Racing

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25
Sep 11

Scott Tucker Wins Third SCCA National Title

Scott Tucker put on a command performance Friday at Road America, as the Level 5 Motorsports owner/driver took home the gold medal in a thrilling down-to-the-wire duel to claim his third consecutive SCCA National Championship.

In one of his best drives in his young six-year racing career, Tucker used the strength of his Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored Porsche 996 Twin-Turbo to fend off a hard-charging Dodge Viper of David Pintaric lap after lap around the famed 4.048-mile, 14-turn road course.

A heavy Lap 1 accident by two fellow STO class competitors put the field under a full-course caution for over 20 minutes and set up a final six-lap sprint to the finish, with pole-sitter Tucker in prime position for the win. While Pintatic managed to get up alongside the 500-plus horsepower Porsche on two occasions, Tucker failed to relinquish the lead over the entire 12-lap, 40-minute timed race.

After a series of smart, defensive moves and masterful driving, Tucker managed to bridge out a narrow gap on the Viper to take a 0.728-second victory at the checkered flag. It brought an end to an exciting battle that wasn’t decided until the final corner on the final lap.

“It was a great race,” Tucker said. “David [Pintatic] had pressure on me everywhere. There wasn’t a lap to let up. I was very impressed with his driving. He pushed me to the limit. It was a good fight for a six-lap sprint race.”

Tucker not only reached the impressive milestone of claiming his 60th career victory but also notched his third consecutive SCCA National Championship and first in the STO category. Even more impressive, it came in his race debut of the specially prepared Porsche 996 Twin-Turbo.

“Winning my third consecutive National Championship is an incredible achievement and accomplishment and something I’m extremely proud of,” Tucker added. “It’s something we worked incredibly hard for. I’ve been running in the Runoffs since 2006 and none of these championships have been easy to win. I’m just very proud of the entire Level 5 team.”

Built and developed in conjunction with the Jeff Stone-led Kelly Moss Motorsports, both Level 5 and Kelly Moss worked tirelessly preparing the unique four-wheel-drive Porsche for its debut in one of America’s most prestigious racing events. The hard work paid off in a big way, as Tucker becomes one of the select few to have claimed a hat trick of wins in the Runoffs.

“Scott was real focused on going out and driving his hardest but not making a single mistake, and that’s what he did today,” said Level 5 team manager David Stone. “Unfortunately there were two yellows in the race, so that shortened the race time. It would have been fun to go for it for a clean race. But Scott did a really good job and everyone at Level 5 and Kelly Moss put in a great effort.

“There was a lot of time that went into the car, and it was a pretty trick car,” Stone added. “With all of the research, sourcing and bringing a lot of things together, it was a big project. But I’m glad we were able to bring home the win.”

There’s no rest for Tucker and the Level 5 crew as the team heads to Road Atlanta this weekend in preparation for 14th annual Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda, which will see both of their new HPD ARX-01g LMP2 cars in action for the 1,000-mile/10-hour endurance race that closes out the American Le Mans Series season.

Next up for Level 5 and Tucker is the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. The race will air on ABC at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 2. Live coverage will be available in the U.S. on ESPN3 or outside the U.S. on americanlemans.com.

Read more about Scott Tucker Racing

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17
Sep 11

How To Save Money On Used Cars

A used car can be a great deal. Knowing how to save money on buying used cars will ensure you walk away with a bargain. The steps to saving money include finding the right car, totaling additional expenses, and knowing how to strike a deal with the owner.

The best deals might be had by buying directly from the owner of the vehicle. Look for advertised used cars in online or printed ads. You can also post a wanted ad or let your friends, family and co-workers know that you are in the market for a used car.

Condition is everything when purchasing a used vehicle. One way to check is to order a vehicle history report. A complete examination of the car is a must: kick the tires, check under the hood and have a close look at the inside. Also be sure to ask for any receipts or records that the owner may have of repairs and maintenance on the car.

