A Formula One Grand Prix event spans an entire weekend, beginning with two free practices on Friday, and one free practice on Saturday. Third drivers are allowed to run on Fridays, but only two cars may be used per team. After these practice sessions, a qualifying session is held.

The format of this qualifying session has been through several iterations since 2003. Attempts were made to reinvigorate interest in the qualifying session by using a "one-shot" system in which each driver would take turns on an empty track to set their one and only time.

For the 2006 season a knockout qualifying system was introduced. The FIA revised the 2006 procedures starting with Round 11, the 2006 French Grand Prix.[7] In the first phase, all 22 cars are permitted on the track for a 15-minute qualification session. Only their fastest time will count and drivers may complete as many laps as they wish. In the original format, the clocks were stopped immediately at the end of the session, which meant that drivers on a timed lap did not have their time registered once the 15 minutes were up. From Round 11, any car running a timed lap at the time of the chequered flag is entitled to complete the lap. The slowest six cars can take no further part in qualifying, these cars will make up the last six grid positions in the order of their times.

The times for the sixteen remaining cars are reset for the next 15-minute session. In the original format, the clocks were stopped immediately at the end of the session. From Round 11, cars running timed laps at the chequered flag are allowed to complete the lap. The slowest six cars will make up the grid in positions 11 to 16 in the order of their times.

The times for the ten remaining cars will be reset for the next session. The shootout session lasted 20 minutes under the original regulations, changed to 15 minutes from Round 11. For the final period, the cars will be arranged on the grid in positions one to ten in the order of their times. In the first two 15-minute sessions, cars may run any fuel load and drivers knocked out after those sessions may refuel ahead of the race. However, the top-ten drivers must begin the final 15-minute session with the fuel load on which they plan to start the race. They will be weighed before they leave the pits. Whatever fuel they use in the 15 minutes may be replaced at the end of the session provided that the laps they complete are all within 110% of their best session time; outlaps (a lap that started in the pitlane) and inlaps (a lap that ended in the pitlane) are permitted to be no more than 120% of the driver’s best session time. Any fuel for a lap outside of the 110% time will not be replaced. As with the first two 15 minute sessions, if a driver starts a timed lap before the chequered flag falls for the 15 minute session, their time will count even if they cross the finish line after the session has ended.

The race begins with a warm-up formation lap, after which the cars assemble on the starting grid in the order they qualified. If a driver stalls before the parade lap, and the rest of the field passes him, then he must start from the back of the grid. As long as he moves off and at least one car is behind him, he can retake his original position. A racer may also elect to start from pit-lane if he has any last minute problems with the car. If they choose to do this, they must wait for all cars to pass pit-lane before they may begin the race.

A light system above the track then signals the start of the race. Races are a little over 305 kilometres (190 miles) long and are limited to two hours, though in practice they usually last about ninety minutes. Throughout the race, drivers may make one or more pit stops in order to refuel and change tyres. Drivers have access to seven sets of dry-weather tyres, four sets of wet-weather tyres and three sets of extreme-weather tyres for the entire weekend. Drivers must choose the dry-weather compound they will use for the race ahead of qualifying.

The FIA awards points to the top eight drivers and their respective teams of a grand prix on a 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis (the race winner receives ten points, the first runner-up eight, and so on). The winner of the two annual championships are the driver and the team who have accumulated the most points at the end of the season. If any drivers and/or teams have the exact amount of points and are both competing for the driver and/or team championships, the driver and/or team who has won more Grand Prix races during the course of the season is declared the winner.

The BMW 3 Series coupe and cabriolet was firstly introduced at the end of the year 1999 to 2000. The present model has the vehicle body code E46. It uses the same hood structure and the front body as the previous model. The most difference from the previous model is the front headlight and front bumper which can be divided into 3 models, sedan and station wagon models, coupe and cabriolet models and the compact models.

>From the information above, you can see that the minor change for the BMW 3 Series is mostly independent from the fact that there are many models for it. They don’t need to minor change all 3 groups at the same time. The first minor change is for the sedan and station wagon since the end of the year 2001 and come along with the minor change for coupe and cabriolet in the end of 2002 but the actual release date was around March in 2003.

