Archive for January, 2010

· Please ensure that you have your driver’s licence before you set off on holiday. Ensure that the licence details are valid at the time of rental.

· Acquire possession of a good travel map of the Melbourne area. This will allow you to gain familiarity with the area, the city’s main road networks, and the surrounding regions. Also, a good GPS or Sat-Nav systems will come in very useful – and you certainly should consider these when reserving your vehicle. Plan your route well in advance.

It’s fair to say that there may well be differences with the road rules that you are used to in your own country compared to Sydney. It is important to be aware of these changes such as:

· Speed Limits in the City

· Are the road markings and signs different to the ones that are in your country of origin?

Before you set off in the rented motor vehicle always try to ensure that there is no current damage that is visible on your mode of transport.  Things to watch out for include:

· Windscreen – Make sure the wipers are working and that there are no scratches or chips on the glass.

· Engine Check – Ensure that there are no oil leaks. Check for sufficient oil and water. Check the brakes, clutch and gears. Check how full the car is fuel wise and what is the car rental policy for returning the car in terms of fuel.

· Body of the vehicle – Things to consider are: Are there any scratches on the motor? Are the tyres roadworthy and not bald or worn? Have the wheels all got four hubcaps or alloys? Does the rented vehicle have a spare tyre? Is there a jack and wheel brace in the event of a flat? Do the lights and indicator work perfectly?

· Take the vehicle for a test drive if possible.  Here you will get a proper feel for the vehicle.

· Check your copy of the car rental agreement for any additional extras that you may have ordered such as roof racks, GPS systems, tow bars, and child seats.

· If the car breaks down, can you get a replacement swiftly?

· How will you be refunded if you have to pay the repair costs, or have the car towed?

Road safety is always important wherever you are travelling and even more so in a foreign country. Adhere to all road safety procedures in Melbourne. Always wear your seatbelt and never ever drink and drive. After a long flight, make sure to rest if you are tired, especially before embarking on a long drive. Read more about the Rules of the Road in Australia.

Always ensure that the vehicle rental company that you have booked the car with has a breakdown policy service. If your car breaks down ensure that you know exactly who to contact.Â

After checking all these factors out, you are now prime for exploring the area! For the best deals in car hire, check out our Car Rental Melbourne page.


The Dunlop D208 is our least favourite road tyre at SuperBike, by a mile. What with all the people who’ve hit the deck on 208-shod bikes and the number of models seriously compromised by original equipment Dunlop D218s (D208s by a different name), we’re pretty wary of the Dumplots to put it mildly.

Several quotes leapt out the pre-event presentation and into my notebook; “constant road feedback in all weather conditions”, “more stability and a bigger contact patch”, “increased and more consistent grip”and “shorter warm up time.”

Right, so, better feedback has to be good, increased grip is a definite improvement and faster warm up time speaks for itself. I have to admit I was sceptical rolling down Almeria’s pit lane for the first time, but I needn’t have been because the Qualifier feels like a different tyre altogether (rather than just an improved version of the 208).

The initial feeling is quite soft but once they’re warm the carcass feels harder than, say, a Pirelli Diablo Corsa (one of the tyres they used for benchmark testing). In a way that’s a good thing because they deform less under load, maintaining shape thanks to Dunlop’s Carcass Tension Control System (CTCS) controlling the stress distribution and maintaining a constant contact patch however the tyre is loaded.

That also helps the steering and makes flicking bike through a chicane, or turning into a corner hard on the brakes less effort than a softer tyre with this profile might be.

There’s no question the Qualifier remains a road tyre which means I grip is compromised to some degree for the sake of stability and longevity but that is common across this sector of tyre and you shouldn’t underestimate the amount of grip the Qualifier has.

The stiffly-sprung Kawasaki ZX-10R did ask too much and the rear began to run out of grip at maximum lean (right on the very edge of the tyre on the track when the ground temperature was 35 degrees).

More softly sprung litre bikes (R1, CBR1000RR) and the full quota of 600 sports bikes I tested didn’t have the same problem. The chief problem with the old D208-sudden and unpredictable loss of grip, especially at the rear – seems to have been quashed with help from Dunlop’s single, jointless belt (JLB) wound between the carcass and tread.

The JLB minimizes dynamic growth (when the centre of the tyre expands with speed) which helps maintain the size of the contact patch but also reduces excessive heat build up which afflicted the old D208. Any slide was always predictable with much improved grip and feel, front and rear.

On the evidence of this track and road launch I’d say the Qualifier sits alongside Michelin’s Pilot Power and Pirelli Diablo in the sport road market. Along with other new offerings from Avon and Continental in 2005 we’re long overdue another group tyre test. How about it then Kenny…?


