composite builds are better than a traditional build.
INTHISISSUE
Features
TheIronSheik
COVID sidelined the world’s steepest portable 4WD demonstrator, the Iron Summit, but it’s back—and better!
18
FlindersRanges
The Isuzu I-Venture Club found themselves in a South Australian offroad Eden. Why not do the same?
Thegetawaydriver
When Bob spotted a rare Isuzu 117 Coupé accidentally put up for sale— by Isuzu!—he pounced. 47
How much more fun could the latest edition of the D-MAX possibly be?
Take a closer look at Isuzu UTE Australia’s feedback-driven step into the future.
SUBSCRIBE to receive your next copy of MAX*D either digitally or printed and posted to you for FREE. Visit isuzuute.com.au/subscribe to make your choice.
UpFront
06 News
A Wheels magazine win, an Alex Tobin medallist, the new D-MAX X-RIDER and the only beach Isuzu UTE has delightedly stuck on.
08 Readers’Rides
Show us where your D-MAX or MU-X has taken you—and win!
12
Wishlist
A quality swag is key to maximum camping comfort under the stars.
14 TechHead
A beginner’s guide to loose surfaces with I-Venture honcho and storied off-road veteran David Wilson.
MiddleGround
34 TheList
Pies! Sushi! Camel burgers? Belly up to the nation’s best and quirkiest off-beat eateries.
40
42
Hook,Line&Sinker
Tassie’s north is home to the world’s biggest King George Whiting.
UnsungHeroes
The top-tier Isuzu A-League owes it all to grassroots football. Meet the Brisbane Roar officer helping to foster tomorrow’s superstars.
44
Refuel
It’s a beefy mushroom classic with ‘adventure cook’ (and Fire to Fork YouTube wizard) Harry Fisher.
Outback
48
DealerList
There’s a local Isuzu UTE Dealer near you right now. Find it here.
WELCOME
ISSUE33
HELLOANDWELCOME to the latest edition of MAX*D magazine!
2023 was a year for the Isuzu UTE Australia (IUA) history books, with record annual sales cementing IUA as a top ten brand in the country for the second consecutive time. With 45,341 deliveries across both nameplates, the D-MAX was the third best-selling vehicle in Australia, while the MU-X placed as the third best-selling SUV in its segment.
As we reach the halfway point in 2024, IUA’s performance continues to impress, with sales tracking an incredible 46.6 per cent year-on-year increase. Both the
D-MAX and MU-X sit proudly among the top ten in the VFACTS rankings, reflecting their enduring popularity—and with supply greatly improved, many dealerships are stocked for immediate delivery.
Over the year I’ve had the privilege to experience first-hand the incredible work of our major partners. I visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service base in Brisbane, witnessing the profound impact they have on communities. The Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s Grand Final played in May was unforgettable—the electric atmosphere, the passionate crowds and the family-oriented spirit made it truly
special. And I’m proud to announce that we have renewed our partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia for another three years, reinforcing our commitment to that vital organisation.
In this edition we welcome the 2024 Isuzu D-MAX, an evolution of one of Australia’s favourite utes, which introduces improvements directly inspired by valuable customer feedback. Dive into the details on page 24, where we subject the new D-MAX to rigorous on- and off-road tests.
For the tech heads, lead I-Venture Club trainer David Wilson shares five essential
loose-surface tips for beginners on page 14, while I-Venture itself visits South Australia’s iconic Flinders Ranges on page 18. And then there’s a bucket list of off-beat foodie destinations on page 34.
The not-for-the-faint-hearted exploration of the Iron Summit on page 16 brings back my memorable (and slightly terrifying) first trip across the attraction. I heartily recommend taking a ride on the world’s steepest 4WD demonstration if you get the chance— it’s an experience that truly showcases the capability of Isuzu UTE’s vehicles.
On a personal note, the past year has
been incredibly fulfilling. I’ve been travelling this beautiful country, meeting many of you, and visiting over 60 Isuzu UTE dealers. My family has joined me on this adventure, including our beloved three-year-old Japanese Pomeranian and our 18-year-old cat. Both have adapted wonderfully to their new home after a lengthy 10-day quarantine at Melbourne Airport, and the MU-X has proven the perfect vehicle for all of us.
As we celebrate our achievements and look forward to the future, I want to thank you for being a part of the Isuzu UTE family. Here’s to continued success,
growth and unforgettable experiences— and, as always, enjoy the latest edition of MAX*D magazine !
Happy reading & safe motoring!
Junta Matsui Managing Director, Isuzu UTE Australia
PUBLISHER
Smart As Media smartasmedia.com
ISUZU UTE AUSTRALIA
MANAGING
Mark Harman, Maddy Winters maxd@iua.net.au
EDITOR
Ben Smithurst ben@smartasmedia.com
ART
Guy Pendlebury guy@smartasmedia.com
SUB-EDITOR
Paul Rodger
ADVERTISING
Nicole Prioste nicole@smartasmedia.com
“THISPARTNERSHIPwill increase the capabilities of surf lifesavers and lifeguards in day-to-day duties and allow them to focus on what they do best: saving lives.”
So said Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Adam Weir as his organisation renewed its partnership with Isuzu UTE Australia (IUA).
Joining forces in 2021, IUA has been a crucial ally in SLSA’s mission to safeguard beaches, providing annual contributions and a fleet of critically reliable ‘rescue-ready’ vehicles.
“All our lifesaving equipment needs to be
durable to withstand the challenging beach conditions and dependable when called upon by our surf lifesavers,” said Weir, “and the Isuzu D-MAX Ute and MU-X SUV are no exception.”
IUA Managing Director Junta Matsui was equally thrilled. “We recognise the importance of providing SLSA with vehicles that can withstand the rigours of beach patrols,” he said. “SLSA is embedded in the heart of local communities and we are extremely proud to continue our support.”
MORETHANHALFof all vehicles sold in Australia are Sports Utility Vehicles. The SUV is the world’s favourite category of vehicle, and with more than 150 different SUV nameplates from almost 50 manufacturers, Australia is one of the most competitive SUV marketplaces on Earth.
Which makes the Isuzu MU-X’s dominant victory in Wheels Magazine’s inaugural ‘Best Large SUV’ awards all the more impressive.
“The Isuzu MU-X beat everything else out of sight,” said Wheels editor Andy Enright.
“We crunched the numbers on insurance premiums, fuel bills, cost of servicing and depreciation, and the results were pretty conclusive: the Isuzu MU-X represents the best value over a three-year ownership period.”
“The clincher, its resale value, was by far the best in class, and that’s because Aussies know this vehicle and trust it to last.”
The win kicks off an exciting period for the MU-X, with the much-anticipated 1.9-litre addition having now arrived in Australia.
TheX-RiderCometh
ANSWERINGDEMANDAND bolstering the 2024 range to an impressive 25 variants, the popular D-MAX X-RIDER has joined the IUA line-up as a regular offering. Exemplifying affordable, out-of-the-box off-road capability at a compelling price point, the X-RIDER is built upon the popular mid-spec D-MAX LS-M. With a sportier design aesthetic formerly reserved for the flagship X-TERRAIN, its features include a loopless soft tonneau and sports bar, bold Basalt Black and Gloss Black accents, the new 8.0-inch infotainment system and a dark interior trimmed with a black headlining and black accents throughout.
Gamerswintheir
A-LeagueGrandFinal
Two winners relished an A-League finale for the ages after winning IUA’s Ultimate Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final Experience.
Mark F, from Western Australia, and Diana P, from Queensland, each won two corporate suite tickets to Australian domestic football’s season finale in May. They also scored $4500 gift vouchers to cover accommodation and flights for the sold-out game, which saw the Central Coast Mariners beat Melbourne Victory 3-1 to win back-to-back titles.
Mark and Diana entered by playing Isuzu’s ‘Road to the Final’ flash game at isuzuute.com.au, where they piloted a digital D-MAX through a fun obstacle course, jumping, collecting coins and power-ups, and dodging pitfalls.
CREATIVESYDNEYFC midfielder Joe Lolley has officially been awarded the 2024 Alex Tobin Medal, presented by Isuzu UTE, as the player of the Isuzu UTE A-League season. The prize rewards the competition’s best and most consistent player, with votes tabled after every game by the expert Paramount ANZ football commentary team. It also supports grassroots football by providing the winner’s junior team with the choice of a brand-new Isuzu D-MAX or MU-X.
Having arrived in Australia after helping Nottingham Forest secure its return to the Premier League in 2022, the star Englishman had a standout campaign with 12 goals and seven assists during the regular season. He nominated northern Sydney’s Macquarie Dragons FC as his junior club of choice. “It’s always nice to win a personal award which shows the hard work you’ve put in, week in, week out,” said Lolley.
