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Working Class Horsepower at the Tooradin Tractor PullBefore tractors were ever used, and the V8 engine was even a thought, farmers would boast about their draught horses that were used to plough fields and pull large weight around the farm. Of course, like everything, people eventually made it into a competition to see whose fleet of horses were the strongest, for simple bragging rights, strapping them to harnesses and getting them to pull a large, weighted sled. The horses that pulled the most weight was obviously the winner.
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KiR Battle Royale RD 1 2023: Into The Tiger's DenAfter the success of Keep it Reet's inaugural Battle Royale championship in 2021/22, the popular action-packed formula was continued for a second season. A handful of changes would make the competition even closer and the action fiercer. Round 5 of the 2022 season proved that the amateur drivers could dance with the big boys in Pro, so both categories would merge into one, with now 40 drivers able to attempt to qualify for the Top 16 battles.
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VSRS RD 1 2023: The Green Flag DropsAnd just like that, the offseason is over, and a new season of circuit racing has begun. Teams and drivers competing in the many categories that make up the Victorian State Race Series would begin their championship campaigns at Sandown Raceway for Round 1. If they wanted to have the number 1 on their car for next year, and the championship in their hands at the end of this year, both speed and a consistent collection of points would need to begin now.
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Picnic at Hanging Rock 2023Joan Lindsey's 1967 novel 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' depicts the fictional story of students from an Australian girl's school that go missing on a Valentine's Day Picnic at the Victorian mount Hanging Rock and are never found. It is considered as one of the most significant pieces of Australian writing and was adapted into a film in 1975.
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All-Stars & More Go Head-to-Head at NyoraOff the South Gippsland Highway is the town of Nyora. Its recreational reserve is your typical small-town sports club with a cricket/football ground. However, right next door is the Nyora Raceway, a 380 metre sunburnt clay speedway. The All Star Sprintcar series along with Dirt Modifieds, Standard Saloons and Mini Sprints all headed to this small racetrack to put on a show.
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The Storm Before: President's Cup 2023Australian Speedway's biggest week began on Wednesday the 25th of January with the famous President's Cup held for the fortieth time at Avalon Raceway. 60 Sprintcars would be nominated for a chance in the prestigious event, the first of three big Sprintcar races, followed by the King's Challenge at Mount Gambier and the biggest race of the season, the 50th Annual Sprintcar Classic at Premier Speedway.
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Close Quarters Racing at the K Rock CupThe annual K Rock Cup, held at Avalon Raceway is a prestige event for the Super Sedans in Victoria. It's looked forward to by the teams and drivers, and also speedway fans and families. This year's entrant list was packed with high caliber drivers including previous winners and national and state champions, coming from all over the country to have a shot at wearing the K Rock Cup jacket.
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Modern Day Gladiators: The World of SprintcarsAround 2000 years ago in Rome, gladiators would battle beasts and other gladiators in front of large crowds in arenas. They would be clad with armour and shields, contesting each other with spears, swords and occasionally on chariots. Gladiators would have to kill or be killed, fighting for success and as many of them were criminals, their freedom.
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Going for Gold on Boxing DayBoxing Day for Australians means one of two things, busy shopping sales or sport. Although the cricket test matches get most of the attention, along with the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, all over Australia at drag strips and speedways, the racing competition is more than fierce.
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DYO and the HPR Sportsman SeriesOther than holding weekly test and tunes for drag cars and larger themed events throughout the year, Heathcote Park Raceway hold what they call the HPR Sportsman Series. A competition style event held throughout each year, allowing teams to go up against other drivers and vehicles in the same drag racing class in a more casual environment. The weekend before Christmas, I headed to Heathcote to see what it was all about.
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Sideways on Two and Three WheelsLast year, although it doesn’t feel that long ago, I took a brief look at Motorcycle Speedway at the Broadford Motorcycle Complex. This time around would be a club day held by SSRAV, with not only Speedway motorbikes, but flat track racers and something I’ve wanted to photograph for a while, Sidecars!
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Friday Night Drifts: Running The WallThink of the best drift circuits in the world and their iconic corners. Meihan Sportsland and its backwards entry tempting first sweeper, the Irwindale Speedway banking and the late Ebisu Drift Stadium chicane jump towards the pit wall. These three examples have one thing in common, encouraging drifters to get the rear of their car as sideways as possible, and as close, if not, rubbing onto a concrete wall.
