Logsitics and supply chain in Formula 1

For Formula One racing teams one of the biggest battles of a race weekend or testing session will be over before a car even turns a wheel: the vast logistical effort required to get all of the team's equipment to the circuit.

Indeed each team competing in the FIA Formula One World Championship now travels something like 160,000 kilometres (100,000 miles) a year between races and test sessions - with some of the larger constructors (running one or more test teams) doing considerably more than that.
Nor is the logistical effort as simple as merely getting people and equipment in place. Hotel accommodation must also be found and booked (a team can require anything up to 100 rooms), hire cars must be sourced and the team's facilities at the circuit - from the pit garage equipment to the drivers' motorhomes and the paddock corporate hospitality units must all be in place. Almost equally important, in this digital age, are the secure data links that connect the team to its base, enabling telemetry and other data to be sent directly back (which in turn allows engineers to study any potential problems, even while the race is running.) All-in-all, an enormous task.

For the European rounds of the championship most of a team's equipment will travel by road, in the liveried articulated lorries which are such a familiar sight in race paddocks across the continent. All of the race equipment required for the weekend will be loaded in these: cars, spare parts and tools. Most teams will 'pack' three cars, one spare chassis and several spare engines plus a full kit of other spares. Tyres, fuel and certain other equipment are brought separately by technical partners and local contractors.

For the non-European 'flyaway' races the logistical effort is considerably more complicated (all Formula One teams being resident in Europe at the moment) as equipment has to be flown out on transport planes. Rather than use conventional aircraft containers, teams have created their own specially designed cargo crates, designed to fill all available space in the planes' holds. At present most of the teams use cargo planes chartered by Formula One Management (FOM) which fly from London and Munich to wherever the race is being held. In the case of successive flyaway races (such as with the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix in 2006) there is insufficient time between them to allow the teams' equipment to be brought 'home', meaning direct transit between the two races. This means that considerably more components have to be packed. As the number of races outside Europe continues to expand, so the logistical effort required to transport the teams and their equipment will expand alongside it. Already the amount of transport required for a season of Formula One has been described, only half-jokingly, as being similar to that needed for a medium-sized military campaign.

Formula One drivers are some of the most highly conditioned athletes on earth

Formula One drivers are some of the most highly conditioned athletes on earth, their bodies specifically adapted to the very exacting requirements of top-flight single-seater motor racing.

All drivers who enter Formula One need to undergo a period of conditioning to the physical demands of the sport: no other race series on earth requires so much of its drivers in terms of stamina and endurance. The vast loadings that Formula One cars are capable of creating, anything up to a sustained 3.5 g of cornering force, for example, means drivers have to be enormously strong to be able to last for full race distances. The extreme heat found in a Formula One cockpit, especially at the hotter rounds of the championship, also puts vast strain on the body: drivers can sweat off anything up to 3kg of their body weight during the course of a race.

Physical endurance is created through intensive cardio-vascular training: usually running or swimming, although some drivers prefer cycling or even roller-blading! But the unusual loadings experienced by neck and chest muscles cannot be easily replicated by conventional gym equipment, so many drivers use specially designed 'rigs' that enable them to specifically develop the muscles they will need to withstand cornering forces. Strong neck muscles are especially important, as they must support the weight of both the driver's head and his helmet under these intense loadings. Powerful arm muscles are also required to enable the car to be controlled during longer races.

In terms of nutrition, most Formula One drivers control their diets in much the same way as track and field athletes, carefully regulating the amount of carbohydrate and protein that they absorb. During the race weekends proper most drivers will be seen eating pasta or other carbohydrate-rich foods to provide energy and to give the all-important stamina for the race itself. It is also vitally important that drivers take in large amounts of water before the race, even if they do not feel thirsty. Failure to do so could bring on dehydration through sweating - not surprising given that the physical endurance required to drive a Formula One race is not dissimilar to that required to run a marathon.

Aerodynaimics of a Formula 1 car

A modern Formula One car has almost as much in common with a jet fighter as it does with an ordinary road car. Aerodynamics have become key to success in the sport and teams spend tens of millions of dollars on research and development in the field each year.

The aerodynamic designer has two primary concerns:

Creating downforce, to help push the car's tyres onto the track and improve cornering forces
Minimising the drag that gets caused by turbulence and acts to slow the car down.

