Called "The Froot Loops" because of their colours, these cars look great together.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Random family images
Called "The Froot Loops" because of their colours, these cars look great together.
If the name “Stewart Warner” means nothing to you, then you have probably found the wrong page. If, on the other hand, you recognize the name as that responsible for the seriously elegant instrumentation adorning the cockpit of the Ford Falcon GT, then welcome, and read on…
The GT Falcon is unquestionably the quintessential Aussie muscle car, however we can thank the competition between the big three manufacturers of the day, GMH, Ford and Chrysler, for the evolution of arguably the most collectable of all Aussie built cars.
While we could easily go back as far as the Model T, which endeared itself to many pioneering Aussie motorists with its amazing durability, the real indication of great things to come was shown with the XK Falcon’s Pursuit 170 engine. At the time the Valiant sported the most powerful engine, however the Ford engineers created the Pursuit engine as something a little more specialized for the Aussie motoring enthusiast.
Designed to be freely revving and more tractable for Aussie conditions, the new engine ushered in a time of innovation in Australia, rather than the legacy of larger capacity lethargic engines finding their way to our shores from the US. Holden counter attacked with their 179ci six being introduced as an option from September 1963 in the EH series, itself evolving into the X2 introduced with the HD - a more spirited performance on offer courtesy mainly of its improved carburettor. Nevertheless there was certainly no panic at Chrysler, their 225ci slant six still offering a class leading 145bhp and remaining as the most powerful six cylinder Australian sedan.
Chrysler also led the pack by being the first of the big three to offer a V8 option, but things were about to change – forever. When the XR was introduced Ford decided upon the fitment of the wonderful 289ci Mustang engine as an option across the entire range – a stoke of genius in no small part due to the marketing talents of Bill Bourke, then Deputy Managing Director of Ford Australia (later Managing Director). Collaborating with the Victoria Police Force, the path to the Ford Falcon GT was set. The police requirements were that the car be able to outrun the top speed of an average sedan (that being around 90mph), while having four doors.
Bourke’s answer was to equip the XR with the Mustang V8, have it mated to a four speed manual gear box, improve the suspension and throw in a handful of other refinements, thus begat the car that would quickly garner legend status. Don Dunoon was responsible for much of the engineering work, and while we have not been able to question any officers of the day that had the pleasure of driving these first iterations, we are pretty sure they found the new car a vast improvement to the six cylinder “three on the tree” versions they had been used to.
The XR VicPol pursuit special was obviously too good to be kept away from an eager public, and Bill Bourke ensured it would find its way to Ford showrooms. Sticking to the traditions of the Model T, the first Falcon GT could be ordered in any colour you wished, as long as it was bronze. The decision on colour was brilliant, it remaining timeless and now coming to immortalize the emergence of Aussie performance cars.
If you think back to the time, you will realize just how forward thinking Bourke’s decision to bring the GT to market was; Australians used liberal amounts of Brylcreem in their hair, pubs shut at 6pm and the nation was shocked when the Melbourne Herald newspaper ran a front page photo of new Prime Minister Harold Holt with wife Zara holding a cigarette.
It was a time when the British automotive industry had become complacent, a stuffy nosed attitude of “tried and proven” will win the day (and sales war) was quickly losing favour with Australians who needed transportation capable of swallowing up the endless miles as they sought out their favourite holiday destinations. Bourke's vision was supreme, he realizing that by taking the new pursuit car, equipping it with a Fairmont interior, fitting the dashboard with the green-glowing Stewart-Warner gauges, adding a chrome “Hurst shifter” gearlever and deeply dished wood rim steering wheel (not to forget the sensational red GT badges), he could create a Unique! car indeed.
Just how unique you may ask? Well at the time a performance 4 door was unheard of, not only in Australia, but throughout the world. But why a 4 door performance car? There were quite a few reasons actually, firstly the Victoria Police required their car be fitted with four doors (and their requirement provided the impetus for the cars development), in a period filled with baby-boomer parents the need for a four door car was paramount, and finally production car racing in Australia was garnering an ever increasing allegiance of fans.
Jack Telnack supplied the styling artistry that turned a standard Fairmont into a GT. The stripes, the chromed wheel covers, blacked-out grille, badgework and so on worked to maginificent effect, especially in combination with the purposeful stance conveyed by the GT's that sat one and a half inches lower in ride height than their Falcon cousins. No such project had ever been attempted before in Australia and Telnack added aggression to the Falcon without undermining its elegance.
The GT started life as a true limited edition, only two hundred and fifty five being built to the end of June 1967 (the actual numbers broken down by month being three in March, 105 in April, 115 in May and 36 in June). Demand was unprecedented, and a second batch of GT’s were quickly put into production, another 303 being constructed by years end. The final 38 XRs were assembled in January and February of 1968 and the GT's future as a model in its own right was assured.
With the launch of XT in March 1968, the GT was made even more potent and attractive and, thanks to its having taken a regular position in the range, there was now a choice of colour; the original GT bronze remained, along with Zircon Green and Candy Apple Red, arguably the most evocative of the several shades offered. It should be noted to those seeking out a genuine GT that it was possible to order a GT in a non-standard colour, and at least two were finished in the delightfully subtle Springtime Yellow.
The 289 engine was superseded by the 302, which brought a modest increase in outright performance. Now very much a part of the Ford model lineup, it was inevitable that a little rationalization would be required to keep cost down. Very little was given up, but the Hurst shifter was replaced by a shorter more conventional model, and in the true traditions of the GT name, (Gran Turismo meaning Grand Touring), an automatic version was available as an option. The XT was more subtle and elegant than the XR, and gave little away in sporting nature.
The extroverted XW was to follow, it fitted with the brutal 351 Windsor engine, the pinned bonnet giving some indication of the potential top speed of the now legend GT. Just in case you didn’t notice the bonnet pins, Ford added “Super Roo” decals, fat stripes and “351 High Performance” chrome badges to its flanks. Simply put, the car looked so powerful that it never actually needed to prove itself at a set of traffic lights. The body adornments clearly stated to wanna be’s “nough said”.
The standing quarter mile time dropped from mid-16s to mid 15s, helped by a lowering of the final drive ratio as well as the giant increase in power and torque. The Ford engineers ensured the GT could stop as well as it could go, fitting fabulous 11.25” Kelsey-Hayes ventilated front disc brakes. The XW GT begat the wonderful XW GT HO Phase II, developed for the Bathurst 500 of 1969 and 1970 respectively, although these later iterations sourced the 351ci engines from Cleveland rather than Windsor.
