Mosley drops two-tier system, Ferrari takes FIA to court

by Noah Joseph

With the May 29 deadline for registering for the 2010 Formula 1 season fast approaching and the bulk of the current teams threatening to walk out of the series, FIA chief Max Mosley and F1 commercial director Bernie Ecclestone met in London on Friday with the heads of each Formula One team to iron out a deal that would allow the sport to accelerate past the standoff and into the next season. How that meeting went, however, depends on who you ask.


First of all, both Mosley and Ecclestone confirmed that the proposed two-tier system that would have forced teams to choose between either severe aerodynamic penalties or restrictive budget caps has been scrapped. That was the major sticking point that the Formula One Teams Association and its members (i.e., all the teams currently on the grid) objected to. However, the meeting's conclusion was still described as a stalemate, given that the teams are still threatening to leave and that a substitute for the two-tier system approved by the FIA's World Motorsport Council has not been agreed upon. Mosley proposes a drastic £40 million ($60 million) budget cap to be imposed on all the teams, large or small, veteran or newcomer. While the teams in general agree that a budget cap is logical, they have yet to agree on the amount, while some of the teams are suggesting that other solutions be sought instead.

The parties are set to meet again this coming Friday in Monte Carlo, ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, to resume discussions. But Ferrari, for one, is hedging its bets. With Mosley insisting that the sport could do without its longest-standing team, the Scuderia has filed a court injunction against the FIA's regulations. Ferrari is believed to have been given veto power over any substantive regulation changes, a clause that the team says has not been respected. Mosley, in turn, insists that one team cannot dictate the rules of the entire sport. Other Italian sporting bodies have stepped up to back Ferrari, as organizers of Rome's proposed grand prix threaten to cancel the project in the absence of their home team, while the Italian Olympic Committee throws its weight behind Ferrari as well. Maranello's injunction will be heard in court on Tuesday, when we'll find out if the Scuderia has legal backing to its objections.

Rubber Truck Bed Mats And The Smashed Ranger

By: Al Bullington

Not too long ago a neighbor asked me to help him split and stack a big firewood pile. Sure, I thought. As this project progressed, my mental anguish increased and my appreciation for rubber truck bed mats increased. Here's the story...

See, the neighbor has a son with lots of energy and there were several other kids there too. So they get in a race to see how fast they can build a wood pile. Now the neighbor's late model, like-new, Ford Ranger pickup comes into play.

There's a short pickup haul from the splitter to the finished firewood pile. The shiny red Ford is the truck for the hauling. So at first the wood is loaded, with the neighbor son in charge, at a careful pace. Heavy, seasoned oak pieces are carefully placed in the Ford. Then as the afternoon wears on, the competition for speed increases.

The careful firewood placement evolves into firewood tosses. Now mind you these are heavy, hard oak slabs and the tosses are from fifteen to twenty feet out. As things progress, the wood starts to bounce on the bed of the truck. You can almost feel the dents. You sure can hear them. The blows fall faster and harder. The pace quickens.

Now the wood is raining on the fenders, on the rear window, inside, outside, everywhere the blows land. It's like a demolition derby. It's total destruction of a perfectly good truck. Dents, scratches and damage everywhere. It's a destroyed truck in just a few hours. It's amazing.

No truck bed mats can protect a truck from gross damage like that.

But rubber truck mats can stand up to almost any damage a SANE person would cause in normal use. Save your truck from expensive damage with some cheap bed mats.

Off Road Tires

By Richard Romando

Adventure sports are very popular and boast of a huge fan following worldwide. The adrenaline rush and extreme sporting action is not something everyone would opt for thus watching the sport becomes the next best option. Apart from their skills, competitors are highly dependant upon their vehicles, components, and tires. Off road tires have all terrain treads and can easily maintain balance on uneven surfaces. Off road tires are not suitable for regular paved roads and are used for motor cross seasons, all-terrain races, and sand rail competitions.

Off road races could involve bicycles, motorbikes, or motor vehicles. Competitors could be required to traverse paths that are sandy, all terrain landscapes, dirty and mountainous. It is obvious that regular tires would cease to perform on such terrain and hence the use of off road tires is advocated. It is advisable not to use off road tires for regular use as they are designed especially for off road activities. Extreme conditions, high speed, and quick wear prevent off road tires from regular use. They are not designed for such usage, tend to be noisy and wear faster. These special tread patterns wear off quickly if used on asphalt roads and paths. When used on a competitive level, off road tires need to be changed more often than regular tires. In most cases off road tire expenses are borne by sponsors and manufacturers themselves.

Off road tires are available in various sizes and widths. Off road tires are classified into two major types. They are all terrain treads and mud treads. All terrain treads are apt for off-highway conditions and its closed tread design reduces noise on highways and is well suited for rocks as well as sand. They are not very good on muddy terrain but certain designs are able to combat such problems. Mud off road tires can cope in muddy situations, deep snow, and rocks. They may not perform all that well in case of rain and icy paths.

Gm Plans Diesel-powered Cadillac, Saturn Cars by 2010

Author: Anthony Fontanelle

The General Motors Corp. plans to build diesel-powered vehicles under the Cadillac and Saturn brands in the United States by 2010. This information, as reported by Automotive News online journal, was divulged by the company’s head honcho Bob Lutz.

