ALL-NEW CITY MotorSport ING Your City, your space WTCC, MotoGP and F1 UR DISPLAY AUDIO TRAVEL

HONDA MAG 56 AT

NEWS | PRODUCTS | MOTORSPORT | PARTNERSHIPS | LIFESTYLE | TRAVEL | SOCIETY E Coming to a Honda near you Tasmania, London, Space Camp F

Issue 56 | HONDA.COM.AU H o n d a M a g a z i n e | H o n d a . c o m . a u CONTENTS I S S U E 5 6 / A U T U M N 2 0 1 4

02 NEW PRODUCT: 2014 CITY 06 NEWS: THE WORLD OF HONDA 10 TRAVEL: TASMANIA’S TARKINE 16 CAR CARE: HALF A CENTURY OF SERVICE

18 NEW PRODUCT: DISPLAY AUDIO 22 ART & SOCIETY: JAMES ANGUS 26 SPONSORSHIP: RE-INVENTING TWO WHEELS 29 TRAVEL: DISCOVER LONDON

32 sponsorship: SITTING IN FOR FRIENDS 34 HISTORY: SENNA 37 TRAVEL: SPACE CAMP 40 MOTORSPORT ROUND-UP The Honda Foundation assists the ‘Monkey in International F1 journalist, Tim Collings, Will Gray heads to Huntsville, Alabama, The future of F1 racing, the new WTCC Racer my Chair’ program with a $5000 grant. shares some Aryton Senna insights. home of NASA’s Mission to the Moon. and Marquez’s ‘WOW’ start to the MotoGP season.

45 FAN FEATURE 47 BEST CRITIC COMPETITION What have our fans got to show us this Six real people test drove the all-new Honda “This year we will be dialling up the fun element of our products by season? A pink Jazz, the ‘legend’ Prelude and more. Odyssey for a week - read the winner’s review. introducing exciting new models both globally and here in Australia” - Director, Stephen Collins

Editor: Stuart Sykes; Executive Editor: Jarrod Tuck; Digital Director: Corinne Wilson; Design & Production: Megan McDermott. For general enquiries regarding Honda motor vehicle products or services, contact Honda Australia on 1800 804 954. 01 PRODUCT

A CLASS ABOVE: TAKE A TRIP TO THE city

Think ‘City’ and what comes to mind? No space… over-crowding… hard to get around… discomfort… not the kind of place you want to be? If that’s the case, Honda has an alternative City for you… and it went on sale in Australia in April.

With 2.2 million units sold in 55 countries around the world, this City can lay fair claim to being a place where Honda people definitely want to be.

The new-for-2014 Honda City makes a determined attack on the light segment of our car-buying lives. In fact its combination of design, comfort and efficiency makes the latest-generation City a car that ends up being… a class above.

city.honda.com.au

Photography: 2014 City VTi-L in Brilliant Blue shown. 02

03

hotography: 2014 City VTi full dash interior shot. interior dash full VTi City 2014 hotography: P

than in the latest City. latest the in than

little was never better shown shown better never was little

genius for packing a lot into a a into lot a packing for genius

so-called smaller cars. Honda’s Honda’s cars. smaller so-called

… especially when it comes to to comes it when especially …

… ERS MATT ZE I S package than before. than package

bigger much a of is gives

model but the impression it it impression the but model After all… After

previous generation of the the of generation previous statement? personal

the than longer 45mm only a make can you where

The City itself, taken overall, is is overall, taken itself, City The to crowding – the sort of place place of sort the – crowding to

a car that offers an alternative alternative an offers that car a

accommodates five adults. five accommodates o why wouldn’t you seek out out seek you wouldn’t why o S

comfortably that car a in

is of much more room to move move to room more much of is places.

cabin, but all round the feeling feeling the round all but cabin, you between those two other other two those between you

noticeable in the roomier rear rear roomier the in noticeable life – the car that transports transports that car the – life

especially It’s segment. even more, each day of your your of day each more, even

that boast the most space in its its in space most the boast that for an hour or two, perhaps perhaps two, or hour an for

longer cabin as well as a boot boot a as well as cabin longer you occupy, in all probability, probability, all in occupy, you

means extra knee-room in a a in knee-room extra means But the ‘third space’ is the one one the is space’ ‘third the But

exceeds its class – and that that and – class its exceeds

travellers interior space that that space interior travellers personal space and time. and space personal

it allows Honda to offer City City offer to Honda allows it come rushing in to invade your your invade to in rushing come

like moving the dash forward, forward, dash the moving like places where other demands demands other where places

With subtle additional touches touches additional subtle With of residence. Those are two two are Those residence. of

place of work and your place place your and work of place

and rear wheels. rear and It’s the space between your your between space the It’s

City puts between the front front the between puts City

longer wheelbase of the new new the of wheelbase longer the new City. new the

additional space which the the which space additional ‘third space’ that comes with with comes that space’ ‘third

– except when that means the the means that when except – What we are alluding to is the the is to alluding are we What

that’s not much’. You’d be right right be You’d much’. not that’s arth – not yet, anyway. anyway. yet, not – arth E planet

would probably think, ‘Well, ‘Well, think, probably would you beyond the confines of of confines the beyond you

Think ’50 millimetres’ and you you and millimetres’ ’50 Think No. We’re not planning to send send to planning not We’re No.

L? E AV R T E PAC S R FO ADY RE * Figures quoted are for the City VTi automatic transmission and are based on ADR81/02 test results. POWER MATTERS TOO convenience of your car.

And with City, there’s plenty of Display Audio means that all power as well. the connectivity you could want is right there at your fingertips, 5.7L/100kms 88kW The 1.5-litre i-VTEC four- allowing you to keep your eyes (AUTO) COMBINED FUEL* MAX POWER @ 6600RPM cylinder engine packs an 88kW on the road and your mind on punch at 6600 rpm. It’s also the job a torquey unit – how about 145Nm at 4600 revs? – In a more general sense, the meaning there is low-down pull Multi Information Display lends to get you up and the impression of a ‘floating’ 145Nm running faster. cockpit that enhances the ‘premium’ feel and ambiance TORQUE @ 4600RPM The engine is mated to the of the car: the look inside is 132g/kms new Continuously Variable as cool as the looks outside CO 2 EMISSIONS* Transmission with Honda’s and the display features could Earth Dreams Technology, hardly be more advanced. giving it instant responsiveness and eyebrow-raising fuel efficiency. CONNECTING YOUR CAR

Elsewhere in this issue we feature Honda’s Display Audio – and City comes complete with this next-generation technology for keeping you connected with the outside world while enjoying the comfort and

Photography: (left) instrument panel; (bottom left) media connectivity ports; (right) City VTi-L with optional Sports Pack. 04 CABIN CLASS What’s more, the City VTi-L is also available with the optional It’s often a derogatory term. Sports Pack which includes With City it sums up the classy Modulo front and rear under surrounds. Improved seat spoilers, side skirts and a rear comfort and impressive spoiler wing as well as a Honda roominess live up to the car’s designed sports grille. external appearance with its wide, low stance and the See what we mean by sleekness of the lines. A Class Above?

City may be a compact sedan, City offers a degree of but once inside that description sophistication above the goes, you might say, right out so-called small-car segment, the window. It’s another Honda a dash of verve that brings paradox: a cosy sense of the car alive, a sense of space well-being in the City combines that’s way beyond where it with the comfort you expect in should be and, not least of all, a car above its class. a stylish appearance that’s easy on the eye. That secure feeling is backed

up by the raft of safety features It comes in part from the clearly that come as standard. etched lines along the side that Antilock Braking System, lend motion to the car even Electronic Brake Distribution, when it’s stationary. It comes, Traction Control and Vehicle too, from the ‘solid wing face’ Safety Assist work in harmony that lends immediate presence to make your ‘City driving’ safer to the car. It comes, most of than we usually imagine – all, from an overall look and especially when you add in a feel that says ‘premium’ and multi-angle reversing embraces this new City firmly camera for all those within the Honda worldwide awkward city spots. family of cars. city.honda.com.au Photography: (left) rear tail lights of the City VTi-L in Brilliant Blue; (right) front seats City VTi-L. 05 NEWS

THE WORLD OF HONDA 04 WHAT’S MAKING NEWS FOR HONDA AROUND THE GLOBE?

06 Photography: (left) Civic Type R at the 2014 Geneva Motorshow; Photography (clockwise): (right) Civic Type R style shots - front, wheel, rear and spoiler. Walking Assist Device with Bodyweight Support System; CIVIC TYPE R - Stride Management Assist Device (2012); BLURRING Walking Assist Device in use. (2008) THE EDGES Honda has always maintained that racing is in the company’s DNA. While it prepares to return to the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1, as partner to McLaren from 2015 on, Honda is also demonstrating its race-bred pedigree in other areas.

So much so that the Civic Type R Concept car recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show is being hailed as ‘a racing car for the road’ and the most extreme example of this popular vehicle yet conceived.

“Type R represents Honda’s racing spirit,” said the new car’s chief stylist Masaru Hasegawa. “It is built with a passion for motorsport.”

A racing car is, in many respects, the ultimate marriage of form and function – watch the civic type r and the Civic Type R Concept reflects that concept revealed: combination in dramatic style with a front http://youtu.be/QQyiXqVlA8A spoiler to add down-force, vertical side wings and a new rear spoiler with the tail lights integrated into the rear wing itself. The car’s lines are due in part to extensive testing at one of the world’s most famous race tracks, the Nürburgring in Germany, and will give a serious clue to the looks of the new car due for European release in 2015.

Honda’s European manager of motorsport William de Braekeleer underlined the car’s heritage: “The purpose of entering the WTCC [World Touring Car Championship] was to build our experience with a direct injection turbo-charged engine. This is a winning engine – and now this technology can be transferred to the 2015 Type R. This car will be really born in racing.” 0807 Photography: JAZZ HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES The 2015 Honda Fit for North America. While Switzerland provided the backdrop for Civic Type R, motor city itself – Detroit – was the place to be to see the latest iteration of Honda’s worldwide favourite small car, the Jazz, or Fit as it is known in some markets.