Next came the “Shaker” – the most recognizable of the GT’s, the XY. Smoother, more refined, undoubtedly the best. The Phase III would punish any comers on the racetracks of Australia, garnering a reputation that has endeared to this day, and making the XY unarguably the most collectable of all GT’s (although we would be happy to own any of ‘em).
The XA retained much of the grunt of the XY, but the styling was far more restrained – no Super Roo decals and, so much is the pity, no Phase IV. Four examples would be built before the concept was abandoned at a time when the “Supercar Superscare” would see the media hype convince many that a Japanese 4 cylinder was the only answer to modern day transportation.
The XB’s would be the last of the genre, although many consider the XC Cobra part of the family – and one we at Unique Cars and Parts agree with. The XB continued the theme of increased refinement, and few other cars ever offered such an encompassing “cockpit” that would make you feel more a pilot than a driver. The addition of Kelsey-Hayes disc brakes to the rear wheels helped pull the brute to a stop, however there was no HO, and inevitably no future GT – for a time anyway…
Friday, January 30, 2009
Random family images
Sand castles are just one of those things that we never grow out of. Whether it's the memories, the satisfaction of construction, or the tactile nature of the activitiy I don't know.
The Gift of You
What children of all ages want most is more of you. More special times. More pure delight. More whimsy. More shared laughter. More memories to store in their hearts. Give yourself to your child, again and again and again... Give redeemable coupons for each of the following gifts:
• We will make banana splits for breakfast. (Or let your child choose the homemade sweet treat of their choice.)
• We will stay up all night -- watching your favourite videos, playing your favourite games, eating junk food and looking at family photo albums. Then we'll watch the sun rise from any spot you choose within one hour of our home.
• I will wake you up to watch a meteor shower, no matter what time of night the shooting stars begin to appear.
• We will play your favourite board or card game at night, either on the beach or in the woods. We'll use a battery-powered lava lamp for light.
• We will find out when a child living in a shelter has her birthday. On that child's birthday, we'll surprise her by bringing her a bouquet of balloons and a toy, and singing "Happy Birthday" to her.
• We will dance outside in our bathing suits during a summer rain shower (as long as there's no thunder and lightning and that we do have some rain!).
• We will go to a river or stream of your choice, or the ocean, and send a message in a bottle.
• We will go to a movie and then out to eat in homemade costumes.
• We will make banana splits for breakfast. (Or let your child choose the homemade sweet treat of their choice.)
• We will stay up all night -- watching your favourite videos, playing your favourite games, eating junk food and looking at family photo albums. Then we'll watch the sun rise from any spot you choose within one hour of our home.
• I will wake you up to watch a meteor shower, no matter what time of night the shooting stars begin to appear.
• We will play your favourite board or card game at night, either on the beach or in the woods. We'll use a battery-powered lava lamp for light.
• We will find out when a child living in a shelter has her birthday. On that child's birthday, we'll surprise her by bringing her a bouquet of balloons and a toy, and singing "Happy Birthday" to her.
• We will dance outside in our bathing suits during a summer rain shower (as long as there's no thunder and lightning and that we do have some rain!).
• We will go to a river or stream of your choice, or the ocean, and send a message in a bottle.
• We will go to a movie and then out to eat in homemade costumes.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Random family images
Cunningly called The Coloured Sands, the sand is this area is very colourful. The way that the colours meet, combined with the weathering of the area, is of course striking and seldom seen.
Seeing eye dogs
There were two buddies, one with a Doberman Pinscher and the other with a Chihuahua. The guy with the Doberman Pinscher says to his friend, "Let's go over to that restaurant and get something to eat."
The guy with the Chihuahua says, "We can't go in there. We've got dogs with us."
The buddy with the Doberman Pinscher says, "Just follow my lead."
They walk over to the restaurant, the guy with the Doberman Pinscher puts on a pair of dark glasses and he starts to walk in. The bouncer at the door says, "Sorry, mac, no pets allowed."
The man with the Doberman Pinscher says, "You don't understand. This is my seeing-eye-dog."
The bouncer says, "A Doberman Pinscher?"
He answers, "Yes, they're using them now; they're very good and protect me from robbers, too."
The man at the door says, "Come on in."
The buddy with the Chihuahua figures, "What the heck," so he puts on a pair of dark glasses and starts to walk in.
Once again the bouncer says, "Sorry, pal, no pets allowed."
The guy with the Chihuahua says, "You don't understand. This is my seeing-eye dog."
The bouncer at the door says, "A Chihuahua?"
The man with the Chihuahua says, "A Chihuahua?????? They gave me a Chihuahua?!"
The guy with the Chihuahua says, "We can't go in there. We've got dogs with us."
The buddy with the Doberman Pinscher says, "Just follow my lead."
They walk over to the restaurant, the guy with the Doberman Pinscher puts on a pair of dark glasses and he starts to walk in. The bouncer at the door says, "Sorry, mac, no pets allowed."
The man with the Doberman Pinscher says, "You don't understand. This is my seeing-eye-dog."
The bouncer says, "A Doberman Pinscher?"
He answers, "Yes, they're using them now; they're very good and protect me from robbers, too."
The man at the door says, "Come on in."
The buddy with the Chihuahua figures, "What the heck," so he puts on a pair of dark glasses and starts to walk in.
Once again the bouncer says, "Sorry, pal, no pets allowed."
The guy with the Chihuahua says, "You don't understand. This is my seeing-eye dog."
The bouncer at the door says, "A Chihuahua?"
The man with the Chihuahua says, "A Chihuahua?????? They gave me a Chihuahua?!"
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Ford FG Falcon XR6 Turbo
First drive: Ford FG Falcon XR6 Turbo
Joshua Dowling, drive.com.au, April 10, 2008
The Falcon XR6 Turbo is the fastest Australian performance car. It’s also a great car to drive.
Meet the fastest Ford Falcon ever built – yes, even faster than the famous Falcon GT HO.
According to our satellite-assisted timing equipment, the XR6 Turbo can accelerate from rest to 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds and cover the quarter mile (or 400-metre sprint) in 13.4 seconds.
