 off the side

Pushing off the side is more of a niche problem that can be caused by a couple of things. It may be that your opponent is adding sidespin to the ball and you are not adjusting for it. This is often the case if you are pushing serves off the side but good players are also able to add sidespin to their pushes to make things more difficult. The only other reason is that you are aiming your push off the side of the table. This might sound stupid but if you are off balance or out of position you may think you are aiming at the table whereas in fact your bat is facing off the side of the table.

Sidespin-backspin serves are very common at all levels of table tennis. When pushing these back you need to make sure you are aware of the sidespin on the ball so that you can take it into account when you decide your placement. The sidespin added to the ball is going to drag the ball to one side. If you aim to hit the centre line of the table it may land 6 inches to the right or left (depending on which type of sidespin was used), maybe more if there is lots of spin. At a basic level aiming for the middle of the table is a safe tactic if you are confused by sidespin but after a while you will just have to learn how to adjust for the spin so that you can still place the ball anywhere on the table.

If you feel you are missing off the side because you are out of position then it is time to work on your footwork, probably. The faster you can move around the table the less likely you’ll be missing shots in this way. If you have a weak forehand push and are trying to play mostly backhand pushes this can be a common problem. All that moving around means that eventually you will probably get thrown off balance and end up playing a bit of a wild push that could go anywhere. Perhaps improving your forehand push is the answer.

If you find you are pushing lots of balls off the side of the table you need to think carefully about why that is. Consult a recent video of yourself if you have one.

4. Pushing too high

The final common leak is pushing too high. It isn’t as simple to diagnose as the others as it does immediately lose you the point. Instead, it gives your opponent a chance to take the point, if they are good enough. This means that often beginners get used to pushing too high as they aren’t punished for it. It’s only when they move up a level and start playing better players that they realise they are not pushing low enough to the net.

I think this is something that Sam has realised is a leak in his game recently. His pushes will often go high but up until recently he has either been playing against me (and I haven’t been smashing these past him as my focus has been on whatever he is doing and not on what I should be doing in that situation) or a local club player (who perhaps pushes that high push back or plays a drive/topspin which gives them the advantage but doesn’t win the point there and then).

At Bristol Sam played plenty of players who were good enough to quickly step around and kill any push that was a little too high. The younger players were particularly good at this. This meant that pushing high was about as bad as making an unforced error, because they very seldom missed their smashes!

Pushing too high is almost always a ‘feeling’ issue. I don’t really like that word as it is so hard to define but it’s difficult to call it anything else. You see, you could say, “well I pushed that high because it had less backspin on it” or “they had a funny rubber that meant the ball was very floaty” but the problem is that the spin on the ball isn’t really the problem. A good player can push any ball low because they have the ‘feeling’ to subconsciously adjust their push and still brush the ball. The only way to get this is with lots of practice pushing different kinds of balls. It’s also important to relax your wrist, arm and body. When Sam is tense his pushes pop up high and get smashed past him. Good players don’t make stiff pushes, they are smooth and relaxed.

If you find you are pushing lots of balls high it’s time to work on your ‘feeling’ and get used to being relaxed when you push so that you can make all those tiny adjusts needed to keep the ball low.

So those are the things you should be looking out for. If you have any video of a recent match you played why don’t you watch it back and note down any pushing errors you make. Chances are they will fall into one of those four categories. Which one are you most susceptible too? Some people put lots of pushes in the net (and fixing that should be their number one priority), while others (like Sam) probably struggle most with pushing too high and giving their opponent an easy ball to kill.

How to fix them… pushing-only games

One exercise you can use to improve your pushing, and fix your leaks, is the pushing-only game. Some of you have probably done these before but I’m sure many of you haven’t. They are a brilliant way to improve your pushing and are also quite fun.

So, what are pushing-only games?

Pushing-only games are a way to overload and overlearn the pushing part of your game. Instead of only playing one or two pushes per point, and thinking of them as a way to set up your attacking shots, the push becomes the focus of the game. It is the only weapon at your disposal so you will need to use it to start the point, set up your winning stroke, and win the point with.

Don’t think of pushing only games as simply a test of concentration and consistency. You shouldn’t just be pushing and hoping your opponent makes a mistake before you do. Instead, actively use the push to create opportunities. Vary your pushes and look for ways to be aggressive with your pushing. Do this for a few games, against a range of different players, and you’ll learn that the push can be just as aggressive, and just as effective, as any of your strokes.

Here is a video of me and Sam playing a pushing-only game last week in the kitchen. I am playing left-handed and my forehand push is a bit iffy so as a result I am trying to play as many backhand pushes as possible. A lot of players struggle with their forehand push so that is something to look out for, and try to exploit, when pushing.

Playing these pushing only games is going to…

  • Help you quickly decide whether to play a forehand or backhand push
  • Improve your footwork, especially moving in and out
  • Teach the importance of having a lose wrist and using your wrist in your pushes
  • Show you the importance of variation, in placement, length, amount of spin, height
  • Give you a chance to work on deception when pushing
  • Get you used to pushing without making mistakes

Just this week I’ve seen a big improvement in Sam’s pushing. He is now much better at digging (he really struggled to dig anything last weekend at Bristol) and he has learn to play a sort of drop-shot push (when he first started trying this during our games he put about ten of them in the net, in a row). I can tell that he is much more comfortable with his pushes and if we continue to play these games a few times a week I’m sure he’ll be an excellent pusher by the end of the year.

Learning to push can be so boring. I remember reading the section in Alex Polyakov’s book Breaking 2000 where he talks about the week he spent pushing. He hated it. He loved to loop the ball and doing little pushes all day almost sent him crazy.

It’s easy to switch off when you are pushing. This is especially easy when it is the other persons drill and you just need to push to a certain place as part of their exercise. Doing these pushing only games, and keeping the score, really helps to keep you engaged. It stops you from just pushing on autopilot. When we practice on autopilot it isn’t deliberate practice and we aren’t really getting any improvement from it. It feels comfortable but it isn’t very valuable. A pushing only game gives the practice the purpose, and purposeful practice is what it is all about if you want to improve a skill.

Have a go yourself

I encourage everyone reading this (yes that means you too) to have a go at playing a pushing only game the next time you play table tennis. You may think your pushes are pretty good already. If that’s the case you’ll find out in a pushing game. You may know you need to work on them and this could be the solution to your problems.

Don’t spend too much time doing it. It’s important that you don’t develop the bad habit of pushing lots of long balls. In a match it is good to have an attitude where you always first try to attack and resort to a push if that is not possible. But playing a pushing game, or two, every time you practice is definitely a good idea.

Perhaps you can add it to the end of your standard knock up. Instead of just doing forehands and backhands, why not finish with a pushing game to get those shots sharp and warmed up too.

And let me know how you get on. Leave a comment below or drop me an line. It’s great hearing how everyone is doing with their practice.<|endoftext|>To Top

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-10 foul shooting, Jones said:

"It's not good enough to get to the line just 10 times all night and then only going 50 percent is certainly not good enough."

On his team's offensive woes late, Jones said:

"We didn't make shots, we didn't execute, we didn't run our press-break stuff very well. We like to get transition points out of it and instead, we turned it over. That was disappointing, but the kids played hard and fought to the very end. Still, it's very disappointing because we  expected to be here. It's something we talked about going back to the very beginning of the season."

On  the George Williams 3-point shot that put Allen ahead with 1:31 left, Jones said:

"That was huge. We were up one at that point. We were doubling down on the post and they weren't kicking it out too often. But they kicked it out there and he hit it. If you're going to give up a shot in the match, it's going to be from the corner. Give the kid credit because he made it."

(Morning Call photos by Kevin Mingora)

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Current Comments

More excuses from Jeff Jones today. Time for him to go.

It's just not the players that blow a 4th quarter lead but the coaching too. Take some responsibility!

DMK - Why are you taking shots at the Zephyr coaches? Seems like you have a personal vendetta.

For such a small community, the Zephyrs have been battling for league championships for the past 30 years. The main reason for this is because we have been blessed with outstanding coaching.
Dick Tracy, Ron Hassler, Jerry Radocha and now Jeff Jones. You might not agree with thier style of play however come playoff time the Zephyr fans still have a team to root for.

This years team has been very exciting to watch. They can play up tempo or a more disciplined style.
The kids play hard for the coach.

Coach Jones stands up pretty well with his predecessors. He'll make his own mark in due time.

Enough already about Whitehall. Lets talk about the real winner...ALLEN! They are rolling and they will beat Liberty. I love the final...Allentown vs. Bethlehem. What more could be asked for besides pitt6rings being kicked off the blog site.

California UofP should be ashamed of themself! How can they accept loan payments from a graduate who cannot type a coherent thought?

Canary, Allen will be facing Nazareth, not Liberty in the finals. Be prepared for a hard fought game

Eric, The coaches like Hassler, Tracy and Radocha all have done something in coaching that Jones has not and that is win a league and District Title.

Whitehall should be better than this. I hope I am wrong but I just don't see Whitehall returning to championship form under Coach Jones.

Whitehall is just 4-4 over it's last 8 games. Not the way you want to be headed into Districts.

Could someone please tell me why Dante Holmes didn't come off of the bench until the start of the 2nd quarter. In my opinion, that forced them to play catch-up for the rest of the game. Also, a wise basketball coach once told me "You live by the 3, you die by the 3". Right on!

Dante sat out the first quarter as a disciplinary action for coming late to a practice. This info was in one of the early-edition stories last night, but had to be cut later for space. I agree that him not starting was a factor early for Liberty.
However, it was still 25-25 early in the 3rd quarter and Nazareth dominated from there.

Championship game should be a thriller! Nazareth is playing hungry right now. They're playing good basketball at the right time. It will come down to the team who doesn't turn the ball over as much.

Eric, are you serious? Jeff Jones is 36-35 at Whitehall. Name the last boys basketball coach who was 36-35 at the same point in their tenure? Jeff Jones is now 31 game UNDER .500 as a head coach, first at Northern Lehigh and now Whitehall.