If you want to keep up with all things Isuzu UTE, make sure you’re following us on our social pages! facebook.com/isuzuute Instagram: @isuzuute_aus
READERS’RIDES
There’s nothing better than going your own way. Tell us about it—and win.
JONATHON DAVIES
LIVES: IVANHOE EAST, VIC
DRIVES: 2023 D-MAX 4X4 X-TERRAIN
This is my son Jayden and me taking on some beautiful mountain biking terrain in the Black Spur between Healesville and Marysville. He loves the truck! Both of our electric bikes slide into the tray really nicely and we try to get out there on weekends and holidays whenever we can.
You can get the ute into some pretty remote locations, so we often go as far as we can and then unload the bikes and explore further from there. We enjoy the freedom. It works as a mental health break for both of us, just escaping the pressures of the city and spending time together.
The trip from Melbourne is super comfortable with the leather interior and fantastic sound system. Actually, we both love the car—and the Volcanic Amber colour looks amazing. It’s also perfect for hunting and fishing trips.
PETER ROWELL
LIVES: MOAMA, NSW
DRIVES: 2023 MU-X 4X4 LS-T
I used to run a 4WD school back in the day, but now I’m retired and I have a little farm down near Heathcote, which is about an hour away from home. And we have family up and down the coast, so we’re always putting in the highway miles—we’ve done 15,000km in the last nine months.
We’re just very happy with the MU-X—it’s our car for everything, whether we’re visiting interstate, ducking down to maintain the fences, or cutting a bit of firewood. We actually managed to dismantle and fit a 3.6m-long extension dining table into the back the other day and there was still room for our luggage. And the dog!
Disclaimer: Non-genuine aftermarket accessories and modifications are not recommended or endorsed by Isuzu UTE Australia. For detailed information on ‘what is’ and ‘what is not’ covered by the Manufacturer’s Warranty please refer to the Warranty and Service Booklet.
KERRY HAYNES
LIVES: SALISBURY HEIGHTS, SA
DRIVES: 2023 D-MAX X-4X4 TERRAIN
JOHN HUGGARD
LIVES: TAYLORS LAKES, VIC
DRIVES: 2021 MU-X 4X4 LS-U
We purchased a camper-trailer in 2016 as the entry level to travelling Australia. We wanted to test the waters without fully committing, but we just loved it. So we decided we would buy a caravan and go all-in, but needed a proper tow vehicle as well. Thus, after much research, we made the call for an MU-X.
We’re on our way to Queensland now to escape the winter, with a vague plan to plonk down anywhere we like for three or four weeks if the fishing is good or I’m enjoying the local golf courses. What we like is the sense of adventure you have—there really is a rolling community. You can just pull up and chat—me about the tow cars, my wife about the caravans—and rub shoulders with like-minded people. Stop and say hello if you see us!
I just love to get away whenever I can—even for just one-night camping trips. With the X-TERRAIN it’s just so easy to throw everything in the tub and off you go. It takes all the hassle out of preparation and you’re straight on the road and heading out of the city.
I’ve been to the Flinders, been to the Murray, done a few local trips to Mount Crawford, and you just can’t beat the campfire at night and the peace and the serenity. I’ve had cargo rails installed across the tray of the D-MAX since this photo was taken and now I just pop the swag on top of that and sleep under the stars. And with the fridge, my deck chairs, my wood and all my food safely underneath, I have everything I need!
PETA OTTWAY
LIVES: HUONVILLE, TAS
DRIVES: 2020 MU-X 4X4 LS-U
We live in Huonville in Tasmania on a 200-acre cattle farm and we flood nearly every single winter. Well, the river starts at Scotts Peak Dam, so one day we thought we’d take a drive up there before the rain started and see where all our water problems come from! That’s where we snapped this picture.
I would estimate that over 150 acres of our place regularly goes underwater, so we need a 4WD to deal with that. Sometimes it’s so deep that we’ve had to go out on kayaks and get the cattle in! But it’s not all work. Last year we took it over to the Deni Ute Muster, took the swag and the fridge and Jenga-ed it all into the back for an 11-day trip. We love the MU-X so much that my partner has just bought himself a D-MAX!
BRIGITTEANDTANYA’S BEACH-READYMU-X
Where some saw a 2022 MU-X 4x4 LS-T, two budding adventurers saw a blank slate.
It’sbeena little while since Fraser Island reverted to its traditional name, K’Gari, but the off-roading experience it offers remains fundamentally the same—and fundamentally fun. “That’s probably where I got the bug,” says Brigitte, who now lives in Melbourne. “I remember heading over to Fraser when I was a kid, and sitting in the back and bouncing around. Four-wheel-driving is in the blood!
“It’s just that freedom: the feeling you
can go anywhere and do anything. With the MU-X and the tent, we can take our dogs and we can do it on our own terms.”
If it is a bug, it’s the contagious kind. Tanya admits to being less enthusiastic about the pair’s purchase—at least initially.
“Brigitte was definitely more excited,” she says. “It was her way of roping me into going four-wheel driving. My only prerequisite was that it had leather seats!
“That’s all changed now, though.”
The couple has added a variety of aftermarket additions and alterations— many bespoke. There’s the Opposite Lock bullbar, Ultra Winch winch, Supernova spotlights, Roadsafe recovery points, custom off-road bash plates, Milford towbar, Yakima roof platform, and an awning. Oh, and a personalised interior fit-out to suit their beloved dogs.
Which is to say: pooches don’t need seats. So Brigitte removed them.
“Yeah, we took the rear seats out
ourselves,” says Brigitte. “We quite specifically wanted to be able to store things underneath the floor, but the floor had to still be low enough that the dogs could be in there. So, we lifted the floor and now we put stuff under there— and the dogs sit on top.”
Turns out, the dogs aren’t the only animals who love the MU-X.
“We were on Bruny Island and there were all these pademelons ,” says Brigitte, “beautiful little things, about the size of basketballs, and they’re very friendly.
“When we came out in the morning, there were pademelon tracks all up and over the bonnet. They’d been sitting up on the MU-X during the night.
“It was just a beautiful trip, driving through these streams flowing down from the hills onto the beach, nobody around. You feel like you’re a kid again.”
There’s nothing more timeless than island vibes—whenever the era.
ARB BULL BARS
Designed, engineered and manufactured for maximum functionality, so you can confidently explore the road less travelled in your D-MAX.
BETTER
THANATENT!
Ever wondered why swagmen were so jolly? It’s because swags rule.
1 OZTRAIL BIKER EXPEDITION
BEST BUDGET OPTION
Built primarily for two-wheeled explorers, OzTrail’s cost-effective product still delivers the main advantages a swag has over a tent. Meaning it’s quick to erect, and durable and comfortable (albeit with just a 50mm mattress), but is especially compact when packed down, and lightweight at just 6.9kg. There’s not a lot of head room, despite its domed end poles, but it’s a swag, not St Paul’s Cathedral; claustrophobics are generally not big swag buyers. Easy zip-top access gets you in speedily, and built-in mesh keeps bugs out.
RRP: $250 oztrail.com.au
2
NEBULA 1550 SWAG
BEST OPULENCE
Even with its metre of headroom, access from all four sides, and a luxurious 70mm mattress, this two-person couples swag only takes a couple of minutes to set up. Described as a ‘one-of-a-kind freestanding hybrid’ fancy talk for a combo of tent and swag—it’s super durable, with 360-degree views and a storm-mocking PU800mm waterhead rating. Built from 420gsm ripstop polycotton canvas and with a heavy-duty 600gsm PVC bucket floor, it’s the only place you’ll want to be in a deluge. Besides the local pub. Or possibly back home. Or in the MU-X.
RRP: $799 darche.com.au
3 AOS BUSHMAN DELUXE
BEST AUSTRALIAN-MADE TRADITIONAL APEX SWAG
Available in four sizes from single to queen, this locally built swag is lightweight and spacious, with a robust 70mm mattress and the ability to be set up in multiple configurations. There are twin zips running the full length of the swag and a fine mesh window built into the head panel to deter assorted sand flies, mozzies and midges. Its 10-year warranty provides confidence and it comes with a carry bag big enough to cram in extra stuff, such as sleeping bags, pillows, and that child’s soft toy you didn’t see on pack-up, which you’ll now repeatedly scour the campsite for while they scream blue murder
RRP: from $429 aussieoutbacksupplies.com
4
DUNE 4WD KING TITAN
BEST VALUE BIG SPACE
Perhaps you want a swag that’ll see you right for sleeping in the irradiated wastelands of a post-apocalyptic future. Or maybe you just want something for your weekend away at a festival every year or two. Dune’s 16kg double swag is a worthy compromise, with a high-density 70mm foam mattress and good internal space, height and ventilation, spacious windows for ventilation and reasonable durability. It’s perhaps not the easiest to roll up at first, but that’s a minor quibble particularly with some sites we’ve spotted offering occasionally large discounts.