A ground-up reworking sees the new car reborn with enhanced dynamic lines incorporating a new grille/headlight design, a side-body character line and larger 16-inch tyres on a newly designed wheel that enhances the car’s road-hugging stance. A slightly longer wheelbase also improves the car’s handling for that ‘sporty’ Honda feel.

Showcasing Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology and the familiar Honda mix of fuel efficiency and performance, the 2015 Jazz/Fit confirms the car as the sub-compact class leader. BLOWING OUR OWN TRUMPET

Faithful to its philosophy of reducing CO2 emissions and its tradition of innovation, Honda has installed and started operating two power-producing wind turbines at its plant in Russells Point, Ohio.

The two wind turbines, with approximately 50m long blades installed on 80m high towers, are expected to supply around 10 per cent of the plant’s annual electricity needs, with their combined output estimated at 10,000 megawatt-hours per annum.

The development has been made possible by Honda’s collaboration with a subsidiary of New York-based company ConEdison Solutions, whose CEO Jorge Lopez hailed Honda’s role in championing sustainable approaches to manufacturing in the United States.

“We are proud to be helping Honda strengthen its status as a national leader in sustainability,” said Mr. Lopez.

“Through the example set by Honda, the American manufacturing sector will see more ways it can incorporate renewable power into its facilities.”

Further proof of Honda’s commitment is the establishment of a new production plant and wind farm in Brazil, due to start operating late this year.

Photography: (main) Honda Wind Turbine Farm Render; (top-left) Honda Transmission Plant team; (from left) David Schmitt, HTM Co-Project Leader, Joe Wauben, HTM Project Leader, Gary Hand, HTM Plant Manager, Jack Bosch, Consultant to ConEdison Solutions, Michael Eckard, Project Manager at ConEdison Solutions, Chris Keller, HTM Facilities Manager; (top-right) Wind turbines at Honda Transmission Plant in Ohio. 09 TRAVEL

TASMANIA Beyond the RampaRts of the unknown WORDS BY RODERICK EIME. PHOTOS BY JAMES OSTINGA & RODERICK EIME.

In one of the most remote corners of the planet, home to the purest water and cleanest air, live ancient plants and animals most of us will never see. But that shouldn’t stop us trying. Roderick Eime ventures to north-west Tasmania in search of prehistoric mysteries.

Photography: An early morning mist creates an eerie scene along the Pieman River. 10 But if we, in the wealthiest country on Earth ...can’t protect something like the Tarkine, we certainly can’t ask people in Borneo or West Papua or the Congo or the Amazon to protect their forests

‘As George arrives within ten paces, the animal But the destructive practices of the last two turns quickly round, and with flaming eyes and centuries are not completely behind us. While head covered with blood, charges straight at us. logging has been suppressed in the old growth The axe…flies past the animal harmlessly. George regions for now, mineral extraction still presents a retires gracefully at the rate of knots. The tiger is threat and the contentious Riley Creek Mine is the gaining on him as we spring up and rush forward, focus of conservationists’ efforts. yelling at the top of our voices. The beast…turns and faces us for a moment, but evidently thinking “It’s a critical time for the Tarkine,” former discretion is the better part of valour makes a bolt senator Bob Brown warned, “as it is for so much over the sand hills…leaving George wiping the of the world’s environment. But if we, in the perspiration from his face, caused by — well — wealthiest country on Earth (according to the UN, by his violent exertion! How provoking that we per capita) can’t protect something like the Tarkine, had no gun.’ we certainly can’t ask people in Borneo or West Papua or the Congo or the Amazon to protect This comical encounter is described, not by some their forests.” over-imaginative bushwalker, but by a group of picnickers out for a Sunday stroll in the northwest Controversial author and global warming activist, of Tasmania. The year? 1893. As it turned out, it Professor Tim Flannery, is another staunch defender was a close call for the Thylacine, not so much for of this embattled forest region. “For as far as the poor George. eye could see, stretched a sea of virginal forest, heath and button grass plains that spreads over After a tumultuous and brutal beginning just nearly half a million hectares; all the way from after the turn of the 18th century, Tasmania was the inland ranges to the wild west coast.” finally proclaimed an independent colony in 1825. Soon after, the ambitious Van Diemen’s Land CNN Travel recently ranked it number one on their Company began their pastoral and agricultural list of the world’s last great wilderness areas, projects on a tract of 250,000 acres granted by King describing it prosaically as ‘a rarely visited, ancient George IV “beyond the ramparts of the unknown.” and pristine forest wilderness, calling to mind myth and legend.’ This remote and inhospitable north-western corner of the island now called Tasmania has lost none of Today, that corner of Tasmania north-west of Cradle its wilderness appeal and is home to the some of Mountain is still a vast wilderness with the Savage the last and largest temperate rainforests on the River National Park as its centre-piece. The rest is a planet. mixture of state reserve and conservation areas and was once abuzz with miners and loggers hell-bent Photography: (main) Some giant ancient tree ferns like this are on nothing but profit. so old, they may pre-date European settlement; 11 (left) Australian stamp picturing the Thylacine. the village of Corinna sprang up and quickly earned a reputation as one of the toughest towns anywhere in the region

The Savage, Whyte and Pieman Rivers north of Zeehan is where their riches lay and the largest nugget of gold discovered in Tasmania was 243 ounces (7.5kg) and came from Rocky River, a small tributary of the Whyte, in 1883.

In the midst of this frenzy, the village of Corinna sprang up and quickly earned a reputation as one of the toughest towns anywhere in the region – and that was a pretty big call back then. At its peak in 1893 there were 30 buildings of one sort or another including two pubs, a post office, numerous stores and shops, slaughter yards and several residences, all supporting a boisterous population of some 2500 people. By the time Federation was proclaimed, Corinna was out of easily recoverable gold and in decline. For most of the 20th century, Corinna was home to just one family at a time, operating a small store and the ferry across the Pieman River.

The last family in residence, the Polsons, sold their leasehold to a consortium of environmentally proactive businessmen in 2005. Since then, Tarkine Wilderness Pty Limited has dedicated its efforts toward creating a world-standard eco-retreat for visitors to escape the pressures of city life and rediscover a place almost overlooked by the rest of the world.

In 1937, after the death of the last known Tasmanian Tiger in Hobart Zoo, the region north of Corinna for some 80-odd kilometres was proposed as a Thylacine sanctuary and many locals are steadfast in their belief that a population, however small and fragile, still exists in these impenetrable forests.

Photography: (top left) classic huon pine vessel, Arcadia II, is perfectly at home on the Pieman River; (top right) Gum (boot) tree; (below) Restored cottages on the main street of Corinna. 12 Photography: (top) Lichens and mosses cling to trunks in the ancient rainforest; (below) Rugged shoreline near the mouth of the Pieman River.

Guests at The Corinna Wilderness Experience can indulge themselves in any number of nature-based relaxation activities. There are plenty of walks in amongst the forests where the botanically-minded will spot such species as leatherwood, celery top pine, sassafras, king billy pine, huon pine, myrtle beech, pencil pine, native laurel, soft tree fern, slender tree fern, blackwood, cutting grass, native plum, whitey wood and the commonly named ‘horizontal’. And then there’s the most amazing fungi you will ever see – great vivid and spongy plates forming bulbous lips from fallen trees – some 60 species in all.

There’s a walk for every day of the week, each beginning and ending at the comfortable and convivial, but Internet-free Tarkine Hotel with its superb Tannin Restaurant, operated by chefs of considerable standing. The kitchen is currently staffed by Euan Wiseman and his partner Jacqueline who excel in the use of locally-sourced produce like Red Cow milk, Cape Grim beef, Black Ridge Farm bacon and sausages and Mathom yoghurt, all matched with a great selection of Tasmanian and mainland wines.

A popular highlight is a cruise along the Pieman River almost to the ocean aboard the magnificent Arcadia II, a 17m huon pine craft built in 1939. In more than 75 years, she has had a colourful career, including war service in PNG and scallop trawling out of Coles Bay.

In the late evening, after a suitably satisfying repast, just sit out on the balcony, watch the tiny wallabies fossick and listen to the minute sounds of the forest while a riot of stars and galaxies scream from the heavens. Oh, and that piercing, throaty howl from deep within the ancient timbers?

It’s probably nothing… 13 TRAVEL

S A V I N G C O R I N N A TASMANIA

It was July 2005 when sharp-eyed Sydney-based businessman and nature lover Max Ullrich learned that his favourite Tasmanian retreat was for sale.

None of this fazed Ullrich and he was soon talking to mates Ken Boundy (then CEO for Tourism Australia) and Tony Hargreaves, a builder, as well as another who was an accountant. By September of that year, Corinna was theirs.

“I’ve had a soft spot for the west coast of Tasmania ever since I was there with my father in the early 1960s,” Ullrich told ABC Hobart presenter Chris Ball, “and I’d been going there with my wife since the early ‘90s. It’s that feeling of total remoteness and isolation – the clean air and bright skies. You don’t get that in Sydney.”

Yet it’s been anything but a walk in the park for the four partners. Corinna’s isolation creates at least as many challenges as attractions for the management.

“It’s been a huge job,” says Boundy, “Getting good staff to stay for any length of time is always a challenge. Attracting the right guests and managing their expectations is always on our minds.

“But now we have the chance to take Corinna to the next level and introduce some really exciting developments like two and three-day walks into the Tarkine. This will fit perfectly with Tasmania’s profile as one of the world’s great walking destinations.” Talking to the visionary men behind Corinna, it seems their only real regret is not being able to spend more time there. “Hopefully that will change soon,” says Max with a twinkle in his eye.

