Races held around the world

1. Formula 1 : When Formula 1 is aired live in its final session, I have see enthusiasts gripped in utmost excitement. This Kart racing tournament is one of the most famous of the races in the world with a viewer base of 600 million. With Sebastian Vettel taking the podium for 2010, the game has just become more interesting with Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel as frontrunners for 2011. It is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the (FIA). The races in the Formula 1 tournament are known as Grand prix. All the teams in formula 1 are mostly based in Europe (though owners of these European teams have been from outside of late).  Various F1 games have debuted in the market to successful numbers and the Formula 1 grid girls serve as glamour to the otherwise fun race.

2. Nascar:  US has Miles, farenheit and inches against the European Kms, celsium and Meters. They even have American football... sigh!!!! No wonder they have their own racing tournament. The Nascar (National Association of Stock Car Racing) is a famous sport from North American (includes Canada and Mexico). The beautiful Nascar Logo, Nascar girls, Heady Nascar drivers and the Nascar hall of fame stories make up for one entertaining event. Nascar is distinctive in a way since it  is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. Instead of grand prix, Nascar has several racing series such as the  Nascar Sprint cup series, Nascar Nationwide series and Nascar Canadian Tire Series. While not as popular NASCAR holds 17 of the top 20 attended single-day sporting events in the world. The Grand American Road Racing Association or Grand-Am is an auto racing sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize road racing competitions in North America. The Grand-AM is now a part of Nascar.

3. Indy Racing League:  Often mistaken for an F1 tournament, Indy Racing League  is an American-based open-wheel auto racing sanctioning body. The tournament has only gained adrenaline levels after merging the champ car racing tournament. The scoring is completely different than F1 and is mostly dominant in US, Canada, Japan and Brazil. Indycar is also facing the heat from the larger F1 fans base as being copycats. Danica does make it more worthy than the competition.

4. World Rally Championship: The sport with the most exciting logo IMHO. The series currently consists of 13 three-day events driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice. Each rally is split into 15-25 special stages which are run against the clock on closed roads. Sebastian Loeb is the current winner and has a stronger (but limited) following than Michael Schumacher. Some of the major car manufacturers particiapte in this event including Renault, peugeot, Citroen, Opel Vauxhall, Ford, Fiat, Lancia, Subaru and Mitsubishi.

5. World Touring Car Championship : The FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA. One of the only championship of its kind, the race cars are Touring Cars such as the Chevrolet Cruze and BMW 3 series and Seat Leon.

6. Le Mans Racing : Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars. A kind of hybrid between the purism of open-wheelers and the familiarity of touring car racing, this style of racing is often associated with the annual Le Mans endurance race. The prestige of Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Lotus, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Mercedes- Benz, Jaguar and Aston Martin derives in part from success in sports car racing and the World Sportcar Championship. Road cars sold by these manufacturers have in many cases been very similar to the cars that were raced, both in engineering and styling. It is this close association with the 'exotic' nature of the cars that serves as a useful distinction between sports car racing and touring cars.

7. Cross CountryRally Raid:  Rally raid is a form of long distance off-road racing that takes place over several days. The Paris Dakar Rally and Raid de Himalaya are the most famous type of race of this kind. Navigation is accomplished using a roadbook and also with GPS since the race is long and spread over a perod of several days. It i the only race of its kind where cars, bikes and trucks race in the same rally including motorcycles from KTM, BMW and Yamaha.

8. Moto GP :  Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, 600cc and MotoGP (1000cc).  Grand Prix motorcycles are purpose-built racing machines that are neither available for purchase by the general public nor can be ridden legally on public roads.

9. World Superbike Championship : The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities. Each round has two races and the results of each race are combined to determine two annual World Championships, one for riders and one for manufacturers. The motorcycles that race in the championship are tuned versions of motorcycles available for sale to the public,  by contrast with Moto GP where purpose built machines are used. MotoGP is the motorcycle world's equivalent of Formula 1 racing, whereas Superbike racing is similar to Touring Car racing.