Race car wings operate on exactly the same principle as aircraft wings, only in reverse. Air flows at different speeds over the two sides of the wing (by having to travel different distances over its contours) and this creates a difference in pressure, a physical rule known as Bernoulli's Principle. As this pressure tries to balance, the wing tries to move in the direction of the low pressure. Planes use their wings to create lift, race cars use theirs to create downforce.

A modern Formula One car is capable of developing 3.5 g lateral cornering force (three and a half times its own weight) thanks to aerodynamic downforce. That means that, theoretically, at high speeds they could drive upside down.

Bajaj 220 DTS Fi

Clever strategy…

It’s a clever strategy followed by the manufacturers/film makers to familiarize their experiments (except the core) among common man before their big release. The interesting gain in this strategy also fetches the much needed hype. Bajaj has done the same for the pulsar 220cc DTSi FI – except the fuel injection and the rear disc brake other features such as tubeless tyres, oil cooled engine, digital console with amber back light, self canceling indicators, twin seats, split grab rail, exposed drive chain and no kick lever have become familiar through pulsar 200cc, discover 135cc also through media. Nearly after a year from the test run, Bajaj decides to launch the pulsar 220cc DTS-FI nation wide. Bajaj expects to sell 2000 units a month of pulsar 220cc DTS-FI and it has reworked the famous ‘hamara bajaj’ campaign with this bike. The hype has made pulsar 220cc already a hit among bike enthusiast but can it maintain the momentum after the launch. Let’s drive the powerful machine and find it!

Engine and powertrain

The 220cc oil cooled, Digital Twin Spark Fuel Injection (DTS FI) engine produces an awesome power of 20PS at 8500rpm (though not comparable, pulsar 220cc is more powerful than thunderbird) and an incredible torque of 19.12Nm at 6500rpm. . Bajaj’s well proven exhausTEC (to beef up low-down power) features in pulsar 220cc too. Pulsar 220cc features the standard five speed gearbox with one down and four up pattern. Oil cooler placed just below the fuel tank helps in further cooling of engine lubricant and keep this high performance engine cool. A six speed gearbox like other international bikes could have been better. Thanks to the fuel injection for the gentle release of power which enables smoother acceleration also minimal power loss while shifting gears. Pulsar DTS-Fi can reach 60kph in 4.4 seconds and can past 110kph in 18.8sec. Pulsar 220cc can reach a top speed of 131kph. But not alone this top speed is impressive; you can easily maintain the pulsar 220cc in 100 -115kph. Though the fuel efficiency/mileage depends on riding behavior you can expect anything more than 35kpl from pulsar 220cc DTS FI. Bajaj is offering impeccable warranty for its pulsar 220cc - the DTS FI engine has been given 5yrs warranty in addition to the 2yrs or 30000km vehicle warranty.

Styling and Engineering

Pulsar 220cc is the most stylish bike available in India. Though it resembles its siblings in most sense the voluminous front fairing and the fairing mounted mirrors distinct the pulsar 220cc from others. Surely another eye catcher from bajaj through pulsar 220cc with six spoke alloy wheels, stylish body panels, clear lens indicators, exposed chain and the diff. Like its family members, pulsar 220cc is equipped with highly digitized –Except for the tachometer, everything else including fuel gauge, speedometer, odo and two trip meters finds place in the orange glow of the digital read. Pulsar 220ccDTS FI features “health” indicators - a choked air fuel indicator, high oil temperature indicator, low battery voltage indicator, low engine oil level indicator and engine malfunction indicator. The pulsar 220cc DTS-Fi features car-like self-canceling turn-signals and backlit switches. Similar to its sibling just launched Pulsar 200cc, the pulsar 220cc DTS FI bike throws away the kick lever and makes you to crank the engine only with your thumb. A battery-saving feature trips a circuit when the self-starter is engaged for too long and the headlamp shuts by default when the starter engages.

Ride and handling

The wheelbase has been lengthened to 1,350 mm from 1,330 of the older Pulsar, along with a new swing arm. Pulsar 220cc DTS-Fi uses telescopic forks at the front and Gas-charged twin shocks are used at the rear. A twin-member tubular frame and an elliptical swing arm mounted on needle roller bearings. This combination gives a good blend of stiffness and flick ability for the bike though pulsar 220 weighs 150kg. MRF tubeless tyres —90/90 x 17 inches at the front and 120/80 x 17 inches at the rear provide good support and traction control for pulsar 220cc DTS Fi. This high performance bike is the India’s first bike to have a rear disc brake although this will help for the effective control, safety in Indian conditions is yet to be seemed.

