max*d Issue 03

max*d ISUZU UTE AUSTRALIA

ISSUE 3

THE

RED

CENTRE

An odyssey into Australia’s heart

International Report: 2010 Asia Cross Country Rally unplugged

Unsung Heroes: WA’s self-declared royal family

Passport:

California’s Great Ocean Road

Only Isuzu Genuine Parts offer quality components engineered by decades of automotive experience.

You can confidently drive with the satisfaction that every part and component has been manufactured to the highest of standards. This ensures you a safe, more efficient and environmentally sound driving experience at the level of quality that the designers of the Isuzu D-MAX intended – the original and the best.

For further information visit your Isuzu UTE Dealer or call 1300 147 898.

FLASHBACK â–

1946: THE TX80 SETS THE STANDARD

BY WHICH ISUZU DIESEL ENGINES ARE REGARDED TODAY

Following the runaway success of the TX40 in the early 1930s, Tokyo Automobile Industries Company poured its energies into the development of new diesel engines. In 1936, the bet paid off when the company launched the DA6 and DA4 – air-cooled diesel engines regarded as the forbears of all later generations of Isuzu diesel engines. Tokyo Automobile Industries Company then merged with Dot Automobile Manufacturing to become Tokyo Automobile Company, which was later renamed the Diesel Automobile Industry Company. Its first civil-use vehicles, the TX80, a 4.4-litre petrol-powered workhorse; and the TX61, its diesel equivalent, were released in 1946. The three-seat, three-tonne range was used extensively in Japan during the post-war reconstruction period, forging a reputation for frugality, reliability and comfort. One of the few remaining TX80s is immaculately restored and in full working order, in storage at the Isuzu Service Centre in Kawaguchi, Japan.

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â– CONTENTS

16 04 NEWS rld of Isuzu wo What's happening in the alia UTE Austr

07 TECH HEAD

ail

AX's common-r The lowdown on D-M tem direct fuel injection sys

11 WISH LIST

ns that Game-changing inventio laptops m fro g hin redefine everyt rts to boardsho

N O C S T TEN

12 OUT OF THE BOX

for the worst The bush readies itself rs yea 75 in locust plague

16 PASSPORT

r and A drive through Big Su Road ... ean Oc the other Great .1 No ay hw California's Hig

32 20 EAT YOUR DUST

s take on the Two blokes and their dad else in their way Simpson and anything

28 UNSUNG HEROES

nar y life and A look at the extraordi of Hutt River times of Prince Leonard Province in WA

RT 32 INTERNATIONAL REPO the 2010 ed at Getting seriously bogg lly Ra try un Co ss Asia Cro

36 GET STUFFED

20 2

ed fish 'n' chip Australia's most award the secret to shop owner shows us his success

38 DEALER LIST

Where to find D-MAX Australia

dealers across

ER 40 HOOK, LINE 'N' SINK nager Rod ns Ma Enviropest's Operatio ch of his life Walker reels in the cat

ISSUE 3

WELCOME ■

S Back in August, Australians delivered the most indecisive federal election in half a century. The nation’s vote was split almost exactly down the middle, leaving disproportionate power in the hands of three regional independents and the first Green member in the House of Representatives.

The final shakeout saw the incumbent Labor Party returned in a most precarious scenario, relying on the Green and two independents to form a government and push its programs through.

Despite promises of inter-party cooperation and reform of the parliamentary process, the outcome is likely to be one of instability and difficult times ahead, on top of already existing fears of a doubledip recession.

Fortunately, owning and operating a D-MAX couldn’t be more different to this. Stability, dependability, reliability and economical performance over the very long term are all de rigeur for D-MAX drivers.

Peerless quality, an under-stressed, truckengineered specification and low-cost driving are D-MAX hallmarks. They reflect the determination of Isuzu Motors to maintain and keep improving essential components that have contributed to building a global reputation second to no other ute maker on the planet.

More than 7,000 Australians have now voted to go D-MAX for their daily drives. It’s an ever-increasing electorate! Thanks for being one of them.

Giving way to the ships of the desert crossing the Simpson

Hitoshi Kono Managing Director Isuzu UTE Australia

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■ NEWS

IT’S MOVEMBER!

Bikers and D-MAX Unite to Fight Cancer Isuzu UTE Australia did its bit in the fight against cancer in August by providing support vehicles for the Rumble Ride – an annual 12-day fundraising event for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA).

As seen in the above image, PCFA QLD state manager Graeme Higgs (right) receives the Rumble Ride support D-MAX from IUA marketing and PR coordinator Steven Henderson. The

Rumble Ride sees a group of bikers ride from Roma in central Queensland to South Australia, the Northern Territory and NSW before heading back into Queensland, finishing in Rockhampton.

The PCFA receives only limited Government funding and depends on the Rumble Ride and other annual events to raise awareness about prostate cancer – the most common form of cancer in Australia.

Brisbane Boat Show

D-MAX Limited Edition II Isuzu UTE Australia has released the D-MAX Limited Edition II, with up to $9000 of added features – $4000 of which come at no extra cost over the drive-away price of the top of the line D-MAX LSU. For the technically minded, there’s a Kenwood touch-screen hi-fi head unit with reversing camera, sat nav, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.

For the practically minded, there’s

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a three-piece lockable hard tonneau, rubber tub floor mat and luxe-look side steps with brushed alloy footpads.

And for the style-conscious, there’s a chrome rear sports bar, monogrammed carpet floor mats and custom striping.

The D-MAX Limited Edition II comes in two pearlescent mica colours: solar bronze or lunar white. Available in 4x4, auto or manual. Stock is limited to 180 units, available only to the lucky few!

Did you know?

Isuzu Trucks has led the Australian truck market for 21 consecutive years.

Isuzu UTE Australia is proud to confirm it is the exclusive automotive promotional partner for Movember 2010 (au.movember.com), a massive fundraising campaign for men’s health causes that happens during November.

The D-MAX Movember Promo Ute will do the rounds of events and there will be Isuzu D-MAX displays at the Movember Gala Parties.

All Isuzu UTE dealers across the country will also be participating, so keep an eye out!

*

More than 300 showgoers tested their boat-trailer reversing skills in a D-MAX ute at the 2010 Brisbane Boat Show in August.

Sponsored by Isuzu UTE Australia, the D-MAX Reversing Challenge tested entrants’ accuracy as they attempted to reverse a D-MAX and boat through a specially marked course. A number of entrants made it through the course without knocking down any of the bollards bordering the course. Their names were put into a hat and the winner – David Dobbins of Albany Creek – took home $500 in cash.

Did you know?

In oncology, Dmax is a medical term used to measure the depth at which the maximum radiation dose is delivered at a specific distance from the source.

NEWS â–

GO YA HALVES

MATE!

Refer Isuzu D-MAX to a mate and get $200 cash, $100 for you and $100 for your mate!* Isuzu UTE are doing unbelievable Buddy Bonuses with a generous cash back offer to current owners of new and demo Isuzu D-MAX utes who refer their mates. $100 cash for you and $100 cash for your mate with the successful referral and mate’s purchase of an Isuzu D-MAX. Claim form and T&Cs available at www.isuzuute.com.au/buddybonus

*Terms and conditions apply. Full details available at www.isuzuute.com.au/buddybonus

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■ NEWS

RIP, RIP WOODCHIP

Bolstering its strong link with the people of Queensland, Isuzu UTE Australia put its hand up as the major sponsor of the wood-chopping arena at the Brisbane Royal Show this year.

