ABDC 2017: Meet the judges

Name: Mike ‘Sinkers’ Sinclair
Rank: Editor in Chief
Years of Duty: Just a few less than Timmy B
ABDC Tours: 3/3

If not for a lack of speed, fitness, ticker and talent behind the wheel, Mike Sinclair could have been seven times World Rally Champion.

Mike is a classic, right-time wrong-place kinda guy but somehow has managed to rise to (near) the top of his game. A multi-times Targa competitor, he returns to Tassie with a better than passing knowledge of the roads and what sort of characteristics cars require to be both quick and satisfying to drive.

“If a car works here it will work anywhere – that’s why ABDC is returning to Tasmania, one more time… Now, where are the scones…?”

Name: Marton ‘Scozza’ Pettendy
Rank: Managing Editor
Years of Duty: Five
ABDC Tours: 3/3

Marton grew up in the bush, riding and fixing dirt bikes while dreaming of becoming a fighter pilot. But when he failed physics and chemistry, then dropped out of university, he fell into motorcycle journalism.

His downhill spiral continued as he scribed for various tin-pot car mags, before reaching rock-bottom as a low-paid pen-pusher for an industry blog.

These days he seldom emerges from his humpy on a hill, dressing only for carsales editorial video-conferences, and bathing and shaving just for the odd car launch. Some of these functions are also performed in preparation for ABDC.

Said Scozza, before we hit the road: “My bias towards Porsche might be compromised by the presence of the very last Australian muscle car at the 2017 ABDC... And by the fact I’ve just bought my first new car: a Commodore SS ute.”

Name: Ken ‘Kenny G’ Gratton
Rank: Technical Editor
Years of Duty: 10
ABDC Tours: 3/3

Formerly the News Editor for motoring.com.au, Ken has assumed the role of Technical Editor over the past two years.

During his time in both roles he has reviewed close to 600 new cars and his by-line appears on over 1300 news or advice features. In his new role he's taking a keen interest in motoring of the future, including autonomous cars and alternative-energy solutions to combat climate change, but he’s just as fascinated with what the general public can buy right now.

“The Ford Focus RS is a starter this time around, and it’s a personal favourite of mine; but I hear there are already rumblings of discontent that it would be an undeserving winner. Let the games begin...”

Name: Matt ‘Matty B’ Brogan
Rank: Road Test Editor
Years of Duty: Seven
ABDC Tours: 3/3

As an ex-aircraft maintenance engineer, classic muscle-car enthusiast, club racer and Australian Safari class-winner, Matty B developed and launched Australia’s Best Driver’s Car in 2014.

Seeing the need for a relatable, real-world and Australian-centric performance car test, he strives continually to improve the ABDC formula; and as such is a fitting choice to again lead the ABDC team in 2017.

“ABDC is an exciting and unique exercise,” explained Matty B.

“It’s an all-encompassing performance road test which gets to the core of what we as drivers expect a car to deliver. As good as it is, however, it’d be nothing without the hard-working team which makes it happen each year, and I’m extremely proud of them all.”

Whether it’s four wheels or two, Autumn has been tangled up with motorised power all his life. In the case of when he was motorcycle racing, usually on his back with the bike on top... That’s how he picked up the nickname ‘Autumn’. Think about it…

For the last 30 years it’s been cars which have occupied his working life, either covering motorsport, the industry, or getting out on the road and doing the testing.

“I love ABDC,” said Autumn.

“It’s all about the core reasons a lot of us still drive cars; for the smile they put on our faces.”

Name: Tim ‘Brake-fire’ Britten
Rank: Contributing Journalist
Years of Duty: Never ask a lady his age…
ABDC Tours: 3/3

Brake-fire Britten, as a surprise to some, is still active on the motoring scene despite clumsily putting his first automotive words together in the late 1960s.

Today he’s a contributor to motoring.com.au, writing car reviews (overall he’s written way more than Kenny G) and helping out on the news scene.

He’s taken part in every ABDC to date, and reckons the third performance will be the best of all, given the experience garnered and the great line-up of cars for 2017.

“A ferry trip and five days in Tasmania is a great privilege,” proclaimed Brake-fire Britten.

“Getting to experience what it has to offer a keen driver who has a mouth-watering selection of cars at his or her disposal is a rare treat.”

Name: Nadine ‘Nads’ Armstrong
Rank: Consumer Editor
Years of Duty: Four
ABDC Tours: 3/3

In a sea of sartorial sinners, Nad’s contribution to ABDC is multi-faceted. Her position as one of Australia’s top female motoring journalists and her love of fashion are a unique combination among this motley crew.

