“With the addition of a number of new competitive offerings, the sport utility truck segment is red hot, and it’s time for the original to raise the bar again for everyone else to try to follow,” said Chris Feuell, Ford Motor Company SUV group marketing manager. “This concept magnifies all of the aspects of Sport Trac that customers already love and introduces some street- savvy cues.”

The Explorer Sport Trac is the first sport utility vehicle with the versatility of four full doors, a roomy feature-filled interior and a pickup truck’s cargo box. Today’s Explorer Sport Trac is the only vehicle in its segment to offer a durable color-coordinated cargo box and an available swing-over tubular bed extender that dramatically increases its capability to haul oversized cargo. The Explorer Sport Trac concept’s interior is larger and the cargo bed is about 30 percent bigger than today’s model for increased cargo capacity.

Ford’s exclusive Roll Stability Control(TM) technology features roll-rate sensing and correcting capability, assisting the driver in maintaining vehicle control during extreme maneuvers. If the system detects the possibility of a rollover, within milliseconds, it automatically engages counter measures to help the driver maintain maximum control and further reduce the risk of rollover.

A micro-machined gyroscopic sensor determines the vehicle’s body roll angle and roll rate. This information, along with Ford-developed algorithms embedded in advanced software is used with other vehicle sensors’ inertial information on yaw rate, lateral and longitudinal accelerations to monitor the vehicles roll stability condition approximately 150 times per second.

Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) delivers another performance enhancement on the Explorer Sport Trac concept – the first IRS application for the Sport Trac series. IRS offers significantly better handling over both smooth and rough surfaces. It absorbs bumps in the road and reduces impact harshness, resulting in improved ride quality.
Ford never stops producing top of the line vehicles with utmost customer satisfaction in mind. Increased cargo capacity, Roll Stability Control, Independent Rear Suspension to name a few is one of the many innovations introduced by Ford to make your vehicle the ultimate driving machine.

Parts Train on the other hand, meets Ford’s high standards to preserve Ford vehicle’s performance at its best and make it last for years with its wide array of impressive Ford Auto Parts, Performance Parts, Replacement Parts, Aftermarket parts. All its genuine quality Honda fuel tank, spoiler, radiator, electrical parts, engine parts, hood, hubcaps, condenser, bumper, catalytic converter, exhaust, fender, grille to name a few are available to you in great discounts and wholesale deals. Visit Parts Train Ford Parts at http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/FORD.

How does a welder get certified for motorsports welding?

Good question. As I write this, there is no welding certification test code book written for the motor-sports industry.

When will the American Welding Society (AWS) create one? Word on the street is that it is in the works. But welding codes are written by welding committees. And committees are slow.

In other words, don’t hold your breath.

If you weld for the motorsports industry and are hearing terms thrown around like “due diligence” or “product liability”, you may want to consider this:

AWS welding codes are all very similar in that they use common test welds to test welders to a specific acceptance criteria. The welding procedure must also be qualified.

The twenty thousand foot view looks like this:

A preliminary welding procedure specification (wps) is drafted with approximate essential variables recorded that will likely yield acceptable results.

Test welds are made using the WPS and the weld is visually inspected and also tested by x ray and other destructive tests like bend, tensile, penetrant inspection etc.

If results are acceptable, a welding procedure qualification report (WPQR) is recorded and used to produce an official WPS for further tests as well as production welds.

So what acceptance criteria is available for motor– sports applications?

In the absence of a specific welding code for the racing industry, the code that most closely resembles motorsports for material types, thicknesses, and processes, (along with similar issues like cyclic loading and fatigue failures) is the AWS D17.1 —Specification for Fusion Welding for Aerospace applications.

AWS D17.1 is a relatively short document that allows the Engineering Authority of a company to tailor welding tests to the task.

The code specifically addresses materials like 4130 chromoly, 17-4 ph stainless, inconels, 6061 t6 aluminum, ez33 magnesium, 6AL4V titanium, and any other alloy it takes to build a race vehicle.