Held on the last day of the annual event, the 2010 Oz Axe Series saw 18 of Australia’s strongest woodchoppers go head to head in a sudden death chop-off at the Isuzu D-MAX Woodchop Arena.

Televised across Australia and New Zealand, the event included standing block, sawing and tree-felling rounds in which competitors displayed amazing feats of skill, strength and endurance.

When the woodchips settled, Dale Beams was crowned the winner. The ribbon and prize money was presented by Mr. Hisanori Watanabe, a special guest from Isuzu Motors Ltd Japan.

SCRUB SPIKES SAFARI TILT Bruce Garland’s rally D-MAX placed third and first in the diesel category in the 2010 Australasian Safari last month in outback Western Australia. It was Garland’s third consecutive such result driving D-MAX utes.

Unfortunately, Garland was slowed by his wrong-spec tyres, which fared less well than the costly, specialised US-made tyres of his major competitors through the sharp hardwood scrub overgrowth on this year’s rally tracks.

Winner Craig Lowndes’ Colorado packed a transplanted, race-tuned, 5.7 litre petrol V8.

In second place was a ’99 Patrol ute with a hot twin-turbo 4.8 litre petrol mill.

1–3 Deni Ute Muster Deniliquin, NSW 6–8 Elmore Field Days Elmore, VIC 15–24 Australian Int. Motor Show Sydney

26–28 Goldfield Mining Expo Kalgoorie, WA

NOVEMBER Garland’s new D-MAX this year had more torque and power, and came close to these gasguzzlers’ speed in most places. It was fastest in the sand dunes, where the diesel’s lowdown grunt really worked well, but there weren’t enough dune stages for the D-MAX to take full advantage.

Read the full story next issue.

PUBLISHING PARTNER Edge Custom Media

CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Merran White

ACCOUNT MANAGER Amy Story

MANAGING EDITORS Richard Power, Cornelius Ionescu

EDITOR Ian Neubauer ian.neubauer@edgecustom.com.au

SENIOR SUB-EDITOR Sanchia Pegley

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Sarah Willmott

SENIOR EDITORS Michael Butler, Georgina Armour, Kristy Barratt

ADVERTISING SALES Peter Gilray peter.gilray@edgecustom.com.au

Disclaimer: The information included in this magazine is intended for interest only. The opinions and views expressed in this magazine are provided in the writers’ personal capacities and are their sole responsibility. Their publication does not imply that they represent the views or opinions of Isuzu UTE Australia or Edge Custom Media and must neither be regarded as constituting advice on any matter nor be interpreted as such. The reproduction of advertisements in this publication does not in any way imply endorsement by Isuzu UTE Australia or Edge Custom Media of products or services referred to therein. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. A selection of the images featured in this publication have been sourced from Getty Images and Thinkstock Images. Business Essentials trading as Edge Custom Media ABN 22 062 493 869.

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OCTOBER

19–21 Australian National Field Days Orange, QLD

PUBLISHER Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd

SENIOR DESIGNER Jon Miller

DATES FOR THE DIARY

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Craig Hodges

max*d magazine is proudly printed in Australia using renewable resources. Pacesetter Coated is an FSC Mixed Sources Certified paper, which ensures that all virgin pulp is derived from well-managed forests and controlled sources. It contains elemental chlorine-free bleached pulp and is manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill.

1–30 Movember Fund-raising and Awareness 18–21 Equitana Horse Event Melbourne 19–21 RV & Camping Leisurefest Bendigo, VIC max*d is published on behalf of Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd by

51 Whistler St, Manly NSW 2095 T +61 (0) 2 8962 2600

SGS-COC-003898

Bruce placed diesel Austra outbac Garlan result Unf slowed which costly, tyres o throug scrub o rally tra Win Colora race-tu In s Patrol 4.8 litr Gar had m

TECH HEAD ■

SHOT TO THE HEART

A

s recently as five years ago, the diesel engine was known as the dirty, polluting cousin of petrol – an antiquated, noisy technology that emitted soot-laden fumes and underwhelming, tractor-like performance … a dinosaur in our new environmentally conscious world.

But all that began to change in 2005, when new vehicle-emission regulations introduced in Australia forced oil companies here to upgrade to low-sulphur diesel fuel. In turn, the development encouraged the local automotive sector to shift its focus to new-generation high-tech diesel engines featuring ultra-high-pressure direct fuelinjection systems (CRDi).

At its core, CRDi is a fuel-injection system that collects fuel from the tank

FUEL-EFFICIENT DIESEL ENGINES COULDN’T HAVE COME ABOUT WITHOUT THE COMMON RAIL FUEL-INJECTION SYSTEM. BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS IT, AND HOW DOES IT WORK? via the pump and filter and stores it, under ultra-high pressure, in a ‘common rail’. The pressurised fuel is then pulsesprayed into the engine’s cylinders in minutely precise amounts as determined by the Engine Control Module (ECM) in response to various sensor inputs.

The hyper-pressure in the common rail ensures a stable injection pressure at all times, particularly at low revs and during the most critical times of cold start and acceleration. And when the throttle is closed – most commonly when coasting downhill or up to a red traffic light – the ECM cuts all fuel to the engine.

CRDi generates high torque at the very low revs where most driving is done. This spares the engine the increased wear and shorter life associated with the higher-rev usage typical of petrol engines, with the overall effect being more output, next to

no smell and vastly reduced smoke and noise.

In the D-MAX, CRDi works with other high-tech engineering features to deliver more oomph from less fuel. Its turbocharger, for example, has variablepitch intake vanes that electronically tailor the airflow to throttle commands. Then there’s the stand-alone vacuum pump, which is gear-driven, not belt-driven, resulting in a more reliable set-up that’s less likely to overload the vehicle’s power system. And under the vehicle, upstream of the fuel tank, is a fuel cooler that cools excess intake fuel on its way back to the fuel tank, preventing remixed fuel from overheating.

These are just some of the hundreds of hidden gems found in every D-MAX, a vehicle that imbues Isuzu UTE Australia’s ‘Spirit of Truck’.

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■ max tank A combination of brains, luck and perfect timing won Mark and Sue Pitman this great lifestyle package, shown here accepting the keys from Isuzu UTE's Richard Power

Winner Takes All A sparky from Victoria uses basic maths to win a D-MAx and a Haines powerboat worth over $80,000 all up

W

hen the marketing team at Isuzu UTE Australia rang Mark Pitman of Bittern, Victoria, to tell him he’d won the Max Run Challenge Boat and D-MAX competition, his initial reaction was disbelief.

“I thought it was a prank call and didn’t really believe it until I got an email confirming it was true,” Mark says. “Two months later, my wife Sue and I went up to Patterson Cheney Isuzu UTE in

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Dandenong to pick up the D-MAX and the boat. It seemed too good to be true.”

The story of how the Pitmans came to win the Max Run Challenge started back in 2009. Their children had flown the coop and they decided to weld a motorhome onto their Land Cruiser and spend as much time as possible touring Australia.

“We were in Tasmania at the time, exploring the Central Highlands,” Mark recalls. “One day, I had logged onto the Bureau of Meteorology website to check out the weather when an ad for the Max

Run Challenge popped up on the screen.”