10. Isle of Man TT - is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motor-cycle race in the world. The race is run in a time-trial format on public roads closed for racing by the provisions of an Act of Tynwald (the parliament of the Isle of Man).

11. F1 Powerboat Racing : F1 grand prix also holds powerboat races.

Indian Mid-size cars segment.

India is the seventh largest Car manufacturing economy in the world. In 2009 India manufactured 2,632,694 automobiles. But the Indian market is distinct than major markets in that it relies more on small cars (Kei cars) than mid-size sedans.

A mid size car is a proper sedan. The segment includes cars which are about 4500mm in length and are bigger than entry level sedans (mostly based on hatchbacks) but smaller than entry level luxury cars. Here are some sedans available in India for you to announce your arrival to the next stage in life.

1. Audi A4 (INR 3200000-4200000) - The mid-size sedan from Audi is more akin to the entry level full size A6 with a length of 4703mm. It is a desperate attempt to cement Audi's Status against its German step brothers the C-class and 3-Series. The car is definitely a looker and it is easy to mistake the A4 for an A6 thanks to the bigger size.  Following engine sizes are available

2.0 TDi    I4   Front wheel drive     (Diesel) 140bhp/320nm 8-Automatic 16.09 kmpl
3.0 TDI   V6  Quattro wheel drive (Diesel) 240bhp/500nm 7-Automatic 13.97 kmpl
1.8 TFSI  I4   Front wheel drive    (Petrol) 160bhp/250nm 8-Automatic  12.48 kmpl
2.0 TFSI  I4   Front wheel drive    (Petrol) 179bhp/320nm 8-Automatic  12.76 kmpl
3.2 FSI   V6  Quattro wheel drive (Petrol) 265bhp/330nm 6-Automatic  10.02 kmpl

2. BMW 3-Series (INR 2500000-3800000) - The German Definition of Fun to Drive, this car is just what the doctor ordered. The taut chassis provide preise handling and the steering has the perfect feedback. Bmw's best selling car worldwide, It looks understated and elegant against the competition but distinctive with its kidney grille. The car is now in its fifth generation with record sales in the segment especially in North America.

2.0 I4 Rear Wheel Drive (Petrol) 154bhp/200nm 6-Automatic 12.1 kmpl
3.0 I6 All Wheel Drive    (Petrol) 254bhp/300nm 6-Automatic 09.8 kmpl
3.0 I4 Rear Wheel Drive (Petrol) 174bhp/380nm 6-Automatic 15.9 kmpl

3. Chevrolet Optra (INR 800000-1000000) -  A very small car as per the GM stable Chevrolet Optra has been mostly replaced by the new Cruze. But GM has let the car run as a value for money product. A Daewoo Lacetti under the skin, this car is Korean by all means. The car is not performance oriented but provides good comfort at the rear.

1.6           I4 Front Wheel Drive (Petrol) 104bhp/148nm 5-Manual 13.50 kmpl
2.0 TCDI I4 Front Wheel Drive (Diesel) 120bhp/320nm 5-Manual 16.52 kmpl

4. Chevrolet Cruze (INR 1300000 - 1600000) -  The car based on which General Motors made a comback is the next generation Optra. While based on the same platform the car looks much better and comes loaded to the gills like its predecessor. The fun to drive factor is present though unlike most GM cars. The same diesel from Optra sourced from VM motori runs at a higher state of tune. No petrol engines are on offer.

2.0 VCDI Front Wheel Drive (Diesel) 150bhp/327nm 5-manual 17.34kmpl 6-Automatic 14.4kmpl

5. Fiat Linea ( INR 750000 - 1000000) -  Fiat's car along with the Punto for its last ditch attempt at the Indian market has been partially successful. A brilliant car to be driven in also gets some brownie points for its driving dynamics. That it is a looker is a given hailing from Italy. Fully loaded to the gills just like the Cruze at a lower price point, The Linea makes perfect buying sense.

