We all spend more time in the car than we care to admit. Whether it is stuck in traffic on your way to work, or it is the time of the monthly drive to your parents. Sometimes, we even chose to take our cars on holiday with us to save on the rental fees and the damage that the kids will inevitably create in the backseats. With so much time spent in our cars, are there any gadgets out there that can make our lives easier? Here we have found the 10 must-have gadgets for your car that you should buy, to not only make your life easier but to make journeys more bearable. 

1. HUDWAY Heads up display

Gone are the days when only brand-new cars came with heads up display. The HUDWAY gives you that new car feeling but it’s a small transparent screen that can give you GPS without you having to look at your phone. The HUDWAY is compatible with both android and Apple phones, so you can be sure that you no longer have to keep your phone in between your legs to see when your next exit is. 

2. Electric Vehicle Charger

With electric vehicles on the rise, the time might come for you to invest in one. Whilst most car brands offer their own when you buy your vehicle, you may well want an upgrade. If you have two electric vehicles in your home, you can invest in a dual-port system, so that both can charge at the same time, making sure that both your vehicles are ready to go at a moment’s notice. Newer chargers are also smaller than their older counterparts and far more energy-efficient. Find more suggestions on the related website Caraudiologic.

3. DAB Radio

In older cars, you may still be turning your knobs in order to get radio and there is little worse than losing signal just when traffic reports start coming on. There is now an array of small DAB devices online that you can buy to upgrade your radio experience. No more bad signals and a lack of service. 

4. Quick Charge USB

You don’t want to have to spend hours charging your phone in your car and thankfully you no longer have to. USB 3 chargers have finally hit the market and thankfully, you can now purchase these as in car chargers. Previously, you would only get one USB port to charge one phone at a time and if you have a car full of kids, this isn’t ideal. You can now get a multiport system, all of which are USB 3 to make your journey more bearable. 

5. Dashboard Phone Mount

If you use your phone for navigation or you want to be able to see who is calling so you can figure out whether to pull over or ignore it, a dashboard phone mount is a must buy. Gone are the days of clunky phone mounts that seem to drop your phone every 5 seconds. They are now sleekly designed and will hold your phone well enough so that even if there is an impact, your phone will remain on the dash. 

6. Dash Cam

Not only can dash cams help you see what’s going on at the back of your car when you are reversing, but they can also stop you from having to make a costly claim when someone crashes into the back of you and drives off. Dashcams are now a cheap accessory that is easy to install and use straight away. You don’t need a high-end car to benefit from this additional security. 

7. Mini Fridge

If you have to travel a long distance, there is only so long that the ice in the cooler will last and if you don’t want to be stopping every hour, on the hour for a refreshment, that is where the mini-fridge comes in. You can easily plug it into the cigarette lighter in your car and power it that way. You don’t have to put drinks in it if you’re on a long trip and don’t want to buy food, pop your lunch in it instead. That way you will always have access to fresh chilled food and you won’t have to stop on your journey. 

8. Bluetooth Receiver  

If you have amazing music on your phone, but your car doesn’t have an AUX cable or any way to connect your phone to the radio, then you need a Bluetooth receiver. These handy little devices plug into your cigarette lighter and ask you to find a frequency that is empty. From there you set your radio to the same frequency and select the song you want to listen to. Because you have now basically created your own radio station, you can play all of the music off your phone and not have to listen to any commercials again, easy right?

9. Speed trap Locators/ Radar Detectors 

Not necessarily the most ethical of purchases, but there is little more infuriating than a speeding ticket. There is an array of tools online that allow you to find speed traps and radars and then block the signal. This stops you from getting a speeding fine (but you really should drive the limit) and it also means you can share the location with other users, making sure that they stay safe whilst out on the roads. 

10. Car Key Finder

Have you ever had that moment where you realize that you have misplaced your keys and the sheer horror that then hits you? Well, now thankfully that is a thing of the past. There are now plenty of products available that you can attach to your keys, which can then be found via an app. Not only does this reduce the chances of you losing them permanently, but it also means that if your keys and then your car is stolen by thieves, they can be easily tracked through your keys. 

Final Thoughts

When it comes to accessorizing your car, it is not just about neon lights and sound systems. There are now some really practical accessories that can make your life far easier, whether you travel long distances with the family, or you are prone to losing or misplacing your keys. Here are the 10 best must-have gadgets that will make your life far easier and the trips seem shorter than ever before. 

British Formula One (F1) driver Lewis Hamilton races for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team and currently sits in first place in the standings with 63 points, 5 points ahead of second-place Valtteri Bottas (58).  So far this season Hamilton finished fourth on July 5th and then first on July 12th in Austria.  Hamilton followed that up with another first-place finish at Hungary on July 19^th.