To make sure it wasn’t an error, we repeated the test. Again. And again. And again. Hey, someone’s got to do it.
For the record, the air-conditioning was on. There were no stunts, no tricks, we just squeezed the accelerator. It did it like it was brushing its teeth.
This not only makes the latest Falcon XR6 Turbo the fastest Falcon to date, it also shoots it to the top of the leader board in Australian performance cars. It’s faster than both the Holden V8s and its own big brother, the Falcon XR8 (which stopped the clocks at a comparatively slow 6.3 seconds).
Holden Special Vehicles claims its 6.0-litre V8 Clubsport can reach 100km/h in 4.96 seconds, but only HSV staffers have been able to repeat this figure. The best number any hacks like us have squeezed out of an HSV is 5.2 seconds. Perhaps that will change when the 6.2-litre Clubsport goes on sale in May 2008.
Meanwhile, the XR6 Turbo is the new king of the hill. For now. Its faster cousin, the Ford Performance Vehicles F6 Typhoon is also a month away and Ford engineers privately let on this week that it will perform the 0-100km/h dash in less than five seconds. We can’t wait, but in the meantime there’s the Falcon XR6 Turbo.
Previous Falcon XR6 Turbos stopped the clocks at about 5.9 seconds, so a 5.1 second 0-100km/h time is a phenomenal improvement. It’s largely the result of the massive changes Ford has made to the turbo, which is all new, and the larger intercooler, which is as big as the intercooler from the previous generation F6 Typhoon.
The power delivery is so smooth that, initially, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re not in the turbo at all. Until, that is, the turbo gets on the boil and all hell breaks loose.
As with the previous model, there is a subtle exhaust burble between gear changes and a deep roar as revs build. The six-speed auto is the pick of the bunch; while the manual has a launch control system, it also loses some turbo boost ever so slightly between gear changes.
Police lucky enough to have an Falcon XR6 Turbo as a highway patrol car are going to love the new model. If anyone is still clinging to the fantasy of Ford’s V8 power, then this car surely should shake sense into them.
As expected the Falcon XR6 Turbo is also good around corners, and Ford has again done an amazing job of blending handling ability and comfort. The steering is less nervous and more linear, but we did get some rack rattle in tight, bumpy turns. And the tyres can still be noisy at speed.
The brakes, which are carried over from the previous model, stood up to the punishment well. But, then again, the Falcon’s weight has changed little from the old to the new model so this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Those who want better stopping power can opt for the FPV Typhoon, which has four-piston Brembo brakes standard and six-piston brakes as an option.
In summary, first impressions of the XR6 Turbo are overwhelmingly positive, but we’ll reserve final judgment until we test it extensively on more familiar roads.
In the meantime, one final thought: the XR6 Turbo is reasonably well appointed but for one odd oversight. Curtain airbags aren’t standard on the quickest car in the range. What is Ford thinking?
Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo: Performance*
0-100km/h: 5.1 seconds
0-400m: 13.4 seconds
Top speed after 400m: 172km/h
* Performance figures conducted in controlled conditions using satellite-based timing equipment.
Joshua Dowling, drive.com.au, April 10, 2008
The Falcon XR6 Turbo is the fastest Australian performance car. It’s also a great car to drive.
Meet the fastest Ford Falcon ever built – yes, even faster than the famous Falcon GT HO.
According to our satellite-assisted timing equipment, the XR6 Turbo can accelerate from rest to 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds and cover the quarter mile (or 400-metre sprint) in 13.4 seconds.
To make sure it wasn’t an error, we repeated the test. Again. And again. And again. Hey, someone’s got to do it.
For the record, the air-conditioning was on. There were no stunts, no tricks, we just squeezed the accelerator. It did it like it was brushing its teeth.
This not only makes the latest Falcon XR6 Turbo the fastest Falcon to date, it also shoots it to the top of the leader board in Australian performance cars. It’s faster than both the Holden V8s and its own big brother, the Falcon XR8 (which stopped the clocks at a comparatively slow 6.3 seconds).
Holden Special Vehicles claims its 6.0-litre V8 Clubsport can reach 100km/h in 4.96 seconds, but only HSV staffers have been able to repeat this figure. The best number any hacks like us have squeezed out of an HSV is 5.2 seconds. Perhaps that will change when the 6.2-litre Clubsport goes on sale in May 2008.
Meanwhile, the XR6 Turbo is the new king of the hill. For now. Its faster cousin, the Ford Performance Vehicles F6 Typhoon is also a month away and Ford engineers privately let on this week that it will perform the 0-100km/h dash in less than five seconds. We can’t wait, but in the meantime there’s the Falcon XR6 Turbo.
Previous Falcon XR6 Turbos stopped the clocks at about 5.9 seconds, so a 5.1 second 0-100km/h time is a phenomenal improvement. It’s largely the result of the massive changes Ford has made to the turbo, which is all new, and the larger intercooler, which is as big as the intercooler from the previous generation F6 Typhoon.
The power delivery is so smooth that, initially, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re not in the turbo at all. Until, that is, the turbo gets on the boil and all hell breaks loose.
As with the previous model, there is a subtle exhaust burble between gear changes and a deep roar as revs build. The six-speed auto is the pick of the bunch; while the manual has a launch control system, it also loses some turbo boost ever so slightly between gear changes.
Police lucky enough to have an Falcon XR6 Turbo as a highway patrol car are going to love the new model. If anyone is still clinging to the fantasy of Ford’s V8 power, then this car surely should shake sense into them.
As expected the Falcon XR6 Turbo is also good around corners, and Ford has again done an amazing job of blending handling ability and comfort. The steering is less nervous and more linear, but we did get some rack rattle in tight, bumpy turns. And the tyres can still be noisy at speed.
The brakes, which are carried over from the previous model, stood up to the punishment well. But, then again, the Falcon’s weight has changed little from the old to the new model so this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Those who want better stopping power can opt for the FPV Typhoon, which has four-piston Brembo brakes standard and six-piston brakes as an option.
In summary, first impressions of the XR6 Turbo are overwhelmingly positive, but we’ll reserve final judgment until we test it extensively on more familiar roads.
In the meantime, one final thought: the XR6 Turbo is reasonably well appointed but for one odd oversight. Curtain airbags aren’t standard on the quickest car in the range. What is Ford thinking?
Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo: Performance*
0-100km/h: 5.1 seconds
0-400m: 13.4 seconds
Top speed after 400m: 172km/h
* Performance figures conducted in controlled conditions using satellite-based timing equipment.
Random family images
It's cool, it's clear - now that's what I call high quality H20. The creek was alarmingly refreshing - we walked up and floated down. Nice.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Study suggests good cheer may spread itself
By Maria Cheng , Boston Globe, AP Medical Writer / December 4, 2008
LONDON—When you're smiling, the whole world really does smile with you. A paper being published Friday in a British medical journal concludes that happiness is contagious -- and that people pass on their good cheer even to total strangers. American researchers who tracked more than 4,700 people in Framingham, Mass., as part of a 20-year heart study also found the transferred happiness is good for up to a year.
"Happiness is like a stampede," said Nicholas Christakis, a professor in Harvard University's sociology department and co-author of the study. "Whether you're happy depends not just on your own actions and behaviors and thoughts, but on those of people you don't even know."
While the study is another sign of the power of social networks, it ran through 2003, just before the rise of social networking Web sites like Friendster, MySpace and Facebook. Christiakis couldn't say for sure whether the effect works online.
"This type of technology enhances your contact with friends, so it should support the kind of emotional contagion we observed," he said.
Christakis and co-author James Fowler, of the University of California in San Diego, are old hands at studying social networks. They previously found that obesity and smoking habits spread socially as well.
For this study, published in the British journal BMJ, they examined questionnaires that asked people to measure their happiness. They found distinct happy and unhappy clusters significantly bigger than would be expected by chance.
Happy people tended to be at the center of social networks and had many friends who were also happy. Having friends or siblings nearby increased people's chances of being upbeat. Happiness spread outward by three degrees, to the friends of friends of friends.
Happy spouses helped, too, but not as much as happy friends of the same gender. Experts think people, particularly woman, take emotional cues from people who look like them.
Christakis and Fowler estimate that each happy friend boosts your own chances of being happy by 9 percent. Having grumpy friends decreases it by about 7 percent.
But it also turns out misery don't love company: Happiness seemed to spread more consistently than unhappiness. But that doesn't mean you should drop your gloomy friends.
"Every friend increases the probability that you're at the center of a network, which means you are more eligible to get a wave of happiness," Fowler said.
Being happy also brings other benefits, including a protective effect on your immune system so you produce fewer stress hormones, said Andrew Steptoe, a psychology professor at University College London who was not involved with the study.
But you shouldn't assume you can make yourself happy just by making the right friends.
"To say you can manipulate who your friends are to make yourself happier would be going too far," said Stanley Wasserman, an Indiana University statistician who studies social networks.
The study was only conducted in a single community, so it would take more research to confirm its findings. But in a time of economic gloom, it also suggested some heartening news about money and happiness.
According to the research, an extra chunk of money increases your odds of being happy only marginally -- notably less than the odds of being happier if you have a happy friend.
"You can save your money," Christakis said. "Being around happy people is better."
LONDON—When you're smiling, the whole world really does smile with you. A paper being published Friday in a British medical journal concludes that happiness is contagious -- and that people pass on their good cheer even to total strangers. American researchers who tracked more than 4,700 people in Framingham, Mass., as part of a 20-year heart study also found the transferred happiness is good for up to a year.
"Happiness is like a stampede," said Nicholas Christakis, a professor in Harvard University's sociology department and co-author of the study. "Whether you're happy depends not just on your own actions and behaviors and thoughts, but on those of people you don't even know."
While the study is another sign of the power of social networks, it ran through 2003, just before the rise of social networking Web sites like Friendster, MySpace and Facebook. Christiakis couldn't say for sure whether the effect works online.
"This type of technology enhances your contact with friends, so it should support the kind of emotional contagion we observed," he said.
Christakis and co-author James Fowler, of the University of California in San Diego, are old hands at studying social networks. They previously found that obesity and smoking habits spread socially as well.
For this study, published in the British journal BMJ, they examined questionnaires that asked people to measure their happiness. They found distinct happy and unhappy clusters significantly bigger than would be expected by chance.
Happy people tended to be at the center of social networks and had many friends who were also happy. Having friends or siblings nearby increased people's chances of being upbeat. Happiness spread outward by three degrees, to the friends of friends of friends.
Happy spouses helped, too, but not as much as happy friends of the same gender. Experts think people, particularly woman, take emotional cues from people who look like them.
Christakis and Fowler estimate that each happy friend boosts your own chances of being happy by 9 percent. Having grumpy friends decreases it by about 7 percent.
But it also turns out misery don't love company: Happiness seemed to spread more consistently than unhappiness. But that doesn't mean you should drop your gloomy friends.
"Every friend increases the probability that you're at the center of a network, which means you are more eligible to get a wave of happiness," Fowler said.
Being happy also brings other benefits, including a protective effect on your immune system so you produce fewer stress hormones, said Andrew Steptoe, a psychology professor at University College London who was not involved with the study.
But you shouldn't assume you can make yourself happy just by making the right friends.
"To say you can manipulate who your friends are to make yourself happier would be going too far," said Stanley Wasserman, an Indiana University statistician who studies social networks.
The study was only conducted in a single community, so it would take more research to confirm its findings. But in a time of economic gloom, it also suggested some heartening news about money and happiness.
According to the research, an extra chunk of money increases your odds of being happy only marginally -- notably less than the odds of being happier if you have a happy friend.
"You can save your money," Christakis said. "Being around happy people is better."
Monday, January 26, 2009
Fun Things To Do In An Elevator:
1. Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while peering inside ask: "Got enough air in there?"
2. Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering: "Shut up, all of you just shut UP!"
3. Whistle the first seven notes of "It's a Small World" incessantly.
4. Sell Girl Scout cookies.
5. On a long ride, sway side to side at the natural frequency of the elevator.
6. Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral
7. When at least 8 people have boarded, moan from the back: "Oh, not now, motion sickness!"
8. Meow occasionally.
9. Wear a puppet on your hand and talk to other passengers "through" it.
10. Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passengers that this is your "personal space."
2. Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering: "Shut up, all of you just shut UP!"
3. Whistle the first seven notes of "It's a Small World" incessantly.
4. Sell Girl Scout cookies.
5. On a long ride, sway side to side at the natural frequency of the elevator.
6. Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral
7. When at least 8 people have boarded, moan from the back: "Oh, not now, motion sickness!"
8. Meow occasionally.
9. Wear a puppet on your hand and talk to other passengers "through" it.
10. Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passengers that this is your "personal space."
