Some like 'em hot!

We caught up (eventually) with some of Tennant's quickest
cars and spoke to their drivers about the ins and outs
of driving in the super-fast lane.

Where do you work and what sort of work do you do?
Sue Ellis: I work for myself, I'm a tradylady, but I have a contract with Julalikari at the moment and I'm a carpenter.
Michael Sim: I work at Dexter Barnes, I'm an apprentice electrician, I've only just started there.
Nicholas Konadaris: I work with my family, painting, we own two businesses - GK Painting and Tennant Creek Concrete Supplies.
Todd Evans: I work at Peter Kittle Toyota.
Corey Reichstein: I work in the Foodbarn in the butchers department just slicing meat, racking it and all that sort of stuff.
Chris Donaldson: T & J Refrigeration and I'm an electrical apprentice.
Peter Gannon: I work at Gulf Transport. I operate machinery.
Brandon Lovelock: Northline, I deliver freight and drive the trucks and that.
Skimbo: Tennant Security Services.

What sort of car do you drive?
Sue Ellis: SS Commodore V8
Michael Sim: VH Commodore V8
Nicholas Konadaris: I have an old HX Holden, it's a nice looking car, it stands out from the new ones and it's original looking.
Todd Evans: Ford Falcon
Corey Reichstein: VN Commodore
Chris Donaldson: VB Commodore
Peter Gannon: Holden Maloo Ute
Brandon Lovelock: GTS Commodore
Skimbo: Group A Commodore, 1991 model

How long have you had your car?
Sue Ellis: Since the 30th January this year
Michael Sim: Nearly a year
Nicholas Konadaris: About six months now
Todd Evans: About six months
Corey Reichstein: About six months
Chris Donaldson: Um, about 2 and a half years.
Peter Gannon: 3 years
Brandon Lovelock: About two days!
Skimbo: One day!

How much was your car?
Sue Ellis: Once it was registered, it was a lot of money.
Michael Sim: Five and a half ($5500)
Nicholas Konadaris: Seven thousand dollars, it came mostly already done up.
Todd Evans: Ten grand.
Corey Reichstein: Seven thousand five hundred dollars
Chris Donaldson: About four grand
Peter Gannon: 45
Brandon Lovelock: Um, thirty two
Skimbo: Priceless

What are the good points and the bad points about your car?
Sue Ellis: I like the sheer power and the bad point is probably the colour being up here, it needs a wash every couple of days, other than that there are no bad points.
Michael Sim: I just like the look hey! The bad point is the engine 'cause I drive it all the time, you go out there and flog the s#@t out of it, if you flog your car, you'll get engine problems. Because it's white, it looks alright at night time and in the day time as well. My car has a lot of character, I was going to get a new car but then I thought it just wouldn't be me, I just like that car and the way it's built and the shape of it.
Nicholas Konadaris: I like the interior actually because it's a statesman interior and it's nice and comfy - luxury and just the look of the car, it looks really nice. But it leaks a lot of oil! It's old and you can't really take it on long trips and stuff so that's a minor set back.
Todd Evans: The good thing is that it goes faster than Simy's! The bad point is that it keeps on breaking down all the time!
Corey Reichstein: I like it because there's so much more power compared to my last car. The fuel consumption is annoying and the petrol here is expensive
Chris Donaldson: It's pretty old, about 19 years old, it's a bit long in the tooth, it's getting a bit old, slowing down a bit. It's alright.
Peter Gannon: Gear boxes, that's bad ... don't put that in there, I wanna sell it! No it's been a good car! Nah it's alright I suppose, it's had a few little problems, you always have little teething things and stuff.
Brandon Lovelock: I haven't found any bad points yet, the good points are everything, it's fast, it's powerful, it's comfortable.
Skimbo: The good points are that it has a six-speed gear box and can do 250 all the way to Darwin and the only bad point is that I can't do 250 from the hobby farms to town!

What is the number plate on your car and what does it mean?
Sue Ellis: Not yet but I probably will get one. It looks like the bat mobile so I was going to get BATMAN put on there.
Michael Sim: No but I'm gonna get one and I'll have TOPGUN on it because I always wanted to be in the air force! I was going to get the car resprayed again in white.
Nicholas Konadaris: Yeah I do, it say ZIP253. It was on there when I got it. It means ZIP as in quick and 253 is the engine size.
Todd Evans: No, but I'll my just get my name on it.
Corey Reichstein: CJR013 It's just my initials and my football number.
Chris Donaldson: I don't have one.
Peter Gannon: MALOO and it's the make of car, it means something in Aboriginal, I don't know what it is though. It's a Holden Special Vehicle.
Brandon Lovelock: Yeah I'll put GTS 065 on it.
Skimbo: I'm getting UB6IB9, which means whatever you want it to!

If you could have any sort of car in the world what would it be?
Sue Ellis: This one.
Michael Sim: My car, instead of buying a new car, an expensive car, I could just do my car up the way I want it, I'll put a different engine in it cause I reckon that engines had it, it's worn out.
Nicholas Konadaris: I don't know, that's a hard decision, there are a lot of good cars out there. Lamborghini! One that I could afford I reckon.
Todd Evans: I don't know, a Ferrari! That's the go 'cause they go fast!
Corey Reichstein: Lamborghini Diabola
Chris Donaldson: I don't know, probably the latest Ferrari or some exotic car!
Peter Gannon: Ferrari
Brandon Lovelock: Oh probably that one there because you know if its to expensive it costs to much to fix it, if you smash 'em up or something like that, that one's got everything you need.
Skimbo: A Corvette.

Have you tested the top speed of your car and what is it?
Sue Ellis: Not yet, I've had it off the speedo, so it's 220 on the speedo but it's been off there, way off, and there's still some left on the floor.
Michael Sim: It used to do 200, now it's only 180.
Nicholas Konadaris: Well the gauge says 220 but I've only had it at about 160
Todd Evans: About 210-215
Corey Reichstein: 200 kilometres an hour
Chris Donaldson: About 195
Peter Gannon: Yeah, 250 but I think it does a bit more, I don't know.
Brandon Lovelock: I've had it to two hundred.
Skimbo: 250

Who do you think has the fastest car in Tennant Creek?
Sue Ellis: I don't really care whose got the fastest car, but the one that I've got, I like. I know that mine is the fastest production car, straight off the thing because the SS Commodore now can beat the new Ford GT's.
Michael Sim: Adam, with the torana
Nicholas Konadaris: Adam's torana would probably have to be the quickest so far I think!
Todd Evans: Um, probably Dave Denero from Dexter Barnes, that red Holden.
Corey Reichstein: Probably Kevin Hingston
Chris Donaldson: Probably Kevin Hingston.
Peter Gannon: Adam from Dexter Barnes.
Brandon Lovelock: Adam's got the fastest one over the quarter mile but.
Skimbo: I don't know

So you like your car?
Sue Ellis: Oh yeah!
Corey Reichstein: Yeah
Peter Gannon: Yeah it's alright, I'm selling it soon, getting another one. I'm getting a Suburu Impreza. It's a little sedan, 4 cylinder, turbo, 4 wheel drive, goes like a shower o' shit.
Brandon Lovelock: Mmm!
Skimbo: Yep.