We have been beset with a number of complaints from motorcycle-riding readers regarding the latest rulings on motorcycle-conversion that are currently being implemented “blindly” by LTO personnel, traffic enforcers and some enterprising policemen.
It appears that the present ruling can be subject to numerous interpretations, depending from which point of view and from whose advantage point.
As many of you may know many motorcyclists are flagged down and “fined” with or without receipt for riding motorcycles that have been unlawfully converted, mufflers, side mirrors, etc.
I guess “the spirit of the law” is to ensure that the motorcycles that run in the country’s roads are safe and follow certain standards of safety in structure and in form.
But the problem is that it seems most of our law implementers need some form of training or know how as to what are allowed by law and what are not – they need to be taught first about the rules before they start implementing them.
Due to present economic realities, especially the high cost of fuel, many are opting for the motorcycle as a form of transport. Let’s not make it any harder for these people.
Mazda zooms to Subic
A group motoring media heavies, seldom gathered together, but this time with ease, with Mazda Philippines managing director, Mr. Dave “Mr. Mac” Macasadia, beckoning (he wouldn’t have the moniker “supremo” for nothing) zoomed for an overnight trip to Subic last week to test drive the Mazda BT-50, the latest of Mazda’s local market offering for an excuse but actually to have fun and the excitement of just being together.
The motoring journalists had a lot of fun going through a series of challenges that either directly demonstrated the capability of the “new pick up on the block” or the kind of leadership and “sportiness” that it stands for.
The new Mazda BT-50 boasts of a 2.5 litre or 3.0 litre 4-cylinder model. Its 16 valve CRDI engine produces 143 hp and 330 Nm torque. It runs on diesel fuel that’s B-5 capable meaning it can take in fuel, which has a mixture of 5% biodiesel and 95% petrodiesel.
The Mazda B-50’s new MZR-CD common rail direct injection engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission that has two gearbox versions – 2WD or 4WD.
For added safety the Mazda BT-50’s braking system is coupled with a four-wheel ABS with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution.
You can see this new remarkable pick up real close at the Alabang Town Center, SMX Convention Center SM Pampanga, SM Lipa City (Oct. 24-26), Virra Mall Greenhills (Oct. 24-28) and also at the Ayala Center Cebu (Oct. 25-26).
How much is it?
The all-new Mazda B-50 is currently offered at an introductory price of P1.329M for the 3.0L 4x4 variant and P949,000 for the 2.5L 4x2 model.
There’s a long line for the Gymkhana event
It seems that our efforts to create awareness on safe driving through speed management and driving skill, which we are exerting through one of the activities lined up during this year’s staging of the Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo, are not going to naught – that is if I were to judge based on the overwhelming response from the public to the Auto Focus Gymkhana Precision Driving Competition.
Since we started writing about the competition here in our column and similarly plugging it on our TV shows, we have been registering participants over the phone, all eager to join. And we have not even announced yet the large cash prizes that are in store for the winner – the “2008 Champion Precision Driver” and likewise for all finalists.
The event, as we have mentioned before is not a race but rather a test of driving skill and speed management. The competitors will be required to go through a series of driving maneuvers – from driving around pylons or cones to parking horizontally and vertically (head first and rear first) in a limited space surrounded by pylons within a specified time frame. There will be demerits for each pylon toppled and for each second a competitor goes slower or beyond the specified time.
Now to even the playing field, it’s going to be a “one make-one model event” meaning the competitors will all be driving the official automobile of the event – the Toyota Vios, courtesy of Toyota Motor Philippines one of the event’s major sponsors.
To keep both competitors and spectators safe all through out the 5-day event, Goodyear Philippines, another major event sponsor, shall provide the tire barriers for the competition.
Each day’s top 10 drivers (those with the least demerits), shall compete on the day of the finals scheduled on Monday, December 1, the last day of the motor show, which is a Holiday.
To ensure the utmost safety of the running of the event, we’ll have involved no less than the Honda Safety Driving Center.
The 5-day elimination starts on Wednesday, November 26 up to Sunday, November 29 and there is quite a line of registrants already. There’s a minimal registration fee for every 3-run set of which only the best run would be registered in the contest and everyone is allowed to register as many times.
To join, just call up STV (Sunshine Television) at tel. no. 633-44-22.
Motoring Authority of Philippine TV
Those who may have missed the live coverage of the 2008 China Formula One Grand Prix still have the chance to watch its highlights on Race Weekend, one of the exciting and most-watched segments of Motoring Today, Philippine Television’s most comprehensive weekly motoring guide, which you can catch on NBN Channel 4 on Saturday at 11 am, on Makisig Network, Sunday at 11 am and on Solar Sports also on Sunday at four o’clock in the afternoon.
On the Bike World portion this week, motorcyclists would surely be interested to watch the Honda Riding Tip, which would center this week on “What to do after a fall”, aside of course from the usual Moto GP news updates and a glance of some of the latest motor bikes from around the world that have been recently released, which the segment regularly offers.
Still of interest to motorcyclists on Motoring Today this week is our interview with LTO chief, and DOTC asst. secretary Bert Suansing on the issue of motorcycles needing to have two plates.
The Showcase feature for the week is the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines current top seller in the sedan category, the very sporty Mitsubishi Lancer EX.
Motoring Tip of the Week
Our reminder for this week has again something to do with road courtesy and orderly driving. When we find ourselves in a road situation where two lines of vehicles would have to take on a single lane road, the rule is to go alternately or one after the other.
I’m sure many of you have seen avoidable incidents where two cars get in contact and damage each other simply because neither one wants to give way or both would like to go first. Road courtesy dictates that you always give way to other drivers while the rule says everyone goes alternately or one after the other. It’s very simple, easier and you get to go through faster.
For Comments: (E-Mail) motoringtoday-star@stv.com.ph.