The challenge asked the public to guess or figure out how far a D-MAX LS 4x2 manual ute could tow a 5.09-metre Haines Traveller TC165 fibreglass powerboat with a Suzuki DF80A outboard motor – more than a tonne of cargo – on one standard tank of diesel. The entrant who got the answer right (or came closest) would take home the ute and boat, plus safety gear and a Dunbier trailer, with an approximate combined retail value of $80,400.

max tank ■

"I thought it was a prank call and didn't really believe it until I got an email confirming it was true."

D-MAX with boat stretched a tankful nearly 1,000km across southern Queensland in Max Run 2010

“A few days later, we were camping at the Great Lake when a guy pulled over in a spanking new D-MAX towing a caravan,” Mark says. “I asked him about fuel consumption and he told me he got 12.72 kilometres per litre. I wrote it down, and the next time I was on the computer I visited the Isuzu UTE Australia website and noted the D-MAX had a 76-litre tank.

I then converted that to litres consumed per 100 kilometres. The rounded-off answer came to 967 kilometres.”

A few weeks earlier, fuel-efficiency expert Hans Tholstrup had set off from Cunnamulla in south-west Queensland on the 2010 Max Run Challenge, towing over one-tonne of power boat. He’d hoped to make it all the way to Coolangatta on the coast, a distance of 883 kilometres.

But when Hans reached his target,

the fuel light had not even come on.

So he continued driving north, finally finishing in the Brisbane suburb of Cannon Hill – 967.0 kilometres from his starting point.

Mark was not the only one to submit the correct answer, however. Online forums were abuzz with discussion, and many guessed the D-MAX and boat could go close to 1,000 kilometres on a single tank of fuel. There were skeptics as well, like one punter who said “Really – that much? My dad had a Navara for around a year and I think that got about 700-750 kilometres max”.

By the time the competition closed, a remarkable 25 entrants had submitted the correct answer of 967 kilometres.

Their names were put into a raffle and Mark Pitman’s was chosen.

The Pitmans have hung on to their Land Cruiser but use it less nowadays, principally because the D-MAX uses so much less fuel. “There is no comparison between the two,” he says. “The Land Cruiser with the motorhome chews through 16 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. The D-MAX uses only 9.2 litres to cover the same distance, or 10.4 litres per 100 kilometres with the boat attached to the back.

“Utes generally feel light in the rear end, but the D-MAX drives like a little truck,” he says. “The 3-litre turbo diesel engine has the right amount of torque for towing and gives you the sensation that it could chug along all day, every day.”

Next year, Mark and Sue are going to take a big trip around Australia, and will be taking their D-MAX with them.

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WISH LIST ■ OFF-ROAD CPU The 4WD of laptops, Panasonic’s CF-31 Toughbook is built to go offroad. It can withstand drops of up to 90cm due to its magnesium alloy casing reinforced with a cross-rib structure, and sports an array of seals to keep out the dust. An internal heater prevents breakdown in sub-zero temperatures, while heat-pipe technology cools it down when things get hot and steamy. It also comes with long-range WIFI pickup, a nine-hour battery, cable lock and optional fingerprint reader that does away with clumsy passwords and prying eyes. www.panasonic.com.au.

E…

S R O T N E V IN CTUR

FA RE MANU A E R E H T

THEN T ERS, AND

HERE AR

NEXT-GEN SHORTS

Six years ago, O’Neill launched the SuperFreak range of ‘performance’ board shorts. Made from a super-stretchy fabric that snaps into shape after being pulled, it revolutionised the board shorts market. This year O’Neill has done it again with the HyperFreak 2.0, the lightest board shorts ever made. Built like a wetsuit with the outer seam sealed with glue, the HyperFreak 2.0 is buttery smooth on the skin, making you feel as if you’re wearing nothing at all: www.oneill.com.au.

CHEF IN A BOX

THE GREATEST FAN From the British company that reinvented the vacuum cleaner, comes a fan like no other. The Dyson Air Multiplier is a bladeless fan that uses a brushless motor installed in the stem to draw up to 27 litres of air per second. Airflow is then accelerated through a ring-like aperture and channelled over an airfoil-shaped ramp.

The result is an uninterrupted steam of smooth air amplified around 18 times. The Air Multiplier is available in three configurations (table, tower and pedestal fan) and a number of sizes: www.dyson.com.au.

Unless you’re a chef who’s handy with a rifle, gourmet food has no place in the great outdoors. But that need not be the case, according to Chefsway, a Tasmanian outfit that’s launched a range of dehydrated gourmet meals.

Each packet weighs 200 grams and features individually sealed compartments that turn into hearty 600-gram meals when boiled. Varieties include Lamb and Cous-Cous and Mushroom Risotto: www.rucsacsupplies.com.au.

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â– OUT OF THE BOX

the swarm Words: Ian Neubauer Photos: Courtesy of Australian Plague Locust Commission

12

rm

OUT OF THE BOX ■

AUSTRALIA IS BRACING FOR ITS WORST LOCUST OUTBREAK IN 75 YEARS. BUT CAN THEY BE STOPPED? hen eastern Australia received prolonged, aboveaverage rainfall earlier this year and the drought was officially declared over, farmers breathed a collective sigh of relief. Yet their joy was short-lived when, a few months later, swarms of locusts up to 5 kilometres thick were reported across regions of NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. The Big Wet had proved to be a double-edged sword, with subsequent grass growth providing an ideal breeding ground for locusts – the most serious pest in Australia today.

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■ OUT OF THE BOX

Taking a stand

Effective control of plague locusts is largely dependent on the cooperation of landowners, who are required by law to report infestations to state locust hotlines or, in NSW, to the Livestock Health and Pest Authority.

“It’s important that we gather as much information as possible about hatchlings and the presence of locusts so we can mount the appropriate response,” says director of the Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC), Chris Adriaansen. “When people see locust activities in main road areas they should not automatically assume nearby landowners have already reported it.”

Landowners are also required to exterminate plague locusts on their property with approved insecticides, such as Green Guard, Fenitrothion and Fipronil. Control of previous outbreaks has been most effective when a coordinated ground (landowners) and aerial (government) program is employed, such as in 1984, when a major outbreak projected to cause $100 million in damage cost farmers less than $5 million in lost crops.

Mean ‘n’ green

Green Guard is a bio-insecticide used to control locusts in and around environmentally sensitive areas. It contains metarhizium, a naturally occurring Australian fungus that penetrates the body of individual locusts and attacks their internal organs. Green Guard takes ten to 14 days to take effect, so is not suitable for protecting vegetation already damaged by locusts. But it does play havoc with larvae and hoppers (immature locusts) and is an effective preventative agent that’s kind on the environment. “Green Guard is the safest solution for landholders looking to protect their properties from the coming locust outbreak,” says Richard Waterworth, managing director of Becker Underwood, the global biotech firm that developed Green Guard in conjunction with CSIRO Entomology.

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BUILT TO LAST

When it comes to survival of the species, few organisms are better armed than Australian plague locusts. Female locusts can lay between 120 and 240 eggs each, which translates into three to four new generations per season.

