#NASCAR Racing Experience 300

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1955 Chrysler C-300

1955 Chrysler C-300: A Glimpse into the Golden Age of American Automobiles

The year 1955 marked a significant milestone in the history of American automotive engineering and design. It was a time when automakers were pushing the boundaries of performance, style, and innovation, and one car that epitomized this spirit was the 1955 Chrysler C-300. Often regarded as the first modern American muscle car, the C-300 not only represented a radical departure from conventional automobiles but also left an enduring legacy in the world of automotive enthusiasts. In this extensive exploration, we delve into the history, design, performance, and cultural impact of the 1955 Chrysler C-300, a symbol of the golden age of American automobiles.

The Birth of a Legend

The 1955 Chrysler C-300, where "C" stood for "Continental," was more than just a car; it was a statement of power, luxury, and style. Born out of Chrysler's desire to reclaim its position as a dominant force in American automobile manufacturing, the C-300 was a bold departure from the brand's previous offerings. It was the brainchild of Chrysler engineer and visionary, Bob Rodger, who saw an opportunity to marry a high-performance V8 engine with a full-sized luxury car, creating a new breed of American automobile.

Design: Classic Elegance with a Touch of Sport

The design of the 1955 Chrysler C-300 was a harmonious blend of classic elegance and sporty aesthetics. The car featured clean, uncluttered lines with a distinctive grille that became one of its signature design elements. The iconic, vertically stacked quad headlights and a wide, bold grille made a bold and unmistakable statement on the road. The subtle yet pronounced fins at the rear added a touch of sophistication and conveyed a sense of motion even when the car was at a standstill.One of the most striking design elements of the C-300 was its two-tone color scheme. Many C-300s featured a contrasting roof color, which accentuated the car's sleek profile. The attention to detail and craftsmanship in the exterior design set the C-300 apart as a true luxury automobile.

The interior of the C-300 was equally impressive. It featured sumptuous materials, tasteful chrome accents, and a driver-centric dashboard. Plush leather seats provided both comfort and support, making long drives a pleasure. The cabin was spacious, allowing passengers to enjoy the ride in style and luxury.

Performance: The Birth of American Muscle

What truly set the 1955 Chrysler C-300 apart was its groundbreaking performance. Under the hood, it was powered by the legendary Hemi V8 engine, which had already gained a reputation for its power and efficiency. In the case of the C-300, the Hemi V8 was tuned to deliver a staggering 300 horsepower, an unprecedented figure for a production car of its time. This made the C-300 the most powerful American car of 1955.The combination of a high-performance engine and advanced engineering made the C-300 a formidable force on the racetrack. In fact, it dominated the NASCAR circuit in its debut year, winning eight of the 16 races it entered. This racing success solidified the C-300's reputation as a true performance car, earning it the nickname "Banker's Hot Rod."

Engineering Innovations

The 1955 Chrysler C-300 introduced several engineering innovations that set the stage for future developments in the automotive industry. The Hemi V8 engine was at the forefront of these innovations. It featured hemispherical combustion chambers, which allowed for better airflow and combustion efficiency. This, in turn, contributed to the engine's remarkable power output and smooth operation.

Another notable innovation was the use of power-assisted brakes and power steering, both of which enhanced the car's drivability and safety. These features were a testament to Chrysler's commitment to providing a superior driving experience.

Cultural Impact and LegacyThe-1955-Chrysler-C-300

The 1955 Chrysler C-300 had a profound cultural impact that reverberates to this day. It represented a paradigm shift in American automotive manufacturing, heralding the dawn of the muscle car era. The C-300's racing successes on the NASCAR circuit elevated its status and contributed to the popularity of stock car racing in the United States.The car's blend of luxury and performance appealed to a new generation of consumers who desired both power and style. It embodied the American spirit of innovation and ambition, and its success inspired other automakers to explore the concept of high-performance production cars.

The legacy of the C-300 extends beyond its time. It laid the foundation for the muscle car movement of the 1960s and 1970s, influencing iconic models like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Charger. The C-300 remains a coveted collector's item, a symbol of an era when American automakers pushed the limits of engineering and design.

Conclusion

The 1955 Chrysler C-300 is a testament to the ingenuity, ambition, and creativity that defined the golden age of American automobiles. It represented a bold departure from the norm, marrying luxury with high-performance engineering in a way that captured the imagination of a generation. As a cultural icon and a pioneering force in the automotive world, the C-300 continues to inspire and captivate enthusiasts and collectors, ensuring its enduring legacy in the annals of automotive history.

[coimbrabertone]

Grip: A Story of How Three Different Racing Series Move.

I watched three different races this past weekend - the Assen TT MotoGP race, Formula One's Austrian Grand Prix, and the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 441 400 at Nashville Superspeedway. That's motorcycles, open wheelers, and big old stock cars on ovals, so you might think it would be difficult to find some pithy way to discuss all three, well...I found a way!

It is fascinating how these different racing series move and how they grip up.

Starting with MotoGP - this is the first race I watched on Sunday, probably my favorite series of the three right now, but also the one I've gotten into most recently - my take on that is that MotoGP is the most physical and natural movement of the three. Now, I know that's odd to say with 300 horsepower motorcycles that are increasingly fast and increasingly using state-of-the-art aerodynamics, but the rider still plays the key role.

The leaning, the manhandling the bike, the having to sit up when the bike has a wobble...you can see all of that, and that turns a very mechanical experience into a surprisingly human one. I've never ridden a motorcycle, let alone something as fast as a GP bike, but when Maverick Vinales went wide on the final lap, everything is so visible in MotoGP that I could tell exactly what happened.

He turned in just a foot or so too late, so his line was a bit off, and you could just see the weight of the bike dragging him out wide, off the rubber and into the marbles, which just compounds the issue because then he doesn't have the grip to get back on the throttle. So, Marc Marquez goes past into fourth - more on that later - while Fabio DiGiannantonio briefly takes fifth as well.

Vinales fights back into the final chicane, retaking the position, but in the process, he just rolled off the edge of the curb and touched the green paint on the outside of the track, leading to a track limits infringement - which on the final lap in MotoGP, automatically converts into a drop one position penalty - meanwhile, Marc Marquez got a sixteen second penalty for being below the mandated minimum tyre pressures, dropping him to tenth.

Marquez would later claim that he had slotted in behind Digia earlier in the race to get his tyre pressures to climb back up to legal limits and would've been fine, had Enea Bastianini not pushed him wide in turn one when Enea overtook him.

The problem with that is one: pushing people wide in a turn one pass is pretty ordinary in MotoGP, no small part due to the fact that it's a Marc Marquez signature, so...bit hypocritical if that's your stance.

Two: That means his tyre pressures were illegally low to begin with and he almost got them into the legal zone for long enough to get away with it - I'd argue that's on Marquez and his crew, got anybody who overtook him.

In any case, that incident also plays into this story, because Marquez had to slow up big time when he was just a few feet off the line, and it would take him a lap or so to catch back up to DiGiannantonio, Vinales, and Bastianini.

The MotoGP bike moves how the rider guides it to move, it appears so fast and beautiful when the rider gets it hooked right up in the perfect way, and when the rider doesn't, well, then that's when you really see them struggling with the weight of this giant 1000cc racing machine between their legs.

Likewise, when the bike has a wobble or slides, you can see all the weight and momentum going through the bike, and the most horrifying example of that is a highside.

A highside is when the rear wheel loses grip, slides out from under you, but then grips back up and pulls the whole bike the other way - the force of that is so severe that it bucks the rider off the bike and into the air - it is one of the most scary-yet-common things in motorcycle racing.