The minor change for coupe and cabriolet models can be easily seen by the front head lights. It includes all high, low beam and turn signal in the same frame and changes the color of the turn signal from yellow to transparent white. The turn signal on the side of the cars moved upward and change to blurry white instead of yellow.

The front hood keeps the same style but the size of the grill was increased 300 millimeters from the previous version, which gives the uniqueness for the 3 Series.

Other than the above, there are other optional accessories such as the Bi-xenon headlights with the angle control system. The headlights will turn as you turn the steering wheel to increase the safety while you driving at night.

The tail lights still use the same style but change the turn signal from yellow to white and the parking light from a big long row was reduce to a smaller size and the break light was changed to LED which is brighter and better compare to the older one.

Rear bumper bas remade by removing the long hole in it and added a black stripe to connect both lights on the bumper.

The dimension for the cabriolet is 4488 millimeters wide 1757 millimeters long 1369 millimeters tall and 2725 millimeters for the wheel base length. The coupe model has the same dimension as the cabriolet except from the 1372 millimeters tall

The interior inside keeps the same common features such as big gauge, RPM needle, speed, gasoline level and temperature arrange the same way as they did in the first 3 Series which we know under the code E21.

What you know and you don’t know about safety around helicopter could make a big difference.

Here are some important information you must know in order to be safe around the helicopter at all times:

Approaching the helicopter – For some, especially the first timers, the sound of the rotor can be so intimidating at the same time exciting. These two are the main cause of absent-mindedness. And somehow, they tend to neglect the importance on knowing how to approach the helicopter.

What you should do is to keep calm and be aware of everything that is happening around you. Do not approach the helicopter if the pilot has not yet given you the signal to do so. Also never approach the helicopter where the pilot cannot see you. Approach the helicopter either from the side or front.

Approach the helicopter while keeping your head down. The rotor turns fast that could cause severe or fatal damage if you were hit. Also, in case you wear something that might fly off like hat, hold on to them carefully. If you are carrying long rod or tools, hold them horizontally. This would prevent the chance that this would hit the rotor.

On uneven grounds, make sure that you approach on the downhill side. This will keep you from the danger that you might hit the rotor. Remember this so that you stay out of danger.

While on the helicopter – Like riding a plane, there is a strict rule to follow to ensure that you have a safe ride. And it will all begin at the closing and opening of the door.

Once you have approached the helicopter safely, open the door slowly and be gentle on closing. Remember that helicopters are made to fly thus they are made from light materials so be very light on the doors. Just pull it slowly and close the latch handle gently. Wear seatbelt at all times and follow everything the pilot has said. The pilot knows about helicopters more than you do.

Departing from the helicopter – Departing from the helicopter is as critical as approaching it so make sure you follow the safety guidelines.

Wait for the pilot’s signal that it is safe to depart. Never disobey this or else suffer the consequence. On uneven grounds, depart on the downhill side. This would prevent you from hitting the rotor blade. And, keep your head down until you are clear with the rotor.

These things may be simple and very basic that is why not everyone follows it. If you don’t want to get hit by the rotor or fall off in mid-air, you have a very good reason to follow everything mentioned.

Defensive driving courses generally help an individual to hone up his driving skills even if he has had his license before and is an experienced driver. The basic concept behind such a course is to make an individual trained so that he could react to the mistakes made by other drivers on the road and avoid an accident.

Defensive driving courses in a way assume that even if you drive carefully there are always those rash drivers who will either jump the red light or would take a sudden u-turn without making any signal, and you need to be ready when they do.

Most people enroll themselves for a defensive driving courses because having completed such a course not only makes his drive home safer, but it also entitles him to certain privileges. He gets a discount on his insurance premium, his points on his driving record get reduced, and to cap it all, some states even dismiss tickets issued against a person who has completed his defensive driving course.

Defensive driving courses can be attended either in a driving school or one can enroll for such a course online. Whatever mode he chooses, he should first clarify what courses satisfy his state’s requirements.

There are a lot of rules that a driver is taught to follow in a defensive driving course. The first and foremost thing that one needs to remember is to pay attention. The commonest explanation after an accident is that they had not seen the other man approaching. The only way out is to be alert, always. Another important rule to follow is not to trust any driver on the road.