If you believe that this Whitehall team plays with the same discipline and smarts that Tracy, Hassler and Radochas teams played with, you must be either blind or an apologist for Jones. This is a DUMB basketball team, coached by a guy who is WAY over his head.

Whitehall is now just another miserable Lehigh Valley team. You know, one that has almost no shot at winning any state playoff games. I can tell you that Whitehall was respected and feared statewide. Why? Because of their style of basketball. They would frustrate more talented teams with their ferocious matchup defense and their disciplined offense. That ship has sailed.

Welcome to mindless court length passes which turn into turnovers, wild shots that have no rhyme or reason, and MOST OF ALL, welcome to LOUSY DEFENSE. Allen made so many layups that I thought I was watching the Sixers defense.

But hey, the kids probably like him. He demands nothing from them.

Whitehall won almost 700 games, 11 league, 10 district titles and a state title over the last 30 years. As long as this guy stays, they will not add to the league and district title lists.

He was shoved down the throats of Whitehall fans by an arrogant Superintendent and incompetent Athletic Director, aided and abetted by a dysfunctional School Board.

Dontcha just love it when people hold back???

Deiruff won a game and three wrestling meets!! Nicely done!!

Thank you Geekadodle for posting that! I couldn't agree more. This Whitehall team has as much if not more talent than most of the great Zephyr teams of the past. It certainly has more athleticism. They will not win any championship under Jones. This is the most undisciplined Whitehall team ever. They had that game won last night depsite awful defense and missed opportunties and still found a way to blow it. They got the lead and then decided to throw the ball all over the court. Allen scored at will when it needed to. Also, Whitehall misses more layups and easy shots than most elementary school teams. What was even more comical is everytime Whitehall made a mistake Jones trying to act all dramatic on the sideline line it was drama class or something. This guy cannot go fast enough. Whitehall used to be feared statewide. Under this guy they are becoming an embarrassment. You cannot compare him to legends like Tracy, Hassler, and Radocha. If either one of them were coaching this team they would be playing Fri night and well through states.

Nazareth vs. Allen should be a great game but I like Nazareth in this one. Allen turns the ball over to much and Nazareth plays tough defense if nazareth plays 1-3-1 thats the perfect defense to stop Allen. Also that kid from Nazareth Kris Kent is a beast that was a nasty layup.

Agreed Whitehall does have a load of talent but i think with that talent comes undisiplined basketball.

On Jones defense what do you suggest he does about this if his kids who are more of a city basketball oriented team rush offense?

I believe that it shouldnt be complete stall ball and slow down the pace to nothingness because the kids want to score and keep the game fun.

I do think Whitehall also has some egos on their team which is holding them back
How can Whitehall get better?

Why is everyone acting as if the sky is falling at Whitehall? This years team played very good basketball for most of the season. Who cares if we are not respected through out the state like we were years ago.

Ask opposing coaches how much they respect Whitehall and you will here a different tune.

From what I see, I believe Jeff Jones does give these kids a little more wiggle room when it comes to shot selection. With that comes good and bad.

Sure 'talent" is the main ingredient to succeeding on the court, however, leadership and discipline
is needed to make a team complete. That is what i see the coaching staff provide.

I hope the zephs can put a few good games together and not run into a hot shooting team like Allen was that night. Allen was the better team and deserved thier win.
Don't blame Whitehall for the loss. Give Allen credit.

And as far as a coaching change. Stop already.

Knock off the witch hunt.

You are correct leadership and discipline is what is needed to make a complete team. That is exactly what Jones is not providing. That is why this talented team has been so up and down this year. This was and hopefully still is a season of high hopes for Whitehall. You act like Allen shot lights out!

Wiggle room is one thing, stupidity is quite another. This team takes STUPID shots. It makes STUPID passes. It has no basketball smarts. Even an extremely smart kid like Bet makes unbelievably STUPID plays. They are not held accountable for it.

Jone is 36-35 at Whitehall. What part of that record don't you understand? It is MEDIOCRE, just like his coaching. He is 31 games UNDER .500 for his career. Did you gloss over that part


manda: Yep.
Lisa: How many swimmers come from the continent of Africa?
Amanda: Not a lot> i think there is at least one male Ethiopian swimmer.
Lisa: One thing I love about marathons is that me, a non-entity in the world of marathons, can run in the exact same race as those who will win. You can’t do that with other sports. That’s probably one reason why more countries have track and field athletes than other sports.
Amanda: That makes sense. And for a lot of those distance runners, it’s not about winning.
Lisa: For the majority of them it’s just about finishing.
Amanda: Yep. Phelps last race!
Lisa: John Stephen Akhwari: The Greatest Last Place Finish in the Olympic History Go Phelps! That marathon story still makes me tear up.
Amanda: That’s a great story. There’s a swimmer’s story like that. I’ll find it. Eric the Eel: The Olympic Swimmer Who’d Never Been in an Olympic-Size Pool
Lisa: Cool!

Political ads, designed to divide us, should not be allowed during the Olympics, designed to unite us.

Love the heptathlete bow at the end. All the heptathletes lined up with the winners in the middle, held hands, and took a bow. It was great.

Brett watching the women’s marathon: It’s amazing when you think what our bodies are capable of and then when you see what other human bodies are capable of, like running 12mph for 26 miles.

If you train for a marathon wearing running shorts and then race wearing running briefs, your tan lines are going to be a bit distracting.

I like that they use safety pins on their bibs just like us normal people do.

Amanda: I’m thinking Olympic golf might be a good time for a nap. Woke up in time for equestrian! Show jumping is cool.

Amanda: Aww. A US men’s gymnast’s wife washed all his gear in baby detergent before he left. They have a new 6-month-old and she and the baby stayed in AZ. But he has put up all the photos she has sent him in the room. All this is to remind him that his journey has been a family accomplishment.

Amanda: Either Bob Costas is really short or Usain Bolt is really tall or standing on something.
Lisa: The sprinters are tall.

Amanda: The 41-year-old gymnast is out of medal contention, but the fact that she is still doing what she does at 41 is amazing.

Amanda: There is a Visa Checkout commercial featuring the Eatons that I think is cute.
Lisa: I like the Eatons.
Amanda: Speaking of athletes we like – did you see Mo Farrah’s race?
Lisa: I saw it. That was awesome.
Amanda: He fell! Could have been trampled! And then he won!

Amanda: Walsh Jennings ran under the net to the other side to save the ball. They explain why that’s legal. It was cool. And their tops are a lot better tonight.

Track athletes have more tattoos than swimming athletes.

Why is there a llama in the Geico commercial with Marco Polo?

Women’s open swim is easier to explain to Iddo than wrestling. Although she does find it interesting there are people who don’t need boats in the ocean. And she wants to be in a buoy.

Iddo has decided Brett could run the steeple chase. He’s decided she could play table tennis.

Iddo isn’t impressed by or interested in hurdles after seeing the steeple chase because they just jump over things and don’t run through pools as well.

Amanda: Synchro swimming is simultaneously cool and weird.

I love Amanda’s preview of coming attractions. It threw Brett off Sunday night when I knew they’d explain the legality of going under the net as she was going under the net.

I told Iddo that synchronized swimming is dancing in the water. She did a little wiggle and asked if they danced like that. Then we went to watch it. After seeing it she said it was kind of funny. I fully expect her to demonstrate in the wading pool or bath tub soon. One of the commentators said “We’ll see if the judges liked it,” and Iddo replied “I didn’t like it.” During another routine the commentators said “There are such small differences,” about a pair and Iddo repeated “There are small differences Mom. But they have matching hair.”

I’ve never heard a jellyfish report during the Olympics before.

We watched the men’s 800m and I commented, “Go white boy.” The winners were Kenya, Algeria, and a white boy from the States.

Miller’s diving finish in the 400m! That’s commitment!

Lisa: I didn’t realize horses have a blind spot right in front of their faces and so when they approach a gate to jump over it that it completely disappears. I always think the jump designs are pretty.
Amanda: Way prettier than human hurdles. :)

Iddo has been asking for more flipping swimming and they just aren’t broadcasting enough of that for her. So I pulled up Tuesday morning’s men’s springboard for her and she was happy. Plus, it’s not every Olympics you get to see a belly flop. Defending Olympic champ even.

Poor Bob Costas having to do a time filling interview with giggly girls.

I am very Olympic Today

Categories: Featured, Olympics, With the Kiddos

Olympic ringsWe’ve found several ways to incorporate the Olympic Rings in our week. And now Iddo is pointing out the Olympic circles every time she sees them.

Monday afternoon we pulled out the paint and the kids all did an Olympic Rings art project. We were even able to do a 3-year-old version and a 1-year-old version. Iddo used a small cup to stamp circles on her paper with the Olympic colors. For Shimri and Shimei I put tiny blobs of paint on the paper in the positions of the rings and they got to finger paint them around. I liked the results from both versions.

Random Giggles | Olympic Rings Printing
Random Giggles | Olympic Rings Finger Painting
Random Giggles | Olympic Rings Finger Painting

I’ve been able to convince Iddo to let me try different things with her hair. When we use elastics they’re called “fancies” in our house. Friday she let me do Olympic circles fancies, as long as we pretend that purple is black because, as she pointed out, we don’t have any black fancies.

Random Giggles | Olympic Rings Hair

And for dinner Friday night we had Olympic Rings dips.

Blue – blue colored ranch dressing
Black – chocolate sauce
Red – salsa
Yellow – creamy lemon fruit dip
Green – guacamolé

Random Giggles | Olympic Rings Dips

We dipped apples, strawberries, grapes, carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, tortilla chips, and tiny sugar cookies.

Random Giggles | Olympic Rings Dips Dinner

Iddo said it best after dinner Friday, “I am very Olympic today.”

Olympic ponderings

Categories: Olympics

Olympic ringsThoughts from me, Amanda, Brett, and Iddo on the Olympics from Monday through Thursday night. Because we are awesome Olympic commentators. Enjoy! Also, clearly I should do these more often because this one gets long.

There’s a German men’s beach volleyball player with a fun white hat.

The Olympics is the place to be undefeated if you’re going to be undefeated. Walsh Jennings picked her undefeated place well.

