My Team built a very high tech and unusual gravity race car and set the track record on the hill that has hosted the National Soap Box Race for the last 77 years. The Soap Box Derby began in 1933, but has never seen the kind of innovation that has taken place the last 3 or 4 years.  At one time there were very few rules which allowed a great deal of innovation.  In recent years the cars have been assembled from kits and have had many rules to keep the cars more even.  About 7 years ago a new division was formed to once again allow innovation in gravity racing at the Akron Hill.  The Ultimate Speed Division has very few rules, mostly safety related.  I think the Ultimate Speed publication from Akron says it best:
The Ultimate Speed Challenge is an All-American Soap Box Derby sanctioned racing format developed to preserve the tradition of innovation, creativity, and craftsmanship in the design of a gravity powered racing vehicle while generating intrigue, excitement, and engaging the audience at the annual All-American Soap Box Derby competition.  The goal of the event is to attract creative entries designed to reach speeds never before attainable on the historic Akron hill.

Since this division has very few rules, it allows very creative and interesting designs in the pursuit of speed.   For instance, the car I built for my daughter (My daughter drove the car the first 2 years and Sheri Lazowski drove it this year.) uses prisms so that she is looking straight up with her head flat with her body.  The prisms allow her to see straight down the track without lifting her head.  This reduces the profile of the car for better wind resistance.  Our car also has the steering wheel above her head so she drives with her arms above her head which also reduces the car’s profile since her shoulders are narrower with her arms above her head verses at her sides. The car doesn’t even use axles, but has a completely unique design. The shell is cantilever mounted on a center plate with outriggers that contain the wheels.  (please see pictures)  Our car is certainly not the only one with very innovative ideas.  These cars are very futuristic and sleek.  A lot of work, research, testing, etc goes into these cars.  Our team and others have even developed new urethane and rubber materials and built custom wheels in an effort to reduce rolling resistance.  These exotic materials are then treated with chemicals to make them even more resilient. We developed a urethane material for this race that is almost certainly the most resilient urethane ever produced. (Over 90% rebound)  We did have the help of some of the top R & D chemists in the country at a major chemical manufacturing company. These resilient urethane and rubber materials will lead to more efficient wheels for skates, skateboards, industrial rollers and even automobiles.

I think this competition, the car designs, and the technology involved would be of interest to your readers. There is currently a movie being produced by Corbin Bernsen that highlights the Soap Box Derby.  It is called “25 hill” and is scheduled to premiere next July.  www.25hill.com The movie tie-in might also be of interest.  I would be happy to provide any other information, pictures etc. you might need to put together an article.  I know the race organizers at the All American Soap Box Derby would also be more than happy to provide anything you might need.

Thanks for your interest,

Mark Overmyer

Links to articles:
http://blogs.physicstoday.org/newspicks/2010/07/physics-helps-father-daughter.html
http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x109281659/-Simple-physics-helps-Oregon-engineer-set-soap-box-derby-record
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/sports/2549576,6_2_NA30_SOAPBOX_S1-100730.article

Links to photos:
http://www.flickr.com/x/t/0098009/photos/20599388@N04/3992906109/
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=jlazski00&target=ALBUM&id=5498436616894614561&authkey=Gv1sRgCLavrNvjq6zNGg&feat=email

As for the football betting, this kind of news could be a deal breaker that shifts the entire roundup. Every winning, losing and events of injury determine the betting prediction and the key to be able to come up with accurate prediction is to be updated by the latest buzz around the NFL event. So never miss to check some of the buzz online so that you will be well informed and able to make the right decision on your betting. Online news sources are the best because you get to be updated in real time, no delays.

One gear that gives golfers fewer things to mind is the caddy bag. The caddy bag can contain a lot of things that a golfer sees necessary to improve his game, which includes the golf balls, clubs and even water bags. On a good day, this can accommodate a weight of 20 kilograms or more, which is relatively heavy for anyone to carry alone. Because of this, a lot of golfers begin to use electric golf carts or trolleys to transport their equipments.

The best advantage of electronic golf trolleys is that they reduce a lot of stress on a golfer’s physical body. It makes the golfer concentrate more on the game without thinking of having to carry a heavy weight all the time from his golf equipments. Before, owning an electronic golf trolley is considered an unwanted luxury, but this is totally not true anymore. Golfers are now realizing the benefits outweigh its costs when it comes to owning an electronic golf trolley.