Photography: A boardwalk marks the start of one of Corinna’s many treks into the neighbouring Tarkine 14 FIND OUT MORE CAR CARE Half a century on, Ken Bailey has been celebrating a half-century of service to that ALF A one firm. If the sharper arithmeticians among to the professionals, and in any case the you have spotted a slight discrepancy, that’s service intervals these days are enormous. We because Ken left the company for six months used to see a car every 5000 kilometres, but CENTURY (he went up to Coffs Harbour and worked as today’s reliability means they don’t come back to a hospital handyman) but soon returned and us nearly as often as that.” h served the ‘extra’ six months that took him to his 50 not out with Baker Motors. Ken offered some good old-fashioned advice O F S E R V I C E about checking tyres, oil and water (when cold). Ken was a mechanic for 20 years, arriving back We asked Honda Australia’s own Technical Some interesting events occurred in 1963. at Baker Motors just about on time to work on Training Manager and customer service a new car called the Civic; he served another 26 specialist Jim Kerr to expand on what owners Australians could connect to the world ‘The Body’ – was born. as Service Manager and is now on the Warranty can do (and what they shouldn’t) to ensure their side of the business. “No more dirty hands!” Honda stays in the best possible condition. a lot better thanks to the introduction More significantly for our purposes, in he quipped when we spoke to him for Honda of International Direct Dialling. Roy March 1963 a man by the name of Ken Magazine. He doesn’t get the kind of dirt that “These tips should help Honda owners to Emerson and Margaret Court connected Bailey started working for a family firm used to fall on him when he was crawling under maintain their vehicle in a mechanical sense cattle trucks either, but that’s another story. with tennis balls well enough and often called Baker Motors in Albury. His life enough to win the Australian Open sin- would be devoted to working on bodies Asked what tips he could offer Honda owners on looking after their vehicles, Ken said: gles titles. And Elle Macpherson – aka of a different kind… “Everything has changed beyond all recognition in my time in the business. The Photography: (left) Vintage art: Honda Civic 1973; (background) Vintage engine drawing; biggest change, I suppose, is that most things (right) Ken Bailey and his wife at Baker Motors. are now computerised. “Nowadays we plug in a laptop and run what they call a diagnostic check. I used to give my diagnosis like a doctor – by putting my stethoscope on and listening carefully to the heartbeat of the car!”

On more than one occasion Ken would come to the rescue when an owner who was a wannabe mechanic came in with a problem – the biggest being when one sorry soul arrived with an entire engine and gearbox in bits and left it for Mr. Bailey to do the Humpty-Dumpty job and put it without voiding their warranty,” Jim explained, all back together again. “but also to keep their car in the best condition possible from the aesthetic side of things (body Of all the Hondas he has worked on, Ken and looks). That in turn will give them the best recalled the Prelude as “a car that got you possible chance of a good trade-in value should thinking a bit”, with complex components like they wish to on sell it to upgrade to a newer ABS brakes, but by and large modern cars are Honda model. Of course all scheduled services trouble-free. “I see virtually no warranty claims and or repairs should be completed by an from Honda owners,” he told us. “Most approved Honda dealer.” customers have the good sense to leave things SEE Jim’s guidelines - next page

16 3. All components must work efficiently: knobs, may be a possible fault with the braking system. vents, also air conditioning unit bacterial smell can be treated at your local Honda dealer. 6. Do not mix brands of brake fluids and once the brake fluid container is opened it should not 4. Steering wheels can wear and deteriorate be used again as brake fluid absorbs moisture with time – not a good look for resale as this is from the air, which can cause deterioration in front of your face and easily noticed by to metal components. Brake fluid on a paint prospective buyers, therefore periodically surface will damage the paint finish; if spilled, inspect for damage and clean using the wash off immediately using copious amounts of Here are appropriate cleaners. water. 5. Accessories: once again use genuine 7. Oil stains: if you find any oil stains on the Jim’s guidelines Honda components as others can take away garage floor or driveway, have your vehicle the authentic Honda look as well as causing checked by a Honda dealer as there may be a to help keep your separate issues. problem. 6. Smoking inside the cabin causes smells and 8. Visually check for coolant stains, power Honda happy... discoloration to roof lining and trims. steering leaks if applicable, check drive belts for cracks or splits, if any are evident again have these checked by a Honda dealer. fitted to your vehicle are Honda genuine parts. Non-genuine Honda accessories may cause 9. Automatic transmission levels: using dip E x t e r i o r : G e n e r a l C o n d i t i o n vehicle reliability issues due to the electrical Under-bonnet maintenance: stick, check owner’s manual for best procedure, systems used which have not been tried and and use only genuine Honda oils recommended tested by Honda. Regular Checks & Top-Ups 1. On a regular basis ensure all tyre pressures for your vehicle. If unsure check with your local are checked including the spare (most people Honda dealer. 6. Poor-quality repairs have a significant 1. Scheduled service work as per owner’s manual don’t worry about the spare check). Tyre impact on the re-sale of your vehicle. A should be completed by a Honda dealer as they condition includes tread wear or tread depth: 10. If unsure of any of the points listed go to a quality-approved repairer should repair your use the appropriate test equipment for diagnosis check visually as tread wear could point to Honda dealership for all advice and repairs. At vehicle to maintain its quality and reliability. and use only genuine Honda-approved alignment issues. all times should a customer or Honda owner replacement parts. have any issues either call the dealership for 7. Windscreen wiper blades: you will notice 2. Check all glass for any defects that may cause advice or take the car in for a regular service, when wearing occurs on your windscreen 2. Only Honda qualified technicians who receive the car to be un-roadworthy, mainly front check-up and repairs if these are required. – use only Honda genuine blades or inserts, specialised Honda training should appropriately windscreen for chips or cracks. model-dependent. diagnose and repair your vehicle. 3. Always ensure that the vehicle’s bodywork 3. Check all levels, for example your windscreen is kept clean with no defects such as loose Tyre condition includes tread washer bottle, and use only approved Honda bumpers. Use the correct type of detergents and cleaning additives as many household cleaners wear or tread depth: check cleaners recommended for automotive cleaning used as detergents could harm the paint finish. as many household detergents could be harmful I N t e r i o r : G e n e r a l C o n d i t i o n visually as tread wear could to the paint finish. 4. Engine oil: use only the correct engine oil point to alignment issues. 1. All areas should be kept clean and in best recommended for your engine, noting that 4. Use a good quality automotive wax Photography: Vintage art - Honda instrument panel. possible condition, especially seats as they show engine oils vary from engine to engine or model periodically to maintain and protect the paint most wear and tear damage. to model. finish. 2. Keep carpets clean and free of foreign 5. Brake fluid: check for any visible leaks as there 5. It is recommended that any accessories material as this causes premature wear and tear. 17 PRODUCT

Photography: (left) all-new City Display Audio head unit; (right, top-bottom) Phone Connectivity in the all-new “COMING TO A HONDA NEAR YOU...” Odyssey; Access your phonebook via Display Audio. #Currently only compatible with iOS mobile devices (iPhone® 5 and newer).

Readers who, like your editor, are time-challenged may remember that familiar phrase – except the word was ‘cinema’ rather than ‘Honda’ as we waited for the latest audio-visual treat. Honda owners now have it at their fingertips…

It may now be the most alarming word in the English language.

‘DISCONNECTED’: it sets the nerves on edge, puts panic at the top of our personal or professional agenda, spells absolute disaster – especially in developed societies where information is like plasma: its circulation has to be non-stop.

Honda is here to help create and develop a sustainably mobile society, and a key aspect of mobility these days is uninterrupted connectivity. So please say ‘Hello’ to Honda Display Audio# , an exciting step in in-car connectivity coming to a Honda model near you very soon – if it isn’t there already.

Display Audio is next-generation in-vehicle connectivity which allows you to use the ultimate mobile device: your car. The best thing about it is that it brings your digital way of living right into the car while leaving your own digits exactly where they should be: in control of the car itself.

As well as being intuitive and easy to use, Honda’s famous concern for safety means certain functions can only be accessed when your vehicle is stationary so that there are no dangerous distractions of the kind we see so often on our roads these days. 18 What is Display Audio? In a nutshell:- Photograph: (main) Display Audio featuring Hondalink Navigation; Advanced technology for today’s connected car (right) Display Audio head unit featuring MIXTRAX™ and »» HondaLink Navigation Premium AUS apps. »» 7-inch LCD screen with smartphone functionality at your fingertips »» Swipe/tap/pinch activation Honda’s connection between you and your Honda available on the Display Audio screen. It will help Later this year Honda will take this further with »» Hands-free calling via Bluetooth® through your smartphone and Display Audio unit. It plan the fastest or shortest route, find your way the HondaLink™ App, a cloud-based suite »» HDMI cable connectivity delivers a new era of infotainment. around tolls if you wish and allow you to include delivering the ultimate ‘middle-man’ to you and your »» Siri® Eyes Free mode when paired with multiple waypoints as well. car. Honda owners will be able to get real time ^ compatible iPhone via Bluetooth® Starting with the SmartphoneConnection diagnostic information and more. What does it mean? app*, Honda and Honda-approved smartphone Other approved apps include MIXTRAX™ and apps can be downloaded onto your phone and then CarMediaPlayer™, which bring new ways to »» Easy access – to your music, displayed on the Display Audio. Best of all, once access your music and media. your phone, your media and… connected you can use the head unit in your dash to »» Honda satellite navigation and… control the apps on your phone with simple touch But it won’t stop there; Honda will continue to find Coming soon – HondaLinkTM App: the and swipe functionality – giving you greater flexibil- clever and safe ways to bring information and ultimate connection to your Honda. ity to safely control an extraordinary range of new entertainment to the Honda driving experience. functions in your Honda. The world we live in revolves around one virtually irreplaceable instrument: our mobil e phone. Display Using the HondaLink Navigation Premium WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Audio brings all the power of your own ‘phone into AUS app#, Honda brings integrated navigation ® the cockpit with you, so to speak, keeping your of the most intuitive kind within reach of everyone. ^ iPhone and Siri are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S and other countries. Siri Eyes Free is only communications seamless and the information applicable to iOS7 for iPhone 4S or newer *Compatible with iPhone 4 or newer running iOS6.1 and above Users will be able to pre-plan journeys on their #Currently only compatible with iOS mobile devices (iPhone® 5 and newer). HondaLink Navigation Premium app flowing throughHondaLink TM. HondaLink is telephone, plug in and hey presto, all the details are is a paid service available in the iTunes Store. A 3 year subscription retails at $49.99. 19 IN OUR MODERN, CONNECTED TIMES, IT LETS OUR FINGERS DO THE TALKING.