Using AWS D17.1 to certify welders for motor-sports applications in the absence of a motor sports welding code is a smart decision, would hold water under scrutiny from regulatory agencies like OSHA, and would be considered practicing due diligence if the question ever came up under audit.

New level motorsports retail performance parts and accessories. It is aimed towards the car enthusiast with a wide range of products for sale all covered in several categories such as brakes, nitrous oxide, neon and led lights, suspension, clutches and flywheels etc. However, the one thing that I was sad not see on it was spoilers and bumpers.

Nevertheless, each category you go into has a detailed description on that category which I found very helpful when buying for the first time. Each product has its own picture so you can see exactly what it is you are buying and a detailed description on what it does and how it works; some have videos on them. I went and searched in the headers and header wrap category which lead me to a page where I selected the car manufacturer I wanted the parts for. Then I went to honda and picked what I wanted. Its so much easier and quicker than most sites because you have to search through categories and more categories and sub categories etc.

From the home page you can search straight away what you want for a quick purchase which is shipped same day free of charge if before 7 pm us eastern time and over $100.which is a brilliant feature some sites don’t offer. They will also do a price match for you if you find somewhere else cheaper so they guarantee the lowest prices. I wanted a sports exhaust for honda so I went into that category and easily picked one for a civic.

Ordering on the site is simple and secure, with a variety of payment options such as paypal, visa etc. Transactions are done over yahoos merchant 128 bit encription and has been highly rated certified and trusted by bizrate. If you don’t want to order of the New Level Motorsports site you can place an order over the phone, the number which is on their website but i used the website.

If they don’t have an order in stock they contact you and give you an estimated time when it will arrive also giving you the option if you wish to cancel your order.The service is fantastic. After you order with New Level Motorsports expect delivery to be about a week but it just depends on where you live, i live in the UK, so if your in America it will be less. New Level Motorsports also offer 2-3 day overnight delivery service if you want it quickly.

New Level Motorsports ships all their goods with insurance so I didn’t worry about receiving a damaged product I could’ve got a replacement if I had received a damaged one. New Level Motorsports offer a range of good customer support either via email, phone, fax or even instant messenger again another good feature that not all sites have. so its one I’m gonna visit again.

Recommended? Yes

good points:price match,good fast customer support,honest, well laid out and easy to use, detailed info on products, quick shipping, wide range of products, free delivery over 100$.

bad points: none! no spoilers and side skirts

I think I’ll be going back now to buy some neon!

“Gentlemen start your engines” those four words excite race fans everywhere. We here in Florida are lucky to have several venues where those words are spoken but none more famously crowd pleasing then our own Daytona Speedway.

Daytona Speedway has many different kinds of races throughout the year for many different kinds of race fans. Bike Week and Biketoberfest, held in the winter and fall respectively, feature mostly motorcycle races and shows; then in the winter again Speed Week happens and other popular races such as the Rolex 24 hour race and the Daytona 500 are run.

Now, NASCAR was born from stock car racing which was born from boot legging in the Appalachians during prohibition. Bootleggers, as they were called, needed fast car to outrun the cops as they made their deliveries, many drivers did their own modification to their cars to increase the cars speed and handling. It all started back in 1947 when a gentleman named William France Sr. and some friends founded a small organization they called NASCAR.

When prohibition ended in 1933 the need for bootleggers dried up but some of these guys came to love the speed and excitement of driving down twisty mountain roads. They continued to work on and improve their cars and by the late 1940′s the races for bragging rights and money began. These races were held mostly in rural North Carolina run using modified street cars.

Daytona Beach didn’t sit idly by while all this was going on. In 1903 there was a historic race run between Ransom Olds and Alexander Winton on the beach here that started it all. Between 1905 and 1935 fifteen speed records were set and the Daytona Beach road course, as it came to be known, became a Mecca for racing enthusiasts. Daytona Beach became known as the place to set world speed records in the 1920s and 1930s,

In the 1920s and 1930s, Daytona Beach became known as the place to set world land speed records, supplanting France and Belgium as the preferred location for speed records, with 8 consecutive world records set between 1927 and 1935, Daytona Beach had become synonymous with fast cars.