When buying a used car take into consideration the additional costs you can incur. The fuel efficiency can make a difference over the lifetime of ownership. Some brands have higher maintenance costs so calculate those as well.

Auto insurance rates vary significantly depending on the kind of car you purchase. A sports car, a car susceptible to theft, or expensive to repair are all most costly to insure. Have your insurance agent fill you in on the cost for the model you want to purchase.

Bargaining ability is key to getting the car you want at a price you can afford. Let the owner tell you what he wants for the car. The first man to speak loses. Then make a counter offer that is much lower than the amount you are really willing to pay. Be sure to gently mention any flaws in the car and emphasize that you will have out-of-pocket costs to make those repairs.

Buying a car that can be minor repairs or needs cosmetic upgrades can be a cost saving way to get a used car. If you will do the work on your own, know the cost of parts and materials and be sure to account for your time. If you will hire someone to make the repairs, find out what the cost will be before you make an offer.

Buying a used car is one way to afford a more expensive vehicle than if you bought a new model. If you figure out how to save money on a used car you can maximize the your resources.

Your cell phone may be getting in the way of you getting a nice used car because the monthly charges are so high. If you use the AT&T promo code here, you will be able to get some discounts back.

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11
Sep 11

Is is wise to purchase a used car?

Thinking of getting a new car? Searching all the new car advertisements in various magazines? Looking at cars in new car dealerships? Nothing in your price range? Maybe, just maybe, you should consider purchasing a pre-owned or used car. Can’t do that? Well, it may be time to reconsider the benefits of purchasing a used car.

Sure some used cars have problems but most well maintained used cars, are just new cars that have already been broken in! If you buy a used car from a reputable car dealership, chances are it will come with a warranty and a company that will stand behind the vehicles they sell, unlike many private party sellers. Let the previous owner take all the depreciation and when you buy it you are getting a great deal. We all know vehicles lose a lot of there value when they go from new to used, why take that hit on a new car? With current economic conditions in turmoil, spending less money on a used vehicle is the smarter choice.

Apart from a reduced cost, what other benefits might accrue to a used car purchaser? This is where careful analysis of the car’s condition and history will pay big benefits . The first step, is to find one or two units of the particular car that you are looking for. It might well be a private sale or it could be sitting in a new or used car dealership. The first thing to do, is to take the car in which you’re interested for a reasonably good test drive. If the owner or dealership refuses a test drive don’t walk, run, to the nearest exit. It is important that you have a good feeling for the car and this can’t be done without a test drive. Next, if you’re serious about making an offer on a car that you have test driven, it is well worth the minimal expense of getting a mechanic’s report on the condition and detail of the car. There are many automobile associations that do provide such a service. Usually it can be done within a day or two of a positive test drive.

A good report will confirm that there has been no tampering with the odometer, that the car has been serviced on a regular basis and that it has been in no accidents minor or major. Even though a car can be cleaned up or detailed, a car in which a smoker has been driving will have a faint odor of stale smoke. If you can live with this fine if not go onto another car. Once you have received a satisfactory mechanic’s report, you are well advised to, if financing is necessary, to go to your bank and arrange a suitable loan. A dealership will probably not be able to provide as good terms as a bank nor should you try to get a private individual to carry the financing.

A note here: If you have bad credit you may be unable to access standard financing. In this case you may need a Bad Credit Car Loan. There are a few things that you should do to get a positive response for a Bad Credit Car Loan application. You should review your credit record, have a good idea of what you can afford each month and have confirmation of pay records and other bill payments. If you can have this all available a Bad Credit Car Loan will be more doable. Once you get your loan, you will be in credit repair mode and driving a decent car.

Before you buy a new car, you should always consider buying a used car as it is often the smartest decision. There are many Used Cars For Sale in Bay Area to choose from. If you are on a tight budget be sure to take a look this listing of Cheap Used Cars For Sale in San Jose.