I saw an article that would show me the 20 most beautiful female athletes. The photos gave no indication of their sports. And they’d never do an article like that for the male athletes. If they did, it would be obvious what their sports were. Amanda saw an article about Phelps balancing swimming and fatherhood, which was a nice change. It would be nice if they brought up Olympic fathers as much as they do mothers. Parenthood doesn’t do the same to their bodies that it does to the moms, but it’s still an adjustment. Also, the male gymnasts should have to do their floor routines to music too. And what’s with the beach volleyball uniforms? Men are decently covered, but there’s just way too much cleavage for sand to get into, both front and back, for sand to get in for my taste, and way too many wedgie pickings per point compared to any other sport.

We had to figure out why they were listing Cammile Adams as “N. Adams” in the overlay on her lanes on Tuesday. Turns out her first name is Natalie. And in the process we discovered that she has a twin sister named Ashley. So then I had to figure out who the multiples are at the Olympics. This is what I’ve found out so far:
– Cammile Adams (USA, swimming). Her sister Ashley isn’t in the Olympics.
– Leila, Linna, and Lily Luik (Estonia, marathon)
– Lucija and Ana Zaninović (Croatia, taekwondo)
– Monica Rokhman (USA, rhythmic gymnastics). Her sister Jenny is the team alternate
– Bia and Branca Feres (Brazil, synchronized swimming)
– Jonathan and Kevin Borlee (Belgium, track and field). Younger brother Dylan and older sister Olivia are also competing.
– Lisa and Anna Hahner (Germany, marathon)
– Sanne and Lieke Wevers (Netherlands, gymnastics)
– Sven and Lars Bender (Germany, soccer)
– Megan Rapinoe (USA, soccer). Twin sister isn’t in the Olympics.
– Roger Federer (Switzerland, tennis). Not a twin himself, but he has


pires is your go-to spot! Just sign up for free, and you’re in – they stream Thoroughbred, Harness, and Quarter Horse racing live. It’s like having your own personal trackside seat, minus the dirt!

How long are Quarter Horse races?

How long are Quarter Horse races?
Quarter Horse races might be over quicker than a New York minute, but they pack a punch! These sprints can range from 220 to 770 yards. Yet, true to their namesake, the classic Quarter Horse race hits the sweet spot at 440 yards – that’s a quarter-mile of pure speed.

When can you start riding a QH?

When can you start riding a QH?
Hold your horses, eager beaver! Before you saddle up, a Quarter Horse (QH) needs to be at least two – that’s when they’re ready to start light training. But always remember, patience is a virtue; don’t rush ’em, and you’ll have a friend for life.

Why are Quarter Horses so popular?

Why are Quarter Horses so popular?
Well, why not? Quarter Horses are the jack-of-all-trades in the equine world. They’re like the cool kids on the block — versatile, nimble, and faster than a hot knife through butter over short distances. Plus, they’ve got a temperament that’s as golden as a California sunset.

Why is King selling Queen’s horses?

Why is King selling Queen’s horses?
Here’s the scoop! Since the Queen passed away, the King’s got more horses than a western movie – it’s only practical to sell some off. It’s a bit like downsizing a majestic, royal collection; precious, but perhaps too much to handle for the Crown.

What happens to the queens horses after her death?

What happens to the queens horses after her death?
After the Queen’s last post, her beloved horses didn’t just hoof it to the nearest pasture! The plan’s to keep the regal racing legacy going, but some may be sold at auction. Rest assured, they’ll find homes fit for, well, a queen!

What happened to Queen Elizabeth’s horses after her death?

What happened to Queen Elizabeth’s horses after her death?
When Queen Elizabeth trotted off into the sunset, her prized horses didn’t just ride off into the great unknown. The royal stable’s still in race-winning shape, with some horses potentially heading to auction. They’ll keep living the high life, just with new postcodes!

Do quarter horses still race?

Do quarter horses still race?
You bet your boots they do! Quarter Horses are still tearing up tracks faster than a hiccup. They’re a crowd-pleaser, offering some of the most thrilling blink-and-you’ll-miss-it races. So yes, the need for speed lives on with these equine athletes!

Do they still race quarter horses?

Do they still race quarter horses?
As sure as the sun sets in the west, Quarter Horses are still racing like there’s no tomorrow. These compact powerhouses keep the tradition alive, zipping down the tracks in a thunderous display of speed and agility that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.

Who won all American Futurity 2023?

Who won all American Futurity 2023?
Oh, you’ll have to hold your horses for that nugget of info! The All American Futurity is the grand event of Quarter Horse racing, and the 2023 winner will be etched in history come race day. So keep your eyes peeled and ears to the ground – it’s gonna be a barn burner!

What two breeds make a Quarter Horse?

What two breeds make a Quarter Horse?
Hoofbeats and heritage, folks! The Quarter Horse is an all-American blend, stirred up from English Thoroughbreds and native American Chickasaw horses, which were themselves a mix of Arabian, Barb, and Iberian horses. It’s like a melting pot with a mane!

Can a Quarter Horse outrun a Thoroughbred?

Can a Quarter Horse outrun a Thoroughbred?
Well, it’s apples and oranges, my friend! Over a short sprint, a Quarter Horse can leave a Thoroughbred in the dust, no sweat. But stretch that track out, and the Thoroughbred will come charging back, outpacing the QH with their long-distance stamina.

What does 6F mean in horse racing?

What does 6F mean in horse racing?
Ah, the ol’ racing lingo! 6F in horse racing means six furlongs, which is equal to three-quarters of a mile. That’s like taking a leisurely stroll turned competitive sprint that has the horses flying faster than a speeding bullet for those six parts of a mile.

What does QH mean in horse terms?

What does QH mean in horse terms?
QH stands for Quarter Horse, and aren’t they a dandy breed? Known for quick bursts of speed, these horses are like the sports cars of the equine world – sleek, muscular, and just raring to go when it comes to a sprint!

What does QH mean in horses?

What does QH mean in horses?
QH in horse speak simply means Quarter Horse. It’s the breed that packs a serious punch in small packages, giving you the heart and hustle for a quick quarter-mile that’ll leave you cheering faster than they can run – which is saying something!

What’s the difference between Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred?

What’s the difference between Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred?
Think of it this way: a Quarter Horse is like a sprinter—built for explosive speed over short distances. Thoroughbreds, on the other hand, are your marathon runners—lanky, enduring, and made for the long haul. Different races, different paces!

Is a Quarter Horse a Warmblood?

Is a Quarter Horse a Warmblood?
Nope, that’s apples to oranges! Quarter Horses are considered ‘stocky’ with a need for speed, falling into the ‘hot-blooded’ category due to their sprinting skills. Warmbloods? They’re more the European dressage and jumping types—cool, calm, and collected.

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Open to the Public.<|endoftext|>Golfers want big change for Westview Golf Course

      Kristen Aguirre taking a swing at Westview Golf Course

      It's tee time at the Westview Golf Course. But if you're not ready to get on the green just yet, the facility has something in the works to warm you up.

      Right now if you play 18 holes on a weekend it's between four and five hours," Matt Burry said. "Families don't have that time anymore so they're looking for fast, friendly, family oriented golf courses."

      If you've been to the Westview Golf Course you may have noticed it's missing something.

      "We get a lot of golfers that say 'we want to hit a bucket of balls before we go play,' we get a lot of that on the weekends from people who are from out of town," he said. "We tell them we don't have a driving range and everyone is always surprised when they hear that."

      Westview Golf Director Matt Burry wants to help change that. He and the Quincy Park District which owns the facility is proposing a course renovation.

      The plan calls for the back nine holes to be redone and the construction of a driving range/practice facility. It's expected to cost at most, $500,000.

      "Building a driving range would be a positive impact for revenue," Burry said.

      But making these changes to the golf course isn't just about creating more money.

      "We've got to find ways to generate new golfers," Burry said. "There is no First Tee program anymore and we don't have the space without a driving range to be able to do group lessons."

      Burry, a PGA Golf Pro, will give private lessons at the new range if the plan goes through.

      "I like see more kids out here," he said. "We don't have as many kids as we use to and nationally golf numbers are dwindling. Golf is a sport you can play for a lifetime."

      The Park District is holding an open forum to hear public input before any plans are finalized. The Westview Golf Course will have that public forum at its open house May 21st.

      Plans for the renovations will be available for you to see.

      component-story-more_media_horiz-v1-01<|endoftext|>FTRS Q&A Special: History Lesson

Daniel Miller doing what he does best. - Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

We asked reader Vespula, a basketball-obsessed Jacket since her days as a student in the 70s, to compare the current beesketball team to the ones of yore and give us some perspective on how things have changed. Bone up on your history, or you're doomed to repeat it.

Vespula made this interesting comment on a story a while back, and it jumped out of the page to us here at FTRS. Her experienced perspective is one we value here, so we decided to ask her a few questions about the current iteration of beesketball so we might better gauge where we are historically. Her fascinating and vivid answers are below, marginally edited. Enjoy!

FTRS


 focused on by my family. Games were always on the TV. My father, a Dodger’s fan, he would always catch the L.A. games when they were on. When my dad told me bedtime stories, I heard about Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium instead of fairy tales.

He taught me how to throw, catch, and bat, but he also taught me the history of the game. All through my youth I was a never- ending fountain of questions about baseball, and Dad always seemed to have the answers.Given the way I grew up, it isn’t surprising that my and my dad’s family tradition is going to a major league baseball park each year. We go in August, the dog days of summer when the boys of summer are racing for the pennant and baseball is at its classic point.

