Ryan Briscoe Awarded Bruce McLaren Trophy

The name McLaren is known throughout the entire world as a leading Formula One racing team. This is the legacy that was left behind by the magnificent Bruce McLaren, who proved he had multi-talented capabilities through his natural ability as an engineer, a designer of racing cars, an inventor and a phenomenal racing car driver.

Bruce McLaren was born on 30 August 1937 in New Zealand, and during his time in the racing industry he designed CanAm cars that won championships and some of the major races of the time. He finished in second place at the 1965 Canadian Grand Prix, and was given a trophy for his achievement. This trophy later became known as the Bruce McLaren Trophy.

On 2 June 1970, the car that Bruce McLaren was testing ended his life at the Goodwood Circuit, after he crashed off the track. His Canadian Grand Prix trophy was donated to the BRDC, to be awarded to the commonwealth driver who performed the best throughout a specific year. And this year, it was the turn of Ryan Briscoe to receive the prestigious award.

Ryan Briscoe was born on 24 September 1981 in Sydney, Australia. He started his career as a racing driver in America and Europe by racing sports cars and open wheel cars. By 2004, Briscoe found his feet as a test driver for the Formula One team Toyota, and by 2007 he had signed a deal with the Penske Racing team driving in the Indy 500. Ryan Briscoe has also managed to be assigned as the main racing driver for the 2008 Indy Car Series, as Sam Hornish Jr. will be moving over to the Penske NASCAR Team.

To complete his wonderful run for the 2007 racing season Ryan Briscoe has been awarded the Bruce McLaren Trophy. As the ninth Australian driver to receive this prestigious award, his name will be forever bound to racing greats such as Alan Jones (six time Bruce McLaren Trophy winner) and Mark Webber (four time Bruce McLaren Trophy winner).

Bruce McLaren’s dream is still alive, encouraging young racing drivers to give it their best. Indeed, he has left an indelible mark in racing history, a record that drivers such as Ryan Briscoe look up to.

IMPAXX – Safety Innovation of the Year

An international panel of auto racing experts has given the Safety Innovation of the Year Award to Dow Automotive for their IMPAXX energy absorbing foam. The announcement was made at the gala dinner for the annual Professional Motor Sport World Expo Awards recently.

IMPAXX is thermoplastic foam which is engineered to absorb energy upon impact by compressing, buckling and displaying controlled fractures during the process of absorbing energy. The decision of the experts was largely based on the successful application and performance qualities that IMPAXX has exhibited when used as a passive safety feature in NASCAR‘s new generation “Car of Tomorrow” (COT) race cars which have been designed to be safer, cheaper and more competitive.

Dow Automotive is a leading provider of technologically advanced solutions to meet consumer requirements in a wide and diverse field, including vehicle safety. IMPAXX is the result of more than eighteen months research and development, with the Dow Automotive technical team working alongside NASCAR’s experts. Using NASCAR as a high speed laboratory, Dow Automotive has been able to continually improve the attributes of a product to the benefit of all concerned. IMPAXX foam has proven to possess energy absorbing qualities which have significantly contributed to the safety of NASCAR drivers.

In addition to having a high degree of impact absorption capability, IMPAXX is flexible, durable, light-weight and performs consistently in temperature extremes. Currently NASCAR installs IMPAXX between the roll cage door bars and in the door panels of their COT race cars. They see IMPAXX as a highly effective safety feature that they plan to make extensive use of it in the future.

Energy management technologies are important factors for designers and engineers who want to ensure that impact energy is directed through and around the vehicle. Currently close to two million passenger cars on a world-wide scale are equipped with IMPAXX for its safety characteristics. An added feature of IMPAXX is that it reduces packing space by close to forty percent, thereby allowing greater freedom in the design process. This shows, once again, that many new innovative products which are tested on the racetrack ultimately move to the road.

The Viper Bites Back

With the increasing pressure on vehicle manufacturers to create faster and more dynamic sports cars than their competitors, it seemed only fitting for the Dodge Viper so receive a facelift. Even though the new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR has only been slightly modified on its exterior, there have been major changes under its skin that have led to a better performing and safer Viper.