Australia Day
Australia Day, also known as Anniversary Day, Foundation Day and Invasion Day, is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, marking the start of British colonisation of Australia. Australia Day is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia, and is marked by the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards, along with an address from the Prime Minister.
Records of the celebration of Australia Day date back to 1808, with Governor Lachlan Macquarie having held the first official celebration of Australia Day in 1818. In 2004, an estimated 7.5 million people attended Australia Day celebrations and functions across the country.
Australia Day is often seen as controversial by historians of English humanity. Victorians have long argued that Discovery Day, which used to be held on April 19, should have interceded Anzac Day rather than merged with the anniversary of (national) government. Some Indigenous Australians see it as a political celebration and have protested 'Invasion Day' and the destruction of their cultures by British colonialism since 1988.
History
On 13 May 1787, a fleet of 11 ships, which came to be known as the First Fleet, was sent by the British Admiralty from England to Australia. Under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, the fleet sought to establish a penal colony at Botany Bay on the coast of New South Wales, which had been explored by Captain James Cook in 1770. The settlement was seen as necessary because of the loss of the colonies in North America. Captain Phillip found Botany Bay unsuitable and with two ships proceeded a short distance northwards to Port Jackson, which he declared "the finest harbour in the world". The site decided upon for the first settlement was at a location where there was a stream of potable water and some level land, unlike much of the steep and rugged foreshore. By 26 January 1788, the fleet was at anchor in Sydney Cove, the male convicts were unshipped and the flag was raised in the name of King George III.
In 1808, the day was celebrated as the "First Landing" or "Foundation Day", as the colony had survived for twenty years, despite the initial hardships, deprivation and starvation suffered by the First Fleet settlers.[1][2] The celebrations began at sundown on 25 January, and lasted into the night, the chief toast of the occasion being Major George Johnston. Johnston had the honour of being the first officer ashore from the First Fleet, having been carried from the landing boat on the back of convict James Ruse.[2] Despite suffering the ill-effects of a fall from his gig on the way home to Annandale, Johnston led the officers of the New South Wales Corps in arresting Governor William Bligh on the following day, 26 January 1808, in what became known as the "Rum Rebellion".
On 26 January in 1818, the 30th anniversary, Governor Lachlan Macquarie held a 30-gun salute at Dawes Point and gave government workers a holiday[3] – a tradition that was soon followed by banks and other public offices. In 1888, all colonial capitals except Adelaide celebrated 'Anniversary Day'. In 1910, South Australia adopted Australia Day,[2] followed by Victoria in 1931.[1] By 1935, all states of Australia were celebrating 26 January as Australia Day (although it was still known as Anniversary Day in New South Wales).[2]
The 150th anniversary of British settlement in Australia in 1938 was widely celebrated.[2] Preparations began in 1936 with the formation of a Celebrations Council.[2] In that year, New South Wales was the only state to abandon the traditional long weekend, and the annual Anniversary Day public holiday was held on the actual anniversary day – Wednesday 26 January.[2] The Commonwealth and state governments agreed to unify the celebrations on 26 January as 'Australia Day' in 1946, although the public holiday was instead taken on the Monday closest to the actual anniversary.[4]
Celebrations
Lotterywest Skyworks. Perth's Australia Day celebration attracted 500,000 people in 2006.Australia Day is the national day of Australia, and has been an official public holiday since 1994.[4] Civic celebrations such as the Order of Australia awards are a feature of the day around the country. Parades are also held across the country.[5] The Australia Day Achievement Medallion is awarded to citizens based on excellence in both government and non-government organisations. Air Force aerial displays are held in some capital cities, and firework displays are common. In Sydney, races are held, such as a ferry race, tall ships race and a surfing race across the harbour. Citizenship ceremonies are also commonly held on Australia Day. The Prime Minister also makes an address to the nation.
On the eve of Australia Day each year, the Prime Minister announces the winner of the Australian of the Year award, presented to an Australian citizen who has shown a "significant contribution to the Australian community and nation", and is an "inspirational role model for the Australian community".[6] Subcategories of the award include Young and Senior Australian of the Year, and an award for Australia's Local Hero.
Various music festivals are held on Australia Day, such as the Sydney Big Day Out, the Triple J Hottest 100, and the Australia Day Live Concert. In the last ten years, a One Day International cricket match in the Australian Tri-Series has been held on Australia Day at the Adelaide Oval. Prior to that, a Test match usually started at the Adelaide Oval on Australia Day.
Controversy
An Invasion Day rally in Brisbane, 2007.For some Australians, particularly Indigenous Australians, Australia Day has become a symbol for adverse effects of British settlement on Australia's indigenous people.[7] The celebrations in 1938 were accompanied by an Aboriginal Day of Mourning. A large gathering of Aboriginal people in Sydney in 1988 led an "Invasion Day" commemoration marking the loss of indigenous culture. The anniversary is also known as "Survival Day" and marked by events such as the Survival Day concert first held in Sydney in 1992, celebrating the fact that the indigenous people and culture have not been completely wiped out.[8] In 2008, an Invasion Day protester burnt the Australian Flag, prompting calls for flag burning to be illegal.[9]
In response, official celebrations have tried to include indigenous people, holding ceremonies such as the Woggan-ma-gule ceremony, which was held in Sydney in 2006 and honoured the past and celebrated the present; it involved Indigenous Australians and the Governor of New South Wales.
Invasion Day
Wikinews has related news: Aboriginal Sovereignty Day Declared
In January 1988, the Indigenous people of Australia made a concerted effort to promote an awareness among other Australians of their presence, their needs, and their desire that there should be communication, reconciliation and co-operation over the matter of land rights.[10] To this purpose, during January, they set up a highly-visible Tent Embassy at a shoreside location at a point called Mrs Macquarie's Chair adjacent to the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens. The embassy, consisting of several large marquees and smaller tents, was manned by a group of Aboriginal people from Eveleigh Street, Redfern, and was organised with the co-operation of the local council's department of parks and gardens.[10] It became a gathering place for Aboriginal people from all over Sydney. One of the aims of the embassy was to be seen by the many thousands of Sydneysiders who did not know, and rarely even saw, any Aboriginal people.[10]
'Invasion Day' has been widely used to describe the alternative Indigenous observance of Australia Day. Although some Indigenous Australians celebrate Australia Day, Invasion Day protests occur almost every year.[11]
Whatever you're doing, have agreat day and remember what it is to live in our great country.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Ford FG Falcon XR6
First drive: Ford FG Falcon XR6
Toby Hagon, drive.com.au, April 10, 2008
Standard mechanicals meet performance styling in Ford's new FG Falcon XR6.