It is always better to maintain a safe distance from a car in front. One should also remember that even if he follows the traffic lights someone else might not. It is also advised that under no circumstances should one not wear his seat belt. Many an accident injury could be averted if the people inside the car strapped themselves up properly.

A defensive driving course also emphasizes that a person should drive only if he is sober. Even if he is feeling sleepy it is advised that he should stay away from the wheel. It is also instructed that speed limits be followed strictly. A driver is advised to avoid all sorts of distractions while driving such as listening to the radio or talking on the phone.

One should also slow down in case of rain or snow. It is recommended that an eye should also be kept on the pedestrians and their pets so that nothing untoward happens if they stray on to the driveway. In fact one is also given tips regarding riding a bike, for example it is suggested that one wear a protective head gear while riding.

The list of such laws goes on. One needs to go through them thoroughly and put them to practice on the road. One becomes a much safer and secure driver and at the same time also gets to enjoy a few privileges for being so – this is the best part of such defensive driving courses.

A radar detector is an electronic device used by motorists to determine whether their speed is being observed or not by a police officer. The objective of a radar detector is to protect the motorist from getting a speeding ticket from the officer who is using a radar gun.

Radar detectors were introduced in the early 1970’s. The term radar detector originated from technologies that were used earlier to detect speed.

Now the question arises, "What is radar?" Radar is a system used to measure the speed and location of any object. This system consists of two important parts - a transmitter and a receiver. The radio transmitter causes voltage fluctuation by oscillating an electric current at a predefined frequency. This oscillation of the electric field generates electromagnetic energy. This electromagnetic energy propagates in the air as electromagnetic waves. A transmitter consists of an amplifier and an antenna. While the former increases the power of electromagnetic energy, the latter transits it into the air.

The basic function of radar is to determine its distance from the destined object. For this function, the radar device emits concerted radio waves to observe any echo. If any object comes in the way of the radio waves, then it can be easily detected by radar with the help of electromagnetic energy. Radio waves constantly travel in the air at the speed of light. The distance of the object from the radar is determined by observing the time taken by the radio waves to return.

For measuring the actual speed of any object, radar can be used with a fact called Doppler shift. When any moving object passes in front of the radar, its echo will reflect the signals of the radar. The time taken by the radio signals to return after striking the object, and the frequency with which they travel, gives the actual speed of that object. If an object is coming towards the radar, then the signals will come back in a shorter period of time. It will increase the frequency and tells the actual time in which an object will cross the radar. This process depends on how fast the frequency will change. Traffic police use radar in the form of a radar gun, which is either hand-held or vehicle mounted, to detect speeding vehicles.

A basic radar detector detects police radar with just a simple radio receiver. In contrast, detectors that are more sophisticated comprise of a basic receiver along with a radio transmitter. A jamming signal is produced via this transmitter. It blends the signal of the police radar gun with extra radio noise. Due to this, a perplexed echo signal is received by the police radar gun, and the exact speed-reading cannot be taken.

Light-sensitive panels are being used in modern detectors which detect the beams from police laser guns. Lidar is difficult to avoid due to its concentrated beam, so it is quite possible that by the time the detector is able to detect it, the vehicle is in the beam’s sight already. For that, speeders also use a laser jammer. It works much like a radar jammer.

In conclusion, there are several systems available to detect radar, but none of these systems is a sure shot way to get protected against speed detectors. However, one thing that can be done to avoid speeding tickets is to ’slow down’.

Do you ever get lost? You know, maybe you’re looking for that friend’s new place, and you take a wrong turn and end up in the middle of nowhere. This is a rather common scenario that happens to the best of us. We all lose our way every now and again. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone stops and asks for directions. Some of us hate to stop at the random gas stations or pit stops to get that much-needed heads up on how to get to our destination.

And this is why we often carry on driving around, circling aimlessly. Oh and of course, act like we know what we’re doing. Well, fortunately these days there are simpler ways to deal with this common dilemma. Ever heard of the new car navigation systems or GPS? I’m sure everyone has by now. Probably the best thing since slice bread.

Does your vehicle have one of those car navigation systems? Although this option is rather choice on some of the newer cars, it can be a little bit on the steep side. The good news is you can buy a GPS system separately and then choose to use it whenever or wherever you like. Garmin is currently one of the top sellers of portable and car navigation systems.