These days Daytona still means speed no matter if you prefer motorcycles or cars. During Bike Week you can enjoy all sorts of weight class and engine size motorcycling races. In the fall they also have motor bike races, classes that you can sign up to take and exhibition and proto type motorcycles, both weeks feature amateur and pro series.

There are several events throughout the year that the Daytona International Speedway is known for, one such event is the Rolex 24. The Rolex 24 is a race that lasts 24 hours; teams of drivers take shifts behind the wheel and drive all day and night racing towards the finish line, I’ve been its fun. You wouldn’t think people would stay for the whole race but they do, there are fun things to do around the infield during the race to that helps.

Speed Week is another draw to the Speedway it’s the start of the ARCA series and NASCAR season. There are two events that kick off the season; first event is the ARCA series Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, a 80 lap 200 mile race.

The Budweiser Shootout features top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars racing around the 31-degree high banks. From there we go onto the biggie, the main event – The Daytona 500. There are two days of qualifying events for the Daytona 500, the first is just called Daytona 500 Qualifying where qualifying for the front row takes place. The second is the Gatorade Duel which consists of two 150-mile qualifying races that determine the starting lineup for the Daytona 500.

There are also several truck races and events that take place during the week but theses are the main racing events. Then at week after the qualifying events the Daytona 500 is run. The Daytona 500 is run for 200 laps, 500 miles on the two and a half a mile long track of the Daytona International Speedway and it’s considered the biggest, richest and most prestigious race of the NASCAR series. Touted as “The Great American Race” families save of all year and make the week their traditional family vacation. I’ve been to the infield after Speed Week and have been amazed by all the things left behind, arm chairs, sofas and all sorts of other things, it’s an awesome sight.

Another fan favorite race is run on the 4th of July the Coke Zero 400 this is also a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race that is run for 160 laps, 400 miles. After the race they normally have fireworks and there are fun things for the whole family to do all day.

Becoming an ATV Dealer and starting an off road operation takes a few steps but is really easy. Did anyone think years ago the general public would have more access to obtaining the ability to sell atvs? Usually, obtaining an ATV dealership from Honda or one of the name brands required hundreds of thousands of dollars in startup not to mention a hefty franchise fee. Those days are now over with the introduction of the more reasonably prices units.

Getting in the business of selling four wheelers and other off road products does require a few things. First, you really need a store front or business to operate from. Often times we call this a “marriage business” What this means is getting an ATV dealership is a secondary business that will drive sales for your current business. Someone may own a boat or RV dealership needing to drive retail traffic to the store or create an additional income stream in the winter when boats are not selling. Even a full service mechanic shop/ gas station in a rural area can be a great ATV dealership.

Once you have decided on the best atv distributor to meet your needs which should always be based on the the distributors ability to supply parts, give protected territories and not sell on the internet you off and running! A basic knowledge of the units is a must for proper communication with the retail public. Moreover, several businesses have had success giving away the small atvs with the purchase or a car or RV. Its a great marketing strategy when the competition is so steep in the automotive industry.

Remember to always follow your state and local licensing laws when selling Atvs dirt bikes and scooters. Becoming an ATV dealer can be a great way to create an additional revenue stream for your current business and offer continued financial freedom for your entire family. There is nothing like owning your own business so take a leap and start one today.

Auto accident personal injury settlements offer the compensation amount for the injured victim in an auto accident when the claim is handled through insurance. The increasing rate in the amount of more motor vehicle accidents in the United States makes auto accident insurance settlements one of the most prolific types amongst the insurance settlements. Settlement offers you negotiation for personal injury claims.

According to Bureau of Transportation statistics, at least five million motor vehicle accidents are recorded every year on the nation’s roadways, two million people are injured, and at least 20,000 people die. Auto accident personal injury settlements are also possible in various injury and property damage auto accident situations.

Other statistics, however, report that over 40,000 people die in car accidents every year, every minute there are 5 deaths and 5 serious injuries caused by the motor vehicle crash. Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for people under 30. Approximately 6,000 pedestrian deaths and 100,000 pedestrian injuries are recorded every year. More importantly, one third of Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic accident. Collisions with motor vehicles result in about 800 deaths of people riding bicycles every year.