Compare that to the lowside, which is when the wheels lose grip and just slide downwards, which is the more common and less dramatic way of losing it in a MotoGP race.

That being said, as Aleix Espargaro showed in the sprint race on Saturday, a lowside at speed can still be dangerous, and with a little help from a kerb and/or a gravel trap, they can send the rider and the bike tumbling through the air just like a highside can.

With how exposed MotoGP - and motorcycle racing in general is - you can really see everything, and once you see it enough times and start to understand it, the way these things behave becomes surprisingly natural and intuitive.

Compare that to Formula One.

The moment that inspired this blogpost was that, after MotoGP ended, I switched to the F1 race and the first thing I saw was the field going through sector two at the Red Bull Ring. These cars were on rails, just one right after the other, moving so fast and in such a floaty manner that it just didn't look right.

Now I'm sure part of this is down to the fact that I had just watched MotoGP and their comparatively slow cornering speeds, so seeing F1 cars tearing up the Austrian Grand Prix was always going to serve as a culture shock. That being said, the way these cars moved looked so weird to me that the first thing that came to mind was, of all things, the F1 Manager games.

I remember a few years ago now, I watched a bit of F1 Manager 22 gameplay and just though "oh wow the way those cars move looks so bad and janky" so...imagine my shock that in 2024, F1 cars are kinda moving in the same way.

Now, once the initial shock wore off - and I suppose their tyres started wearing out as well - I got used to it and could see the moments where F1 cars went beyond their grip. Particularly in turns three and four - either end of the DRS straight at the top of the circuit - where time after time, cars would slip wide or otherwise fail to pull off an overtake, and then the size and weight of these things became apparent.

Particularly when Lando Norris was trying to pass Max Verstappen, having speed over him and being faster in a straight line when his McLaren had DRS, but otherwise that Red Bull was as ridiculously OP and dream crushing in a straight line as usual.

Like in the F1 sprint the day before when Max passed Lando - who had DRS - without DRS.

So Lando was working damn hard to get this move done, divebombing and such, but that was eating into his track limits allowance, which Max was keen to mention over the radio in that lame little way that F1 drivers try to give each other penalties. The very next lap though, things got controversial.

Lando had speed again running up the hill to turn three. Max knew this.

Max uses his one allowed move to protect the inside, forcing Lando to try it on the outside.

Lando is still gaining on the outside.

Max moves a second time - F1 fans may remember Max being notorious for this around 2016-2017, so much so that the "Verstappen Rule" clarified that this was illegal - in reaction to Norris (defensive moves in reaction also being considered unsafe and illegal, pretty much across all of motorsport) which caused them to touch, giving both of them punctures, and ultimately handing the victory to George Russell in the Mercedes.

Now, for the most part I'm just happy that Verstappen's actions had consequences - he picked up a puncture and lost the race win because he was acting like he was entitled to a win.

That being said, it does aggravate me that, even when Max is clearly in the wrong, he gets off better than his opponents. Lando also had a puncture and ultimately had to retire, while Max continued in fifth place and the token ten second penalty he received was nowhere near enough to actually cause him to drop position.

MotoGP is so competitive a sixteen second penalty drops you from fourth to tenth.

F1, meanwhile, a ten second penalty changes nothing. You could've increased it to a sixteen second penalty just to keep all things even and Max would've still been in fifth.

This is why I'm hard on F1 in these blogs, because it was the first motorsport I fell in love with - I grew up watching F1 with my dad, I've made friends because of F1, and it hurts me so much seeing that my dad fell out of love with F1 like ten years ago and now me and my friends seem to be following in his footsteps.

I'm hard on F1 because it has quite literally been disappointing my family for two generations.

Speaking of two generations, that's about as long as it took for the NASCAR race to finish last night.

I am mostly just saying that to mock them but it really did take them 331 laps to complete a 300-lap race, 441 miles to complete a 400-mile race thanks to all the green-white-checker overtime restarts at the end.

That's not the focus of this blog though.

What is the focus is how NASCAR ties into this grip conversation.

So, Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.3-mile concrete oval forty minutes outside of Nashville, Tennessee. To help stock car racing here, NASCAR applied resin to the bottom lanes and also ran over the track with a tyre dragon - which is a really cool name for what is ultimately a tractor dragging a bunch of Goodyear tyres across the bottom lanes of the oval - which caused an interesting effect on the racing.

This is especially the case because, in the last couple of NASCAR oval races - Gateway, Iowa, and New Hampshire - the top groove had so much more momentum than the bottom, so it was constantly this challenge between the short way around versus the faster way around. Add in another third of a mile in track distance, however, and the script changes, which made for some interesting television.

It was apparent from qualifying that, once cars got out of the gripped up dark stuff on the bottom, they were going to have a problem. This was most obvious with Trucks driver Nick Sanchez spinning out on his qualifying run in that series, but even in Cup, Martin Truex was on a fast lap until he went wide in the final corner and got into the grey stuff in the upper lanes, which put him all the way down in seventeenth.

This trend continued in the race, particularly after the rain delay, when Buescher had a wobble on the bottom, which in turn caused Byron to go up beneath him, and Byron went all the way up until the gray stuff. Jumping the cushion, as NASCAR commentators tend to call it.

This was enough to send William Byron back into the midpack and he'd never really factor into the battle for the lead again in the race. Wow.

It also showed in the battle for the lead late in the race, when Denny Hamlin chased down Ross Chastain and was a lot more capable of using the higher lanes with four fresh tyres than Ross who only took right sides on his final footsteps, so we'd see Denny attacking the corners, while Ross - who had defended valiantly up until this point - was struggling on the top and he kept drifting up ever higher and having to slow down to keep the car out of the wall.

It almost made the day come around full circle, with Ross struggling in a similar way to Maverick Vinales.

It's an odd thing in racing where a motorbike and a big old NASCAR V8 Camaro can have similar characteristics.

Anyway, Hamlin took the lead, Ross was second, and ultimately neither of them would win because we'd get five attempts at overtime ultimately ending in a Joey Logano win with Zane Smith in second and Tyler Reddick in third. Yeah.

So yeah, the races I watched last weekend through the lens of grip and how these three very different racing vehicles behave. I thought it was interesting and I hope you did too.

Next week, MotoGP at the Sachsenring, NASCAR at the Chicago Street Circuit, and Indycar begins its hybrid era at Mid-Ohio. Looks like F1 will be at Silverstone as well. So...see you next Monday for whatever I want to talk about coming out of that weekend.

[autoambiente]

The Rarest Muscle Cars Ever Made – Do You Have One of These Hidden Gems?

  Did you know the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 was the first muscle car? It had a 135-horsepower engine. This car could hit 97 mph, and that's just the start. We're diving into the world of rare muscle cars that have won over fans and collectors. Alongside the well-known Dodge, Chevrolet, and Ford muscle cars lie hidden treasures. Brands like AMC, Plymouth, Pontiac, and Mercury made their mark too. For instance, the 1955 Chrysler C-300 was a standout in NASCAR. And the speedy 1963 Dodge 440 showed off American auto creativity at its peak. This article delves into the muscle car phenomenon's beginnings. We'll reveal the tales of classic models and uncover hard-to-find gems. For any muscle car lover, this look at the rarest, most desirable muscle cars is a must-read. It promises to excite and inform, no matter your experience with muscle cars. Key Takeaways - The 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 is widely regarded as the first muscle car, igniting the trend of powerful V-8 engines in smaller cars. - The 1955 Chrysler C-300 was one of the first "supercars" and became a dominant force in NASCAR, showcasing its extraordinary capabilities. - The 1963 Dodge 440, despite its obscurity, was one of the fastest muscle cars ever made, with a range of engine options and impressive performance stats. - There are many forgotten gems from manufacturers like AMC, Plymouth, Pontiac, and Mercury that deserve recognition as muscle car unicorns. - Preserving the legacy of these highly-coveted muscle car gems is crucial to honoring the rich history of American muscle.