They begin to eat from the moment they hatch, with a preference for cereal crops such as wheat, barley, rice and oats but an appetite for vegetable matter of all kinds. The Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC) estimates individual locusts consume one-fifth of a gram of vegetation per day, which, given an average swarm density of 50 locusts per square metre, means that a swarm a kilometre wide can consume up to a tonne of vegetation a day.

But what really makes locusts the ultimate survival machines is their ability to migrate across great distances in search of food. It’s not uncommon for winged adults to fly 500 to 600 kilometres in one night, leading to the sudden appearance of swarms in previously uninfested areas.

By early April, large numbers of locusts that hatched in the channel country of western Queensland had begun heading south. Within weeks, the plague had extended across northwestern Victoria, splitting into the Riverina area of south-western NSW and north-eastern regions of South Australia – an area roughly the size of Spain.

WAR ON LOCUSTS

At around the same time, the APLC, state locust agencies and industry groups went into lockdown. Huge losses from locusts had been reported by carrot and potato farmers in central Victoria, while wheat planted in the central NSW towns of Forbes and Parkes was all but wiped out. Non-primary industry workers in infested areas were also affected, with locusts clogging up radiator grilles and coating the windscreens of cars, stripping lawns, and causing the cancellation of flights and outdoor events. And while one creative café owner in the Victorian town of Mildura put locust pizza on the menu, an inter-agency approach comprising intensive aerial spraying and landholder information meetings was put into play to combat the tiny destroyers of worlds.

Current generations were controlled in most affected areas, but the real threat – eggs laid in the soil in autumn – remained untouched.

THE SWARM II

As this issue of max*d went to press, billions of locust larvae had begun hatching across vast areas of eastern Australia. With further hatchings expected well into November and December, experts have predicted the worst locust outbreak the country has seen in 75 years.

The APLC is confident that its efforts to coordinate control activities across

OUT OF THE BOX ■

Locust in time

Locusts have been present in Australia for millions of years, though it wasn’t until the introduction of European agricultural methods in the late 1800s that they became a problem.

Records on swarms in Australia date back to 1844, when an unidentified species thought to be Australian plague locusts blacked out Adelaide.

Geographically extensive outbreaks were reported across several states from the 1870s, occurring with increased frequency and intensity after the turn of the century. Inland areas of NSW and Western Australia have experienced a significant number of outbreaks since the 1920s, with plagues persisting across eastern Australia every two to five years.

(Source: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry).

QLD

SA NSW

VIC

four different states, half a dozen authorities and hundreds of thousands of landowners are on track. But a recent report in authoritative rural newspaper The Land spoke of “murmurings from farmers” that possible lapses in control in the western pastoral zone of NSW could undermine the APLC’s work.

“Our big concern, obviously, is that hatchings may take place in the northwest of NSW, where they are not patrolled, and take to the wing before there is a chance to control them,” says chairman of the NSW Farmers Association grains committee Mark Hoskinson. “But we hope this situation will continue to be monitored.”

It’s too early to tell whether the APLC will succeed in its undertaking. But with the livelihoods of our farmers – not to

Australian plague locust risk zones for Spring 2010

mention a core component of Australia’s food security hanging in the balance, we can only hope it does.

Top left: Farmer Jo ruefully surveys a swarm in his wheat crop Top right: From birth to death – locust larvae hatching in a field and soon to cop a mouthful of pesticides

“One creative café owner in the Victorian town of Mildura put locust pizza on the menu…”

■ PASSPORT Words: Joel Gershon Photos: By Daniel Bianchetta, Joel Gershon and courtesy of Hearst Castle

BIG CALIFORNIA’S

SUR 16

AUSTRALIA HAS THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD. SPAIN HAS THE PYRENEES. CALIFORNIA HAS HIGHWAY NO.1 – A WINDING COASTAL DRIVE THROUGH A PART OF AMERICA KNOWN AS ‘BIG SUR’

PASSPORT ■

I

t’s “the face of the earth as the Creator intended it to look,” wrote Henry Miller about Big Sur, where the legendary American author lived for nearly 20 years. The quote still holds true today as the imposing, dizzying cliffs that tower over the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Santa Lucia Mountains that rise steadily to the east, have made it near impossible to commercially develop the area.

And if the natural ruggedness wasn’t enough to hold back entrepreneurs from fully exploiting the magnificence and magic of Big Sur, greenies have ensured the pristine ambience, through laws passed in the sixties outlawing billboards and constructions within eyeshot of Highway No 1.

This iconic stretch of asphalt, an American National Scenic Byway,

was completed in 1937 with the help of convict labourers, and snakes through Big Sur’s often-disputed 225km boundary, between the town of Carmel in the north (where Clint Eastwood once served as mayor) and San Simeon in the south, where controversial publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst built the majestic Hearst Castle in 1947.

TIME WARP

In Big Sur, you won’t find any franchise hotels, supermarkets or fast-food restaurants. Another thing you won’t see much of is people, with only 1,000 residents according to the latest US national census – just a drop in the ocean compared to the rest of California, home to 37 million people.

What you will find in Big Sur are dreamy ocean vistas that stretch on for kilometres; giant redwood

forests just waiting to be explored; and laid-back artsy and country types who’ve opted for natural beauty and remoteness instead of the buzz of the big city.

Big Sur got its name from the Spanish phrase “el país grande del sur” or “the big country of the south” – an appropriate name when California was still part of Mexico.

But in 1848 Big Sur and the rest of California was relinquished to the US as a concession marking the end of the Mexican-American War.

NOTHING MUCH TO DO

The unofficial motto of the region is “do nothing in Big Sur”. For the most part, visitors should be content with just stopping at the many viewpoints to take in the seascape and snap photos, though there are a few activities and distractions along the

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Salinas

Monterey Carmel

Carmel River Soledad

Big Sur Los Padres National Forest

King City

Lucia

Left and bottom centre: On cloud nine at Hearst Castle and the luxurious Neptune Pool Bottom left: Waterfall meets beach at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State park Bottom right: Massage plus view equals total relaxation

wa. One great way to recover from all the hairpin bends is a visit to the Esalen Institute and enjoy a massage and the hot tubs, which are fed by hot springs.

It doesn’t come cheap, but it’s hard to beat a rubdown in front of Big Sur’s jawdropping views in an Eden-like setting (so much so that clothing is optional, and almost all choose the nude option).

The institute is also well known for its workshops, ranging from yoga to visual arts to shamanism.

Although Big Sur is right on the coast, many of the beaches are hard to access due to the steep cliffs. Swimming isn’t easy since the tide is rough, the water is cold and there are sharp rocks to contend with. But under the right conditions, one can take a dip or go surfing off a number of beaches.

One particular beach that can’t be directly accessed yet can be admired from above is found in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, where a waterfall splashes down into the Pacific. In December and January, visitors to the state park can also see grey whales migrating south, and then again when they return north in March and April. You can also visit Pfeiffer Beach, a separate conservation area

that boasts incredible rock formations, including a natural stone arch that juts out of the sea.

Or for something totally unique, head to San Simeon to visit the worldfamous Hearst Castle, a labyrinth of ornately decadent buildings, incredible pools, magnificent gardens, ridiculous furnishings and priceless works of art.

Rest Your Head

In sync with Big Sur’s bohemian vibe, luxury hotels such as Ventana Inn & Spa and the Post Ranch Inn offer romantic hideaways in natural settings with hot tubs overlooking stunning views, yoga classes, organised hikes and afternoon wine and cheese receptions. Or, for more basic digs, check out the Big Sur Lodge. Tucked away in a forest, the owners are determined to keep it low-key, with no televisions, internet connection or mobile phone service.