Many of the latest sports cars that have been manufactured by companies such as Ferrari and Lamborghini are far out of the financial reach of ordinary citizens, but with the Viper SRT10 ACR, having a starting price tag of $100 000, there might be more on the roads. And it is not just the reasonable price that makes the Viper SRT10 ACR such a magnificent choice, but it is the new performance of the vehicle that makes it worth the money. In recent tests, the improved Dodge Viper was able to reach speeds of approximately two hundred miles per hour, a cornering G-force of 1.5 and even the convertible could make it round the corners at a respectable speed of almost 197 miles per hour. The aluminum 8.4 liter V-10 engine produces a staggering six hundred horse power, allowing the Dodge Viper to accelerate from 0 to 60 in under four seconds.

With so much power under the hood it is important to keep the car on the ground, and to ensure that this powerful Viper stays stuck to the road, engineers have ensured that a large rear spoiler and a three-way splitter have been modified to the exterior of the car. The wheels on the front of the car are able to do all the steering, while the modifications generate a thousand pounds of down-force on the vehicle as soon as speeds of 150 miles per hour and over have been reached. The openings on the hood, even though they add a great look to the car, were installed to create a greater flow of cold air to the engine. An adjustable racing suspension and thicker anti-roll bar increases safety and performance.

Attention to safety has also ensured that the Viper SRT does not put drivers in unnecessary danger, with features such as advanced multistage front air bags and occupant classification systems, anti-lock braking system, seat belt alerts, constant force reactors, crumple zones, energy absorbing steering system, interior head-impact protection, knee-bolsters, remote keyless entry, and tire pressure monitoring systems. The interior of the Viper SRT has remained as luxurious as it is known for, with carefully designed finishing touches, making it extremely pleasant on the eyes.

For an aerodynamic, boldly designed sports car that was inspired by racing cars and has the handling capabilities and grandeur of a luxury vehicle, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 SCR, is the perfect choice. It is an intimidating powerhouse that has been designed for drivers who find adventure and endless possibilities around every corner of the open road.

A Force to be Reckoned With

Ashley Force was born on 29 November 1982 – the daughter of John and Laurie Force. John Force has been National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) champion fourteen times, so it came as no surprise that Ashley showed an interest in auto racing at an early age. After high school, Ashley attended California State University-Fullerton graduating with a B.A. in communications, specializing in television and video. In 2007 Ashley Force was voted by an AOL Sport Poll as the Hottest Athlete, chosen over Tom Brady and Danica Patrick.

Ashley finished 4th in driver points in 2004 after winning three of the final five races of the season as a Top Alcohol division rookie. One of her victories was the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals held at Indianapolis. Ashley and her father John made NHRA history as the first ever father-daughter winners at the season finale race of the Automobile Club of Southern California held at Pomona.

In 2007 Ashley progressed to driving a Castrol-sponsored Mustang in the professional Funny Car division for John Force Racing. Her first race in this division found Ashley up against, and losing to, her brother-in-law, Robert Hight. In April 2007 Ashley and John Force, as father and daughter, again made NHRA history – this time for competing against each other in Atlanta. Ashley won the race with a top speed of 317.05 miles per hour in a time of 4.779 seconds. She went through to the semifinals which ended in a tie, recorded as the highest ever Funny Car event finish by a female.

Ashley has continued with her love for movies and television, thereby putting her B.A. degree to good use. She is featured on “Driving Force“, an A&E reality show focusing on her father, John Force and his drag racing daughters – Ashley, Courtney, Brittany and Adria (Ashley’s half-sister). “Driving Force” follows the day-to-day life of John while he balances his business with family responsibilities.

Ashley’s mother, Laurie, relinquished her role of managing contracts for John Force Racing so that she could focus on raising her children. John Force, having established a successful business, has resolved to devote more time to his daughters, and fully supports their interest in racing.

Auto racing fans are assured of interesting times ahead as they track the progress of the Force family. Ashley Force has certainly shown that she has what it takes to succeed in her chosen career.

NASCAR Foundation – Working to Help Others

The nature of the sport of auto racing dictates that drivers need to be fiercely competitive on the racetrack – after all, there can only be one winner. NASCAR drivers are no exception to the rule and a competitive spirit is part of everyday life in auto racing circles.

The situation is very different off-track however, as drivers and their teams are united by the common goal of raising funds for charity through the NASCAR Foundation. The NASCAR Foundation reflects the compassion of the NASCAR family by actively supporting communities through a wide range of charitable projects and fund-raising events.

A major fund-raising initiative is “NASCAR Day” which is held annually in May on the Friday prior to the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. This is a one-day celebration of the NASCAR spirit, with participants receiving a commemorative NASCAR Day pin in exchange for a $5 donation. NASCAR Day is well supported by a host of corporate companies as well as individual fans. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of the State of California has pledged his support in acknowledgement of the good achieved by the NASCAR Foundation with regard to their charitable initiatives that are in the interests of children, the environment, welfare of animals and other worthy causes.

One of the charitable initiatives that benefits from the NASCAR Foundation’s generosity is the Victory Junction Gang Camp which aims to enrich the lives of children who suffer with chronic and serious illnesses. Exciting, fun and empowering camping experiences are offered in a safe and medically sound environment. Children who attend the Victory Junction Gang Camp have the benefit of a swimming pool, computer lab, games room and a large outdoor recreation area, as well as a medical clinic. The groups are kept relatively small in order to give each child personal attention.

The concept of the Victory Junction Gang Camp was initiated by Adam Petty, a teenage stock-car driver from a family with a long auto racing history. Sadly, Adam Petty was killed in a practice crash on 12 May 2000. His parents, Kyle and Pattie, resolved to see Adam’s vision through and after four years of fund-raising and building, the Victory Junction Gang Camp was opened on 20 June 2004. Fittingly, the address of the Victory Junction Gang Camp is 4500 Adam’s Way.

Continuing donations through the efforts of the NASCAR Foundation allow the Victory Junction Game Camp and other charitable organizations to continue bringing joy to hundreds of children.

Students Study the Business of NASCAR

Auto racing is considered to be among the fastest growing sports, with over 78 million loyal supporters and raking in about $3 million in licensed product sales on an annual basis. Clearly NASCAR translates into very big business. With this in mind, in 2004, Professors Jon Ackley and Michael W. Pitts introduced an honors course for the study of “The Business of NASCAR” that runs every fall semester at the Virginia Commonwealth University.

Approximately 20 students attend the course each year to benefit from the expertise of these two professors, as well as to gain insight from guest speakers who lecture on a range of subjects and issues related to the fast moving world of auto racing. Students will analyze the operation of the business and can look forward to being addressed by a race track public relations director, a newspaper reporter and advertising account executives for NASCAR. They will also be given an in-depth tour of the Richmond International Raceway.

The course includes gaining an understanding of how contracts are negotiated and signed up, as well as how salaries are generated for the support teams of the drivers. An auto racing team may have 40 cars and a support team of 200 or more employees, including the highly trained crew chiefs, engineers and mechanics who are essential to the success of the team.

According to financial analysts, NASCAR fans are extremely brand loyal, which highlights the value of sponsorship. Although sponsorship is a costly exercise for companies, it is considered to be worth the expense because of the extensive exposure that NASCAR events have, with broadcasting to at least 160 countries. It is this kind of exposure that attracts foreign sponsors such as Toyota as well as drawing foreign drivers who normally race Formula 1 and the Indianapolis 500.

Another factor that influences the financial aspects of NASCAR is the fact that it is privately owned and not unionized and has no pension plan. These are all issues that must be taken into consideration by anyone seeking employment in this multi million dollar sport.

With the popularity of this sport showing no signs of slowing down, the study course on the Business of NASCAR at the Virginia Commonwealth University is likely to continue giving valuable insight to students who want to carve out a career in the fast-paced world of auto racing.