$499 anacondastores.com
SHEIK THE
IRON
Matt Taylor brought the world’s steepest portable 4WD demo, dubbed the Iron Summit 2.0, back to life. Here’s how…
“HONESTLY,”
SAYS
Iron Summit guru, reinventor and engineer Matt Taylor, “I hate it. I hate the Iron Summit with every fibre of my being.”
It’s not that Taylor doesn’t trust the six-metre high, 45-degree hydraulic mobile ramp that demonstrates the D-MAX and MU-X’s climbing and descending ability at shows around the country. He was a driver for the Iron Summit’s first iteration, under inventor builders Scott Anderson and Wayne Boatwright. “I‘ve probably got 10,000 runs over the Iron Summit under my belt,” he says. “But since I took delivery of it, I’ve only driven over it once. I don’t enjoy it.”
It’s just that, in his other life, Taylor is a professional stunt driver, having worked on films such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa and Maze Runner
If he’s daunted, how would you react?
Where had the Iron Summit gone?
I bought it sight unseen from the property where it had been on the Hawkesbury River during the three-year break for COVID. I wasn’t sure how much flood damage it had sustained.
And?
Structurally, it was in really, really good nick. But we had to rebuild the electronic and hydraulic systems, and we really wanted to differentiate it from the original
because previously only the MU-X ever went up and over the Iron Summit. We just never had enough ramps in the approach and the departure angle for the longer ute to clear. Now we do both cars and from both directions, which means we can double the amount of rides. Once 300 rides in a day was an all-time record; in Melbourne last year, we did 650.
What’s the slope?
It’s around a six-metre length at a true 45-degree incline, and then you’re about seven metres in the air. To put that into perspective, that’s a 100 per cent gradient: one metre forward is one metre up or down. As a comparison, the steepest road in Australia has a 20 per cent gradient.
And if you are on the steepest of the four-wheel drive tracks in the bush, you’re on around a 50 per cent gradient, which is about 30 degrees. So experienced off-roaders love it the most. Those purists have been on steep tracks and then they go on the Iron Summit and they genuinely appreciate the mechanics.
And are there any modifications to the D-MAX and MU-X you drive over?
Nothing—a stock standard MU-X or D-MAX will do it in a heartbeat. That’s the beauty of it: we designed a ramp that would challenge all of our competitors.
Also, these are our transport vehicles.
They don’t get a day off, they’re either driving up and down the world’s steepest ramp, or towing the 3.5-tonne Iron Summit to the next stop. Last year we did nearly 40,000km in each car.
We have a selection (right) of shots of passengers’ faces on their way down. Does everyone react differently? The screamers are everybody’s favourite. We were at the Deni Ute Muster, near the main stage, and some incredible artists were playing really loudly out across the huge sound venue that Deni is. And we had four girls in the car and, at one point, screaming for dear life, they muffled out the Deni Ute Muster.
Why do you hate it?
We had a new driver audition last month, one of the guys from Movie World who I worked with on Mad Max, and I’ve got GoPro footage of him quite literally about to soil himself. When you have that mechanical and driving aptitude, you know how close to the edge this ride really is. There’s one or two degrees left in it—that’s it. The car goes up on that 45-degree ramp, but remember that it’s squatting over its rear axle as it rises. If you put an inclinometer on the sidestep, it goes to about 52 degrees because that’s how much the car is squatting. We are on the precipice of what physics will allow.
It’saroundasix-metrelengthatatrue 45-degreeincline,andthenyou’re aboutsevenmetresintheair.
What’s it like to go over the top? Here are some reactions from punters
THESEARCHERS
FlindersRanges
SEARCHERS
I’ve found the magic of the Flinders and I predict that if you follow a similar path, you will absolutely have an amazing time—and you’ll get to sink your teeth into some of the best off-roading that this wide, brown land has to offer.
DAYONE:WRANGLINGTHEWOWEETRACK
The I-Venture Club is open to D-MAX and MU-X owners from across the country. It’s the brand’s program for anyone who wants to get more confident behind the wheel of their off-roader—regardless of their ability— while meeting a bunch of new friends along the way.
We assembled on the first morning at Hawker, population 226, a former railway town around 365km north of Adelaide. The line moved in 1956 and the absence of trains robbed the place of commerce, but what the once-bustling village now lacks in people, it makes up for in charm.
Our convoy of Isuzu MU-X and D-MAX 4x4s, including the newly unveiled 1.9-litre Isuzu MU-X and updated MY24 D-MAX,
stopped for lunch at the Flinders Food Co, where we introduced ourselves and had a safety briefing. Enthusiasm was running high.
With the formalities out of the way, low-range 4x4 was engaged, diff-locks selected, and for those with newer models, Rough Terrain Mode activated—and boy, do I love that button.
We headed out to spend the day at Merna Mora Station to take on the challenging and suitably named Wowee Track.
Billed as ‘an adventure track for the experienced’, it makes the most of the Bourneburra range’s ridges with switchbacks. It delivered us to a 360-degree panorama from Wilpena to Lake Torrens. The guides call it ‘an aerial view without the plane’, but that doesn’t do justice to the smells, the silence and the satisfaction of a day well-spent you get by driving in it.
If you’re planning on taking the same route—and I recommend it!—plan for a 90-minute to three-hour journey, although we took longer as we kept stopping to take pictures. It is that good.
DAYTWO:REDSANDANDFERALFEASTS
It was time for something a little different. Nilpena Station is world-famous, but not necessarily for four-wheel driving. In 2009, the David Attenborough TV series First Life let the rest of the planet know what had been blowing paleontologists’ minds here since 1985. The unassuming sheep and cattle station is the place where proof of the emergence of Earth’s earliest complex animal life has been found. Predating land animals—and even land plants—the fossils of mostly tubular or frond-shaped organisms date to 650 million years ago.
Less exciting in a scientific sense, maybe, but great for four-wheeling, are the station’s red dunes. Moreover, I was keen to test the 1.9-litre Isuzu MU-X on sand.
I was impressed with the performance of the 1.9-litre when in low-range. Piloting a 4WD on red sand is something I’ll never forget. It was challenging driving on the soft, powdery surface, but with a little momentum most of our convoy made it through unscathed.
Iwasimpressedwiththeperformanceofthe 1.9-litrewheninlow-range.Pilotinga4WD onredsandissomethingI’llneverforget.
For others, it was a lesson in how to safely and correctly use recovery techniques, such as using MAXTRAX recovery boards. And nothing quite builds camaraderie (or contributes to stories for later on that evening) like helping a fellow traveller get unstuck.
If the red sands of Nilpena weren’t exciting enough, lunch at the Prairie Hotel certainly would test the more adventurous members of almost any group. We sat down to a feast consisting of Emu Liver Pâté, Camel Salami, Kangaroo Jerky and, er, smoked ham. I’m open minded, so will try anything once—it was delicious, too.
Pastoralist and cattleman Ross Fargher is a fourth-generation Flinders Ranges farmer; it was his family that sold two-thirds of Nilpena Station to the state government in 2016 to facilitate the creation of the Nilpena Ediacara National Park.
Ross and his wife Jane bought their ‘local’ in 1991 and it’s since become an icon of both Outback fine dining and unusual menu options. (You can read more about the Prairie Hotel on page 35.)
DAYTHREE:TIMETOLIFTSOMEWHEELS
We all knew Day Three was going to be a cracker, filled with technical low-range four-wheel driving and terrific banter among the group.
It’s always amazing to see people come out of their shells once they see just how capable their vehicles are, and after several days in each other’s company the repartee was flowing.
STEPHENANDMATTHALL, TOOWOOMBA,QUEENSLAND
2024D-MAX4X4
“This isn’t my first I-Venture Club trip—I’ve previously done the one at Gordon Country in Queensland and one of the Isuzu staff there said they were planning one to the Flinders. My brother and I both had some time off, so we both went, well, why the hell not?
“The best part was the people you’re with—everyone had something in common. And just learning what your D-MAX is capable of—where and how to use your diff lock, and all the different modes, and having the trainer there. It opens up so much of the country, just seeing how easily this thing climbs some of those hills! And some of the ruts! There were a few moments there where you’re looking at it, and you’re looking at the trainer, and you’re looking back at the incline, and you’re like, ‘Are we really, really doing this? Are we really hitting that?’ And they did it easy!”
