotic road cars but the Aston Martin DB4 did not live up to its looks

Welcome to Overdrive, a program about the wonderful world of motoring and transport.

I’m David Brown

The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss)

News (1:42)

1. Are modern vehicle’s information and control systems a help or a hinderance with driver distraction?

2. Nissan’s much needed four new models

3. BMW’s all-new electric iX3

4. NZ Clean Car Discount goes into stage two

Feature Story (7:35)

We were very fortunate to get an interview with Tim Schenken – the Australian racing car driver who raced in Formular 1 in the early seventies.

His early start is a great reflection on motoring in the fifties and his struggles in Formula 1 were not through a lack of talent.

Feedback (20:45)

An incredible reaction to one of our videos. The detail that some people see is surprising to say the least and

We have had some massive feedback from our story about 1958 FC Holden

Motoring Minutes

• Subaru BRZ (19:35)

• Citroen C4 (27:59)

You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs

We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it

Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media

https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour

or

Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos

Originally broadcast on 7 May 2022

In the early 60s John Farquhar’s father bought a secondhand 1953 Land Rover Series 1 to work on his farm in Parkes, 350 kilometres west of Sydney. It’s still there and still going.

His father has passed away but the vehicle has been an important part of the family as John describes with his typical Aussie farmer’s intonation. The audio link to the interview is below and the key comments are:

0:30 - It was a 1953 model but they did not buy it new

1:32 – His father had experience of them in New Guinea bodies didn’t rust but the chassis did.

2:00 – Multiple uses; carry the milk cans; take kids to school; use on the farm

2:50 – It got a new engine (from an Australian family car). Wasn’t as good. They still have the old engine somewhere on the farm!!

4:31 – When they bought another farm in Kangaroo Valley, he had to regularly drive the hour trip between the two. Only travelled at 40-50 mph – to the great annoyance of cars behind. His father said that by travelling relatively slowly, he was saving their lives.

6:17 – They stopped registering it when the brakes stopped working but still used it on the farm

6:52 – It originally had a canvas roof but they replaced it with sheet metal.

8:38 – His father was impressed enough to buy a more modern Land Rover in 1977. It was a big disappointment!!

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program a cars and transport.

I’m David Brown

The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss)

News (1:55)

1. Vehicle sales – Supply constraints make for some interesting trends

2. Vehicle sale numbers - Tesla and Polestar and in there and counting

3. Rating with cars have more drink-driving incidents from the users

4. Trucking Industry Anger After Budget Slashes Tax Rebate To Zero

Feature Story (8:29)

Modern vehicles are full of clever technology to get more efficiency, but they are tuned for average driving situations. Dynamometers can help tune a car, a truck, a motorbike or even a lawn mover to get good efficiency and, especially in the case of cars a trucks, vehicles can be tuned for your particular needs.

We speak to

• Alan Evans the owner and MD of Dyno Dynamics the makers of quality dynamometers here in Australia. Great information from a local manufacturing company.

Feedback (16:44)

And a bit of feedback about a subject we raised last week.

Motoring Minute (18:36)

• Lexus ES (18:36)

Information piece (19:43)

In the light of major electric car companies now being represented in our reported sales figures we chat to Samantha Johnson the MD of Polestar in Australia.

Motoring Minute (27:44)

• Nissan Pro 4X warrior

You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs

We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it

Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media

https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour

or

Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos

Originally broadcast on 19 March 2022

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that relishes all sorts of information and experiences in the world of motoring and transport.

I’m David Brown

The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss)

News (1:12)

1. Ford's F-150 ute is bound for Australia

2. Jeep Compass

3. Hydrogen highways – targeting specific needs

4. Reducing the fuel excise

5. Do we support local businesses enough?”

Feature Story (8:15)

No matter which party is in power, the Federal budget process and its presentation is one of the most counterproductive exercises squarely aimed at getting clickbait in the media and votes. It is bad for transport: Discuss

Feedback (16:24)

A very successful business man helps in organising motorsport events, and ends up covered in dirt.

A project to assess how distracting the controls are in modern motor cars

Hydrogen Highway (20:09)

Three state governments are getting together to create some hydrogen highways.

You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs

We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it

Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media

https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour

or

Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos

Originally broadcast on 2 April 2022

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, where we embrace the glories of motoring and transport.