The Birth of Muscle Cars

1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88: The First Muscle Car The 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 is known as the first muscle car. It had a big 304ci V-8 engine that fit in smaller 78 coupes. This made the Rocket 88 very powerful. It's said to have started the V-8 high-performance cars era. The Olds Rocket 88 won NASCAR races from 1949 to 1952. Other car companies then saw the value of factory muscle. Ushering in the Era of V-8 High-Performance Cars The 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 changed the game. It combined a powerful V-8 engine in a smaller car. This started the muscle car origins. It opened the door for a brand new type of V-8 high-performance cars. These cars would go on to excite car lovers for years.

Chrysler's Supercar Dominance

In 1955, the Chrysler C-300 first hit the scene as a Chrysler supercar. It quickly took hold as a star in NASCAR. This sleek two-door hardtop featured a 300 horsepower Hemi V-8. It was designed with two four-barrel carbs to meet NASCAR's rules, with a goal of leading the pack. At the time, NASCAR races featured cars that people could easily buy. This made the battles on the track thrillingly fair. Every car was like the others, coming straight from the showroom floor. Homologation for NASCAR Success The 1955 Chrysler C-300 wasn't just a car; it was built for high-performance supercar tasks. With its mighty Hemi engine and special tweaks, it was ready to race. Any success in NASCAR would mean showing off Chrysler's ability to make top-tier muscle cars for both the road and the track.

Studebaker's Surprising Power

Studebaker was once a famous name, especially for its affordable cars that were not as fancy as others. But in 1956, everything changed when they introduced the Studebaker Golden Hawk. This car packed a lot of power like the top cars in its class but was cheaper. 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk: A Sleeper Hit In 1956, Studebaker built 4,071 Golden Hawks, with only 786 having a special transmission. These rare ones, with a certain transmission and gear setup, could go from zero to 60 faster than a Chevrolet Corvette and a Ford Thunderbird. Outperforming Thunderbird and Corvette The Golden Hawk had a V-8 engine with 275 horsepower. This, combined with its lighter weight, made it quicker than the Ford Thunderbird and the Chevrolet Corvette. It was truly a hidden gem from Studebaker that showed it could beat top cars in a race.

AMC's Distinctive Muscle

In the late 1950s, American Motors Corporation stood out. While others focused on big luxury or small cars, AMC chose a different path. They came out with the AMC Rambler Rebel, a mid-size model. It didn't fit into the usual category of rare AMC muscle cars. Yet, AMC did something special. They added a large 327ci V-8 engine. This made the AMC Rambler Rebel the first true muscle car of those times. 1957 AMC Rambler Rebel: The First True Muscle Car In 1957, the AMC Rambler Rebel changed the automotive world. Between large and small cars, it was just right. It had a powerful V-8 engine. This mix created the first mid-size muscle car. It opened the door for more mid-size muscle cars to come.

Rarest Muscle Cars

The 1963 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe Z11 and 1963 Dodge 440 are among the rarest muscle cars. They stand for top power and rarity from the peak of American muscle cars. 1963 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe Z11: Drag Strip Domination In 1963, Chevrolet stepped it up with the Z11 version of the Impala. It featured a special 427 engine for top drag racing performance. Only 57 of the 1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11 models were ever made, adding to its legend. 1963 Dodge 440: The Obscure Speedster The 1963 Dodge 440 is tough to pin down but could pack big power under the hood. Models could range from a modest 318 to the mighty 426 Max Wedge, giving it impressive drag strip dominance.

Ford's Unsung Muscle Heroes

Not just the famous Ford muscle cars like Mustangs and Cobra Jet Mavericks are special. There are lesser-known, equally remarkable models. For example, the 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt and the 1970 Ford Falcon 429 Cobra Jet stand out. 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt: The God Of... The 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt was a beast for drag racing and NASCAR. It had a light body and a huge 427 V8. With only 57 made, these Thunderbolts are rare and sought after by collectors. 1970 Ford Falcon 429 Cobra Jet: Compact Power The 1970 Ford Falcon 429 Cobra Jet wasn’t as loud as the Ford Mustang or Torino. But, it was a powerhouse with a 429 V8. Its small size but big power made it shine on the drag strip, proving Ford's skill at creating unsung muscle car heroes.

Mopar's Forgotten Gems

The Mopar muscle cars like the Dodge Challengers and Chargers are famous. But, not all fans know about gems like the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona and 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda. These cars are significant too. 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona: Winged Warrior The 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was a unique Charger made for NASCAR. It had a special nose and rear spoiler. With a 426 Hemi V8 engine, it was built to rule the racetrack. 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda: The Ultimate Muscle Car Many see the 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda as the best. Its 426 Hemi V8 made it extremely powerful. Its design is known all over, making it a must-have muscle car from that time.

GM's Underappreciated Muscle

The well-known GM muscle cars like Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds shine bright in car lore. But, a few hidden gems from General Motors need their time in the spotlight. The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 and the 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge are two perfect examples. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6: The Heavyweight Champ The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 stood as a heavyweight muscle car champion. It featured a huge 454 cubic-inch big-block V8. This engine roared to life with 450 horsepower, making it incredibly strong. It was at the top among GM muscle cars at that time. It ruled the drag strip, showing off its immense power without peer. 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge: The Rebel Rouser The 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge was the fiery alter ego of the GTO. It came with a unique look and incredible drag strip abilities. This muscle car symbolized the rebellious spirit of its time. It attracted fans looking for something different yet powerful.

Rare Muscle Trucks

While we usually hear about famous muscle cars, rare muscle trucks are just as impressive. These unique trucks combine high performance with the features of a regular pickup. They're like special, powerful gems in the car world. 1993 GMC Typhoon: The Turbocharged Tornado The 1993 GMC Typhoon stood out as a turbocharged SUV. It carried a V6 engine that could match up with some sports cars. The Typhoon was not just any truck. It was a top performer among rare muscle trucks. 1990 Chevrolet 454 SS: The Muscle Pickup The 1990 Chevrolet 454 SS showed us pickups could also be muscle cars. It featured a powerful 454 cubic-inch V8 engine. This gave it muscle car strength and pickup truck use. It proved Chevrolet could redefine a turbocharged muscle truck.

Conclusion

Preserving the Legacy of Rare Muscle Cars Mustangs, Camaros, and Chargers are well-known in car history. But, there are many others like Studebaker's Golden Hawk and AMC's Rambler Rebel. These less-known models show the creativity and power of American cars from the muscle car era. It's important to remember these rare cars. They highlight the amazing history of American muscle cars. The Enduring Allure of American Muscle Muscle cars, like the 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird, always draw people in. They represent the best in American car design and technology. These special cars, such as the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, are top examples. They show why people love American muscle cars. By valuing these hidden gems, we keep the spirit of muscle cars alive. It inspires those who love cars for years to come. Read the full article

[kickinthetires]

Michael Annett NASCAR Racing Experience 300 Gatorade Victory Lane- Gallery DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.-- For the first time in his 230 Xfinity Series career Michael Annett went to Gatorade Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway! Michael Annett piloted the No. Pilot Flying/ American Heart Association Chevrolet.