For many private buyers the new Ford Falcon XR6 is the logical choice. It picks up some of the styling attributes from the sportier XR models – XR6 Turbo and XR8 – but without the added cost of the extra performance.
The Falcon XR6 also offers a more appealing step up from the fleet-oriented Falcon XT. In reality, though, the driving experience of the Falcon XR6 is very similar to the Falcon XT.
That’s because the two share the same 195kW 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
Extensive work done to the Falcon’s most basic six-cylinder engine have liberated more power and, crucially, more torque, or mid-range pulling power.
The extra ratio in the automatic transmission – now with five forward gears instead of four – also delivers when it comes to performance, allowing the engine to operate closer to its ideal range.
The five-speed auto does shift smoothly, though, and doesn’t unnecessarily change down through the gearbox to a lower gear.
However, after calling on maximum performance the five-speed is sometimes too eager to shift up a gear or two. On a windy road with lots of accelerating and decelerating it can make the gearbox work harder than it needs to.
Thankfully there’s a semi-manual mode that allows the driver to sequentially select gears and hold them when required (pushing the lever towards the front of the car instigates a downchange while rearwards does an upchange).
A six-speed automatic transmission is also available, further boosting performance.
Drive used satellite-based timing equipment to measure independent performance figures for the basic engine and transmission combination (in a Falcon XT) and managed a 0-100km/h time of 7.1 seconds.
In everyday driving, the muscular engine still delivers plenty of easily accessible punch, matching the sporty sales pitch of the XR6 badge.
At the higher end of its rev range, though, the trusty six-cylinder gets quite vocal.
However, the engine is impressively smooth and willing to rev.
As with other models in the new Falcon range steering is also improved, providing a more secure high-speed feel.
A new steering system has eliminated the high-speed nervousness that characterised the BA/BF Falcons this new XR6 replaces.
Ford has added more weight to the steering at freeway speeds, delivering added security.
At the same time the new Falcon maintains its low-speed manoeuvrability with light steering effort and a tight turning circle (at 11.0 metres, Ford says the Falcon’s turning circle is class leading).
However, through bumpy corners on a country road the steering wheel can jiggle lightly as it knocks into bumps.
While the Falcon XR6 shares its basic mechanical package with the lesser XT, it does get unique suspension that is slightly firmer.
Through corners the Falcon XR6 sits down impressively and resists leaning when pushed.
Larger bumps, too, don’t upset the equation too much, while the stability control system is tuned to allow some spirited driving without getting into trouble. Our time in the Falcon XR6 included a stint on very slippery gravel, which had the stability system working furiously. But it still allowed respectable progress while reigning in any unwanted sliding.
Wind noise is, impressively, kept at bay at freeway speeds, while the standard 17-inch wheels and tyres create some roar over coarse bitumen surfaces.
The cabin is splashed with coloured trim that livens the interior treatment and is in keeping with the wing and spoilers on the outside.
Ford Falcon XR6: Performance*
0-100km/h: 7.1 seconds
0-400m: 15.2 seconds
Top speed after 400m: 150km/h
* Performance figures conducted in controlled conditions using satellite-based timing equipment. XR6 performance figures were obtained using a Falcon XT with the same 4.0-litre engine and five-speed automatic transmission.
Toby Hagon, drive.com.au, April 10, 2008
Standard mechanicals meet performance styling in Ford's new FG Falcon XR6.
For many private buyers the new Ford Falcon XR6 is the logical choice. It picks up some of the styling attributes from the sportier XR models – XR6 Turbo and XR8 – but without the added cost of the extra performance.
The Falcon XR6 also offers a more appealing step up from the fleet-oriented Falcon XT. In reality, though, the driving experience of the Falcon XR6 is very similar to the Falcon XT.
That’s because the two share the same 195kW 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
Extensive work done to the Falcon’s most basic six-cylinder engine have liberated more power and, crucially, more torque, or mid-range pulling power.
The extra ratio in the automatic transmission – now with five forward gears instead of four – also delivers when it comes to performance, allowing the engine to operate closer to its ideal range.
The five-speed auto does shift smoothly, though, and doesn’t unnecessarily change down through the gearbox to a lower gear.
However, after calling on maximum performance the five-speed is sometimes too eager to shift up a gear or two. On a windy road with lots of accelerating and decelerating it can make the gearbox work harder than it needs to.
Thankfully there’s a semi-manual mode that allows the driver to sequentially select gears and hold them when required (pushing the lever towards the front of the car instigates a downchange while rearwards does an upchange).
A six-speed automatic transmission is also available, further boosting performance.
Drive used satellite-based timing equipment to measure independent performance figures for the basic engine and transmission combination (in a Falcon XT) and managed a 0-100km/h time of 7.1 seconds.
In everyday driving, the muscular engine still delivers plenty of easily accessible punch, matching the sporty sales pitch of the XR6 badge.
At the higher end of its rev range, though, the trusty six-cylinder gets quite vocal.
However, the engine is impressively smooth and willing to rev.
As with other models in the new Falcon range steering is also improved, providing a more secure high-speed feel.
A new steering system has eliminated the high-speed nervousness that characterised the BA/BF Falcons this new XR6 replaces.
Ford has added more weight to the steering at freeway speeds, delivering added security.
At the same time the new Falcon maintains its low-speed manoeuvrability with light steering effort and a tight turning circle (at 11.0 metres, Ford says the Falcon’s turning circle is class leading).
However, through bumpy corners on a country road the steering wheel can jiggle lightly as it knocks into bumps.
While the Falcon XR6 shares its basic mechanical package with the lesser XT, it does get unique suspension that is slightly firmer.
Through corners the Falcon XR6 sits down impressively and resists leaning when pushed.
Larger bumps, too, don’t upset the equation too much, while the stability control system is tuned to allow some spirited driving without getting into trouble. Our time in the Falcon XR6 included a stint on very slippery gravel, which had the stability system working furiously. But it still allowed respectable progress while reigning in any unwanted sliding.
