Mitsubishi Marketing Advice.

A few things happened this week that gave me a series of ideas that form the substance of this post.

Starting with Girls Can't Surf, a documentary that 'follows the journey of a band of renegade surfers who took on the male-dominated professional surfing world to achieve equality and change the sport forever.' - Madman

 

A very worthwhile watch even if you're not into surfing. As for the second ingredient the ABC's long running program Australian Story never fails to hold my attention. The specific episode 'Common Ground | Liz Heggaton & Tim Baker' - 'An unlikely duo – a sheep farmer and a surf writer who have joined forces to draw attention to the potentially deadly psychological side effects of the most commonly prescribed treatment for prostate cancer.' - ABC // WATCH HERE

As a young bloke with (until now) a total disregard for prostate cancer this was a really good watch and eye opener into side effects of treating it. But more importantly this is where I steer towards the story of one of the greatest car Journalists in Australia - Pip Wilson.

Pip Wilson formally known as Peter Wherrett was well known as the host/writer of ABC car program Torque.

I was first introduced to Torque by my old man who would watch an episode on YouTube after gardening on a Sunday. Peter Wherrett to me was a no bullshit, very switched on but equally charismatic presenter. His opinion to me was almost immediately worth listening to.

I asked Dad what became of him, to which he answered he wasn't sure, he incorrectly recalled that he might have come out as gay or something but ultimately didn't know.

In 2006 Peter Wherrett started to become Pip Wilson, she died in 2009 from prostate cancer. Watching Australian Story reminded me of this fact.

For some perspective assistance, Pip Wilson had an incredibly successful career, but described the act of living as a woman for the last two years of her life as "my last great achievement".

Pip Wilson's story is not mine to tell but I hope this post at least points you in a useful directions for learning more. Like HERE   

So where I am going, what am I writing about now? Don't sweat I always have an agenda.

Girls Can't Surf reminded me that unfortunately there are outstanding periods of time in history that probably won't have a second go, or at least not in the same way.

In relation to cars I think about the three decades from the 70s to the 90s as probably the best set when it comes to manufacturing cars. This 30 year time period also featured discrimination in many formats. Theirs a very obvious reason for the lack of female car designers, engineers and so on. 

It's great that this is changing but it does leave me feeling sad that stupidity and systems of oppression/discrimination meant that this peak period of car making was ultimately male dominated. 

I'm not saying that the female designers of today will do a bad job, it's just the age of fun affordable combustion engines is starting to wrap up. I can't even imagine what cool cars the parallel universe next door that didn't suffer gender equality got... 

All of that brings us to this Mitsubishi Sigma.

WIKIPEDIA;

In 1981, Mitsubishi Australia produced a limited edition "Wherrett Special" GH Series Sigma sedan. Only 1016 cars were produced, which were commissioned after Wilson complained about the GH Sigma's woeful performance and handling. Wilson was challenged to design a better car by Mitsubishi Chief Engineers in Japan.

The Sigma has never been on my radar and it will probably stay that way but the reason I wanted to talk about this car is not for what it is but what it has the potential to do.

Pip Wilson only got to live as her true self for two years and I bet given longer she would have made a hell of an impact on changing how people think. I mean Christ she was talking about the environmental impact of cars in the 70's.

Remember when Subaru had the balls to market homosexuality. Well I'm handing Mitsubishi a similar set of keys - Make a Pip Wilson plug in hybrid, teach her history and build some social currency in the current car market. 

It won't be something I can or would buy in the foreseeable future, but in the EV arms race I actually quite like what Mitsubishi is doing and I'd prefer people buy them over cheaply made - far from environmental alternatives that are currently dominating Australia. 

And for the record I honestly still don't know where I sit with EV's. Smarter people than me seem to think they are better for the environment and even if they aren't it seems everyone's going that direction anyway. I just want to be able to go for a swim during summer and have a fish with the ladz on a Monday night - if continuing to make ICE vehicles is gonna stop me then do away with em.

Anyway again you can read about her HERE or if you already did, watch an episode of Torque;