A professional attorney can help you with auto accident personal injury settlements by ensuring the victim’s claim. The victim’s rights are protected through proper negotiations. The first step of an auto accident settlement is to file the claim with the insurance company, which should be done soon after the accident. A claim adjuster then verifies the facts in order to determine the liability and the incurred amount of damages. The verification provides you the amount of the personal injury which can be claimed.

Through auto accident personal injury settlements, it is possible that you can receive reparations for the medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering awards, and property damages. A legal professional can help you in receiving legal and fair compensation for your injuries in an auto accident settlement.

To analyze the data from driving a vehicle such as a Race Car, a Motorcycle, Boat, or a Snowmobile, you need a on board camera that has real time data overlay. With the capability of receiving the technical information of your altitude you can even use it while your Scuba Diving, Skydiving, or even in a Airplane. With these data overlay on board racing cameras you have a built in GPS for tracking mapping.

A data overlay racing camera with these features will also feature two different modes for recording specific data on to your videos. Having a viewfinder to display instant play back for on site analyzing of the point of view you are recording is another great feature you will find in a racing camera. Having a racing camera with data overlay will help you analyze your sessions and improve your performance! Put yourself in the winner’s circle.

Having Real-Time Data displayed on your racing video clips will give you information like Speed, G-forces, Lap numbers, and Lap times. These are invaluable tools for learning how to become faster, recognize where you break to soon or too late, and observe and compare your driving to your team members. A great feature to a real time data camera is that you can configure the data layout for a customized display setting. Being able to see your lap number, rpm speed, gear,lap time, and throttle for example, all at the same time is such a valuable tool for perfecting your racing and vehicle.

These racing cameras integrate real-time data overlay with a solid state digital video recorder with high speed GPS. With a on board racing camera with GPS you will have configurable instrument transparencies, real-time track position and GPS lap timing, which is an ideal tool for all motorsports enthusiasts. Record lap and split times, which can be overlapped to images with GPS manager software which these cameras include. With the GPS software it is possible to configure GPS module, recording the key points of each track, arrival line and splits.

With a integrated 3D accelerometer you will be allowed to get in-line and lateral G, which can be overlapped to images. With the tri-axial accelerometer it is also possible to see display images even upside-down, which can be quite helpful during installation to choose the best frame.

The Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin is the world’s first high-performance sport-utility truck (SUT). We’re looking to take Ford performance to an entirely new market segment with the Sport Trac Adrenalin,” says Steve Lyons, vice president, Ford Motor Company and president, Ford Division. “Adrenalin is designed to offer a unique combination of performance and functionality.

Adrenalin has combined the best attributes of two breakthrough Ford vehicles – Ford SVT F-150 Lightning and Ford Explorer Sport Trac. It also offers class-leading technologies, including all-wheel drive, a six-speed automatic transmission and Ford’s industry-leading AdvanceTrac

The arrival of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray heralded big changes in the march onward in the Chevrolet Stingray. The Sting Ray was available as both a “Roadster “version with a removable hardtop and a “Coupe” often called a fastback.

Onwards from 1963 to 1967 the Sting Ray got even better with a greater number of options for both luxury and power performance. This was the nadir of the times of sports automobile customizers. And the Corvette Sting Ray was the ideal a hundred p.c. raw material for the sports automobile customizers. Headlights were molded and in and the bumpers were removed. So many Corvettes received an additional pair of taillights that folks that they were basically a General Motors Chevrolet Corvette factory option. Later when the low profile wide tires came along, so did enormous fender flares. The speed hardware industry had boomed, so the bulk of Corvette engine parts were being replaced by the most recent: Hot Setup”. Rochester fuel injectors were being removed due to service problems, and everybody heard the single 4 barrel in a high riser manifold was better. In 1965 the first Chevy big-block was introduced in the Corvette, and the performance was more than awesome.

Another new body style – both bigger and heavier was introduced in 1968. Many thought that this was the beginning of the fall of the Corvette, But in the urgent performance office, the 427 cubic inches Rat Motor with its three two-barrel carbohydrates and the 435 horse power ratings more than powered the Corvette legend of lore. No letting down of the powerful image of the ‘Vette.

