Edition 2 - September 2015

2015 Spring guide Spring racing Carnival

Find yourself surrounded by hats, horses and Champagne in one of Australia’s largest sporting events. Over 64 days the raw power of equestrian muscle fights for the largest trophies, leaving only a trail of dirt behind it. But that’s only half the fun. The Spring Racing Carnival is the perfect place to make a fashion statement. See or be seen as you parade through the Flemington Racecourse. Any way you look at it, this is an event you cannot miss.

Date: September – Novemberracing.com/spring

Spring is a busy time, but it’s the good kind of busy. The quicksilver steadily climbs and so does our energy levels, which is evident by the bursting calendar. Spring Racing Carnival, the Grand Final, Good Food month and Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 to name a few. We’ve compiled our own little list of the things you should add to your calendar this Spring.

Melbourne Fringe FestivalImmerse yourself in Melbourne and its independent art scene. At the Fringe Festival, pretty much anything goes. Currently 33 years old, the Fringe Festival is a testament to Melbournians love for everything odd and new. Whether you’re laughing at the dark comedy behind Chemotherapy or appreciating Chinese Pop Propaganda Art, the Fringe Festival will leave you wanting more.

Date: 16th September – 4 Octobermelbournefringe.com.au

good Food MonthThe Good Food Month has grown into a powerhouse of gastronomic delight. Hosted across Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, the best chefs, restaurants and farmers are ready to create a party for your taste buds. Enjoy the most inventive new dishes, paired with the ultimate wines in this month long event. Let no man, woman or child go hungry this October.

Date: 1st – 31st Octobergoodfoodmonth.com

Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000No spring is complete without getting the petrol in your veins boiling. The V8 Supercars Championship is considered one of the most entertaining motorsport events in the world. Every year thousands of Rev-heads make their way to Mount Panorama to hear the growls of the V8 monsters. Enjoy four days of thrilling racing action, in the ultimate car battle ground, as the drivers put pedal to the metal over a treacherous 1000km mountain track.

Date: 8th – 11th Octoberv8supercars.com.au

AFL grand FinalAustralians love their sports. Especially the kind only Australians play! Join the mayhem as the top two finalists fight it out at the MCG, in this landmark event of Australian Culture. Get a close-up view of every sweaty tackle, every high-flying mark and the most epic goals. Grab a pie and lose yourself in the game as 100,000 spectators roar their support.

Date: 3rd Octoberafl.com.au/finals

OzAsia FestivalCelebrating the close relationship between Australia and Asia. The OzAsia Festival in Adelaide integrates the two cultures into a two week long event of dance, music, film, theatre, exhibitions and food. Delve into some contemporary Japanese dance or behold the wonders of quantum mechanics through mathematical theatre. And who knows, they might even have a ‘Sushi-Pie’ lying around..?

Date: 23rd September – 4th Octoberadelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/ozasia-festival

AutO Spring CLeAn

The smell of grass hangs in the air and drivers everywhere are hosing down their cars. But why not take a bit of extra time this year and give your trusted friend a properclean?

1. Wash with your handsUnlike scrubbing out the oven, running a sponge across your car does not feel like a chore. It also allows you the get in to those hard to reach places where dirt might have built up over the winter.

Don’t settle for dishwashing liquid. It might get your car clean, but it also strips away the protective wax layer, which can lead to scratches and stains. Autodeets.com recommends picking up a can of Meguiar’s G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner. Finally a squeegee will help

remove any minerals left on the car as the water evaporates. You now have a nice, clean surface to work with.

2. give it a good polishPaint can build up a rough surface, which stops the paint from shining properly. The best way to fix this is to give it a good ol’ polish. Pick up an oscillating polishing machine for the best result. Rotating ones can be used, but they might harm the paint if you’re not careful. Run the polisher gently across all surfaces of the car and see the hidden glow find it’s way through the rough paint.

3. Wax on, wax offCars love a wax. However, wax wears off after a few months and should be frequently replaced. Wax comes either as a paste or a liquid. It doesn’t matter which one you use, it’s all up to personal preference. Use a cloth to gently spread a thin layer across the entire surface of the car. The pro’s usually do two coats to make sure they don’t miss anything.

Give your car a good waxing every new season. Might sound tedious, but it’s absolutely worth it.

4. Shine those alloysNothing takes a beating like your car tires. And doing most of the heavy lifting usually leaves a lot of dirt. Make sure you use a non-acid based tire cleaner as acid can oxidize the alloy and damage wheels painted with color or clear coatings. Having a degreaser handy will also help you on your way to the perfect spring clean.