Thingswereabouttogetserious,andthe
Starting with a leisurely drive up to Stokes Hill Lookout we witnessed Wilpena Pound from elevation. A naturally ringed ampitheatre of mountains (before being claimed by geologists, a ‘pound’ was an old English term for a livestock enclosure ringed by stone walls), Wilpena Pound is one of the most spectacular sites in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.
Things were about to get serious and the skills of the last few days were put to test as we climbed Angorichina Trail and the Carey Hill Summit.
and excellent guidance from Lead Instructor David Wilson. If ever you need assistance, be that changing a tyre or navigating tough terrain, Wilson and his team are there in a flash.
This saw the convoy lifting wheels, testing our traction control systems and smiling like lunatics. This is what I-Venture Club trips are all about: safety in numbers
With tyres reinflated to roadgoing pressure, we headed back to our starting point at Wilpena Pound for a hot meal swapping stories around the fire. We were also treated to a Welcome To Country ceremony and stargazing session from two local Adnyamathanha Aboriginal guides. They taught this group more about the area than any book could. I tell you, you’ve gotta get out there and experience it for yourself.
Check what’s upcoming (and sign up!) at isuzuute.com.au/events/i-venture-club
TOPTIPSFOR AFLINDERS ADVENTURE
HOWTOGETTHERE?
South Australia’s Flinders Ranges are a popular 4x4 touring destination for those travelling from Victoria to Western Australia. Starting in Adelaide, to get to Wilpena Pound, take either the Inland Road through Clare Valley or drop into Port Augusta, the last major available stop, for supplies. From Adelaide to Wilpena Pound takes approximately five hours.
WHERETOSTAY?
Wilpena Pound is an excellent park-up for a few days. Not only is it a stunning destination, with camping options as well as glamping tents and permanent accommodation, there’s also a swimming pool, which is a welcome sight after a long hot day on the tracks. From Wilpena Pound you can easily do day trips to popular locations along the way. Arrange a Welcome To Country ceremony if you can at Wilpena Pound, called ‘Ikara’ in the Adnyamathanha language.
WHENTOGO?
The Flinders Ranges is accessible all year round, but it’s best to avoid the summer months as it gets very hot. Locals recommend the seven-month stretch between April and October as the prime visiting period.
Isuzu’s iconic ute has long established itself as one of the country’s most popular vehicles. Its on- and off-road credentials have been repeatedly bolstered since it arrived Down Under bearing Isuzu’s own badge for the first time in 2008.
Its success has been built on capability, dependability and its ability to help unlock the best of the Australian lifestyle. Arriving as a utilitarian workhorse 16 years ago, the D-MAX is now available in no fewer than 25 variants, from the entry-level 1.9-litre manual D-MAX SX Single Cab Chassis 4x2, to the tech-heavy hero 3.0-litre D-MAX X-TERRAIN 4x4. In 2023, that combo made the D-MAX Australia’s third best-selling car.
For this update, though, that result makes its ‘Go Your Own Way’ tagline a promise as well as a potential burden. Not just something it has to live up to, but to push forward.
With the pressure on, can the Isuzu keep moving right along? One thing is certain: in a D-MAX, finding out is half the fun.
INTRIGUEATFIRSTGLANCE
The MY24 D-MAX finds the mother company intent on upping the ante.
This might be a facelifted edition, rather than an entirely clean-sheet model, but even so, its new tricks are considerable— and considered. Isuzu UTE Australia (IUA) is keenly aware of its importance.
“This update marks the most comprehensive update to the D-MAX since its local debut,” says IUA Managing Director Junta Matsui.
Most obvious is its significantly refreshed design, both outside and in. New exterior details include the latest evolution of Isuzu’s signature horizontal bar grille, a higher, prouder, squarer bonnet with creased
full-width detailing and eye-catching redesigned headlights.
Front and back are resolved with a robust continuous shoulder line, sleekly channelling aerodynamic flow and drawing the eye along the bodywork at the same time. The overall impression is of refined muscularity, with just a hint of aggression.
Then there are the extra updates to the halo models—including a new edition. The debuting X-RIDER and retailored X-TERRAIN both feature even bolder exterior flourishes: dark grey underbody spoilers, darkened accents and a menacing front bar design.
It’s a commanding and convincing package, offering unmistakable charisma while minimising fuss.
THEBESTSEATINTHEHOUSE
Slip behind the wheel and even a cursory assessment of the D-MAX’s updated cabin reveals changes.
Most prominent, perhaps, is the availability of a new 9.0-inch infotainment screen, alongside an evolution of interior design and materials that demonstrates undeniable flair—and intriguing details. (For example, the new upholstery trim and in-cabin design elements are influenced by the Japanese paperfolding art of Miura Origami, an example of sophisticated influences otherwise more familiar to the full-size executive class.)
That 9.0-inch infotainment display arrives on LS-U, LS-U+ and X-TERRAIN models, with new 8.0-inch touchscreens a feature on SX, LS-M and X-RIDER models.
With feedback from both customers and media directing their hand—the same input that influenced almost every aspect of the D-MAX’s recalibration Isuzu across the board—Isuzu has installed a completely new infotainment system.
There’s USB-C connectivity, voice recognition, DAB+ digital radio, and wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Off-road enthusiasts will appreciate the inclinometer, while Terrain Command 4x4 drive modes have been integrated into the system—affording the driver the ability to view essential systems at a simple tap and swipe of the screen.
Addressing customer requests, old-school manual tuning and volume dials have been added. Changing settings on the fly, or angled on a 4WD slope, is now simpler.
“Not only does the 2024 D-MAX feature specifications bespoke to the Australian market,” says Matsui-san, “but the design changes have also been influenced by the very feedback we’ve received from the media and customers over the past three years.”
Addressingcustomerrequests,old-schoolmanual tuningandvolumedialshavealsobeenadded.
RULETHEROAD…ANDTHEOFF-ROAD
Technical bells and whistles are wonderful —and the D-MAX ticks those boxes and more—but Australian utes are first of all judged on gutsiness, reliability and functionality.
This has long been one of the D-MAX’s strong suits. CarsGuide reviewer Graham Smith glowingly described that debut 2008 D-MAX as capable of tackling the most challenging off-road trails, “its gutsy turbo-diesel happy to slug it out on steep climbs and rough tracks”.
Isuzu has been as comfortable off-road as Jim Henson’s hand in Kermit’s head ever since, and just as grippy. Now it’s even better, with its capability extended again.
With imposing ground clearance of up to 240mm, 800mm wading depth, and X-TERRAIN approach, departure and ramp-over angles of 30.5°, 19.0° and 23.8° respectively, it’s eager to explore. Add an updated Rough Terrain Mode (RTM), selectable dual-range 4WD and rear differential lock, and the D-MAX maximises torque-transfer and driveability across technical, slippery and uneven conditions.
Two engines are offered—a 110kW/ 350Nm 1.9-litre turbo-diesel (RZ4E-TC) or 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel (4JJ3-TCX)—paired with either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission with 4x2 or 4x4. Respective braked towing ranges from 2,800kg to 3,500kg, depending on the powertrain, maintaining the D-MAX’s hauler status.
The debutante grin Isuzu UTE arrives Down Under with a grin wrapped in fetchingly arranged chrome braces.
Bigger and bolder
The facelifted, more muscular, 2015 D-MAX grille brought Klingon’sforehead furrows.
2013
‘Isuzu’ breaks free MU-X arrives, allowing ‘Isuzu’ to sit untethered amid the flowing grille’s upper intake.
A more sophisticated D-MAX grille smooths its incisors with sculpted parallel lines. Isuzuhasbeenascomfortable off-roadasJimHenson’shandin Kermit’sheadeversince,andjust
Sturdy and sculpted
A classic evolution delivers smoothly angled side pillars and bulked-up chrome for the D-MAX and just the hint of incisors for the MU-X.
2017
2020
A grille with bite
The third-gen D-MAX arrives, featuring cool vampire fangs and a top-bar integrated logo
Embracing refinement
Distinctive, more filigreed details for the all-conquering second-gen MU-X.
2021
2023
Style tempers aggression
Early news from Japan described this D-MAX as IUA’s most capable vehicle to date. For Australian conditions, local input has elevated that easy proficiency even further.
ACHIEVEMENTUNLOCKED
What would Kermit and Fozzie have thought of the 2024 D-MAX?
Well, for one, there’d have been less breaking down. One of the old movie’s plot devices is that their clunker is so unreliable. ‘Getting there’ would have been faster and more fun (they could have taken an off-road detour or two), although halving the film’s run time might have affected the box office.