[giveawayusa]

NASCAR Racing Experience 300 28 Days of Giveaways - Win Tickets Eligibility: 50 US, DC 18+ This Giveaway Ends on February 28th, 2019. https://www.giveawaynsweepstakes.com/nascar-racing-experience-300-28-days-of-giveaways-win-tickets/

[martinnecas]

Gragson’s chaotic Daytona win celebration | NASCAR Racing Experience 300 | February 15th, 2020

[mcdonoughplacestovisit]

Southern Roots Bistro and Bar

••• Unrecorded Music, Totally provided bar, Unimaginable Food! 15 Griffin Road in McDonough | 678.759.1233

Our extraordinary plan started life as a Portage Engine show region in the last piece of the 1800's. The development truly recollects the most settled working lift for Georgia. The bar tops and tables were all exceptionally made from the recovered wood wiped out from the old housetop structure. Following 14 months of obliteration, revamp and improvement, it was changed into Southern Roots Bar - McDonough's freshest nightlife with unrecorded music, two full-stacked bars and remarkable food!

Get away from the Showcase

••• Not the standard, separated little break room. 359 Macon Road in McDonough | 770.355.9644

A genuine camera obvious center that changes into a tremendous Getaway Room around evening! Phenomenal fun with mates with our break game!

Southern Greatness Domain

••• A 200-part of land working ranch gathering with inconsistent family works out 1658 Turner Church Street in McDonough | 770.288.2582

Our fortes are close by family fun with pick your own strawberries, pumpkins, and a tomfoolery fall season like no other - corn labyrinth, pumpkin fix, pig races, cow train — it's here that recollections are made! AgriTourism at its perfect!

Fun Bowl and Fun Town of Henry Locale

••• THE spot for redirection simply in Henry Domain! 300 Expressway 155 South in McDonough | 770.898.4272

Fun Bowl and Fun Town of Henry District is an indoor and outside family diversion complex highlighting bowling, go-karts, more unassuming than normal golf, laser tag, wall climbing, arcades and that is only a touch of something bigger!

Reestablished Feel at Red's Retreat Day Spa

••• Atlanta's Absolute best Day Spa! 22 Jonesboro Road in McDonough | 678.432.7474

Come visit Atlanta's Most Immaculate Day Spa. Coordinated in the "most settled house" in McDonough, recorded on the Public Significant Register, this is a should information in McDonough. Supporting staff and Normal Thing commitments spread out a fixing and loosening up climate that can't be overwhelmed. Experience the departure. Make a point to like them on Facebook for striking offers and limits. Have a pick this site Local business nearby

Noah's Ark Creature Remaking People group

••• Lions, tigers and bears! Altruistic my! 712 LG-Griffin Street in Grasshopper Woods | 770.957.0888

A remaking neighborhood creatures and young people! With in excess of 1,000 creatures, this safe house for both spellbinding and neighborhood creatures is the best spot to go during a time with the children. Trip under the oak trees prior to heading into the creature standard natural components. An unprecedented blueprint of the affection and backing that is going on in this bewitching departure are Leo the lion, Baloo the American wild bear, and Shere Khan the tiger, whom all live independently in a practically identical locale and believe themselves to be all family.

Atlanta Engine Speedway

••• Home to NASCAR Late evening Hustling on Work Day Weekend! 1500 Tara Spot in Hampton | 770.946.4211

Found only 25 miles south of Atlanta, Atlanta Engine Speedway is a well conceived plan coordinated on 887 fragments of land. Atlanta Engine Speedway is one of the nation's top games, corporate, family and diversion work environments.

Astounding Departure Theater

••• Departure to a film today! 155 Empower Drive in McDonough | 770.954.3332

Showing the most recent film discharges in a charming and best in class climate. Get two or three popcorn, a disease drink and nutritious chocolate covered raisins … take your honey by the hand! At this point, stop momentarily and live it up.

Woody's Leap N Play

••• Invigorating family amusement focus! 1300 McDonough Spot in McDonough | 770.914.2973

Woody's Leap N Play is a thrilling family redirection focus spilling over with inflatables, games, slides, level screen TVs, a gatekeepers' parlor, and a warm staff. Woody will presumably drive a positive and safe climate and to make an environment where guards and youths love to come!

[the-kings-tail-fin]

Ok your Analysis on the doc vs king race was fascinating now I what to know who will win in this 3 way race between Chick Hicks and francesco bernoulli and Jackson Storm in the world race from cars 2 no spy villain shenanigans and no other rivals just the three of them I’m so looking forward to your Analysis please take your time with this

Ooooh, thank you for this ask! I’m glad you liked the last one. You can always count on me to nerd out on these sorts of things.

*cracks knuckles* now let’s get down to business

First, a not-so-brief overview of all three characters, and what they have going for and against them.

We’ll start with Chick. The Buick Grand Nationals were sort of the last hurrah when it came to GM building performance cars for several years. They were a hail Mary shot for Buick to try to be cool, and it worked, to everyone’s surprise. The GNX (Grand National Experimental) was actually the fastest American car produced in ‘87, believe it or not. It would have been the fastest in the world had Lamborghini not been doing Lamborghini things. Anywho, Chick’s got a turbocharged 3.8L V-6 engine that realistically puts out close to 300 horsepower. At around 3400 pounds, that’s a little over 11 pounds per horsepower. While not bad, it’s pretty clear the muscle car scene has deteriorated significantly since the 70s. Now, this isn’t necessarily a lot of power, and it’s more than likely the Chick we see in Cars isn’t stock - but for sake of analysis and hypothesizing (and consistency with my previous post) we’ll leave this be. So what else does Chick have going for him? GNXs were pretty competitive road going cars as well. He’s undoubtedly less fragile than Francesco and Storm combined, and with a higher ground clearance, he would handle better on uneven, rough pavement or dirt. But honestly, that’s about it.

Now, Francesco! Let’s base him off of a 2012 F1 Ferrari for comparison’s sake. He’s probably a little older than that, but we don’t know for certain, and it won’t make that big of a difference anyhow. A formula car like him only weighs about 1,400 pounds, and cranks out an insane amount of power. How much you ask? Any guesses? It’s anywhere between 750 and 1,000 horsepower depending on the setup. Let’s be conservative here and say Franny boy has 800 horsepower. That’s less than 2 pounds per horsepower! Thus, as he brags about himself, he can go well over 300 kilometers per hour (right around and over 200 miles per hour for those of us who don’t know how kilometers work). So the numbers don’t lie. Francesco is crazy fast, we know that. He should win easily, yeah? Well, perhaps not. We forget how fragile (pronounced frah-gee-lay) F1 cars are. They’re made completely out of carbon fiber, they’re tiny, and each part is made to do as much as it can while taking up the least amount of space, creating less drag, and weighing less. These cars operate with the bare minimum of equipment they can manage and still hold an edge on performance. One thing they’re not built to do is to stand up to contact. They’re built to be light and go fast. So the first time Francesco hits a pothole or a rock in the dirt? Something’s gonna break. That’s that. He’s out for repairs.

Lastly, but certainly not the least, our boy Jackson Storm. Since Jackson’s a custom next gen build, he has no real life equivalents. So what do we know? He’s super aerodynamic. He can reach speeds of over 210 miles per hour on a super speedway. He trains like an obsessive video gamer. He’s the new standard for racing at the Piston Cup level. So, let’s compare a couple of his stats to the modern NASCAR cup cars. We’re looking at about 725 horsepower (unrestricted) and 3,400 pounds (and honestly, he’s probably more impressive than this, but again, conservatism at work here). That’s a little less than 5 horsepower per pound. Pretty good, right? That’s less than half of what Chick has to tote around, and not all that much more than Francesco. Now, Jackson doesn’t have much ground clearance at all. He’s meant to drive on pavement and stick to it, not to go over rough surfaces. He’s got that going against him, much like Francesco.

