Thank you to everyone for a spectacular weekend at Northern Nats. I have almost recovered. I look forward to seeing you at the next race meet at Springmount Raceway.

I was honoured to go cruising with Mr Paul Barry in his 1964 Chevy Impala at Northern Nats. A gorgeous car and a lovely bloke. Great to see him out roll racing later that day.

I was just going for a drive to see a friend.  3 months later I had circumnavigated the continent.  I just followed the bull bar avoiding cyclones and Wolfe Creek nightmares.

In January 2019 I purchased a 1976 Cadillac Coupe de Ville known affectionately as the "Caddy".  Over the coming year stay tuned as I slowly give her a makeover to turn her into my dream cruising machine

Thank you to everyone who has supported Wilde Drive.  I started Wilde Drive to provide the basic car advice that I, as a person who loves cars am looking for.  I did not start it as a platform for women's rights in the automotive industry.  Here is where I explain why.  NB: I say the word penis a LOT.

Lara Wilde of Wilde Drive and Jonathon Packham prepare for the 2019 Targa Great Barrier Reef in a 2016 Holden Insignia VXR

When I first watched Carrie’s wedding scene in Sex and the City I observed her trying to clamber out of the town car with that giant dress and her bird intact on top of her head.  She did not look at all comfortable or at ease.  Don’t be Carrie.

Getting married is a big deal.  Some women spend their lives planning their special day.  The person you are going to marry is the first part to organise.  Then the dress, the venue, the cake, the entourage, the music, the dinner menu and finally… the wedding car.   The car may not seem like a huge deal but it can make or break the big day.

If your choice of car breaks down you will be late, if it is in poor condition the dress can tear or stain, and if it is difficult to get in or out of you will become a mess as you fight your way through.  I have never been married but I have been in and out of a lot of special cars and often wearing fancy gowns.  Here are my tips to make your arrival and exit safe, simple and stylish. 

Life in the tropics is wonderful.  Great beaches, fantastic roads winding along coastlines and through mountains, countless villages offering a selection of local produce and gourmet feasts and for the most part, magic weather all year round.  Of course as most of the world prepares for snow and the southern parts of Australia prepare themselves for stinking hot days that could make their world catch fire at the slightest provocation, we in the North prepare for the wet season.
 
If like me, you love your cars then the wet season can be horrible.  That musty smell, mould everywhere, mice using your car as a hotel to keep dry and the frustration of getting in and out in the rain can drive you bonkers.  Here are some of my best ideas to care for your car this wet season.

Cars have always been an opportunity for fashionable self-expression.  Fluffy black and white cowhide seat covers and frangipani stickers tell us a lot about who you are.  Like all fashion trends, there are automotive based fashions which come and go.  One such trend is the desire to coat every panel matte black.

Car parks are a thing of nightmares if you love your car.  Shopping trolleys, small children with greasy hands, large children looking cool perched on your bonnet with their mates, and neighbours who use your car to stop their door from swinging too far.  I shudder just to think of it especially as the Christmas shopping season draws near. 

While the average punter will try to get a park as close to the door as possible, you can pick someone who loves their car by their insistence on parking as far from the action as possible.  We willingly walk the extra mile when we have peace of mind that our beloved will not be left in bad company.  Here are some tips for you if you too have car park nightmares.

Many moons ago I was cruising (as much as anyone can) down the Tanami Highway in Central Australia with a documentary film crew.  We had three four wheel drives and one trailer in the convoy.  They were laden down with people, spare parts, film gear and all of the equipment we needed to camp out in the desert for two weeks.  One of the dangers of traveling on rocky dirt roads is that a rock may go through a window smashing the pane of glass.

I have always loved tattoos… on other people.  Tattoos can be a glorious form of artistic and meaningful self-expression.  The courage to choose art that speaks to you and expresses who you are and to commit to that art being on your person forever is beyond me though.  I find myself evolving constantly and the art that speaks to me today won’t mean much in a year or even a week. 
I do however understand the need for self-expression and I have always considered my car to be one of my primary options to tell the world who I am without speaking.  The obvious first choice for automotive self-expression is your choice of car.  Then you can explore the world of seat covers, air fresheners and other accessories.  Perhaps the simplest and cheapest option to add your own personal touch is a sticker. 

This week I have seen a number of articles about how to save money with your car and how to do basic tasks such as change your flat tyre.  Tips such as using E10 fuel or sweating in the rain to loosen a wheel nut were all offered up.  To be honest they all seemed a bit painful to me. 

The Wilde Drive logo leaves no doubt… I am a woman who loves my high heels.  As you know I also love my cars and sometimes the two do not go well together. Barefoot, heels, platforms and thongs all present their own unique motoring challenges. Before we begin the discussion let us address the legality of driving footwear.

There I was cruising along the highway when the first signs of disaster appeared.  Traffic was backed up and as I crawled along I started to see the wreckage.  It was a head on between 2 cars from first impressions.  There were cars pulled over here and there and people madly dashing around screaming and wailing.  If you come across an accident, what are your go to moves?  Here are my suggestions: