A Sustainable Future

Throughout every corner of the world, environmental sustainability is at the heart of many day-to-day decisions – spanning politics, manufacturing, lifestyle, technology, trade and of course transport.

The Global Green Challenge provides an opportunity for participants to position themselves at the forefront of technology and for spectators to experience a glimpse of a sustainable vehicle future.

Climate Change

Australia and the globe are experiencing rapid climate change. Since the middle of the 20th century, Australian temperatures have, on average, risen by about 1°C with an increase in the frequency of heat waves and a decrease in the numbers of frosts and cold days.

Rainfall patterns have also changed - the northwest has seen an increase in rainfall over the last 50 years while much of eastern Australia and the far southwest, have experienced a decline.

A significant factor in global warming is a reliance on fossil fuels to power our ever-increasing transport needs. The Global Green Challenge however heralds a new era in environmentally friendly transportation through the international promotion of sustainable energy sources and clean fuel technology.

Corporate Responsibility

In an age of increased environmental awareness, consumers are demanding greater accountability from government and the private sector.

Corporate environmental responsibility has become a key component within organisational policy.

By genuinely presenting our partners and supporters as part of a vibrant, socially aware community that takes its environmental obligations seriously, involvement in the Global Green Challenge can help achieve the core business and social responsibility objectives of a wide range of corporate entities.

This internationally renowned event continues to demonstrate that, by pushing the boundaries of efficiency, not only can solarcars cross Australia with speed, but many practical attributes are finding their way into the new generation of low emission vehicles demanded by the motoring public.

The mission is to promote and celebrate global technical excellence and draw attention to the community the imperatives of sustainable transport.

A1 Team Malaysia Wins Significant Award

he A1GP World Cup of Motorsports fans have voted the A1 Team Malaysia as the Most Improved Team for 2008/2009 season for their hard work in climbing from finishing 15th last season to sixth this season.

A1 Team Malaysia chief executive Jack Cunningham said the votes, cast through the recent A1GP.com award, enabled the team to beat their rivals from Lebanon and Australia.

"A1GP.com says the team looks to become championship contenders in season five. That has always been our goal. We'll need to continue with our hard work to stay in the top five, but I know that with the team we have and with their total commitment and determination, we'll be putting 100 per cent effort in for next season," he said in a statement here today.

A disappointing 15th place in the overall standings for the third season was eclipsed by the team taking a well-deserved 6th place by the end of season four (2008/2009).

A1 Team Malaysia worked hard between the third and fourth seasons, focusing on preparing the new generation A1GP `Powered by Ferrari' car, which made its debut in Zandvoort (Netherlands).

The team's efforts were quickly repaid with their driver, Fairuz Fauzy, winning the first race at the Dutch track in some of the most difficult racing conditions faced by A1GP drivers.

Fairuz then took the team's fifth race victory in the first race of the fourth season and backed this up with a points haul for the season from three podium finishes, eight points scoring finishes and a fastest lap.

The team maintained their high level of commitment and continued to develop the car with Fairuz and rookie driver, Aaron Lim. Consistency of results was a major factor in the team's success, with Fairuz scoring points at each event.

The new season of the A1GP series kicks off later this year and A1 Team Malaysia will return to represent the nation in this high-profile, international single-seater championship, which uniquely pits country against country for national honours.

WoodSmart Racing Car Simulator

You must be a rich person if you can purchase the WoodSmart Racing Car Simulator that comes with an actual racing seat with a LCD TV for its display. Priced at a hefty $1,600 a pop, the car racing simulator is currently available in three models which works with the PS3 and Xbox 360, and will come in various color schemes.

How to Set Up Your Suspension

How to Set Up Your Suspension
(Just like a professional race team)

Using our Weight Transfer Worksheet you can do the necessary calculations to determine a balanced set up, and then find a direction for set up changes to try in testing. It is a very much a practical exercise - do the baseline set up in the workshop, then test.

