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BTCC – Green Flag For Go! PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 03 July 2008 01:01

We have all heard of Formula One, NASCAR, Indy Car and possibly even the FIA World Rally Championship, but the most popular motor series in the UK is the British Touring Car Championship or BTCC for short. It may not be as glamorous as Formula One, but what it lacks in glamour it makes up for in excitement and entertainment. In recent years Green Flag had originally sponsored the championship; but is now sponsored by Dunlop, the tyre manufacturers.

First of all the cars are basically a modified saloon car or “touring car” that we all could buy from the showrooms. Of course the engines are modified and the bodywork is made of lighter materials and you will see down force wings on the back. But as far as aerodynamics goes, the shape of the car remains the same as the normal road car.

The racing is bumper to bumper, around twisty racing tracks throughout the UK, at incredible speeds, and unlike other types of racing where so much rides on sponsorship and results, if a car does well, it gains a penalty of carrying extra weight. That means from spectator point of view cars will always be racing each other pretty much equal terms and bumper to bumper all the way. Time after time in F1 we have seen the driver with the best car, start on pole and win races easily, not because of driving skills, but just because of the size of their race budget.

The championship travels around the UK to the smaller race circuits, making it so much more assessable to the public, and the entrance prices suit the family audience, something you don’t see too much in motor racing these days. But the one thing that I love about the BTCC, is being able to visit the pits and the drivers on the race day. There is always an open pit time, where you can walk down the pit straight, see the cars close up and talk to and get autographs off the drivers. The kids think this is absolutely fabulous. After meeting the drivers; they then get to watch their heroes racing around the track, to cheer them on, where else can you get that close with professional sportsmen. It is because of this accessibility, regular races throughout the UK and family prices, that has made this the most popular race series in the UK

They have now even started to show the championship on TV directly after the Grand Prix and this has really raised the profile of this motor racing championship even further.

Like some of the USA motor racing series, there is more than one round of racing on a race weekend or day. Again this means more value for money as you see the drivers in a racing situation more than once. How many times have you watched F1 just to see your favourite driver taken out on the first bend, in the BTCC he returns again in the second race.

If you want to get back to driver versus driver racing, this is the place to see it. You can met the drivers, get close to the cars and feel the excitement of fast racing without taking out a mortgage to see them. I hope the green flag is always waving for the BTCC.

Mark is webmaster for Green Flag Breakdown Cover and Race Track day also Experience The Firewalk

 
Skateboard Decks PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 03 July 2008 00:01

The deck is an important component of a skateboard. Simply put, the deck is a piece of wood or a wooden board the rider stands on. A skateboard comprises four wheels attached to two axles. The axles are known as trucks, and are mounted to the bottom of a wooden board called a deck. Usually, the decks are about 79 cm long and 20 cm wide. They are made of seven layers of Canadian maple veneer, which are pressed and glued together.

Skateboard makers alternate the direction of the wood grain of each layer so that the deck does not split along the natural grain lines of the wood. Metallic decks or decks made of composite materials are rather rare. For downhill riding and street riding you should use longer skateboards, while the shorter ones are more suitable for tricks and maneuvers.

A main feature of a deck is that it rises at both ends. The one in the front is called the nose, while the rear one known as the tail. To perform tricks and stunts, skateboarders use the leverage from the kicked ends. The deck usually has abrasive grip tape on top, providing traction that prevents the rider from slipping off.

For a rider, it is very important that he gets the right deck size while choosing the board. It should neither be too small nor too big. In case the deck is too small, you will find it tough to maintain balance, as your feet and heels will hang over the edge. Again, if it is too big, you will face difficulties in turning and lifting off the ground while trying tricks. If the deck is more concave, the skateboarder can display his/her tricks more aggressively.

There are many patterns and designs you can get on your deck. So choose a deck you find beautiful, and if you want to give it a personal touch add some stickers on it.

Skateboards provides detailed information on Skateboards, Skateboard Decks, Skateboard Ramps, Skateboard Tricks and more. Skateboards is affiliated with Skateboarding Tricks.

 
Boat Lift Motors PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 01 July 2008 20:01

Technical support and efficiency are important when purchasing a boatlift, but the most crucial part of a boatlift is the motor. Rather than manually spinning the wheel of a boatlift in order to get the boat on and off the water, a motor makes the job easy on you, and they are not hard to operate. Boatlift motors play a crucial role in saving effort for when you are actually in the water enjoying the boat itself. It is very important to have a good boatlift motor.

Most of the boatlift manufacturers are top providers of quality boatlift motors. Electricity is one of the prime requirements for using motors to enhance one’s job of launching a boat. All one has to do is flip a lever, throw a switch, and let the rechargeable power of the boat"s battery or AC power from the shore raise your boat into its storage position. AC or DC, the units are both compact, easily assembled and can be disengaged for manual operation of the lift wheel. Why would you want to disengage and do it yourself? Why, in case of a long-standing power outage, of course.

Boatlift motors are readily available and replaceable for all kinds of pontoon, hydraulic and floating boat lifts. Most of the motors on the market are reasonably priced and fit almost all boatlifts made. They are simple to operate with low maintenance, and they have simple installation procedures. Most motors available on the market give a one-year warranty, but your boatlift should probably last many more years than that.

Boat Lifts provides detailed information on boat lifts, used boat lifts, floating boat lifts, boat lift motors and more. Boat Lifts is affiliated with Boat Docks.

 
Rock Climbing Gear PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 01 July 2008 10:00

Rock climbing is a sport that involves climbing steep rocky terrain. It is a very exciting sport that involves a lot of physical exertion and challenge. However, rock climbing can be very dangerous, if not done properly. There are basically two kinds of rock climbing: aid climbing (use of gears like rope, ladders and bolts) and free climbing (no gear is used except for safety). Other kinds of rock climbing are: sport climbing, top-rope climbing, solo climbing, bouldering, traditional climbing, mountaineering and indoor climbing. There are certain techniques generally used for rock climbing: tying in, leading, abseiling, lowering and others.

Using the right kind of gear not only makes rock climbing easier, but also safe. Some basic rock climbing equipment includes: ropes, cords, webbing, carabiners, harnesses, belay devices (sticht plate, ATC, Gri-Gri, Figure Eight), Descenders (figure eight, rescue eight, ATC), Ascenders, protection devices (nuts, hexcenters, spring loaded camming devices), sewn runners, helmets, climbing harnesses (fully adjustable or partly adjustable), climbing screws, pulleys, trekking pole, pitons, haul bag, bouldering mat, and holds. Special training equipment for climbing includes: grip savers, fingerboards, campus boards and more. Check out the equipment before buying it. It should be safe, comfortable and the right size.

Some of the most popular rock climbing gear brands are: Black Diamond, Volcom, Nixon, Oakley, Smith, Spy, The North Face, Nikita, Eagle Creek, Dakine, Mountain Hardwear and others. Climbing equipment has to be certified by the International Federation of Mountaineering Associations (UIAA) and the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Rock climbing equipment can also be purchased online. Some rock climbing clubs lend most of the required gear for their members. There are also stores that rent out climbing gear.

Climbing Gear provides detailed information on Climbing Gear, Mountain Climbing Gear, Ice Climbing Gear, Rock Climbing Gear and more. Climbing Gear is affiliated with Discount Hiking Gear.

 
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