Siri® Eyes Free^ means that compatible iPhone® Photograph: (left) Display Audio with Siri® functionality; users will have voice commands at their disposal (right) Audio and phone connectivity control mounted on the 2014 City steering wheel. through Siri® by pressing and holding the ‘Talk’ button on the steering-wheel, so they can:

»» Send texts or emails »» Read incoming texts or emails »» Access calendar entries, reminders and alarms »» Check the weather »» Use turn-by-turn navigation

To borrow another phrase from older times, the phone companies used to encourage us to use their directories – hard copies with thousands of pages – and let our fingers do the walking. What Display Audio does goes much further: in our modern, connected times, it lets our fingers do the talking… Disconnected? With Display Audio, not a chance!

Display Audio is currently available on the 2014 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FOR Odyssey and 2014 City.

^ iPhone and Siri are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S and other countries. Siri® Eyes Free is only TODAY’S CONNECTED CAR applicable to iOS7 for iPhone 4S or newer 20

ART & SOCIETY

E N E M Y of STORY & PHOTOS BY JANE BURTON TAYLOR Jane Burton Taylor profiles sculptor James Angus, A R C H I T E C T U R E a small-town native with big-city ideas

Photography: Day In Day Out, an installation by sculptor James Angus, forms a colourfully playful counterpoint to the elegant high rise at 1 Bligh Street, Sydney.

As Sydney workers lunch at the cafe “I think sculpture should almost be an underneath James Angus’s installation enemy of architecture rather than a Day In Day Out, they seem oblivious colleague.” to the artwork, but curiously it seems to buffer them from the cool corporate Certainly the artwork is in playful towers that crowd the CBD. The wildly contrast with the architecture and adds a colourful sculpture, made of shapes sense of drama and event to the building, Angus says were drawn from the as well as a fun public space. building’s elliptical plan, is like a people’s forest. It is no accident that Day In Day Out, like much of Angus’s artwork, is intimately “A tangle of surfaces that refract the connected with architecture. city,” Angus wrote about the work when it was first installed. “It should vibrate “I studied art in the Higher School against the surrounding buildings, and Certificate and was going to enrol in other centuries, and it should mark time.” architecture,” he says, “then my teacher pointed out I could go to art school, so at Talking about the work three years the last minute I changed track.” on, the artist, who divides his time between New York and the NSW south The move to New York in 2006 arguably coast, muses that it was largely a increased the sculptor’s passion for the reaction against the finesse of the built environment. He, his wife and their Bligh Street building. daughter live there for part of the year, while the “shack” on the south coast is a “I felt the building itself was so place “to sit and think”. technically sophisticated, extremely beautiful, well sited and so on, it needed “I was born in Perth, a small city,” Angus something bright and lumpy to anchor it says. “When you grow up in a small city and bring it back down to earth,” it’s natural to wonder what becomes of a Angus says. bigger city.”

22 Photography: In Red I-beam Knot the sculptor zooms in on the actual fabric of capitalism, twisting a piece of imagined construction waste into a delicious unlikely object. “Working with new materials

Early on in his career he made models of those, so changing medium is a way to iconic buildings like Rome’s Palazzo della keep your practice fresh.” can create obstacles and it’s Civilta Italiana and Le Corbusier’s 1915 Dom-Ino scheme, always reinventing the Angus is not a conventional artist in the originals in some significant way. Lately, way he uses a studio either, following interesting to solve those, so he has been zooming in for macro takes the dictum of ‘Making art makes art’. on the urban world. An idea can come to him anywhere and he then generally uses 3D modelling changing medium is a way to “I decided I wanted to start working with software to work out how to actually materials at actual scales and up those make it. parameters,” he says. keep your practice fresh.” “I am really not a studio artist, my His most recent body of work, exhibited studio is more like an office,” he says. at Sydney’s Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery and “Objects come and go. But I am always Sydney’s Biennale, included chunks of thinking about the next object. [And] all carefully reconfigured industrial discards, that thinking really happens out of the like the unlikely tangle of steel titled Red studio.” I-beam Knot (2012) or a languid loop of yellow steel, shrouded on one side with A case in point is the idea for his Bugatti concrete. Type 35 (2006), probably his most familiar artwork to Sydneysiders because “We see all sorts of buildings it is currently the first work you see when deliberately dismantled to make room for you walk into the Art Gallery of NSW. new developments. That demolition of The classic blue sports car is angled buildings is very visible in a city like New impossibly, like a 3D snapshot of the York,” Angus says. “It is raw capitalism vehicle distorted and flipped on its side and it stops for no one.” by sheer momentum.

Most current work is fabricated steel, “Ideas come into your head at the the material that forms the skeleton strangest times,” Angus says. “I was of contemporary cities, in particular walking down a street in Brooklyn when skyscrapers. But Angus’s love affair I started thinking about this famous could end any moment. He likes to modernist photo by Lartigue of a car vary materials to fit ideas; and he is with a distorted wheel.” energised by shifting media. He later chose a Bugatti, because it is “Working with new materials can create an icon of modernist speed, and because 33 obstacles and it’s interesting to solve its designer had no formal training as an engineer. 23 Photography: In his work, Truck Corridor, Angus played with scale and reality by apparently squeezing a Mack truck into a too-narrow corridor at the Art Gallery of NSW. “Ideas come into your head at the sTRangest times”

Above: James Angus Photography: (left) Bugatti Type 35, is arguably Angus’s best Photography: (right) Shangri-La, presented at the 13th Biennale in the Sydney Opera House, known work, generally on show in the first gallery at the NSW Art Gallery, is another of Angus’s works that humorously plays with scale and purpose. it is a cleverly distorted take on the iconic sports car.

“That is partially why the car was so blood orange Giraffe (1997), awkwardly revolutionary,” Angus explains. “It was positioned to fit into its exhibition space. the first car with aluminium wheel hubs Many of these artworks by Angus and the lightest sports of its time.” were commissioned. He also has regular exhibitions in Sydney, as well as in New Besides an understandable respect for York and Paris. And if you are in Sydney ground-breaking thinkers, Angus has this year for the Biennale head to the a serious thread in his work that the MCA to see his work there, or for a Bugatti typifies: playing with reality and coffee under Day In Day Out at making works that shift it, slightly. 1 Blight Street.

“[I like to] get this vibration between Arguably, Angus’s more current works what I am reconfiguring and what it suggest that the artist has become really is,” he says. more subtle with the years. But you can’t really anticipate anything too much with There are many other kindred works this Australian New York-based artist: that predate the endearing Bugatti. his studio, which remember is in his They include Truck Corridor (2004), a mind, could lead him anywhere. work which appeared to shoehorn a Mack truck into a NSW Art Gallery James Angus shows at Sydney’s hallway and Shangri-La (2002) which Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery. See: uncomfortably squeezed a hot air www.roslynoxley9.com.au for more. balloon, upside down, into a foyer in the opera house, and earlier still, a life-sized

“[I like to] get this vibration between what I am reconfiguring and what it really is,”

25 SPONSORSHIP

RE-INVENTING TWO WHEELS

Grand Prix winner Daryl Beattie doesn’t like sitting still. In fact the call of the outback is so strong that the former Honda favourite has a new venture in the offing – and it sounds like a lot of fun.

26 R E -INV NTING

Photography: (above) Daryl Beattie in action (1992); Dateline Hockenheim, (right, top-bottom) Daryl Beattie on his CRF450X and ex-Army Unimog; Australian Outback; June 13 1993: Daryl Beattie Adventures tour group – photo by Free Wheeling Magazine Australia’s Daryl Beattie on a Honda Beattie with Honda, whose 500cc wins the German Grand Prix, his first machines he rode in his full debut victory in the road-racing World season of 1993 alongside Doohan. Championship. Three other podiums in that memorable season carried Beattie Honda has laid on eight brand-new to third place overall behind Wayne CRF450X four-stroke off-road bikes, Rainey in second place and Kevin duly kitted out with 21-litre endurance Since I stopped Schwantz in first. fuel tanks and Michelin all-terrain racing I’ve always loved to tyres, for the patrons of Daryl Beattie Runner-up to Mick Doohan two years Adventures to enjoy. get away, go fishing and enjoy later, Beattie won three Grands Prix, what our country has to offer

ground away all the toes on one foot in In order to keep it simple and intimate, T WO a very nasty accident at Le Mans, and Beattie will limit each tour to six riders eventually retired from competitive plus himself at the head of the group motorcycle racing after six seasons in and a sweep rider following for the top flight. safety reasons.

Now he is a popular television analyst In 2014 he will lead these small, select – but probably not for much longer. bands of bikers on each of seven While he will still co-commentate on tours into some of Australia’s most this season’s MotoGP races for the stunning areas. The first of them began Ten Network, the 43-year-old on March 27 and took in a crossing of WHEE LS Queenslander is in the process of the Simpson Desert as it made its re–inventing himself. “I like to change way from Birdsville to Alice Springs. what I do every 10 years or so,” he Another destination is one of the tour told Honda Magazine, “and this time leader’s personal favourites. I’m going to combine the things I love most: bikes, the outback and the “Since I stopped racing I’ve always bush.” loved to get away, go fishing and enjoy what our country has to offer,” he Daryl Beattie Adventures is the latest explains. “I’ve got to know Cape York example of Daryl’s determination to quite well and I wanted the people re-invent himself and by far the most who come along with me to find out spectacular to date. It also re-unites why I enjoy it so much.” 27 Three DBA tours will start at Cairns “This is a personal in 2014 and head for the tip of north-eastern Queensland; another passion,” says Beattie, Birdsville-Alice ride will follow the “and something I want famous Finke Desert Race; but the to share with others.” daddy of them all will be the ride from Uluru to Broome. If you would like to be one of those That trip, rated at level four others, go to: toughness (out of five) as opposed to the level three for the Cape York rides, www.darylbeattieadventures.com.au will see the party head due west to Wiluna, pick up the legendary Canning for further information on how to hook Stock Route to Halls Creek and finish up with one of our greatest riders and on the shores of the Indian Ocean. explore the great Australian landscape. Beattie believes his tours, hand- picked after a lifetime of travel in the outback, will be popular with competent riders with some dirt-bike SEE THE MAP experience – which Daryl acquired WHEE LS R E -INV NTING T WO before heading off to his Grand Prix BELOW FOR KEY NORTHERN POINT career and picked up again when that TOUR POINTS was over.