As gasoline prices continue to increase and more people become anxious about global warming issues, automakers are starting to make alternative fuels a bit more of a priority. The Toyota Motor Corp. has already announced that everything will be a hybrid. But the team at GM is taking a somewhat diverse approach.

Lutz recently dropped a pretty major bomb saying that the largest American automaker is working on a diesel-electric hybrid platform and it just may be flaunted in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Watchers in the industry said that the model will likely be an e-flex Opel Vectra.

In a video blog on the company's website dated Thursday, Lutz confirmed that the Detroit automaker would use clean diesel engines in passenger cars, sport utility vehicles and other light-duty trucks. He stressed, however, that emissions hardware and control systems needed to meet the standards would add another $2,000 to $2,800 to the $1,000-$2,000 premium that already exists for diesels over gasoline-engine cars.

A diesel car in Europe is not that big a deal, but when the Detroit Motor Show rolls around in January, the Detroit automaker plans on sporting the same e-flex technology in a Saturn, most likely the Aura sedan. And then, “it'll end up in a Cadillac, and there will be a front-wheel-drive version of the engine in 2009 or 2010 calendar year.”

The automaker will show the same variant at the Detroit auto show in January on a Saturn, most likely the Aura sedan, the industry journal stressed. The diesel engine will power the Opel Vectra in Europe by next year, and the next-generation Aura in the United States if all goes as planned, it said.

This time around, GM will not only be showcasing a stylish Saturn vent visor or a striking Cadillac façade - the automaker intends to deliver a slice of what is to come regarding its lineup. The e-flex powertrain was first shown in the Chevy Volt which was displayed earlier this year. It is where “a traditional engine such as a diesel or gasoline engine, recharges a battery pack that provides power for an electric motor.”

The United States will gradually begin enforcing the world's strictest regulations for harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions starting from 2008 model year cars, and GM has been tepid about clean diesel engines as a remedy for bolstering fuel economy citing the high cost of development.

The Detroit automaker would be joining diesel front-runners such as the DaimlerChrysler AG and Volkswagen AG, as well as Japan's Nissan Motor Co. and the Honda Motor Co. in promising diesel vehicles compliant with the U.S. Tier 2 bin 5 emissions standards. Toyota has yet to join the growing list, saying clean diesels would end up being more expensive than gasoline-electric hybrids, a segment the automaker dominates.

Company sources said that GM will show a diesel engine at the Frankfurt auto show in September on an e-flex Opel Vectra, In GM's e-flex powertrain, a traditional engine recharges a battery pack that provides power for an electric motor.

Historically, diesel engines have been difficult to initiate, as they are typically designed to be large torque monsters in most applications. But at idle they sip comparatively little fuel, so truckers take pleasure in A/C and television in their crew cabs while the engine runs overnight. But there is certainly no reason to run a modern diesel any longer than necessary.

About the Author:

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/gm-plans-dieselpowered-cadillac-saturn-cars-by-2010-181398.html

Brembo to temporarily lay off 1,800

by Dan Roth

With fewer cars being produced and sold, automotive suppliers face the same challenges as automakers. Italy's Brembo, producer of some of the most delectable braking hardware, will be laying off more than 1,800 workers to cope with a fourth quarter loss. The cuts will more closely align Brembo's production with newly decreased demand, and will affect workers at Brembo's locations in Italy, Mexico, and Poland. There is a government/industry fund that Brembo wishes to tap to help pay for the layoffs, though the cuts may be for a longer term than "temporary" implies. Brembo's orders have fallen drastically, and signs of recovery have yet to materialize.

Tonneau Covers

TONNEAU COVER is a bed cover for a pickup truck. They can be hard or soft. Hard Tonneau Covers are usually hinge or fold. Tonneau Covers were used for an open rear passenger compartment of an SUV or truck and, by extension, a body style incorporating such a compartment. Tonneau is a French word which means cask, container, or cover. Most Tonneau Covers were fixed in place as an optional element at purchase, but some Tonneau Covers could be removed and customized. Early Tonneau Covers had a rear-facing hinged door but single or dual side doors were soon introduced to the Tonneau Cover market.

Hard - peak your truck bed with security and best looks. It is typically equipped with heavy-duty locks and durable shocks. Hard tonneau covers boast the best materials, too. Most hard tonneau covers can be paint-matched to your truck. Choosing to buy and fit a hard tonneau cover is without a doubt the correct decision. Tonneau covers made from other materials, no matter how well they are made, just aren't as weather-proof, securable, durable and as good looking as a hard tonneau covers.

Tonneau Cover Installation

Installing a Tonneau Cover is easy! Most Tonneau Covers don’t require drilling. Soft Tonneau Covers are the easiest to install — They can be installed in less than 20 minutes. Folding Tonneau Covers may require a little additional effort as they need some side supports that are aligned to the truck rails and these usually need some work and a little drilling. Hard top Tonneau Covers and Retractable Tonneau Covers take the most time for installation. These usually require some drilling to mount the corner bolts and the rest of the hardware.

Definition: Auto / Automobile

Auto is short for automobile, this is use in transporting private or public passengers, its made up of wheels and engines that makes it run. Its widely define specifically that designed to run basically on the roads that has a seat for some numbers of people. It has 4 wheels and designed basically for people rather than products.

There are some words use to describe it:

• auto
• vehicle
• car
• automobile
• jeep
• truck
• SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle)
• Automotive

There are different kind of vehicles that has such speed and physical feature to make it look good. Most car owners choose those car that can last longer.

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