I’m David Brown

The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss)

News (1:03)

1. Odometer readings

2. Renault suspends operations in plant in Moscow

3. Audi S3

4. Audi A3

Feature Story (7:44)

We reflect on car launches the Audi S3 and the Mazda CX5

Feedback (16:24)

• Why a viewer of one of our videos wished he had of married our Jaguar restorer’s daughter

Motoring Minute (17:02)

• Jeep Gladiator

Quirky news

Brian Smith and I discuss the new three-wheeled Morgan

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that plays with cars and transport.

I’m David Brown

The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss)

News (1:22)

1. Nissan radio-controlled car is more than just play

2. Electric cars - flexibility coming thick and fast

3. Jaguar Land Rover re-using batteries program

4. First mention of an arched bridge over Sydney Harbour

Feature Story (6:08)

In our feature story we ask the question - Can a pink car be good for anything other than advertising? There is a clear case of “look at my car” but do people look with respect or disappointment. And does that matter

We speak to

Advertising expert and motoring writer Paul Murrell

Some of the Overdrive team

And feedback from social media

Information piece (19:41)

Novated leases. They are a tax advantage system that doesn’t require you to keep log books. So which cars are doing well in the market.

Motoring Minutes

• Toyota connectivity (18:32)

• Renault Koleos (28:07)

You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs

We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it

Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media

https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour

or

Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos

Originally broadcast on 19 March 2022

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that ponders the purpose of cars and transport

I’m David Brown

The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss)

News (1:30)

1. Women’s world car of the year

2. Fuel prices

3. Oil as a political weapon

4. Fuel security

Feature Story (7:48)

• We have just driven the new Audi S3 hot sedan and Sportback around Tasmania but there is an embargo to talking about the drive experience. We will cover that in a few weeks’ time.

• But we did speak to some executives from Audi about sustainability, the issues that people are considering in a vehicle purchase and some of the features of the S3 (7:48)

• We also talk about just how enjoyable Tasmania is to drive around and some of the people we met. (15:48)

Motoring Minutes

• Ford Everest (20:34)

• Toyota Kluger (28:07)

Quirky News (21:41)

And Brian Smith and I discuss a quirky news story that is not humous and is really more than quirky, it is an astounding aspect of a car maker programming in to its trial of autonomous function the ability to break the law.

You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs

We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it

Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media

https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour

or

Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos

Originally broadcast on 12 March 2022

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that practices what it preaches, most of the time, on the subject of cars and transport.

I’m David Brown

The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss)

News (1:05)

1. Car Sales for February 2022

2. Kia’s multi-strand sustainability future

3. New skills needed to maintain and repair cars

4. Polestar envisions new age for electric roadsters

5. BYD widens its distribution network

6. Nissan freshens up its LEAF

7. Renault Arkana R.S. Line arrives

8. Rivian price hike upsets the customers

9. The all-new 3-wheel Morgan

Feature Story (8:00)

• Alan Zurvas and I test the Ford mustang they call the High Performance model which despite its name has the small, but perky, 4-cylinder turbo engine.

Motoring Minutes

• Nissan Navara (21:56)

• Kia Stonic (28:09)

Quirky News (22:03)

And Brian Smith and I discuss a quirky news story about mosaics on the footpath

You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs

We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it

Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media

https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour

or

Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos

Originally broadcast on 05 March 2022

Welcome to Overdrive, a program that proudly gives you the alternative facts to all aspects of motoring and transport.

I’m David Brown

The times each story appears in the program are noted (mm:ss)

News (1:21)

1. Kia becomes more prestigious with the EV6

2. A new player in the market - BYD

3. Audi e-tron GT – It’s about performance stupid

4. Canberra – full of policies but not charging stations

Feature Story (6:33)

We look at the three new EV that have been shown to the market in the last week and talk to:

1. Kia, and BYD executives

2. Report on Audi’s presentation of their electric GT

3. Here from a suspension expert on why electric cars are different

4. And an owner of a new EV as they adapt to a new world

Motoring Minutes (27:13)

• Alfa Giulio

• Mazda CX5

You can find more information at Driven Media with links to social media and podcasts

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overdrive-cars-transport-and-culture/id1001084679

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ah6JZN8LTYURIfNs1IIBs

We even list the times each item appears to you can go straight to it

Our Facebook page OverdriveCity – Driven Media

https://www.facebook.com/OverdriveCityDrivenMedia/?modal=admin_todo_tour

or

Our YouTube site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyx5sv6cgF4URRmNq2JiXg/videos

Originally broadcast on 26 February 2022