But off the bikes, life will be considerably less demanding: Beattie is also very keen on his tucker, CAIRNS so a hard day’s ride will be followed BROOME by good food, a coldie or two and the inevitable telling of tall tales. START / END TOUR POINTS Beattie has also acquired an ex-Army AVAILABLE ADVENTURE TOURS: ALICE SPRINGS Unimog which will greet the group at every stop-over so that baggage, 1. CAPE YORK TOUR - CAIRNS TO YULARA AUSTRALIA’S MOST NORTHERN TIP BIRDSVILLE bedding and other necessities – like a (6 DAYS) shower at the end of the day – pose 2. DESERT TO WA COAST TOUR - YULARA no problem. TO BROOME (18 DAYS) 3. SIMPSON DESERT TOUR - BIRDSVILLE TO ALICE SPRINGS (6 DAYS) GPS tracking will help them stay in 4. FINKE DESERT RACE TOUR - BIRDSVILLE touch with the outside world, while TO ALICE SPRINGS (8 DAYS) Beattie believes the social media following will be a big part of the pleasure – boosted by frequent stops to capture the sights on camera. Photography: (top-bottom) Daryl Beattie Adventures tour group – photo by Free Wheeling Magazine; Daryl Beattie on tour; CRF450X in the moonlight – photo by Free Wheeling Magazine. 28 TRAVEL

I F Y O U R ‘A R T ’S I N I T, H E A D F O R L O N D O N

WORDS & SOME PHOTOS BY BELINDA JACKSON

PardOn the pun in our title, but the British capital is bursting with a fresh wave of creativity, with new galleries, architecture and a sense of carefree joy on the streets, discovers Belinda Jackson.

Photography: (main) The Serpentine Gallery, in Kensington Gardens by John Offenbach; (right) The Arcelor Mittal Orbit sculpture in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.

Olympics, royal babies, Wimbledon winners: of Tate Modern visitor numbers will surely jump this Other highlights on the London art scene include London’s been served a rare trifecta of triumphs, year with the display of the $50m diamond- the re-opening of the towering Arcelor Mittal Orbit and in 2013 had more visitors than Paris. There’s an encrusted skull by British favourite Damien Hirst; sculpture by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond. unmissable joie de vivre on its streets and through the celebrated artist is himself opening a private Commissioned for the London Olympics, the white, futuristic signature curves of Zaha Hadid its cultural scene, creating a rich calendar and gallery next year in Vauxhall. 114.5-metre engineering feat in Queen Elizabeth II Architects contrast with the gentle sensibilities of wealth of art in public spaces. Park is the UK’s tallest sculpture, with two the original Serpentine Gallery, a former tea garden Its secretive sister, the Tate Britain, has enjoyed a observation platforms open to the public built nearly a century earlier, on the other side of London is home to the Tate Modern, the world’s dramatic, £45-million facelift, with strengthened (arcelormittalorbit.com). the water. Together, they present modern and most popular museum, with more than five million floors to accommodate gargantuan sculptural pieces contemporary art including an annual temporary visitors last year alone. It also now includes a new and its 500-strong permanent collection of British Another of London’s key public works is the new summer pavilion featuring a leading architect who extension which is home to the world’s first art kicks off with Hans Holbein in 1526 and ends in a Serpentine Sackler Gallery, set by the Serpentine has not yet built in the UK galleries for performance and live art. The number saucy take of Ronald McDonald as a totem. Lake in Kensington Gardens, central London. The (serpentinegalleries.org). 29 W A L K T H R O U G H T H E C E N T U R I E S

Photography: (main) The Thames flows past the Shard and the rounded City Hall, beneath Tower Bridge; (below, left-right) Room with a view: sleeping high in the Shangri-La hotel; The modern Gherkin overlooks the medieval London Tower, photo by Belinda Jackson; Architect Zaha Hadid’s sinuous white addition to the Serpentine Sackler Gallery, photo by Luke Hayes.

Hardworking and industrious, the London Bridge quarter balances new glamour and old-school grit. Take the Tube or train to busy London Bridge station then follow the architecture through the centuries. Just outside the station, you’ll find the London Bridge Experience. Tower Bridge, opened 1894, for a spectacular, skyscraper, The Shard, by architect Renzo Piano If you’re looking for Viking London or the quintessentially London photo stop. The bridge leads of Paris’ Centre Pompidou fame. The luxury thousand-year-old London Tombs, then stroll west across to the hulking Tower of London, which has Shangri-La Hotel, located in Western Europe’s on Tooley Street for the dramatic architecture of held its own for 900 years. Its construction started tallest tower, opens 6 May (96 Tooley St). Hay’s Galleria. Built in the 1850s, this is the place in 1075, and its backdrop is of the latest London where tea clippers would deliver their exotic skyscrapers, including the Gherkin – aka 30 St Mary Cross London Bridge (pausing midway for more produce to the busy London Pool. Now packed with Axe, opened in 2004 – another Norman Foster photos of Tower Bridge and the floating Imperial Shard for a bird’s-eye view of your journey cafes, it’s a good stop for coffee or a sidewalk lunch. project. War Museum, HMAS Belfast) and take a quick (3-5pm Monday to Friday, the-shard.com). detour to the right into the busy Borough Markets Continue along the river’s edge, past architectural Skirting the Tower’s wide, dry moat and heavy walls, to stock up on British produce (open Wednesday- Open House London opens the door to more than powerhouses Foster + Partners’ skewed sphere follow the marked Thames Path along the river’s Saturday) then regroup with high tea or sunset 800 contemporary and historic buildings across the that is the City Hall (opened 2002) and on to edge for spectacular views of the city’s newest drinks back in Aqua restaurant on Level 31 of the city, 20-21st Sept, 2014, londonopenhouse.org 30 DIARY DATES Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs at Tate Modern, 17 April-7 September, tate.org.uk

Frieze Art Fair: for contemporary art and living artists, held in a temporary structure in Regents Park, 16-19 October, friezelondon.com

Hello, my name is Paul Smith: internationally recognisable British fashion designer Paul Smith’s exhibition at the Design Museum, until June 22, designmuseum.org

London Design Festival: with events in 300 venues across the city, headquarters in the V&A Museum, 13-21 September, Photography (clockwise): Street art on Hackney’s Chatsworth Rd; Real ales and informal dining tables put life back into the 18th-century pub; londondesignfestival.com The Clapton Hart. Photos by Belinda Jackson. New Order: British Art Today III: Press, where you’ll find lino-cuts, etchings and at Saatchi Gallery, renowned for its ability E A S T E R N limited-edition screen-printed children’s books by to unearth new talent, Kings Rd, Chelsea P R O M I S E local artist Liz Loveless (factorypress.co.uk). (dates TBC) saatchigallery.com Hackney and surrounds are also street-art The Invisible City: a colony of giant hotspots, with the world-famous Banksy working the Outside the medieval wall that once surrounded the Rd), Afro-Caribbean spice shops, cafes churning out walls in his early years. A quick internet search will treehouse pavilions will open in this City of London, the East End is London’s bad boy. coffee good enough for a southern Australian palette give directions to his work, much of it now protect- summer by the Boating Lake in Regent’s But some of its most-maligned suburbs, such as (how about Palm2, 152-156 Lower Clapton Rd) and ed. Park. What you do in them is up to you. Hackney – once a well-to-do medieval village – are East End markets given a slick twist: turn up hungry theinvisiblecity.com also undergoing a resurgence of groove from street at Chatsworth Rd Market (Sundays 11am-4pm). Other addresses on the art-lover’s list should include markets to organic cafes and galleries. In short: the Not so long ago, you wouldn’t walk down the artists’ lab LimeWharf for design conversations White Cube Gallery: revered gallery for stars are in the East. Hackney’s main street, Upper and Lower Clapton and musical performances (limewharf.org ), Roads, beset with internecine gang in-fighting. contemporary art, 144 -152 Bermondsey Stour Space for month-long, large-scale exhibitions St, Bermondsey. 25 Mason’s Yard, St The first bomb of World War One was dropped from “It was called the Murder Mile,” says artist, by emerging artists (stourspace.co.uk) and The a Zeppelin into a Hackney pub, playwright Harold resident and guide Mae Shummo. “Now the gang White Building, where artist studios are open to the James, whitecube.org Pinter was a local and this is the original home of warfare has been cleaned up, Hackney’s been freed public complete with a highly rated, canal-side craft plastic, known as ‘parkesine’ after its inventor, up for change.” brewery and pizzeria More Info: visitlondon.com Alexander Parkes. (thewhitebuilding.org.uk). Shying away from the city’s high rents (though Belinda Jackson was a guest of The demographic is a spicy mix of Turkish cafes and fast catching up), the area is dotted with bolthole Urban Gentry (urbangentry.com) runs Urban Gentry and VisitBritain. shisha houses (try Dom’s Place, 199 Lower Clapton galleries and artist workshops, such as Factory bespoke art, food and fashion tours of London. 31 THE HONDA FOUNDATION

