Posts Tagged ‘racing’
How to Break In a New Pocket Bike
Once you bring home a new pocket bike, there are breaking in procedures that need to be done. It is easy to get excited and want to ride around at top speed but if you do not properly break in the bike you risk cutting the engine life by almost half. That means you will be pouring money to maintain the bike much earlier than you should. There are many techniques to properly break in your new bike but two of the most popular strategies stand out.
The first method of breaking in a new pocket bike is known as heat cycling. It begins by turning on the engine to idle or just above idle for about five or ten minutes. The engine will only be slightly warmed and still cooler than normal operating conditions. Let the engine cool down after the five or ten minutes of idling. Once the engine has cooled down, bring it back up by letting it idle for an additional ten minutes and then turn it off to cool down once more. Do this for a total of four cycles.
After the bike has cooled down for the last of the heat cycling, it is time to take it out for a ride. Start off at a slow and easy pace and ride it for the entire tank of gas. Do not ride too hard or rev the engine too much to keep the engine from stressing. After the tank has emptied then it is ok to refuel and take the bike for normal riding.
The next method is considered more fun by many because it allows the owner to actually ride the bike unlike the heat cycling method of watching a bike idle. Although we still have to idle the engine for about five minutes to warm up, after that we can immediately jump to riding. Bring the throttle up very slowly and gently to the point where the clutch would engage. This way, if you applied too much throttle during the ride the bike won’t lurch and throw you off.
Now it is time to take the bike for a ride. Do a lap around the tracks at a very slow speed below normal. This helps to break in the tires. Then you can start to give it a little more gas and focus on hitting as wide a range of RPMs as possible by accelerating and decelerating.
During the first fifteen minutes of riding try not to push the engine too hard nor ride too slow. It is also important to check that the engine is sufficiently warmed before beginning the second lap. Throughout the ride, make sure the clutch does not engage fully or it will burn. It is obvious when the clutch is fully engaged by the bucking of the engine or the sound it will make.
While there are other ways to break in a new pocket bike, these are the two most popular strategies. And being something that you only have to do once, it definitely pays off in longer engine life. Do not forget to follow safety instructions and wear proper protective gear when riding at all times.
Tags: automobiles, bikes, cars, Hobbies, motorcycles, motors, pocket bikes, racing, sports
Ever Wanted To Fly An RC Plane?
Radio control is a fast growing hobby. Flying rc airplanes and rc helicopters has become a very popular pastime, and increasingly more hobbyists are discovering the hobby all around the world.
The letters RC stand for radio control, and refer to anything that is controlled by radio signals that are sent out from a transmitter to a receiver located inside the model.
Sometimes you’ll see rc referred to as “remote control” but this is technically incorrect. Always use the correct terms so other hobbyists know what you mean.
RTF, or Ready To Fly models are the most popular rc airplanes andrc helis purchased today
Ready To Fly is exactly what it is; the model is assembled at the factory, the rc gear and motor have been installed and set up and there is nothing for you, the consumer, to do other than install the radio control gear batteries, do some very basic final assembly work, such as attaching the wing to the fuselage, and take off!
Either electric or gas motors power RTF airplanes and RTF helicopters.
The latter is often referred to as ‘nitro’ or ‘gas’ because the fuel that a glow plug motor runs on contains nitro methane. This is the same type of fuel that full sized dragsters use to reach very high speeds.
Nitro planes need more accessories than electric airplanes do, simply because of the motor. Also, nitro planes are generally bigger and have a steeper learning curve. Beginners should start with RTF electric planes and work up as their skills increase.
Electric motor rc planes are far more popular for people entering the hobby, primarily because they are clean, quiet and simple to operate.
The very popular “Park Flyer” style electric motorrc airplanes are bringing thousands of new rc pilots into the activity for these reasons. They are quite cheap to buy; a simple 1 or 2 channel RTF model is priced at under $100!
They are known as “Park Flyers” because they can be flown in any good-size open area. Public parks, sports fields or empty parking lots can all be used as flying space, provided that flying rc airplanes there is allowed, which is a very important thing to know before you fly your model!
The best type of rc plane to buy if you’re first starting out is a high wing trainer type. RC Planes with the wing on top of the fuselage are much more stable than RC Planes with the wing below.
Another important point to look for is the amount of “dihedral” the rc model has. Dihedral is the upward angle of the wings when looking at the model from the front. The more dihedral an rc plane has, the more stable it will be in the air, and hence easier to fly.
The big difference between nitro and electric rc planes is where you can fly them. Electric rc airplanes can be flown in public places, but nitro planes can only be flown at a model flying club, or on private land with the owner’s permission. This is because they are bigger, noisier and faster than their electric cousins. These factors are what makes nitro rc airplanes harder to learn to fly, although more rewarding.
If you want to get into the sport of radio control flying, find your local model flying club and join. It is the best thing that you can do as a first step toward your new hobby.
Electric rc helicopters have really changed the hobby, because they have become so much cheaper to buy than they ever have been, and many are now designed for the complete beginner, which was unheard of just a few years ago!
So even if you’ve never held a rc heli before, you can very quickly be mastering the controls of an electric model rc helicopter without too much trouble.
There are hundreds of models to choose from these days (rc planes and rc helis), but always be sure of what you’re buying first. Check out reviews if you can find some, and be certain that the model is suitable for a beginner.
The good thing is that with the models that are sold today, getting into the hobby of radio control flying has never been easier or cheaper!
Before you make a mistake and buy the wrong radio control trucks, make sure you check out Michael Murray’s blog articles and trucks. Michael loves questions, so ask away!
Tags: Hobbies, models, outdoor entertainment, outdoors, racing, radio control, radio control model airplane, rc airplanes, rc cars, rc planes, rc vehicles, remote controlled trucks, sports
Finding Good Motorcycle Boots
Your motorcycle boots need to be able to do a variety of things. You want them to be comfortable, but also sturdy and protective. They must also have great traction and not wear out quickly.
How do you know if you’re looking at a good motorcycle boot? There are many different factors that go into a great book, which this guide will explain. But nothing can replace a personalized fitting.
You may think that a slip on boot sounds like a good product. In practice, this isn’t a good motorcycle boot to buy. Because it is able to slip onto your foot, it will also easily come off in an accident.
There are some boots which claim to be able to allow water out but not in by using a special membrane. In many cases, this claim is too good to be true, so read some reviews before heading to the store.
It doesn’t matter what size calf you have, no one likes to be wet. A good motorcycle boot should have a covered fastening. An uncovered zipper will let in rain and wind as you drive.
A good motorcycle boot needs to have the right amount of flexibility, but still give you protection. Make sure to give yourself time to break your boot in before you go on a long ride.
When looking for a good motorcycle boot, you’ll want to find one that has extra ankle protection options. These can be found most often as a hard plastic insert you slid into your boot.
A good motorcycle boot isn’t hard to find. One of the most important aspects of the boot is that it fit you comfortably. Any boot should offer you superior protection and comfort as you ride.
Tags: boot, boots, comfortable boots, extra ankle protection, Good Motorcycle Boots, Hobbies, motorcycle, motorcycle boots, motorcycle gears, protection and comfort, race boots, racing, racing gears, racing shoes, sports gears, superior protection boots, waterproof boots
NASCAR – A Sport with a Fanbase before it was a Sport
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), was conceived on a bar room napkin. The bar to which the napkin belonged was known as the Ebony Bar, which was located at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach. The conversation from which the napkin gained import was held in 1948 by both drivers and promoters of local stock car races. It’s reported that stock car races began as early as the 1900’s in the Daytona Beach area. The meeting, and the napkin, might never have come to be had a mechanic named William France, Sr. not have moved to the Daytona area from Washington, D.C. in 1935. By 1936, he, too, had been captured by the sport, and even managed to finish fifth in a local race. Mr. France was moved to participate in such a meeting after his stint in racing for two reasons: a) he believed the sport had a potential for a following, and b) he believed the drivers were being mistreated by unregulated promoters who simply chose not to pay them.
From its less than auspicious beginnings in 1948, NASCAR has grown considerably. It is currently known all over the world. It is broadcast in over 150 countries, and has held exhibition races in both Australia and Japan. NASCAR has also expanded the type of racing its offers its fans, who can still choose to see the Sprint Cup, the Nationwide Series, or the Craftsmen Travel Cup Series all from the same ticket. Further, NASCAR allows for regional competition in every city and with every ticket, the fans can also watch the regional fun, such as the Whelen All-American Series (amateur auto racing), the Whelen Modified Tour (Nascar modified division); the NASCAR local racing (four geographic series).
NASCAR: MADE IN THE USA, TO STAY IN THE USA
NASCAR’s popularity has driven itself quite literally around the world. This sport is currently broadcast in over 150 countries and has held exhibition races in both Australia and Japan. Based on popularity, and in large part on its estimated three billion dollar product and ticket sales, NASCAR has parked itself in the number two spot for most popular sports watched on TV – second only to the National Football League. It would seem, however, that there is no place quite like home. NASCAR has several offices in North Carolina, and two international cities, but nothing at all like you might expect from such a profitable and popular sport. Despite its profits, and its popularity, NASCAR’s roots remain right where they were first planted – in Daytona Beach, Florida.
NASCAR: BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE, YOU CAN NOT WATCH IT FROM HOME
It would appear that everyone agrees: You have to watch a NASCAR race at the track. And it also seems that everyone knows why: the fans. There is nothing, nobody, nowhere like a NASCAR fan. They are loyal, and they are sincere. They literally make the experience what it is all about. They believe in their sport, and they believe in watching it together. To the fan, NASCAR is a way of life.
The always have, and always will, make NASCAR the one and only experience of its kind. A NASCAR fan will have goose bumps on a 90 degree day, and wouldn’t let a tornado warning keep her from her race. She’s got her tickets, waited all season to get ‘em, and now it’s her turn.
Are you a REAL fan, or just a wanna-be fan? Are you ready to take the leap and truly to commit to the frenzy and the energy that is NASCAR?! If so, February 12, 2009 is just around the corner. NASCAR will be in Daytona Beach on that day. Do you call yourself a fan? Do you like the races, know the drivers, and think about what it might be like to be there? Then you’re not a real, true blue fan. Don’t wonder – experience! Buy those tickets, and buy them now! The real fans already have them, and trust me, they don’t share.
If you don’t buy your tickets, trust me, the other fans will. Sold out is sold out, and then where will you be? Get your tickets for Daytona Beach on the 12th – NASCAR, where it was meant to be watched, whichever series you like: Sprint Cup, Nationwide, or Craftsmen Truck.
So you’d better hurry, before you miss your chance to be where the rest of the REAL fans are – at Daytona Beach on February 12th. Be a REAL fan, and watch the race the only REAL way! Buy a ticket, and buy it NOW! Be ready to have REAL fun!
Tags: Auto Racing, Entertainment, NASCAR, NASCAR Racing, NASCAR Tickets, pro racing, racing, sports, stock car racing
Ferrari Must Ditch Kimi for Alonso in 2009
Ferrari clearly has the best car this year in Formula One, but lacks a steady hand in both drivers and mechanics. Fernando Alonso has shown his usual stellar ability, but with a lesser car. Could the two be good for each other? Yes.
There are many strong points to F1 racing, but there are also many shortcomings. Critics are correct in asserting drivers are to passive and races can be boring with only a few passes even attempted much less made.
Formula One needs some spice to overcome the blandness. Nothing is spicier than a rivalry. It goes without saying that McLaren and Ferrari do not favor one another, but we need something a bit more personal for a good, bitter rivalry.
How great would a driver rivalry be? Look at last year. Alonso and Hamilton went at it so hard on the same team that they forgot about Kimi and let him win the title. It made for great entertainment and racing.
Although Alonso and Hamilton have not made peace this year, the rivalry is weak because Renault has been weak. The last few weeks have seen improvement and, sure enough, Alonso and Hamilton are starting to throw verbal grenades again.
This season has seen a switch for the manufacturers. The Ferrari is the superior car, but driver and team errors have been common. McLaren is a bit slower, but Hamilton has been a superior driver, particularly in the rain.
Take the current Ferrari team and add Alonso to it for 2009. He is a dominant personality, much like Shumi was before. It is hard to imagine the team having the same gaffs as this year. Alonso is also a superior wet driver, which makes up a shortfall.
Who would Alonso replace? The obvious answer is Raikkonen. I love Kimi, but he is done. He may have a contract for next year, but Ferrari would be crazy not to let him go. Do not be surprised if something does not come together in the offseason.
As with any good rivalry, you just cannot sit on the sidelines for this one. You will root like mad for one driver and cuss the very mention of the other. There simply is no other way to deal with the situation.
The first race of the season comes up. On the front row we find our two combatants. Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren. Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari. Tell me you would not pay a pretty penny to see turn one of that race!
The move of Fernando Alonso to Ferrari seems like a natural one. We can all see it coming. With Hamilton and Massa staggering around like drunk drivers, we should all hope it happens in 2009. Then F1 would be something to watch indeed.
Tags: Automotive, car, f1, formula 1, motor sports, racing
