The Team does the Melbourne (half) Marathon

 

Do you want to run the Melbourne Marathon?

That’s what Pete, our Ops Manager, asked the team in early August. At the time it sounded like a brilliant idea. And in retrospect that was still pretty awesome – but boy was that hardcore!

During the marathon my race feeling gradually went from enjoyable to tiring to painful to dying – I’m not sure what kind of terminal-action junkie runs a full marathon but after doing half of one, I say: respect!

In the last kilometres, I had a couple of stitches, some sweat in my ears, and my vision was screwed up to the point where I was seeing round out of one eye and square out of the other.

I must say though, the arrival at the MCG is just magic. For one minute I was Hussain Bolt breaking a new world record, sprinting under the ovation of a crowd in trance.

And I had a free massage. And a free banana.

OK to the Team results now:

1st Our local Zimbabwe runner, my man Justin. He finished 1437th in about 1 hour 40 minutes. Man he’s fit. We don’t like him anymore at Flexicar. See a video and pictures of Justin at the marathon here

2nd Myself in 1 hour 53, 2919th. By the way, I’d like to insist on the fact that my net time was equivalent to the arrival time. Which is impossible as we started the race 3 minutes behind – if you read me St Georges Marathon people, please rectify! So my time is 1 hour 50 minutes. Also note that my dreadlocks are a bit of a handicap, I’d probably have bought a couple of minutes without it. Anyway. See a video and pictures of me at the marathon here

3rd Pete did it in 2 hours and is 4465th. See a video and pictures of Pete at the marathon here

4th Mister Shane, our local nerd and Operations guy, did it in 2 hours and 4 minutes and is 6014th. See a video and pictures of Shane at the marathon here

Ruth did the 10 kms walk – oops sorry Ruth, I meant 10 kms run – not sure of the time though. I couldn’t retrieve her results as she ordered half a dozen race packs and ended running under somebody else’s name.

Now there’s some talks in the office about doing the full marathon next year… Saying that we’ll do it for sure would be presumptuous but stay tuned.

And so much for the marathon.

Greg, half-marathon runner

Welcome to new Flexicar staffer Krystyn

We’re pleased to introduce you to a new Flexicar staff member, Krystyn. If you call us from Sunday-Tuesday, chances are it’s her you’ll be speaking to on the phone!

Krystyn has only been in Melbourne a couple of years, hailing from “middle of nowhere” Western Australia (that’s a direct quote, in case any other WA people want to yell at me!)

On the days she’s not at Flexicar, Krystyn is a sound engineer in her own business Air Particle Ensemble with her partner. She primarily records live sets for Melbourne bands. She’s obviously into her music and is currently listening to Melbourne artists Sia and Society of Beggars.

So next time you call and get Krystyn, make her feel welcome as part of the Flexi-tribe!

Kimberly the marketing chick

The Birthday it was

As you may know Flexicar turned four on the 19th of August, and I just wanted to say how awesome it was to have so many calls and birthday wishes – some members even sang “Happy Birthday” on the phone!

Okay we know that you also called to get your half-price birthday booking, you little devils, but hey! That was still much appreciated.

In clear retrospect we might need to appoint a call centre for Flex’ fifth Birthday since we had, by my own count, close to 3,256 calls that morning.

At this occasion I’d also like to thank you, dear Flexicar member, for being…a Flexicar member. Because if we’re still here providing the wonderful service that Flexicar is four years and 70 cars later, it’s thanks to you, beautiful Flexicar members.

So thanks to you all, I leave you with these pictures of the official Flexicar launch four years ago, when Flexicar was named Flo and still a toddler.

Happy Pete, our operations manager (when he was young and fit) with Kermit and Fruity

Former Lord Mayor John So and then Environment Minister John Thwaites on the green route with Monique

Oddly enough Flexicar was then named Flo

John So and John Thwaites test-driving Kermit

Monique's launch speech

Behind the scenes of the new Flexicar film!

