Friday, June 4, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Aspiring To Be A NASCAR Driver
Aspiring To Be A NASCAR Driver
So you think you have what it takes and you want to be a NASCAR driver? Many of those drivers have been doing this sport for many years. Some do believe that this isn’t any kind of sport at all, beside how hard can it be to drive a car in a circle for 500 miles? Many people overlook so many factors that are involved in this sport such bump drafting, car set-up, track conditions, and the variance of tracks from one to another. Also things that should be in your mind as you judge this is there is 43 drivers on a track that sometimes is a mile long, while other tracks can be up to two and a half miles long. Also there is the fact that the time separation between first place and last is merely only a second or two. So I will try to give all you need to at least survive. Please keep in mind that there are so many things that can factor in your success or your defeat.
First of all, you have to have some kind of idea of what you will experience while you engage in this non-athletic activity. Let’s look at the simple thing and that is identifying different tracks and how you are to deal with them. Many see a track and think of it as round and flat. If anything a track is everything but that. As stated before there are all kinds of different track on the yearly circuit, some are perfectly round, while others are what we call tri-ovals. As each track is different so should be your driving styles. Many of these tracks also have offsetting turns, which in layman’s terms means that turn 1 and 2 will have a different turn radius as turn 3 and 4. So as you may have already guessed turning through one end is different than the other. Let’s take a look at some of these tracks, for instance Talladega, is a well known track and well revered. It is a two and a half mile track, and it has 18 degree turns. This means that a forty foot track at ground level is forty-eight feet up top of the track. This can be ideal for multiple lanes of track to race on, however it also can create a real dangerous problem such as running a line(lane choice),that is too high and you wreck and hit the wall. You not only hurt yourself but you have the real potential to take a lot of other drivers out on the track also. And you have just wrecked a car that is about $350,000, so as you can imagine that the owner of the car will not be happy at all. Then there is Pocono Raceway, it only has a 6 degree turns, so as you can see you would not drive Pocono like you would Talladega. Each and every track is different in some way or another, and as a driver it is your job to find out what those differences are.
Secondly, we will have to take a look at you as an individual. The average driver can and will lose ten pounds per race. As you may have guessed here, the driver must be in good condition. When you see a race on television it is a nice sunny day. But in the car it is way more than that. If you climbed in a car on a day that is 80 degrees outside it is surely hotter. To give you a precise idea of what it is like inside try to imagine this. Go climb in your car this summer dress as if you were going skiing. Roll all the windows up while you are in your ski suit, and turn the cars heater up to the maximum heat and sit there for three and half hours. Please keep in mind you are not even moving yet! Now we will have to see if your body can endure the punishment that the average driver goes thought while he is racing. Such as driving a car at 195-200 miles per hour just before you find out where you want to be so you can negotiate the turns that you have to. Oh yeah you also have to remember that there are 42 other cars out there too. They all want exactly what you want, and that is to win and get the big check and notoriety. Do you honestly think he is just going to leave you alone and let you win? Better think again. So here comes the turn are you ready? When you turn at that speed and at that degree you will experience what is called g-force. Say you weigh 150 pounds, through that turn you could weight anywhere between 300 to 400 pounds. This affect all of you your body, and your mind, all the while you have to deal with the heat you and your body is absorbing. These effect reaction times, possible black-outs, no patience, and worse of all poor judgments which in the long run will hurt your performance.
Finally, there is the car we have to address, while you do have a team you have to be able to tell them what is wrong. You cannot just jump in and drive. You have to know more than where the gas goes. Problems will arise all during the race such as being too loose (which is when you turn the wheel of the car and it hesitates in recting to you turning), aero-push, car-plowing, and finally there aspect of the ever changing track conditions. Say you start a race when it was cool (making the car good and easy to turn), then the sun comes out and heats the track. This will make you feel like you are driving on ice. This isn’t a good feeling when you are going that fast and then you lose control, and surely the wall is in your future again. To fix some of these problems is as simple as adding or taking out air pressure in the tires. Or you could add or take out a round of wedge (which will affect the way your cars handling capabilities). But you still have to be able to tell your pit crew what is going on with your car so they may be able to fix it and you could go on to win. One has to be proactive with their car as to be there in the final laps, remember it is a 5oo mile race so a lot of patience and good driving will put you where you need to be in the end. With 43 other drivers out there if you don’t use your head and use patience, it could be the determining factor that decides if you race or you go home early.