So putting this all together for a final analysis! Chick would have the advantage on the dirt. He’s got the ground clearance the other two don’t have, and I’d bet money he’s got a little experience as well. He’s old, he’s had to work hard and climb the ranks to get to the Piston Cup level, and a lot of the little leagues are run on dirt by default. He might not like it, but he can race on dirt. While the other two racers would let their raw speed get in the way and increase their likelihood of losing control on dirt, Chick’s got the right amount of power to deal with the situation.

That’s where Chick’s advantages end, however. He’s hopelessly outpowered on asphalt. He weighs too much and handles too poorly to be any good on the road courses. This is where Francesco and Storm would shine. Francesco, of course, is the master of road courses. All Jackson can do is drive in circles, right?

Well, not really. We forget so soon that Jackson is the master simulator trainee. He’s practiced and practiced and practiced. He knows the courses by heart. Think about when Francesco raced Lightning. Francesco fell way behind in the dirt while Lightning sailed through, but Francesco still caught up. Yet, Lightning still managed to win in Porta Corsa. Lightning was fast enough to beat Francesco in a well run race. Storm might not have the experience on dirt that Lightning had, but he is faster. And he’s less fragile than Francesco. This is key. Francesco has to be careful going through the dirt if he’s to have any hope of finishing the race and winning. This slows him down. Now, Jackson might suck driving on dirt, but he can go faster. He’s no tank by any means, but he can take a little abuse and not have it affect his performance. He’s not gonna shatter into a hundred pieces like Francesco would at any little obstacle. This’ll give him a lead coming out of the dirt, and top that with a higher top speed and an ability to hold a line on a complicated course, and that puts Jackson Storm at an advantage over ol’ Francesco. Speed can’t overcome all, much to Francesco’s disappointment.

TL;DR - Jackson Storm is here to ruin everyone’s day.

[latemodelsportsman]

A Quick Note

I started this blog about six years ago as a place to collect images, share stories,  and document my own experience growing up with NASCAR. I’d grown tired of the Facebook comments and flame wars in online forums. I came here and found a place among other fans where the experience was entirely civil. I was thankful to see LGBTQ and neurodivergent racing fans among the ranks of followers here. I always assumed NASCAR fandom was more diverse than the good ol’ boy stereotype attached to the sport (there’s still plenty of y’all here, too). So I’d like to say thanks for sticking around and following this sporadic blog of awful silly season theories, occasionally relevant stories, images of days gone by, and my own experiences at the track.

Now, for some house cleaning. When new folks follow this blog, I make it a point to check out their blogs. While I might not agree with everything you post on your own personal blog,  I mind my own business. Unfortunately, I recently started seeing Nazi iconography, anti-LGBTQ memes and violent, Nationalist rhetoric in many blogs. I draw the line here. I went through and blocked nearly 300 blogs tonight. Sure, there are easy ways around the block, but I want it to be known that you are not welcome here if you hold hate in your heart for other human beings. I’ll save the political soapboxing for another day, but know that the world is larger than your own experiences. Community means stepping beyond comfort zones. But there is Never EVER room for Fascists, misogynists, sexists, nationalists, or homophobes here.

[mvdbutler]

THE 10 BEST NASCAR XFINITY SERIES DAYTONA SEASON OPENERS EVER

10-2010 drive4copd 300 9-1995 GOODY'S 300 DAYTONA 8-2004 HERSHEY's kisses 300 7-2000 napa auto parts 300 6-1997 Gargoyles 300 5-2013 DRIVE4COPD 300 4-2020 NASCAR Racing Experience 300 3-2007 Orbitz 300 2-2006 Hershey's Kissables 300 1-2015 alert today florida 300

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

Maybe before cats and dogs started their bitter rivalry, there was Snake vs Mongoose. I’m not talking about Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, I mean two of the best known drag racers ever to lay it all on the starting line: Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen. Back before corporate sponsorship made some racers professionals, drag racers were innovators and possibly daredevils who no doubt, did it for love and a heaping dose of quarter mile glory. Why else would Snake and Mongoose travel the country for “grudge matches” that paid not much more than gas and beer money? It wasn’t until McEwen convinced Mattel (the first non-automotive drag racing sponsor) that “Wildlife Racing” and this “bitter” rivalry (actually between friends) would sell scores of Hot Wheels that drag racing became both lucrative and a common household discussion.

But that’s just part of the story!  Head down to the Peterson Automotive Museum for their NHRA: Sixty Years of Thunder where Don “The Snake” Prudhomme will be joined by Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen, Roland Leong (Hawaiian funny car fame), “TV” Tommy Ivo (Actor and racer of some nasty multi-engined hot rods), Carroll Shelby (needs no intro!) and Ed Pink (engine builder for Snake and just about every winning racer back then). A once in a lifetime experience for $150 on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010.

Details of who, what, where below are courtesy of the Petersen Automotive Museum:

(LOS ANGELES, October 1, 2010) Petersen Automotive Museum is celebrating the opening of the exciting new exhibit, NHRA: Sixty Years of Thunder by paying tribute to one of the sport’s most iconic figures – Don “The Snake” Prudhomme – during their annual Tribute Night on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010.

Match Race Madness Panel Discussion

The day will begin with the 2 p.m. panel discussion, Match Race Madness, featuring drag racing’s greatest rivalry: Snake vs. Mongoose. Prudhomme will be joined by arch-rival Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen to tell the tales of their days of traveling the United States from race track to race track, their much-publicized grudge matches, the business partnership they formed called, “Wildlife Racing,” and their pioneering work in non-automotive sponsorship with Mattel’s Hot Wheels.

An Evening with Don “The Snake” Prudhomme

At 5:30 p.m., An Evening with Don “The Snake” Prudhomme will begin. A cocktail hour with Prudhomme, McEwen, and honored guests Roland Leong, Tommy Ivo, Carroll Shelby, Ed Pink and many others will be followed by a fabulous dinner buffet. Special guest Dave McClelland, the Voice of the NHRA and longtime friend of Don Prudhomme, will be the Master of Ceremonies. The evening will continue with a short film featuring The Snake’s history and several other drag racing icons will share their stories of the legend. A live auction of amazing racing memorabilia will follow with proceeds going to the Petersen’s educational programs. Guests will also be able to preview the items that will be in the Bonham’s and Butterfield’s Motorcycles and Memorabilia auction on Saturday, Nov. 13.

NHRA: Sixty Years of Thunder

If that’s not enough, guests will also be the first to see Petersen Automotive Museum’s newest exhibit, NHRA: Sixty Years of Thunder. This exciting new exhibit will cover the history of the National Hot Rod Association, from its early creation as a way to get street racing off of the public highways and on to sanctioned drag strips, through six decades of nitro, tire smoke and thunder. Guests will have an experience rich with historic photography, exciting videos, interactive displays and of course, race cars with the combined power output of 50,000 horses! This exhibit opens at the gala and runs through May 29, 2011.

Tickets

Tickets for An Evening With Don “The Snake” Prudhomme are $125 each. Tickets for the Match Race Madness panel discussion are $50 each. A combined ticket for both events is $150, a $25 savings. Special pricing is available for certain levels of Petersen Automotive Museum Membership. For more information call (323) 964-6325, or to buy your tickets on-line, go to www.Peterson.org. Event proceeds support the Petersen Automotive Museum’s educational and cultural mission.