the classroom, which includes, most Now took on the task of introducing the importantly, a stuffed monkey to take the place program to Australian schools. “Our intention – temporarily – of the missing child. was to create some goodness from the sad situations that many children are confronted The kit also comes with a backpack, an with,” Mr. Pedersen explains. “In Australia explanatory book and a companion guide for we have the special advantage of using what teachers so that everyone in the classroom can works from overseas experience.” play a part in understanding why their young friends are no longer there in person, and how But he is at pains to point out that ‘Monkey in they can play a part in keeping the missing my Chair’ is aimed at all children affected by THE HONDA FOUNDATION SUPPORTS ‘THERE’S A MONKEY IN MY CHAIR’ children’s spirits up. disease and illness. It is not cancer-specific, even though the statistics concerning Given the clever technology we now enjoy, paediatric deaths from cancer make the program also gives online access to terrifying reading. ‘Monkey Message’, allowing children to share photographs, documents and educational activities as if there were no gaps on the “It’s a far bigger net classroom benches at all. we’re throwing,” he insists. “That’s why it’s so important.” The ‘Monkey in my Chair’ program originated in the United States and came to Australia At the time of writing, ‘Monkey in my Chair’ with the help of a man who knows, more was in its Australian infancy, so to speak – acutely than most, the calamitous loss of a Photography: Monkey in Tobi’s chair and Tobi in hospital with Monkey. only around 20 kids had been taken on board. child. One of the most recent was five-year-old Tobi Duggin, from St Clare’s School in Townsville. It’s time to own up. If you are a parent, how often have you thought Ren Pedersen’s live-wire daughter Amy was Tobi was diagnosed with leukemia at the age stricken by one of the most aggressive forms ‘You little monkey!’ when one or other of your brood got up to of three. His Mum Kristy was happy to go of cancer known to mankind, DIPG – a cancer along when the school called her in towards mischief? If you are a teacher, how often have you gazed out at your of the brain stem – and lost her battle with the the end of last year to suggest the ‘Monkey in disease at the age of just nine. classroom and seen, not attentive kids, but so many little monkeys my Chair’ program to help her and her family. looking for a bit of fun at your expense? “I was more than happy to see what they had Ren then let trusted lieutenants run his to say,” Kristy told us, “and now I would crane hire business as he started the fully definitely recommend the program to families If you were truthful in your answers to the aim is to make children aware of their friends’ independent Australian chapter of an in a similar situation.” above, then you may be intrigued to know that absence when illness strikes and the boy or organisation called The Cure Starts Now, his monkeys really are starting to play a role in the girl affected can no longer be physically aim being to co-ordinate fund-raising activities “Tobi went in for chemotherapy last week and classroom and in the lives of children across present in the classroom. to help drive research into the disease that had had the little guy with him; we spoke to his Australia. taken his daughter. All right, we admit it: they’re not real monkeys, In January this year The Honda Foundation but their presence is proving as beneficial as When ‘Monkey in my Chair’ was founded in announced a grant of $5000 to assist a the mischievous animal in question might be. the USA some four years ago, The Cure Starts program called ‘Monkey in my Chair’, whose ‘Monkey in my Chair’ puts a monkey kit into 3132 class at assembly and being in the program illness in general. But his crusade goes beyond will keep him linked in with them; Monkey will that obvious ambition. It may interest readers sit in his chair any time Tobi has to be out of of a certain generation to know that school.” Ren Pedersen is a self-confessed Johnny Cash nut. One of the reasons, he will happily tell The good news: Tobi is due to come out of you, is that the Man in Black’s life was IV chemotherapy in December and finish oral governed by some fundamental principles. One treatment next January. As Ren Pedersen said of them was, as Mr. Pedersen puts it, “going in on meeting Tobi, “The sparkle in that little to bat for people who have no voice”. And that boy’s eyes was so good to see.” means kids.

One of the reasons for Mr. Pedersen’s delight “Children don’t vote, so all they at the grant from The Honda Foundation was that it signalled a shift in awareness. “It’s only can usually score is a 90-second recently that we have begun to see some sob story in a news bulletin,” corporate recognition of our efforts,” he told us, “and that is what makes The Honda he adds. “We are obsessed with so-called Foundation’s generosity so significant. Now we celebrities, and our children are not are seeing some interest from Ronald celebrities, are they? I should say in passing MacDonald House as well, which would that the late Neil Armstrong had a child whose be a massive thing for us.” life was taken early – I wish that he had been more outspoken about it, which would have The grant from The Honda Foundation will highlighted the problem for many people.” allow Mr. Pedersen to acquire a further 50 ‘Monkey in my Chair’ kits from the overseas More than anything, ‘Monkey in my Chair’ supplier; in addition, it will cover delivery costs represents one strand of a busy life led, more to any part of the enormous Australian than ever, in Amy Pedersen’s cause. “I often continent. think that if someone, many years ago, had championed this cause then my daughter might “But it’s far more than 50 individuals that will be here today,” says Mr. Pedersen. “I promised benefit,” he points out. “Immediate and Amy that I will not give up, so we must keep extended families, school staff and many other on rolling that boulder up the hill. This is my people will be directly touched.” Ren Pedersen life’s work…” calls himself a DIPG foot-soldier.

The work he and his associates carry out is essential, he says, because so often parents are too fatigued, mentally and physically, to carry on with the perpetual sadness that is DIPG advocacy in particular and childhood

3133 HISTORY

S E N N A ~ Mr Honda himself had a very soft spot for one of the men who drove cars powered by his peerless engines. In 2014, as Honda prepares for its F1 return, it is 20 years since the sport took the great Brazilian Ayrton Senna da Silva from us. International F1 journalist Tim Collings enjoys some Photography: Senna at the 1990 Mexico GP. rare insights. yrton Senna da Silva: is the man’s legacy for drivers’ safety and the humility that was so “A to be recalled in mere statistics or in visible with children and ordinary motor racing meaningful memories? Numbers on a page or fans confirm the passion and personality of a man emotions stirred? Sporting supremacy – or rare whose death 20 years ago, in 1994, was to be humanity? remembered again so vividly, on May 1.

The stories of his on-track talent, the utter That afternoon, at Imola, capped a black determination and all-consuming passion are weekend at the San Marino Grand Prix, where well chronicled. Indeed, 161 Grands Prix, 64 pole Senna started his final race from pole position. positions, 87 front row starts and 41 victories Saturday’s qualifying had brought the brutal reflect all that. death of Austrian Roland Ratzenberger, a shock that sent a shudder of apprehension and misery Ninety-six of those races and 35 wins were with through the overcrowded paddock. Sunday the McLaren Honda partnership (to be rejoined delivered more. in 2015). His rivalry with Alain Prost, his concern 34 “Consumed by passion for racing, he embodied that spirit which Honda has always articulated for the sport”

But in this anniversary year, as Honda prepare The memory and the self-mocking way he spelled their comeback, it is Senna the man that many, out my son’s name endorsed the man’s kindness. including this correspondent, will remember: the smiles, jokes and kindnesses that were a part of ‘What are you doing? What do you want all these his unique charisma. Yes, the memory plays tricks trunks for?’ he was asked. on us, but not when so many remember the same things at the same place. By way of answer, he produced a list of names and shoe sizes. It was a very long list, including In a rush at the Hungaroring in 1987, he stopped the identity of at least 75 people who worked to answer a question with a serious frown. In for him in his organisation to help the poor and Lotus overalls, he smiled and then ran on to catch unprivileged people of São Paulo. lost time. Later that year, at Monza, he shuffled in slanting late-summer sunshine as he stood with ‘I need these big cases,’ he explained. ‘To pack Prost at a McLaren gathering to announce the the shoes for my people. I come here myself and formation of a dream team – Prost and Senna, choose the shoes. They are put in them and then McLaren and Honda. we send them back to Brazil. Everyone has a pair chosen by me.’ In Paris, when the sport’s ruling body celebrated 500 Grands Prix, he agreed to sign a menu printed He smiled again. Not at his own satisfaction, but for the occasion. ‘Joshua? How do you spell that?’ at the prospect of delighting a compatriot on the he asked after mistaking the name for George, other side of the world. more common in English at the time. He duly signed and remembered. It was a simple story of Senna’s way of living, an insight into the man and a memory that has Another private moment lives in the memory. helped construct a lasting legacy of his After another championship season was over, individuality. He cared. And that is why at other passions spent, inside the David Jones times and other places, he was seen to boil with department store in Adelaide, your scribe walked rage, pour forth profanities, take risks that others into a scene to behold – Senna, who had been at could not understand or drive with such sublime the centre of a stormy season, contemplating a sensitivity and speed that he appeared pile of stacked trunks in the luggage area. untouchable, unequalled.

‘Hey, you again!’ he grinned. ‘I don’t always agree Consumed by passion for racing, he embodied with you. But I respect what you write and your that spirit which Honda has always articulated opinion, your view.’ A warm handshake and even for the sport. Consumed by compassion, in other warmer smile followed. ‘So, how is J-o-s-h-u-a?” parts of his life, he is still remembered by some of us for that most important quality. Senna cared. Photography: Senna driving the MacLaren MP 4/4. 35 H o n d a b r o c h u r e s for ipad j a z z , c i v i c s e d a n , c i v i c h a t c h , a c c o r d, a c c o r d e u r o , i n s i g h t , o d y s s e y , c r - v , c r - z , c i t y TRAVEL

TIME TO GO WALK ON THE MOON

STORY AND PHOTOS BY WILL GRAY

Will Gray heads to Huntsville, Alabama, home of NASA’s Mission to the Moon, to discover the secrets of the space race and to get a taste of how it feels to be an astronaut.

Photography: The heart of Space Camp is a full-size mock-up of part of the International Space Station.

37 TIME TO GO WALK ON THE MOON

Photography: Will Gray tries out the Manned Manoeuvring Unit in Space Camp’s simulation area.

“Do you get sick?” asks the boiler-suited boffin strapping me into what looks like a high-tech human hamster ball. Well, as all good astronauts would concur, there’s only one way to find out.

