Archive for the ‘sports’ tag
The Le Mans Prototype gets brought back to America
The story of Scott Tucker’s career is what some would call a Cinderella story. A successful private equity investor from Kansas enters his first professional motorsports race at age 44, and five years later, he’s constantly atop the podium after races in multiple series-Grand-Am, Ferrari, American Le Mans Series and the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Earlier this year, Tucker made podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in his debut season in the LMP2 class.
Clearly, not just any person could pull off the kind of late-bloomer success Tucker has achieved. His skill level, endurance, technique and depth of knowledge would not exist if not for an enormous passion for the sport. Scott Tucker loves cars-before he had the opportunity to race, he built a sort-of car museum in his Leawood, Kansas home. So it’s fitting that Tucker, the unlikely American Le Mans hero, would be the first American to enter his team in the Le Mans Prototype class in nearly 25 years.
“Breaking into the Le Mans series has always been on my mind,” Tucker said. “I could wait another 10 years for the time to be right, but we got an opportunity and decided to go for it.”
The Le Mans Prototype, or LMP, are the fastest closed-wheel racing cars on circuit racing tracks. Their cost and technology are comparable to that of Formula One cars, but LMP vehicles top out at even higher speeds than Formula One cars. No wonder Tucker couldn’t wait to get in one. After he barreled through the LMP series, Tucker moved into the LMP2 class. Mid-season, a Honda Performance Development/Wirth Research partnership was finishing work on a cost-capped prototype that would allow for increased speeds compared to other LMP2 engines. It wasn’t any wonder when Tucker reserved the first 2 out of development.
The Le Mans Prototype was used for the first time at the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans, when a small field of competitors caused the race to be open to small, open-cockpit race cars using production road car engines in an attempt to expand the field. At the end of that year, the World Sportscar Championship and the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship organizations dissolved, which left expensive Group C prototypes without much competition beyond Le Mans races, which were few and far between. As Group C became obsolete, the Le Mans Prototype class was created. In 1999, the American Le Mans Series was created, allowing for a much broader competitor base because more Le Mans races would be held each season.
A driver can race in an LMP, LMP2 or LMP1 class, in two of which Tucker has made his mark. In 2010, during his debut season in the Le Mans series, Tucker took the LMP championship and won rookie of the year. Moving forward in to LMP2 for the 2011 season, Tucker started racking up podium finishes at breakneck speed, with impressive finishes at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, Infineon and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Tucker and his Level 5 Motorsports team might be just what the United States needs to bring more attention to racing. With NASCAR largely dominating motorsports interest and not even a single Le Mans Prototype entry coming from the nation in a quarter century, there’s been a lack of depth in auto racing coverage. Tucker’s compelling story, his own obvious excitement for the sport and his unwavering success are a verifiable formula for a figure whom the public could get behind.
Looking for more information about Tucker Tucker
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Producing Interesting Mud Truck Videos Is Fun
The birthplace of extreme mud racing is Northern Louisiana. It got its start in the 1970s. The sport caught on in the surrounding states of Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas before it fizzled out in the 1980s. It experienced a renaissance around the dawn of the New Millennium, capturing a new generation of enthusiasts. Mud truck videos are a way of preserving and reliving the fun and excitement of a good wet, sticky, messy racing session.
This extreme motor sport is also called mud running, mud drags, mud bogging or just plain mudding. It takes place over a pit of mud of a specified length. The winner is determined by who manages to complete the course in the fastest time. The National Mud Racing Organization (NMRO) and the American Mud Racing Association (AMRA) oversee the sport and make sure it is safe for the drivers and profitable for the sponsors.
A farm is an ideal location for a mudding venue. A mudding-friendly farmer allows his land to be irrigated and used for racing. This allows the track to be used during dry weather. The NMRO and the AMRA form liaisons with farmers to make sure the tracks conform with regulations.
Mudding trucks are usually suburban utility vehicles (SUVs) or pick-up trucks. They have huge oversized tires and modified suspensions and are powered by nitrous injection or supercharged engines. Trucks with low, dragster-type rails are becoming popular.
The NMRO classifies the vehicles according to how the engines are modified and what tires they are fitted with. There are separate classes for supercharged vehicles and those with nitrous injection. Most of the rules are identical for all classes, although there are also distinct rules within each class.
Mudding is serious sport, serious business and serious fun. Mud truck videos are a good way to promote the sport, monitor performance and preserve memories.
Regardless of what the race is called mud trucks videos are a thrill to watch. The next time you find yourself mud bogging with friends take a video camera and capture the action.