Honoree: Don “The Snake” Prudhomme

In the early days of his drag racing career, Don Prudhomme worked as a crew member for drag racing icon “T.V.” Tommy Ivo. In 1962, Prudhomme achieved his first Top Fuel win at the Smoker’s March Meet in Bakersfield, California. From 1962 through 1964, Don teamed up with Tom Greer and legendary engine builder Keith Black, and built the famous Greer, Black & Prudhomme Top Fueler (on display in NHRA: 60 Years of Thunder) which won nearly every west coast event. Prudhomme went on to drive Roland Leong’s “Hawaiian” Top Fuel dragster, and won his first NHRA race, the 1965 Winternationals in Pomona, California. He then switched to Funny Cars in the 1970s and won four straight NHRA Funny Car World Championships between 1975 and 1978 and had seven NHRA U.S. Nationals wins. He was the first Funny Car driver to go 5 seconds in the quarter mile and the first to top 250 mph.

Don Prudhomme’s quick reaction times earned him the nickname, “The Snake.” He teamed up with his friend and rival, Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen to form the team “Wildlife Racing,” and they were hired by track owners to race each other in grudge matches around the country. But the real money came when they were sponsored by Mattel’s “Hot Wheels,” the first non-automotive sponsor in NHRA history.

The Snake last raced on his “Final Strike Tour” in 1994, but stayed active in other areas of the sport. Until his retirement earlier this year, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme was a car owner running a Top Fuel Dragster Team and two Funny Car teams. Prudhomme has 49 career wins as a driver, and 59 career wins as an owner.

National Hot Rod Association

Nestled in the quiet community of Glendora, Calif., just minutes east of downtown Los Angeles, is the world’s largest and loudest auto racing organization, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Since it was founded by Wally Parks in 1951, NHRA has been dedicated to safety while providing millions of racing fans with The Extreme Motorsport: the fastest and most spectacular form of entertainment on wheels. With 80,000 members and more than 35,000 licensed competitors, NHRA is a thriving leader in the world of motorsports. Parks initially started NHRA as a means of getting hot rodders off the streets and on to legal drag strips. Since those early days, NHRA has evolved into the largest promoter of professional drag racing in the world. Today, with more than 300 dedicated employees, NHRA offers drag racing opportunities for hot rod enthusiasts of all levels, from kids ages 8-17 in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League all the way up to the top of the Professional ranks with the organization’s NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

NHRA is moving just as fast in popularity with auto racing fans. Second to only NASCAR in terms of attendance, fan appeal, and sponsorship commitment, NHRA is moving quickly into mainstream America.

NHRA is all about diversity. With more than 20 categories of competition, including Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle at the Professional level, to a multicultural array of high-octane personalities it calls world champions; NHRA thrives on unique competitors accomplishing unique achievements. For example, in 2008, Hispanic racer Cruz Pedregon won the NHRA Funny Car world championship, and Ashley Force Hood and Melanie Troxel became the first female winners in the Funny Car class.

Participation on and off the track has made the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series one of the most popular forms of racing, reaching thousands of fans, members, and sponsors a quarter-mile at a time.

Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity. The Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles. Admission prices are $10 for general admission adults, $5 for seniors and students with ID, and $3 for children ages 5 to 12. Museum members and children under five are admitted free. Covered parking is available for $2 per half hour with an $8 maximum for Museum visitors. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm. For general Museum information, call 323/930-CARS or visit the Museum’s Web site at: www.Peterson.org.

[hg-world-india]

Upcoming PS4 games for October 2021

Brace yourselves for all the hottest upcoming PS4 games in October.

From a sports thriller to a zombie shooter, October is packed with exciting games one after the other. There is absolutely no doubt that game developers and publishers love the fall months to launch the most amazing and entertaining game titles that have everyone waiting. And they haven’t disappointed this time either.

With PS5 still being a high demand product all across the world and with less availability of the same PlayStation, gamers are still vouching for their beloved PS4. Taking advantage of the same, developers are leaving no stone unturned in introducing worthy and exciting game titles one after the other. By the way, if you still haven’t got your hands on the latest PS5, worry not! We are at the right place. Click here to know more.

Below we have a curated list of upcoming PS4 games that are sure to win a place on your Wishlist soon.

·       FIFA 22

Release date: 1st October 2021

FIFA is back and it’s grander than ever. With more than 700 teams to choose from, 30 plus leagues including the UEFA championship League and the UEFA Europa Conference League exclusive for the PS5 and more than 16 thousand players, FIFA wants you to live your football dream with pride.

What’s new? EA Sports made sure that you have the utmost control over the performance and result of your team by rewriting the goalkeeper dynamics, including new and advanced ball dynamics, adding new and clever attacking tactics to choose from and the sprint mechanism that makes it even more real to match with some of the fastest sprinters on the team. Apart from this, the developers have made sure to include small and new innovations across several modes for you to have that refreshing feeling every time you play this game.

·       Super Ball Monkey: Banana Mania

Release date: 5th October 2021

Enjoy the adventures of this monkey gang with your gang, as you discover and try to stop Dr Bad Bon from destroying the whole Jungle Island. Roll, Tilt, bounce as you travel through hundreds of amazing levels all in the hope to stop the mad scientist from blowing up the Jungle.

The all-star monkey team consists of YanYan, MeeMee. Baby, Doctor, AiAi and GonGon. Either you go solo or assemble your own gang of four and dive into the madness of bananas as you go on to become the coolest monkey in the jungle. With more than 300 levels to explore, the game also offers 30 plus mini-games like Monkey Soccer, Monkey Racing and so much more.

·       Alan Walk Remastered

Release Date: 5th October 2021

Now this one is for all the horror fanatics. This horror action thriller is all set to pull you into the mysterious world of secrets, heart racing cliffhangers, creepy nightmares, unexpected twists, intense combat situations and above all a sinister presence that will do anything and everything to stop our protagonist in his mission.

To give you a brief on the storyline, Alan Walk, an author sets out to find his wife who mysteriously goes missing from Pacific Northwest. Soon after he discovers pages of a horror story that is supposedly written by him. To make matters worse one by one everything written on the pages starts coming true.

This cinematic thriller will push our player to question his sanity as he dives deep into the horrible secrets to find answers. With only a handgun, a flashlight and some of his remaining sanity, Alan is forced to fight the sinister presence.

The game is assured to give you a never like before experience with the main game and two side story expansion in breath-taking visuals, an amazing put together casts of characters and cut scenes that are to die for.

·       Far Cry 6

Release Date: 7th October 2021.

The latest instalment in the popular series Far Cry is back with a more intense and explosive action-packed journey.

The story follows around the Yara Island where Dani Rojas who strikes the flame against President Anton Castillo voiced by Actor Giancarlo Esposito (popular for hit shows like ‘The Boys’, ‘Better call Saul’ and many. Castillo has iron control over the island with his ruthless dictatorship, which is strongly opposed by Dani and their guerrilla group who fights Castillo and his son Deigo.

Throughout the game, you will get several opportunities to interact with other characters and make them your ally for the fight against Castillo. Apart from this, get your hands on dangerous weapons, vehicles and so much more as you fight the war with everything you got.

·       Back 4 Blood

Release Date: 12th October 2021

The spiritual successor of the critically acclaimed title, left 4 Dead is here to test your survival skills as you and your group of friends fight your way through undead zombies to live. The game comes from the same developer and creator team under the Turtle Roci studios who created the before mentioned hit game.

The director of this cooperative zombie’s shooter will leave no stone unturned as they try to mix up and change the enemies and their quantity depending upon the circumstances. However, there is a kick. You can somewhat control and manipulate combat and defences using the game card. Well, everything is fair when it comes to war.