Lewis Hamilton took the pole on Saturday, a dominant display at the Hungaroring, and led all but one of the 70 laps en route to his 86th career win.  Hamilton now only needs six more to beat Michael Schumacher’s F1 record of 91 victories.  Next up is the British GP, where Hamilton has won five of the last six races at Silverstone.

Hamilton is a six-time Formula One World Champion (second-most of all time) and is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.  Hamilton won his first World Drivers’ Championship with McLaren in 2008 followed up by five more titles with Mercedes, second only to seven-time World Drivers’ Champion Michael Schumacher who won 7 before retiring in 2012.  He won consecutive titles in 2014 and 2015 and then for the second time in 2017 and 2018.

During that period Hamilton has captured 86 race victories, 153 podium finishes, all-time most pole positions at 90, most points in a season at 413.  Hamilton has also captured grand slams (pole position, leading every lap of the race, and setting the fastest lap of the race) at Malaysian Grand Prix (2014), Italian Grand Prix (2015), Chinese Grand Prix (2017), Canadian Grand Prix (2017), British Grand Prix (2017), and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (2019).

The words “Still I Rise”, a Maya Angelou poem is on the back of Hamilton’s helmet and tattooed across his shoulders.  “It’s an honor to be up there with the greats and I’ll keep pushing.”  Hamilton has earned respect from every one of his peers.

Hamilton has been outspoken in his criticism of racial politics as well as calling for greater diversity in F1.

“Today I raced for everyone out there who is pushing to make positive change and fight inequality, however, sadly, as a sport we need to do so much more. It is embarrassing that many teams have not made any public commitment to diversity or that we couldn’t properly find time to make a symbolic gesture in support of ending racism before the race.” Hamilton posted via Facebook on July 19.

According to his bio at https://girlboyfriend.com/lewis-hamilton/, Hamilton is also interested in other spheres of life. For instance, he wants to release an album, as he has written a dozen of songs. Also, he devotes a lot of time to charity, helping children with different diseases.

F1 2020 schedule

DATE                     RACE                                                                                     WINNER

Jul 3-5                   Austrian GP Red Bull Ring                                             V. Bottas

Jul 10-12               Austrian GP 2 Red Bull Ring                                          L. Hamilton

Jul 17-19               Hungarian GP Hungaroring                                           L. Hamilton

Jul 31-Aug 2        Rolex British GP Silverstone Circuit                           Aug 2 – 10:10 am             

Aug 7-9                 Rolex British GP 2 Silverstone Circuit                        Aug 9 – 10:10 am             

Aug 14-16            Spanish GP Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya           Aug 16 – 9:10 am             

Aug 28-30            Belgian GP Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps             Aug 30 – 9:10 am             

Sep 4-6                 Italian GP Autodromo Nazionale Monza                 Sep 6 – 9:10 am                

Sep 25-27             Russian GP Sochi Autodrom                                        Sep 27 – 6:10 am                              

Oct 23-25             United States GP Circuit of the Americas                Oct 25 – 2:10 pm

Oct 30-Nov 1      Mexican GP Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez     Nov 1 – 2:10 pm

Nov 13-15            Brazilian GP Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace              Nov 15 – 11:10 am           

Nov 27-29            Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi GP Yas Marina Circuit Nov 29 – 8:10 am

Unfortunately, incidents seem inevitable, and eventually, you will have some sort of vehicle accident or you could even be a victim of vandalism.  It could be in a parking lot, at your home or on the roadway.  The damage to your vehicle could include minor scrapes, scratches, and dings or it could be major body damage.  Regardless of the damage, you will want to consult a panel beater to repair your motor vehicle.

Whether it’s a small dent or paint scratches or major bodywork, at https://www.gmsmashrepairs.com.au/ we have a team of authorized insurance repairers with the right tools and experience to fix your vehicle.

A panel beater is a person who repairs vehicle bodies back to their factory state after having been damaged and can also be known as an auto body mechanic in some regions.  Or in simple terms, a person who beats out the bodywork of motor vehicles. For more information on panel repairs check out Sheen Group.

What does a panel beater do?  Depending on the type and level of damage they can use of putty fillers for minor repairs and welding or even replacement parts for major damage.  For replacement areas, they will use mechanical, hydraulic, and metalworking equipment to rejoin the repaired parts with welding equipment and plastic fillers.  Replacement parts are made from various metals including steel and alloys, many different plastics, and even fiberglass depending on your vehicle.

The final stages of repair can include grinding, sanding, repainting, and then polishing the vehicle after the repairs have been done.

If your car has significant damage and you don’t want to repair it, there might be other ways to earn money from your old car such as recycling the usable parts or sell it as-is.  Or you can even donate it.  Some organizations will gladly accept a donation of an old car, such as a community mechanics’ school or a local high school.