1.4 T-JET   I4 Front Wheel Drive (Petrol) 114bhp/207nm 5-manual 14.7 kmpl
1.4              I4 Front Wheel Drive (Petrol) 090bhp/115nm 5-manual 13.5 kmpl
1.4 Multijet I4 Front Wheel Drive (Diesel) 093bhp/209nm 5-manual 19.9 kmpl

6. Honda Civic ( 1300000 - 1600000) -  The largest selling car in North America at a lower price point than the 3-Series, Honda Civic also comes with another name tag ... the most stolen car ever. Honda's Vtec engine runs along with your adrenaline all the way to the redline. But Honda is yet to learn Diesels. Ergonomics will make the legends of Automotive industry writhe in their graves.

1.8 VTEC I4 Front Wheel Drive (Petrol)  130bhp/175nm 5-Automatic 13.9 kmpl 5-Manual 14.8 kmpl
1.4 VTEC I4 Front Wheel Drive (Hybrid) 094bhp/123nm 5-Automatic 21.3 kmpl

7. Maruti SX4 ( INR 775000 - 950000) - Suzuki is the Indian Car leader. While it may not do well Sx4 definitely shows how Value for money maruti cars are. Developed alongside the Fiat Linea, the roots show similarity. The engine is puny compared to competition though and the build quality has nothing positive to write about.

1.6 VVT     I4 Front Wheel Drive (Petrol) 105bhp/145nm 5-Manual 15.6 kmpl 5-Automatic 12.6kmpl
1.6 VVT     I4 Front Wheel Drive (CNG)  087bhp/122nm 5-Manual (13kmpl estimated)
1.3 Multijet I4 Front Wheel Drive (Diesel) 093bhp/207nm 5-Manual (NA) (not released)

8. Mercedes-Benz C-Class ( INR 2900000 - 4100000)-  The Best way to join the three pointed star club is to buy the C-Class. While it may not be the sales leader, the sedan is the most exclusive one amongst the competition. Diamler Benz has recently updated their designs to stay shoulder to shoulder with Audi and BMW. The Current W204 platform is extremely competitive when it comes to driving dynamics but is known more for the comfort levels. Pick the C63 AMG if money permits.

2.5          V6  Rear Wheel Drive (Petrol) 204bhp/245nm 7-Automatic 11.1 kmpl
1.8 CGI   I4   Rear Wheel Drive (Petrol) 186bhp/285nm 5-Automatic 11.5 kmpl
2.5 CDI   I4   Rear Wheel Drive (Diesel) 204bhp/500nm 5-Automatic 15.1 kmpl
6.2 AMG V8 Rear Wheel Drive (Petrol) 457bhp/600nm 7-Automatic 09.0 Kmpl (Estimated)

9. Mitsubishi Cedia (INR 1000000/ 4000000) - The Best sedan from Mitsubishi India after the Lancer was the Cedia. But what this excellent car lacked was a generation of innovation. The Cedia is a wonderful car in the hands of tuners but is outshone by rivals. Revised models make for an excellent value with OZ alloys, Navigation and Ralliart accessories. But we want the X generation lancer and soon. The EVO version though the perfect car is priced so steep it will make you sell your house.

2.0            I4 Front Wheel Drive (Petrol) 116bhp/178nm 5-Manual     13.17 kmpl
2.0 Mivec I4 All Wheel Drive     (Petrol)  280bhp/480nm 6-Automatic 09.00 kmpl (estimated)

10. Skoda Laura (1500000 - 2000000) -  Skoda Laura is the current generation Octavia. Skoda has on a large scale managed to sell more units ofthe old and New Octavia. With the discontinuation the Laura is running the sedan show for Skoda. This is a good thing as the Laura is extremely capable car. The Diesels are the one to go for but the 1.8TSI is also extremly fun to drive.