Conclusion

Pulsar 220cc DTS FI doesn’t have any serious competitor actually. It is damn sure that Bajaj’s pulsar 220cc DTS FI will set a new tone to Indian motorcycle industry. Although pulsar 220 will satisfy the long lasting hard core enthusiast’s aspiration it is to be seen whether this kind of bike is suitable for India conditions. Bajaj continues to work on performance bikes whereas its arch rival Hero Honda is following a complete different strategy it continues to offer commuter bikes. Who has the better understanding of the Indian customers? Whether Bajaj can fool everyone’s suspicion? For answers we should wait!

Formula 1 in India

India has long been on the Formula one’s radar, with Hyderabad considered as a potential race venue but as the Chandrababu Naidu chief backer of the project was voted out in the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections India’s Formula one dream remains the dream till 2007. India’s history with formula one has been great, India’s first Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan made his debut in 2005 with Jordan (now midland), he is now the test driver for william. In 2004, TCS provide IT and engineering services for the development of the Ferrari‘s Formula 1 racing car. But as India clocks more than 9% GDP I believe things will change in future

Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that after much waiting and speculation a contract has been signed this week with JPSK Sports Private Limited, to stage the first ever F1 race in India which is to be held in New Delhi in 2010.

Bernie Ecclestone said: “India has always been known for its love of cricket, but F1 has been growing hugely in popularity in recent years as the viewing figures would suggest. Now with Vijay Mallya’s team, Force India, and the news that Karun Chandhok could soon be driving in F1, the announcement of the future Grand Prix in India will spark an explosion of further interest to rival that of the traditional sport.”

Adream come true for the Indian Racing fans who can now watch the Formula1 races live at the track while will be ready by the year 2010. Greater Noida, which is around 30 miles west of the Indian Capital Delhi has been selected as site where the Indian Formula 1 track will be developed .

Bajaj Auto to launch 125CC scooter(Bajaj Blade) in US

The economic slowdown and the spiking crude oil price has changed the mindset of Americans in a big away. Americans the world’s largest oil consumers and their love for SUV’s and Harley’s have always been a favorite subject for environmentalist to criticize. However when the crude oil touched 4$ per gallon this summer, Americans felt the heat. Sales of Ford’s F150 and Toyota’s Tundra pick-up dwindled and i believe there will not be question on Hummer. The shift is fast and even the mighty Toyota fails to cope up with the trend. Sales of prius and Mini jumped to many fold. But that alone may not be the solution. Finally American must follow the way of Indians and Chinese to survive in the toughest times. For short travel they have started looking for economical scooters.

The appeal for scooters is on the raise, where India’s second largest two wheeler maker wish to ride on. 131,000 new scooters were sold in the United States in 2007, nearly double the 70,000 sold in 2002 and triple the 42,000 new units sold in 2000. Meanwhile, U.S. sales of new scooter units were up 24 percent for the first quarter of 2008 compared with the same period a year ago. Bajaj once sold chetak in US exited from the country as Bajaj moved away from the scooter business to produce small engined motorcycles.Visit http://www.bajajusa.com/ to know more about chetak’s journey in US.

Bajaj is now looking to introduce the blade 125cc scooter in US. The blade 125cc unveiled at the January Delhi Auto expo is powered by a 4 valve, DTSI engine. The US variant of blade 125cc would feature Fuel Injection technology to return better fuel efficieny figure. Americans who have been riding Yamaha’s and Honda’ scooter might find the Bajaj’s blade an attractive option it will priced very competetively. The success or failure of Bajaj’s Blade will convey a lot. If it succeeds and global crude oil price continues to raise, Americans may have to ride splendours like their Indian counterparts to live.

LPG and CNG a cheaper source of fuel (part2)

Problems with LPG/CNG:

Some car owners have been using LPG kits for quite a long time, though they are not fully aware of the formalities involved in converting a car to LPG and as a result they always faced the prospect of being detected and fined heavily by officials of the Transport Department. This prevented many from going in for LPG kits. The other important issues that prevent many from opting LPG are the lack of authorized retro –fit (gas conversion) dealers, loss of manufacturers warranty, concern about the safety of the LPG vehicle and lack of knowledge on magnitude of loss on space and performance of the vehicle and lastly but very importantly lack of filling stations.