Panel beaters are experts in a wide range of tasks and special equipment needed to return a vehicle to its pre-crash condition which can include:

• Removing, repairing, and replacing damaged panels and/or parts with genuine parts from the vehicle manufacturer.
• Repairing dents and scratches with specialty fillers,
• Filing, sanding the bodywork to ensure a smooth finish, and repainting the vehicle and matching the original color.
• Knowledge of tools such as socket sets, screwdrivers, pliers, tin snips, vise grips, punches, chisels, hammers, dollies, hydraulic pushing/pulling devices, and vehicle lift hoists.
• Personal safety equipment such as boots, coveralls, safety glasses, welding helmets, gloves, respirators, and hearing protection.

Panel beating is quite complex and needs precision so you should choose the right panel beater.  Look for an experienced panel beater and ask relevant and important questions.  Make sure they have enough experience, training, the right tools, genuine parts that are essential for a good fit, and knowledge of your type of vehicle.

You can also check the panel beater’s references from neighbors, friends, or family for assurance of experience in panel beating and have handled several cars and car owners successfully in the past.

Finally, check on any guarantees on things such as parts or labor.  Some guarantees can be limited or for a lifetime but you will know this information before selecting your panel beater.

If an old car is in your possession, you may be thinking about how you can get the most out of it. Old cars have a certain charm and inherent appeal. However, when a used car has significant damage, it may be more expensive to keep it around.

There are several options you should consider to benefit from an old vehicle apart from bringing it to the car junkyard. These options may not provide monetary compensation, but you will be able to discard an old car without wasting the scrap value of your car.

• Recycle Parts: If a car is really beat up, there is no point in repairing it. In such cases, you can still put the vehicle to good use by recycling the usable pieces. If the tires are in good condition, convert them into a swing and let your kids use them. You can also join in on the fun!
• Be Creative: What creative work can you do with a junk car? Plenty! You can clean it up and paint it a nice color and display it in your yard. If you are joining a parade, you can transform it into an eye-catching and unique float that will be the talk of the town.
• Exchange It: Maybe you know someone who has a passion for old cars and is willing to barter with you. It may be someone with a passion for old vehicles or a friend looking for a junk car to use as décor for their cafe or diner. Before you start looking at scrap car prices, find out if you know someone who will trade with you. Your trash may turn out to be someone else’s treasure.
• Donate It: Some organizations will gladly accept a donation of an old car, such as a community mechanics’ school or the local high school. Some charities may also be willing to tow away your junk vehicle for free. It’s a win-win situation: you give someone else what they need while you get to unload your old car, and reclaim more space in your garage or driveway.

How To Get Cash From An Old Car

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to get cash from a junk automobile sitting in your yard. After all, it’s your property, and you can derive maximum benefit from it by selling or trading it for a new car. Here are several ways to financially benefit from your old car:

1. Sell Your Car In “As-Is” Condition

If you think there’s a reasonable chance that someone will be interested in your old car, you can sell privately by posting an ad online and hanging a “car for sale as-is, where-is” sign on your yard. You don’t need to fix it up, hence, the “as-is” caveat. This is a good option for vintage junk cars that have plenty of appeal for car collectors and enthusiasts.

2. Reach Out To Used And Junk Car Buyers

Used car buyers are not made equal; thus, you should choose the one that provides more value. Junk car prices vary depending on the type of car that you want to sell. A reliable and professional used car buyer will provide a clear estimate of how much your old car is still worth. The advantage of working with junk auto buyers is that they will give you a fair price and even remove your car for free. This is a great advantage, especially if your old car no longer runs. If you’re looking to sell an old vehicle, consider checking out services like junk cars for cash in Florida or other local providers who specialize in giving competitive rates for junk cars.

3. Local Junkyards

When you sell to a local junkyard, be prepared to accept scrap car prices which may be around $0.01 for every pound of steel, $0.28 and up for every pound of aluminum, and about $0.51 for each pound of insulated copper wire. At the junkyard, the brand and other merits of your car don’t matter – it’s mostly the weight of recyclable items that they will take into consideration.

4. Fix And Sell

This option is only good if the car is still worth repairing. You may need the help of a licensed mechanic to check how much the repairs for the car will cost. After getting the estimate for fixing the car, analyze if you will be able to sell your used car for a profit. If you are not getting a reasonable profit, it would be better to call a local junkyard or junk car cash buyers.

Takeaway

Do not let your old, beat-up car occupy precious space in your home. One of the advantages of selling your junk car to a reliable used automobile buyer is that you can choose to utilize the money for your other needs, such as accessories for your new car or additional pocket money for a vacation. There are different ways to dispose of a junk vehicle – all you need to do is choose the one that works best for you.

NASCAR was the first sport to make its return to the sporting calendar during the current Coronavirus pandemic and has continued to provide fans with entertaining races over the past few months.