But the best accommodation option is also the cheapest – camping in any of a number of state parks. Big Sur also offers a number of world-class hiking trails, with an abundance of deer, bobcats, coyotes and, fortunately, no bears.

Gorda Ragged Pt. San Simeon

San Caporforo Creek Hearst Castle

Fact file

Getting There

Return airfares from Me lbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to Los Angeles start from US D$1200, although average prices hover around the USD$2000 mark.

Getting Around

Rental cars are availab le in Los Angles and San Fra ncisco from around USD$200 per week.

Where to stay

• Post Ranch Inn: Up scale rooms, suites and house s available starting at US D$550 per night. Call +1831 66 7 2200 or visit www.postranchi nn.com • Ventana Spa & Inn: Suites and cottages starting at US D$500 per night. Call +1831 66 7 2331 or visit www.ventanain n.com • Big Sur Lodge: Rustic rooms with no mod cons sta rting from USD$170. Call +1831 667 3100 or visit www.bigsurlod ge.com.

• Camping: Visit www.b igsur california.org/camping

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â– EAT YOUR DUST

N OKES WHO TOOK O BL O TW F O RY O ST THE RT WITH THEIR DADS THE SIMPSON DESE

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■ EAT YOUR DUST

22

Words: Mark Petersen Photos: Trent Mitchell

ather’s Day is the one day of the year when dads across Australia get to sleep in, have breakfast in bed and choose what they want to do.

Last year and this, Father’s Day coincided with The National 4x4 & Outdoors Show, Fishing & Boating Expo, held at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Fittingly, it attracted dads in their thousands, providing a full day’s entertainment for them and their families, with monster truck and freestyle motocross performances, and a whole lot more.

As the show’s Event Manager, I’ve been lucky enough to have my old man, known to the rest of the world as Paul, working alongside me on the day, driving one of the many courtesy buggies that slog all the heavy-duty products people buy to their cars. Our Sales Manager Paul Morgan, aka Smorgy, does the same, working alongside his dad, Kevin.

And while we all love mixing and mingling with the folk at the shows, we also love camping and 4WDing in the

great outdoors. So a few months after the 2009 show wrapped up, Smorgy and I started planning a serious road trip – not with the wife and kids, as we normally do, but with our dear old dads. Yet with a country as big and beautiful as our own, the biggest dilemma was deciding where the hell should we go.

BEST LAID PLANS Smorgy and I couldn’t answer that question straight away, so we called on help from Hema Maps, an Aussie-based cartographer that specialises in maps and atlases for 4WD enthusiasts. Armed with the latest data, we narrowed it down to a few prime routes, one of which takes in the Simpson Desert. I’d been there once years ago on a postie’s bike while raising funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and was keen to do it again, only this time in a 4WD. But after visiting exploroz.com.au, we realised road conditions were less than optimal. We took a look at the Birdsville

Previous page: Like father, like son. From L–R are Mark Petersen, his old man Paul, Kev Morgan and the fruit of his loins Smorgy Far left: D-MAX making short work of a sandy riverbed This page: In a shameless plug that’ll last generations, we donated this banner to the Birdsville Hotel

Track, the iconic 500km route between South Australia and Queensland. It usually receives less than 100ml of rain every year, but large stretches of it were now underwater and impassable.

So we mapped out an alternative route, one that would see Smorgy and me head south from Queensland’s Gold Coast to Mildura in Western Victoria, where we will pick up our dads (both of whom live in Geelong). From there, we planned to scoot across the Sturt Highway to Barmera in South Australia and catch the annual Mud Dust & Music festival at the Loveday 4x4 Adventure Park. After that, we’d drive north to Uluru, then veer east along the old Ghan Railway service track, home to the legendary Finke Desert Race. Then we’d travel southeast to Mount Dare before heading into the Simpson Desert for a few days, and south again along the Oodnadatta Track to Maree. And finally, we would take the Birdsville Track to its origin in Birdsville before returning home.

In total, we had 8,000km of terrain to cover in just 12 days. But rather than risk a blowout in Smorgy’s old clunker, we took up an offer from Isuzu UTE to borrow a brand spanking new D-MAX for the trip.

I know how good they are because I own one and, being a bit of a revhead, I’ve decked it out with enough aftermarket accessories to sink a ship: Old Man Emu Suspension, ARB bar work, Ballsy Braided Brake Lines, a Miami Muffler, roof console with UHF, Couplertec Rust protection kit, Dick Cepek wheels and Cooper STT tyres, not to mention night vision from Lightforce, a CF60 Waeco fridge freezer with dual batteries, and a Mako Avenger winch. Yep, it’s pretty trick. And if there’s one thing better than a D-MAX in the bush, it’s two D-MAXs in the bush. Things were looking good already.

“...WITH A COUNTRY AS BIG AND BEAUTIFUL AS OUR OWN, THE BIGGEST DILEMNA WAS DECIDING WHERE THE HELL WE SHOULD GO...”

THE MORE, THE MERRIER We had the cars, but we also needed a couple of pros to help document the trip. We found them in the forms of Trent

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■ eat your dust

Mitchell, one of the best photographers in the business, and Chris Corvino, a videographer for 4wdTV and Your 4x4.

A couple of canopies from Razorback helped us squeeze all the camera equipment and our Anaconda camping gear into the utes, and with that we were ready to hit the road.

The first leg of the trip took us inland from the Gold Coast to Moree, where we paid a visit to our good mate Chris Thomas. Chris warned us that heavy rains meant the kangaroos were out in force and posed a major safety risk to drivers after dark. And while my D-MAX packs a serious bull bar Smorgy’s was naked, so he decided to invest $7 in a Shu-Roo whistle. These smart little devices clip onto your car and produce a high-pitched whistle that humans can’t hear but that apparently create a major headache for roos. The Shu-Roo hasn’t been scientifically proven to work, but over the course of our trip the only things we ran into were birds.

We spent the first night in Bourke, stopping in first at the bowls club for a couple of bourbons. But by the time

24

we got out of there, every restaurant in town had closed, so we made do with chocolate bars and chips for dinner.

The next morning we woke to what had to be the coldest day of the year in Bourke. Our GPS told us we had a good 10-hour drive in front of us to reach Mildura – if we took the main roads. But it also showed us we could cut a few hours off the trip by taking the back roads and, since our D-MAXs were built for it, we decided to follow the dotted lines. Our new route bypassed Cobar and Ivanhoe before depositing us in Mildura only one hour after Paul, Kevin and Chris got off the train from Melbourne. Our entourage near complete, we headed west into the great kinda’ unknown.

MUD, DUST & MUSIC Our next destination was the Loveday 4x4 Adventure Park, 15km south of Barmera.

It took less than two hours to get there via the main roads, so we set up camp and spent the rest of the day and most of the next drinking, cooking, sleeping and cheering competitors in the many races of the Mud, Dust & Music festival. We had a

“The Shu-Roo hasn’t been scientifically proven to work, but over the course of our trip the only things we ran into were birds.”