When your flat out racing, it is hard to get the time to learn what you need to know to understand the set up on your car. (Neville and I know this all too well. Years ago, we struggled with the set up on a PRS Formula Ford. We couldn't work out why it was slow. While doing our best to find out, we crashed the car in testing with a spring change that was way too soft. The chassis contacted the ground under brakes, unloaded the front tyres, and put it straight into the wall.)

In the late 90's, after 20 years in racing, we began our search for ideas, and started our systems based suspension set ups in the workshop, followed by track testing to check our work.

April, 2009 - New Consulting Program. Racing, Self Constructed/Modified Cars

We are offering an accelerated learning program, where we will consult with you and assist you to develop the set up for your particular car. Initially, we will ask you to study some concepts, then we'll get stuck in on specifics for your car.

Our past internet based offer of completing a WTW, did not provide enough information about your specific vehicle. It is too hard to get on top of this stuff by attending a seminar or reading books. We can cut through to what you really need to know. If we don't know, we probably have the sources to find out.

Much of what we do is simplified so you can use the ideas straight away. Some is unique to us, and some has become common practice in professional racing. We've had the privilege of working with some very smart people. We have learnt from their developments. But we have also earned our fee, by providing sound technical information, ideas and processes.

I am confident, based on past experience, that we can get your project moving in the right direction. This alone will save you time and money. You will also have a better set up and faster race car. And if we can save you making an unsuitable purchase of say shocks, and/or other expensive items, then there is yet more payback for you.

Professional race teams do weight transfer calculations like these, and keep a running comparison of their "magic number", as they progress through testing and racing.

(Just like a professional race team)

Using our Weight Transfer Worksheet you can do the necessary calculations to determine a balanced set up, and then find a direction for set up changes to try in testing. It is a very much a practical exercise - do the baseline set up in the workshop, then test.

When your flat out racing, it is hard to get the time to learn what you need to know to understand the set up on your car. (Neville and I know this all too well. Years ago, we struggled with the set up on a PRS Formula Ford. We couldn't work out why it was slow. While doing our best to find out, we crashed the car in testing with a spring change that was way too soft. The chassis contacted the ground under brakes, unloaded the front tyres, and put it straight into the wall.)

In the late 90's, after 20 years in racing, we began our search for ideas, and started our systems based suspension set ups in the workshop, followed by track testing to check our work.

April, 2009 - New Consulting Program. Racing, Self Constructed/Modified Cars

We are offering an accelerated learning program, where we will consult with you and assist you to develop the set up for your particular car. Initially, we will ask you to study some concepts, then we'll get stuck in on specifics for your car.

Our past internet based offer of completing a WTW, did not provide enough information about your specific vehicle. It is too hard to get on top of this stuff by attending a seminar or reading books. We can cut through to what you really need to know. If we don't know, we probably have the sources to find out.

Much of what we do is simplified so you can use the ideas straight away. Some is unique to us, and some has become common practice in professional racing. We've had the privilege of working with some very smart people. We have learnt from their developments. But we have also earned our fee, by providing sound technical information, ideas and processes.

I am confident, based on past experience, that we can get your project moving in the right direction. This alone will save you time and money. You will also have a better set up and faster race car. And if we can save you making an unsuitable purchase of say shocks, and/or other expensive items, then there is yet more payback for you.

Professional race teams do weight transfer calculations like these, and keep a running comparison of their "magic number", as they progress through testing and racing.

Motor Racing: Fairuz registers second podium finish of the season

AS promised, Fairuz Fauzy delivered a sensational performance when he finished second from fifth on the grid in Race One of Round Five of the World Series by Renault at the Silverstone Circuit in England yesterday.

FAIRUZ FAUZY

The Malaysian's second podium finish of the season saw the 27-year-old Mofaz-Fortec driver move up to sixth in the championship from 10th at the start of the weekend.

After registering a fifth fastest qualifying time in the super pole session earlier yesterday, Fairuz managed to maintain fifth spot as the grid exploded frantically off the blocks.

Within two laps after the start, he'd moved up to fourth after overtaking Carlin Motorsport's Oliver Turvey and was hot on the heels of New Zealander James Walker, who was third at that point.