The automotive racing sport returned to action in the middle of May, having spent just seven weeks away from the track after they followed every other sport in their decisions to stop their own respective schedules because of the outbreak. The resumption of the sport would certainly have been welcomed by avid users of online sportsbooks as they will have been delighted to place wagers on the action that excites them once again.

Action rescheduled

As have a number of sports, the schedule has been condensed and packed with entertaining meetings, therefore to complete the season as quickly as possible, whilst having a limited impact on the following campaign.

Therefore, NASCAR managed to schedule seven races within 11 days, with meetings having taken place in both North Carolina and South Carolina in order to help keep their own movements restricted as much as possible.

The first event on the revised NASCAR schedule was on May 17 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. The Cup Series was the first race event and was then followed by two more events on May 19-20 — split between the Xfinity Series and Cup Series.

NASCAR then went to Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. The Cup Series was competed on May 24 and 27. The Xfinity Series and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series had their own events on May 25 and 26, respectively.

Rules were put in place

However, NASCAR’s return did come with strict rules that were put in place, with a number of safety precautions having been implemented to ensure that new cases and the potential spread of the virus were kept to a minimum.

NASCAR only allow essential personnel on the track, who are still required to maintain social distance. Team rosters have been limited to 16 people, which includes the driver.

Everyone at the race track is regularly evaluated by temperature and symptom checks. NASCAR had chosen not to test people specifically for COVID-19.

Fans starting to return

Of course, fans have also been banned from attending meetings from the resumption, however it would seem as though those restrictions are starting to be relaxed a little further with each meeting.

For example, the race at Talladega (Ala.) saw up to 5,000 spectators allowed in following the guidelines that had been set out to keep people as safe as possible.

NASCAR’s All-Star race at Bristol Motor Speedway on 15 July appeared to show that the sport was starting to look for some normality, as it allowed for a maximum of 30,000 spectators to watch the action from the stands. Although official attendance numbers had not been released, it is believed around 20,000 people went to watch the race at the venue in person.

A fair assumption to make would be that this was the biggest attendance of a sporting event since the end of the winter in the United States, perhaps suggesting that change could be on the horizon for other events in the future.

The global titanium metal market is expected to be worth $1.8 billion by 2023, growing at a Compound annual growth rate of 6.2 percent, according to a report by Market Research Future. Titanium is an incredibly strong and lightweight metal with properties of corrosion resistance, high strength and durability. Titanium has been in high demand in the aerospace sector for the past few decades, but what is expected to contribute most to its growth in the coming years is the rising demand for the metal in the automotive industry. However, due to the current high cost of the titanium, its use has been limited to racing cars, and the speed-loving NASCAR world has embraced the metal with both arms. From the engine to the body, here are some of the ways titanium is being used to improve the modern NASCAR car design. 

Making engine parts 

NASCAR engineers are always looking for ways to make their engines better than their competitors, and titanium has proven to be up to the task, especially when it comes to protecting against extreme heat. The temperature inside a NASCAR engine can go as high as 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not only a threat to the engine, but can also make it really uncomfortable for the driver, especially during hot summer race days. To prevent melting and engine damage, some parts exposed to the extreme heat, such as the valves, are made of titanium, as it is highly heat resistant and has a much higher strength-to-weight ratio than any other metal. However, due to the complexity of NASCAR engines, not all titanium grades can be used. Grade 1 titanium is the material of choice for engine parts due to its ease of formability and its wide availability as plate and tubing. 

Safety cages 

When it comes to driver safety, one of the requirements for NASCAR cars is a strong safety cage. A safety cage is a multi-tubular structure that’s installed in the cockpit of a NASCAR car and fitted close to its bodyshell to provide adequate protection for the driver should the car get into an accident. The main reason why titanium is an attractive metal for making NASCAR safety cages is its lightweight nature compared to steel. A standard steel safety cage weighs more than 50kgs; with direct substitution of steel with titanium, NASCAR teams are achieving an immediate weight reduction of 40-50 percent, which can go a long way in improving race results. Titanium also has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel, which makes it better at reducing the deformation of the chassis in case of an impact. 

Exhaust systems 

Titanium makes a great exhaust material for NASCAR cars for various reasons. First, titanium is 45 percent lighter than steel, which makes it highly treasured in the NASCAR racing community, where even an ounce can make a huge difference; the reduced weight can improve the acceleration, handling, and overall performance of the car. Another reason why titanium makes a great exhaust material is its heat resistance and durability. Titanium is highly resistant to rust, stains and corrosion. It also dissipates heat more efficiently than steel, which saves it from warping under intense heat and extends its lifespan. 

A lot of progress has been made towards using titanium in NASCAR cars, and engineers continue to find new, cost-effective ways to make use of titanium components to improve their cars and gain a competitive edge. With more research and innovation, the potential for NASCAR applications will keep evolving, making titanium an even more valuable alternative.