Category: Miscellaneous

Manual or automatic – which should you choose when you are learning to drive?
Parallel parking, changing lanes, obeying road signs; it seems like there is more than enough to think about during a driving test without having to manually change gear as well. This is certainly the way many people think. After all, there are so many things you need to remember when you take your test, just click here and you can see how much you need to know. It makes sense that you would want to streamline the process as much as possible, so learning to drive in an automatic makes sense.

However, it’s not quite as simple as that. Choosing the right vehicle to learn in, is down to personal choice. But, there are some things you should think about when you are making your decision.

Should you choose manual or automatic for safety?
There are different points of view when it comes to this question. One is that it’s safer to drive a car with a manual transmission because you must be more focused while driving. You are in control of the entire driving experience. Many people believe that driving a manual car also gives you greater knowledge of how the car works, and how it reacts to certain situations. This can help you to remain safe on the road.

On the other hand, driving a car with an automatic transmission gives you less to think about. This means that you can give more of your attention to other important considerations, such as braking and changing lanes in the correct manner. It could be argued that this helps you to drive more safely.

As you can see, it’s not easy to choose between manual and automatic, when it comes to safety. It depends on your point of view. There are other factors you should also think about.

What else do you need to consider?
Although manual transmission cars are becoming less common in the US, this is not the case around the world. In countries such as the UK, manual transmission cars are still in the majority. This means that if you intend to travel it’s useful to be able to drive a manual car; although you should be able to find a rental car with an automatic transmission most of the time.

Another positive of driving a car with a manual transmission is that this type of vehicle can often be purchased more affordably. Once you have made the purchase you will usually also end up spending less money on gas.

There are advantages to be had from being able to drive both a manual and an automatic vehicle. If you have an aptitude for driving, it can be a good idea to learn to drive in a manual vehicle. You develop better overall driving knowledge as a result. If you find driving difficult to pick up, there is nothing wrong with opting to learn, and pass your test, in an automatic vehicle. You can always learn to drive a manual car once you have more driving experience.

Whether you are looking to save some money by buying a used bike, or are just in the market for a vintage model that can’t be purchased new, you should know a few tips about how to make a safe decision.

Before you start looking at used motorbike sales, you need to have some information under your belt. Don’t let yourself fall in love with the first bike you see, or you could risk getting a lemon or even taking on a hazardous machine that puts you in danger once you’re on the road.

Know Your Bike

This is just a general tip that you should be aware of the details and specs of any motorcycle you’re going to look at. You don’t need to be an expert, but having some familiarity is key. If you’re a complete novice, take some time to browse new bikes at the local shop first. What should they look and sound like? What parts are standard?

Look for Damage

A bike that’s been in some sort of crash isn’t a smart purchase. Though major dents and scratches are very clear signs of an accident, there can be more to it. Take a look at the brake levers and the footpegs. Are they bent or scuffed up? They are the first parts to meet the pavement when a bike goes down, and are often overlooked when it’s time to fix up the damage.

Granted, sometimes people will replace the levers with after-market parts just for looks so it’s not a sure thing that new parts means that there has been an accident. Still, take a look and decide for yourself. Consider it to be one piece of the bigger picture.

Check the Fluids

What do the oil and brake fluid look like? Dark or dirty fluids usually means that regular bike maintenance hasn’t been done, and there can be a lot of neglect that you can’t see. Problems aren’t always a result of damage. A bike that is not cared for can be in even worse shape than one that’s been in a crash. Dirt, rust and an overall poor finish are all signs that the care hasn’t been there.

Check Under the Hood

Or under the seat, to be more accurate. The wiring should be relatively tidy, with proper connections, multi-colored (organized) wires and no debris. If you find a rat’s nest of wiring with cobbled-together DIY connections then you know that the owner has been doing a lot of their own amateur tinkering. Not the end of the world, but it should put up a red flag for you when examining the rest of the bike.

These are just general guidelines to help any riders who are new to the world of used motorcycles. If you are able to take care of repairs or replacements on your own, then you are in a better position to take on a bike that needs a little more work.

INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, May 16, 2017 – Chart-topping singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha will perform the national anthem before the start of the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on Sunday, May 28.

Rexha, on an international tour following the release of her album “All Your Fault, Pt. 1,” will sing on Race Day in the traditional spot before the 33 drivers are called to their cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before the largest single-day spectator sporting event crowd in the world.

“This will be my first time attending the Indianapolis 500, and I can already feel the electrifying energy that comes with it,” Rexha said. “I couldn’t be more excited and honored to perform the national anthem and am looking forward to seeing everyone there and experiencing my first big Race Day!”

Rexha, a native of New York, has accumulated more 10 million overall single sales, 1 billion Spotify streams, 1.3 billion combined YouTube/VEVO views and a radio audience of more than 8 billion.

She hit No. 1 on both the Billboard Pop and Rap charts with her platinum-selling smash single “Me, Myself & I” with G-Eazy. Her single “No Broken Hearts,” featuring Nicki Minaj, has more than 180 million YouTube/VEVO views to date.

Rexha is featured on Martin Garrix’s recent single, “In The Name of Love,” which already has more than 265 million YouTube/VEVO views. “I Got You”, the first single from her “All Your Fault, Pt. 1” debut album, is quickly climbing the charts.

“We welcome Bebe to IMS on Race Day to sing the national anthem for a packed crowd and millions of viewers across the globe,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “She is a fantastic performer with an amazing voice that has been streamed around the globe, and she’s going to deliver a memorable rendition befitting such a monumental day and iconic sporting celebration.”

Rexha burst onto the scene in 2013 when she wrote “Monster,” which became a worldwide hit for Eminem and Rihanna and went RIAA quadruple-platinum in the United States. She wrote and featured on Cash Cash’s “Take Me Home” and Pitbull’s “This Is Not A Drill” in addition to writing Tinashe’s “All Hands On Deck” and Selena Gomez’s “Champion.”

Her 2015 debut EP, “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up,” boasts the singles “I Can’t Stop Drinking About You” and “I’m Gonna Show You Crazy,” which racked up more than 52 million Spotify streams in only six months. That same year, she co-wrote and carried instantly recognizable hooks for the double-platinum “Hey Mama” by David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and Afrojack, which was nominated for a Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song, as well as the Billboard Hot 100 smash “Me, Myself, & I” with G-Eazy.

Rexha recently released her debut album, “All Your Fault: Part 1,” in February 2017 and just wrapped her first headlining North American tour. The second part of her EP, “All Your Fault: Part 2,” will be released this summer.

Follow Rexha on Twitter @BebeRexha, on Instagram @beberexha, on Snapchat at beberexha, on YouTube at youtube.com/beberexha and on VEVO at vevo.com/artist/bebe-rexha . Her music is available on Spotify and all other major streaming services.

Visit IMS.com to purchase tickets for the 101st Indianapolis 500 Presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on Sunday, May 28 and for more information on the complete Month or May schedule at IMS.

The race also will be televised live on ABC, with the pre-race show starting at 11 a.m. (ET) and check out NetBet Sport for more information.
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Have you ever dreamed of being a pro race car driver the likes of which the world has never seen? While there are always going to be famous drivers out there that every young man and woman wants to be compared to, or break those unbroken records of, but for a number of reasons they never seemed to be able to break into the circuit. All is not lost! You can enter the wonderful world of amateur rally car racing, set records, break records and before you know it, you just might be pro as well. But how do you get your start? Here are some steps to take.

It All Begins with a Vintage Car – The Rally Car!

The first thing you need to do is find rally cars for sale. Not many local shops will carry the kind of vintage car you need to modify for a rally race, but you can find them online. There are some modifications (mods) you will need to do, but in the end, if you find the right car at the right price, you’re in like Flynn as the saying goes. Oddly, some rally cars although roadworthy, aren’t great on public roads due to the mods they’ve gone through. Although they started as a passenger automobile, they no longer resemble one and they handle like anything but! Looking to rally? Be prepared to jump on board for the ride of your life.