Driving is much better today. And no car has changed more for the better than the ute. Utes can now be plush family haulers, or workhorses, or both.
In fiction, as in real life, in Australia or interstellar, the fun factor on any journey of discovery will always depend on two things: the group’s vehicle and the group vibe.
Burke and Wills had smelly camels and squabbling men, and died.
Kermit and Fozzie drove an old banger, but they had each other.
Star Trek had a cool spaceship and a crew of close mates. They’re still at it.
Choosing your vehicle wisely has never been easier. High-tech, comfortable, safe and capable, the new D-MAX has that covered. Meaning you’re halfway to fun on any journey—even if your companions are muppets.
SIX(MORE)OFTHEBEST
A brief tour of new and updated features on the safest Isuzu ever built.
3DSTEREO CAMERA
‘Gen4’ Stereo Camera hardware delivers wider peripheral vision and depth perception to identifying pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles and other vehicles faster and more accurately. The numbers are impressive: field of view increases from 40 degrees to 120 degrees; vehicle detection range is up by 25 per cent to 150m and oncoming vehicle headlights can be detected from 700m.
INTELLIGENT ADAPTIVECRUISE CONTROL(IACC)
WELCOME HEADLIGHT ANDWELCOME LIGHTFUNCTIONS
Improving visibility and safety at night, all D-MAX models gain the new Welcome Headlight function, which partially illuminates exterior lights upon unlocking. Featuring on LS-U, LS-U+ and X-TERRAIN models, the Welcome Light function activates the interior lights when you approach within two metres of the vehicle.
REARCROSS TRAFFICBRAKE (RCTB)
DIGITAL REVERSECAMERA
Australians asked, Isuzu listened. A new digital reversing camera has been fitted to all models— including the cab chassis—dramatically improving image quality and brightness, and adding dynamic guidelines and a wider field of view. The lens has a hydrophobic coating to prevent water and dirt from obscuring vision, particularly handy when off-road.
LANEKEEP ASSIST(LKA)
WhatwouldKermitand Fozziehavethoughtof the2024D-MAX?For one,there’dhavebeen lessbreakingdown.
Calibrated specifically for the Aussie market, this next-gen system recognises speed limit signs, including digital and overhead gantry signs—and allows the driver to match the mandated speed with the push of the ‘RES’ button on the steering wheel.
Designed to prevent accidents while reversing from a parking space or driveway, RCTB uses 24-GHz radar sensors to detect approaching vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians and will apply the brakes to avoid a collision or minimise its impact.
Previously available only on D-MAX models with an automatic transmission, LKA is now available across the board. It has been revised to provide smoother steering intervention based on tracking the centre of the lane, rather than the outer lane markings.
STOPTHEPRESSES!
A selection of Australia’s best automotive journos attended the MY24 D-MAX launch. Here’s a sample of what they said.
“Inside, I like how Isuzu has listened to feedback and given the D-MAX a new infotainment system, as well as a clearer instrument cluster setup. Despite the changes everything is still simple, logical and works as it should.”
— carexpert.com.au
“This ute just keeps getting better and better.”
— drive.com.au
— news.com.au
“We tested the new Rough Terrain Mode over an off-road course’s undulating lumps and it smoothly and impressively limited wheel spin across each wheel independently, while operating with the rear diff lock. It’s one for the hardcore off-roaders but Isuzu’s included it in response to feedback from customers.”
“The 2024 Isuzu D-MAX is a hightech ute, that’s for sure.”
— drive.com.au
“It tackles everything so, so impressively” — drive.com.au
“There’s a confidenceinspiring surge of power and torque from standstill.” — carexpert.com.au
If you’re in the market for a sub- $70k 4x4 ute, the 2024 D-MAX ticks all the right boxes.”
— goauto.com.au
“The popularity of the Isuzu D-MAX is not by accident. It delivers a no-nonsense, hard-working character that is perfectly suited to being a tool-of-the-trade vehicle during the week and a play toy for adventurous families on the weekend.”
— maxxia.com.au
“The steering is smooth and responsive, as is the quick- witted automatic gearbox, and despite us tipping into corners a little faster than we would on our daily commute, there wasn’t much in the way of side-to-side body roll, and no complaints from the rubber.”
— carsguide.com.au
“D-MAX 4x4s are equally accomplished away from the bitumen and now they’re even better thanks to the addition of an off-road traction control system dubbed Rough Terrain Mode.”
– carsales.com.au
FOODIE OFFBEAT TRAIL
Your Isuzu is a go-anywhere machine, so why not seek out an off-the-beaten track dining destination?
THEPRAIRIEHOTEL
Where: Parachilna, SA /
Almost 500km north of Adelaide and few hours south of Lake Eyre, Parachilna is an unexpected place. It's mostly famous for its iconic pub: a culinary delight with its own gallery and microbrewery, and a menu of top-shelf but unexpected fare.The Prairie Hotel’s roadside signs are famous in themselves, promising roo, camel and emu ‘on your plate’, but their garishness is, if anything, misleading. Sitting down to a repast of feral antipasto, smoked miso eggplant, buffalo Reuben sandwich and spit-roasted porchetta—accompanied by South Australian wines and in-house Fargher Lager—is a world away from your typical Outback menu of deep-fried things in bain-maries. It’s almost like a trendy inner-city boozer in the desert, with zero pretension, poseurs or ironic e-bike aficionados. prairiehotel.com.au
F.O.O.D.WEEK
Where: Orange, NSW
Best for: A tasting-plate intro to the Central Tablelands
It sounds like an extravaganza for carrot fans, but the Orange F.O.O.D. Festival is Australia’s longest-running food gala, having celebrated its 33rd birthday in April. Its 10-day program is full of highlights, from the opening Night Markets to the Sampson Street Lunch, held on a (closed) residential avenue on tables longer than the list of regrets of a middle-aged man at a Taylor Swift concert. As GQ noted in April, ‘quite simply, Orange is a must-visit for any budding foodie’. It’s also fun that it seems to have been named on purpose to irritate the sort of people who twitch when someone says “ATM machine”. (F.O.O.D. stands for ‘Food of Orange District’, making this, technically, the Orange Food of Orange District Festival.) orangefoodweek.com.au
orangefoodweek.com.au
PARADISEBAKEHOUSE
Where: Moore Park, Bundaberg, QLD / Best for: Aussie classics
If you earned a dollar every time you passed a roadside sign advertising ‘the best pies on the coast’, life as a grey nomad would pay for itself. But Bundaberg’s Paradise Bakery has the walk to back their talk, taking out Best Plain Pie in the 34th Official Great Aussie Pie Competition in 2023. No mango-drizzled marinated Himalayan yak pies here; their ‘simple yet mouth-watering’ Chunky Steak pie was declared the winner out of 1600 entries at the industry expo Fine Food Australia in Sydney. Pick one up for just $6.40.
BANANABOOGIEBAKERY
MASAAKI’SSUSHI
Where: Geeveston TAS / Best for: Meeting a master
Is Masaaki Koyama Australia’s best sushi chef? The Japanese maestro moved to Tasmania in 2007 after falling in love with a local girl, using westernised fare to accustomise local palates to his food. Now he’s a sensation, with big city foodies (and internationals such as Rick Stein) making the pilgrimage to his door. masaaki.com.au
Where: Belair, SA / Best for: Speed scoffing Pies are fine, obviously, except when they drip lava-hot gravy onto your hand, then crotch, during cornering. That’s why driving purists agree that the sausage roll is the best driver’s on-road snack. Baker Jason Spencer says his “really buttery, melt-in-your-mouth” house-made puff pastry is the secret to his sausage rolls, which were awarded the nation’s best in 2023.
