Posts Tagged ‘Power Source’
December 2nd, 2009 | 
Author: 
Leaftech asked:
Automobile racing is one of the most popular sports in the world, and certainly has its place among the most watched sports in North America. Every year, thousands of people watch what is happening on the NASCAR and CART circuits and every year thousands of people seek to emulate the pros.
The history of professional and amateur auto racing probably goes back to the days when the automobile was first invented and the first competitive spirit jumped into his driver’s seat, while his friend jumped into their car. Since that time, the sport has been refined and marketed to become the past time that it is today, and that has meant a lot of change along the way.
The turbocharger
One of the big changes that revolutionized auto racing was the introduction of the turbo charger. The charger itself was actually invented in the very first years of the 20th century, and began showing up in practical applications (specifically ships and locomotives) around the 1920s.
Turbochargers increase the amount of air drawn into the piston of an engine at each stroke, thereby increasing the power boost that the engine supplies to the vehicle in motion (more air equals more fuel). Turbochargers use the rotation of the crankshaft as their power source, using the heat produced to power in the extra air. They are said to be more efficient than superchargers, which draw power from the engine itself.
The turbocharger and auto racing
The first use of a turbocharger in auto racing was in the late 1970s, when auto producer Renault of France introduced the turbo charged engine into their Formula One vehicles. This was a relatively late development given the long history of the turbo charger, but up until this point racecar developers believed the technology was not fuel efficient or reliable enough to power a successful racecar.
Renault proved critics wrong, however, by using a turbocharger that provided a significant boost to the speed of the car with the use of a fairly small engine. By the early 1980s, all Formula One cars were equipped with turbo chargers.
Turbo charging and the driver
Aside from increasing the speed a racecar could hit in a short amount of time, the skill needed to use a turbo charger in an engine also meant a new breed of drivers were needed. This development was not just limited to professional circuits like Formula One; amateurs all over the world found that successfully racing a turbo driven car meant an increase in timing ability, reflexes, and even strength.
The introduction of the turbo charger changed auto racing forever. Today, there are several styles of auto racing that do not allow turbo chargers, but even so, the very fact that there has to be litigation against these innovations is an indication of their far reaching impact and application!
Tim Brewer
Automobile racing is one of the most popular sports in the world, and certainly has its place among the most watched sports in North America. Every year, thousands of people watch what is happening on the NASCAR and CART circuits and every year thousands of people seek to emulate the pros.
The history of professional and amateur auto racing probably goes back to the days when the automobile was first invented and the first competitive spirit jumped into his driver’s seat, while his friend jumped into their car. Since that time, the sport has been refined and marketed to become the past time that it is today, and that has meant a lot of change along the way.
The turbocharger
One of the big changes that revolutionized auto racing was the introduction of the turbo charger. The charger itself was actually invented in the very first years of the 20th century, and began showing up in practical applications (specifically ships and locomotives) around the 1920s.
Turbochargers increase the amount of air drawn into the piston of an engine at each stroke, thereby increasing the power boost that the engine supplies to the vehicle in motion (more air equals more fuel). Turbochargers use the rotation of the crankshaft as their power source, using the heat produced to power in the extra air. They are said to be more efficient than superchargers, which draw power from the engine itself.
The turbocharger and auto racing
The first use of a turbocharger in auto racing was in the late 1970s, when auto producer Renault of France introduced the turbo charged engine into their Formula One vehicles. This was a relatively late development given the long history of the turbo charger, but up until this point racecar developers believed the technology was not fuel efficient or reliable enough to power a successful racecar.
Renault proved critics wrong, however, by using a turbocharger that provided a significant boost to the speed of the car with the use of a fairly small engine. By the early 1980s, all Formula One cars were equipped with turbo chargers.
Turbo charging and the driver
Aside from increasing the speed a racecar could hit in a short amount of time, the skill needed to use a turbo charger in an engine also meant a new breed of drivers were needed. This development was not just limited to professional circuits like Formula One; amateurs all over the world found that successfully racing a turbo driven car meant an increase in timing ability, reflexes, and even strength.
The introduction of the turbo charger changed auto racing forever. Today, there are several styles of auto racing that do not allow turbo chargers, but even so, the very fact that there has to be litigation against these innovations is an indication of their far reaching impact and application!