5. don’t forget your windowsClean the glass last. That way you’ll get all the grime and other residue left from the previous steps. Find a glass cleaner without ammonia (NOTE: most household glass cleaners contain ammonia), as ammonia is bad for the upholstery and instrument panels. A microfiber cloth will be your best friend here. It picks up residue and even oils from your skin, leaving a sparkling clean surface without any streaks.

Smart technology, whether it’s a phone, a watch or a tablet, is taking up more and more of our time. Even when we’re driving. According to recent studies, as much as one in four car accidents are caused by using a mobile phone.

Steve Jobs and Apple revolutionised everyday technology with the release of the first iPhone. Intuitively designed and easy to use, it quickly turned smart technology into everyday technology.

However, some 8 years after its release, smartphones are taking up an excessive amount of our time. Despite a large number of campaigns to reclaim our eyes and place them back on the road, accidents are still happening in the millions (source - dailymail.co.uk). The car industry is trying to fight

this problem as well. Bluetooth connection was the first step, and although they work great for phone calls, it’s the written word that leads our eyes astray. Text messages and emails are constantly rolling in, demanding to be read through beeps and flashes.

Paul Gover recently wrote an article for carsguide.com.au talking about a ‘Disconnected car’. While we think it’s a great idea, it will most likely never happen.

So what is the solution here? A total ban on phones whenever you’re near a car? Another ‘Airplane mode’ that stops texting and emails, but allows calling? We haven’t got all the answers. But whenever you’re out driving, we encourage you to use common sense. Going at 100km/h you cover 140m in 5 seconds. And that can lead to very dangerous situations. And all this, just to find out that your best mate is ‘Bored @ wrk, what u up to?’

Sources: dailymail.co.uk

carsguide.com.au

phOne Free driving

This iconic muscle car was first brought out in 1964 and has held a special place in the hearts of many car enthusiasts ever since. The 2015 release is the Sixth generation of the car that has even inspired songwriters, namely Wilson Pickett’s ‘Mustang Sally’.

A statement from Ford Australia president Graeme Whickman to caradvice.

com.au confirms that a very large amount of Australians have already laid down a deposit for the Mustang: “We’re around the 3000 mark at the moment,” he said. “I don’t know where that will go.

“We haven’t advertised the vehicle, nobody’s driven the vehicle, we are months away from actually having the thing in the market, so who knows where it goes?”

The overwhelming interest has seen Australian pre-

orders soar past the UK. Whickman is very happy with the results, but doesn’t seem surprised by it.

“I think it will appeal to a lot of people, I think it will surprise some people, but at the start time [we’re seeing] more V8s.”

Original article on caradvice.com.au.

prepAre tO WAit FOr the FOrd MuStAng

to win 1 of 2 $500 Flight Centre travel vouchers, please tell us where you would go with this voucher and why, in less than 50 words by 16/10/2015. the two entrants that provide the best response (as judged by Fleetpartners) will each win a $500 voucher.

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We’ve all been there. What used to be a perfectly straight stomach now has a speed bump leaning over the belt. And if you’re like a large amount of the population, the idea of going to the gym induces cold sweats and a mild panic attack.

But losing that bulge doesn’t have to be a big deal. By simply adding a little bit of extra movement to your everyday life, you can make a big difference. And the Fitbit will help you keep track of your progress. Fitbit tracks every part of your day – including activity, exercise, food,

weight and sleep. Yes, even sleep. Sync your results with your computer and phone, share with your friends and family to stay motivated and inspire others around you.

The Fitbit Flex is created for people who don’t want to spend their lives at the gym. The slim, stylish, clock-like device tracks your everyday activity. How many steps you’ve taken, distance travelled, calories burned and active minutes. It’s a powerful motivator that will hopefully push you to get up and move more.

All it takes is a little bit of motivation. The Fitbit Flex will give you reminders throughout the day and also provides real-time information on how close you are to your daily goal.

here are some ways of increasing your everyday activity this Spring;

1. Get off the train or tram one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way

2. Hop on your bike for a weekend cycle

3. Only taking the dog for one walk a day? Try getting up a little earlier and squeezing in a second one before work

4. Ditch the elevator and see how fast you can climb the stairs

5. If you’re going out for lunch, make sure you go a little further away, every day

6. If your work involves sitting at a desk all day, get up and do a brisk, 5-minute walk around the office every hour. Set an alarm to remind yourself.

Find yOur SuMMer Fit, With FitBit

Find out more by visiting www.fitbit.com

™

We have been helping The Fred Hollows Foundation restore sight all across the developing world. During our recent May – July campaign, we raised $47,200. We would like to extend our warmest gratitude to all our new customers who helped make this donation possible.

To find out more about The Fred Hollows Foundation, visit their website, www.hollows.org.au

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