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News and Views from ROAR - March 2001President's ReportWell, we had an excellent turnout for the club BBQ in Lennox Gardens last month. Some 30 people were lured to the scenic late afternoon setting, and were treated to the sight, sound and smell of sizzling meat being expertly cooked by the club's own wannabe chefs, Mike Garrett and Andrew Davies. Gathering storm clouds soon delivered a drenching downpour, as we retreated to nearby shelter, leaving the deputy chef (yours truly, who had the biggest umbrella) to finish the soggy job. The rain duly cleared, the food was enthusiastically consumed, and we enjoyed the wonderful late afternoon light, followed by slowly enveloping darkness. This month, we return to the Italo-Australian Club for our monthly club meeting on Tuesday the 27th, when we will be showing a couple of short videos, and finalising the design for the club's new car badge. Allan Lance has produced a wonderful array of computer-generated images to choose from (some of which featured in the December magazine), any of which would make an attractive addition to the front (or rear) of members cars. Andy Russo, who chased up quotes, last year, for producing the enamel-on-metal badges, will doubtless be pleased to see his efforts finally come to fruition! Looking ahead a little, April club activities will center on the Easter Peugeot Pageant in Dubbo, while in May we are arranging for the club meeting to be held in the showroom of Melrose Peugeot. With more and more club members trading up to newer models, club links with the local dealership are likely to strengthen, to the benefit of all concerned. Did anyone reply to the ad for ACT number plate 206 for sale in the Canberra Times on Saturday March 12? I didn't, because it wouldn't look quite right on my 505, but anyone with a 206 would surely be tempted. Still on the 206 theme, Peugeot has given the other teams and drivers a big start in the World Rally Championship after three rounds. Marcus Gronholm finally opened his 2001 points tally by finishing 3rd in the rally of Portugal, but was beaten home by Tommi Makkinen (Mitsubishi Lancer) and Carlos Sainz (Ford Focus). A similar slow start last year did not prevent Gronholm from winning the drivers' championship, but the competition looks very tough this year. It would be nice to think that rally success would translate into more sales of the 206, just as it did for the world-beating 205 rally car in the 1980s. However, with supply of 206GTIs to Australia still very tight, it may mean that the GTI, at least, will not be seen on the road as often as it might. On the other hand, short supply usually means that people will take more notice when they spy one - could this be another cult car in the making? Keep on Pugging, Brad Pillans |
Lionising!ONE BILLION PEOPLE, AND NOT A PUG TO BE SEEN! On a recent overseas trip, Brad Pillans spent two weeks in the north of India. Despite keeping an eagle eye open for Peugeots, not a single one was seen in two major cities (Delhi and Chandigarh), and the surrounding countryside. In a country with a population of something like a billion people, motor vehicles are almost as numerous, with crowded roads sporting a mixture of predominantly Indian and Japanese made cars, trucks, buses, motor bikes and tractors, and of course, the ubiquitous push bike. In general, European marques were uncommon, especially away from the cities, but confirmed sightings of Fiat, Mercedes and BMW were made. On his next visit, later this year, Brad will again try to track down the elusive pugs. GREAT PLATEA sighting in Sydney last month: a yellow 504 in Haberfield sporting ACT rego YEP-504. Anyone know who owns it? THE EDITOR spent four days in Tasmania earlier this month and covered 1,000 km in a hired Toyota Corolla. It brought home the fact that while Toyota have made big strides Corollas are still no match for the 306, which are more comfortable and have superior road manners. There were quite a few Pugs on Tasmania's roads, mostly 306, but the odd 505 and 504 were sighted. For anyone with more time, it would be worth taking the car over on the ferry because the roads make for good driving and the attractions (such as $25 spankingly fresh lobster salad on the east coast at Bicheno) even more so. We even met a woman who, while walking to school in 1938, crossed the path of a Tasmanian tiger - two years after they were said to be extinct, as well as a tiger expert, Ned Terry of Deloraine near Launceston, who is convinced from the scats he has seen that they are still alive. But that's another story. Trivia question: In what year did Pininfarina design the Peugeot 404? Answer to last months question: The fuel tank filler was situated under the hub of the spare wheel placed on the back of the car. |
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