Sitting in a metal seat with my wrists strapped It is also home to Space Camp, a globally unique tightly down and a five-point harness sucking training centre designed to feed the passion and all the air out of my lungs, I am about to be put aspirations of wannabe astronauts both young through the kind of training space legends and old. Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin experienced before their Apollo mission to the moon way The buzz begins on arrival, when visitors are back in 1969. welcomed by a 36-storey Saturn V rocket model that towers over the interstate highway As the motors whirr I tip slowly backwards, a at the entrance and a fully assembled Space gentle introduction to what will soon be a wild Shuttle launch craft sitting beside the car park. ride. The multi-axis trainer quickly gets into full swing: my body is spinning around faster But that’s just the start. and faster, my eyes starting to lose focus as the NASA sign attached to the frame flies past The US Space and Rocket Centre museum is my face at what seems like the 100th different NASA’s original visitor centre and still its most angle. impressive, housing more than 1,500 articles of space memorabilia. “How you feeling?” I hear the controller shout, the direction from which it came lost in a blur. The whole story of space exploration to date “Yeah, pretty good,” I lie. “Great. We’ll take it is laid out in a detailed timeline along the up another notch then.” Eugh. two flanks of a real, genuine Saturn V rocket restored to its former glory after being found Really? rusting on site and now suspended 10 feet above the gallery. After five minutes, but what seemed like five hours, the human gyroscope coasts to a halt. My It all started when Dr. Werner von Braun, the eyeballs settle. I am, I think, back up the right German-born creator of the V2 rockets used in way. “OK,” calls the boffin. “Time to go walk on World War II, was taken to America as part of a the moon.” top-secret operation in 1950.

Huntsville holds legendary status in America’s He was deployed to what was then a tiny obsession with space. It was here at NASA’s Alabama town as director of the newly-formed Marshall Space Flight Centre where engineers space centre, where he put his combat rocket designed and built the rockets for the Apollo concept to more positive use in the Gemini and programme in the 1960s and 1970s. This is now Saturn rockets that put the first US satellite into the place from which the USA manages all the orbit and sent the first men to the moon. activities of the astronauts on the International Photography: A rocket at the______. Space Station. 38 TIME TO GO WALK ON THE MOON

It all grew from there: Huntsville engineers The tailored programmes are focused on space developed power for the space shuttle, mission role-plays and include elements such as designed and built modules for the International model rocket construction, space station living Space Station and are now working on the next and, of course, the space flight simulators. generation spacecraft Ares I and Ares V. Which is why I am now strapped into a small seat suspended from the ceiling of a giant From giant rocket thrusters to tiny wind hanger, bouncing along a crater-filled floor as I tunnel models, the whole story of the US space try to walk in the conditions found on the moon. programme is told through a journey around the This feat is far more difficult than it looks. museum’s exhibits. The 1/6th gravity chair, like the multi-axis The biocapsule that took ‘monkeynaut’ Baker to trainer I had tried earlier and the manned space and back sits a few hundred metres from manoeuvring unit which replicates the space her gravesite, where she was buried in 1984 arm astronauts used on the Shuttle are all real after living here to the age of 27; there are tools used in the training of real astronauts. Apollo crew suits and Apollo Mania toys; replicas of the Lunar Rover and Lunar Lander; The multi-axis machine was created for the various examples of genuine moon rock; the Apollo missions to replicate a spacecraft going charred Apollo 16 command module and casts into a flat spin – one of the biggest dangers of of the hands of the three men on the moon. space flight in the early days. When used for real, it had mini rockets the astronaut would try You can even see samples of the dried meals to fire to counteract the wild ride and bring it eaten by the Apollo astronauts...not to mention back to stability. a fecal collection system. Some of the more advanced courses, and the It’s all very hands-on, and you can clamber into associated fighter jet pilot courses, even have the tight confines of the cabin from the Apollo use of a microgravity-simulating underwater Command Module Mission Simulator, stroll flotation tank and a centrifuge that simulates through the Apollo 12 Mobile Quarantine the super g-force levels experienced on lift-off Facility and look around the training centre for or on high-g aircraft turns. the first-ever space station. Given its heritage, there is no better place than But it’s the Space Academy that really delivers Huntsville to play with these big boys toys while the full space experience. Initially focused on understanding why they were so vital for the children, the facility was started in 1982 with development of the space race. the aim of promoting maths, science and technology. There is now everything from a And even if you went in a space sceptic, you’ll two-day try-out to full two-week courses – come out a space nut. and it’s available for adults too.

Note: This story was also published in the Daily Telegraph UK earlier this year.

Photography: (top) Huntsville is the only place you can see the Space Shuttle complete with genuine fuel tanks and booster rockets; (below) The outdoor Rocket Park tells the story of the development of space rockets. 39 MOTORSPORT

Photography: Exhibition at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. MOTORSPORT ROUND-UP

40 were denied a 100% winning record only to the exhaust turbine of the pressure-charging when a driver with no F1 experience took out system.“The energy management system in the race-leading Honda of Ayrton Senna at particular is something that is placed upon the Monza that year. automotive manufacturer as a challenge to solve,” added Arai-san. “F1 gives us a new “We feel that the environmental technology and challenge to balance the speed with achieving F1, the pinnacle of motorsport, are converging to these environmental technologies.” create this new racing,” said Honda’s Yasuhisa Arai when the return to F1 was announced in Dire warnings of unreliability in the relatively May 2013. “It is this good, positive direction that untried new machinery seemed to have been inspired us to come back.” borne out within moments of the start of practice for the Australian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton’s For Arai-san and his colleagues the real Mercedes coasted to a halt with sensor failure. challenge of the new engine era lies in understanding and mastering the energy But by the end of the race itself three days later it management systems that are part and parcel of was Hamilton’s teammate Nico Rosberg who won the modern turbo-charged world. with Mercedes power – the engine technology that Honda must supplant at McLaren when the With fuel loads limited to 100 kilograms per new partnership begins next year. car per Grand Prix, and fuel flow – the trap that caught Ricciardo out – also limited Honda anticipates that heat recovery technology in particular will eventually transfer to production cars, while the hybrid technology in which the company has played NOT MUCH SOUND - PLENTY OF FURY such a pioneering role with its “When you go to a night-club you don’t expect make the most of what the team can give them. production cars will be to hear Chris de Burgh singing ‘Lady in Red’, do invaluable when it comes to similar you?” But getting back to DC’s comment, the major systems for its race cars. talking-point around the sport in general was The speaker: 13-time Grand Prix winner turned the eerie quiet. It may have been good news for To finish where we began, Honda television pundit David Coulthard, commenting on residents of the surrounding suburbs, but some F1 CEO Takanobu Ito, speaking at last the sound – or absence of it – made by the new die-hards felt the sound from the new-generation, year’s Tokyo Motor Show in generation of Formula 1 cars that appeared in turbo-charged, single-exhaust ‘power units’ was November, came out with a very public for the first time at Melbourne’s Albert Park distinctly underwhelming. reassuring statement: in March. Further disgruntlement came when local hero The major promise to emerge, as far as Honda Daniel Ricciardo, the man usurping retired F1 to a peak flow of 100 kilograms per hour, teams “Just the other day our new F1 engine under was concerned, was the revitalised state of driver Mark Webber’s place in Australian hearts, will need to harvest and re-use the considerable development was fired up for the first time,” health of the McLaren team itself. When you are was excluded from the results because of an electrical energy now available from more he said. “ seeking to rekindle the passion that led to eight alleged over-stepping of the very stringent fuel developed recovery systems. World Championships and 44 victories together, regulations that are central to F1’s new look. it’s good to know the other half of the equation is The ‘power unit’ consists of six elements, each “Please look forward to travelling well. This goes to the heart of the matter for Honda of which will have to interact flawlessly with all hearing the ‘Honda Music’ as it seeks to create a ‘power unit’ capable of of the others: the V6 engine, the turbo-charger, for the new era.” Veteran Jenson Button – the lone race winner for rivalling the ‘old’ turbo-charged engine’s feats in the Energy Recovery System (ERS), two Motor Honda in its last F1 era earlier this century – and the McLaren cars of the late Eighties. Generator Units (MGU) and the Energy Store. one of the new faces of F1, young Dane Kevin Photography: (left) Australian Grand Prix; Magnussen, were both on the Melbourne podium, In 1988, for example, McLaren Honda claimed 15 One MGU, the MGU-K, is an electrical unit linked (right) Exhibition at the press conference of the so Honda can rest assured the drivers are ready to of the 16 Grands Prix on the calendar – and they to the drive train; the other, the MGU-H, is linked participation in the FIA Formula One World Championship. 4143 Photography: (main) Senior Vice President, Honda Motor Europe, Phillip Ross, speaking at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show; (right) all new Civic WTCC Racer at the Geneva Motor Show.

MARRAKESH EXPRESS STARTS WTCC BALL ROLLING Come on, admit it – you remember Crosby, Stills and Nash warbling on about the Marrakesh Express, don’t you? In the modern version the music of WTCC cars was due to be heard in Morocco as a new WTCC season got up and running.

Three victories and a Manufacturers’ world title: official works team again campaigning a Civic for On the sporting front there is a small but William de Braekeleer, Motorsport Manager Honda will find it hard to surpass their excellent Zengo and Proteam, bringing in Moroccan Mehdi significant change as well. A new qualifying Honda Motor Europe, was quick to point out the achievements in 2013 when the new World Bennani in another privateer Civic. segment, Q3, will take the top five of the 12 challenge that lies ahead when he accepted the Touring Car Championship cranks up this year. drivers from Q2 and give them one single flying 2013 manufacturers’ trophy. “We achieved four New regulations for 2014 have seen aerodynamic lap each to determine the front five starting victories and sixteen other podium results, The series visits 12 venues, with two sprint races changes to the Honda, prepared by J.A.S. positions on the grid for Race 1 at each event. something that gives you a real sense of pride for of 60 kilometres each scheduled at every round Motorsport. They are most obvious in larger, a first year in WTCC,” he said. “And obviously our for a total of 24 races. Starting in Morocco, the 18” wheels, wheel-arch extensions and an As before, the top 10 in Race 1 will be reversed to aim is now to do even better in 2014!” WTCC takes in 12 different countries between extended rear spoiler. provide the first five rows of the grid for Race 2. April and November. Tarquini, one of the world’s most experienced Still running to Super 2000 technical Another important change is that rolling starts are and versatile campaigners behind the wheel, said Driver Gabriele Tarquini (who celebrated his 52nd specifications, the cars’ weight has been reduced a thing of the past, with standing starts now the pure race speed had been the real key to Honda race and who will be 38 mid-year), along with by 50 kilograms to 1100 kg, but there is an extra norm for every race. Civic WTCC’s 2013 success – but cautioned that Norbert Michelisz has been retained in the 50-60 horsepower on tap this year. it’s all about to change for 2014. 42 44 Photography (left): all new Civic WTCC Racer at the Geneva Motor Show; (right) Gabriele Tarquini at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show infront of WTCC Racer.