So as you can see there is a lot to being a NASCAR driver than driving. Many drivers have gone to schools to learn aerodynamic engineering, structural engineering, so you can imagine there is a lot of money, time, and other valuable resources that get them where they are now. With all of this being said and done do you really think you have what it takes to be a NASCAR driver, and do you aspire to be one?
So you think you have what it takes and you want to be a NASCAR driver? Many of those drivers have been doing this sport for many years. Some do believe that this isn’t any kind of sport at all, beside how hard can it be to drive a car in a circle for 500 miles? Many people overlook so many factors that are involved in this sport such bump drafting, car set-up, track conditions, and the variance of tracks from one to another. Also things that should be in your mind as you judge this is there is 43 drivers on a track that sometimes is a mile long, while other tracks can be up to two and a half miles long. Also there is the fact that the time separation between first place and last is merely only a second or two. So I will try to give all you need to at least survive. Please keep in mind that there are so many things that can factor in your success or your defeat.
First of all, you have to have some kind of idea of what you will experience while you engage in this non-athletic activity. Let’s look at the simple thing and that is identifying different tracks and how you are to deal with them. Many see a track and think of it as round and flat. If anything a track is everything but that. As stated before there are all kinds of different track on the yearly circuit, some are perfectly round, while others are what we call tri-ovals. As each track is different so should be your driving styles. Many of these tracks also have offsetting turns, which in layman’s terms means that turn 1 and 2 will have a different turn radius as turn 3 and 4. So as you may have already guessed turning through one end is different than the other. Let’s take a look at some of these tracks, for instance Talladega, is a well known track and well revered. It is a two and a half mile track, and it has 18 degree turns. This means that a forty foot track at ground level is forty-eight feet up top of the track. This can be ideal for multiple lanes of track to race on, however it also can create a real dangerous problem such as running a line(lane choice),that is too high and you wreck and hit the wall. You not only hurt yourself but you have the real potential to take a lot of other drivers out on the track also. And you have just wrecked a car that is about $350,000, so as you can imagine that the owner of the car will not be happy at all. Then there is Pocono Raceway, it only has a 6 degree turns, so as you can see you would not drive Pocono like you would Talladega. Each and every track is different in some way or another, and as a driver it is your job to find out what those differences are.
Secondly, we will have to take a look at you as an individual. The average driver can and will lose ten pounds per race. As you may have guessed here, the driver must be in good condition. When you see a race on television it is a nice sunny day. But in the car it is way more than that. If you climbed in a car on a day that is 80 degrees outside it is surely hotter. To give you a precise idea of what it is like inside try to imagine this. Go climb in your car this summer dress as if you were going skiing. Roll all the windows up while you are in your ski suit, and turn the cars heater up to the maximum heat and sit there for three and half hours. Please keep in mind you are not even moving yet! Now we will have to see if your body can endure the punishment that the average driver goes thought while he is racing. Such as driving a car at 195-200 miles per hour just before you find out where you want to be so you can negotiate the turns that you have to. Oh yeah you also have to remember that there are 42 other cars out there too. They all want exactly what you want, and that is to win and get the big check and notoriety. Do you honestly think he is just going to leave you alone and let you win? Better think again. So here comes the turn are you ready? When you turn at that speed and at that degree you will experience what is called g-force. Say you weigh 150 pounds, through that turn you could weight anywhere between 300 to 400 pounds. This affect all of you your body, and your mind, all the while you have to deal with the heat you and your body is absorbing. These effect reaction times, possible black-outs, no patience, and worse of all poor judgments which in the long run will hurt your performance.