The time has come to retire our induction film “re:Flex. The Movie” and produce a new, improved version.

So after lots of script editing and reviewing, we were finally ready to start filming last week with our production company, Conscious Flux. Almost all the team were “volunteered” to star in the 6 minute movie. A large portion was shot “green screen” so that animations can be added afterwards – who knew that Flexicar had something in common with Star Wars!? We were also out and about on many locations, including Grumpy Green’s in Collingwood and near the Studley Park Boat Sheds.

The Melbourne drought of course decided to go into hiding over the two days, so wet and chilly was the order of the day! But we’ve got it all done and we look forward to showing you – and all our new members – the finished product.

In the mean time, here’s a few “behind the scenes” shots!

Presenters Pete & Moniqe talking through the scene

 

Pete using the vintage phone

 

 

 

Greg ready for his role (taking place in Dan's house - thanks Dan!)

 

 

Justin in a scene shot at Grumpy Green's on Smith St

Flexicar held up as leading business in recent Anthill

Steve Sammartino iof rentoid.com has written an interesting article on Australian Anthill online, challening entrepreneurs to re-invent something old and make it a new business. He included Flexicar as an example business.

Excerpt:

“The steps we go through as a consumption-based society are:

Extraction > Production > Distribution > Consumption > Disposal.

It’s what I call an infinite mindset on a finite planet. We simply can’t continue to do this if humans want to exist in the future. We desperately need more ‘Re’ businesses.

Re-cycled (Haul, materials in manufacturing)
Re-made (to original condition & sold)
Re-invented (Dues ex machina)
Re-turned (renting businesses Flexicar, rentoid)
Re-novated (houses, cars)
Re-newable (energy anyone?)”

read the full article

Fred Flintstone has nothing on Flexicar Team

Yes, it was bowling night last week for the Flexicar team. Why, you may ask? We say, what’s not to love about hurling heavy balls around in a dark room with a beer in hand!

The competition was hot. A turn was stolen by the CEO who didn’t quite realise once you got a strike, you didn’t get another go. Shane from Ops was looking glum for the pics as he was coming last…but turned it around to come second. And then there’s the winner. Peter, our operations manager, who announced the following day his email address should now be sriker@flexicar.com.au.

We can’t wait for the sun to come back out so we can duke it out all over again at lawn bowls in December.

Team FlexiBowl

 

Justin keen for a bevvie

 

Part time Flexer with handy Strike Membership Card - thanks Rose!

 

The final score board, showing Pete "striker" Hoban as the winner

Flexicar at MVCC Green Precinct Breakfast

Moonee Valley City Council launched it’s “Green Precinct” project in 2008, with the aim to create a blueprint for sustainable projects incorporating local businesses in Victoria.

The area between Pascoe Vale Road, Mt Alexander Road and The Strand is being developed as a high profile area demonstrating best practice sustainable business activities and employee programs that concentrate on energy, water, waste, biodiversity and travel.

The project is aiming for:

•  A 20% reduction of 2007/08 greenhouse figures by 2010 and a carbon neutral precinct by 2020; 
•  A reduction in 2007 potable (drinkable) water figures by 30% for each business by 2010; 
•  The recovery of 75% of solid waste to be reused or recycled by 2010; and 
•  Increases of at least 25% in the accredited GreenPower use for each business by 2010.

Flexicar thinks it’s a great initiative so was down at a staff and business member breakfast at the Council offices this morning talking about Flexicar. While Flexicar isn’t currently in any City of Moonee Valley suburbs just yet, we are planning to be there in 2010. Staff come from far afield to work with the Council, however, so there were some keen potential Flexers there.

And of course there were the yummy pancakes to keep us happy…
 

Flexicar at Moonee Valley City Council Green Precinct Breakfast

 

Green Precinct Breakfast

Unveiling the Hybrids

Flexicar are excited to announce that we now have two Hybrids in the Flexicar fleet, made possible by our friends at Honda who have provided the cars for twelve months. (More on this story here). The media launch was held today – in the “pretty but chilly” setting of Melbourne’s City Square. Honda Ambassador, fashion designer Akira Isogawa, helped “unveil” the Melbourne Hybrid Dreamer. The second Hybrid is kicking off today in Crown St, Surry Hills.