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The Implications Of A Bad Credit Loan
In the United States an estimated 1 in 4 people have a low credit score. The three credit reporting agencies have indicated that individuals are increasingly having credit problems. When someone has a poor score, they will be required to find a bad credit loan to address their financial needs.
Today’s economy sees many people having a hard financial time and it is reflected in the scores. As people find it more difficult to cover their debt obligations those problems are recorded by the rating agencies. As the ratings lower, it becomes difficult to find lenders who are willing to extend financing.
A person is given a score between 850 and goes down to 300. Many financial companies begin to consider a person a lending risk if their rating is below 720. 675 is the average current score for a person.
The number associated with the rating is an indicator to companies of debt responsibility. When you suffer from a financial situation such as a divorce, relocation or loss of a job, that information is not placed onto these reports. This can lead to problems finding a place to rent, obtaining employment, or securing a loan, companies see a number with no reason behind that number.
A low score will equate into a situation in which finding a lender can become a stressful situation. As you apply, will be required to have more paperwork, need security to back the amount being applied for, give a large down payment, suffer a higher interest rate, or be faced with the situation of finding a co-signer. Your score and the consequences of it will make it even more important to find a good lender.
A payday loan is a choice for some individuals. The money that is obtained through these means are typically used for immediate financial needs. The sum received is meant to be paid back in a short time, such as 30 to 90 days. This cash advance is based on the money that is received in one paycheck. To obtain a payday advance a person must have verifiable regular payments being obtained whether it comes from state sources or employment. An application can be made over the internet or at a physical location, caution is stressed if applying over the internet since the person will be required to give detailed personal information.
When a poor rating is a problem, a secured loan may be a possibility. This type of lending requires the applicant to offer something of equal worth to the sum being requested. A security may be in the form of jewelry, a vehicle, or other form of property. The lender will then assess the sum they are willing to provide and set the terms of the contract.
There are many companies that offer loans after bankruptcy, the terms are unique to the rating of the individual. There is a great deal of frustration for individuals with poor scores, after due diligence they can find an acceptable offer of financing. People with low scores become targets for fraudulent companies, it is important to remain diligent in the search for lending opportunities.
Are you looking for bankruptcy loans? A lot of people are in your same situation and think there are not many options available. Make sure you consult with experts for loans after bankruptcy.
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NASCAR Legend David Pearson: The Silver Fox
South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway is an egg shaped terror that has become known as the track too tough to tame. If thats true, David Pearson came pretty close–during his illustrious career, he posted 10 victories and 12 poles at Darlington. These are both records for one of NASCAR’s most unforgiving tracks. Pearson’s ability at Darlington bordered on the unreal, and he was able to follow the conventional wisdom about performing well there better than anyone. The old saying is that you need to race the track, not the other drivers, but that’s a lot easier said than done. Pearson, however, made it look easy.
David Pearson was born on December 22,1934 in Whitney, SC–a textile town near Spartanburg. Like most of the locals, his parents worked in the local cotton mill and did their best to provide. David dropped out of school after the 10th grade to work in the mill, but soon quit that life as well–he was drawn to racing cars and began running at short tracks in the Carolinas. He ran his first race on 9/19/52 in Woodruff South Carolina. Within a few years, he won his first championship at the Greenville/Pickens Speedway in’59.
Pearson never sought out stock car racing immortality, but some of his friends had other ideas. They began raising money to buy a car to race in the NASCAR Grand National series (the forerunner to today’s Sprint Cup). With a patchwork of financial backing, David began racing a limited schedule on the Grand National circuit and was named the’60 rookie of the year. In’61,he attracted sponsors and started to race a full time schedule. Not long after, he was considered among the best in the sport winning Grand National titles in’66,’68 and’69.
The’70s saw Pearson cut back his schedule somewhat, focusing on superspeedways. In’72, he started driving for the Wood Brothers in the #21 car that he was to make a legend. In’73, he won 11 races in’ starts”an incredible feat even by today’s standards. Through the end of the’70s, Pearson won 43 races. In addition to his mastery of Darlingon, he posted remarkable numbers all over the circuit. He is one of two men to have won more than 100 races, and his 105 is second only to The King Richard Petty’s 200 wins. Hes also second on career poles (113) to Petty. Head to head, however, he has a slight edge over NASCARs legendary King: in races where he and Petty finished 1-2, Pearson won 33 to Petty’s 30. His 11 consecutive poles at Charlotte is a feat that will likely never be matched. Another record that may never be broken is his’.29% winning percentage, as well as his record of starting from the pole in 20% of the races he ran.