THEENCHANTEDFIGTREE
Where: Kangaroo Island, SA Best for: Magical realism
A seasonal pop-up wilderness dining experience open from November to April (check the dates!), the Enchanted Fig Tree is part Tolkein and part Alice In Wonderland. Chef Stephanie Vass showcases local ingredients (and Kangaroo Island Spirits) in a series of ‘rooms’ divided by the limbs and cascading foliage of a 120-year-old fig tree. gastronomodining.com.au/ locations/the-enchanted-fig-tree
JAMALAWILDLIFELODGE
Where: Canberra, ACT
Best for: Slight terror
Indulge in four-course African-themed gourmet dining with genuine, living hyenas and white lions separated from you by a sheet of glass. That’s the unnerving but exhilarating experience offered by Jamala Wildlife Lodge, in the nation’s capital, with a rotating seasonal menu served in their ‘Rainforest Cave’ room. Fare includes dishes such as native macadamia-crusted snapper or trio of wild mushroom risotto, each paired with selected Australian wines and Moët. Who’d have thought you could munch away while being watched by something that would happily devour you? Actually this is probably pretty common at cabinet room lunches. jamalawildlifelodge.com.au
TALIWIRU
Where: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT / Best for: Once-in-a-lifetime dining
Ever peered out across the billiard-table Outback flanks of Uluru in the gathering dark, marvelled at the electric ochre tones of The Rock (not Dwayne Johnson) and thought, ‘I could go yellowtail kingfish with yuzu pearls, fermented quandong salsa, scampi caviar and desert lime’? If so, the Australian Good Food Guide chef’s hatted, al fresco restaurant Tali Wiru has you covered. A four-course dinner is a substantial $440 a head, but few experiences rival this four-hour, 15-minute dining indulgence, served on a private dune alongside premium Australian wines. ayersrockresort.com.au/experiences/tali-wiru
OFFTHEBEATENTRACK
Check out these highlights along the Red Centre Way:
• Palm Valley
• Red Bank Gorge
• Tnorala (Gosse Bluff)
• Rainbow Valley
• Erldunda Roadhouse
northernterritory.com/ articles/do-the-drive-touluru-like-a-pro
PARKERSTREETPROJECT
Where: Dunkeld, VIC
Best for: Casual classics
Next door, the Parker Street Project’s upmarket sibling restaurant, the chi-chi Royal Mail Hotel, has a 30,000-bottle wine cellar and Executive Chef Robin Wickens’ eight-course degustation. But the more casual Parker Street is a find of its own, with modern classic, seasonal fare made with garden-grown and locally sourced produce. royalmail.com.au/dining/parker-st-project
MARRICKVILLEPORKROLL
Where: Marrickville, NSW
Best for: The world's best sandwich
Nominated as Australia’s best by Masterchef host and banh mi obsessive Melissa Leong, this tiny hole-in-thewall in Sydney’s inner west has lines of punters waiting with a sort of keening look more familiar to methadone clinics. Is the iconic crusty baguette plus cold cuts, páté and mayo, spring onion, chilli and the rest the world’s best sandwich? (Yes.) restaurantwebexpert.com/ MarrickvillePorkRoll
BELLYUPTO BRUNYISLAND
Where: Bruny Island, TAS
Best for: A tasty microcosm of the Apple Isle's artisans South of Hobart and accessible by car ferry, Bruny Island’s 600 inhabitants punch above their weight in terms of artisanal produce. There’s the Bruny Island Beer Co., the Bruny Island Cheese Co., Australia’s most southern vineyard, Bruny Island Premium Wines, the Bruny Island House of Whisky, and even the Get Shucked oyster farm and restaurant. The latter may have missed the memo about naming conventions—would it have killed them to have worked a ‘Bruny’ in there?—but it does have a drive-through, so you can get shucking solo, or with a friend, without having to leave your Isuzu. “The world needs places like Tasmania,” says award-winning cheesemaker Nick Haddow. Try his Raw Milk C2, which won a Super Gold Medal at the World Cheese Awards 2023. brunyisland.org.au
HAVEYOUDINEDYOUROWNWAY?
Let us know! Send a high-resolution image of your al fresco D-MAX or MU-X dining location (including the car) with a 100word blurb, your VIN, name and contact details to maxd@iua.net.au and you could appear in Readers’ Rides (see pages 8-9).
Hobart and Beyond
HAILTO
THEKING
The north coast of Tasmania is home to the biggest King George Whiting in the world! Hook, Line and Sinker’s Andrew Hart recently revisited his home waters and found things had changed completely!
Igrew up fishing the north coast of Tasmania back in the 1990s. Every opportunity we would get we’d be fishing somewhere, usually on one of the jetties or wharfs towards the mouth of the Tamar River. We used to catch plenty of different fish. But we never, ever caught a whiting. Which is weird because nowadays the entire north coast including the Tamar River is absolutely chock-a-block full of one of the tastiest fish that swims: the King George Whiting. And not only are there plenty of whiting, they are the biggest in the world.
WORDS ANDREWHART
That’s not a statement made lightly and it’s not my statement, either. They’re the words of South Australian fishing royalty, Shane Mensforth, who recently visited the state to target these extra-large KGWs!
South Australia is the home of King George Whiting and has been forever and a day, so it’s kind of weird that a fishing journalist like Shane would plan a trip to Tasmania to go whiting fishing. He could have left the whiting-rich waters of the Spencer Gulf to come to the Apple Isle to catch trout, tuna, swordfish or huge bream—things, like serial killers, that South Australians just don’t catch!
Instead, he came to Tasmania to go whiting fishing.
As luck would have it, I heard he was coming so decided to join him for an episode of Hook, Line and Sinker
We even ended up using my boat,
the big HLS Bar Crusher 780, which I hitched to my MU-X and towed to the lovely little north coast seaside hamlet of Bridport. The town is an hour north-east of Launceston and gives you good access to Waterhouse Island. That’s where we pointed the big Bar Crusher early one March morning.
Joining us for the trip was Damon ‘The Guru’ Sherriff. The Guru is no stranger to Hook, Line and Sinker and, as a Bridport local, knows plenty of good whiting spots. He is also my cousin and was my partner in crime when it came to fishing the Tamar River all those years ago.
We made the 16km trip along the north coast to Waterhouse Island, probably driving over millions of whiting as we went, but the island is pretty and would make good footage.
The first fish to bite was a huge King George of almost 60cm. Shane caught it
and declared that, if caught in South Australia, it would be the fish of a lifetime. Over the next few hours we managed to catch around 10 big whiting about the same length. The biggest we’ve heard of off the north coast is almost 70cm. That’s a silly-size whiting.
Why are they so big? No one really knows. But one thing is for sure, this species wasn’t in the area 20 years ago when I used to fish there with the Guru every chance I got. We didn’t even see a whiting. Now there’s a full-on fishery. So whether it’s a climate change thing or just a natural occurrence, Tassie whiting are now a thing!
The method to catch your Tassie King George Whiting is to fish over a sandy patch of bottom that is surrounded by weed. And all along the coast there are hundreds of square kilometres of such
ThefirstfishtobitewasahugeKingGeorgeofalmost 60cm.Shanecaughtitanddeclaredthat,ifcaughtin SouthAustralia,itwouldbethefishofalifetime.
country. In Tasmania we don’t use berley— you just anchor up, throw your baits into the sand hole and, if the whiting are there, you’ll soon know. If you don’t catch one in the first 10 or 15 minutes, simply pull up the anchor and move to the next spot.
We ended up filming a great episode of the program and, sure enough, Shane was happy to have achieved his mission. Look out for his story in his online magazine South Australian Angler
A new series of Hook,Lineand Sinker is currently in production and will air later in 2024 on 7Mate. The last series is available to stream on the 7Plus app.
OFGRASSROOTSFOOTBALL THEPIEDPIPERS
A-League community officers like the Brisbane Roar’s David Minnis are making sure the kids are alright.
Dutchman
Johan Cruyff was once tied up at gunpoint alongside his young family in a Spanish flat. Europe’s greatestever footballer managed to wriggle free, foiling the kidnap attempt. But then he pulled out of the 1978 World Cup.
“There are moments in life,” the three-time Ballon d’Or winner explained, “in which there are other values”.
As Community Officer David Minnis, 40, poses with the Brisbane Roar’s Isuzu D-MAX, you suspect that almost anything short of kidnap may be preferable to a photo shoot.
Cruyff missed a World Cup for his kids and built a foundation to help handicapped children through sport.
Minnis had a much more modest semi-professional football career, but he’s just as devoted to the next generation.
“I never had a desire to coach older players or adults,” says the British expat. “For me, it’s always been fostering that enjoyment with the junior level.
“My job is really about getting kids involved—helping them fall in love with the game, getting them to be active, making friends and having fun. I love it.”
Working with Football Australia, the Roar runs multiple community engagement
programs, such as holiday clinics and school programs. Day to day, Minnis focuses firmly on the education space. It’s a busy but rewarding role.
In a 10-week term, for example, Minnis might run up to 10 separate, six-week programs at different schools, piloting his D-MAX between locations. He’ll help between 170 and 230 bright-eyed little kickers in an average term.
It’s just as well that Brisbane Roar-liveried ute is well packed.
“When I first started, we handed out a Roar Active t-shirt to every single child that signed up for our programs,” says Minnis. “Now we give everyone a size two skill ball with The Roar branding and an orange Roar drawstring bag.
“Nothing beats seeing them coming on, learning new skills and their faces lighting up.”
