Vodafone rewards its customers as Jenson performs in Manchester (+Photos)

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Vodafone rewards its customers as Jenson Button drives through the streets of Manchester in
his Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1™ car

Vodafone VIP brought a taste of Formula 1™ to the heart of Manchester city centre this weekend, with F1™ driver Jenson Button and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team staging a celebration of the sport.

Crowds lined Deansgate on Monday (29th Aug) afternoon for the highlight of the Bank Holiday, as Jenson Button revved up his Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1™ car and drove it through one of Manchester’s busiest streets. Button also treated two lucky Vodafone customers to a thrilling drive through Manchester city centre in a McLaren MP4-12C sports car, before ending the day with an on-stage, public Q&A appearance.

Jenson enjoyed the day enormously, commenting:

“I think Vodafone VIP has done a brilliant job to make this happen – it can’t have been easy – but to see the looks on people’s faces when I opened up the throttle, was a fantastic moment. It is all about giving something back to the fans and just unleashing the awesome power of a Formula 1 car. It was a lot of fun.”

Jenson’s appearance was just one part of a three day event. From Saturday 27 to Monday 29 of August, Vodafone customers and friends enjoyed the Vodafone VIP Fanzone in Albert Square. The Fanzone contained a bespoke Go Kart Track, and a number of interactive F1™ experiences, including a pit stop challenge, a sit in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car, an F1™ simulator and an exhibition of race suits and helmets. Throughout the weekend there was also a pit garage on the forecourt of the Hilton Deansgate in which Vodafone customers had the opportunity to go behind the scenes in the team’s garage.

The celebration was part of Vodafone’s drive to reward as many of its customers as possible. Previous Vodafone VIP events have been based in London and the South East so by bringing F1 to the North West, Vodafone VIP are aiming to reach a wider audience and thank even more of their customers.

Councillor Pat Karney, of Manchester City Council, said:

‘Vodafone VIP Live is a great example of the sort of unmissable events which Manchester stages and a great way show what our city has to offer. We are extremely grateful to Vodafone who provided the opportunity to have the I Love MCR logo printed on the side of the car. Word of the campaign has spread fast, so it's entirely fitting that an F1 car bearing the campaign logo should be seen racing down Deansgate’

The F1™ event in Manchester is just one element of Vodafone VIP, which gives customers access to the best of British festival, fashion and Formula 1™ events. Vodafone VIP provides customers with the hottest tickets and money can’t buy experiences. All Vodafone customers can register for Vodafone VIP by going online.

Visit www.vodafone.co.uk/VIPManchester to find out more.

I Love MCR Campaign
In partnership with Marketing Manchester and Manchester Arndale, Manchester City Council have launched the 'I Love MCR' campaign to show the world that the people of Manchester are proud of their city. Become a fan on the ‘I Love MCR’ Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/WeLoveMCR.
Follow the conversation on Twitter using #IloveMCR








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Doctors use Formula One pit crews as safety model

American Medical News reports hospitals in at least a dozen countries are learning how to translate the split-second timing and near-perfect synchronisation of Formula One pit crews to the high-risk handoffs of patients from surgery to recovery and intensive care.
"In Formula One, they have checklists, databases, and they have well-defined processes for doing things, and we don't really have any of those things in health care."

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/10/doctors_use_formula_one_pit_cr.php

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Bernie Ecclestone - No plans to put the brakes on


© Getty Images
In an exclusive interview with the Guardian as his 80th birthday approaches, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone speak out about a variety of subjects, from the future of the sport to Margaret Thatcher, Hitler, Saddam Hussein, democracy, football and what continues to drive him.
The way I feel at the moment, why stop? I do it because I enjoy it. And yesterday is gone. I don't care what happened yesterday. What else would I do? People retire to die. I don't get any individual pleasure because we don't win races or titles in this job. I'm like most business people. You look back at the end of the year and you see what you've achieved by working out how much money the company has made. That's it.

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/10/bernie_ecclestone_no_plans_to.php

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Caterham finally confirms Leafield factory move

Caterham has finally confirmed that it will move its racing operations to Leafield, the former home of the Arrows and Super Aguri teams. It will also build a road car facility on the same site. The team had already announced … Continue reading

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/01/18/caterham-finally-confirms-leafield-factory-move/

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Renault R31 launch pictures (31st of January)

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Lotus Renault GP unveiled their much-discussed 2011 challenger, the R31, in the pit lane of Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit on 31st Jan'11.

Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov revealed the R31, with reserves Romain Grosjean, Bruno Senna, Jan Charouz and Fairuz Fauzy.

Technical specifications

Chassis Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, with engine incorporated as a fully-stressed member
Suspension (front) Carbon fibre double wishbone, operating inboard torsion bar and damper units via a pushrod system
Suspension (rear) As front except via a pullrod system
Engine Renault RS27-2011 2,400 cc (146.5 cu in) 90° V8, limited to 18,000 RPM with KERS naturally aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with reverse gear "Quickshift" system
Weight 640 kg (1,411 lb) (including driver)
Fuel Total
Tyres Pirelli P Zero

OZ Wheels (front and rear): 13"

Links

Renault R31 – Launch Details and Analysis (Scarbsf1's Blog)
"What was formerly the Renault F1 Team and now Lotus Renault GP (I’ll use the term LRGP for this article) have unveiled their new car the R31. It seems some critical details are not fitted to the car for its unveiling, indeed the car was shown only briefly to the press before it was covered back up and returned to the garage. Despite the mystery surrounding the cars exhaust exit location, its clear this is a very new design for the team. In creating this the team were given a mandate to take risks, which probably explains the very different front and rear end treatments."

Renault R31 Front Exit Exhausts (FEE) – Explained (Scarbsf1's Blog)
"Renault have found a new solution to the blown diffuser concept. In fact they’ve turned it on its head. With an exhaust that exits at the front of the sidepods.

Last years teams reintroduced the blown diffuser concept, either by blowing exhaust gasses over the top of the diffuser, or by creating an opening into the diffuser to blow inside the diffuser. Both solutions created more downforce. With the latter solution now banned, it seemed the less effective over-blown solutions are all that’s left to race."

Renault R31 launch pictures






Photos © Renault/LAT

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1977 Chevy C30 HD Flatbed

Bought the recently re-released GMC Wrecker kit and am planning on building it up as a flatbed with fifth wheel hitch to haul a Galaxie tri-axle trailer. Here's where I'm at so far.

 

Unfortunately, upon opening the kit I found that the parts tree with the wheels and grille was non-existent. Of course, I then decided to custom build my own grille for it (the headlights are installed but taped off for painting), and I also grabbed a set of 1/32 Ford Aeromax Semi Truck wheels that just happened to fit in the kit tires, and give it the look of a 10-lug hub conversion.

 

As for drivetrain, I as most others cut out the molded in engine and exhaust sections and am planning on using a 368 cubic inch NASCAR spec GM V8 along with 4-speed manual. Should have plenty of power for the long haul. :lol:

Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/995947.aspx

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Robert Kubica Hospitalised Following Rally Accident

UPDATE ON KUBICA’s CONDITION:  http://wp.me/p3uiu-11K Renault Lotus F1 driver Robert Kubica has been airlifted to hospital following a car accident while competing on a rally. The incident, described as a high speed accident, left the Pole injured and he had to be airlifted to hospital.  His co-driver Jakub Gerber was uninjured in the incident. While [...]

Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/robert-kubica-hospitalised-following-rally-accident/

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