1.8 TSI  I4 Front Wheel Drive (Petrol) 160bhp/ 255nm 5-Manual 13.37 kmpl
2.0 TDI I4 Front Wheel Drive (Diesel) 110bhp/250nm 5-Manual 20.04 kmpl 5-Automatic 18.42 kmpl

11. Tata Manza ( 560000 - 780000)- The cheapest car in this segment beats the German Rivals by 6 times. But this excellent car does come at a price. The engines are puny and the quality is nowhere near as close. Also while the car is fully loaded for the price, the rest of the competition outclasses it completely. TATA has definitely taken over this segment by offering sheer value for money. Buy it today.

1.4          I4 Front Wheel Drive (Petrol) 90bhp/ 116nm 5-Manual 13.70 kmpl
1.3 VGT I4 Front Wheel Drive (Diesel) 90bhp/ 200nm 5-Manual 20.04 kmpl

12.  Toyota Corolla ( 990000 - 1377000)-  Toyota is the largest carmaker in the world and a large contribution to this fact has been made by the Corolla. Toyota Corolla is the largest selling nameplate in the world. Toyota has went on to take a major pie of the Indian Mid-Size segment with the introduction of a diesel engine. The redesign to Altis has worked wonders though it is still not as good looking.

1.8 VVTi  I4 Front Wheel Drive (Petrol) 132bhp/170nm 5-Manual 14.53Kmpl 5-Automatic 14.36 Kmpl
1.8 VVTi  I4 Front Wheel Drive (CNG)  132bhp/170nm 5-Manual 11.9 kmpl (Estimated)
1.4 D4-D I4 Front Wheel Drive (Diesel) 89bhp/209nm 5-manual 21.43kmpl

13. Volkswagen Jetta (1525000 - 1858000) -  The Badge version of Skoda Laura is a nice car and well built. Infact the Jetta is surprisingly better built than the Laura and the attention to detail is best in class. The engines are a dissappointment for the mid-size segment and the Volkswagen looks to be an expensive bet. The Jetta drives like you are sitting in your couch at home and that's the German strength. A new version of Jetta is well on its way and prospective buyers should wait for the new version which totally betters the current generation.

1.6        I4 Front Wheel Drive (Petrol) 102bhp/ 148nm 5-manual 13.04 kmpl
2.0 TDI I4 Front Wheel Drive (Diesel) 110bhp/250nm 5-Manual 19.53 kmpl

Car stunts that will make motorcycles pant...

Motorcycles have always been more rowdy and more able when it comes to stunting with cars playing second fiddle. Those who swear by their cars will argue against my statement but the fact remains that even today many of the motorcycles capabilities are yet to be explored. This does not mean that cars are any less fun to drive.  The best example is the Saab Performance team.

 Here are some stunts your car can perform for you. Beware, the stunts mentioned here should only be performed by experienced drivers. Boyracer's blog does not promote illegal and dangerous stunts by any means and this article is just meant for reading and knowledge.

1. Burnout
Car of choice: Dodge Challenger because it looks like a Wild Ram while doing it.

Burnout is the stunt where a car remains stationary while smoking its tyres. Burnout originated from drag racing where racers burn tyres to get them warm and grippy. Today various burnout competitions are held with proffessionals going ahead with innovative burnouts. Burnout does have a risk of fire or crash in the even of lack of control or mechanical fault.

2.  Wheelie
Car of choice: Ford Mustang

Wheelie would've probably emerged after novice drivers fell of their two-wheelers trying to launch their two wheelers. With cars its safer but just as much harder. A wheelie involves getting the front wheels (on a rear-wheel drive car) to lift in the air at startup. Lots of torque is required for the stunt and poses serious danger too. Even the most proffessionally sound stunters must follow strict caution on an empty ground.