Tim Brewer
Posted in Cars | 
Tags: 1980s, Automobile Racing, Crankshaft, Formula One, Nascar, Piston, Power Boost, Power Source, Superchargers, Turbocharger | 
Comments Closed
Sandra Prior asked:
Athletes need their legs to have high levels of strength, power and stamina. Running well is a requirement for basketball, baseball, tennis and 10Ks, and strong, muscular legs are a must for biking, swimming and even golf. The two routines illustrated here accomplish all three goals. They combine weight-free maneuvers with barbell and ankle-weight blasts. Perform each one twice weekly, with a day off in between workouts.
The Weight Room Workout
When working out a large muscle group such as the quadriceps, it makes sense to alternate a weight-bearing exercise with one that’s weight-free. The muscle fibers are stressed during both, but bridging free-weight movements with a bodyweight exercise allows for a continual session without overdoing it. And since the legs are the prime power source for most sports, building strong, explosive thighs is important. What follows are three weight and three weight-free maneuvers. Perform eight repetitions of each with the alternating strategy.
Flat-Footed Squats
Stand grasping a barbell on the upper back, with legs shoulder-width apart. Keeping the back straight and head up, proceed to squat until legs are bent at 90-degree angles. Pause, then rise to starting position.
Step-Ups
Stand grasping a barbell on the upper back next to a bench. Proceed to step on the bench with the left foot, then step all the way up. Pause, then step down to starting position with the right foot first. Perform a set, then turn around for another set stepping up with the right foot.
Freehand Front Lunges
Stand with hands on hips. Proceed to step forward with the right leg and lower until the thigh is almost parallel to the floor. Pause, then return to starting position and next step forward with the left leg.
Squat Jumps
Cross the arms over the chest and squat down until legs are at 90 degrees, with feet slightly turned out. Proceed to jump up as high as possible. Upon landing, pause for a few seconds before the next jump.
Balance Squats
Stand balancing a barbell on the top of the chest with arms crossed, legs shoulder-width apart and feet slightly turned out. Keeping the back straight and head up, proceed to squat until legs are bent at 90-degree angles. Pause, then rise to starting position.
Freehand Side Lunges
Stand with hands on hips. Proceed to step to the right and lower until the thigh is almost parallel to the floor. Pause, then return to starting position and next step to the left.
The Ankle Weights Workout
There are weight-free exercises and there are weight-aided exercises. Here we combine the two, with a program for the lower body that uses ankle weights as the resistance elements. Use ones that are light enough to perform each repetition without strain, and with perfect form, but heavy enough to make the last rep of each exercise fairly difficult.
Straight Leg Raises
Stand with legs together and arms at sides. Proceed to raise the right leg, keeping it almost straight, until it is about parallel to the ground. Pause, then lower to starting position. Perform the next repetition with the left leg, and complete 15 alternating repetitions with each leg.
Rear Raises
Stand with legs together and hands on hips. Proceed to raise and bend the lower right leg behind you until it is parallel to the ground. Pause, then lower to starting position. Perform the next repetition with the left leg, and complete 15 alternating repetitions with each leg.
Bent-Leg Raises
Stand with legs together and arms at sides. Proceed to raise and bend the right leg until the thigh is parallel to the ground and the leg is bent at a 90-degree angle. Pause, then lower to starting position. Perform the next repetition with the left leg, and complete 15 alternating repetitions with each leg.
Leg Spreads
Lie on your back with hands palms down at sides and legs raised together. Proceed to spread them out to sides. Pause, then return to starting position. Perform 15 repetitions.
Leg Presses
Lie on your back with hands on the lower back and legs bent together. Proceed to extend the right one up. Pause, then lower and simultaneously extend the left one up. Perform 15 alternating presses with each leg.
Front Kicks
Stand with legs together and arms at sides. Proceed to raise and kick the straight right leg up and out in front. Upon returning to starting position, next raise and kick the left leg. Perform 15 alternating repetitions with each leg.
Leg Pull-Ins
Lie on your back with hands palms down at sides and legs together. Proceed to bend the legs and pull knees into the chest. Pause, then return to starting position. Perform 15 repetitions.