In March, 2000, SC Highway 221 through Spartanburg County was renamed David Pearson Boulevard in his honor. He lives in Spartanburg to this day. Pearson still takes to the track occasionally–he and current NASCAR driver Carl Edwards were the first to race on the newly repaved Darlington Raceway last Spring. We should all hope to be able to run with a 20 something NASCAR driver when we’re in our mid 70′s. Incidentally, he got the nickname Silver Fox due to his prematurely gray hair and cunning style behind the wheel.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
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Special Attention To Golf Carts
Golf carts are used in the golf course to assist golfers to move from one place to another as it may take some miles to reach another point and they run, not only on smooth surfaces but also in rugged terrains. So they require some extra attention and special care.
Most of the golf courses have a rugged terrain and sometimes steep hills. So with these, most golfers prefer to get a golf cart ride than agonizing in a hard walk with heavy golf bags. So golf carts must have a good engine to give you a smooth ride.
Golf courses have some allocated funds each year for purchasing new vehicles or if there is a need of a repair for an old one or empowering the existing carts. But a brand new vehicle is better to have than refurnished ones.
The decision of getting a new cart or keeping the old cart for a new repair must be given some extra attention. For buying a new cart can be pricey and it also need some repair for get a smooth run.
The golf cart works so hard carrying golfers and heavy loads, transporting from one to another and the engine is expected to stay steady and without damage. With the good performance of buggies, golfers will hire for this and money will get it.
It is cheaper to spend in en-powering your golf cart rather than spending for a buggy repair. It would be nice if you choose small engines manufactured by companies like Briggs Stratton, Honda, Cushman and Kohler. This engine is available in different power ratings, sizes and transmission set-ups. This engine can also be powered by different fuels such as gasoline, electricity from batteries and diesel.
Golf carts should also be checked daily and to maintain the exact capacity requirement that it can load for it will carry golfers and equipments around the golf course and this will wear out the cart so fast.
Golf courses offer the best services that they could give in order to attract more golfers to come in. Since golf carts play an important role in the operations of these golf courses, it is nice to keep as many carts as possible to run around the course and available to use by the golfers. More golfers coming in, more revenues are expected to receive.
See more of this writer’s writing about topics like left handed junior golf clubs and Callaway Big Bertha.
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What Do You Mean “Mud Bogging”?
Sometimes when you grow up in the country, you have to get creative when it comes to entertainment. Some of the most fun things to do involve little more than some rowdy company who isn’t scared to get a little dirty. I’m certain that’s how one the beloved pastimes for county young people got its start. Some folks decided to test out just how good their four-wheel drive vehicles can handle extreme situations. This activity is better known as mud bogging to those who do it.
There are some things you should know if you are trying to understand this sport. The first being that yes, it is considered a sport to those who participate in it. Another thing being what all is involved in a typical mud bogging experience. I will briefly touch on set ups and how to optimize your mud pit and “mudder” (your vehicle you take to the mud bog).
I should start by saying again that this is in fact a sport that is nationwide. While perhaps less noteworthy than football or something like that, mud bogging is growing in popularity all the time. In the south, mud bogging goes on all year, since the warm weather is ideal for mud production. The more north you go, however, the more mud bogging becomes seasonal according to the fluctuation in weather patterns.
You need two things to have a successful mud bog: a good ride and good mud. I will address the vehicles later, so we’ll discuss the mud. Typically this is laid out in trench a little wider than the vehicles themselves. It spans anywhere from 1/8 of a mile to a full one depending on the location. If you have a good deal of space and time to set it up, the longer, deeper, and better all around the bog is.
Winning a mud bog is usually as simple as getting through the trench. Very often, few engines can pull their respective vehicles through the trench to the other side. Well, without getting help that is. If you get stuck, that’s it. If everyone gets stuck, the driver who made it the farthest takes first place. If more than one person makes it out of the other side without assistance, the driver who accomplished this with the best time takes top spot.
You need to have a vehicle that can handle these elements if one hopes to compete, let alone win, at a typical mud bog. This means you should have a powerful engine that can keep on chugging, even when its being worked far past its routine capacity. Many participants will stress the importance of jacking up your mudder and throwing on some big tires. Making a semi-monster truck to get you easily across. Basically, cars will rarely make it and so you need to stick with jeeps and trucks.
Often the racers will play for a community pool of funds or bragging rights, which kind of keeps the sport going in itself. There’s not like a huge market and television exposure, just some good ole’ boys and girls getting some mud on the tires and mixing it up.
Well, it might not be as big as football or baseball, but mud bogging certainly has its place in American sporting. Whether it’s the thrill of the throttle or the slew of mud being hurled through the air from churning tires, something keeps people excited about bogging.