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7
Sep 11

How to Pick the Best RC Car for you

Remote control cars come in all types of sizes, styles and shapes. With so many types and features to choose from, it can be a difficult job to decide which one is the best fit for you.

Why an RC Car?

First, try to decide what it is about the RC hobby and RC cars that is most appealing to you. If you want an RC car because you have been admiring the look of it, then the type of engine it has won’t matter as much as style. If you are more interested in being involved in RC races and like the competition, then you should consider the type of car and how it performs.

A hobbyist more interested in appearance should invest in the car that is the most visually appealing. A hobbyist with an eye towards a trophy case will want to look at the local racing rules and research what cars run best on the local terrain.

How Much Time do you have Available?

Different RC cars require different amounts of time to assemble, customize and maintain. So, a hobbyist needs to decide how much time he or she is willing to invest in an RC car.

If the hobbyist does not have a lot of free time, then nitro RC cars should not be the first choice. Although nitro powered RC cars can be more exciting to drive, they need a lot more maintenance to keep them in good condition, compared to an electric car, which means they are more time consuming.

Where Is the RC Car Going To Be Driven?

Different types of RC cars are made for certain types of terain. An RC car with a sports car body will not do well on grass and rocky terrain. Off road models can be driven on smooth long paved raceways, but the off road tires will not last very long. So, before investing in the RC car, consider where you will be using the car the most.

What is your Budget?

The RC hobby can be as expensive or inexpensive as you would like it to be. Most of the expense will come from the type of car chosen and the amount of customization or additional part are desired. Nitro powered RC cars are usually the most expensive option because of their added number of working parts such as exhaust, air filters and starters. If a lot of customization is desired the cost can rise very quickly. If time and money are an issue, a ready to run electric RC car would be the best option. The usually come with everything needed to start using the car right out of the box and are not as complicated as nitro models.

Before making a final decision, it’s best to consider these few basic questions to pick the right car for your budget, interests and needs.

Kevin Davenport, who has enjoyed the RC hobby for several years, has created an RC cars website to help spread the fun and excitement to beginning hobbyists. Find top cars from brands like Traxxas and HPI that are built for beginners by visiting his RC car website.

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1
Sep 11

Point to Point Horse Racing – The Basics

There is also an amateur sort of steeple chase called point-to-point racing which is usually conducted using hunting horses that have been bred and trained for that purpose. The sport originated when English hunters used to entertain themselves during hunts by racing on horseback, usually between landmarks such as church steeples.

- Rather than an organic landscape, racetracks will be mapped precisely and will include man-made obstacles. The race course will typically be five kilometers long, but there may be both longer and shorter courses used for various categories of horses, with fencing and obstacles constructed from birch, which stand roughly 1.5 meters tall.

You can either get started in point to point racing with a horse that you own yourself or you can join a partnership where more than one person is responsible for a horse. To qualify for these races you have to be over 16 years of age and hold an active membership in some way of the organisation that issued your horse its Hunter Certificate even though formal registration for the point to point racers doesn’t exist in reference to racehorse ownership.

If you are racing your horse in a point to point event with a group of other people, you need to appoint one person to be the leader of ownership. When choosing your group’s name, bear in mind the following: the official name has to end with either the word group, family, friends, partners or partnership.

Designing your horse’s colours is one of the steps of point to point horse racing. Because it is an amateur sport, colours don’t have to be registered. This means the colour combination you use for a team can be any weird or wonderful combination that you dream up. You can add whatever you want, whether it’s your favorite cartoon character, a picture, or something else that holds meaning for you. When filling out the Entry Form in a race, make sure to describe your colours as clearly as possible so that there is no confusion.

You should also be aware there is a time that entries must be submitted by. Be sure to fill out and submit your Entry Form before the closing time if you wish to compete. Although you are unable to submit your entry online, some races with accept them via telephone.

Ruth Williams publishes articles based on a wide variety of subject matters like racehorse training.

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