Finally, there is the car we have to address, while you do have a team you have to be able to tell them what is wrong. You cannot just jump in and drive. You have to know more than where the gas goes. Problems will arise all during the race such as being too loose (which is when you turn the wheel of the car and it hesitates in recting to you turning), aero-push, car-plowing, and finally there aspect of the ever changing track conditions. Say you start a race when it was cool (making the car good and easy to turn), then the sun comes out and heats the track. This will make you feel like you are driving on ice. This isn’t a good feeling when you are going that fast and then you lose control, and surely the wall is in your future again. To fix some of these problems is as simple as adding or taking out air pressure in the tires. Or you could add or take out a round of wedge (which will affect the way your cars handling capabilities). But you still have to be able to tell your pit crew what is going on with your car so they may be able to fix it and you could go on to win. One has to be proactive with their car as to be there in the final laps, remember it is a 5oo mile race so a lot of patience and good driving will put you where you need to be in the end. With 43 other drivers out there if you don’t use your head and use patience, it could be the determining factor that decides if you race or you go home early.
So as you can see there is a lot to being a NASCAR driver than driving. Many drivers have gone to schools to learn aerodynamic engineering, structural engineering, so you can imagine there is a lot of money, time, and other valuable resources that get them where they are now. With all of this being said and done do you really think you have what it takes to be a NASCAR driver, and do you aspire to be one?
Introduction to trials and Tribulations
This is a book i really can relate to in so many ways.I myuself am cajun a french,american native so as i grew up i was look at different. In the 70s things and life was so different.Much to the truth of the book we were taught to "Think White', I guess in so many ways it gave me the oppurtunity to gain an education that i would have never recieved at some indian reservation. And true to the way Alexis expresses things wetre the ways some of seen life in general.Like dealing with the overwhelming disease of alcholism,obviously since the turn of the century the whites had found means and ways to kill off the indian just so they can have the land.It surely is a geographical and economical stuggle they have all dealt with and will continue to deal with til my generation expires as they wont be held responsible fopr those who are less than a quarter degree blood.And that is me , so with a little patiernce uncle sam wont have ot pay for the land nor for the oil rights they have stolen from us.So yes in so many ways can i realate to the author of the book Absolute Diary of a Part time Indian.With stuggles he endured, to the tragic deaths that are alwaqys just right around the corner.I myself as Alexis did or does express things through writting instead of drawing.It seems to be for me a hidden way to be able to express myself without predjustice.Besides you can never tell what race an author is if he never includes a personal picture.So in so many ways are these ides AGREEABLE.
The Bump In The Night
Steven felt uncommonly uneasy house sitting for his friend James. The house was amazing, with lots of rooms. As he was getting ready to go to sleep, Steven went around the humongous house to reassure himself all was well and secured.As Steven is finishing his chore ,he looks out the front picture window to realized and see this huge ominously looking dark storm rolling up the valley to where he was at.With everything secured and as Steven was catching the last of the late night evening news, he began to feel tired so he turned off the T.V, as he knew it would be hard for him to sleep with any kind of noise going on.Later that night around 3:30, steven got up to get a drink of water as he was having a really bad dream.As he was trying to walk down the long dark cold hallway he had to wait a minute to allow his eyes to adjust going into the dark from thi well lit room.As his eyes began to adjust he heard a loud noise and for the first time noticed the computer room light was on.So now he find himself in a world of confusion,self-doubt, and firmly gripped by the apprehension of not know what that damn noise is.He was really hating the way all of this made him feel.Besides he was and is there for the safety and security of this house of his friends.Steven was thinking how the hell could he be some threet to an outside threat if he wa sfelling as he was.Besides all he really wanted to do was yto turn and run!Ironic however was the amazing grip that would even let him move a muscle.While standing there for what seemed to be a life time more confusion began to set in again thinking to himself,''Did i leave the light on in the computer room by accident?"Steven does the only thing he can think of at the time, returning to his friends bedroom he grabs the big Louisville slugger bat.Holding that solid piece of hickory surely made Steven feel so much more secure.Going back threough the hallway Steven turns on the lights as if he was staking ownership of concured territory.As he approached the room that had him so far on edge,he could feel every muscle tense up from what ever could be behind the door to do whatever it wanted to him, and he just knew whatever it had in store for him it surely wasnt going to be a good thing right? So as Steven gets ready to enter the room he had to ''PUMP HIMSELF UP "because it was showtime after all right?As he burst into the room as if he was in some action movie he had once seen, he realizes after all is said ansd done he was in the room all alone.So now the onlt thing he had left to do was find out where the hell the damn noise was coming from.As Steven continued to iinvestigte he realized it was a large over grown limb hitting the roof and gutters outside.Much to Stevens relief he found all to be secure still and all was well.And of course he would be all too happy to go back to his apartment in the city,and sleep in his own bed and house.As a after thought Steven asked himself""How ever could James find so much comfort out here,Stevens was in the city.