What should you do to be legal…

The authorised dealers fit the equipment and issue a certificate giving the numbers on the kit and other details. The car owners have to take their vehicle to the Transport authorities and show them the certificate issued by the dealer. The officials verify the same and make an endorsement in the RC book of the vehicle. This enables the owners to use either petrol or gas in their vehicle.

What you are liable if you use unauthorized LPG kit?

Unauthorised LPG kits are unsafe and it is like carrying a bomb in the boot of your car. Motorists using unauthorised kits or those using authorised kits filled with domestic LPG are liable for criminal action. Insurance companies will not entertain any claims, when unauthorised kits are used. Befor going into other issues lets first check the difference between LPG and CNG

LPG Vs CNG

LPG is usually chosen over CNG as the fuel of choice as the latter is not available nationwide; the former is available (albeit only in a few vending stations) in 42 cities. Also LPG can be stored at a much lower pressure than CNG, at approximately 5 to 7bar, and as a result, the tank does not have to be built super-tough and hence the LPG kit costs less than half of a CNG kit. Another positive aspect about LPG is that it does not inhibit engine performance as much as CNG does. Also though present in some areas, CNG is not widely available throughout India. But CNG scores over the LPG in price front. Thus for a personal vehicle, it makes sense to go for LPG while for commercial vehicles CNG vehicles will. Asmost of the issues are common for both LPG and CNG so in this post we will consider it the same.

Manufacturers warranty and safety:

Wagon R Duo and Omni come with a factory-fitted LPG kit. Installation of the CNG kit for the Lancer, Optra, Indica and Indigo Marina is done at the dealership level. Also, Hindustan Motors, General Motors and Tata Motors have tied up with CNG installation specialists who will fit the kit at the dealer end and deliver the car. What you gain is you do not lose any vehicle warranty for the conversion — the manufacturer’s warranty on the car stays as it is. The additional gain is it is much safer when these authorised agencies fit the kit as there are no welding involved and no fundamental changes to the body structure. Some agencies like Lovato offer 1yr warranty and 1yr free service for their fitments.

Few compromises for LPG/CNG:

LPG results in a considerable loss of power and torque vis-a-vis petrol (about 5-8 per cent on an average), and this means that you’ll be stressing the engine a lot more on a daily basis. And that means that engine life will drop by a bit, depending on the kind of usage you put your car to. If your driving involves steady, sensible speeds without too many passengers or cargo, and if your route does not involve hilly roads, there should be no problems at all. But for your compromise on performance and extra money (you have to shell out Rs16000 – Rs40000 for the installation for LPG kit), you save a significant amount in your monthly budget

Here’s what you gain from LPG/CNG:

The cost of the entire CNG kit and installation is approximately Rs 50,000 over the price of the car. So is it worth it? Not if you cover about 10 to 20 km daily. CNG retails for around Rs 22 per kg and at this rate, you will recover the cost in two to three years if you drive on an average of 40 to 50 km a day. It is simple. The more you drive, the earlier you recover your investment. The case for the LPG kit is quite different but the end savings are same. LPG costs little higher than CNG i.e. Rs27/L but the installation costs is significantly low for LPG. Lovato an authorized auto gas (LPG) agency charges variably according to the existing petrol Injection system in the car

* for the carbureted car(before 2000) Lovato charges Rs16000 for the installation

* for the car produced in 2002 and 2003 Lovato charges around Rs17000

* for the ECM (2004 to date) equipped car Lovato charges Rs22500 and for SUVs like Toyota innova Lovato fits sequential kit and hence it charges Rs40000

Regarding the space you have to loss some space in your boot, the loss varies from 20L to 60L depends on the size of the tank you picked. You can pick the desired shape and volume of the tank to be fitted in your car. Modern tank comes in attractive shapes. But do know that claimed volume and usable volume is different. A 35 litre toroidal (tyre shaped) tank can be filled upto 20L only hence carefully pick the tank according to your requirement.

Authorised dealers and filling stations:

As more and more dealers are offering this service, finding an authorised dealer is really an arduous task. But most car dealers will help you find out the authorized dealers. Regarding the filling stations though exclusive LPG outlets are limited, almost 40% of petrol bunks in metros offer LPG also. Eventually as more car manufacturers offer LPG/CNG variants of their cars we can expect more filling stations. Also, LPG outlets are coming up fast as government/oil companies are willing to establish outlets in the highways and most towns.

Few facts about LPG/CNG:

Usually, gas conversion dealers charge around Rs2000 in addition to the installment charge. Though installation of LPG kits in your car requires only one day, for the legal endorsement you have to wait for a month after the installment. All the cars do not support LPG/CNG kits make sure with the dealer that your car is ready for installation for example Lovato do not support Ford and Tata cars.

To get proper return for your investment, auto gas agencies advice to change the air filter once in 4000km and spark plug once in a year also, they advice to drive your car atleast 10km in petrol once in a week. It is wise to install the LPG/CNG kit after your periodic manufacturer service since this will help in easy diagnosis after the installation. Misfiring and reduced mileage are possible effects of are check points which cautions you, to go to service stations.

Here’s a short review on two LPG cars - Maruti omni LPG and WagonR duo

Omni LPG:

The Maruti Omni van’s factory-fitted LPG option runs on two fuels — petrol and liquefied petroleum gas. The Omni LPG comes fitted with a 62.1-litre gas tank and a reserve petrol fuel tank of five litres. The vehicle also offers the advantage of being pre-tuned and comes with a factory setting for consistent performance when using either fuel. The Omni’s LPG kit, from Vialle of the Netherlands, features ample protection from any leakage and can also feature an additional metal cage for protection from accidental damage to the valve. Though the omni LPG has been rated lower at 27 bhp compared to the petrol only Omni variant’s 35 bhp, it continues to infest taxi drivers as it delivers 13kpl

Wagon R Duo:

The WagonR duo features a separate petrol tank of 35-litre capacity, which is in addition to the 22-litre gas tank. To choose between the two fuels, the DUO WagonR comes with an easy-to-reach switch just behind the steering wheel, on the dashboard. The switch is designed to enable the engine start with petrol as the primary fuel and then to switch to gas, though a manual override option is also available to either start and drive completely on petrol or on gas. You can switchover either way while on the move but you have to give some revs while flicking the switch otherwise the engine will die. To ensure the overall security and safety of this dual fuel vehicle, Maruti got the certification from the Department of Explosives (DoE) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) for the new design tank and gas delivery system. Because of this WagonR duo is the safest LPG car in India. Wagon R duo continues to be perfect car for metros as it returns an average of 8.1kpl in the city (In wagon R duo usually we don’t feel the need to switch to petrol in normal city traffic) while running in LPG mode

LPG and CNG a cheaper source of fuel

Thanks to the US for not waging war on Iran and to the weather that kept the oil consumption low in US. Unlike in the past we don’t see any periodic hikes in fuel prices and World crude oil price continues to hover around $65 per barrel. But how long this price will sustain and we no longer can expect our government to insulate us if the crude oil price again rises. To keep their monthly fuel budget on check already many metro riders opt for LPG/CNG. Though CNG/LPG is not available abudant in India by being an odd one you can get them at a cheaper price. Also, as auto LPG is not subsidised, it is risk free as far as cost escalation due to withdrawal of subsidy (if it comes about) is concerned

LPG/CNG cars in India

Recently, Central Government plans to introduce Auto LPG in Jammu and Kashmir in a big way to protect environment and now morecCompanies are coming out with LPG/CNG versions of their cars. Ford has rolled out Ikon Flair CNG, a dual-fuel variant that can run both on petrol and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in March. Mitsubishi offers CNG variant of Lancer sedan. Maruti’s omni LPG is the early entrant featuring LPG and it continues to woo customers. From the experience of omni LPG, Maruti emphatically rolled its wagonR duo last year and as expected it is receiving good response. Maruti’s arch rival Hyundai will launch a CNG variant of santro soon. General Motors India launched the CNG version of its sedan, the Chevrolet Optra in 2006. Tata Motors offers authorised CNG kit fitment at their dealerships for the Indica and Indigo Marina and plans a CNG variant for the recently launched magic by this fiscal end. Tata Motors is also working on LPG offerings on its car range which will be launched soon. Let’s first check what’s hindering many from opting LPG/CNG

The technology behind the hottest sports bike ‘Honda CBR’

The technology behind the hottest sports bike ‘Honda CBR’ which is derived from its big brother 2006 world champion Nicky hayden’s Honda RC211V

