I've just recently returned to Victoria after a long car trip that gave me 8 days in NSW & 8 days in Queensland so I thought I'd do a little trip report that might cover things that would be of interest to this board. Perhaps what I noticed in relation to cars, roads, driving, policing & general interstate differences.

Naturally, the first thing of interest to this board would be other S2000's. I didn't see any in NSW - that's right, ZERO! I went the complete length of NSW from the Murray to the Tweed and back again over an 8 day period and didn't see a single other S2000 anywhere. My route (see below) was through country NSW, completely avoiding the major city areas.

In a number of towns I got remarks like "What sort of car is that - I've never seen one before". So where are all the NSW S2000's?? Do they all live in Sydney and never venture outside the metropolitan area?

Well, given the zealous over-the-top policing in NSW you couldn't really blame them for staying home! At this point I might say that if any Queenslanders or Victorians feel like complaining about speed cameras & such you should go down on your knees and pray that we never end up like NSW. Multiple speed cameras on major highways, countless patrol cars, radar guns in many towns and huge signs every few kilometres warning about speeding.

In Queensland I spent 8 days driving around the Gold Coast, Ipswich & the southern suburbs of Brisbane. Don't remember seeing a police car or a speed camera but I guess there must have been some somewhere. I did see a grey S2000 (number plate MY 2000) in Mudgeerabah and a black one at Broadbeach. For a Melburnian it was quite a pleasant novelty to be able to drive around in June/July with the roof down & wearing shorts & a T-shirt.

I was quite impressed with the state of the roads in Queensland - much better than what we have in Melbourne. In NSW the good roads for an S2000 were the Glen Innes to Grafton Rd, The Port Macquarie to Tamworth road (Oxley Highway) and the Mudgee to Bathurst run via Sofala.

Driving on the Pacific Highway in northern NSW I couldn't help thinking that successive Federal & State governments have massively failed in their responsibility to develop roads to match the increase in vehicle population. The other strange thing about NSW is the high proportion of cars with their headlights on in the middle of a bright sunny day. Why is this? Has there been a NSW government campaign to get motorists to switch their lights on at all times?

I spent a couple of days in Bathurst and managed to fit in a few late night laps around Mt Panorama. I was amazed at how grippy the track surface was. It must be some super-special soft hot-mix with extra glue added. Does anyone know the technical details of what it is?

Trip distance was 5389 Kms, fuel used was 451.57 litres. Rate = 8.379 litres per 100Km OR 11.93 Kms per litre. Oil used = absolute zero, not a drop.

ROUTE: On the way up I went up the Newell Highway to Coonabarabran then cut across through Gunnedah to Tamworth, up the New England Highway to Glen Innes, across to Grafton and then up the Pacific Highway through Ballina & Tweed Heads. On the return Journey I came down the Pacific Highway to Port Macquarie then across to Tamworth via Wauchope & Walcha, down the New England Highway to Scone then across to Mudgee and on to Bathurst via Sofala. From Bathurst down the Olympic way to Albury via Wagga Wagga.

 

Sounds like an awesome drive.

Yes, all the S's are in Sydney. Most of them are in Mosman.

Last October I drove to Surfer's for Indy. One thing I noticed was that all the speed nazism was on the road most travelled; the Pacific Highway. When ever I did the back roads. There was no Police presence whatsoever. Also, the condition of the back roads was excellent. New grippy tarmac everywhere. And not a caravan towing Mighty Boy in sight.

But don't tell anyone. It's our secret.

 

The other strange thing about NSW is the high proportion of cars with their headlights on in the middle of a bright sunny day. Why is this? Has there been a NSW government campaign to get motorists to switch their lights on at all times?

Well, from what you say about the 'police presence' in NSW - I think the other drivers have the lights on to warn oncomming traffic of a speed-camera/police :-) Afterall, common courtessy is to flash your lights but if the cops are everywhere then you just have to leave the lights on :-) Anwyay, just a theory :-)

ps. Bathurts must have been fun ... did you time yourself? :-)

 

Look, if the cops don't indiscriminitely enforce the rules people will start to think it's OK to keep photos near your desk and other such subversive acts.

 

Danprice,
Next time you do a run like that give some notice and we'll organise some company on different sections!

 

Dan that drive sounded like a lot of fun.
Just last weekend when sitting alone infront of nothing on the television I started yerning for a long drive. You know the type, just get in the car and go. Just get away.

But I didn't know where...The first thing I though was the old pacific highway up to gosford... but that's not long enough... then I though the northern beaches.... But no, that's a boring drive... and after that I gave up. I started wishing for those long mountain drives you see in movies, or coastal drives on nice curvey, flat, smooth, and empty roads that you often see in supercar documentaries... (sigh)

After reading about your drive though I have a new outlook on driving NSW.

wil..

 

So what you are saying is that instead of driving to Gosford on the Old Pac, or doing the Northern Beaches run you sat in front of the TV and thought about it. You need a PS2.

BTW, the Putty Rd is just up the road from you. And if you can't be dragged away from the telly I'll send you a video of it.

 

yeah, got a case of the "lazyies" Aus. I wanted to drive, but was too lazy to walk all the way to the car!

Yeah, a PS2 wouldn't be too bad. Good one, now look what you've gone and done, I'm actually scouring the trading post now for second hand ones!

wil..

 

LOL

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wilch
[B] yeah, got a case of the "lazyies" Aus. I wanted to drive, but was too lazy to walk all the way to the car!