Midway through the race, Walker was under severe pressure from Fairuz and soon lost control of his car, gifting the position to the Malaysian.
Fairuz repeated what he did to Walker to Frenchman Bertrand Baguette, who started the weekend as joint championship leader with Spaniard Marcos Martinez, and was running second behind the latter at the point.

In a carbon copy move, after a series of attacks from Fairuz, Baguette succumbed to the pressure and was forced into an off-track excursion as Fairuz moved up to second.

It was then a four-second gap to leader Martinez, whom at that point seemed to struggle with his car.

Fairuz closed the gap and was soon hot on Martinez's heels, challenging for the lead.

The final four laps from the finish saw Fairuz continue to attack, but Martinez was able to recover and was soon back on the pace, and Fairuz had to settle for second.

That result sees Fairuz moving well up into contention for the championship and is in a good position to register a successive points-scoring finish in Race Two today.

The reversed grid order sees Fairuz start Race Two from seventh.

Area drivers sizzle in hot Grand-Am race at Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH — As the warm-up race for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Coke Zero 400, the Brumos Porsche 250 Grand-Am sports car race was warm, and then some.

"Hot, miserable and kind of slippery," said Jon Fogarty, who finished second with teammate Alex Gurney, .270 seconds behind the Altamonte Springs-based SunTrust Racing Ford Dallara shared by drivers Max Angelelli and Brian Frisselle, and owned by former driver Wayne Taylor.

The temperature was 90 degrees when the race started at 2:07 p.m., but the enclosed cockpits of the Daytona Prototype cars took a toll on drivers.

Orlando racer Ryan Dalziel, who finished third in the Riviera Beach-based Orbit Racing BMW Riley with teammate Bill Lester, said it was like "putting a helmet on your head, and having a hair dryer blow into your face for an hour."

The 35-car field — consisting of 19 Daytona Prototypes and 16 of the slower production car-based GT cars — were led to the green flag by the Lexus Riley of drivers Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, who qualified about one-third of a second quicker than the Pontiac Riley of Fogarty and Gurney. Two of the favorites had problems early: The Brumos Porsche Riley, which won the season-opening 24 Hours of Daytona, had an electrical fire with David Donohue driving. The car returned to the race after repairs but finished 32nd. And the pole-sitting Ganassi Racing car of Pruett and Rojas suffered a flat tire with Rojas driving but rallied back to seventh.

A team car, shared by NASCAR drivers Scott Speed and Kyle Busch, finished 10th.

The biggest surprise was the podium finish of the Orbit Racing car, which missed the last race because of a lack of sponsorship.

"Our car was good from the moment we unloaded it," Lester said. "We feel like we can be much more formidable, a force to be reckoned with. We're really excited about what the future holds."

In the GT class, the fastest qualifier was the Pompano Beach-based SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 of Sylvain Tremblay and Nick Ham, but they ended up finishing second behind the Porsche GT3 of Leh Keen and Dirk Werner. TV star Patrick Dempsey and co-driver Joe Foster, in another Mazda RX-8, started 30th and finished 26th.

Sentinel Automotive Editor Steven Cole Smith can be reached at scsmith@orlandosentinel.com, at 407-420-5699, or through his blog at Enginehead.com.

The Top 10 Race Car Drivers Ever

It was the year 1998 and as part of Nascars 50th anniversary they decided to gather a list of 50 of the top race car drivers in the auto racing industry, the idea first came about when the NBA granted 50 of its players for the Greatest Players In NBA history. To quote the president of Nascar, Bill France said that "These are the men who define the competition of our sport. Their accomplishments are the benchmark that much of our history is identified by. Honoring them in this way, at the beginning of the NASCAR 50th Anniversary celebration, is one way of showing our true appreciation for them and the invaluable contribution they have given over the past 50 years. These are the drivers who made and make NASCAR fans stand on their feet and cheer. These are the drivers who are NASCAR history."

Well since there is already a list of 50 that commemorates all the greatest drivers, I decided to make a list of 10 along with their sponsorships and or brands of the drivers at hand along with a little bit of other information about the driver. These drivers have all been in the limelight for quite some time now, but a few of them are up and coming drivers as well. The old 50 count list had a lot of deceased drivers, and I wanted to list all the newer drivers still in the Nascar industry. These drivers are not in any sort of an order, so let's take a look, shall we?