Wind noise is, impressively, kept at bay at freeway speeds, while the standard 17-inch wheels and tyres create some roar over coarse bitumen surfaces.
The cabin is splashed with coloured trim that livens the interior treatment and is in keeping with the wing and spoilers on the outside.
Ford Falcon XR6: Performance*
0-100km/h: 7.1 seconds
0-400m: 15.2 seconds
Top speed after 400m: 150km/h
* Performance figures conducted in controlled conditions using satellite-based timing equipment. XR6 performance figures were obtained using a Falcon XT with the same 4.0-litre engine and five-speed automatic transmission.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Nurturing the Self
"It is important while participating in a time line to take the time to nurture the self. There are many energies needing yours to navigate through their dramas. At the end of the day most of you feel depleted of the life force that ignites your own evolution. Your energy in a depleted state may cause mishap in the daily course.
We suggest a moment of contemplation whereas the personal energy of your own soul & physical can be recharged. The responsibility of others becomes over whelming when there's nothing left internally to be given.
It is not selfish to nurture the self. In fact it is the greatest giving to others because you actually have something to give. The exhaustion of such action may lead to depression and anxiety, leaving those who truly need your guidance void of any support.
Be kind to your self. Allow personal moments of comfort that lead to powerful replenishing. If you wish to love + nurture others your only recourse is to nurture the self."
We suggest a moment of contemplation whereas the personal energy of your own soul & physical can be recharged. The responsibility of others becomes over whelming when there's nothing left internally to be given.
It is not selfish to nurture the self. In fact it is the greatest giving to others because you actually have something to give. The exhaustion of such action may lead to depression and anxiety, leaving those who truly need your guidance void of any support.
Be kind to your self. Allow personal moments of comfort that lead to powerful replenishing. If you wish to love + nurture others your only recourse is to nurture the self."
Random family images
Mmmm... cupcakes. Whenever anything like this is made in our house, I have a narrow window of opportunity to have some of it - cakes and chocolate seem to evaporate in our house...
Friday, January 23, 2009
HR Heaven and Hell
One day while walking down the street a highly successful HR Director
was tragically hit by a bus and she died. Her soul arrived up in heaven
where she was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself.
"Welcome to Heaven," said St. Peter. "Before you get settled in though,
it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we've never once
had a Human Resources Director make it this far and we're not really
sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," said the woman. "Well, I'd like to,"
replied St. Peter, "but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is
let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose
whichever one you want to spend an eternity in."
"Actually, I think I've made up my mind, I prefer to stay in Heaven,"
said the woman.
"Sorry, we have rules..." And with that St. Peter put the executive in
an elevator and it went down-down-down to hell. The doors opened and she
found herself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf
course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of her
were all her friends - fellow executives that she had worked with and
they were all dressed in evening gowns and cheering for her. They ran up
and kissed her on both cheeks and they talked about old times. They
played an excellent round of golf and at night went to the country club
where she enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner. She met the
Devil who was actually a really nice guy (kinda cute) and she had a
great time telling jokes and dancing. She was having such a good time
that before she knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook her hand
and waved good-bye as she got on the elevator. The elevator went
up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates and she found St. Peter
waiting for her.
"Now it's time to spend a day in heaven," he said. So she spent the next
24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing the harp and singing. She
had a great time and before she knew it her 24 hours were up and St.
Peter came and got her. "So, you've spent a day in hell and you've spent
a day in heaven. Now you must choose your eternity," he said. The woman
paused for a second and then replied, "Well, I never thought I'd say
this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a
better time in Hell." So St. Peter escorted her to the elevator and
again she went down-down-down back to Hell.
When the doors of the elevator opened she found herself standing in a
desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. She saw her friends
were dressed in rags and were picking up the garbage and putting it in
sacks. The Devil came up to her and put his arm around her.
"I don't understand," stammered the woman, "yesterday I was here and
there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and we
danced and had a great time. Now all there is, is a wasteland of garbage
and all my friends look miserable."
The Devil looked at her and smiled. "Yesterday we were recruiting you,
today you're staff..."
was tragically hit by a bus and she died. Her soul arrived up in heaven
where she was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself.
"Welcome to Heaven," said St. Peter. "Before you get settled in though,
it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we've never once
had a Human Resources Director make it this far and we're not really
sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," said the woman. "Well, I'd like to,"
replied St. Peter, "but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is
let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose
whichever one you want to spend an eternity in."
"Actually, I think I've made up my mind, I prefer to stay in Heaven,"
said the woman.
"Sorry, we have rules..." And with that St. Peter put the executive in
an elevator and it went down-down-down to hell. The doors opened and she
found herself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf
course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of her
were all her friends - fellow executives that she had worked with and
they were all dressed in evening gowns and cheering for her. They ran up
and kissed her on both cheeks and they talked about old times. They
played an excellent round of golf and at night went to the country club
where she enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner. She met the
Devil who was actually a really nice guy (kinda cute) and she had a
great time telling jokes and dancing. She was having such a good time
that before she knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook her hand
and waved good-bye as she got on the elevator. The elevator went
up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates and she found St. Peter
waiting for her.
"Now it's time to spend a day in heaven," he said. So she spent the next
24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing the harp and singing. She
had a great time and before she knew it her 24 hours were up and St.
Peter came and got her. "So, you've spent a day in hell and you've spent
a day in heaven. Now you must choose your eternity," he said. The woman
paused for a second and then replied, "Well, I never thought I'd say
this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a
better time in Hell." So St. Peter escorted her to the elevator and
again she went down-down-down back to Hell.
When the doors of the elevator opened she found herself standing in a
desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. She saw her friends
were dressed in rags and were picking up the garbage and putting it in
sacks. The Devil came up to her and put his arm around her.
"I don't understand," stammered the woman, "yesterday I was here and
there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and we
danced and had a great time. Now all there is, is a wasteland of garbage
and all my friends look miserable."
The Devil looked at her and smiled. "Yesterday we were recruiting you,
today you're staff..."
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Ford FG Falcon G6E Turbo
First drive: Ford FG Falcon G6E Turbo
Toby Hagon, drive.com.au, April 10, 2008
Sharing its turbocharged engine with the potent Falcon XR6 Turbo, the Falcon G6E Turbo also gets a load of luxury fruit.