The five-time world champion of the maximum category of motorcycling international, Valentino Rossi, shines again. On this occasion he did it at the German Grand Prix, the ninth event of the Moto GP season and the fourth competition in which Rossi has attained the victory. Rossi had fierce competitors at Sachsenring, including his Fiat Yamaha teammate, Jorge Lorenzo. Both Lorenzo and Rossi , who started from the first position, managed to control the pace of the competition. They did not go unchallenged; from ninth place, Dani Pedrosa advanced at full speed to place himself behind the leaders, looking for the right moment to surpass them, but despite his efforts, Pedrosa could not match their pace. As the race progressed, the battle for first place rose to a pitch, with Lorenzo pressing hard and Rossi trying to stand firm. Although there were a few moments during the race in which Rossi fell to second place, his experience and cunning enabled him to return quickly to the top. The battle between the two teammates was the main focus of the track, with the action creating a great stir among the people present. As neither one driver nor the other would abandon his position of pursuer or pursued, the pressure on both pilots to be at their best increased round after round. In short, it was a race that shouldn’t be missed. In the middle of the competition Lorenzo slightly dropped the pace, lagging behind; it was a moment that Pedrosa took to place himself behind Valentino Rossi. However, moments later Lorenzo recovered, returning quickly to the war that had marked the entire race. From that moment, all the attention was again on the two Fiat Yamaha drivers, who directed the challenge and left a considerable gap between them and their closest pursuers. The other drivers were simply unable to match or maintain the powerful pace of competition set by Rossi and Lorenzo. Near the end of the race, Lorenzo tried to reduce his distance from Rossi, but the Italian would not have it, crashing into his teammate every time he tried to overtake him, especially on the curves. Yet the Spanish pilot managed to place himself closer to Rossi, who accelerated his motorcycle until he crossed the finish line just 95 thousandths of a second ahead of Lorenzo. It’s no surprise, then, that Rossi’s teammate has become his strongest and closest rival this season. The podium was completed with Dani Pedrosa, who crossed the finish line before Casey Stoner and won the third place. It was an impressive victory for Rossi, bringing his grand total to 101 victories throughout his career as a professional pilot in various categories of the MotoGP series. With this triumph, Valentino Rossi has also increased his lead in overall pilot standings with 14 points and maintained himself as the leader with 176 units, 14 points ahead of his partner Lorenzo, with 162 points.


If you are renting a limousine for a special occasion, you want everything to be perfect. After all, everyone enjoys adding some elegance to the event by having a limo. Of course it is definitely important to make sure you rent from the right company. Before you actually rent the limo, here are a few things you should keep in mind.
Begin Your Search Early

First of all, if you need to rent a limo, it’s important that you begin your search early in the game. Limos end up being rented months in advance. So, start looking around early, especially if you want to get a specialty limo. This way you are able to find exactly what you want. You’ll probably also get a better deal when you make the reservation ahead of time as well.
Consider the Treatment

When you first start looking, consider the treatment that the limo company gives to you. If you call on the phone, take into consideration how they act on the phone. Are they professional and kind, or are they rude, snooty, or unprofessional? The way you are treated in the beginning is indicative to how they will treat you later. So, if you get bad treatment, you should probably rent your limo from a different company.
Research the Company

Take the time to research the company before you make a reservation. Ask around to see if anyone you know has used the company and how their experience was. Find out how the company is rated, check it out with the Better Business Bureau, and check to make sure they have the insurance and permits that they need to be in operation.
You’ll Need a Signed Contract

Remember that it’s best to have a signed contract when you make your rental. Don’t let them just give you a price when you talk to them, but never put it in writing. You want to have everything in writing so that nothing goes wrong. Have a contract drawn up and make sure it has the right names, dates, cost, and ensure that there are no hidden fees that you have to worry about later on.
Know How Many People You’ll Have

It’s also a good idea to know how many people you’ll have. When you are renting a limo, the amount of people will help to determine the limousine that you will end up choosing. Some limos hold more people than others. So, make sure that you get a head count and let the company know. This way you’ll have plenty of room for everyone when the big day arrives.


A pink limousine to grace your special day is unquestionably a unusual experience that one can have in their complete lifetime. These opulent and chic autos are considered as a prime transport system by many individuals who plan to turn their event into a grand occasion.

But hiring out a limo is rarely inexpensive. Considering that these limo rental services have to dish out millions of bucks for a single model, they must charge their clients and shoppers accordingly to promise a return of investment. It is quite true that there are cheap limo rental services out in the market today, but don’t always give the quality service that you deserve.

Beware Of Cheap

Considering that they are attempting to outdo the contest by lowering their rates, they need to match their service with the amount that you paid.

- Crappy models rather than being issued the most current ones available in the market

- Engine failure in the middle of travel

- Embarrassing eventualities like loud engine, scratches on the face of the limo, untidy appearance, and so on

- Insurance policy does not cover you when involved in an accident with the limo, or no insurance plans at all.

For Quality Limousine , Deals visit Atlanta Pink Hummer Party Limo info

When hiring out a limo for your special event, it best to get the quality service to make the occasion more memorable. It’s correct that many limousine rental businesses offer cheap and discounted rates to draw in customers, but it would still be best to check out their services first.

You can look for a limo rental firm on the local yellow pages or on the internet. Try the different rates and start comparing for the one’s that may fit your position, or to maximize your savings. It’s best not to stay with one company alone; always exhaust the probabilities so that you have enough elbow room later on when you start comparing them out.

It is also advisable to personally visit these firms one-by-one. You may also ask for a tour of their limousine fleet so that you can check their units out personally. Get your Atlanta Pink Hummer Party Limo info here, from Mapp Transportation, the professionals.
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