“Next year will be totally different,” said the As Tarquini added, however, one of the most Italian. “We must build a new engine and car significant changes is among the driving because the regulations will change completely. personnel – the arrival of a multiple World Rally But everybody will start from zero and our Champion among the opposition ranks. competitor will be more or less the same as this year.” “We will have another very strong team coming in,” Tarquini underlined. “The Citroën Andrea Adamo, Chief Designer, J.A.S. manufacturer team will enter with Sébastien Loeb Motorsport, summed up the technical changes (a man who has achieved nine consecutive titles succinctly: “The new Civic WTCC does not have in the World Rally Championship). Everybody is much in common with last year’s Civic”, he waiting to see his performance on circuits. We stressed. “Everything is new: the chassis, the too are also curious about his performance”. engine, the suspension, the aerodynamic parts, even the size of the tyres has changed!” “I think their car will be very competitive. In development, we are not behind other teams, “Considering we started the project in September but Citroën has the advantage because they have 2013 and were able to perform a shakedown of been testing their car since August. In any case, the new Civic WTCC in January 2014, our staff I’m really optimistic about next season and I think really have done an incredible job in a short our team will be able to do even better than this amount of time.” year.”

»» 13 April - Marrakesh (MAR) »» 22 June - Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) The full schedule »» 20 April - Le Castellet (FRA) »» 3 August - Termas de Río Hondo (ARG) »» 4 May - Hungaroring (HUN) »» 14 September - Sonoma (USA) of events in 2014 »» 11 May - Slovakia Ring (SVK) »» 12 October - Shanghai (CHN) is as follows: »» 25 May - Salzburgring (AUT) »» 26 October - Suzuka (JPN) »» 8 June - Moscow Raceway (RUS) »» 16 November - Macau (MAC) 43 ROUND ONE: QATAR »» City: LOSAIL »» MotoGP Laps: 22 »» Lap Distance (km): 5.380 RESULTS »» 1 - Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team »» 2 - Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP »» 3 - Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team WINGED MARQUEZ TAKES FLIGHT IN QATAR

Six weeks after breaking his right leg in a training mishap, Honda’s Marc Marquez stunned his MotoGP rivals by claiming victory in the opening round of the 2014 World Championship in Qatar.

“I didn’t expect this.” Third place for Dani Pedrosa completed a splendid start for the Repsol Honda outfit on a night when That was Spanish sensation Marc Marquez’s Honda celebrated their 250th remarkable reaction when he defied injury – and the milestone. determined challenge of the man he idolises – to win the first of 18 races in the 2014 MotoGP “The 25 points are important,” said Marquez, series at the desert circuit of Losail in Qatar. “but it’s also been an important race because I was coming back from an injury that caused me to Marquez was unable to walk just five days miss most of the pre-season. Also this weekend before the event got under way, but by Saturday there were a lot of riders up at the front, all with SPANIARD’S BREAK-OUT evening the 21-year-old was on pole position. a great pace, and seeing how the race went, this Photography: (left) 2014 RC213V; It was his 10th. win is a big one.” (right) Marc Marquez racing in Qatar March 23, 2014; SEASON HONOURED Marquez recieving the Laureus World Breakthrough Award, After early leader Jorge Lorenzo crashed out on Pedrosa, nearing the veteran stage himself, was the opening lap of 22, it was his Yamaha happy with a strong result on a track where he The remarkable Marc Marquez has received the Laureus World Breakthrough Award for 2013 at the teammate Valentino Rossi who carried the fight has never won. “Third place is a positive result,” prestigious Laureus Awards gala, held in Malaysia on the eve of the second round of the 2014 MotoGP to Marquez – whose bedroom walls are adorned said the 28-year-old Spanish rider. World Championship. with posters of the Italian maestro. “We’ve finished on the podium at a circuit that’s Last season Marquez, in his first year with Repsol Honda in the premier class of the MotoGP World It was on lap 14 that Marquez made his definitive difficult for me because it isn’t well suited to my Championship, became the youngest World Champion in history, winning six Grands Prix on his way to move to the front, but on the penultimate lap he style. So it’s a good way to start.” the title. Fittingly, the young Spaniard received his trophy from another Honda star, Australia’s five-time and Rossi swapped positions several times before World Champion Mick Doohan. the Honda edged away to win by just 0.259 of a MotoGP returns to Australia for round 16 at Phillip second. Island on the weekend of October 17-19. “It’s very difficult to explain how I feel,” commented Marquez, who won the opening round of the season in Qatar in March. “This is one of the most important awards I have received.” 44 FAN FEATURE 1991 CR-X – THANKS MICHAEL!

‘05 JAZZ VTi-S – THANKS ROHAN!

S200 MEET – THANKS DaRIUS!

F A N F E A T U R E FACEBOOK PHOTOS

We love to see what you love so send us your pics on Facebook and you might see them here! Civic VTi-l, ‘mulcher’ mower and jazz WITH IAN, SUE & ROSIE (THE SPOILT DOG) - great family PHOTO!

facebook.com/HondaAustraliaCars twitter.com/Honda_Australia youtube.com/HondaAustralia pinterest.com/hondacars 45 HAVE YOU GOT A HONDA JOY? WE ASKED FACEBOOK FAN LACHLAN WHY HE LOVES HIS HONDA...

1992 PRELUDE: LEGEND STYLE. “I love this car because it has amazing handling, power and is fun to drive. It has timeless styling and a unique dash which always grabs peoples‘ attention....it is truly a legend to its own.”

SOCIAL MEDIA @ HONDA:

46 COMPETITION

REAL reviews “An example of excellence in innovation as well as careful consideration of family needs. ” ~ Robin Brown

Instead of using a professional car reviewer “Loading hordes no to critique the all-new Odyssey, we challenged longer requires contortionism.” real people to be the critics instead. With the ~ Kylie Orr keys to a sexy new Odyssey VTi-L in their hands, these real-life reviewers headed straight for the streets, putting it through a week of everything from school runs “Only a truly thoughtful car to chip crumbs. There were six in the mix, but only one can practically park itself.” could be our best critic and win an Odyssey of their very own. ~ Denny Prussian

“We all know mums have eyes in the back of their heads. So does the Odyssey.” ~ Jennie Jean-Pierre

“The Odyssey can handle bumps and bends better than a pre-natal yoga class.” ~ Penelope Bartlau

50 See next page for the winner’s review 47 Photography: Lucky 2014 Honda Odyssey Winners – the Eddey family.

But the sleek styling doesn’t stop on the outside. parallel park. Tight spots were a breeze, and “It’s a sexy head-turner that scores The sunroof, elegant dash, classy leather trim, morning lattes no longer came with two sugars some serious cool points. two adjustable Captain’s chairs with armrests and a dash of embarrassment. ” and built-in ottomans feels more like a limo - minus the white gloves. When taking the Odyssey on a family road trip, I was pleasantly surprised that it handled like a The tri-zone climate control ensures the kids can sedan. It felt solid and clamped to the ground, adjust their own temperature from the second with the blind spot indicators being handy row, while I keep my cool in the driver’s seat. And for safe lane changes. And once the kids had with front row seat warmers it’s now possible to laughed, sang, then tantrumed themselves to have a hot rear end, even after childbirth. sleep, I could fully appreciate the Odyssey’s ultra-low road noise. Bliss. With its super-low floor and generous headroom, the Odyssey comfortably transports If you think a car with seven seats would go the kids, their friends, grandparents or even through fuel like bottles of chardy on a girls’ seven full-size sweaty blokes with enough cargo weekend, you’d be wrong. The fuel economy is space for scooters, boogie boards and a pram or impressive, ensuring my shoe budget remains three. intact.

But when the third row seats mysteriously fold Overall, the Odyssey offers cleverly designed into the floor space, you’ll be surprised to dis- versatility for large families or those wanting the cover a mini dancefloor back there, with enough flexibility of carrying extra passengers and lots of room to do the Nutbush. Unloading kid’s sports cargo. The large interior space gives the WINNER equipment, my music gear, the grocery shopping Odyssey the edge over SUVs, while still or hubby’s overzealous purchases at the hardware turning heads. As a family we’re looking for store is easy with the high opening tailgate. space, comfort, agility and tech smarts all in one sexy package. The Odyssey not only has beauty, but brains to LOUISE EDDEY 37, MUM OF 2 AND BAND MEMBER match. The Display Audio System integrated And like the most fabulous pair of heels – seamlessly with my Smartphone, allowing me the Honda Odyssey is the perfect fit. to receive or make hands-free calls and stream music. Audio control from the steering wheel exy, smart, comfortable and stylish. family vehicle but a sexy head-turner that scores S some serious cool points. ensures no-one messes with my ABBA. And I’m not talking about my favourite pair of The only negative was heels. I’m talking about a people mover. Being a mum of two young kids and also a musician, flinging open those dual power doors the Sat-nav app is only currently compatible with Yes, a people mover. felt just as rock ‘n roll at the school gate as it did ® arriving at my gig - enough to unleash any mum’s iPhone 5. The Smart inner Beyonce. Parking Assist and Our family spent a week test-driving the Honda multi-view camera was Odyssey VTi-L, and the results were impressive. The power doors create a spacious opening to my favourite feature. In addition to increased If you thought people movers were the load the kids safely in and out the curb side door on busy roads, and no more worrying about my safety and visibility, automotive equivalent to a pair of trackies, you there were no more haven’t seen the all-new Odyssey. With its sleek excited little cherubs flinging open their door onto that Porsche parked next to me. kerb mountings in front lines, low-to-the-ground stance and stunning of crowded cafés while front chrome grille, it’s not only a practical attempting that tricky iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. HONDA MAG 56 If you have any feedback send us an email [email protected]

Honda Australia Pty. Ltd. ACN 004 759 611 ABN 66 004 759 611 95 Sharps Road, Tullamarine, Victoria, 3043. freecall 1800 804 954 honda.com.au/cars