The trip lasts a weekend, Friday through Sunday, so we can catch a weekend three game series. In the spring of each year, Dad and I decide on where we should go. The only requirement is that the park we visit is one filled with tradition and that represents the soul of baseball. Our first trip, two years ago, was to Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. This year’s trip was to Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. The idea for our tradition came from a trip that my brother and father took to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Our family was on vacation in north Georgia when we got news that the Seminoles had made it to Omaha. Two days later, my mom and I were dropping my father and brother, Keith, off at Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia so that they could catch their flight to Omaha to see the CWS. After that incident I was jealous, and I decided that a father son baseball trip was in line for Dad and 1. In order to “get back” at Keith for the CWS trip, I play a good- natured joke on him each year. Where and when Dad and I go to the ballparks, are kept secret from my brother. Then, when we get to the park for the first game and the starting lineups are being announced, I call Keith and tell him where we are. The humor, quite obviously, is more on my side than his, but he bears it well. Nothing is left out on the trips that Dad and I take. We get to the ballpark early so we can walk around and see the famous spots of the park. For instance, at Fenway our first stop was the bleacher section next to the Green Monster, and our next was the infamous Triangle in center field and the bullpen abnormally put out in the open of right field. “Seeing the Triangle and how right field really angles in was very unique,” my Dad said of Fenway. At Camden Yards we strolled down Eutaw Street and checked out the plaques cemented into the ground where players’ homeruns had bit. My Dad’s favorite part of Camden Yards was Eutaw Street because “it was like an endless mall.” We also hit up the shops for various sports souvenirs during the first game and sport our new purchases to the last two games, pretending we’re die hard fans of the team. Fenway Park was the first place we went to because of the history surrounding the Red Sox. I first heard of the Green Monster and the Curse of the Bambino when I watched Field of Dreams when it came out in 1988. Also, as I watched the Red Sox stumble though their seasons I became even more intrigued by their history and the legendary park in which they played. When the Red Sox organization announced their plans to build a new stadium, Dad and I knew we had to go see Fenway before it was torn down. Dad was interested in seeing Fenway because of the history of the ballpark, not to mention how small it is for a major league park. Tom Yawkey, savior and former owner of the Red Sox, perhaps said it best when he said “… we’ve got tradition, and amazing years you remember. (Smith 339)” Fenway Park is the oldest stadium in major league baseball. Built in 1912, its features have made it one of the most recognizable throughout the years. Each part, from the left field wall to the right field foul pole, has a piece of history attached to it. The Red Sox beat the New York Highlanders, (now the New York Yankees), by a score of 7-6 on April 14, 1912 in the first game ever at Fenway Park. Coincidentally, this game didn’t make headlines because the papers were reporting on the sinking of the Titanic (redsoxbaseball.com). The park is sandwiched in the middle of Boston, Massachusetts across the river from Cambridge. The massive left field wall, known as the Green Monster, rises 37 feet above the only manual scoreboard left in the majors. A 23 foot screen was added to it in 1936 to prevent baseballs from flying onto Lansdowne Street. The Green Monster got its name from its size, obviously, but also from the green coat of paint that was added to it in 1947 to cover up existing advertisements on it (redsoxbaseball.com). The wall has proved to be a formidable opponent for many hitters in the past, however some Red Sox greats learned to use it to their advantage. Boston legend Carl Yastrzemski, an outfielder, picked up on the nuances of the Green Monster quickly. Yastrzemski, affectionately knows as “Yaz,” played when the Green Monster was still just plywood covered with tin. Yaz was famous for being able to dupe a hitter into thinking he had hit an easy out pop fly, when the hitter had really hit a potential double play ball off of the Wall. Yaz would trot towards the ball, and wing it in to second base, only allowing the hitter a single, and not the double he should have gotten (redsoxbaseball.com). Yaz knew the ins and outs of the Green Monster better than almost anyone. “That was my baby, the left field wall. The Green Monster. And you had to know that a ball hit by a left handed batter would spin off it differently from a right hander’s shot. I’m not even taking into account what would happen when it hit an exposed rivet. Or the two- by- fours. Or the tin. Or the holes in the scoreboard. (Yastrzemski 3)” Part of the mystique that surrounds the Boston Red Sox is the ballplayers that have played for them. Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk, Yaz, Babe Ruth, Pedro Martinez, and Rodger Clemens are just a few of the greats on Boston’s long roster. Experiencing a game in the same stadium that these ballplayers played in was a huge factor for Dad and I to consider. The story of Pudge Fisk’s crazy waving on October 25, 1975 is one that I heard many times when I was little and saw replayed even more often on TV. Boston is the place where Rodger Clemens and Pedro Martinez, two pitchers that Dad assured me from day one would be Hall of Fame boys, pitched Cy Young caliber seasons. And we knew that just seeing the plate where Babe Ruth started his career and Ted Williams hit .400 would surly be an out of body experience. When I was little the questions I had for my father were more about the fundamentals and rules of baseball. I can remember Dad explaining to me what a batting average meant and what was considered a good BA. Batting .400, he used to tell me, was nearly impossible to achieve and that only a few people had ever done it for a season. Naturally he told me about Ted Williams, one of the greatest hitters in baseball. Williams ended up providing yet another reason why Fenway Park was the place to visit on our first trip. Williams played left field from 1939- 1961 for the Red Sox, before he passed the place in front of the Green Monster on to Yaz. He set hitting records and often lead the league in BA, runs, RBIs, and home runs. Williams, known as the “Splendid Splinter,” is most famous for being the last batter in the major leagues to bat .400 for a season. In 1941 he hit .406 while hitting a league leading 37 home runs. Williams won two American League MVP awards (one in 1946, the other in 1949), had a lifetime BA of .344, and belted 521 homeruns in his career (Smith 170). He also won the Triple Crown, given to the player with the best BA, most HRs, and RBIs in a season, in both 1942 and 1947 (Adomites 112-3). Upon Williams’ retirement, Ed Linn wrote “And now Boston knows how England felt when it lost India. (Smith 59)” Another famous part of Fenway Park that both Dad and I wanted to see up close is the left field foul pole. Only in Boston would such an ordinary part of a ball field carry historical significance. It was Game 6 of the 1975 World Series between the Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds and a catcher named Carlton “Pudge” Fisk that sent the pole down in history. The series was at 3-2 in favor of Cincinnati. The Red Sox were down in Game 6 with two outs in the bottom of the twelfth when Pudge stepped up to the plate and knocked Pat Darcy’s curveball over the Green Monster. The ball sailed high to the left


I caught three fish yesterday.
I caught a beautiful butterfly.
I caught a glimpse of her face.
I caught him stealing the money.
I seem to have caught a bad cold.
That old man caught a large fish.
He caught a boy stealing his watch.
The boy caught the dog by the tail.
The policeman caught him by the arm.
I was caught in a shower on my way home.
Tom was caught sneaking out of the room.
Tom is caught between a rock and a hard place.
He caught the nine-o'clock shuttle to New York.
I seem to have caught cold. I'm a little feverish.
He caught the first train and got there just in time.
He narrowly escaped from the bus when it caught fire.<|endoftext|>Scottish Bouldering #New Glasgow climbing wall: The Prop Store

Timeline Walks of Scotland #Culbin Sands

Plato's Cave<|endoftext|>Redbridge including:

Safety Nets IG1 ILFORD Ilford, Cranbrook, Loxford Redbridge
Safety Nets IG2 ILFORD Gants Hill, Newbury Park, Aldborough Hatch Redbridge
Safety Nets IG3 ILFORD, CHIGWELL Seven Kings, Goodmayes, Hainault, Chigwell (parts) Redbridge, Epping Forest
Safety Nets IG4 ILFORD Redbridge Redbridge
Safety Nets IG5 ILFORD Clayhall Redbridge
Safety Nets IG6 ILFORD Barkingside, Hainault (south) Redbridge
Safety Nets IG7 CHIGWELL Chigwell, Chigwell Row, Hainault (north) Epping Forest, Redbridge
Safety Nets IG8 WOODFORD GREEN Woodford Green, Woodford Bridge, Highams Park (part) Redbridge, Waltham Forest<|endoftext|>For the first time in twenty years, the National Hockey League will not be sending players to the Winter Olympics. As the ceremonies begin in PyeongChang, NHL players will remain playing for their teams, rather than their countries. The move was made after careful deliberation of the Olympics’ impact on the league. According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, supporting the Olympics is not in the NHL’s favor. This may mean that the Olympic Games in 2018 will not feature hockey at the highest level, but the NHL will undoubtedly be better off, and most likely more entertaining for fans of the NHL.
The main conflict between the NHL and the Olympics is one of scheduling. If the NHL wishes to accommodate the Olympic schedule, as it has done in the past, it would essentially need to take a 17 day break from standard competition. The alternative would be to send out NHL teams that do not feature the best players, who are often the ones fans want to see the most. Neither of these options are ideal. By taking a break, the NHL actually stands to lose money, both from advertisers who normally would place ads on televised NHL games, and also from lost ticket and concession sales. If the NHL continues its schedule while half of the league is playing in the Olympics, then it would be offering a substandard product for its fans.

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However, the second problem created when NHL players compete in the Olympics is the very real chance of injury. During the 2014 Sochi Olympics, several notable players from playoff-contending teams suffered season ending injuries, including Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings, John Tavares of the New York Islanders, and Tomas Kopecky of the Florida Panthers. Many other players suffered minor injuries that very well may have cost their team a chance at even making the playoffs. The Winter Olympics therefore present a very real chance of injury for NHL players, and the NHL has nothing to gain in return. By playing in the Olympic tournament, players who do not suffer injuries will still more likely be overextended from having to play extra games, and the players who guide their national teams the furthest in the tournament will be the ones most affected by the extra-long schedule. However, because the Winter Olympics take place in February, this is the time of year when NHL teams begin jockeying for playoff seeding.

As a result of all the challenges created in accommodating the Olympic schedule, the NHL has decided to say no to the Olympics, and that is a good thing if one is a fan of NHL hockey. Players will not be exhausted, matches will be more exciting, and every fan can count on his or her favorite team making its best possible effort in winning the Stanley Cup. Although some may lament not seeing their favorite players playing for a national team, there simply isn’t enough benefit for the NHL in allowing its players to leave mid-season. The Olympics may have given us some exciting moments in the past, but perhaps the most famous Olympic hockey team of all time, the 1980 team, was also comprised of amateurs. No one was complaining when non-professional hockey players took home the gold; their non-professional status was what contributed to their place in history as one of sport’s most inspirational teams ever assembled. And as for those who might complain that the Olympics will not feature the best hockey imaginable, they can still catch the greatest level of competition being played in the NHL.<|endoftext|>Stone: shooting at slower than box speed is more exposure and will give you thicker negs, not thin, unless you're reducing development far, far too much. It's the opposite of pushing. Shooting it at lower speed means you can reduce development and therefore tame the contrast a bit. Gives you a longer tonal scale and less risk of unprintable negs.