I bought one from Wal-Mart for a couple hundred dollars. While this may sound expensive for some, trust me it’s a purchase you’ll be glad you made. Just last summer I had to make a trip into the heartland. Okay, maybe not everyone knows what the heartland is; therefore if you’re not privy to this vital information, the heartland is Iowa. Anyway, I decided to take my nice little GPS system on this road trip and it turned out to be a life saver.

I basically programmed the start and finish point addresses into the navigation system and it told me where to go. And when I say it told me, I mean it literally told me out loud! Many of these contemporary car navigation systems talk to you, which proves wonderful on the road. This way you don’t have to worry about having to look down to read the map half the time.

Car navigation systems run off a satellite signal and works like a charm just about anywhere on the planet. If you’re in search of a modern GPS system, then it’s imperative to look online. The Internet is loaded with car navigation systems to suit anyone’s needs. Make sure you get up to speed with a new navigation system at your side.

Nobody likes speeding tickets. The fines, the increased insurance premium, and the points on the license make police cars a much-feared sight. In spite of this, very few people don’t speed.

To understand radar detectors, what they’re detecting has to be understood, first. Radar guns are basically radio transmitters and receivers. The radio waves’ frequency changes when it hits a moving car, and the amount of change to the radio wave is consistent with the car’s speed: the faster the car, the greater the change to the radio wave. The radar gun converts the change to a relative speed: the difference between the police officer’s speed and the target’s speed. (Notice that if the police officer isn’t moving, his speed is 0 mph, so the speed revealed by radar equals the target’s speed and no math is needed.)

Police also use lidar, which uses the same principles as radar with infrared laser bursts instead of radio waves. This circumvents radar detectors and is highly focused. You almost have to be the target to detect it, in which case you’re already caught. Though it can be used like the old radar, lidar is more common where the ticketing system is automated, where the detection of a speeding car activates a camera to catch the car’s license plate, and a ticket is mailed to the offender.

Radar can be easily detected with a radio receiver comparable to your AM/FM radio but set to the frequency range used for radar. (Other frequency ranges happen to be full of such things as television broadcasts and distance automatic car openers.)

However, such a basic radar detector means that if you happen to be the first target when the police officer activates his or her radar gun, you’re caught by the time the detector tells you about it. It’s passive, alerting you to the use of radar in the area and nothing more. This is often enough, since radar spreads so much that you’ll usually detect it before you’re the target. Lidar, by contrast, is highly focused, so you’ll probably be the target before you detect it. (A black car—which absorbs more light—and plastic covers for your license plate can decrease the lidar ability to detect you while not harming your detector range, which may give you enough time to slow down before your speed is detected.)

Active detectors jam the speed readings, interfering with the signal that reveals your speed. Radar jammers and lidar jammers exist, though the police are continuously advancing the technology to detect speeders. Any jammer can become obsolete at the turn of a hat, making the investment of a few hundred dollars abruptly worthless.

Warning: radar detectors themselves give off telltale radio frequencies that are detectable with a VG2 device. Radar and lidar detectors are illegal in some areas, making their owners liable to prosecution.

The ultimate way to avoid speeding tickets is simple and widely known: don’t speed. But how many drivers actually follow that method?

(QT Auto News) In sunny Southern California, we rarely experience heavy fog that warrants changing driving habits. But in other parts of the country, fog is common and can cause dangerous driving conditions.

Fog can limit visibility to as little as 20 feet. When this occurs, you should pull completely off the road until conditions improve. Turn on your emergency indicators to signal other traffic of your condition.

The roads are slick during foggy conditions so you should slow down to a safe speed. Use your speedometer to check your speed since without visual indicators, you may actually be traveling faster than you think you are.

When caught in the fog, use low-beam headlights or fog lights. This prevents reflection of light off of the moisture particles in the air. At all costs, you want to slow down until conditions improve.

tagTRAX: reflection of light | sunny southern california | visual indicators

Intelliturn, the patented, sensor driven, computer controlled turn signal system for cars and trucks has received the “Best Product of 2004″ award from Design News Magazine. Readers voted this product from a field of 15 finalists in the Digital Control Category. The system, with no moving parts, can reduce vehicle cost and improves turn signal performance and enhances vehicle safety. [PRWEB Apr 4, 2005]