The Ultimate TSD

Usually a rally is referred to as the TSD, which means Time-Speed-Distance, of which these are the deciding factors in a race. Some are timed, some are set on winning the distance and others still are speed. Vintage rallies are all the rage and have been for a number of years and oddly, now there are literally tens of thousands of young drivers turning their sights on rallying. Where once they wanted to be the next US Dale Earnhardt, Sr or UK Jackie Stewart, they now simply want to join the crowds and fun of rallying that actually provides even more entertainment that the F1 in many cases.

Prepping Your Ride

Once you’ve chosen a car and have it at home in the drive, it’s time to start those mods that will have your car rally-ready by the time the next event is held. What you will do if you are one of the select ‘smart’ few, is take ample time on your preparation. This stage is vital for more than just the win. Your safety could count on making the right mods correctly so that you aren’t going to be subjected to any unnecessary dangers. Some of the more popular Post-War cars include:

• Porsche
• Shelby GT
• Ferrari
• Aston Martin DB
• Corvette Stingray

And the list goes on, but those are amongst the most popular cars for modding. You can see they were all sports cars in their own right when they were on the road as transport and not vintage rally. It is advised that you give careful attention to any particular issues that may lead to problems and do your mods carefully based on safety first, rally race second. Brakes are a high priority as are the driveshaft and transmission. Remember – safety first!

Getting that Rally and Personal Equipment Read for the Rally

Some people like to invest in a number of hi tech products that help you work towards the victory. A digital stop watch is always nice – remember the T of the TSD – time really is of the essence here. Clipboards, pens markers in an assortment of colours, two-way radios or mounted intercoms will work nicely as well. Then there’s your personal gear. You mustn’t forget a top-of-the-line helmet to protect that lovely brain of yours and don’t forget to install some kind of navigator along with your other hi tech gadgets and gizmos. Some drivers say that warm boots are a must and we can probably figure out why that is. Many of those old cars had a lot lacking in the heat department and sometimes road conditions will be on the wet side. If you need to step out for a moment, you’ll be well covered and protected.

Getting Team Mates – Vintage Rallying Is a Team Sport After All

This may be one of the most difficult tasks you have set before you but with social media, you can quickly make the ‘rounds’ of various pages, get a feel for those who you feel would be a good match and then network, network, network! Show up at events, rally car shows and keep your face out there. Within a short time you’ll be able to ‘collect’ people who are like you, looking for that rally team, and once you’ve the proper number of mates, there you go! Or, there are teams with drivers dropping out all the time. What may be great is to find a sponsor early on who loves your car and what you’ve done to it. With a sponsor backing you, finding a team is easier than you can imagine. In fact, some sponsors might even add you to their team if they have one already.

So That’s What It Takes

There you have some of what it takes to enter the wonderful world of amateur rally racing. Whether your goal is to eventually enter a pro circuit or stay as an amateur, it’s all in the ‘game’ so enjoy your ride. Rallying is your passion and whether you win the big one or just go along for the ride of a lifetime, make every moment count. So many young (and old!) drivers were too consumed with the win to enjoy the race. Rallying is fun and entertaining with more than a hint of danger.

Take your time and do things right. Make it a social side of racing and you’ll have more fun than you’d ever thought possible this side of heaven. Before you know it, you’ll be spotting kindred spirits and in that moment, that recognition, you’ll know that every step in the journey has been well worth the effort.

Xfinity is one of the leading online streaming companies in the world. The company that is part of the Comcast group has become this big because of the variety of products that they offer. Among the services on offer are high-speed internet and home phone service. Xfinity provides millions of mobile device users with fast and secure internet through their hotspot network. This makes it super easy to watch the latest shows and movies on the go which is mobile streaming.

Mobile The Future Of Entertainment

There is no doubt that the convenience offered by mobile devices is changing the way that services are being offered and delivered. A lot of industries that are resisting the move to mobile are fast becoming obsolete. Xfinity is not among those firms. The company has a fully responsive mobile site on which clients can access all the best services on the go.