Jeff Gordon of Pittsboro, Indiana was born August 4, 1971 and drives the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet. He had 36 starts in 2007, 6 wins, 30 top tens, and 1 DNF. Sponsors include Du Pont, Pepsi, GM, Motorsports Authentics, EA Sports, Jeff Gordon Racing School, and Time Warner Cable. As of right now Jeff is ranked at #8.

Tony Stewart of Rushville, Indiana was born May 20, 1971 and drives the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Home Depot Toyota. Tony had 36 starts, 3 wins, 23 top tens, 4DNFs and was 6th in the Championship standings in the year 2007. Sponsorships include Home Depot, Coca-Cola, Old Spice, Toyota, Subway, Simpson, Mac Tools, and Oakley. Rank #7

Kurt Busch of Las Vegas, Nevada was born August 4, 1978 and drives the Penske Racing No. 2 Dodge. In 2007 he had 36 starts, 2 wins, 14 top tens, 3 DNFs and was 8th in the Championships. Sponsors include the likes of Miller Lite, Snap-on, Mobil 1, Kodak, Penske, Sirius, PPG and Dodge just to name a few. Rank #18

Kyle Busch (little brother of Kurt) of Las Vegas, Nevada was born May 2, 1985 and drives the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota and in 2007 he had 36 starts, 1 win, 20 top tens, 2 DNFs and was 5th in the Championships. Sponsors include M&Ms and Susan G Komen For The Cure. Rank #11

Denny Hamlin of Midlothian, Virginia was born November 18, 1980 and drives the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota. Denny had 36 starts, 1 win, 18 top tens, 1 DNF and was 12th in the Championships, sponsors include that of FedEx, Coca-Cola, Joe Gibbs Racing, TRD, Toyota and Willey X Sunglasses. Rank #12

Matt Kenseth of Cambridge, Wisconsin was born March 10, 1972 and drives the Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 Ford. In 2007 Matt had 36 starts, 2 wins, 22 top tens, 4 DNFs, and he was 4th in the Championships. Sponsors include Gatorade, Kraft, Ford, Sherwin Williams, and MRO. Rank #9

Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Kannapolis, North Carolina was born October 10, 1974 and drives the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet. Dale had 36 starts, 12 top tens, 9 DNFs, and was 16th in the Championships. In 2008 Dale decided to leave the company founded by his dad and move to Hendrick Motorsports. Sponsors include Remington, The Outlaw, Snap-on and Budweiser. Rank #10

Carl Edwards of Columbia, Missouri was born August 15, 1979 and drives the Roush Fenway Racing No. 99 Ford. He had 36 starts, 3 wins, 15 top tens, 4DNFs, and was 9th in the Championships, Sponsors include Charter Communications, Roundup, MacTools, and Superchips. Rank #2

Martin Truex Jr. of Mayetta, New Jersey was born June 20, 1980 and drives the Dale Earnhardt Inc. No. 1 Chevrolet. He had 36 starts, 1 win, 14 top tens, 4 DNFs and finished 11th in the Championships. Sponsors include Enterprise, American Airlines, Hampton, SPRO, Motorsports Authentics, Behr Designs and Bec-Car Printing Company. Rank #17

Jeff Burton of South Boston, Virginia was born June 29, 1967 and drives the Richard Childress Racing No. 31 Chevrolet. Jeff had 36 starts, 1 win, 18 top tens, 3DNFs and was 7th in the Championships. Jeffs Sponsors include AT&T, Lenox and Prilosecotc. Rank #4

And of course rank #1 is Jimmie Johnson but, if you're a hardcore fan you wouldn't even have to take a guess at why! In 2007 he had 36 starts, 10 wins, 24 top tens, 4DNFS and he was the NEXTEL Cup Championship. As a third consecutive championship Jimmie and crew chief Knaus will not make the same mistakes that caused the suspensions and penalties that they had last season. The two men work as a team very well and plan on improving their game plan a little better this year!