Youthful Roar Chief Operating Officer Zac Anderson is equally engaged. With a dozen-year playing career across Australia, UAE, Malaysia and Singapore, and caps for Australia in the Under-20s and Under-23s, the former A-League premiership winner knows the importance of looking ahead.
He credits people like Minnis, as well as the Roar’s own senior players, with the game’s huge
BRISBANEROAR
FOUNDED 1957 (as the Brisbane Lions) HOMEGROUND Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane THENUMBERS
AusPlay statistics say that more than 1.7 million Australians play football through clubs or venues— a net increase of over 250,000 players since 2016. Football Australia says that 22 per cent of Australia’s participation base is female.
VISIT
brisbaneroar.com.au
strides forward in the Sunshine State—and nationally.
“We take our responsibility really seriously to be in schools, to be in clubs, and to really focus on our fans and our community,” he says.
Which top flight players are the biggest hit with the kids? If you’ve been following the Matildas in recent years you’ll already have a decent idea.
“I’m sure the guys won’t mind me saying it, but the A-League Women’s girls really have a great relationship with both younger girls and younger boys,” says Anderson. “Players like Sharn Freier and Tameka Yallop, and then on the guys’ side the likes of Jack Hingert and Scott Neville ... the kids just really connect with them.”
Johan Cruyff was ahead of his time, as a player, a coach and in charming the children.
He said, “football has to be fun for kids or it doesn’t make sense”.
That spirit continues at the Roar, as well as at Isuzu UTE A-League clubs across the country.
“Everyone within the football community really appreciates what Isuzu does for us and it makes a huge impact on the league and our club,” says Anderson.
“I just can’t wait to grow it even more,” says Minnis.
© Tiger Benji
HARRYFISHER’S
STEAK& MUSHROOM SAUCE
‘adventure
TheRecipe
Serves: 4
Prep time: 8 mins
Total time: 40 mins
“IHAVE had more people say, ‘That’s the best camp meal I’ve ever had,’ after eating this than anything else I’ve cooked,” says peripatetic Fire to Fork campfire wizard Harry Fisher. “It’s probably because it’s definitely a ‘sometimes’ meal. It’s expensive, decadent, not overly healthy, but an absolute winner for impressing
GEAR
• Wok or camp oven
• Grill or Grill Basket
INGREDIENTS
• Four 5cm-thick rib eye steaks with the bone in (1.2–1.5kg)
• Pepper and salt
• Olive oil
• 300ml thickened cream (works fine with UHT cream if you're short on fridge room)
• 1 onion
• 200g sliced mushrooms
• 2 cloves garlic
• 75g salted butter
METHOD
1. Dab the steak dry with a paper towel, smear with olive oil, add coarsely cracked salt and pepper to taste. Seal on a scorching hot grill for 45 seconds on each side (including the strip of fat).
2. While the steak is sealing, put a wok or camp oven on low heat with a knob of butter (around 50–75g). Once the steak
has sealed, put it in the buttery pan or camp oven for approximately 20 minutes, turning every five minutes. If you have one, use a meat thermometer to know when the middle of the steak is 53°C (medium-rare).
3. While the meat is cooking, dice the onions and garlic. When the middle of your meat is cooked, take it off to rest, saving butter. Add mushrooms and onion to the butter the steak was cooking in, fry for two minutes, then add garlic and fry for a minute. Add the cream and stir every couple of minutes.
4. Get your steak and throw it on the hottest part of your hotplate (lots of flame and heat is good!) to give them a final seal and caramelise/ char the outside—around 45 seconds on each side.
5. Once the steaks are done, let them rest for five minutes as you finish the sauce.
6. Once the steak has rested, take the sauce off and serve them over the steak with plenty of roast veggies.
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CLEVERMANNABSA NOT-FOR-SALEPROTOTYPE
… and refuses to sell it back.
Bob Blackwell is no mug. The young telephone technician was working at Ericsson when a mate told him about an unusual 1969 Isuzu 117 Coupé he’d spotted in a car yard in Heidelberg, Victoria. It was 1973. The car was a hand-formed, non-production model, built in steel by legendary Italian design house Ghia.
The personal car belonging to the director of General
Motors-Holden had accidentally been put out into the lot. Big mistake.
“So I just went and bought it,” says Bob. “It cost me three-and-a-half grand! When they found out, they rang me and offered me twice what I paid for it! Haha!”
Because he is no mug, Bob said no. And he’s had his special 117 Coupé ever since.
One of the last of its kind—only three came to
Australia and neither of the others are thought to have survived—Blackwell’s 117 Coupé is not without its quirks. Note, for example, that it has an unusual 1600cc twin cam motor and no wing mirrors at all, a form-overfunction design flourish (later amended) from Ghia guru Giorgetto Giugiaro’s pencil. That’s okay. Bob doesn’t need a reflector to look back. He’s got the original.
ISUZUUTEDEALERLIST
NEW SOUTH WALES
Armidale Armidale Isuzu UTE (02) 6772 1566
Arncliffe Suttons Arncliffe Isuzu UTE (02) 9335 9000
Bankstown
Bankstown Isuzu UTE (02) 9738 3400
Batemans Bay
Clyde Isuzu UTE (02) 4472 4746
Blacktown
Alto Isuzu UTE (02) 8822 0000
Bomaderry
Shoalhaven Isuzu UTE (02) 4421 0122
Broken Hill
Far West Isuzu UTE (08) 8087 6001
Brookvale
Col Crawford Isuzu UTE (02) 9941 1200
Campbelltown
Paul Wakeling Isuzu UTE (02) 4628 1444
Cardiff Cardiff Isuzu UTE (02) 4044 3977
Caringbah
Sutherland Isuzu UTE (02) 9524 6111
Castle Hill
Castle Hill Isuzu UTE (02) 8853 3838
Coffs Harbour
Coffs Coast Isuzu UTE (02) 6648 3566
Cooma
Cooma Isuzu UTE (02) 6452 1077
Dubbo Dubbo Isuzu UTE (02) 6884 6444
Eden Ron Doyle Motors
Isuzu UTE (02) 6496 1420
Forbes
Forbes Isuzu UTE (02) 6851 5500
Gosford
Central Coast Isuzu UTE (02) 4320 0955
Goulburn Goulburn Isuzu UTE (02) 4822 2888
Griffith
Leo Franco Isuzu UTE (02) 6969 5080
Gunnedah Gunnedah Isuzu UTE (02) 6742 2499
Inverell Gaukroger Isuzu UTE (02) 6722 2722
Kelso Bathurst Isuzu UTE (02) 6339 9444
Kingswood
Sinclair Isuzu UTE (02) 4721 9143
Lavington Blacklocks Isuzu UTE (02) 6049 5500
Moss Vale Harrigan Moss Vale Isuzu UTE (02) 4868 3580
Mudgee Mudgee Isuzu UTE (02) 6372 1766
Muswellbrook Wideland Isuzu UTE (ASF) (02) 6543 3066
Narrabeen Col Crawford Isuzu UTE (ASF) (02) 9941 1200
North Parramatta Parramatta Isuzu UTE (02) 8559 0042
Orange Tony Leahey Isuzu Ute (02) 6393 7200
Port Macquarie
John Patrick Isuzu UTE (02) 6584 1800
