Pattaya Mail is expanding to include a weekly motoring column in addition to all our other informative sections. To head up the automotive area we have been lucky to gain the services of Dr. Iain Corness. Iain is a newcomer to the Pattaya scene, but not a newcomer in the motoring world, having been involved with motor racing in Australia for 32 years. Iain was one of the chief medical assessors for the Confederation of

Australian Motor Sports and additionally a very experienced competitor in the circuit racing arena. He is an ex Australian champion in both sports cars and sports sedans and was still setting new lap records in Melbourne, Australia less than three months ago. He has written for various newspapers and magazines "down under" and is looking forward to meeting up with the motor industry here in Thailand. "Automania" will look at all aspects of motoring, from general automotive matters and product evaluation, right the way through to supplies and suppliers. It promises to be informative and forthright, delivered with a typical "Aussie" direct approach. You are invited to contact Dr Iain, through the Pattaya Mail office, if you have any motoring queries or information you would like him to address.

by Dr. Iain Corness

Pattaya seems to be the ideal place to begin looking at the Thailand motoring scene. Unlike Bangkok, it is possible to drive a car at more than 60 kph and enjoy the freedom of the "open road". You also have a world class motor racing circuit up the road at Prince Bira International, and a couple of Kart tracks as well.

Mind you, the main streets of Beach Road and Pattaya 2nd Road take some getting used to - not that the frequently stopping baht busses are all that much of a problem, it’s the farang tourists wobbling along on large motorcycles that give me the willies.

Obviously out to impress the new girlfriend perched precariously on the back, Pattaya’s answers to world champ Mick Doohan roar along, full of bravado and beer, looking for the ideal spot to have their overseas holiday accident. That so few of them spend time at Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital says a lot for the other motorists’ skills, not for the tourist tearaways’.

Now that I’ve mentioned the dreaded words "baht bus", I must state that so far I haven’t had any horrendous experiences with them. Mind you, I have a strong Scottish heritage and it takes more than a glowering baht bus driver to extract something greater than a 5 baht coin from my tightly locked wallet. I do pity the unwary tourist, however, seen waving 100 baht notes after an evening at pub-a-go-go. The inability of the drivers to carry change late in the evening is still "amazing".

Peter, your trusty Editor, has suggested I look into the baht bus situation - perhaps a few hours beside the driver might change some of our ideas. Whilst Pattaya is a holiday destination, are we expecting too much of the drivers to be multi-lingual? At 5 baht a throw I don’t think I’d be that enthusiastic about trying to decode a Norwegian mime dance in the middle of Pattaya Klang either. It could be an interesting project!

Photo: Ian Corness setting a new lap record in Australia, October 1997.

Next week I might look at the motorcycle helmet situation here in Pattaya. I did notice Pattaya’s finest doing rather well with the fines notices last weekend. My medical self says "Not before time" - anything to stop the road toll is a good idea, but there’s more to it than jamming a plastic ice cream bucket on your head before attempting hara-kiri by Suzuki.

I invite the readers of Pattaya Mail to contact me with any motoring matters which interests them. Personally, I have driven everything from a Lamborghini Diablo to a 3 wheeled Morgan and a couple of years racing on two wheels as well. If it’s got an engine I’m interested in it too! Let’s see what we can dig up here in Pattaya!

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