The MotorSportsNews.Net(work) » Misc. Columns

NASCAR Schedule – The Chase Is On!

Webmaster — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:29:41 +0000

With the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winding to a close in another monumental season of stock car racing, the Chase for the Sprint Cup has yet again become the topic of discussion in the racing realm. Jimmie Johnson has dominated the Chase for the last five years in a row, but it looks like things could turn out a little differently this year if a certain few drivers named Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch (among others) have anything to say about it. The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is coming down to the wire again this season, and here is the rundown on the final races of the year that are sure to sell out NASCAR tickets as the season comes to a screeching halt.

Oct. 23, Talladega: Talladega is one of the most infamous tracks on the NASCAR circuit. With news that IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon was killed at the IRL Las Vegas race just a week prior, ‘Dega is sure to raise some eyebrows and attract some extra attention as safety becomes a main issue. With that in mind, Kevin Harvick is salivating for another Talladega win to follow up his 2010 victory there, but it’s Jimmie Johnson who is the reigning champ from this spring’s earlier race at the speedway.

Oct. 30, Martinsville: Martinsville is a consistently fast track, and Denny Hamlin has dominated on this track in recent years. Hamlin has to step it up to stay at the top here, as drivers like Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth will also be looking for big wins at the Martinsville Speedway.

Nov. 6, Texas: Jimmie Johnson is notorious for pouring on the heat at the end of the season, and early November is a great time for him to put his car in gear. The AAA Texas 500 is a must-see for racing lovers, and will be an especially great race this season as JJ shoots for his sixth championship Sprint Cup title.

Nov. 13, Phoenix: Jeff Gordon took Phoenix earlier this season with a big win at the Subway Fresh Fit 500, maneuvering around a crash and passing up Kyle Busch to take the late win. Can he do it again at Phoenix in November at the Kobalt Tools 500? Gordon is on the cusp of being in the Top 10, and this race could determine a lot.

Nov. 20, Homestead: It all comes down to this, folks. Will Jimmie Johnson secure his sixth straight Sprint Cup Series championship title in 2011 or will he relinquish his throne to another driver? Homestead will decide it all, and JJ won’t get his crown if Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch have anything to say about it. Edwards and Busch are two of the strongest competitors in the Cup, and have both locked down recent wins at the Ford 400.

Who will take the title of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion? It will be determined at the end of November, as these last few races mark the most important ones of the year for stock car racing.

Creating a New Office – Challenges and ways to Overcome Them

Webmaster — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:45:37 +0000

Taking an empty business building and making it an entirely operable workplace can be a frustrating and expensive task. Frequently, you have to repair, repaint and refinish the interior prior to deciding to attempt getting furniture and equipment. And then, there’s a huge job of buying all the furnishings you have to make work comfortable, efficient and chic.

For your reception desk, you’re have to comfortable chairs, appropriate décor, plus a desk, chair and filing space for your receptionist. Your projects areas have to be sourced with cubicle partitions and 4 drawer file cabinets. The executive offices will need wood office desks, executive office chairs, bookcases and wood credenzas. And, the conference room will have to be furnished with conference tables and chairs. All of this, added up, will surely cost quite a penny. A high-quality, new office credenza will set you back between a couple of thousand dollars. A pod of six cubicles can cost you over $ 6000 dollars. And, you will probably spend fifty to 3 hundred dollars on each office chair. If you’re unsure that the budget will cover all this, you may want to take a look at another alternatives.

One the easiest method to beat budget challenges is to find used office furniture San Diego rather than new. If you wish to do lots of research and value comparison, you could find yourself spending just a little over half the quantity you would have invested in new furniture. And, you can find pieces that are still in excellent condition. Oftentimes, a business can get eliminate furniture that’s almost brand new. Used furniture dealers will get your dvd pieces and then sell on on inside it for just about any fraction of the original price. You’ll find executive office desks, file cabinets and chairs which have been lightly used and may perfectly serve your personal purpose along with your budget.

Whether you decide to buy used or new, always do your homework. Make use of the web to find the companies while using best brands and prices combined with the best customer reviews. And, don’t forget, simply because something can be used doesn’t imply that it’s not just a first class bit of merchandise. There are several excellent bargains available. All that’s necessary do is search for them.

NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip gets the ride of his life in V8 Supercar at Bathurst, Australia

Mike Irwin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:56:06 +0000

Darrell Waltrip is no stranger to going fast. After all, he’s got three Winston Cups to his name and 84 race wins at the pinnacle of stock car racing.

But you see, he’s used to driving. On ovals. So when they flew him Down Under as part of Speed’s coverage of the Bathurst 1000 – one of the most recognizable events in the V8 Supercars series – he got an entirely different perspective: one from the passenger seat, riding shotgun in a Holden Commodore around the Mount Panorama circuit. We’ll let the video after the jump for itself, but suffice it to say Waltrip had the ride of his life. (all information, text and video courtesy of Autoblog)

Click here to see DW get skeered

Selecting a Color for Aftermarket HID Headlights

Webmaster — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:40:48 +0000

Most vehicles use halogen headlight bulbs, which provide typical lighting results familiar to those who often use incandescent bulbs at home. In the past few years, and to a much greater extent than when first introduced in the BMW 7 Series lineup in the early 1990s, HIDs have begun to outpace halogens, particularly among car enthusiasts and expert aftermarket automotive parts installers. These High Intensity Discharge headlights provide multiple times the brightness and much greater longevity than typically expected from halogens. And for those who like to keep appearances in mind at all times, HID bulbs are a diverse bunch, offering a range of colors for you to choose from. Below, we’ll break down some of the most popular options for color selections.