Sometimes when you grow up in the country, you have to be creative when it comes to entertainment. This pasttime is better known as mud bogging to those who do it. Mud bogging may never be as large as football, but it has created a place for itself among outdoor gamers.
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Drive Trucks In Mud An Enjoy The Greatest American Pastime
One of the most fascinating and entertaining events you can do today is driving trucks in mud. Taking trucks out into the wilderness to find new challenges and obstacles always leaves you with a sense of exhilaration. Since there are so many things that can go wrong when you are driving trucks through muddy areas though, you need to find the best vehicle available for this activity.
When you are getting ready to buy a great truck for this sport, you need to look through the most successful models and brands the mud has ever seen. There are many companies and brands that specialize in producing beasts that can trek through practically any conditions. These include Dodges, Jeeps, and Blazers. Before you can hit the mud in these though, you need to add some special mods to your vehicle.
Once you have a true beast in your possession, you have to upgrade its parts. Modifications are absolutely essential to this sport, because they can mean the difference between getting stuck in a baby bog and blowing past your friends in the toughest terrain. Additions like lifts, more horsepower, and better wheels will give you the edge when you go out.
More power under the hood translates into more capabilities for your vehicle. When you have a beast under the hood, your entire truck becomes a living beast. You will know if you have enough power once you feel like you can tackle anything.
Suspension upgrades are vitally important to this sport as well, because additional clearance will help you get through deep bogs and over big rocks. Additional lift will also help your truck avoid bottoming out in tight spots as well.
Wheels are also important when driving trucks in mud. In most cases, the wheels complement the other mods you have installed. When you have more power, you can get bigger wheels too.
Once you have big wheels, a powerful engine, and extra lift backing up your high performance 4 wheeler, only the most gargantuan natural obstacles will be able to stand in your way.
The fun starts when you get your own mudding truck. Jack it up higher and go through much deeper mud to get bragging rights. Click here to watch videos of trucks in mud.
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Mudding 4×4 – Inside Secrets
There is no better way to reduce your stress, get some fresh air in your lungs and get your heart to pounding than to get wild, crazy and downright dirty on a Saturday afternoon. All of your friends at work are doing it, Your brother and his wife are doing it and odds are your best friend did it last weekend and really wanted you to be there doing it with him. Of course no matter how good the stories are of other people doing it nothing compares to doing it yourself. So what are you waiting for, why are you not sitting in a mudding 4×4 slopping around in a pit out in the country?
For those who go mudding, the most enjoyable thing about it is letting go of your inhibitions. You can turn back into a kid again and spend the afternoon playing in the mud and having a ball. Of course the major difference between now and when you were five is that now you have a big ol’ hulking piece of major hardware to play in the mud with. When you decide to become a full time mudder you will want to get your own mud truck. Here is some advice on how to choose the best truck for your needs.
While the inclination when choosing a good truck to use as a mudding 4×4 is to go with one that is big and mean, the truth is that some of the best trucks to use for mudding are actually the smaller racing trucks. These trucks offer a lot of the key features that you want in a good mud truck. Things such as a good torque transfer rate, a powerful engine and stable suspension are all essential to not only having fun, but also to mudding safely.
Of course you also need to make sure that you can get the mud out of the truck as easily as you got it into the truck. One suggestion is to replace the trucks seat with a hard plastic bench style seat. You might also want to accommodate easier clean up by drilling some water drain holes in the floor board as well as the bed. These changes will allow you to easily spray the inside of the truck out with a high power hose when the day is done.
Of course it’s always fun until someone gets hurt so make sure no one gets hurt. You should consider trading out the regular seat belts that are installed with the truck with ones such as 3 or 5 point safety harness. These again can be gotten form off road trucking websites for around a hundred for the set of three. They are easy to install with basic tools and greatly reduce the risk of injury to the riders of the mud truck.
If things get too out of control you may find yourself having to wade waist deep back to the dry land in a bog of mud. So how do you get the truck out without a very expensive tow truck call? Simple, installing a winch on the trucks front or in the bed will allow you to get yourself of your messy sticky gumbo jam yourself.
The pleasure of owning a mudding 4×4 is unsurpassed, There is just something so simple and joyous about getting down and dirty in the mud with your truck. If you have never been, find a person who goes and tag along, if you have been before then what you are waiting for, get yourself a mud truck and get into on the fun for yourself. As much fun as it is as a passenger its even better behind the wheel!
A mudding 4×4 is a great way to pass the time and blow off a little steam after a hard week. The fun starts when you own your own mudding 4×4, next time you go out get behind the wheel of your own mud bogging truck.