3. Doughnuts
Car of choice: Subaru Impreza WRX Sti

Doughnuts are an extremely interesting sport and adrenaline pumping as the taste of a Boston cream doughnut.  Performing this maneuver entails rotating the rear or front of the vehicle around the opposite set of wheels in a continuous motion, creating (ideally) a circular skid-mark pattern of rubber on a roadway and possibly even cause the tires to emit smoke from Friction.

4. Tailgating
Car of choice: Saab 9-3 because they perform every year.

 This stunt is less about adrenaline and more about accuracy. Multiple cars move in tandem to the car in the front making it look like a loop. A small error can either disrupt the stunts coordination or result in a crash.

5.  Drifting
Car of choice: Mitsubishi lancer

I don't need to formally write about drifting since Tokyo Drift had a successful run. Drifting refers to a driving technique and to a motorsport where the driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a high exit speed. Lots of fun but expensive too.

6.  Side Wheelie
Car of choise: BMW 3 series

Cars get the benifit of four wheels here.  A stunt of high skill and calibre this cannot be done by everyone. 
Here the car is made to run on two side wheels only tilting the car with the help of a slope.

7. Skidding
Car of choice: Peugeot 207

The most common form of stunting with cars. You approach a corner fast and use the handbrakes to lock the rear whiles while the front carry the car away from the turn. It is as much fun as it sounds.

The best roads in the world to drive on

For me, the best romantic outing would be driving a Saab 9-5/ Ford Mustang/ Porsche Carrera with a suitcase at the back with the betterhalf in the passenger seat. What fun would it be driving on an endless road with the car engine's sweet roaring sound silencing everything else around and selected music playing on the sound system? So that got me thinking, where to find such top motorable roads? Here is a list I compiled after some research.

1. Autobahn, Germany- Autobahn is the word used to describe highways in Germany,Austria and Switzerland. Autobahns are the defacto definition for motoring fun in consumer automobiles. Entry to these highways is retricted to 60kmph for Germany and 80kmph for Switzerland. Previously Autobahns in Germany did not have any speed limits but off late German authorities have put up suggested speed limit at 130kmph. Not having crossings on these highways is a plus.

2. Florida Keys, United States- If I were to make a list of places to live, Florida Keys would definitely feature somewhere in the top ten. No wonder the Overseas highway lies here. The overseas highway is a 205km long stretch of highway passing through the Keys. Large parts of it were built on the former right-of-way of the overseas Railroad, the key west Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. Completed in 1912, the Overseas Railroad was heavily damaged and partially destroyed in the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. The Florida East Coast Railway was financially unable to rebuild the destroyed sections, so the roadbed and remaining bridges were sold to the State of Florida for $640,000.

3. The Great Ocean Road, Australia-  One of the better known landmarks in Australia, The Great Ocean Road has loads to offer to those who travel on it. The London arch, Twelve Apostles and other coastal wonders make it worth the while. The 243 kilometer road is also the largest War memorial dedicated to the casualties of world war I.

4. Millau Viaduct, France- How about a nice drive on the tallest bridge in the world? That's the Millau Viaduct for you. The Viaduct is part of the A75-A71 autoroute axis from Paris to Montpellier. Approximately 2.5 kms long, it is the worlds longest cable stayed deck. The construction of this bridge is also a story in itself and various documentaries have been made on it.

5. North Yungas, Bolivia- The North Yungas Road (alternatively known as Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas, El Camino de la Muerte, Road of Death or Death Road) is a 61-kilometre (38 mi) or 69-kilometre (43 mi) road leading from La Paz to Coroico.  It is legendary for its extreme danger and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the "world's most dangerous road". It is one of the few routes that connects the Amazon Rainforest region of northern Bolivia, or Yungas, to its capital city. Upon leaving La Paz, the road first ascends to around 4,650 metres (15,260 ft) at La Cumbre Pass, before descending to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) at the town of Coroico, transiting quickly from cool Altiplano terrain to rainforest as it winds through very steep hillsides and atop cliffs.