·       Marvel’s Guardian of the Galaxy

Release Date: 26th October 2021

Now, this one has been on my wish list since its announcement. The concept and gameplay from the much-famed studios is all the reason why one should vouch for this one.

The game lets you control the much hilariously chaotic character Star Lord who is also the leader of the group of misfits where they are off to yet another adventure filled with action, comedy and a lot of fun. Your decisions are crucial as they decide the dynamics between the members of this dysfunctional group and the situation, they are in.

We think this refreshing and funky take on the original characters is an amazing way to experience the chaos and fun of the unpredictable group as they try to make it through the dangers.

What’s more, is the amazing 80s soundtrack that will make playing the game all the more awesome.

·       NASCAR 21: Ignition

Release Date: 26th October 2021

The popular NASCAR Cup Series is back to pull you into its immersive gameplay filled to the brim with amazing graphics, a soundtrack to die for, new shiny cars and customised race tracks to match the action and speed of the real NASCAR 2021 Cup Series Season.

The video game is so close to the real thing with its actual presentation of the official teams, clubs, drivers, tracks, pre-race build-up and post-race rallies with its top-tier broadcast quality.

Dive straight into the races with the ‘Race Now’ mode and choosing your favourite NASCAR series driver and car or enter the career mode, where you get a gist of the real journey of becoming a world NASCAR champion.

·       Riders Republic

Release Date: 28th October 2021

Imagine, an open world where players are free to choose any racing sport and compete against players from all across the world. Sounds fun right?

To satiate the rider spirit inside you, Riders Republic is here with activities ranging from snowboarding, skiing, biking and so much more. Sound chaotic, doesn’t it? It is but in a very fun way. You can also try on the campaign mode which is equally enthralling and entertaining.

Some more upcoming PS4 games and their release dates:1.     Phoenix Point: Behemoth Edition

Release Date: 1st October 2021

2.     Wasteland 3: Cult of Holy Detonation

Release Date: 5th October 2021

3.     Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles

Release Date: 15th October 2021

4.     The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes

Release Date: 22nd October 2021

5.     Fatal Fame: Maiden of Black Water

Release Date: 28th October 2021

watch the video of ps5 here.

[kickinthetires]

Check out our full gallery from the 38th Annual #NASCAR Racing Experience 300 from @DISUpdates! Daytona, FL- Saturday afternoon was full of excitement as the 38th Annual NASCAR Racing Experience 300 took place at Daytona International Speedway! Check out all of the action from the race with our full photo gallery!

[bijoychetia]

Jeremy Clements Racing Looking for Sponsorship After Amicable Separation with Repairables.com — TobyChristie.com DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 15: Jeremy Clements, driver of the #51 RepairableVehicles.com Chevrolet,during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

[drdiandralp]

The Secret to iRacing's Track Realism? LIDAR

The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series is a welcome respite from a world transformed by coronavirus. Here's how iRacing uses science to make the experience as much like real life as possible. If only the real world could figure out fast repairs! Many NASCAR drivers use iRacing to supplement manufacturer-owned simulators, which they can access for limited periods of time. They rave about iRacing's accuracy in everything from billboards to bumps in the track. The secret to iRacing's fidelity to real life is LIDAR.

LIDAR? What's a LIDAR?

LIDAR 'sees' with light waves the same way radar 'sees' with radio waves and sonar 'sees' with sound waves. The term 'LIDAR' was originally a portmanteau of 'light' and 'radar'. But 'radar' was originally an acronym for RAdio Detection and Ranging. So some people say LIDAR is an acronym for LIght Detection And Ranging. LIDAR was commercially introduced in the 1960s, shortly after the discovery of the laser. As the size and price of lasers (and detectors) has come down, LIDAR has become more accessible and applicable to a range of activities Forestry (Soil profiling, studying the growth of tree stands, forest fire management)Space exploration (studying the atmosphere on Mars; during the Apollo 15 mission to map the moon)Flood modeling and disaster recoveryNatural resource exploration and recovery (Oil and gas exploration, mining)Archeology (Indiana Jones should've had one)ConstructionNASCAR inspections

The Physics of Sight

Any type of 'seeing' requires three things: A source An objectA detector For example: light waves from the Sun (the source) reflect from a piece of paper (an object) and are detected by your eyes.

We derive a lot of information from that simple process. Color 'White' light contains many different colors, as you know if you've ever played with a prism or seen a rainbow. If you see the object as red, that's because that particular object absorbs all colors of light except red.

Shape If light waves hit a smooth surface, they reflect back as I showed above. But if they hit something like a rumble strip, the shape of the object changes how the waves reflect.

On a smaller scale, this same principle gives us an object's texture. When you walk into a track and look around, your eyes convert those light waves to electrical signals. Your brain analyzes the light waves coming off everything in your field of view and creates a 3D map that tells us how far away objects are, their shapes, textures, and colors. Our eyes and brains are really quite amazing -- which is why it's a challenge to create machines that 'see'.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Different colors of light have different wavelengths. A rainbow is ordered in decreasing wavelength from red to violet. Red light has a wavelength of about 700 nanometers (that's about 1/100th of the diameter of a human hair). Violet light is about 400 nanometers.

Colors at the BIV end of the rainbow have shorter wavelengths, while colors at the ROY end have longer wavelengths. The human eye can detect wavelengths from about 380 nm to 740 nm, but that's a tiny, tiny, tiny part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

SiriusXM works at about 2.3 GHz, which is a wavelength of roughly 23 feet. Each tick on the graph above is a factor of ten. Electromagnetic waves exist with wavelengths from 0.000000000001 meters to 1,000,000,000,000,000 meters. I noted where satellite radio waves fall just because I was curious. Infrared and ultraviolet waves are waves slightly larger than or smaller than the range we can see. You can 'see' infrared waves with night vision goggles. Some animals see ultraviolet waves.

Seeing Without Light

Regardless of what wavelength light you're using, the process is the same. There's a source, an object and a receiver. Because you're working outside the visible light spectrum, the machine must both detect and send the waves you're using. How long it takes for the light pulse to bounce off the object and return tells you how far away it is.How much of the wave you sent out comes back tells you something about the color.You can tell something about the texture of the object by comparing the incident wave to the reflected wave.

LIDAR

Radar uses radio waves, which are huge. That's fine if you're detecting airplanes and cloud formations. If you want to see smaller features, you need smaller waves. LIDAR doesn't use visible lightA visible light source would have to be extremely powerful to be seen against the background of ambient light.You would have to account for the ambient light already thereYou risk blinding someone with an incredibly intense light.LIDAR uses infrared waves Most LIDAR systems work in the near-infrared, either at 905 nm or 1550 nm. That's above the human eye's limit, but infrared light can still damage eyes. Longer wavelengths have less energy, and the 1550 nm light is in a very specific spot that our eyes don't pick up -- but the technology to work in that range is more expensive.This wavelength gives LIDAR millimeter-level resolution. You're not just detecting bumps, you're detecting small cracks and the texture of the asphalt.LIDAR uses a laser as a source. A laser produces a single wavelength, which makes the measurement more accurate.

Left: A LIDAR rig being set up at a track. Right: LIDAR is so sensitive, it can detect painted lines on the track.

How They Do It

It takes time The iRacing team scans about 300 feet at a time, which takes about an hour. The rotating LIDAR captures everything in a 360-degree circle.It produces a massive set of numbers. The result is a 3D point cloud that captures the reflectivity, texture and shape of every object in the scan. A road course (like COTA at 3.4 miles) needs more than 250 million points.