A third-time judge of ABDC, Nads understands the challenge at hand; and yet she keeps coming back for more.

“Faced with an unfair quota of bum cracks and bad shoes, I keep my eyes closed for the best part of the ABDC week,” admits Nads.

“The motoring team aside, Tasmania is brimming with beautiful sights and some of the best roads I’ve ever driven.”

Name: John ‘Johnny’ Mahoney
Rank: Contributing Journalist
Years of Duty: Two
ABDC Tours: 1/3

Trading his desk in a scruffy part of London for the breathtaking beauty of Tasmania requires some adjustment from motoring.com.au's British correspondent. However, the opportunity to drive the ABDC finalists on some of the world’s best roads demands concentration, not gazing at the scenery.

Despite taking part in the record-breaking non-stop around Australia drive of Highway 1 and being one of the few people who have driven a car the whole way from Japan to Germany (yes, across Russia et al), Johnny has an uncanny knack of getting lost – especially in airport car-parks; for up to an hour; as recently as last week…

Pre-event, our visiting Pom said: “I should be humbly thanking the guys for inviting me to judge ABDC this year and tell you what an enormous privilege it is. Instead, I’m itching to drive the same roads as they race Targa on.”

Post-event JM was still raving about the roads – but more so the fact that everywhere you drive in Tassie throws up some interesting black-top.

Name: Andrea ‘AM’ Matthews
Rank: Contributing Journalist
Years of Duty: Two
ABDC Tours: 2/3

Inside out and back to front -- AM knows the auto industry from all angles. Formerly a PR manager for one of Australia’s local car manufacturers, she now shares her time between motoring.com.au road tests and running her family’s automotive workshop which specialises in European cars and classics.

AM added,  “It’s the one week of the year where we get to ask ‘which car makes you feel the most alive?.

By the end of the week, we’ve chosen a winner which appeals to our emotions and passions, and not just our hip pocket. That’s what choosing a driver’s car should be all about.”

Name: Feann ‘Fizzy T’ Torr
Rank: Staff Journalist
Years of Duty: Seven
ABDC Tours: 3/3

No one really knows the true background of Fizzy T – some say he’s half-Viking and half-witted, others are convinced he’s an idiot savant.

One thing’s for sure, if it’s got an engine, he’ll pilot it. Cars, motorcycles, jet skis, you name it, Fizzy T’s all over it.

A three-year veteran of ABDC, his favourite pub grub is chicken parmigiana and he prefers stout to pale ale, hot hatches to crazy coupes.

“ABDC is one of the highlights on the automotive calendar, chiefly because I’ve got a captive audience for my apres-driving hypothesis on why marsupials have pouches,” inspired Fizzy T.

Name: Luke ‘Lukey’ Youlden
Rank: Race Car Driver & Contributing Journalist
Years of Duty: A while… He writes slowly
ABDC Tours: 3/3

Lukey has been a professional racing driver since 1999 and is teamed up in 2017 with David Reynolds in the Penrite Holden Supercar for the Pirtek Endurance Cup. This year will mark Lukey’s 18th Bathurst 1000 campaign.

A winner of two Australian Championships, Lukey’s exploits have seen him compete in countless cars and categories both in Australia and overseas.

Lukey has achieved at least a race win and pole position in every full time category he’s driven in and was the 50th man to achieve a pole position in ATCC/V8Supercar history.

Outside race weekends, Lukey teaches his craft and works as an advanced driver trainer specialising in performance coaching and stunt driving. He is one of only a handful of people in this country who can drive a car on two wheels.

Now the team at motoring.com.au have let him loose on the computer to try stringing a few words together...

Name: Greg ‘Cricky’ Crick
Rank: Race Car Driver
Years of Duty: Plenty
ABDC Tours: 3/3

A folk hero in his home state of Tasmania, Cricky was a top-ranked privateer in the Australian Touring Car Championship and V8 Supercars during the 1990s.

The former ‘grease monkey’ retired from racing in 2015 with a long string of successes achieved during a 43-year career. Cricky has two Targa Tasmania wins under his belt, as well as an Australian Sports Sedan Championship and an Australian GT Championship.

“ABDC is a great event because it brings together some of the most delectable driver’s cars right here in my home state,” championed Cricky.

“I appreciate the opportunity of putting my oar in when it comes to deciding which is best.”

Next up on our search for Australia’s Best Driver’s Car we will reveal car #10 and have a close look at Accerlaration Testing.