6. Atlantic Road, Norway- Atlanterhavsveien or The Atlantic Road connects the village of Karvag on the island of Averoya to Vevang in Eide on the Romsdal Peninsula on the mainland. It is part of the road which connect the cities of Kristiansund and Molde through the Atlantic Ocean Tunnel.(The inland connection between those two cities is the Krifast bridge/tunnel system.)  The 8.3-kilometre (5.2 mi) long road is built on several small islands and Skerries, and is spanned by eight bridges and several landfills/ Viaducts. The spectacular road quickly became a popular tourist attraction to the extent that caution must be shown when driving it, as both the local population and visitors frequently use the road to go fishing for Cod and other saltwater fish directly from the roadside. The Atlantic Ocean Tunnel  is 5,727-metre (18,789 ft) long  and reaches a depth of 250 metres (820 ft), making it one of the deepest undersea tunnels in the world.

7.  Guoliang Tunel Road, China-  The Guoliang Tunnel is carved along the side of and through a mountain in China. The tunnel is located in the Taihang Mountains which are situated in the Henan Province of China. For once I got to admit that I liked Something Made in China. Before the tunnel was constructed, access to the nearby Guoliang village was limited to a difficult path carved into the mountainside. The village is nestled in a valley surrounded by towering mountains cut off from civilization. In 1972 a group of villagers led by Shen Mingxin decided to carve a road into the side of the mountain. They raised money to purchase hammers and steel tools. Thirteen villagers began the project.

8. Transfagarasanul Road, Romania - Romania is definitely not on the top of the tourism charts. But if the tourists visit the country, They should definitely pass through this road once. The Transfagarasanul  is the most dramatic and second-highest paved road in Romanaia. Built as a strategic military route, the 90 km of twists and turns run north to south across the tallest sections of the Southern Carpathians, between the highest peak in the country, Moldoveanu, and the second highest, Negoiu. The road connects the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia, and the cities of Sibiu and Pitesti. The road also provides access to Balea Lake and Bâlea Waterfall.

9.  Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road, UAE- Apart from gold, UAE is mostly famous for its modern architectural wonders. The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road extends for 7.3 mi (11.7 km) up the mountain, rising 4,000 ft (1,219 m). With 21 corners and three lanes (two climbing and one descending), the immaculate road has been called the greatest driving road in the world. The road scales the mountain and ends at a parking lot with only a hotel and a palace belonging to the country's rulers.

10. Col De Turini-  No wonder Peugeot/ Citroen and Renault cars are the best when it comes to performance at the various races. France has some of the best roads to offer testing conditions. Col de Turini is a high mountain pass in the Alps. It is famous for a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally which is held on the tight road with its many hairpin turns. Until a few years ago, the Turini was also driven at night, with thousands of fans watching the "Night of the Long Knives" as it was called, due to the strong high beam lights cutting through the night.

11. Hana Highway, Hawaii- The Hāna Highway', also known as the Hana Belt Road, Hana Road or Road To Hana, is a 68-mile (109 km) long stretch of Hawaii State Highways. Although Hāna is only about 52 miles (84 km) from Kahului, a typical trip to Hāna takes about three hours, as the road is very winding and narrow and passes over 59 bridges, 46 of which are only one-lane bridges. Many of the concrete and steel bridges date back to 1910 and all but one are still in use. That one bridge, badly damaged by erosion, has been replaced by a parallel structure by a portable steel Bailey Bridge erected by the United States Corps of  Engieneers. Signs on the old bridge warn pedestrians to stay off due to imminent collapse. Several Attractions are available on the way including the Seven sacred pools and Wailua waterfalls.

12. Red Rock Road, United States-  State Route 159 or popularly known as Red Rock Road is a 31.003-mile (49.894 km) east–west highway in southern Nevada, primarily serving the Las Vegas area. A portion of the west end of the route is designated a Nevada Scenic Byway.

Source of information - http://www.wikipedia.com/