Anyway, my typical Pan-F (EI25) development is 6:30 in Rodinal 1+50, rotary. What also looks good at EI25 is D76 1+3 (therefore no solvent action) for 14:00, traditional inversion development.

Definitely agree that you should shoot, develop and print a test roll or two beforehand to make sure you have the process at least approximately dialed-in.<|endoftext|>17 Jun 2024

Jürgen Falke, former Merida R&D Center CEO and Head of Product, has passed away

It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we have to announce the death of our esteemed colleague Jürgen Falke. The long-standing CEO and co-founder of MERIDA R&D Center GmbH, who recently stepped down from his position for health reasons, passed away much too early on the 13th of June 2024 at the age of 61 after a short, serious illness. Our thoughts and condolences are with Jürgen’s wife, children, family and friends.

Initially working for the CENTURION brand, Falke successfully transferred his passion for triathlon to the traditional Swabian brand under the leadership of company founder Wolfgang Renner. In 1997, Thomas Hellriegel won the Ironman in Hawaii with the Helldrive he developed. A passionate triathlete himself, Falke took part in this legendary competition twice. He was also instrumental in the success of the ground-breaking No Pogo MTB model, which was voted ‘Bike of the Year’ in 1997. Under Falke's aegis, the Shimano European Design Contest was also won twice. Together with CENTURION founder Wolfgang Renner, he negotiated the joint venture between MERIDA and CENTURION in 2000.

Another milestone in his career was the success story of the MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM with cycling legends such as Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå, José Hermida and Ralph Näf. Multiple World Championship titles, numerous World Cup victories, as well as a silver and a gold medal at the Olympic Games on the NINETY-SIX and BIG.NINE have cemented its reputation as the best and most successful mountain bike team in the world. For Falke as a developer, there was no greater honour than to see the bikes he designed, such as the SCULTURA, REACTO and WARP, win at the highest level. With stage wins at the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, victories at cycling monuments such as Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo or the 2023 Gravel World Championships, Falke has continued this success story until recently.

When the MERIDA R&D Center GmbH was founded in 2014, Jürgen Falke was appointed Managing Director and played a key role in the development and design of the entire MERIDA product range, up to and including the most recent, highly successful racing bikes of the BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS WorldTour team.

With the passing of Jürgen Falke, MERIDA Taiwan and the MERIDA R&D Centre GmbH have lost a visionary at the height of his creative powers, who shaped and influenced the development of the brand for over 20 years.<|endoftext|>People often wonder, "Why do I need a running coach?" Or sometimes, "I think I need a coach, but are you a good match?"

Glad you asked! Let's cover some simple stuff.

I offer personalized service and not a one-size fits all plan from a book. Someone who works full time and has a special circumstance will have a different plan than someone who has a more free daily schedule. Each goal is athlete-client specific, so why wouldn’t the plan to reach said goal be just as specific?

What do people ask me most often?

"Have you always run?", "Do you run the whole thing?", "How long does it take you to run (some specific distance)?"

What SHOULD people ask more often?

"How do you prepare?", "What else does it


berg makes the 500 in two broad categories: field models for hunting purposes, and special-purpose models. Field models are available in a variety of barrel lengths and finishes (including modern camouflage patterns), and with sights or optics.

IT IS IMPORTANT:  Can you shoot sabot slugs through a smooth bore with a rifled choke?

Whats the difference between a Mossberg 500 and 590?

The Mossberg 590 Shotgun is the upgraded version of the Mossberg 500 that is specifically designed for LEO, Military, self-defense, and 3-Gun competitions. the 590 can be used for hunting, but it’s not recommended because the barrels are shorter and there is less adjustment in the choke.

Who makes Mossberg shotguns?

O.F. Mossberg & Sons
Mossberg 500
Искать: Who makes Mossberg shotguns?<|endoftext|>Super League score at the end of the league regular season

Top for PAOK! Or after the “geles” AEK and Panathinaikos before the playoffs, but also Olympiacos’ victory over Volos. The normal duration of the Super League was completed on Sunday (03.03.2024) with the simultaneous conduct of the seven games and PAOK and Olympiacos being the big winners, while AEK and Panathinaikos “left” points away. PAOK’s 2–0 victory in Lamia and the incredible 3–3 in Mars – AEK, threw the union from the top of the scoreboard, with the Thessaloniki players going up to first place. Olympiacos “trodden” Volos (3–0) and went up to third place, in front of Panathinaikos who brought a tie to the seat of OFI (2–2). We recall that on Monday (04/03) at 15:00 the draw of the playoffs will take place and a quarter later the playouts will follow. The center in the two mini leagues is scheduled for the weekend 9 and 10 March and the 2nd race for the 16 and 17 of the same month. However, it should be recalled that there is a request for the EPO in the League in order to postpone the 2nd race, so that international players can gather earlier in view of the EURD playoffs for our National Team. A request, which will also be discussed tomorrow… The results of the last (26th) race: Kifisia-Panatolic 2-2 Lamia-PAOK 0-2 Olympiacos- Volos 3-0 The final score in the regular duration of Super League 1 PAOK 60 2 AEK 59 3 Olympiacos 57 4 Panathinaikos 56 5 Mars 42 6 Lamia 34 7 Star of Tripoli 31 8 Atromitos 28 9 Panseraikos 27 10 OF 25 11 Panetolikos 20 12 Volos 20 13 Kifisia 19 14 PAS Giannina 18

Exit mobile version<|endoftext|>Rowing Getty Generic General
Getty Images

After 34 days and more than 2,400 nautical miles, four female rowers made history on Tuesday morning by wrapping up their journey from California to Hawaii in record time.

Libby Costello, Sophia Denison-Johnston, Brooke Downes and Adrienne Smith -- part of team LAT35 -- were a little wobbly when getting off the boat but they couldn't stop smiling as they were greeted by leis and hundreds of cheering fans. They began the Great Pacific Race in San Francisco on June 21 and finished in Honolulu on July 26.

"I feel totally overwhelmed in the best way by love. And I'm also exhausted," Denison-Johnston said in an interview with Good Morning America.

The women documented their trip on social media, and shared the not-so-glamorous parts of breaking a world record. The full trip took a total of 34 days, 14 hours and 11 minutes, breaking the previous record of 35 days 12 hours and 22 minutes set by Ocean Sheroes in the 2021 Great Pacific Race. To accomplish this, the four women endured seasickness and rough seas while taking turns doing two-hour shifts and only averaging 90 minutes of sleep per day.

Once in a while, the women jumped in the water to check for barnacles and other growths because that build up could slow them down. Otherwise, their time was fully spent on the boat.

The feat required immense energy, so even though each woman was consuming between 4,000 and 6,000 calories per day, they still lost weight. Most of their food consisted of canned goods, boil-to-order meals and even baby food because it is easily storable. There were a lot of dehydrated meals, but sometimes they treated themselves with fruit. To keep things positive and fun, Denison-Johnston even got her teammates to deliver "Uber Eats" to her during her break.

This was not an easy journey, but the rowers made the best of it and even took time to make fun social media content, including a video about how they are "living life."

In their interview with GMA, LAT35 said they were glad they got to share their journey on social media because they wanted to inspire others to go after their goals.

"I think something that I want people to take away is that these women are so incredible but we're not superhuman. There's nothing that we were born with that makes us any different than anybody else," Downes told GMA.

While their main goal was to break the women's world record for the fastest four-rower team, the women also took advantage of their growing popularity and decided to raise money for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.<|endoftext|>Breaking Exclusive: Titans Issue Statement

Ryan Clark

WrestleZone.com just received the following statement moments ago from the Tennessee Titans:

Regarding Adam Jones

“In June we stated that we didn’t expect to comment on Adam Jones until his suspension was complete. Regrettably, we feel it necessary to explain our action today.

“Today we filed a motion in Williamson County asking for a court order preventing Jones from participating in any wrestling activity. All NFL players have language in their contracts that prohibit them from engaging in activities ‘which may involve a significant risk of personal injury.’ We certainly believe wrestling to be hazardous and it is obvious from the player’s conduct that he is ignoring this aspect of his agreements with the club. As an organization, we feel it is our obligation to protect our rights in this instance.”

Have a news tip? Attended an event and want to send a live report? Submit it now!
monitoring_string = "851cc24eadecaa7a82287c82808f23d0"<|endoftext|>Amar’e Stoudemire: How Will The Bench Fare Without New York Knicks’ Forward

Amar’e Stoudemire has been on a windy road during his time in New York. When he signed here, he was our savior. When we traded for ‘Melo, he was our number 2. Last season, he was our burden. And this year, he’s been our seventh man? It’s interesting to look back at all the different roles STAT has played since joining the Knicks, and how he has changed as a player. Sadly, yesterday the team announced that STAT would be out for 6 weeks due to a right knee debridement he needs later this week.

From the face of the franchise to the face of the bench. Stoudemire has battled through injuries for a sizable amount of his time in New York. He has had back problems, a self-inflicted hand laceration, and more recently his surgically repaired and uninsured knees have been bothering him. He had been playing terrific as of late, and seemed to be in top form.  He accepted his role on the bench after returning from injury, and impressed many with his poise and play.

He’s averaging 14.2 PPG and 5.0 RPG, and his shooting percentage is the 2nd highest of his career at 57.7%. These are impressive numbers when you consider he plays just under 24 minutes a game. When you look at his stats per 40 minutes, he is averaging 24 points and 9 rebounds, which would make people think twice about calling him past his prime and a non-elite player.

Amar’e’s play has given a huge boost to the bench, and allowed for Coach Woodson to have a player to run his offense through when ‘Melo is resting. The bench has recently been playing a factor in wins due to the increased strength of its play. J.R Smith, Steve Novak, Pablo Prigioni, newly signed Kenyon Martin, and newly benched Jason Kidd have played extremely well while the team went 6-2 in the last eight games.