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Exciting 4×4 Videos Of Off Road Driving
Off-road enthusiasts can find entertaining and fun mod-bogging 4×4 videos easily. Many fans and participants of this sport drive their cars, SUV’s and trucks in and through different pits of mud and tracks. The majority of the time these drivers take part in a day long, or even several days of bogging simply for the fun of it. There are however occasions when actual awards and cash can be won too.
4×4 bogging has become an attractive hobby for many people. Whether in your youth, elderly, male or female, there are no bounds for this sport. Even county fairs have taken up this popular event. A lot of fairs in many states regularly book demolition derby’s, 4×4 monster trucks races and mud bogging.
To get an idea of what all happens and goes on with this off-road sensation, you can simply go online and watch these bogging videos. When your search leads you to the place you are trying to find, just click on the video link and see how it works. Many are racing and others are just bogging in and out of mud pits, holes and tracks. When they are not competing, they are just trying to see if they can get through the challenge without getting stuck.
Most people start into the mud bogging with an old car or truck. They modify the suspension, axles and tires to be able to conquer the terrain. Soon enough, they begin to upgrade that car or truck or move on to a newer one… Bigger, and better. As you can see in some videos, there are even some people that bog on their lawn and farm tractors.
If you desire to get a little deeper into the mud bogging way of life, their bogging websites have an entire online community to join. Four-wheeling articles, personal blogs, articles and mud bogging videos are available to watch and read. Although these videos are shot by amateurs, you really get the sensation of being there with them.
Watching and experiencing these 4×4 videos are both educational and entertaining. While it’s obvious that these videos are exciting and enjoyable to watch, many may not realize the educational factor. As a driver or spectator, you can easily watch what you can or should be doing as a participant as well as what not to do. These videos can also expose the more dangerous side of this activity.
4×4 videos are a great way to learn the methods that will win a 4×4 events. It’s also a good way to learn the things not to do, mudding trucks can be a lot of fun but they can also be dangerous if you do the wrong thing at the wrong time.
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NASCAR: Humble Beginnings
NASCAR began in back yards and back streets. It began in Daytona Beach, Florida, in the early 1900′s. By 1935, its renown had spread to Washington, D.C. A mechanic from that area named William France, Sr., became aware of the street racing going on in Daytona, and just had to become a part of it. He relocated for that purpose, and by 1936, had placed fifth in a local race. Shortly thereafter he called a meeting of those who supported racers and raced in the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) because he sensed its already significant fan base was beginning to expand, and because he felt the current drivers were being taken advantage of by the “supporters” of the sport, who would often simply refuse to pay their drivers, and the winners of the races. That meeting was held in the Ebony Bar, in the Streamline Hotel of Daytona Beach, and was memorialized by notes taken on a bar napkin.
Since its inception in 1948, NASCAR has grown, involving itself in various types of racing in various locations across the country. Likely a portion of NASCAR’s incredible success has been its versatile ticketing system. Not only does a fan with a NASCAR ticket have access to the largest stock car race in the country, that fan also gets to have fun at a national racing series, of which there are three: the Sprint Cup, the Nationwide Series, and the Craftsmen Truck Series. That same ticket also allows access to regional fun, such as the Whelen All-American Series (amateur auto racing); the Whelen Modified Tour (NASCAR modified division); and the NASCAR Local Racing (four geographic series).
NASCAR: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
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
NASCAR knows why it is what it is: the fans. The fans even know why NASCAR it what it is: THE FANS! It’s why a race must be seen at the track: THE FANS! They’re loud, they’re proud, and they make NASCAR what it is.
The fans truly are NASCAR. They create the excitement, because it’s real for them. They create the anticipation, because it’s real for them. They’ve waited an entire off-season for the chance to buy their hot dogs and beer, and holler with their fellow fans. No matter the weather, a real NASCAR fan will be there. It’s a way of life.
You call yourself a NASCAR fan – so where’s your ticket? The season starts on February 12, 2009 at Daytona Beach, and the tickets are going fast. If you’re truly a fan, then you’d better buy your ticket now. Be where the sport itself started, when the season starts. Don’t be the only one sitting at home.
Because you can bet that all the REAL fans will be where the action is. In fact, you can bet that most of the REAL fans have already purchased their tickets. They’ll be watching the Sprint Cup, the Nationwide, or the Craftsmen Truck – whichever one they want. Because they’ll have the ticket!! It’s the ONLY way to see it ALL!
BE who everyone wants to be – a NASCAR ticket holder; BE where everyone wants to be – in Daytona on February 12th; BE the envy of EVERYONE – BUY your tickets, and BUY them NOW!
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