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Inside The Fence at Avalon RacewayIt's that time of year again. Most motorsports have finished for the year and are in their offseason. The northern hemisphere is in its winter, race cars are protected in sheds and racetracks are covered in snow. Luckily for us in the south, we are having our summer months as motorsport in the north sleeps, which means that certain disciplines of racing are now awake in Australia. In short, it's Speedway season!
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Through My Lens at the Geelong RevivalThis year we got a double dose of the Geelong Revival. First in March and again as always in November, celebrating classic motoring from vintage automobiles to unique racecars, mixing it up against modern day performance titans and the future of the motoring industry.
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Drag Racing Returns to Calder ParkIn November 2019, track resurfacing began to take place at the strip at Calder Park Raceway. However, thanks to Covid 19, extra works at the track and damaging winds in October last year, the return to 1/4 mile runs at Calder Park would take three years. But that was all forgotten as quite a crowd gathered for the return of Fast Friday Drag Racing.
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Not Your Average Winton Track DayYour average track day usually consists of a range of cars, from little runabouts to garage-built racecars and performance orientated street cars. This selection of cars will also be driven by those with different skill sets, all attempting to go faster, sharpening their skills and the limits of their vehicle with the help of bulk track time over the course of the day.
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Battle Royale x Reetsuri: Go Big or Go HomeI went home. But only after spending three days at Calder Park, covering all the competition and drifting action of Keep it Reet's biggest event yet. The final round of the Battle Royale championship, followed by their two-day Reetsuri practice style event. Day 1 would consist of crowning the 2022 champions in both Pro and Amateur class, on a classic layout not used since 2019, the Crossover!
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2014 Mitsubishi Mirage Review: Through Rose-Tinted GlassesPurchasing your first car is a significant moment, particularly for a car enthusiast. Car enthusiasts usually have an interesting car as their first, a car that is not your ordinary machine simply designed to drive from Point A to Point B, but also has a bit of character. My first car however, - a 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage - is not that.
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MotorClassica: Icons of the Automotive WorldThe Royal Exhibition Centre would host yet again the annual MotorClassica, Australia's premier show displaying the history of motoring. Special anniversaries would be celebrated, and classic icons would be commemorated, and car fanatics would be able to lust over the different ages of motoring.
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How To Cars & Coffee with HighballHighball has quickly become the mecca for cars and coffee meets in Melbourne. Organised every few months by a great team, the Highball crew has created a relaxed Sunday atmosphere, gathering like-minded enthusiasts and special vehicles for a cool morning of looking at unique art on wheels.
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A Small Gathering of ToyotasIf you’d asked a ten-year-old me about Toyota, I would have said that they made the most boring cars. Of course, I didn’t know any better. I hadn’t heard of the Supra, Celica, MR2, AE86 or the Cressida. All I had seen were modern Camrys, Corollas, Taragos and Hilux’s. The only redeeming feature of Toyota that I knew of was that the Hilux was indestructible thanks to Top Gear's failed attempts to drown, burn and demolish one.
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Keep it Reet Battle Royale RD 3: Pushing The LimitsWhat makes a great drift layout? Sweeping bends and sharp hairpins. It should include lengths of track that allow for massive sends yet also force drivers to feather all three pedals with slower sections of asphalt. Clipping points should allow for smooth transitions whilst letting the chase car get as close to the lead car as possible.
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Feel The Noise: Summernats SlamSound is made through vibrations, that travel through the air to our human ear, which allows us to hear and translate these frequencies into recognisable noise. However, in our every day lives, we are rarely reminded of this fact, as we only hear sound whilst not feeling it’s actual vibrations. Of course, this changes when you witness the tremors from a Top Fuel Dragster.
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WTAC 2022: Racing The Clock - Live on Downshift AusIt had been almost three years since Time Attack teams and their machines had driven in anger in front of a huge turnout of enthusiasts at Sydney Motorsport Park and the international motoring world. With years of development and patience put into the cars before this event, records were expected to be broken, including the official lap record, which PRTech came so close to claiming back in 2019.
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WTAC 2022: Australasian Drift Titles - Live on Downshift AusAs early as the 1980’s, Tsukuba Circuit would hold track days for tuning companies to display and test their street tuned cars. This became known as Time Attack, and its first official event was held in 1994 at the same track. One hundred kilometers from the home of time attack, Keiichi Tsuchiya would practice his sliding skills – known as drifting – in the Japanese mountains.