Top right: Camping in the Outback is a sublimely enjoyable experience Middle: Believe it or not, I really enjoy getting bogged Below: Enjoying a few cold ones and staving off dehydration after a long day on the road

particularly big one at the Loveday Tavern on Saturday night, and paid for it and then some come Sunday morning.

Anyone who’s been there knows the only way to cure to a really bad hangover is a couple of stiff drinks. But that remedy had to wait, as Smorgy and I had a date with a fully-stocked 4WD and an unforgiving tabletop at Loveday’s motocross-style 4WD track. The end result was more of a launch than a leap, but we had a great time doing it and gave the spectators a good laugh.

We spent our last day at Loveday tagging along with festival organiser Tony Wheatley, exploring the furthest corners of his park. I could’ve based this entire story on what a great place Loveday is for 4WD enthusiasts, though the editor would probably have my scalp. But what I will say is that if you’re ever in the neighbourhood, go check it out for yourself – you won’t be disappointed.

(Trying to score a lifetime membership, Mark? Think you’ve succeeded! – Ed.) But like all good things, our time at Loveday came to an end, and after spending so many days covering so few

kilometres, we had to pack in some serious road hours over the next two days. This meant driving all the way from Barmera to Port Augusta, Glendambo, Coober Pedy, Marla, Kulgura Station and Uluru, where we picked up the last troop member, our photographer Trent.

Apart from Kevin, none of us had seen Uluru before, and I think I speak for all of us when I say it’s a sight to behold. Filled with warm and fuzzy feelings after seeing this great Aussie landmark, we headed to the closest pub to drown our sorrows. Okay, we had no sorrows, but we chose to throw a few back just the same.

Originally we’d planned to spend a few nights in Uluru, but we soon became restless and the next morning decided to shoot straight to Alice Springs. From Alice Springs our Outback adventure really kicked in, with the Ghan Railway service track taking us through some of the best scenery in the land. It’s a real thrill to experience the massive whoops, near-invisible corners and soft-red sand that undo Australia’s best 4WDers and dirtbikers every year during the Finke

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■ EAT YOUR DUST

Desert Race. But compared to those guys, who crank it at speeds up to 150km/h, we ran it at baby speed.

PURE BLISS After two days of pure bliss we arrived at Mount Dare Station, the western starting point for expeditions into the Simpson Desert and one of the largest inland drainage areas on the planet.

Unfortunately, recurring floods meant we could only experience two days in the Simpson. But what an experience it was, spotting camels and eagles, taking in endless sand dunes and playing cricket and footy in the desert.

It was magical being in the Outback with my dad, reminiscing about all the great times we shared camping when I was a kid. The nights were just as special, sitting around the camp fire with no lights, no music, nothing but the crackle of burning wood, cold beers in our hands and millions of stars twinkling in the sky above us.

Heading out of the Simpson, our next stop was Oodnadatta, home of the famous Pink Roadhouse, a legendary stopover in the middle of nowhere that offers everything from food and accommodation to mechanical repairs and tourist information – always with a smile and at reasonable prices. The place hadn’t changed a bit since the last time I rocked up with a group of 20 mates on postie bikes, and I only wish we could have spent more time there.

26

From Oodnadatta we headed southeast to Marree, stopping in at another great Aussie roadhouse, the William Creek Hotel. William Creek has a permanent population of three people and one dog, but that doesn’t diminish its beauty one bit. It’s also a great place to take in a scenic flight of the Outback and magnificent Lake Eyre, with a few very experienced pilots operating in the area.

We were also lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Lake Eyre, which, thanks to the recent rains, was fuller than it had been in years, with the shoreline coming right up to the Oodnadatta Track. We stripped off our clothes and ran into the lake like a bunch of kids, amazed at the little fish swimming around our feet.

Feeling refreshed and re-energised, we charged on towards Birdsville. But the closer we got, the more water crossings we had to contend with, until one of them got my D-MAX seriously bogged in mud. Luckily we were well prepared, and a simple hook up of my winch onto

Smorgy’s D-MAX had us back on the road in no time at all.

THE FINAL PITSTOP Pulling into Birdsville, the juncture between the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks, was one of the highlights of the trip. The past few hours had offered breathtaking views, with sand dunes towering over either side of the road, and a cold beer at the Birdsville Hotel to knock it on its head. Birdsville also marked the last stop on our trip before heading back home, so we soaked up as much of the atmosphere as we could before we left.

All in all, it had been a great adventure.

The Outback is a place of never-ending beauty and we all feel blessed to have seen so much of it in so few days.

Travelling with our dads was an experience Smorgy and I will cherish for the rest of our lives. I can’t wait for the day when my kids invite me to tag along with them on a road trip, just like I once did with my dear old man.

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MAXTRAX can eliminate the need for recovery by placing over boggy ground before attempting to traverse. They can be linked together to form a continuous track or pegged to slippery surfaces to provide MAXimum TRAXion. They also make a great portable boat ramp for launching or retrieving off a beach or creek bank.

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■ unsung heroes

leonard the hutt Words: Amber Daines

Forty years ago, an Aussie battler’s gripe with the government fuelled the birth of the Principality of Hutt River, Australia’s own state-within-a-state

O

nce upon a time in a land not so far away, there lived a charming prince. This prince was not born to the throne but instead he achieved his title by taking on the law and winning, with gusto. In return, he secured himself a kingdom to call his own.

This is no fairytale. It is the very real-life story of HRH Prince Leonard of Hutt, AKA Leonard Casley, who this year celebrates four decades since seceding his 4,000-hectare property north of Geraldton from the Commonwealth of Australia.

Speaking to Prince Leonard, who is well into his 80s and rattles off scores of stories, one quickly gets the impression he is as eccentric as he is knowledgeable. “My Principality is proof that as far as international relations are concerned, a new country can be formed and can stay the test of time,” he says.

And while the Principality is not officially recognised by the Commonwealth, Canberra seems content to let this ‘micro-nation’ be. Fittingly, when Prince Leonard

28

marked the fortieth anniversary of his ascension earlier this year, he received messages of congratulation from then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, WA Premier Colin Barnett and WA Governor Kenneth Comninos Michael.

A Man of Principle The Principality of Hutt River lies almost 600km north of Perth and boasts an area of 75km2 – around the same size as Hong Kong Island.

This little-known empire is sparsely populated, with just 200 inhabitants, 170 of whom are Indigenous Australians from the Nunda tribe.

Their ‘larrikin lord’ has chalked up an impressive portfolio of worldly experiences. He’s written articles for NASA and books on mathematics.

He has run an export business in Singapore and is an accountant by trade. Yet none of these achievements come close to defining HRH. “It is wonderful to be acknowledged for one’s achievements, but it is not about ego,” he says. “For me, the most important thing in the

world is the exchange of information.

In some ways, I’d rather be working in a field like mathematics instead of politics, which I reckon is pretty dirty.”

Born Leonard Casley in Kalgoorlie, WA, HRH attended school in the Nullarbor until he left at the age of 14 and went into construction, building 100 homes in two years. By his 18th birthday, he was in the Royal Australian Air Force, fighting the Japanese tooth and nail in the Pacific.

But Casley’s most defining moment arrived on April 21, 1970, when, after an epic legal battle, he seceded from the Commonwealth and created his own Province, which in 2006 became a Principality.