With Amar’e gone, the bench will need to continue their improved production, especially while ‘Melo is still out with his knee injury. That means that players like Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby need to step up their game and anchor down the front court. Last night against the Jazz, they did exactly what they were needed to do. K-Mart had 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Camby did a little bit of everything recording an assist, steals, a block,


.<|endoftext|>Three more modernized L-39ZA Albatros to boost Nigeria’s air power

The Nigerian Air Force has received three L-39ZA Albatros jet trainers from the Czech Republic that were sent in 2020 for repair and modernization.

The three Albatros underwent extensive overhauling and modernization at the Aero Vodochody Facility in Pardubice airbase, Czech Republic to enhance their aerial capabilities.

The delivery is part of a contract signed two years ago to upgrade the three Nigerian Air Force aircraft.

An Antonov An-124 transport plane loaded them and transported them to the Pardubice base in the Czech Republic.

Following two years of overhaul, the aircraft flew on their axis to reach the Kano home base.

The upgraded features of the Nigerian aircraft include an electronic flight instrument system that facilitates the digital display of flight data in the cockpit and a heads-up display.

The new additions will enable pilots to train in a fully digital cockpit before operating the JF-17 fighter aircraft.

Three Aero test pilots covered the 5,000km route from Vodochody to Kano in four days.

While each pilot spent 13 hours in the air, they stopped over at Dijon (France), Valencia (Spain), Ghardaie (Algeria), Tamanrasset (Algeria), and Agadez (Niger), before reaching Nigeria.

Aero regional sales director Vladan Resner said: “Flights on their own axis are much more demanding organisationally, especially in terms of logistics and the requirements for coordination of individual activities.

“Not only is it necessary to arrange permission for military aircraft to fly over the territory of all states, but also to provide additional support such as escort aircraft with crew and mechanics, fuel and oxygen supply at all stops, or to ensure the safety of the crew during stopovers.

“All of this requires the perfect synergy of the entire team of experts not only from Aero, but also from other external institutions, which in this case worked perfectly.”

The three L-39ZAs joins another three that were earlier overhauled and upgraded in Czech on 2020. These batch arrived in July.

One of the three pilots shared that the last stage seemed to be the most difficult. Before the planes headed for the runways at Kano Air Force Base, the weather conditions were very poor.

Thunderstorms over the airport and heavy downpours complicated the landings of the three planes. However, the three successfully landed using a suitable meteorological timeframe.

Genesys Aerosystems’ avionics systems

At least, six L-39ZAs have been modernized with the Genesys Aerosystems’ avionics systems. The contract for the upgrade was awarded to Aero Vodochody last year.

Genesys Aerosystems is a provider of integrated avionics systems for military and civil customers, the company’s Genesys EFIS is an avionics solution for special-mission aircraft.

The 3D Synthetic Vision IDU EFIS, according to Genesys Aerosystems enhances safety, reduces pilot workload, increases flexibility, and lowers cost of of operations.

Additionally, for convenience during piloting, the Czechs have installed a heads-up digital display.

Nigeria’s L-38ZA Albatros fleet

Nigeria purchased 24 Aero L-39 Albatros armed jet trainers in 1986 to 1987 to replace its aging fleet of eight Aero L-29 Delfín jet trainers, and 10 P-149D trainers.

Earlier, to enhance its aircraft availability ratio, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) completed the in-country reactivation of five L-39ZA combat trainer aircraft.

Three L-39ZAs were reactivated in 2019, while an additional two reactivation were completed the next year.

The aircraft reactivation was conducted in collaboration with Aero Vodochody of the Czech Republic -the Original Equipment Manufacturers, with the active participation of NAF engineers and technicians.

So far, eleven airframes are airworthy and fit for combat, including six modernized with the with the Genesys Aerosystems’ avionics systems.

Subsequently, four Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots completed their air combat training at LOM Praha’s CLV flight-training center in September 2021.

State-owned Czech company LOM Praha began training the Nigerian pilots in the first half of 2018 at the CLV Pardubice air training center in the Czech Republic to improve their air-to-air and air-to-ground combat skills.

The NAF pilots completed 150 hours of training on the L-39C at LOM Praha flight training centre (CLV) Pardubice in Czech Republic.

The L-39ZA Albatros will be used by Nigerian airmen for training before they sit in the cockpit of the CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder. Nigeria acquired three fighters of this type in late 2020.

Exit mobile version<|endoftext|>Toyota's sterling quality and resale reputation could never quite overcome the Japanese automaker's emphasis on "mini" with its family conveyances. The original, tiny-wheelbase Toyota minivan, the Previa and even the last-generation Sienna were always smaller than the segment leaders.

Lessons learned by admittedly scrutinizing the Dodge Caravan and Honda Odyssey have resulted in an all-new Sienna that is larger in every significant measurement than the model it replaces. And, the Sienna incorporates most of the segment's popular features and clever concepts. Designed, engineered, and built in America, the 2004 Sienna rolled out of the Indiana factory swinging.

Measuring 200 inches from nose to liftgate, the new Sienna stretches six inches longer than the model it replaces, with a 5.1-inch-longer wheelbase and four-inch-wider stance. Now, Toyota has a product sized like segment leaders, Grand Caravan and Odyssey, being within an inch of most exterior dimensions. The Sienna interior reflects the increased dimensions by claiming 45 more cubic feet of volume than its predecessor, offering noticeably more people and cargo toting space.

Looking like the overgrown progeny from a Previa and RAV4 mating, the large Sienna attempts to set the benchmark for minivan design. All the basics are represented, including standard V-6, powered dual sliding doors, seven- and eight-passenger configurations, available side-sliding second row, fold-away third row, parking assist, power liftgate, optional all-wheel drive, and enough cupholders to accommodate all riders and fistfuls of Legos.

Closer inspection reveals a well-thought-out minivan, resplendent with Toyota hallmarks of quality, low NVH, and operational smoothness. Our XLE Limited tester was dressed in faux wood trim, leather upholstery, satin-finish metal accents, and chrome highlights, granting the interior an upscale, daresay Lexus, feel. The strong, clear 360-watt JBL Synthesis audio system with 10 speakers, including a center channel and subwoofer, added to the premium experience. However, the LCD audio display is hard to read in broad daylight. Other upscale features include tri-zone automatic climate control, HomeLink, rear audio controls, heated seats, trip computer, anti-theft system, automatic cruise control, high-intensity discharge headlamps, and stability control.

The front bucket seats are wide and soft, like most Americans, shaped with gentle contours. Among the finest minivan seats, these perches offer generous arm and legroom. Likewise, the second row offers abundant space in all dimensions. Move back to the third row to discover adequate room for an average-sized adult on limited excursions -- high praise for what are often considered the penalty seats. Access is aided by a second-row, passenger-side bucket seat that can slide inboard, though a traditional bench is also available.

Storage space is abundant, with a change holder, large console, and sizable map pockets to swallow road trip sundries, still leaving seven cupholders accessible from the front row for beverages or small items. The length of the rear cargo space (behind third row) is limited, but Toyota overcompensates with deep wells that could accommodate very tall items, keep groceries in place, or house the rear 60/40 seats when folded back.

The conversion to flat-floored cargo hauler allows for the requisite 4x8-foot sheet to fit within the vehicle. The process is straightforward, with second-row removal and rear folding back, though the Honda "magic" rear seat is slightly easier to operate.

Motivation for the 4300-pound minivan comes from a new corporate 3.3-liter V-6 producing 230 horsepower and 242 lb-ft of torque. Matched to a five-speed automatic transmission, the Sienna fuel mileage is rated at 19 city/27 highway while earning the distinction of being an ultra-low-emissions vehicle.

Initial response is gentle, allowing for a smooth launch and easy modulation for parking lot patrols -- both important for a family vehicle likely to be regularly at school or the mall. Step into it like you're late for a PTA meeting and the silken V-6 delivers satisfying thrust, proving the strength of this powerplant in every application. Heavy acceleration has the tranny holding the gear for maximum power, but modest driving is met with near-imperceptible shifts.

Steering effort is higher than most Toyotas, which for us is a good thing. It is relatively responsive yet remains isolated from harsh feedback. Likewise, the suspension is Camry compliant and the vehicle is quite controlled for its weight, height, and damping.

No minivan would be complete these days without a few "surprise


 doing this, the auto glass computer chip guards the chips from staying damaged in the accident maybe in a visible impact.

Automobile goblet vehicle repairs can be a requirement for virtually any motorist. Most major maintenance to the window on the vehicle are performed for an automatic window repair shop. Repair shops are capable of take away the chips, breaks and blemishes and potato chips in a very auto’s windshield correctly and easily. In many instances, car windows fixes can be completed in some day.

When gonna an automobile a glass repair shop, be sure you inform your staff regarding your precise windows challenge. Face it about the difficulty you have and make sure they know you will want their assistance when you get the job performed correctly initially.

Since auto glass vehicle repairs are incredibly vital, many vehicle wine glass repair centers impose by scheduled appointment, if you do not want them to be removed and consider your car. To get a good go shopping, complete a detailed search online. Additionally you can try wonderingfamily, or company-staff for advice.

When going to an auto a glass fix, be sure to pack your car or truck’s insurance policy and in order to register files for them to find out contrary is inappropriate while using vehicle. In most declares, they will often also need to reveal to you proof of liability insurance.

In an automatic cup fix, the specialists will substitute all chips, dents and chips or poker chips inside car windows. Most blemishes and snacks is usually remedied by exchanging the cup with new and quality fabric.

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See you in Marseille on Thursday, March 9, 2023, for the Mobility MeetUp, starting at 2:00 pm.

Policy makers, transport operators, digital solution providers, consultants, urban planners, sociologists, entrepreneurs…

We all agree that thinking about mobility requires the association of 360° expertises. As a player in the mobility sector, we have decided to launch our first ever MeetUp event, based on the observation that the opportunities for inter-expert meetings are sometimes lacking, because the formats are either too specific or too broad.

On the agenda, experts from various backgrounds will speak on the following topic: what kind of public/private dialogue is needed to provide better service to users in low-density areas?

