Hi Jack,
Good to make contact with a guy like you.
Yes I was an mech. engineer once upon a time but spent my working life (30 years of it) in the computer industry, mostly in the mainframe software business. I retired 5 years ago and moved to this part of the country with my family.
www.reflections.com.au/GoldCoast/index.html
Bosch make most of the ABS systems used in Australia and certainly all the European cars. Hydroplpaning or aquaplaning as we say down here, is what I fear the most and occurs so easily. It was the cause of a front end smack 2 years ago that cost me 2 weeks under the car replacing the front suspension and steering rack. I run 235 x 15" front and 305 x 15 on back. Falkens are widely sold here, I'll take a look next time new tires are due.
I'll have to document this ABS saga some time, which reminds that i had better get back to the garage and get on with it, that is after I fix the 2 computers that my kids are bellyaching about.
At the time you were on R&R in Sydney, probably behaving badly at Kings Cross at the Texas Tavern near the fountain (bring back memories?) , I was glad as hell that I was able to roam around those streets with my mates, lucky enough not to have been conscripted into the army. If your heart still warms to the land of Oz, why not visit some time, we Cobra nuts are a friendly bunch.
Dave