Boeing 747 takes off at 320 kph—it’s the top speed of a Ferrari. MotoGP bikes break two bills with power to spare. MotoGP is the ultimate motorcycle racing series, a pure combination of advanced technology and athletes psychotic enough to pilot these overpowered machines at speeds most wouldn’t dare with four tires on the ground. Riders lean so severely into turns that they scrape their elbows and knees on the asphalt; brake so hard they have to force their weight over the back end of the bike to keep it from flipping; and accelerate so violently that their front wheels often leave the ground. The only reason the riders make it out alive is because they drive the most precisely engineered motorcycles ever made

Honda’s RC211V—the bike 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden rode to victory in the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix last July. The most advanced machine on the MotoGP circuit, it weighs less than 150kg yet packs more than 240 horsepower (around 20 times more than recently launched pulsar 200cc). It rockets to 160 kph in less than five seconds and can hit 346 kph. Oh, and it costs about $3 million (13.5 crores).

The Technology…

• Chassis
  When you’re leaning the bike so far over that you’re almost parallel to the ground, suspension doesn’t do much; the frame itself has to soak up some of the bumps to keep the rider from losing control. Honda alternated the frame-wall thickness on the RC211V and CBR so that key areas can flex.
• Engine
  The MotoGP league mandates that every bike have a 990cc engine (2007 regulations mandates 800cc), but that’s about it. Honda chose five cylinders versus three or four because five smaller pistons can get up to their 15,000rpm redline faster. The CBR sports a four-cylinder with a marginally sane 11,650rpm redline.
• Suspension
  Instead of attaching the rear shock to the frame, as is conventional, Honda hid the suspension on both bikes inside the arm that connects the wheel to the frame. This freed up space for engineers to move the engine and fuel tank to tweak weight distribution.
• Fuel Injection MotoGP bikes need to accelerate fast and still have power at high rpms. To achieve this balance, Honda inserted a second bank of fuel injectors that kick in north of 5,500 rpm, doubling the amount of fuel in the cylinders. The CBR has a dual-stage system as well, but it’s tuned for lower top speeds (“only” 176 mph).
• Tires
  The middle section of a MotoGP slick is smooth, hard rubber that can handle speeds up to 346kph. The edges are more porous and soft for grip on sharp corners. The stock bike gets treaded Bridgestones or Pirellis rated to withstand a measly 240kph.
• Radial-mounted Brakes To fit the massive 320-millimeter front-wheel rotors necessary to stop the RC211V, Honda had to offset the calipers from the forks. The CBR has the same size discs, but they’re made of steel,whereas the RC211V’s are made from lightweight carbon fiber.

Technical terms used to imprt bikes in India

Some technical (fancy terms) which is used while importing bikes.

Supersport: term used to denote bikes which have 4 cylinder engines and engine should be less than 650cc.

Maxi sport: term used to denote bikes which should be below 750cc in case of 4 cylinder engine and should be below 1000cc in case of twin cylinder V type engine

Superbike: term used to denote bikes which are powered by engines of sized around 800 cc to 1100 cc.

Hypersport bikes: term used to denote bikes powered by engines are usually sized around 1100 cc to 1400 cc

Though they are categorized there is no definite methods for classification some of the bikes falls under more than one category. Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha are popular Japanese sports bike manufacturers. Aprilla, Ducati, Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta are popular Italian sports bike manufacturers. Buell – the american manufacturer and the Triumph and BMW - the European manufacturers are some of the popular manufacturers in this exclusive club.

Tips for Importing cars and bikes in India

Thanks to Indian growth story, Cult bike maker Harley Davidson is likely to make its Indian foray soon. While dhoom 1 and Dhoom 2 have given a definite dimension to India’s premium bike market, Rolls Royce and Maybach are already getting decent numbers in their order book. Many youngsters and business honchos are following their sports or film’s hero and love to ride their dream machines.

Here are some rules and regulations which you must know when you are importing cars or bikes. When Sachin imported Ferrari and when Kingfisher Vijay Mallaya imported Lamborghini these regulations and the consequent uproar flashed in our TV screens. A complete knowledge on this will help you to import your dream machines and enjoy!