Standing His Ground So what made Casley withdraw from what was and still is regarded as the luckiest country on earth? Well, at the time, Casley was a wheat farmer, and like many wheat farmers, he was outraged when the WA Government shunted in draconian quotas that allowed individual farms to sell a maximum of 1,647 bushels of

unsung heroes ■

...while the principality is not officially recognised by the commonwealth, canberra seems content to let this ‘micro-nation’ be.

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It’s not a race, back off the pace.

Dangerous Driving = Dead End

<<<< >>>>

Fatality Free Friday, 27 May 2011 Tailgating, aggressive and erratic driving are dangerous practices for all road users.

Share the road, drive responsibly and make it a Fatality Free Friday.

For more information and to register your commitment visit www.fatalityfreefriday.com

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UNSUNG HEROES ■

AFTER ESCALATING DEMANDS FOR PAYMENTS OF TAX, PRINCE LEONARD DECLARED WAR ON AUSTRALIA...

Previous page: Prince Leonard delivers a regal gaze Right: The Royal Family dressed to the nines. L to R: Princess Shirley Casley, the Crown Prince Wayne Casley and HRH Prince Leonard of Hutt

wheat (58 cubic metres) – the quantity harvested from approximately 40 hectares of land. In effect, it meant Casley would have to burn or give away 99 per cent of that year’s harvest.

After an appeal to the then-Governor of Western Australia Sir Douglas Kendrew failed, Casley took the matter to court. Applying the argument of ‘unjust enrichment’, which states that “If something is unjustly taken, compensation must be made”; and a legal term known as ‘estoppel’, meaning ‘stopper plug’, Casley did indeed stop the government. And to draw attention to what was at stake, he seized upon a centuries-old legal loophole – a call for independence contained within the British Treason Act of 1495. The Commonwealth could have quashed the ruling on appeal, but inexplicably allowed the ruling to slip under its radar.

And while relations between Nain, Hutt’s two-bit capital, and Canberra, have remained positive for the most part, there have been a few hiccups over the years. When Australia Post refused to handle Hutt River mail in 1976, it was

rerouted via Canada. The following year, after escalating demands for payments of tax, Prince Leonard declared war on Australia, only to announce an end of hostilities just a few days later. The Australian Tax Office now classifies the citizens of Hutt River as non-residents for tax purposes, while the Principality levies income tax of 0.5 per cent on its residents.

But to HRH, the succession and its turbulent genesis were about principle, not power – proof that little people can and should stand up to the powers that be when they believe they’re being shafted. And he’s quick to dismiss the suggestion that he’s a hero, reiterating that all he did was stand his ground, just like any other Australian – or former Australian (in his case) – should do.

THE TOURIST TRAP HRH and his wife of six decades, Princess Shirley have seven children, 24 grand children and 23 greatgrandchildren, with three of their sons still residing in the Principality. Though battling emphysema and the rigours of ageing, HRH shows no signs of slowing down, happily greeting the 40,000-odd tourists who pop in for a visit every year.

“I say that when the Queen of England retires, I may just think about retiring too,” he laughs.

Visitors to the Principality of Hutt River say much of the appeal of the experience lays in the earnest manner in which HRH attends every arrival, which includes overseeing the stamping of passports. The Principality also boasts its own flag, currency, immigration office, royal mint, Bill of Rights and everything else one expects of a sovereign nation.

Other attractions include 4WD and dirtbike tracks, a golf course, homestead, souvenir store, tearoom with swimming pool and a caravan park.

And the Principality still operates as a working farm, with crops, sheep and cattle grazing more than 2,400 hectares.

A proportion is leased to neighbours for their own crops – but ironically there’s no wheat, the crop that started it all.

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■ international report

Bruce Garland’s D-MAX survives a serious soaking to finish second in Thailand’s premier off-road rally

Wet ’n’Wild 32

INTERNATIONAL REPORT â&#x2013;

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■ INTERNATIONAL REPORT

Previous page: D-MAX wipers get a big workout in a drenched Thai jungle Above: A serious dunking for the D-MAX of Bruce Garland (right)

“OUR MOBILE PHONES AND CAMERAS WERE UNDER THE SEAT AND THEY JUST GOT DROWNED. IN FACT, HARRY THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DROWN...”

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A

ustralian rally driver Bruce Garland and his long-time navigator Harry Suzuki finished second outright in the 2010 Asia Cross Country Rally (ACCR) in Thailand in August, despite marooning their Dakarspec D-MAX in a flooded stream.

Now in its 13th year, the ACCR is a five-day rally that kicks off on the resort island of Phuket in southern Thailand and finishes at Phrae near the Laotian border. It takes in 2,010 kilometres of jungles, swamps and river crossings that were historically up to half a metre deep.

But torrential rains saw vast swaths of the circuit inundated with water and a number of major rivers flood their banks.

“In the driver’s briefing, they told us the car would need a snorkel to keep going because we had to go through about half a metre of water,” Bruce said. “But during a routine river crossing on day two we came across one at least twice that much; it was so deep the water was coming through the windows. Our mobile phones and cameras were under the seat and they just got drowned. In fact, Harry thought he was going to drown – the water was up to the dashboard.

“We had to swim the snatch strap to shore so we could get hauled out,”

Bruce said. “But after draining the water out of the engine, she fired up and we got going again, back in the battle.”

Bruce and Harry were hoping to beat the second place finish they achieved at their last ACCR in 2000. And while nearly drowning early on in this year’s rally held them back, they were clearly the fastest in the field.

Bruce said he could not believe they scored a podium finish in the race after flooding their ute on day two and further delays they experienced on the last day of racing.

“The rally’s final stage was supposed to have been 35 kilometres but it was cut to just five because everyone was getting bogged in flooded creeks,” he said. “It took us about two hours just to turn around, winching ourselves into U-turns because of huge ravines either side of the track.

“The conditions were just diabolical and the mud was so slippery it felt like I was driving on ice. We would’ve been in even more trouble without our Bridgestone mud tyres, which worked really well when we were on the road and not swimming!”

After finishing the race, Bruce and Harry flew straight back to their base in Sydney, where they worked around the clock to get their D-MAX ready for the 2010 Australasian Safari. Find out how they fared in the next issue of max*d.

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SPARE PARTS

D.I.Y. ■ GET STUFFED

• 170g fresh fish fillets • 2 cups of white flour • 2 eggs • ½ can beer • Tablespoon of salt • Pinch bicarbonate so da • 200g frozen chips • Vegetable oil • 50g spinach • 1 baked sweet potat o • 20g roasted almonds • Salad dressing

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

FISH ‘N’ CHIPS

ONCE THE STAPLE FARE OF GREASY TAKE-AWAY SHOPS, FISH ‘N’ CHIPS IS NOW A GOURMET DELIGHT. AND FEW DO IT BETTER THAN THE FISHMONGER’S WIFE

1

3 36

PICK IT For a nice light fish, go for snapper, but if you prefer something sweeter, try summer whiting. My favourite is barramundi. Make sure it’s from the Territory and not Bali, as it’ll be fresher and come from cleaner waters.

BEAT IT First, separate the eggs. Then add the yolk and beer to the dry mix (I use VB as it’s robust and full-flavoured) and whisk until the lumps are gone. Let the batter sit for an hour to aerate, before folding in the egg white.