When it comes to performance in the FG Falcon range there’s little doubt Ford has turned its efforts to its hot-shot flagship, the turbocharged version of the six-cylinder engine.
In the Falcon XR6 Turbo, the 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder is quicker than ever, capable of launching the sizeable sedan to 100km/h in a fraction over five seconds. In independent performance testing Drive managed a 0-100km/h sprint of 5.1 seconds.
And the new-to-the-range G6E Turbo shares exactly the same drivetrain, consisting of the turbocharged version of the 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission.
As a sub-$60,000 large sedan that’s loaded with standard equipment – including a reversing camera, leather seats, and electric everything – it makes the Falcon G6E Turbo a tempting proposition against more fancied luxury opposition.
The extra attention to detail in the cabin, too – from the better thought-out centre console to the more upmarket materials – also helps in establishing the Falcon G6E as an impressive bit of kit for the money.
The G6E Turbo is also one of only two models in the seven-model FG Falcon range that comes standard with a full complement of airbags, including the side curtain airbags that add $300 to the price of a Falcon XT, G6, XR6, XR6 Turbo and XR8.
The G6E Turbo package is an interesting mix. Its performance is identical to the XR6 Turbo, ensuring it’s a seriously impressive device. Its road manners, too, are similar to the XR6 Turbo – both share standard 18-inch wheels, for example – although the G6E Turbo gets a unique, slightly softer and more compliant suspension setting designed to improve the ride of a vehicle pitched at being comfortable and quick.
First impressions are that the G6E Turbo is an impressively comfortable car, ably absorbing bumps and thumps to make for a secure yet confident car.
The extra give in the suspension means the G6E Turbo takes a fraction longer to recover from big road imperfections than the XR models.
But the combination of serene driving quarters in a brisk, confident package helps you appreciate why Ford thinks the G6E could be one of the quiet achievers – and image makers – in the FG Falcon range. After all, the XR6 Turbo started life in a similar way and has now established itself as a cult car that helped define the Falcon’s modern image.
Inside, the FG Falcon G6E Turbo is loaded with equipment, making it a comfortable place to travel.
Like all new Falcons, it benefits from the more thoughtful interior design and extra headroom liberated in the front.
The shiny black centre console – designed to stand out from the regular Falcon crowd and bring an upmarket feel to an otherwise mass market car – is a mass of buttons, although the G6E and G6E Turbo get the full-colour screen and better sound system that are optional on other Falcons. In some ways, though, we’d prefer that the push up/down buttons for the temperature and fan speed were knobs, because they’d be easier and quicker to use.
While it’s not cheap, there’s plenty of value to be seen in the new G6E Turbo, especially considering the V8-beating performance.
Ford Falcon G6E Turbo: Performance*
0-100km/h: 5.1 seconds
0-400m: 13.4 seconds
Top speed after 400m: 172km/h
* Performance figures conducted in controlled conditions using satellite-based timing equipment. G6E Turbo performance figures were obtained using a Falcon XR6 Turbo with the same 4.0-litre turbocharged engine and six-speed automatic transmission.
Toby Hagon, drive.com.au, April 10, 2008
Sharing its turbocharged engine with the potent Falcon XR6 Turbo, the Falcon G6E Turbo also gets a load of luxury fruit.
When it comes to performance in the FG Falcon range there’s little doubt Ford has turned its efforts to its hot-shot flagship, the turbocharged version of the six-cylinder engine.
In the Falcon XR6 Turbo, the 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder is quicker than ever, capable of launching the sizeable sedan to 100km/h in a fraction over five seconds. In independent performance testing Drive managed a 0-100km/h sprint of 5.1 seconds.
And the new-to-the-range G6E Turbo shares exactly the same drivetrain, consisting of the turbocharged version of the 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission.
As a sub-$60,000 large sedan that’s loaded with standard equipment – including a reversing camera, leather seats, and electric everything – it makes the Falcon G6E Turbo a tempting proposition against more fancied luxury opposition.
The extra attention to detail in the cabin, too – from the better thought-out centre console to the more upmarket materials – also helps in establishing the Falcon G6E as an impressive bit of kit for the money.
The G6E Turbo is also one of only two models in the seven-model FG Falcon range that comes standard with a full complement of airbags, including the side curtain airbags that add $300 to the price of a Falcon XT, G6, XR6, XR6 Turbo and XR8.
The G6E Turbo package is an interesting mix. Its performance is identical to the XR6 Turbo, ensuring it’s a seriously impressive device. Its road manners, too, are similar to the XR6 Turbo – both share standard 18-inch wheels, for example – although the G6E Turbo gets a unique, slightly softer and more compliant suspension setting designed to improve the ride of a vehicle pitched at being comfortable and quick.
First impressions are that the G6E Turbo is an impressively comfortable car, ably absorbing bumps and thumps to make for a secure yet confident car.
The extra give in the suspension means the G6E Turbo takes a fraction longer to recover from big road imperfections than the XR models.
But the combination of serene driving quarters in a brisk, confident package helps you appreciate why Ford thinks the G6E could be one of the quiet achievers – and image makers – in the FG Falcon range. After all, the XR6 Turbo started life in a similar way and has now established itself as a cult car that helped define the Falcon’s modern image.
Inside, the FG Falcon G6E Turbo is loaded with equipment, making it a comfortable place to travel.
Like all new Falcons, it benefits from the more thoughtful interior design and extra headroom liberated in the front.
The shiny black centre console – designed to stand out from the regular Falcon crowd and bring an upmarket feel to an otherwise mass market car – is a mass of buttons, although the G6E and G6E Turbo get the full-colour screen and better sound system that are optional on other Falcons. In some ways, though, we’d prefer that the push up/down buttons for the temperature and fan speed were knobs, because they’d be easier and quicker to use.
While it’s not cheap, there’s plenty of value to be seen in the new G6E Turbo, especially considering the V8-beating performance.
Ford Falcon G6E Turbo: Performance*
0-100km/h: 5.1 seconds
0-400m: 13.4 seconds
Top speed after 400m: 172km/h
* Performance figures conducted in controlled conditions using satellite-based timing equipment. G6E Turbo performance figures were obtained using a Falcon XR6 Turbo with the same 4.0-litre turbocharged engine and six-speed automatic transmission.
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