For importing a new bike you have to pay 105 percent duty and100 percent duty for a used one. In case of cars, for a completely built unit or CBU you have to pay 111 percent duty (60% on CBU imports plus countervailing duties and other levies). Whereas the duty on “completely knocked down” or CKD models which are assembled in country, is only 38 to 48 percent depending on engine displacement. These are based on EXIM policies (export and import policy) which are framed on 2002. Here are the few terminologies and conditions you must know

Customs duty: Tariff imposed on import/export on autos and auto ancillaries. In this year budget peak rate of Customs duty from 12.5 per cent to 10 per cent and also Central Sales Tax (CST) from 4 per cent to 3 per cent.

Excise Duty: Excise Duty is an indirect tax levied and collected on the goods manufactured in India. In last year’s Budget had reduced the excise duty on small cars (petrol engines within 1200cc and diesel engines within 1500cc) to 16 per cent, while maintaining it at 24 per cent for all other cars and utility vehicles.

Homologation: Process of certifying that a particular car is roadworthy and the Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) provide this clearance. According to existing norms, every original car model brought into the country by an individual or a manufacturer must have homologation clearance. Even domestic car manufacturers need a homologation certificate for new models. There are some exclusions as well

•Manufacturers can import left hand drive vehicles only for testing and research purposes.
•Individuals importing top-end cars can waive off the testing — or homologation — requirements. Any individual can import a vehicle priced above Rs 20 lakh without sending it for road-worthiness tests.
•Import of new vehicles is only permitted through Customs ports at Nhava Sheva, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi Air Cargo and at ICD, Tughlakabad
•Very important note for Non Residential Indians (NRIs) - individuals coming to India for permanent settlement after two years of continuous stay abroad can bring in a car provided the vehicle has been in their possession for at least one year abroad. This now ensures that individuals coming to India do not bring in an absolutely new car.

An example will help to understand things better..
If X wishes to buy Suzuki GSX R 1300 Hayabusa(dhoom bike), here is the route ?
Import bikes prices in India are a tricky thing.
Since they can only be imported you will just have to find a reputable importer! The price you can expect to pay for a new bike is based on the following:

Price of bike in the country you wish to buy or the country the dealer has contacts in. + Freight charges + Import Duty @105% + Misc charges.
Eg. NEW from the US $10000 USD(Rs 4,50,000) + $500 Freight + $10500 + $500 = $21500 USD(Rs 10 lakhs).

Here are the few useful sites you must visit before importing your dream machine
http://www.cbec.gov.in
http://www.dhi.nic.in

Did you know the safety measures in Formula 1 racing??

Drivers Clothing

All drivers wear a Nomex®-3 overall which can help them to survive for 11 seconds even in temperatures of 840 degrees Celsius? In comparison, the maximum temperature in a sauna is 100 degrees, in an apartment fire it would be up to 800 degrees and the lava in a volcanic eruption reaches between 750 and 1,000 degrees.

The safety precautions were made even more stringent just before the 2007 season The nose and rear structures now have to crumple up more softly and a six-millimetre-thick layer of carbon and Zylon protects the flanks of the safety cell. Zylon is also used for bullet-proof vests and is intended to prevent objects such as splinters from entering the cockpit.

Formula 1 Tyres

Formula One tyres are filled with nitrogen instead of air? As a result, the pressure is kept constant even under extreme loads, which improves various factors including safety because even the slightest changes in the tyre pressure of just 0.05 bar can lead to a reduction in the steering precision .

Formula One tyres are subjected to quality checks in the factory involving a total of 130 items? If a tyre displays even the slightest discrepancies, the entire series is immediately disposed of..

Head and neck Support (HANS)

The drivers have been given the additional protection of the HANS system since 2003? HANS stands for ‘Head and Neck Support’. The helmet is fastened with two elastic straps to a frame that the drivers wear over their shoulders.

Helmets

Helmets consist of three main substances: carbon fibre for rigidity, fire-resistant aramide and polyethylene, which is designed to make the helmet shell impenetrable. A modern Formula One helmet weighs only about 1,250 grams.

The visor will be made of a special clear polycarbonate, combining excellent impact protection with flame resistance and excellent visibility. Most drivers use tinted visors, the insides of which are coated with anti-fogging chemicals to prevent them misting up, particularly in wet conditions. Several transparent tear-off strips are attached to the outside. As the visor picks up dirt during the course of the race, the driver can remove these to clear his vision.

Fire Safely

For fighting fires, especially in the vicinity of the pit lane, at least five fire engines, each manned by four firemen, are on stand-by around the circuit?