Side Raises
Stand with legs together and grasping something with the right hand for balance. Proceed to raise the left leg up and out to the side as high as possible. Pause, then lower to starting position. Perform 15 repetitions, then turn around, grasp something with the left hand and perform a set with the right leg rising.
Athletes need their legs to have high levels of strength, power and stamina. Running well is a requirement for basketball, baseball, tennis and 10Ks, and strong, muscular legs are a must for biking, swimming and even golf. The two routines illustrated here accomplish all three goals. They combine weight-free maneuvers with barbell and ankle-weight blasts. Perform each one twice weekly, with a day off in between workouts.
The Weight Room Workout
When working out a large muscle group such as the quadriceps, it makes sense to alternate a weight-bearing exercise with one that’s weight-free. The muscle fibers are stressed during both, but bridging free-weight movements with a bodyweight exercise allows for a continual session without overdoing it. And since the legs are the prime power source for most sports, building strong, explosive thighs is important. What follows are three weight and three weight-free maneuvers. Perform eight repetitions of each with the alternating strategy.
Flat-Footed Squats
Stand grasping a barbell on the upper back, with legs shoulder-width apart. Keeping the back straight and head up, proceed to squat until legs are bent at 90-degree angles. Pause, then rise to starting position.
Step-Ups
Stand grasping a barbell on the upper back next to a bench. Proceed to step on the bench with the left foot, then step all the way up. Pause, then step down to starting position with the right foot first. Perform a set, then turn around for another set stepping up with the right foot.
Freehand Front Lunges
Stand with hands on hips. Proceed to step forward with the right leg and lower until the thigh is almost parallel to the floor. Pause, then return to starting position and next step forward with the left leg.
Squat Jumps
Cross the arms over the chest and squat down until legs are at 90 degrees, with feet slightly turned out. Proceed to jump up as high as possible. Upon landing, pause for a few seconds before the next jump.
Balance Squats
Stand balancing a barbell on the top of the chest with arms crossed, legs shoulder-width apart and feet slightly turned out. Keeping the back straight and head up, proceed to squat until legs are bent at 90-degree angles. Pause, then rise to starting position.
Freehand Side Lunges
Stand with hands on hips. Proceed to step to the right and lower until the thigh is almost parallel to the floor. Pause, then return to starting position and next step to the left.
The Ankle Weights Workout
There are weight-free exercises and there are weight-aided exercises. Here we combine the two, with a program for the lower body that uses ankle weights as the resistance elements. Use ones that are light enough to perform each repetition without strain, and with perfect form, but heavy enough to make the last rep of each exercise fairly difficult.
Straight Leg Raises
Stand with legs together and arms at sides. Proceed to raise the right leg, keeping it almost straight, until it is about parallel to the ground. Pause, then lower to starting position. Perform the next repetition with the left leg, and complete 15 alternating repetitions with each leg.
Rear Raises
Stand with legs together and hands on hips. Proceed to raise and bend the lower right leg behind you until it is parallel to the ground. Pause, then lower to starting position. Perform the next repetition with the left leg, and complete 15 alternating repetitions with each leg.
Bent-Leg Raises
Stand with legs together and arms at sides. Proceed to raise and bend the right leg until the thigh is parallel to the ground and the leg is bent at a 90-degree angle. Pause, then lower to starting position. Perform the next repetition with the left leg, and complete 15 alternating repetitions with each leg.
Leg Spreads
Lie on your back with hands palms down at sides and legs raised together. Proceed to spread them out to sides. Pause, then return to starting position. Perform 15 repetitions.
Leg Presses
Lie on your back with hands on the lower back and legs bent together. Proceed to extend the right one up. Pause, then lower and simultaneously extend the left one up. Perform 15 alternating presses with each leg.
Front Kicks
Stand with legs together and arms at sides. Proceed to raise and kick the straight right leg up and out in front. Upon returning to starting position, next raise and kick the left leg. Perform 15 alternating repetitions with each leg.
Leg Pull-Ins
Lie on your back with hands palms down at sides and legs together. Proceed to bend the legs and pull knees into the chest. Pause, then return to starting position. Perform 15 repetitions.
Side Raises
Stand with legs together and grasping something with the right hand for balance. Proceed to raise the left leg up and out to the side as high as possible. Pause, then lower to starting position. Perform 15 repetitions, then turn around, grasp something with the left hand and perform a set with the right leg rising.