Things got even better right on up to the 1969 L-88with aluminum cylinder heads the 1970 LS-6 rated at a mighty 465 horse power rating. The word Corvette invokes the picture of high performance sports auto performance. An older age group replaced the street racer cult as the primary consumers and clients of the Vette. More of the Corvettes were equipped with such luxury and comfort options as air con, power steering and telescoping steering columns. It wasn’t long before the Corvette with emission devices and shortly the real ‘Vette sort of performance was history.

What was more than fascinating was the reply original hot rodder alteration group. The fantastic part of all of this is the way the circle came round. Karma sneaks in.

The same dedicated group of sport auto fans and hot rodders, who altered the older, pre main line luxury comfort model Corvettes, is now the ones who revive this same converted Corvette back to exact stock specifications.

How could these people explain the work and effort of taking these autos back in time to factory specs when a great period of time, effort and cost had been invested in these extremely cars? A second hand Corvette at the time was essentially a particularly engaging sports auto buy.

Why were restore cars in vogue and even preferred over the earlier altered ones. Partially it was a case of limited supply and really high prices being offered by the stock type Corvettes and classic auto auctions and the prices being asked in the special automobile groups and publications. All in all it can be said it can be a combination of the custom autos getting old and needing refurbishing and the fifty five mile road limit in the time. Perhaps as well it seemed to be a query of maturity on the children who were the Corvette hot rodders at the time. See the influence of time, life and having a family with its change of concerns can have on the wildest kids.

The 24 Hour LeMans is one of the largest and most famous endurance sports car races in the world. It is also one of the oldest that is still operating. The idea of an around the clock drive was conceived as a test of the reliability and endurance of man and machine to maintain a continuous high speed for twenty-four hours over a challenging course. It is an annual event held near LeMans in France. While accidents are common at motor races, none have equalled the horrific incident that occurred at the 1955 event. Two factors are of primary importance in an auto race – the skill of the driver and the quality of the car.

The 1955 race would soon become a duel between the British Jaguar Type D and the Mercedes 300SLR. Germany had spent considerable time and effort in preparing its entry however the car had one weakness. It was equipped with drum brakes while the British machine had disc brakes giving it a quick braking advantage. After about two hours into the competition, the British driver, Mike Hawthorn decided to make a pit stop, slowing down and braking his car. Lance Macklin, driving in back of Hawthorn, slammed his brakes and pulled to the left. Pierre Levegh, who was following Macklin, raised his arm to signal Juan Fangio to slow down. Levegh’s car, unable to brake quickly, then struck Macklin’s and careened off the side, landing on an embankment. It then somersaulted along the embankment as the magnesium body ignited and flames spread everywhere.

As the car disintegrated, parts flew into the crowd. One row of spectators was decapitated by the flying hood. Some were killed by flying parts and others were burned to death. Figures do not agree on the number of people killed and injured but seventy-seven to eighty three were reported killed and at least seventy-six injured. Macklin’s car spun around in the track and hit the pit killing a mechanic. Macklin was able to walk away from the crash. Fangio later expressed his gratitude for Levegh’s signal, crediting the signal with saving his life. It is somewhat prophetic that Levegh had stated just prior to the race, “We have to get some sort of signal system working; our cars are too fast.”

The organizers decided to continue the race, as they were afraid that if they stopped it, the crowd of people departing from the stands would create traffic that would interfere with the work of the ambulances and fire trucks. When word of the accident reached Germany, the authorities withdrew their other teams out of respect for Levegh. Hawthorn eventually won the competition. However, there were many who blamed his braking for initiating the chain of events that caused the carnage. But the official investigation that took place following the accident cleared him of blame and called it “a racing incident.’

Nevertheless, the incident had a profound effect on racing. Some European countries implemented bans on the sport. France spent over $600,000 to improve the course. New regulations defining limitations on engine size, limiting the time a driver could be behind the wheel, and specifying the number of drivers on a team were all implemented prior to the 1956 race.