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WTAC 2022: Stylized ’22 - Live on Downshift AusWorld Time Attack Challenge is all about the best of the best. The most intensely modified production cars, battling against each other and the clock. The best smoke machines in Australia going door-to-door in tandem drift battles. And some heroes of motorsport’s past ripping it up once again on track.
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MotorEx 2022: This Is AustraliaI lost count of how many times MotorEx was postponed in the past two years. After my first time at the show back in 2019, I was eagerly waiting for its next instalment. It was a festival of custom motoring, filled to the brim of quality builds and details that left me awestruck.
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Trans Am Brings Thunder To The IslandThe great thing about the Shannon’s Motorsport Championships is the wide range of categories. No two racing series are the same. In particular, the Trans-Am series brings American muscle to Aussie racetracks in the form of high horsepower pack racing with plenty of action.
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Competition Tightens For TCR at Phillip IslandTouring car racing has been a staple in world motorsport for decades and has often evolved or birthed into many popular categories around the globe. In Australia, the ATCC (Aus Touring Car Championship) grew into the V8 Supercars and in Europe, DTM evolved into what it is now, a premier GT3 class.
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GT World Challenge Invades Phillip IslandThe Australian GT Challenge would start off its season at the Shannons Motorsport round at Phillip Island with two 1-hour races across the weekend, and some popular names in the driver’s seats.
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Gold Star Weekend For S5000 at Phillip IslandSince its inception in 2019, the Australian S5000 Championship has fast tracked itself in becoming Australia’s premier open wheel series. The combination of old school V8 power, reminiscent of the awesome V6 powered Formula Holden series, and a modern Formula 3-esque chassis complete with Halo-device has grabbed the attention of Aussie motorsport fans young and old.
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Keep it Reet Battle Royale RD 2: Giant Tyre SlayersIn addition to frequenting their Friday Night and Matsuri style drifting events, Keep it Reet began a unique drifting championship called Battle Royale last year. The framework for this championship is a round robin style of battles, that allows drivers who lose one battle to still continue.
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Loyola Classic 2022: They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used ToYou don't need to be a car enthusiast to notice or appreciate a classic car on the road. That's because they are a rare sight, and their colourful and abstract design makes them very noticeable among the cars of today.
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Tackling Rob Roy at the Vic Hillclimb ChampionshipsThink of some of the best sections of racetracks in the world. Eau Rouge at Spa, The Corkscrew at Laguna Seca, Griffins Bend and The Cutting at Mount Panorama, Paddock Hill Bend at Brands Hatch, Beau Rivage to Casino at Monaco. All these extreme lengths of tarmac have similar attributes.
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Motorsport in Miniature: The World of RCMotorsport of any category and level is an amazing spectacle. It is the perfect exhibition of man made engineering precision, tied with amazing feats of human athleticism and physical ability. However, what if we scale motorsport down to let's say a tenth of what it is. Does it become any less impressive or exciting?
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Boxing Day Horsepower at HeathcoteWhen it comes to Boxing Day and sport, the cricket test matches have become a yearly tradition and anticipated event. Where men in white winter-suited clothing throw a ball, hit it with a stick, and catch it, whilst the commentators talk about what they had for Christmas lunch.
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A Fearless Look At Motorcycle SpeedwayGrowing up, one of the basic things you learn is to ride a bike. To be able to control a wheeled vehicle while keeping your balance. Once anyone gets the hang of riding a bike, it becomes pretty simple. Yet the riders at Broadford Speedway at the Vic Solo Championship bring riding a bike to a whole new level.
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Blue Blood: Ford Powered NationalsWhen it comes to great car manufacturers, Ford has to be one near the very top. They are certainly one of the most prolific and innovative companies to grace the motor industry. The Ford Model T was one of the first mass produced cars, and its affordability made the automobile a form of transport for everyone, not just the rich.
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DriftX 2021 - Live on Downshift AusI'm very happy to share my second article for Downshift Aus, this time covering DriftX 2021!
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The Coolest Cafe in MelbourneAround the corner from Maranello Motorsport, and across the train line from the exotic car dealerships of McLaren, Ferrari, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin, is no ordinary cafe. I say it's a cafe, but it isn't really, as its main attraction isn't coffee or ham-cheese croissants, but rather exotic super cars and rare classics.