Some pics of the media launch, hosted by Honda, are below. These were taken on the rather wee Flexicar camera. Once we have the “professional images” we’ll be able to share these with you.

Monique Conheady speaking at launch

 

The unveiling

 

Monique Conheady, Lindsay Smalley (Honda) & Fashion Designer Akira Isogawa

 

"Dreamer" looking snazzy

Winners are grinners

Remember our Little Big Shots Film Festival competition?

Little Big Shots Film Festival is Australia’s major annual and travelling children’s film festival, running from June 3 to 8 in Melbourne at ACMI, and Flexicar is proudly sponsoring the event this year.

We had 20 double passes to give away for the Festival, and all you needed to do was telling us your favourite kids film of all time.

Well, the competition was quite successful, and we’d like to thanks all participants and send our warmest congratulations to the winners.

We had some interesting entries and all kids film’s genres were covered, from Japanese mangas (My Neighbour Totoro) to contemporary classics (Toy Story, Nemo…), and also some rare jewel like The Red Balloon.

Personally, I was a big fan of Princess Bride – memorable characters (Ah Inigo Montoya…Buttercup and Wesley’s love story…) and memorable quotes – and Walt Disney Classics such as Aladdin or The Jungle Book.

And for those who’d still like to attend the Film Festival, cheer up! There are plenty of tickets and plenty of sessions to satisfy all kids and kids at heart!

For tickets and sessions, visit the Little Big Shots website: http://www.littlebigshots.com.au/

Our lucky winners, and their entry:

Samantha de Forest (Mary Poppins)

Daniel  Walls (Cabin Boy)

Greg Muller (The Wizard of OZ)                                 

Mark  Donnellan (Spirited Away)

Sally McHugh (Milo and Otis)

Helen Grist (Back to the Future)

Fritz Balkau (Happy Feet)

Patricia Boyce (The Princess Bride)

Teena  Lawrence-Brown (Nemo)

Nick Calpakdjian (Sandlot Kids)

Mark King (The Jungle Book)

Sandy McLeod (The Princess Bride)

Sumi Fleming (Beauty and the Beast)

Clive Bourne (Kes – Ken Loach)

Nic Kocher (Toy Story)

Darren Osborne (Muppets Take Manhattan)

Kirsten Slifirski (The Red Balloon)

Margaret  Young (The Red Balloon)

Anthony Legg (Ice Age)

Caroline Blackburn (Mary Poppins)

Thomas Greig (Toy Story)

Emily Sims (The Princess Bride)

Congratulations again, and happy Film Festival!

Greg@Flexicar

Honk when you see a Flexicar

When I was a kid holidaying in France with my parents, we were using my grandfather car, a Citroen 2CV. 2CV might not be as common as a Commodore in Australia so I’ve added an image below.

When you would hit 40 k per hour the old piece of crap would shake like crazy, as if it would fall apart at anytime. Ah…But that’s another story and we don’t have time for it now. Maybe next time.

Anyhow, the cool thing with 2CV is that, to my delight as a kid, you’d honk when you see another 2CV, which is quite frequent in France, and the other driver would honk back.

Which bring us back to our beloved Flexicars. Honking when you are driving a Flexicar and see another one has been tacitly developed among members, and I think it’s awesome and should become a convention.

Not to mention that this allows me to reminisce these fun memories of my childhood, and reiterate the whole honking thing with Flexicars.

Okay, Brunswick members will probably have to drive with the hand on the horn, now that we have seven Flexicars there…

SO, please don’t call the police if you see me zipping around in a Flexicar and honking like a mad man, and let me be happy, I’m just having some childhood flashback!

And don’t forget to honk next time you see a Flexicar.

Citroen 2CV. The French car par excellence!

Greg, honking blogger