The fast pace of society dictates that we be able to multi-task including the pokies (slots) industry. Therefore even the devices that we carry round have to be multi-functional. The best mobile devices enable users to communicate on all the available platforms. From voice calls, instant messaging through to email. The devices have essentially become moving offices.

However, the uses of these devices are not restricted to work. They are also very competent as entertainment avenues. That is why Xfinity provides mobile users the same streaming service that is available on desktop. And what a service it is. There are several of your favorite shows and movies that can be streamed on mobile devices. Turning your device into a mobile cinema.

The mobile revolution is not restricted to streaming. The top online casinos at online casinos canada are also offering the best online casino games on mobile. Truly contributing to the initiative of making entertainment accessible on the go. Some of the top games available at mobile casinos are based on popular TV shows and movies.

One of the most asked questions is that, what are the differences between a normal car and a racing car. Actually, there are a lot of differences, but the principle is the same.

In the case of racing cars, there are a lot of aspects, which are quite different from a normal car, and the biggest difference lies in its speed. If everything is good for a racing car, but not the speed, it will not be fruitful, and it will turn to a normal car. Apart from it, there are a lot of differences between its new ability, tires, combustion chambers, mileage, and many others. Everything is optimized enough, such that a car becomes suitable for racing. Here are a few differences between a NASCAR car and the normal car, which is taken from Amazingly Cool Car Accessories.

Combustion chamber

Combustion chambers in case of racing or NASCAR cars are comparatively larger than that of production cars. If you do not know the importance of a combustion chamber, you should know that it is the place where the fuel of the car enter, which either can be petrol or diesel, and it is a place where the fuel burns, which is in turn used in order to drive the car. The more the amount of well that enters the combustion chamber, the better will be its speed or vice versa. Where a normal car has a combustion chamber of 1000 cc 2000 cc, in the case of NASCAR cars, it is almost close to 5000 to 6000 cc, which is quite huge.

Shape of the car

Another important aspect of racing or NASCAR cars is the design. In most of the normal cars, a lot of importance is not given to the design of the car. But in the case of NASCAR or racing cars, importance is given to the design, such that it seems to be lightweight, and can run fast. Thus, the designs of the racing or NASCAR cars are made aerodynamically, such that it feels minimum pressure due to air, and it can glide easily through the air.

Lightweight chassis

In the case of NASCAR racing cars, you can find the chassis of the cars are quite lightweight and strong enough to overcome all kind of forces and pressure, whatever may be the magnitude of it. The Axle of the will is also made long enough, such that the wheels are quite stable, even if the car is running at a very high speed. Thus, the chassis is also a lot modified compared to that of normal production cars.

Different interior

The interiors are also a lot different in case of racing or NASCAR cars, from that of normal production cars. In the case of NASCAR cars, the interior of the cars is not that polished enough, and they are not even insulated from external heat and sound, and thus, the riding experience of NASCAR car will not be that good. Everything is done, such that the weight of the car is not that high, and it can run easily at high speeds.

NASCAR is a popular auto-racing sport that gives birth to diehard fans that are intensely loyal to the sport. Bally Technologies began distributing the now hugely popular NASCAR slot machine in 2013, and the slot machine was one of many that began to bridge the gap between traditional spin slots and immersive video games. You can click to view best slot sites at slotsmummy.com, where you’ll be able to find and play this game at to your heart’s content. The slot machine goes beyond the simplicity of player-character interaction and comes equipped with high-quality video cards, 3D engines and complex math making it almost like a video game within the slot machine. Bally Technologies’ game development director Bill Wadleigh (a former video game developer who describes himself as a huge NASCAR fan) worked on creating some of the slot machine’s key attributes mixed with the themes and popular aspects of NASCAR – its racing.