To make a good golf swing, proper posture is necessary. Professional golfers know that carrying heavy golf equipments for long periods can cause strain and injury on the neck and back muscles. Strain of these areas is very harmful to the posture of golfers that can have an effect on their performance during the game. No doubt, many professional golfers use electronic golf trolleys to prevent such incident to happen. The remote-controlled trolleys are better option than a manual trolley.

This is because manual trolley involves the golfer to walk with the trolley on hand while the remote-controlled one can be operated from a distance that provides the golfer to concentrate better on the game. Remote-controlled golf trolleys are also more advantageous during poor weather when a golfer would bring extra clothing. The extra luggage can increase the weight of the bag which can bring more strain for the golfer. Even women with petite ladies golf clubs will enjoy the use of these. It is then better to avoid such condition to fully participate in the game.

A lot of golfers would think that the cost of electronic golf trolleys is way beyond their budget, which is in fact only a myth. In fact, many sports stores are now offering electronic golf trolleys for all kinds of needs of the golfer. Most remote-controlled golf trolleys run in batteries and these batteries are available on the same store that can be bought for a very low price. Because of its great advantage, electronic golf trolleys have become a popular accessory among golfers.

Golf carts can cost up to $14,000. But if you want to buy cheaper versions you can find one from used golf carts for sale. You may find used electric golf carts for about $4000-6000 and used gas carts can be bought for $3000-4000. In order to buy a used cart, first decide what kind of cart you are looking for. The carts come in different sizes and shapes. You can find both plain models and custom built ones to look like cars. There are cheap and expensive models too. When you choose between the gas and electric models, the electric cart is quiet and eco-friendly. But the gas carts have more power and do not require to be charged.

To find cheap golf carts, the best and easiest way is to look on the Internet. There are websites like EBay and Craigslist which list all kinds of vehicles for sale. Type in your keywords, for example, ‘used golf carts‘ and hit submit. This will give you many results which carry details of people wanting to sell their carts. You can also find the details about the vehicles. Another way is to look for sale of used carts in your local newspaper. There may be a couple of advertisements listed in it. All you need to do is to note down the addresses and make a few calls to know more details about the carts.

Another way is to call the local golf course. They may know of people who want to sell their carts. Ask them to provide you with the details of the people who are looking to sell their carts. You can contact them. If luck favors, you may get a good quality used golf cart for a cheap price.

Serious BMX Ramps

Now if that young rider sticks with it he (or she) is going to get serious and if they are really into stunts the idea of having a really big ramp in the back yard to practise on can be an overwhelming obsession. It’s going to take a little money, a lot of work and of course a good sized back yard to make it happen. Some of the materials you will need that are probably going to cost you some cash include the plywood – you’re going to need more than one sheet to make a good ramp. You’re probably going to want about a dozen of them.  At anywhere from $10 to $15 a sheet that’s going to add up pretty quick. You’re also going to need some two by fours and of course screws, nails and wood tools like a drill, saws, hammers, etc.

BMX Ramps Built Right

A lot of guys will hack around and in the process waste a lot of money and materials and they’re going to end up with a pretty junky ramp. Once you get the brilliant idea the best thing you can do is STOP – PAUSE. Take a breathier and think about it. Chances are you’re working with a few friends and in all the excitement you just want to get to it and start cuttin’ wood and hammerin’. That’s definitely a recipe for disaster.  The best way to start is to sit down and talk about it. If you’re working as a group find out who is best at what. Chances are one of you is really good at sketching and design while others are better at sourcing materials (i.e. raiding dad’s workshop) or doing the manual labour of actually building it. Take your project and split your group up with each person taking on a different job. One other thing you can do to make sure you end up with a really phat BMX ramp is to get some advice. Go down to your local Bike Club and ask around. Talk to riders who have done it and pick their brains about building BMX Ramps. You’ll be glad you did!

Tip: If you don’t know about your local Bike Club simply go online and check sites like http://bikeclubinfo.com to find a club close to home.

I know what arm wrestling is, but what, exactly, is this thing that goes by the moniker of mixed wrestling?

If you already know what arm wrestling in the traditional sense is, then you will be on familiar ground regarding mixed arm wrestling.  At its essence, mixed arm wrestling is the same thing as standard am wrestling with one very important difference:  it features men wrestling against women.  They are out to prove, regardless of sex and male and female league classifications, who is the best.

The rules of the game pretty much standardized across both types with subtle variations throughout depending on the tournaments taking place.  That said, if you know the rules of one version, you are good to go for the other.

Okay, knowing what this type of sport is, how did mixed armwrestling come in to being?