3000K

Colors for HID bulbs are selected based on a particular color temperature. Ranging generally from 3000K to 12000K, these temperatures correspond directly to the eventual light color you get out of the bulbs. Fortunately, color temperature has no relation to lighting brightness, so don’t expect decreased luminosity simply because the color temperature of the bulb you selected is on the lower side of the range. 3000K HIDs produce a warm, yellow-to-gold glow, and pair well with vehicles looking for a more retro-look. Yellow lights may seem more traditional, but again, they’re every bit as bright as a 10000K HID bulb.

5000-6000K

Bulbs falling in this color temperature range tend to have a strong, piercing white color, that ranges from pure white to a slightly blue-ish tint. Generally, 6000K bulbs are the most popular aftermarket HID bulbs on the market, but HID colors should be selected according to your personal preference and the design of your car, not based on what’s hottest at the time being.

8000-10000K

Bulbs in this HID color range will have violet and/or purple coloring. The 8000K will be a much softer purple and will have an almost white hue to it. A 10000K HID bulb will be much more vivid, and it’s purple will be blatantly saturated, unlike the 8000K.

12000K

For those drivers who really want a bold, ultramodern look to their vehicle’s headlights, 12000K HID bulbs are the way to go. This super-saturated, vivid blue color is quite unique, and blue tends to be a color that complements most other design elements and colors well, so clashing shouldn’t be an issue as much as it would be with purple HIDs.

Top Gear – British vs American

Heather Meyer — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:24:50 +0000

For those of us who watch Top Gear on BBC-America, watching Top Gear USA on the History Channel is like watching a rerun, except the hosts don’t look the same.

Top Gear (the American version) launched a few weeks back on the History channel on Sunday nights at 10pmest. Adam Ferrara tries to be the Jeremy Clarkson of the group, but his Brooklyn accent just turns me off. Tanner Foust, an acclaimed drifter, makes you think he’ll win all the challenges and personally I’d rather stare at Richard Hammond. Rutledge Wood… well, yes, he could be Captain Slow, and it’s a toss up on if James May could be that goofy.

The American version seems to add cuss words in so they can bleep them out. British television they have more leeway with what they can say. But what I find charming about the British version is the pronunciation of some words. Like Mazda or Prius even Carbaretta.

The American version for the most part has copied everything from the British version. I know for those who don’t get BBC-America, it’s fresh and new to you. But I for one would love for them to expand their horizons. Make the test track different, do your own ideas of testing cars or showcasing them.

The Stig on the American version is creepy. I’m sorry but he distracts from other things going on in the studio since they have his picture on a loop and he moves during the show. The British version of the Stig lead in “some say”… always has me leaning forward in my chair to hear what funny thing they will say.

I may not always know who the guest star drivers are that go around the track on the British version but I do enjoy it . The host manages to engage the star driver so you learn about them and their car tastes. Or to quote a movie “the need for speed”

OK, yes, you got it… I LOVE the British version. While it’s on hiatus between the seasons for us, I guess the American version is ok. At least it’s not on Monday nights where I’d be on BBC-America watching the real thing.

So for those of you without BBC-America enjoy the American version but check out the Top Gear web site at http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/topgear/

Glaring Omissions from 2nd NASCAR Hall of Fame Class

Mick Charles — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:55:38 +0000

Photo by Steve Langley

Yesterday, the 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class was announced, and the winners were David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Lee Petty, Ned Jarrett, and Bud Moore.

These are all good choices, but there were two glaring omissions.

In particular, there were two nominees who have far greater accomplishments and credentials than Bobby Allison, and they were passed up?

Both Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip have more wins and more championships than Allison.

It is this writer’s opinion that, rather than qualifications being used as a criteria for the Hall of Fame, that it ended up being a popularity (or lack thereof) contest.

If it had been advertised as such, fine. But it wasn’t.

According to some Twitter speculation I saw yesterday, Cale was passed up because he doesn’t go anywhere unless he’s going to get paid for it. And DW, aptly named “Jaws” during the peak of his driving career, had apparently made many “enemies” while driving who had long memories.

Bobby Allison had a great career as a driver, and he does deserve to be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but I disagree that he should be inducted now before some of the other more accomplished nominees.

What do you think? Leave your comments below.

In case you want to read it, here’s the official press release:

NASCAR announced today the second class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. That class consists of: David Pearson – 94%; Bobby Allison – 62%; Lee Petty – 62%; Ned Jarrett – 58%; Bud Moore – 45%.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, consisting of members of the Nominating Committee along with 31 others representing all facets of the NASCAR industry, met in a closed session in Charlotte, N.C., to vote on the induction class of 2011. The announcement was made in the Great Hall inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The class was determined by 53 votes cast by the panel and the nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.COM. The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes.

The Class of 2011 will be officially inducted in a ceremony in May 2011 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.

The results of the voting for the five chosen in this class proved quite competitive. Also receiving votes were Dale Inman, Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip.

As part of the inclusive voting process, hundreds of thousands of NASCAR fans submitted votes online at NASCAR.COM. That remarkable feedback once again demonstrated fans’ passion and knowledge of the sport and its heritage. The fans’ top five: Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough.

Here were the 25 nominees for induction into the 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame class:

Bobby Allison, Buck Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry Cook, Richie Evans, Tim Flock, Rick Hendrick, Jack Ingram, Dale Inman, Ned Jarrett, Fred Lorenzen, Bud Moore, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Fireball Roberts, T. Wayne Robertson, Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, Darrell Waltrip, Joe Weatherly, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame broke ground in Charlotte on Jan. 25, 2007 and opened to the public on May 11, 2010. The facility honors the history and heritage of NASCAR and the many who have contributed to the success of the sport.