The NASCAR slot machine had to attract both devoted slot machine players and casual NASCAR fans. It did this by creating the interactive Daytona Motor Speedway race and character customisation to a certain driver, due to NASCAR fans’ loyalty towards particular drivers. It had to be careful in its selection of drivers, as they had to remain relevant. Machines such as the NASCAR slot machine offer gamblers scenarios they can control. Boyd Casinos across Las Vegas and the rest of the US introduced the game due to the company’s good relation with NASCAR fans generally. The slot machine designers were inspired to create something new and exciting to the table, as many developers have been gradually creating games based on television shows, movies or pop stars such as Pawn Stars, Bally’s Michael Jackson slots, and IGT’s CSI slots. The connection between traditional slot machines and compelling video games is being pulled ever closer to create memorable and engaging gaming experiences.

Wadleigh also recalled that he was inspired to create one of the bonus games by stating that the slot business was as simple as spinning the wheel of a toy car. This then created the spinning bonus graphic of the NASCAR game, using a tyre of a car as a spinning wheel.  NASCAR is one of the most followed motor sports in America, and with its intense driving and high-octane racing, NASCAR has an inept ability to keep viewers on the edge of their seats at all times – which is exactly how the developers of the NASCAR slot machine wanted their players to be. The slot machine gives fans of NASCAR a chance to enjoy the sport as well as earning some money, and equally attract more fans to the sport, by opening its availability to a wide range of slots fans. With a 32-inch LCD touch screen (rather than the traditional lever pull) and surround sound in the seat to really make the game immersive, it is easy to see that traditional slot machines are rapidly evolving.

There a huge variety of slots available on the market, such as traditional 777 slots, video slots, and slots with progressive jackpots, but arcade-inspired slot machines are looking to be the future of casinos and slot machines. By combining the excitement of casino betting with the thrill of an arcade racing game, you have yourself a winning combination. Tapping into the cultures that people love is a sure way to attract a crossover between gambling and culture, and the NASCAR/slot machine crossover is just one of the most successful ways this has been done.

If you are just getting into the thrilling world of motorcycle racing, you’re probably wondering which pieces of gear are essential for your first race. Thankfully, if you’re already quite safety conscious when on your motorcycle, you’ll probably have most of the safety gear that you’ll need for the race. However, racing can be more dangerous than riding on the roads as you’ll be going much faster, and taking corners a lot faster than you would on the roads. Because of this, you might need to buy some extra safety gear to make sure that you’re best protected in the event of an accident.

A Helmet

If you don’t already ride with a helmet, you should definitely get one. Although in certain areas and states it might not be illegal to ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet, it certainly doesn’t mean that it’s not unsafe. If you fall off a motorcycle without a helmet at even a low speed you could be susceptible to head injuries that can cause serious health problems – so the need to wear one is even more crucial if you’re traveling at speed. Check with the race managers about any required standards that your helmet may need to meet. Since 45% of impacts to motorcycle helmets occur around the face, choose one that covers your entire head and face – not only do they offer more protection, it’ll also keep the wind out of your face as well.

Leather Gloves

You might be able to get away with riding on the roads without gloves, but imagine the damage that you could do to your hands if you’re riding at a high speed during a race and come off? In the event of a fall we instinctively put our hands out in front of us to help reduce the impact, however, in some situations, this can actually cause more harm than good. If you fall off, you’ll want to be wearing strong, reinforced leather motorcycle gloves to minimize injury to your hands.

Leathers

A leather jacket and pants are essential for a motorcycle race. Even though it’s not illegal to ride on the roads without them and many motorcyclists may wear jeans and a regular jacket, specially designed motorcycle jackets and pants will protect you better than any other items of clothing in the event of an accident. If you come off your motorcycle at high speed you are likely to slide or could even be dragged across a hard floor which could easily rip through denim and other materials. AlpineStars is a good brand to look out for.

Motorcycle Boots

Regular boots or sneakers are simply not enough when it comes to motorcycle safety. They don’t support your feet well enough, meaning that you could end up with nasty injuries and broken bones if you come off. Motorcycle boots are specially designed to protect your feet and legs properly and minimize any injury.

Ready for your first motorcycle race?  With the right gear you will be.