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Rob Roy: Australia's Historic HillclimbAustralian racetracks have a special atmosphere that is unlike any in the world. The brown grass, patch like, with moments of green throughout the year. The professional Australian accent over the p.a system that echoes around the paddock, and the kangaroos and aussie bush land that often have a presence around the racetrack.
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Watching Blossoms at Sakura PicnicIn Japanese 'Sakura' is their word for cherry blossoms. These pink and pure flowers are special in Japan as they represent the starting of spring, a time of renewal and new beginnings. During this season, many people in Japan enjoy coming together with colleagues and friends, sitting and enjoying meals under the cherry blossoms.
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VicDrift RD 2 2021: King of the HillThe second round of any championship is an important. If you had a great first round, than the plan would be to keep the momentum going in the championship and rack up more points. If the first round was not quite you had hoped, then now is the time to start your championship charge.
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Automotive Mastery at the Compello Festival of CarsThink of the car you dreamed of as a kid. The car you had stuck on your wall or would constantly read about. You may have had models of it sitting in your room. Regardless, that car was most likely a car that was designed to perfection. It wasn't something you saw on the road every day. It was built to achieve something. Dominance on the racetrack, or even a top speed record.
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Through My Lens: One Day at BroadfordJust off the Hume Freeway, surrounded by unassuming Australian bush land, brown grass and dirt, roars Broadford Motorcycle Complex. Broadford features a number of dirt tracks used for motocross and one asphalt road course. Google maps and onboard laps of this track don't give its altitude changes and undulating layout enough justice.
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Status Seasonal Ch. III - Live on Downshift AusI am very excited to share my first time providing words and images to another car culture website! Status Seasonal Ch. III is live on DownshiftAus.
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VicDrift RD 1 2021: When It Rains, It PoursAs of March 13th 2021, there had been no competition drifting in the state of Victoria for 364 days. Although there had been a Summer Matsuri and private drift days, drivers and crews had been unable to prepare and practice the endurance, precision and consistency that is necessary in competition, since the only VicDrift round in 2020.
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Loyola Classic 2021: Flora, Friends and Classic CarsIn general, when planning what events to go and shoot, I try and mix it up a bit. I try and focus on more than just one area of car culture, and although I will be the first to admit, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Some motorsport or car meets I just can't miss each year, the Loyola Classic Car Show being one of them. Let me care to explain why.
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Custom Metal: Saint Side's 12th Annual MeetSaint Side's annual meet has been on my list of events to attend for a while, but I've never quite been able to go until this year. And although it is no longer held on John Street, the home of Saint Side, I'm so glad they kept this event running annually as the cars and bikes on display are the amazing fruits of artist's labor and creativity.
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Westside JDM Presents Universal AutomotiveGoodbye 2020 and hello 2021! To start the year off, Westside JDM held what they were calling 'Universal Automotive' and would turn out to be one very chill and engaging afternoon. Before the main events of the day, those being the Car Limbo and Exhaust competition, I scouted the grounds, pointing my camera at the cars people had brought.
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Project Spoon: The Lawnmower That Wants To RaceWhat you see before you is something I 'built'. Although in car culture terms, I use the term 'built' loosely, because I haven't really done much different to how it was when I got it.
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Through My Lens: AMRS Round 4I remember back in March, what seems like a decade ago, writing about how it was great to be back photographing a motorsport event. Being behind fences and shooting cars and drivers being pushed to their limits. Waiting until November to photograph the next motorsport event certainly wasn't the plan.
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V-Spec Performance: Melbourne's JDM SanctuaryThere are very few places I know in Melbourne like V-Spec Performance It really is something you'd expect to visit if you were in Japan. A tuning and servicing shop filled to the brim with Japanese sports cars including rarities like the Z-Tune and Zero R are certainly not something you come across every day.
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What is the TA2 Muscle Car SeriesThis past weekend was one of the first rounds of motorsport in Victoria since COVID-19 restrictions began back in March. This allowed me to take a closer look at what is today's evolution of the American Trans-Am series that originated in the 1960's. It's called the TA2 Muscle Car Series and this form of motor racing is steadily growing in both the U.S and Australia.