It is likely that it started off as an amateur game in establishments where betting could be placed on the match.  Eventually, it grew into something more serious to the point where it evolved into the professional arena.

All in all, it was simply a natural progression of arm wrestling as a sport and is a great example of how arm wrestling truly is accessible to anyone.

While history is great and all, what about the present day?  What is mixed arm wrestling like in the here and now?

You can still see plenty of mixed armwrestling matches across the country in all manner of establishments such as, yet not limited, to bars and pubs.  But the best thing about modern mixed wrestling is that it has come to the point where it is recognized as sport with its own tournaments, titles, and prizes.  This is a good time for both competitors and spectators who enjoy “pulling” as the sport is known.  Men and women from all walks of life get to compete against each on equal ground and fans of both genders (especially couples!) get to enjoy great match ups.

Now that you’ve got an idea of what mixed arm wrestling is, you should be able to enjoy the sport to its fullest extent.

The Padres, which was named after the founders of the city, and is Spanish for “fathers”, was founded in 1969, and first owned by C. Arnholdt Smith. The Padres’ first years in the National League West was rocky, with the team struggling only to end up in last place for the first 6 seasons. Soon, the team was at risk of being sold to Joseph Danzansky, which not only meant a change of ownership, but also a change of location, because of his plans to bring the team to Washington D.C.

Fortunately, Ray Kroc, co-founder of McDonalds, ended up being the buyer of the team instead. He decided to leave the team in San Diego, and because of his showmanship, Padres games showed an increase of attendance. With a 76% increase in spectators, it broke the million audience record for the very first time. Their performance, however, remained the same, finishing last with a 60-102 record.

Over the years, the team would continue to see ups and downs in their performance, with some years better than the others. Nevertheless, while the team as a whole would be yet to find a groove, The Padres would produce numerous iconic baseball players, such as Randy Jones, Butch Metzger, Gaylord Perry, and Tony Gwynn, a legendary homegrown player who brought the team to an 81-81 fourth place record in 1982.

Eventually, the Padres would win the National League Pennant twice, once in 1984, and once in 1998, but would lose the World Series twice as well. The team would see numerous trades, changes in ownership, and a new stadium over the years. Today, the Padres continue to play for their home city.

Many sports fans call San Diego their homes, and therefore we provide these informative sources on San Diego mortgage and Downtown San Diego real estate.

When you go for surfing in summer day, wearing your regular swimsuit is enough. But when you go surfing in winter day, you will surely get frozen by the cold water of the ocean. Fullsuit by Oneill Wetsuits is recommended for surfing in winter. Check the new collection of it by visiting Jackssurfboards.com. There are so many options of this wetsuit and you only need to click this website to view the whole collection. They are all offered to you at affordable price by this website. If you need more options, you can also shop for wetsuit by brand at this website. It is also possible for you to find wetsuit from many other popular brands, including xcel wetsuit.

Not only wetsuit for winter, wetsuit for summer and spring and also shorties are also available at this website. Whether you need wetsuit for men and women, you can find them all at this website. This is your one stop shopping for wetsuit.

There are literally so many things that need to be followed this year at the Tour De France race, mainly because there are so many things happening around the race besides just the main exciting sporting event. This is the reason why the Tour De France Guide for the race this year which will be following the race in full detail, as a special edition for the Bicycling Magazine is going to be pretty popular as far as sports enthusiasts and Tour De France fans go. This guide might be something that you would also want to follow if you are one of them.

For starters, there is of course the exciting race with all new extensions made to the route which are going to make it even more exciting and fresh than before. But not only the route, but the competitors themselves are the reason why the drama increases. Not only are there several dark horses who are competing in the race along with the aces such as Lance Armstrong; but Armstrong and his top rival Alberto Contador are top contributors to the same. Their rivalry is even more bitter because formerly they actually used to be teammates in the race, so now they are basically fighting each other more than anyone or anything else in the race- or at least that’s how the story goes.

So, the Tour De France Guide will also be following these facts, about whether their rivalry is actually that bitter and which one of them actually has the chances of winning more. Expert comments and opinions is definitely something that makes a huge difference as far as the race is concerned, and so this is something that any enthusiast is going to prize in the guide.

Not only the drama, but important information as well on the most exciting moments and parts of the race will also be followed greatly in detail in the guide along with information on the five things that every fan absolutely must know about the race this year. In fact you will also be able to find out what exactly all the riders are eating every day and how much calories they are burning in the races too- this is the extent of details you will be able to find out with this guide which is literally going to tell you everything there is to know about the race this year.