Overdrive

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that ponders the philosophical and the practical aspects of motoring and transport.

I’m David Brown

And in this program, we look at news stories with including:

1. Musk company to build Chicago-to-O'Hare express transport

2. Acciona 100% ecopowered becomes first electric car in finke desert race

3. Bus Driver Tells Passengers Only U.S. Citizens Can Ride As Border Patrol Agent Looks On

4. Production shake-up at Land Rover as it readies new Range Rover

5. Cardiff World Naked Bike Ride 2018

We have a lovely, reflective chat with Paul Murrell about a classic car that was recently sold at auction. It was not the million-dollar Falcon although it was at the same event. It was a 1964, chain driven Honda s600. I loved the look of them when I was young but Paul actually owned one and he reminisces about its idiosyncrasies.

And Errol Smith, and I take a jovial look at some unusual stories of the day including

1. Bentley celebrates sewing machine day with combination of traditional skills and the latest technology

2. Hyundai motor becomes global automotive partner of Chelsea football club/Hyundai teams up with maroon 5 to pay tribute to Bob Marley ahead of 2018 fifa world cup Russi celebrations

3. Dr M shows off cheeky side in road safety video

Have a question or comment? Send it to [email protected]

Originally broadcast 23 June 2018 .

If a government, a private company or the community wants to build more transport infrastructure or change a policy, or an operating system, how can we evaluate the real consequences, the true worth of going ahead.

We have been computer modeling the transport network for a long time now.

No model is perfect. Are well getting better in this changing world.

And getting better is not just trying to perfect the way we have always done it.

In order to have a manageable model we have often zeroed in on specific tasks such as the journey to work, in the morning peak. We have also assumed that people make logical choices based on just time, cost and distance and we have measured the impact by how well we get vehicles to flow on a road or public transport to run.

Our models are also contained, in that they usually don’t allow for people to move out of the peak periods we are analysing. And while we may change the land-use, the activities that generate trips, according to our designed plan, we don’t often consider how the transport system may impact where jobs, schools, shops and other activities will spring up. The modeling usually takes a long time

The Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at Sydney University has developed and run their own model with a different approach.

This broadcast is not a workshop on the intricacies of using the model but rather why did it come about, what it is broadly trying to do and what is it leading to in the future.

Prof David Hensher is the founder and director of the Institute and has had a very hands-on role in this project.

Recently a Lloyds auction for classic motorcars sold among other things a Ford Falcon GT HO for over a million dollars. Some may ask why but nonetheless that's the big news, but a critical element of that auction was a 1964 Honda S 600 convertible coupe roadster, it sold for $18,500.

The description described it as "This slick convertible was the most fashionable car to be driving in with sizzling acceleration. Powered by a 606 S.C for carburettor engine".

My colleague Paul Murrell actually owned one of these devices and he joins me on line now to give us some background and some understanding and some reality about just what the car was like.

Hello this is Overdrive a program about the facts, the fun and the fiction of motoring and transport

I’m David Brown

And in this program, we look at news stories with including:

1. Australia’s first electric vehicle how-to guide to ease confusion

2. Ford Working on a Bike to Vehicle (B2V) AI Communication System

3. Commercial transport can be fossil-free by 2050

4. Charging even easier than refuelling: market launch for BMW wireless charging

5. Arizona self-driving test program scrapped by Uber following fatal crash

6. Ford Australia launches 2nd Car, enabling new car buyers to own one vehicle, but drive two

We chat to Prof David Hensher for Sydney University about computer modelling of our cities so that we can truly understand what new transport projects will really do.

We sit a man who owns and drives a 1964 EH Holden in the latest Range Rover Velar with all the bells and whistles and see his reaction. At the end when you realise the EH has only one rear vison mirror you get a clear understanding why motoring today is very different.

And Brian Smith, Errol Smith, and I take a playful look at some unusual stories of the day including

1. Turkmen president effortlessly wins rally

2. Icelandic political candidate asked to step down after digger rampage

3. Japan moving to ease older drivers out of vehicles

Have a question or comment? Send it to [email protected]

Originally broadcast 2 June 2018 .

Hello this is Overdrive a program about the facts, the fun and the fiction of motoring and transport

I’m David Brown

And in this program, we look at news stories with including:

1. Rise in SUV sales defies market dip

2. Motor Museum to receive $200,000 for the Chamberlain 8 from the Federal Government

3. National Motor Museum wins national award with Bush Mechanics exhibition

4. Nissan makes 100 per cent electric mobility a mass market reality

5. Honda Partners on General Motors’ Next-Generation Battery Development

We have been to the announcement of an American Pick up – the RAM 1500

We road test the Tesla P100D, a 2.4 tonne SUV which will out perform most super cars in a straight line, just don’t look at the build quality.