The idea? To bring together different points of view and make known initiatives with a focus on the challenges encountered in the southern region:

Alternation between high and low population densities in a complex territory
Geological and topographical constraints: coastal areas, mountains…
Seasonality of mobility needs
Aging population

Join us for a friendly exchange followed by a networking moment.

The detailed and definitive program will be communicated to you very soon.

Register: Here!

Check out more events: https://mobilitymakers.co/mobility-events-calendar

The event is finished.

This website uses cookies to enhance your overall experience. By using this site, you consent to the use of cookies per our cookie policy<|endoftext|>After the shocks that emerged in a Senate committee hearing last Friday concerning pilot training and airline safety in Australia, the inquiry has been extended to May 4.

It is understood the inquiry, chaired by Senator Bill Heffernan, will recall the CEO of Qantas, Alan Joyce, the Jetstar Group CEO, Bruce Buchanan, the chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Martin Dolan and the CEO of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, John McCormick, and seek the attendance of Virgin Blue CEO, John Borghetti, who did not attend last week’s hearings at which his airline offended some of the committee with the dismissive brevity of its written submission.

It is further understood that some of the those the inquiry wishes to question further are keen to be recalled, after a hearing that was crammed with fresh information and gave rise to dozens of additional questions on notice including to representatives of a range of private pilot training organisations.

During that hearing Senator Heffernan raised an incident involving a near wheels-up landing by an Australian registered A330. Heffernan’s disclosure caused confusion at the witness table for the Qantas entourage in which Joyce said there was no incident, and Buchanan said he thought it was a Jetstar A330 at Singapore Airport. (Which it was, and which is being investigated by CASA.)

There was similar disarray when Senator Nick Xenophon, who had instigated the inquiry, ambushed Joyce over the existence of a letter from CASA demanding an explanation of a series of 15 “stick-shaker” incidents involving Qantaslink Dash 8 turbo props in which the airliners, which operate many of the flights politicians use to complete their trips to Canberra, were put in imminent danger of stalling.

Only one of those incidents had been previously disclosed to the travelling public through a report in Crikey blog Plane Talking, and that involved a first officer disobeying the instructions of a captain to abandon an unstable approach to Sydney Airport and go around.

Instead, the junior pilot persisted with the dangerous approach, causing two “stick-shaker” warnings within 10 seconds while it was dropping towards the airport from the direction of Botany Bay.

This incident was of major safety concern yet air-brushed in the ATSB report into a short document that escaped general media attention, after being released too late in the day to make any of the papers.

The senators are also understood to have unfinished business in relation to their reference to examine the near crash of Jetstar A320 during a missed approach to Melbourne’s main airport on July 21, 2007.

Critiques of the differences between the Qantas/Jetstar submission to the Senate inquiry over this incident and the testimony of the ATSB and CASA, have been published by Plane Talking.

Peter Fray

Inoculate yourself against the spin

Get Crikey for just $1 a week and support our journalists’ important work of uncovering the hypocrisies that infest our corridors of power.

If you haven’t joined us yet, subscribe today to get your first 12 weeks for $12 and get the journalism you need to navigate the spin.

Peter Fray
Editor-in-chief of Crikey<|endoftext|>See-Through System turns view-blocking vehicles transparent

See-Through System turns view-...
An LCD built into the driver's windshield allows them to "see through" the bus that they're behind
An LCD built into the driver's windshield allows them to "see through" the bus that they're behind
View 1 Image
An LCD built into the driver's windshield allows them to "see through" the bus that they're behind
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An LCD built into the driver's windshield allows them to "see through" the bus that they're behind

Nobody likes being stuck behind a large, slow-moving vehicle on the highway. Not only does it hold you up, but it's also difficult to see around, in order to check whether or not it's safe to pass. Prof. Michel Ferreira and his team from Portugal's University of Porto, however, have come up with what could someday be a solution to that problem. It's an augmented reality system that lets drivers see right through the vehicle that they're following.

The technology is known as the See-Through System, and it works – or could work, in its finished form – as follows ...

Large vehicles such as transport trucks and buses are equipped with a forward-facing webcam on their windshield. Cars, meanwhile, have a transparent LCD screen built into their windshield. When a driver gets stuck behind one of those bigger vehicles, they have the option of wirelessly receiving a live video feed from its windshield camera. The transmitted footage is displayed on the car's windshield LCD in such a way that it lines up with the actual through-the-glass view of the back of the larger vehicle.

As a result, the driver is able to see what the road in front of the blocking vehicle looks like, in the position that the vehicle occupies on the road.

So far, the system has been tested in both a driving simulator, and on an actual vehicle traveling on the road. While it definitely shows promise, there's currently still a 200-millisecond delay in the video transmission. That might not seem like much, but as pointed out in a report in New Scientist, it's enough to make an oncoming car appear 10 meters (33 ft) farther way than it really is, if both vehicles are traveling at 90 km/h (56 mph).

The See-Through System has been in development since at least 2010, although it gained new attention when it was presented at the International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality this month. It's demonstrated in the video below.

Source: Instituto de Telecomunicações (paper) via New Scientist

See-Through System: an overtaking assistance system

Very ambitious with a lot of single points of failure. The burden being largely on the driver of the bus to keep his camera equipment clean and functional. Additionally, the bobbing window can be distracting in


boat was launched at 12.10pm to a Kayaker in difficulties 300-metres off Island Wall, Whitstable. A second Kayaker was nearby waving for assistance. The lifeboat crew had observed that the casualty was ‘slumped forward onboard his craft and then seen to overturn.

The lifeboat came alongside the male casualty 1-minute after launching and he and his kayak brought onboard the lifeboat, conscious and breathing but exhausted and taken ashore at the lifeboat station. No immediate casualty care was needed but advice was given to seek medical attention if there were any later signs of feeling unwell. He was then released into the care off his fellow kayaker who had made his own way ashore.

Whitstable lifeboat trainee helmsman Liam Sidders said ‘The casualty did all the right things, he was wearing a good quality lifejacket and stayed close to his friend and signalled for help when he became incapable of making it back to the shore. It was a relatively straightforward job for us and all ended well’.

An hour later the lifeboat was launched again to a report of an inflatable kayak drifting off Admiralty Walk, Seasalter. The lifeboat arrived at the location but found no trace of the craft and the crew therefore commenced a search of the area but were ‘stood down’ when the coastguard confirmed that the 1st informant had reported that the occupant of the craft was now safely ashore.

There have now been 56 calls on the stations volunteer lifeboat crews so far this yeariss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

RNLI media contacts

  • Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
    07741 012004/ nativephoto@hotmail.com

  • Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer London/southeast/east Tel: 0207 6207416 Mob: (07785) 296252 Paul_D<|endoftext|>Hit-and-Run Crashes the Norm in Chicago Pedestrian Deaths

Standout site Grid Chicago is doing the dirty work of a safe streets blog, keeping a “fatality tracker” to count how many lives are claimed between Windy City curbs. The tracker measures three things: pedestrians killed, cyclists killed, and transit riders killed.

A woman was killed in Chicago this year trying to cross this intersection at 17th Place and Halsted Street. The hit-skip driver was not apprehended. Photo: Grid Chicago

Of course, this is sad business, and it brings some outrageous statistics to light. Today’s shocker: 83 percent of this year’s known Chicago pedestrian fatalities have been hit-and-run collisions. Steven Vance reports:

Four weeks later and three blocks away from a doubly-deadly car crash in March, 50-year old Cynthia Hoff was killed while crossing 4200 South block of Western Boulevard (the street on the east side; the west side street is Western Avenue). This makes the sixth pedestrian death and fifth hit-and-run pedestrian death in 2012, bringing our rate to 83%. While researching for this article, I came across a hit-and-run pedestrian death that I didn’t previously report, that of Aaliyah Kalimullahdunn at 80th Street and Ashland Avenue.

Whenever I talk about traffic safety, I, without pause or reservation, bring up the fatality statistics the Netherlands “enjoys”. And it is enjoyment that so few people will have to die on their roads in a year compared to the United States, Illinois, and Chicago, even after adjusting for population and time or distance spent on the road. I can imagine how outraged the people of the Netherlands would be if they saw that their traffic safety rate was degrading. See how citizens reacted to a particularly bad crash (that had zero fatalities). The country is such a model for safe transportation that Alderman Solis and two CDOT workers were sent there.

We should be outraged that a single person dies. We can change our culture (see what transportation commissioner Gabe Klein has to say about our culture), and we can change our roads.

Elsewhere on the Network today: The Urbanophile looks at the workings of infrastructure banks and wonders why this transportation financing method has gained such cachet. Burning the Midnight Oil wonders whether a “cap and trade” fund could be used to finance California high-speed rail. And M-bike.org examines Amtrak’s efforts to be more bike friendly.<|endoftext|>1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Tire pressure/temp rule?

Discussion in 'RACE 07 - Official WTCC Game' started by Mike Coleman, Mar 18, 2009.

  1. Let's say my inner tire temp is 8 degrees too low. So I want to raise my tire pressure. But how much do I raise it to get 8 degrees of heat?

    Is there a rule? e.g. every pound of psi = x degress of temperature?

    I usually click the plus sign once for every degree of heat I need to go up lol or click the minus once for every degree of heat I need to go down.

    It's not totally accurate but it's close :p

    What do you guys do?
  2. Warren Dawes

    Warren Dawes
    Premium Member

    I find it varies greatly depending on the track and type of car I'm driving. Normally I do it by trial and error but the amount of adjustment is about the same order as you.
  3. If you want to cause effect in your inner/outer temperatures, use the camber to do it. If you want to raise the center temperature, use the tyre pressure.
    Note that the best results will be achieved when you you get inner>center>outer temperature (like 95>92>88). But sometimes, depending on the track and on your driving style, this can't be achieved.
    But ok, knowing that, how much should you alter those parameters to get the exact response you want? Then I think exactly like Niklas, you have to try every change on track.
  4. Ok, I'd like to add that camber more creates difference between inner and outer temps, not raising them, but increasing the difference.

    Pressure raises the middle temp compared to outer / inner temps, and probably raising the temps overall too, but not that dramatically compared to middle temp raise difference.