Rutherford Hunter Isuzu UTE (02) 4035 9300
Ryde Ryde Isuzu UTE (02) 9073 7830
Scone
Wideland Isuzu UTE (02) 6544 3300
Smeaton Grange
Camden Valley Isuzu UTE (02) 4655 5000
South Lismore
Northern Rivers Isuzu UTE (02) 6627 7999
Tamworth Woodleys Isuzu UTE (02) 6763 1500
Taree
Mid Coast Isuzu UTE (02) 6592 6300
Tweed Heads South
Tweed Coast Isuzu UTE (07) 5589 7788
Tuncurry
Great Lakes Isuzu UTE (ASO) (02) 6554 7202
Vineyard
Sinclair Windsor Isuzu UTE (02) 4555 7700
Wadalba
Wyong Isuzu UTE (02) 4313 9433
Wagga Wagga
Wagga Motors Isuzu UTE (02) 6933 0100
Warwick Farm
Peter Warren Isuzu UTE (02) 9828 8888
West Ballina
Northern Rivers Isuzu UTE (ASO) (02) 6681 4499
Wickham
Newcastle City Isuzu UTE (02) 4989 5818
Yallah Harrigan Illawarra Isuzu UTE (02) 4230 8888
Young McAlister Isuzu UTE (02) 6382 3033
QUEENSLAND
Arundel
Gold Coast Isuzu UTE (07) 5583 9320
Atherton
John Cole Isuzu UTE (07) 4030 5590
Ayr
Burdekin Isuzu UTE (07) 4783 7077
Beaudesert
Beaudesert Isuzu UTE (07) 5540 1050
Blackwater Coalfields Mechanical & Towing Pty Ltd (IASF) (07) 4982 5243
Brendale
Brendale Isuzu UTE (07) 3490 6690
Cairns
Trinity Isuzu UTE (07) 4081 5030
Caloundra
Caloundra Isuzu UTE (07) 5322 5655
Cleveland
Keema Cleveland Isuzu UTE (07) 3479 9888
Dalby
Black Dalby Isuzu UTE (07) 4669 8988
Dysart
Inspec Industries (IASF) (07) 4941 2800
Eagle Farm
Brisbane Isuzu UTE (07) 3866 2200
Emerald Emerald Isuzu UTE (07) 4980 7900
Gladstone
Reef City Isuzu UTE (07) 4971 4000
Goondiwindi
Black Goondiwindi Isuzu UTE (07) 4677 8100
Gympie
Gympie Isuzu UTE (07) 5480 5200
Hervey Bay Bay City Isuzu UTE (07) 4124 0000
Indooroopilly
Westpoint Isuzu UTE (07) 3878 0440
Ipswich
Blue Ribbon Isuzu UTE (07) 3288 6600
Kensington Bundaberg Isuzu UTE (07) 4348 3905
Kingaroy
Ken Mills Isuzu UTE (07) 4164 9285
Mackay Mackay Isuzu UTE (07) 4961 8590
Maroochydore
Pacific Isuzu UTE (07) 5430 1555
Moorooka Moorooka Isuzu UTE (07) 3186 0586
Moranbah
Moranbah Discount Tyre & Mechanical (IASF) (07) 4941 7313
Morayfield
Keystar Morayfield Isuzu UTE 1300 539 782
Mount Gravatt Keema Mt Gravatt
Isuzu UTE 1300 766 609
Mt Isa
Mt Isa Isuzu UTE (07) 4743 0347
Noosaville
Pacific Isuzu UTE (ASO) (07) 5335 8333
Nundah
Nundah Isuzu UTE (07) 3635 5100
Rockhampton
Tropical Isuzu UTE (07) 4931 9333
Roma
Black Roma Isuzu UTE (ASO) (07) 4624 4800
Rothwell
Keystar Isuzu UTE 1300 539 782
Springwood Keema Springwood Isuzu UTE 1300 766 609
Toowoomba
Black Isuzu UTE (07) 4631 4200
Townsville
Townsville Isuzu UTE (07) 4750 0300
Warwick Warwick Automotive Isuzu UTE (07) 4660 2000
VICTORIA
Bairnsdale
Peter Dullard Isuzu UTE (03) 5152 0100
Ballarat Ballarat Isuzu UTE (03) 5337 2600
Bundoora Northern Isuzu UTE (03) 9466 5855
Burwood Penfold Isuzu UTE (03) 9268 1333
Cheltenham
Southland Isuzu UTE (03) 9581 8200
Colac West Colac Isuzu UTE (03) 5231 9611
Dandenong Patterson Cheney Isuzu UTE (03) 9215 2300
Echuca Echuca Isuzu UTE (03) 5480 0526
Epsom Central Victorian Isuzu UTE (03) 5449 4500
Essendon Fields Essendon Isuzu UTE (03) 9937 7688
Ferntree Gully
Ferntree Gully Isuzu UTE (03) 9758 0000
Footscray Alan Mance Isuzu UTE (03) 9396 8000
Geelong West Rex Gorell Isuzu UTE (03) 5227 4747
Hoppers Crossing Werribee Isuzu UTE (03) 8734 4850
Horsham Horsham City Isuzu UTE (03) 5382 4677
Leongatha Leongatha Isuzu UTE (03) 5662 4070
Lilydale Genesis Motors Isuzu UTE (03) 9879 7776
Mansfield Mansfield Isuzu UTE (03) 5733 1000
Melton Harrison Isuzu UTE (03) 8722 7744
Mildura Autosynergy Isuzu UTE (03) 5022 0927
Mornington Mornington Isuzu UTE (03) 5975 5188
Pakenham Pakenham Isuzu UTE (03) 5922 4111
Ravenhall Lakeside Isuzu UTE (ASO) (03) 9021 3899
Seaford Frankston Isuzu UTE (03) 8905 3366
Seymour Beer Isuzu UTE (03) 5792 2777
Shepparton Ken Muston Isuzu UTE (03) 5821 6688
Stawell Horsham City Isuzu UTE (ASF) (03) 5358 2144
Swan Hill Holts Isuzu UTE (03) 5032 1064
Traralgon Gippsland Isuzu UTE (03) 5175 8060
Wangaratta
Wangaratta Isuzu UTE (03) 5722 2000
Warrnambool
Warrnambool
Isuzu UTE (03) 5564 5999
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Albert Park
Portside Isuzu UTE (08) 8345 7450
Berri
Big River Isuzu UTE (08) 8582 5200
Bordertown
Wise Isuzu UTE (08) 8752 8400
Burton North East Burton Isuzu UTE (08) 8280 9899
Ceduna
Ceduna Isuzu UTE (08) 8625 2999
Jarvis Jarvis Isuzu UTE 1800 155 588
Hampstead Gardens North East Isuzu UTE (08) 8261 6006
Kadina
Peninsula Isuzu UTE (08) 8821 1022
Maitland
Peninsula
Isuzu UTE (ASF) (08) 8832 2725
Mount Gambier
Mt Gambier
Isuzu UTE (08) 8725 7999
Murray Bridge
Murray Bridge
Isuzu UTE 1300 307 683
Port Augusta North East Port
Augusta Isuzu UTE (08) 8643 6233
Port Lincoln City Motors
Isuzu UTE (08) 8682 1100
Reynella
Wayne Phillis
Isuzu UTE (08) 8384 8066
Tanunda Jarvis Isuzu UTE (1300) 13 77 74
Totness
Duttons Isuzu UTE (08) 8393 8100
Victor Harbor
Victor Harbor Isuzu UTE (08) 8552 7033
Wayville Wayville Isuzu UTE (08) 8408 4100
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Albany
Albany Autos Isuzu UTE (08) 9842 5522
Bibra Lake
Major Motors Isuzu UTE (08) 9331 9331
Cannington
Gardner Isuzu UTE (08) 9356 9000
Esperance
Esperance Autos Isuzu UTE (ASO) (08) 9071 1060
Geraldton
Geraldton Isuzu UTE (08) 9964 2323
Kalgoorlie Golden City Isuzu UTE (08) 9021 1699
Karratha Karratha Isuzu UTE (ASO) (08) 9185 2100
Kununurra
Kununurra Isuzu UTE (ASF) (08) 9169 4900
Maddington
Maddington Isuzu UTE (08) 9492 0000
Mandurah
Mandurah Isuzu UTE (08) 9587 9999
Merredin
Merredin
Isuzu UTE (ASO) (08) 9041 4444
Midland
Midland Isuzu UTE (08) 9273 0030
Narrogin Edwards Isuzu UTE (08) 9881 5555
Newman Pilbara Isuzu UTE (ASF) (08) 9154 3600
Northam Avon Valley Isuzu UTE (08) 9621 4000
Osborne Park
Osborne Park
Isuzu UTE (08) 9463 5436
Picton
South West
Isuzu UTE (08) 9724 8444
Rockingham
Bergmans Isuzu UTE (08) 9527 8883
South Hedland
Pilbara Isuzu UTE (08) 9160 4940
Wangara
Wanneroo Isuzu UTE (08) 9403 9403
TASMANIA
Burnie
Burnie Isuzu UTE (03) 6430 7266
Derwent Park
Jackson Hobart Isuzu UTE (03) 6277 6600
Devonport
Devonport Isuzu UTE (ASO) (03) 6421 0266
Launceston
Jackson Launceston Isuzu UTE (03) 6323 7000
AUSTRALIAN
CAPITAL TERRITORY
Belconnen
John McGrath
Belconnen Isuzu UTE (02) 6256 2300
Phillip
John McGrath
Phillip Isuzu UTE (02) 5114 1675
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Alice Springs
Centralian Motors
Isuzu UTE (08) 8959 7700
Katherine Katherine Isuzu UTE (ASF) (08) 8974 0000
Pinelands
Darwin Isuzu UTE (08) 8924 8600
GENUINE OILS & LUBRICANTS
Keep your Isuzu D-MAX or MU-X running smoothly, maintaining performance and fuel economy by using Isuzu UTE genuine oils and lubricants. Only available at your local Isuzu UTE Dealer.