You can see how the reflectivity of the green trees is much different from the reflectivity of the track. The point cloud is just a set of numbers. LIDAR doesn't measure 'green', but rather measures the reflectivity of the object to infrared waves. The points are then mapped to real colors. Here's an expanded version that lets you see the density of points.

The black circle is where the scanner was located. They'll do overlapping scans to fill in those areas. iRacing supplements the LIDAR scan with Thousands of photos that are used to fine-tune the computer model.GPS data that will be used to situate the track among the surrounding terrain It takes about 13,000 person-hours of time to get from the point cloud to a raceable track. Luckily, they divide and conquer, because 13,000 person-hours is about a year-and-a-half of someone working 24/7.

LIDAR Allows for Dynamics, Too

Having a detailed characterization of the track allows the programmers to make the track change in response to things like weather and friction heating from the cars' tires. By constantly calculating the position of the Sun throughout the race, they can put appropriate regions of the track in shade. They can manipulate the weather and make the track respond to cloud cover.Darker areas on a track heat up more than lighter areas. Heat means less grip. I covered this on the blog about why concrete and asphalt race differentlyThe car's lines feed back into the track temperature. If everyone's racing one groove, that area of the track will heat up more than the rest of the track. Just as in real life, moving to another groove might get you more grip.

Coming Soon To A Roadway Near You

Autonomous cars use LIDAR to navigate, in addition to multiple cameras. The box you see on top of an autonomous car holds the LIDAR. The car's computer must gather all the data and synthesize it in real time.

Left: An autonomous car showing the LIDAR box on top Right: A graphic showing how an autonomous car would use a combination of cameras and LIDAR to detect everything around it.

A Personal Note

I finished my first novel last year. It's about a journalist who gets entangled in a plot to destabilize the global economy using an Ebola-like bioweapon. I spent a lot of time studying viruses as background research for that book. I learned a lot of things I never dreamed I'd actually have to apply in real life. Please listen to CDC and NIH doctors and scientists. Follow their guidance. You don't go to a plumber to get a root canal. Don't get medical advice from politicians, pundits, or social media. That includes celebrity doctors more interested in advancing their personal brand than telling the truth. Above all, trust Dr. Fauci. Follow the guidelines. Keep your distance from people. Get exercise and, if possible, get outdoors for the sake of your mental health. Ask for help if you need it. Give help if you can. Read the full article

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/the-best-places-to-stay-to-watch-the-daytona-500/

The Best Places to Stay to Watch the Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 - the “Great American Race” - is fast approaching, set to take place on February 16th, 2020. If you’re interested, chances are you’ve already booked your tickets and are ready to join the excitement. Need a place to stay? We’ve got you covered.

Finding a place to stay in Daytona Beach during the busiest period of the year can be tough, but don’t fret! We here at Florida Rental by Owners have compiled a list of five amazing vacation rentals in and around Daytona Beach that are perfect for those looking to visit the Daytona 500 Race. 

Five Places to Stay in Daytona Beach to watch the Daytona 500:

1. Oceanfront Daytona Beach Condo Close to Daytona 500 & Daytona Speedway - 300 N Atlantic Ave

Grab this two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo located right on Daytona Beach with lovely ocean views. The condo is a 15-minute drive away from Daytona International Speedway and seconds from the Beach, granting easy access to Daytona Beach’s two most famous attractions. Enjoy the newly refurbished kitchen, with granite countertops and all the necessary amenities for cooking like a pro. 

Don’t feel like cooking? Well, then head across the road to the Ocean Walk Shops for a wide range of culinary delights. Take a dip in the pool, relax in the jacuzzi, play some indoor mini-golf or visit the Children’s Activity Room. 

Ocean Walk Resort has everything a family needs for a beach vacation, all for under $1,300 per week! If you’re interested, you can learn more about this property on the Florida Rental By Owners’ website. Keep in mind that this condo is very popular, so get in quick and make your booking as early as possible. 

2. Ocean Vistas Daytona Beach Condo near Daytona 500 & Daytona Speedway - 1925 S. Atlantic Ave

This 3000 square foot condo can sleep up to 12 people, while still providing amazing views of Daytona Beach. 10 minutes away from Daytona International Speedway, this condo is perfect for large groups looking to visit the Daytona 500. 

Calming interiors decorate this fully-furnished condo, making it the perfect spot to relax and unwind. Use the private Jenn Air Grill to cook up a feast after a long day exploring all Daytona Beach has to offer, or take a dip in the Resort pool to cool off after an exciting day. 

For under $1,900 a week, this four-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment provides affordable comfort and picturesque views that are perfect for a group vacation. To learn more about this condo and to book, head over to Florida Rental By Owners.

3. Sand Dollar Condo Daytona Beach near Daytona 500 and Daytona Speedway - 3115 S. Atlantic Ave 

This affordable two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo provides a cozy family retreat along the Daytona Beach shores. 20 minutes away from Daytona International Speedway, this condo allows easy access to everything Daytona Beach has to offer while still allowing you to retreat into your quiet slice of paradise. 

Cook in the fully-furnished kitchen, or visit one of the great dining spots within walking distance. Wake up to waterfront views, or walk out onto the quiet beach for a lovely relaxing time. 

For $750 a week, this little slice of paradise is perfect for families looking to stay somewhere outside Daytona Beach. Book quick, as this place is very popular! To learn more, visit the Florida Rental By Owners website. 

4. Beach House with Private Pool near Daytona 500 and Daytona Speedway - Ormond Beach, Florida

Located in the city of Ormond Beach, this two-bedroom beach house is perfect for families who want a quiet, relaxing place to stay. Being 20 minutes from Daytona International Speedway, and 10 minutes north of Daytona Beach, it’s super easy to access all the fun activities that Daytona Beach provides. Ormond Beach is a quiet city of around 43,000 people, perfect for those looking for peace and uncrowded beaches.

Enjoy the privacy in this Ormond Beach rental’s heated pool and hot tub. Cook in the fully-furnished kitchen, or go out to the nearby restaurants, bars, and shops, all minutes away! For those looking to explore the great outdoors, head on over to the Tomaka Nature Preserve for fishing, kayaking, and nature viewing. 

All this for just $875 per week, peace and tranquility have never come so cheap! To learn more visit the Florida Rental By Owners’ Website. 

5. Beach House near Daytona 500 and Daytona Speedway - Port Orange, Florida

With six bedrooms sleeping a total of 16 people, this beach house is the ultimate destination for a large group of NASCAR fans. 

Around 20 minutes south of Daytona International Speedway and Daytona Beach, this house gives you the best of both worlds, allowing access to everything Daytona Beach has to offer, while still giving the chance to relax on uncrowded beaches. 

With Foosball, Ping Pong, DVDs, and Video Games, kids and the young at heart are sure to be entertained by the house alone! Cook outside in a fully screened seating area with the backyard grill, or use the giant dining space for a grand feast. Shopping and Dining are available nearby and the beach is only a block away. 

For under $1,800 per week, you could not do any better than this amazing rental. To learn more, please check out the Florida Rental By Owners’ website.

That’s but a few of the best places to stay around Daytona Beach if you want the best Daytona 500 experience. Wherever you choose to stay, you’ll always be able to find a vacation rental that’ll offer great times and wonderful memories... guaranteed. So, bring the family and stay longer while enjoying the “Great American Race”! 

The best place to book vacation rentals in Florida is at Florida Rental By Owners. You can find over a thousand different Florida vacation rental properties for less than other booking websites like Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway. 

Florida Rental by Owners also has a large selection of monthly and long term rentals for snowbirds who are seeking some sunshine for longer stays. For your next trip to Florida, considering trying the website that will allow you to book the “same vacation rentals for less.”