Intorduction to The Bump In The Night
I wrote this piece as an assignment for english 97 as a show not tell project and it is one of my many favorite ways to write.I find that i do really like to write, and this story mmuch like some others have sharpened my skills as far as a writter goes.It is not necessarilty my favorite story i wrote however i do like the fact that as a writer i can take you anywhere i want and in your mind even if it is for a few minutes i have you where and what i want you to see, feel, anf hear, touch taste, and smell.All of this with the power of the mind and a pen.I do hope that you like this story as much as i did writting it for class.
introduction to Aspiring To Be A NASCAR Driver
I tried to find a subject that i hear people tal;k about,and as heard these conversations i realized they just really dont know what it takes to be involved in this sport.And yes it truly is a sport, and i hope that you find this information a least informative as it is supposed to be.I wrote alot of this stuff from my previous experience.For eight years i drove a super stock car on the southern circuit in Arkansas.In fact it was 1991 when i was racing at Batesville,Arkansas when i had my near death experience from racing.It was an average saturday night and things were going great.Then with 5 laps to go i cut (term for a sudden flat tire)my front right tire coming down the straight way, going into turn one i began to try to turn the car and it would change course. And of course that course was for the three and a half foot tall concrete wall. Hitting the wall at full speed it put me in a coma for three months.But i seem to hear alot of people thinking it isnt a sport well i beg to differ.I chaqllenge anyone who thinks it is so easy to go try to just turn three laps at full trrack speed, then tell me it is so easy.Withy this story i have use as i said my own experiences and technology that is needed to undertsand the order of operations of trying to be a driver in the NASCAR circuit.
Introduction to Camping :My personal Rehabilitation
This writting assignment was our fist one to deal with being able to reall try to put someone where you want them.Mine is where i love to go to keep the sanity in my mind safeand secure.Throughout this tory i try to give the reader the sense i feel and the appreciation i have for mother nature and her willingneess to continue to allow us there.I feel it has alot to do with the fact of the value and respect we all hold for the ability to go there and relax and the security of knowing that it will always be there for us to all enjoy,as long as we treat her with respect.As a reader i do hope that you get thers ense i have for the activity of camping as a rehabilitive source and why some of feel that way.
Camping:My Personal Rehabilitation
Camping my Personal Rehabilitation
Camping in the Cascade Mountains is my one and best way I know to re-set my mind. As the day begins, and I hear life come alive in the woods. The pure smell of pine, and the clean mountain air. The therapeutic sound of rush water soothes the pain the ears endure while trapped in the city. Also the feel and the smell of a campfire is at times what my soul craves. I find this escape has given me more than any money can buy in the real world. When I go sometimes two to three friends go with me I normally go alone as I am not really a people person. At night when it does begin to cool, the fire provides for our need for warmth, and the relaxing dance the flames engage in. The only war or battles we care about are between fish and man as life out here is raw and at times very unforgiving. However it is a very valuable resource for those who respect her and all she provides. Taking nothing more than what our needs define. As my mind begins to get re-cluttered, I find great comfort in knowing that the woods and Mother Nature are right there for me. Ready at anytime to embrace, heal, and hopefully always be there for me.