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VicDrift Round 1 2020: Full of SurprisesThe smell of exhaust fumes. The sound of turbocharged inline sixes. Tyre smoke filling my lungs and eyeballs. Heavy pack, shoulders sagging under the weight of multiple straps. In other words, it was great to be back! It had been too long since I last properly photographed a Motorsport event, so I was very excited to finally be back for a long day of shooting.
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2020 Australian GP: One Day OnlyThe 2020 F1 Australian GP will unfortunately not be remembered as the 25th Australian GP, but the first to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus. Although in my opinion, it did take too long to make the decision, I'm not complaining. I would not have liked to be a part of that decision. . . Anyway, what I'm sure you really want to see and read (if you are reading this) is what the only day of this year’s Australian GP was like.
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Loyola Classic 2020: Community and TributeUsually when writing an article, I have a certain topic I want to write about. Whether it's just a run down of the event and the cars on display, or the history of a certain automobile. The truth is, I don''t really have a main topic for my coverage of this years Loyola Classic Car Show. I do have however a few smaller subjects I wouldn't mind sharing with you.
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The Importance of the Hot RodAh yes, the humble Hot Rod!
My apologies, I shouldn’t call them humble, more like over the top, in your face, an aggressive petrol drinking outlaw. Did you know that the first hot rods were built in the 1920’s by bootleggers to allow them to escape law enforcement agencies? |
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Classic Japan Takes Over MelbourneIt was as if the Yarra had been invaded, filled with not only lots of classic Japanese automobiles, but lots of people too. My first thought? This was much bigger than last years show. Last year, there had been about 350+ cars at the Classic Japan Show, a number that can't be sneezed at. But this year, I would say that the number hit the 450+ mark.
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Getting That Datsun Difference: Datsun Day 2019During the late 60’s and early 70’s, Nissan's catchphrase to sell Datsuns in Australia was ‘Get that Datsun Difference’. It suited them perfectly. Nissan was building their cars differently to everyone else, they brought their cars over to the U.S, Europe and Australia. They were cheaply priced but not cheaply made. They were reliable, affordable and fun.
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A Noble '54 Chevrolet With PresenceThere are some cars that have that special and impressive manner about them. Le Mans racers, million dollar supercars and show cars with every modification you could think of are just a few examples of builds with presence. Dan and Dani's 1954 Chevy Truck is also a build with this special gift.
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Vic State Racing in 0.303 of a SecondIn the time it takes you to read this sentence, I would have already taken each photograph in this article. Of course, that doesn't include the time it took me to walk to my shooting location, choose the camera's settings, frame the shot and edit it, but it's a good indication of the minuscule amount of time the shutter is open for.
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Celebrating 60 Years of the MINIThe 'MINI' is one of the worlds most recognisable, charming and loved cars ever made. Ever since 1959, the iconic shape has been raced, driven and adored by not only car enthusiasts but the world. And at the Victorian Mini Club's All Day Mini Show, we got to admire the biggest little car to rule the roads.
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Creative Perfection at MotorExPeople seldom like to use the word 'perfect'. I think it's because as humans, we always want something we can't have. The grass is always greener on the other side blah, blah, blah... Even rarer is it for car enthusiasts to use the word perfect. Again, it's because no two people will build the same car the same way. So why then, did I just use 'that' forsaken word to describe the builds at Melbourne's annual MotorEx show if everyone present, would have built every car differently.
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Cars on Grass: Sidetracked at the Aus GPEvery year at the Australian GP, I'm always amazed by not only the amount of action on track, but the number of things to do and see off the track. This includes the lines of car displays lined up all around the Albert Park circuit.
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VicDrift Rd 1 2019 Coverage: Night of the DriftThis would be a new experience for me. Not only it being my first drift event but also my first with Media Credentials. When applying for the credentials, I got the notion that the event was going to be pretty strict and that I may not even my credentials. But after signing in and settling into my environment, my whole perception changed.
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Loyola Classic: Meeting Heroes of the PastIt's interesting to compare the cars that are idealised now, to the ones that were idealised 50-60 years ago. The R35 GTR for instance, well nearly 50 years ago, the Hakosuka GTR had a win streak of 49. Or take the latest Ford Mustang. Nearly 50 years ago, that would've been the Ford Falcon GT that was the hero. Those new 2019 Chevy Silverado's being imported from America. 50-60 years ago, the smaller and lower Silverado was what was cool.
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25+: Classic Japan 2018After finding out about the Classic Japan show, it was very much on my radar. And boy, it did not disappoint.
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