    But how do one inrese tyre temp overall? Higher springs? Caster? Toe in? in which way ?
    Can somebody add their 2 cents?
  5. Dave Stephenson

    Dave Stephenson
    Technical Administrator Staff Member Premium Member

    stiffer springs can help but of course you need to balance that, as it can have a detrimental effect on the handling and speed of wear of the tyre.
  6. Petr,
    your question is the 1 million dolar question. Almost everything have some impact on tyre temperature, but certain things have more impact.
    If you want to increase the temps overall, stiffen your springs, but the change is not gonna be dramatic.
    The same thing can be said about decreasing tyre temps. What to do if you're with softer springs, and everything else to decrease the tyre temps, but they still don't decrease??? There are some tracks that cause this effect on the tyres and it's not possible to do anything. You're gonna have to do more pitstops than usual unfortunately. The same thing hapen to the low tyre temps. There are some tracks that are gonna make some of the tyres stay too low...
  7. I think the best you can do is, that to accept, that overall tyre temp is what it is, depends on the track, the track temp conditions and driving style, and dont try to influence it with car setup, just adjust the inner outer and middle to optimal.
    Maybe with dramatic suspension changes you can achieve 1-2 C difference, but with this you are sacrifising your otherwise nice balanced setup. It simply does not worth the hassle, and you are loosing with it more, then with a good balanced setup.
  8. Excelent point, Attila. Pretty well said! That's it!
  9. Nice to see you lurking around and paying some interest again lately Atti, and I believe we have done this "dance" on tyres once before..

    Mike ... see this thread for a huge discussion on tyre pressures and temps, what affects them and how etc etc :thumb:<|endoftext|>The Acura MDX offers an outstanding V6 powertrain, seven-passenger seating and an all-wheel-drive system that prevents skids almost before they happen. Neat styling, attention to detail, excellent crash protection and competitive pricing increase the appeal of this luxury SUV.

Introduced in 2001, MDX was named North American Truck of the Year by a panel of 50 independent automotive journalists. Through the five model years since, the MDX has been steadily improved in all areas.

The body has grown more rigid, allowing better vibration control and a smoother ride. Power has increased, and a more compact five-speed automatic transmission shifts even more smoothly than before. The MDX's four-wheel-drive system was remapped to work seamlessly with a Vehicle Stability Assist system to improve handling on slippery surfaces and to enhance stability in all conditions. Side curtain airbags covering all three seating rows were added, as were tire pressure monitors. Front and rear end styling has been redone, with a more aggressive edginess.


 inches shorter than a Volkswagen Golf. This means the largest Mini ever is still pretty small. And more important, the Countryman still feels like a Mini.

Supersizing It

The Countryman is to the rest of the Mini lineup as anything American is to its European counterpart. Take our refrigerators, for example. The basic operating principle, a box in which to keep your vegetables, meat, and beer cold, is the same as in Europe. It’s just that the American fridge is scaled up one size. Such is the case with the Countryman. It’s longer, wider, and taller than the Cooper hardtop and the Clubman, but it still looks like a Mini. There are some subtle changes, like the oval headlamps that have been squared off, but the Countryman fits in visually with the rest of the Mini family.

The interior, although unique to the Countryman, is easily recognizable as that of a Mini as well. Oval-shaped door cutouts like those in the smaller Minis are stretched out along the front and rear doors. And rear-seat power windows are operated via a toggle switch, just as in the front. The Countryman’s biggest feature, aside from the four doors, is its center rail system that runs between the front and rear seats and can accommodate everything from an armrest and sunglasses holder to as many cup holders as you want to buy. And speaking of rear seats, the Countryman will only be available in the U.S. with a four-passenger configuration—Mini cites our stringent crash standards as the reason for a lack of an optional rear bench. The rear seats fold flat and travel fore-and-aft 5.1 inches.

The Countryman’s H-point is 2.8 inches higher than in the other Minis, and the raised driving position is noticeable. Mini might market the Countryman as an alternative to small crossovers, but the feeling is definitely carlike. Shoulder room is four inches wider in the front seats, and the extra elbowroom is nice. Think of the Countryman as a Mini you can actually stretch out in. The width difference is even more apparent in the back seat, with 7.6 more inches of shoulder space than in the Clubman. And all seating positions are more chairlike; your knees are at hip height instead of above. Still, six-footers will need to slouch in the second row to keep their hair from brushing the roof. Our exposure was limited, but it looks like all four seats in the Countryman are adult-friendly, even for long trips.

As one would expect, the Countryman comes with more space for cargo: 12.4 cubic feet in the smallest configuration and 41.3 cubic feet at maximum capacity. As in the Clubman, there’s a false load floor with extra storage underneath. And taking a cue from the BMW 5-series Gran Turismo, the Countryman has a foldable vertical wall that closes off the luggage compartment from the rest of the cabin.

Engine Enhancements

The Countryman goes on sale early next year in three different versions: base Countryman, turbocharged Countryman S, and top-banana all-wheel-drive (another first for Mini) Countryman S All4. The engines are the same as in the rest of the Mini lineup and share the updates and power increases that all Minis receive for the 2011 model year.

The 1.6-liter in the base Countryman is rated at 121 hp, an increase of 3 hp. Major changes include an electronically controlled oil pump that is no longer tied directly to engine speed, a switchable water pump, and internal friction reductions. Torque gets a four-unit bump (hey, another four!), up to 118 lb-ft.

Both S versions come with the turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter, which gets the aforementioned upgrades and now features BMW’s Valvetronic system in addition to variable intake- and exhaust-valve timing and direct injection. Valvetronic uses variable lift—in the Countryman it ranges from 0.2 to 9.0 mm—to control the volume of air going into the cylinders. This eliminates the need for a throttle butterfly and improves efficiency and engine response. Output is increased to 181 hp, up 9 hp, and torque goes from 177 lb-ft to 192. As an added bonus, the turbocharged Countryman achieves almost the same combined fuel-economy rating as the naturally aspirated version in the European combined cycle. EPA figures haven’t been announced yet, but Mini is hoping the cars will achieve nearly 34 or 35 mpg on the highway.

Transmissions, like the engines, are the same as those used in the rest of the lineup, with some enhancements. The six-speed manual now has heavy-duty carbon synchros in all gears, new shift cables, a self-adjusting clutch, and a dual-mass flywheel. The six-speed automatic adds a neutral-idle control feature that basically shifts the transmission out of gear at a stop when your foot is on the brake pedal. The shift logic also now has a “stop and go” mode that holds second gear for smoother movement through traffic jams.

Not shared with others in the Mini lineup is the Countryman’s four-wheel-drive system, branded All4. A wet multiplate clutch at the rear axle, developed specifically for Mini by GKN, controls the amount of engine torque sent aft. The Countryman operates as a front-wheel-drive car in normal driving, although the rear prop shaft is always rotating. As soon as the front wheels spin faster than the rear wheels, a ball ramp inside the differential forces a small pilot clutch to automatically engage and send torque rearward. If the slip continues, a servo acts to send up to 50 percent of the engine torque to the rear.

The Mini That Drifts

We spent some time on a wet test track driving a Countryman S All4 with a manual transmission. The good news, as we mentioned before, is that the Countryman still feels like a Mini: responsive and agile. The even better news is that with all-wheel drive and stability control switched fully off, the Countryman is capable of power oversteer, increasing the hooligan potential beyond that of front-wheel-drive Minis. We didn’t have a chance to fully evaluate the Countryman, but our early impression is that it’s slightly softer than the rest of the Mini lineup, with slightly slower steering and a bit more body roll. The ride is a lot like your average American: a bit soft but very affable. Anybody familiar with the bone-jarring suspension in other Minis, like that of our long-term Mini JCW convertible, will find the Countryman’s ride to be sweet relief.

Stacking Up against the Competition. Wait, What’s the Competition?

The Countryman shares a similarity to other Minis with its incongruity to the rest of the market. Mini wants the Countryman to compete mostly against small crossovers like the Subaru Forester, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, and Volkswagen Tiguan. It should at least compete well on price. We’ve been told the Countryman will start at a base price between that of the Clubman and convertible, or about $24,000. We’re guessing an upgrade to the S model will be about $3000, and all-wheel drive should cost another two grand, give or take. But of course there will be hundreds of small customization options that are sure to inflate the sticker price even further. The issue is that the Countryman is generally underpowered (especially the base model) and slightly smaller than the vehicles listed above; the Tiguan, for instance, is 12.5 inches longer. Size-wise, the Countryman is almost an exact fit with the Volkswagen Golf, which starts at a much lower base price.

So on a strictly empirical level, the Countryman doesn’t stack up, but neither have the other Minis, and that hasn’t hurt sales. In fact, Mini remains an anomaly in the U.S. market as the only successful premium-priced compact car. The good news for Mini is that the Countryman should be able to pull off the same feat. It’s bigger, but the Countryman retains the fun character of the rest of the brand in design and driving experience.

Price Starting at

Get the Best Deal on a Mini Cooper Countryman / S

Price Starting at

Mini Cooper Countryman / S News and Reviews

The Best and Others to Consider<|endoftext|>Fast Kia

Fast Kia Sports Cars – All you need to know!

Kia Motors is a South Korean automobile company that was founded back in 1944. It has since been one of the best car manufacturers in the world, providing a variety of vehicles to different types of consumers. They are known for their economical selection; over time, they have dipped their toes in some faster cars as well. Now, in 2020 if you are interested in buying a fast car then look no further than the wide variety of vehicles available from Kia. We will be looking over one of the more fast Kia sports cars that one can purchase in multiple price ranges.

Just to be clear, Kia is not primarily a sports car company. Their selection is mostly commercial based. However, the few fast cars they do offer are very good and can satisfy most car enthusiasts.

Fast Kia Sports Cars – The best ones!

2021 Kia Stinger GT – The Fastest Kia yet!

If you are familiar with Kia at all then you will automatically recognise this vehicle. The 2021 Kia Stinger GT is the fastest car offered by Kia. This vehicle has a 3.3L V6 Twin Turbo engine, with a horsepower of 365, and torque of 376. It also features the 8-Speed Automatic Transmission, and that is consistent in the entire GT lineup. Something