And Brian Smith, Errol Smith, and I take a playful look at some unusual stories of the day including

1. What Happened to Teen Car Culture?

2. Zero-emissions luxury brand Lagonda set to hit Australian showrooms soon

3. Dodge Viper returning in 2021 minus V-10

Have a question or comment? Send it to [email protected]

Originally broadcast 16 June 2018 .

For past programs and extended versions of segments like the road tests, feature interviews and quirky news, visit drivenmedia.com.au

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the factors affecting our attitude and actions to motoring and transport.

I’m David Brown

And in this program, we look at news stories with including:

1. MIT's new self-driving car navigates without road markings

2. Sweden builds life-size slot-car track for long-distance electric-car charging

3. Despite government efforts, keyless ignitions linked to carbon monoxide deaths

4. Elon Musk envisions $1 rides to use Boring Company tunnels

5. Shell Airflow Starship semi truck leaves San Diego on record fuel-economy run

6. China reduces import duties on cars

We have a lovely chat with motoring commentator Will Hagon about the early history the imaginative, ingenious car company Alvis that started in 1919.

And Brian Smith and Errol Smith and I take a merry, look at some unusual stories of the day including

7. Royal wedding cars

8. Drunk mower driver arrested after cutting someone else’s grass

Hello this is Overdrive a program that tries to spread the word about trains, planes and automobiles.

And in this program, we look at news stories with including:

1. NHTSA Confirms Newer Cars Much Safer Than Older Ones

2. Crashes caused by idiots, not speedsters, says road safety advocate

3. New law to tackle electric cars’ silent menace to pedestrians

4. Uber CEO says its self-driving car tests will start up again 'in a few months'

5. Elon Musk says LA-area test tunnel almost complete

6. Tesla Model X sets record by towing Boeing Dreamliner

I attended a session with Toyota’s chief designers from California, heard about the corporate edict that Toyota had to stop making boring cars and got to have a play with a clay model. They are skilled in design, but the exercise clearly showed that I am not.

We road test the cute Suzuki Ignis SUV. A four-wheel drive it is not.

And Brian Smith and I take a cheerful look at some unusual stories of the day including

1. Seeking to revive an ancient transport network in the UK

2. Vandals behead 1,000 parking meters

3.

Have a question or comment? Send it to [email protected]

You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service.

Now to begin the program let’s have the news.

A few colleagues have been telling me a lot about Alvis motor cars. Well regaling in all its positive sense might be a better word. The company that became Alvis Car and Engineering was a British manufacturing business in Coventry started in from 1919 and ceased in 1967.

Why did the subject come up? Let me be very brief in my introduction. It started when my brother in law showed me the working of an SU carburetor. Stick with me here.

The SU carburetor was built in volume for most to the 20th century. My first car had one.

I mentioned this on face book. There was a wave of nostalgic comments. One was from a colleague, well known motoring commentator Will Hagon. He spoke of the famous Alvis Speed 20 which had triple SU carburetors. To be regaled as in entertained, amused and delighted is just not a strong enough word.

There is much to talk about and who better than Will Hagon himself who is on the line now.

Victoria has the unusual hook-turn at some major intersections now they are introducing the P-Turn which requires you to go past the intersection then make a U-Turn.  Our traffic engineering expert, Alan Finlay tries to make sense of it all.

Hello and welcome to Overdrive a program that puts a magnifying glass to the role of cars and transport in our society and ends up burning a hole in it.

I’m David Brown

And in this program, we look at news stories with including:

1. Further woes for diesel drivers as fuel consumption found to be up to 75% more than stated by car manufacturers

2. 'Diesel-saving' technology could make it to market in two years

3. Slump in diesel demand continues to hit UK new car market but Australia is pushing forward

4. Netherlands launches first real-time Talking Traffic services for 1.2 million road users

5. Hyundai rolls out student traffic safety initiative in Saudi Arabia

6. New York City Makes (Some) Space for E-Bikes

We give a summary of the vehicle sales figures for the first quarter of 2018 and despite financial constraints in many areas we are still buying new cars.

I talk to Brian Smith about what the road system needs to provide to help autonomous vehicles

And Brian also offers his expertise as we have a happy-go-lucky ramble through some unusual news stories

1. Czech firm reveals retro coupe with a modern twist

2. Thieves steal highway in China

3. Study finds cyclists don’t break road rules more than car drivers

Have a question or comment? Send it to [email protected]

You can listen to longer segments by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au or podcast the whole program on iTunes or your favourite podcast service.

Now to begin the program let’s have the news.