2

4

• Chopping board • Sharp knife • Tongs • Whisk • Saucepan or deep fry er • Set of bowls • Paper towel

SIFT IT Breadcrumbs will give you a crispy, crunchy finish. But for a lighter and more pastrylike texture, sift ¾ cup plain white flour, 1½ tablespoons of salt and a pinch of bicarbonate soda or baking power into a bowl.

BATTER IT Flour and water is a basic kind of glue, and that’s what we want to do here: glue the batter to the fish. Gently rub the fish in a bowl of plain flour and then dunk it in the batter.

GET STUFFED ■

THE MAN

5

In a previous life, Steve Meadowcroft was a nurse with a passion for cooking.

“My wife told me I had to open up a restaurant because we couldn’t afford to keep feeding our friends all the time,” he says. “So we looked at the market and realised there was a gap between cornershop fish ’n’ chi ps and the upmarket stuff.” The Fishmonge r’s Wife is now one of the most popular fish ’n’ chips shops in Brisve gas.

Kevin Rudd eats there, as do all the local football and cricket sta rs. Specialties include teriyaki salmon, pesto barramundi and coco nut cream dory. “It’s all ab out quality control,” Steve says. “I take the knowledge about hygie ne I learned in nursing an d apply it to everything we serve. Nothing is compromised.”

FRY IT If you don’t have a deep fryer, fill a saucepan with vegetable oil and heat to 170 degrees. But don’t toss the fish in; wave it through so it cooks evenly. Fry for a couple of minutes on each side until golden brown.

TRY THE REAL THING

The Fishmonger’s Wi fe is at 93 Lytton Road East Brisbane. Open from midday to 8:30pm. 07 3891 6464; www.thefishmon gerswife.com.

6

CHIP IT Australian potatoes are expensive and of a low quality this season, so don’t bother with homemade fries. I use A-grade frozen chips like Edgell or McCain. Make sure they’re dry, then deep fry. When they surface, they’re done.

7

PLATE IT A colourful and tasty salad helps bring this dish to life. This month we’re dishing up cubes of baked sweet potato, spinach leaves and roasted almonds – drizzled with a seeded mustard dressing. And don’t forget fresh lemon and tartare sauce!

■ DEALER LIST

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NEW SOUTH WALES Albion Park Rail Shellharbour Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4230 3100 Albury Wodonga Blacklocks Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6049 5500

DEALER LIST ■

Bomaderry Country Motor Company Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4421 0122 Bowral Highlands Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4861 1100 Coffs Harbour Coffs Coast Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6648 3566 Dubbo Sainsbury Automotive Dubbo Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6884 6444 Eden Ron Doyle Motors Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6496 1420 Forbes ASO Sainsbury Automotive Forbes Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6852 2244 Gosford Central Coast Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4320 0900 Kingswood Western Sydney Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4736 2143 Lismore Trevan Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6627 7999

North Wollongong ASO Wollongong City Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4222 7999 Orange Orange Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6362 8100 Parramatta Denlo Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 8892 8150 Port Macquarie John Patrick Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6584 1800 Tamworth Peel Valley Motors Tamworth Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6768 3111 Wagga Wagga Wagga Motors Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6933 0100 Wyong ASO Central Coast Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4352 1044 Young McAlister Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6382 3033

Newcastle Newcastle Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4980 0660

Goulburn ASO John McGrath Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4823 1000

CASE FILE

Kalgoorlie Golden City Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9021 1699

Queanbeyan John McGrath Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6166 1111

Maddington DVG Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9492 0000

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Midland Midland Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9464 1000

Fullarton Fullarton Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 8338 2303 Mount Gambier O.G.R Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 8724 1111 North Adelaide Isuzu UTE Walkerville Phone: 08 8269 2922 Port Lincoln Mike Raleigh Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 8683 1211 Port Augusta Isuzu UTE Port Augusta Phone: 08 8643 6233

Albany Albany Autos Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9842 5522 Broome Broome Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9192 7357

Dobson Name: Tony suzu UTE I p: hi rs Deale Darwin stence, Motto: “Persi a positive & n io at in determ de” mental attitu

Geraldton Waltons Isuzu UTE Geraldton Phone: 08 9921 5044

Mitchell ASO John McGrath Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6201 1800

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Maitland Hunter Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4999 6710 Narellan Narellan Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4622 2552

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Bunbury Jem Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9725 4911 Esperance ASO Albany Autos Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9071 1060

Moora ASO Waltons Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9651 1363 Port Hedland ASO JEM Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9140 1811 Wangara Wanneroo Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9403 9403 Wagin ASO Jem Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9861 2188

NORTHERN TERRITORY Alice Springs Isuzu UTE Territory Phone: 08 8952 5155 Darwin Isuzu UTE Darwin Phone: 08 8946 4460

TASMANIA Derwent Park Jackson Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 6277 6600 Launceston Jackson Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 6323 7000

max*d

39

■ HOOK, LINE ‘N’ SINKER

SYDNEY FISHO AND 4WD ENTHUSIAST ROD WALKER TALKS ABOUT THE BIG ONE THAT NEARLY GOT AWAY – AND HOW HE REELED IT IN WITH HIS TRUSTY D-MAX

The

Biggest

Catch A mong my many duties as Operations Manager for Enviropest, I’m the bloke who purchases the utes for our fleet. Traditionally I’ve stuck to other brands, but in the past 18 months I’ve only purchased D-MAXs. We now have five of them in our fleet and I plan to buy many more in the years to come.

My reasons for switching to the D-MAX were twofold. First and foremost, it satisfied our business requirements. Second, it satisfied my personal needs, as I use a ute to commute to work everyday, and to tow my 5.3-metre Barcrusher every weekend.

Last Easter, I used my D-MAX to pull in the biggest catch of my lifetime. I was at my holiday house on NSW South Coast with a mate who owns a Land Cruiser, when we decided to take the boat out and do a bit of fishing. For some reason or other we hooked the Barcrusher up to his Land

Cruiser instead of my D-MAX, and off we went.

After an hour or two we hadn’t caught a thing and decided to call it a day and return to the beach ramp. Now, this ramp is part concrete and part sand, and has a nasty reputation for undoing the most experienced boat owners. And on this particular occasion, our attempt to put the Barcrusher on the trailer and tow it out ended in a four-wheel bog.

The Barcrusher was immediately dispatched back into the water, but continued attempts to get the Land Cruiser out on its own failed. Meanwhile, waves began lapping against the car’s tailgate with the incoming tide – not a good thing by anyone’s count.

With no time to waste, I ran home, jumped in the D-MAX and drove it down to the ramp. Then hooked it up to the front of the Land Cruiser using a recovery strap and chucked the D-MAX into lowrange four-wheel drive. To my surprise and that of many onlookers, my mate’s car was dislodged on first attempt.

My D-MAX was the talk of the town that night. And after many dispatches and recoveries of the Barcrusher on the same ramp since, she has never even come close to letting me down.

WIN

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www.blundstone.com

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LIGHT AND TOUGH

Heritage. No Japanese auto brand has more. Almost 100 years of hard won experience, expertise, innovation and continuous improvement. From our first vehicle in 1922 to millions of Isuzu vehicles and diesel engines all over the world, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learnt a lot.

Result: excellence, economy and a peerless reputation for reliability and performance. Now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put all this knowledge into one ute.

The premium, advanced turbo-diesel D-MAX. Time perfects.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT ISUZUUTE.COM.AU OR CALL 1300 147 898

isuzuute.com.au

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