Camping in the Cascade Mountains is my one and best way I know to re-set my mind. As the day begins, and I hear life come alive in the woods. The pure smell of pine, and the clean mountain air. The therapeutic sound of rush water soothes the pain the ears endure while trapped in the city. Also the feel and the smell of a campfire is at times what my soul craves. I find this escape has given me more than any money can buy in the real world. When I go sometimes two to three friends go with me I normally go alone as I am not really a people person. At night when it does begin to cool, the fire provides for our need for warmth, and the relaxing dance the flames engage in. The only war or battles we care about are between fish and man as life out here is raw and at times very unforgiving. However it is a very valuable resource for those who respect her and all she provides. Taking nothing more than what our needs define. As my mind begins to get re-cluttered, I find great comfort in knowing that the woods and Mother Nature are right there for me. Ready at anytime to embrace, heal, and hopefully always be there for me.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Dear Reader
I am someone who is considered a survivor.At a real young age who was ripped out of a broken home to only be sent to a juvenile institution for 12 years.So needless to say my life without any kind of a childhood i am someone who many cant relate to.My life was and has been filled with trials and tribulations.None like any you could even come close to imagine.And before any of you prejudge my situation, it is a life like no other.Such as never being able to know what being a kid is even about.So many do think they might know, but cant come close.Having to sacrifice achildhood for 12 years of hard labor.No chance of being a carefree kid who has nothing to worry about but being a kid with skinned up knees and having a head full of daydreams of playing.Altough i went through hell, i did gain alot out of it more so than what life would have as a growing boy.To me some of the most important things in life are Honor,Loyalty,Respect and being proud of who and what you are as a person.Myself i am a naturalized cajun from Louisiana.At the beginning of this quarter some laughed, but by doing so they have shown thier true ignorance.So to many who doesnt knowit is someone who is French,and is also a federally registered indian from the bayous of Louisiana.Ans also simply the term of naturalized means natural or genuine.I do feel i am truly genuine, and authentic i pride myself as being as such.This writting class has given me so much to keep and has helped me with my hobby of writting.I do truly do hope that you find my pieces of work entertaining and informative.Writting had become one of my passtimes and a tool to escape the life i was forced to live.I ahve chosen the pieces for this site as i do truly feel that they do showcase some of my talents.Some of thes pieces are discriptive,as well and instructive.Also i have chosen a writers pick as i do like works of fiction.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Trials and tribulations
I find this book really a good taste of reality.At the end of our last reading session,Junior was starting a new school and had a whole lot iof things going on in and around him.Now we are at the point that Junior has not only made his decision to strive after hope.I think now at the beginning that he really had overlooked the reality of everything.Decisions are made somewhat quick,and some people dont stop to think of the ramafications.In this case it is going to be harder than Junior could have ever imagined.With the new beginning i am sure he was not only nervous,and excited, he was also a little paranoid about several things.Like he has already established his parents were alcoholics.So this brings on thought of being forgotten by his dad.You know all of those casinos and the temptation tobe destracted.So now as time goes on he has the very confriontation he needs.However when someone is engaged in situations as such they would never believe it is something that is needed.But he dopes need this for his schoolmates watching to see who and what kind if person he is.Such a s if he lets themm walk all over him,sure the rest of the school will follow suit.But if he stands up for himself things could go in a whole different way.And that is exactly what happened.He not only surprised himself,but i am sure the rest of the school as well.This is also the time he recieves a ride to school from his father friend.,Eugene(pg71) And it here tht he gets what he needs also.And that is in the form of self-esteem.And what i mean about that is, his fathers friend thinks him as being brave and courageous.This sit Junior aback for a minute.How could this guy look at him with adulation.And that comes from the hidden cloud of being thought of as a traitor to all other reservation people.So while all this is going on he meets Penelope and he thinks her beautiful.But she is put back by the fact thta Junior answers to one name and gives her another,so this creates tension between them but it is short lived.And then ther is the fight rules(pg.61-62) so it seems it is harder not to get into a fight than not.And then comes the part where everyone is identified by Junior by how thier lives are going his sister runs away finally only to get married to live on yet another reservation in Montana(pg91),and of course the parents alcoholicws tha he i s afraid might forget to bring him home due to thier vices.And grandmother well she is deemed the "wise one" for all the advice she hands out and it does seeem to be right on the money.And then there is the infamous Rowdy he merely makes a small appearance while Junior is trying to re-connect with him,but Rowdy still feels deeply betrayed by his friend.And of course how could one overlook the irony of indians celebrating Thanksgiving.And Juniors dad is and was right they celebrate Thanksgiving why?.Because all those who do celebrate do so with the thought of being thankful.And what could they be thankful for ?They were thankful thta at least they were not all slaughtterd when the whites came.(pg102)In closing the last friend he made was at his new school.And the kids name is Gordy.Hes taught Junior how to read and how to crave for it.
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