Medical Centre track side

The medical centre at a Formula One race track leaves nothing to be desired when compared to a modern hospital? Equipped with all the necessary medical devices and manned at all hours by one of three shifts, each including an orthopaedic surgeon, an anaesthesiologist and six paramedics, the medical centre takes care of First Aid and trauma care for injured drivers. 5 hospitals are placed on alert during a race weekend? As a special service at the circuit, sometimes a dentist is also available

Protecting your car against thefts

To avoid car thefts here are some basics :

1. After parking your car always lock the doors and remove the key.80 percent car are stolen cause of unlocked doors and 40 percent are stolen having the keys in the ignition
2. Never leave your valuables like mobile phones cash etc in your car
3. You may install an alarm and use additional locks such as steering wheel locks, brake pedal locks and wheel locks
   
4. Having installed a tracking device on your car can be of great helpas it has high percentage of recovering the stolen car.

80 percent car are stolen cause of unlocked doors and 40 percent had the keys in the ignition.

To ensure your car while you’re away here a some tips:

1. Be sure to park your car where everyone could see
2. Install alarm for thieves this is annoying, having a noise sound attracting passerby.
3. Hide your alarm where theft can’t easily determine if your car have an alarm or no alarm at all.
4. Know the place well where you park
   

Tata Nano now roadworthy as per ARAI

Tata might have suspended the work at the Tata plant in Singur in West Bengal
Tata Nano has now been successfully ‘homologated’ by the Automotive Research Association of India.Nano but they continue to work towards the anticipated launch of the revolutionary car in the coming months.

This means that the car is now approved for sale in the Indian market and it is roadworthy as well.

The car would be launched with a fuel efficient twin-cylinder 623 cc rear mounted petrol engine. It generates 33 BHP.

Inside sources say that gave a fuel efficiency of 24 km per liter during the tests by ARAI. This would make it one of the most fuel efficient cars in the Indian market.
Nano

Tata also conforms to the Euro IV emission standards. Similar standards are likely to be implemented in India by the year 2010.Nano

Schumi's dominant years

In 2000 Schumacher won his third World Championship and more significantly, Ferrari's first since Jody Scheckter in 1979, after a hard-fought year-long battle with Mika Häkkinen.

2001 Schumacher took his fourth drivers' title in a season that lacked the championship drama that had defined the previous four season. Schumacher scored a record-tying nine wins and clinched the world championship with four races yet to run.At the Belgian Grand Prix Schumacher scored his 52nd career win, thus breaking Alain Prost's record for most career wins.

2002 a dominant year, Schumacher took his fifth Drivers' title (equalling the record set by Juan Manuel Fangio). Ferrari won 15 out of 17 races and Schumacher wrapped up the title with six races remaining in the season. Schumacher also broke Nigel Mansell's and his own record of 9 race wins for most victories in a season, scoring 11 and finishing every race on the podium.

2003 Schumacher broke Fangio's record by winning the Drivers' title for the sixth time in a closely contested season

2004 Schumacher won a record twelve of the first thirteen races of the season, only failing to finish in Monaco after a controversial accident with Juan Pablo Montoya under the safety car period. He clinched a record seventh drivers' title at the Belgian Grand Prix. Bridgestone had been the key as the tire was superior to Michelin over the season. He would finish this season with a record 148 points, and a new record of 13 race wins out of 18 that season, surpassing the previous best of 11, which he had scored in the 2002 Formula One season.

Ferrari wins World title but schumi breaks his leg

After several rebuilding years, Schumacher's efforts helped Ferrari win the Constructors title in 1999. However, his hopes for another Drivers' Championship were dashed at that year's British Grand Prix, where he broke his leg. A rear brake failure[8] caused him to exit the track on the first lap of the race while facing the high-speed, right-hand 'Stowe' corner, and he crashed heavily into a tire barrier. This accident prevented Schumacher from competing in the next six races. After his return, he assumed the role of a second driver, yielding to his team mate, Eddie Irvine, in order to help his team win a Drivers' Championship title. However, they were once again beaten by Mika Häkkinen in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

Schumi's early Ferrari days

In 1996, Schumacher signed a contract with Ferrari, which at the time was a highly risky move, given Ferrari's championship drought (the Italian giants had not won a title since 1979).

In his first year at Ferrari Schumacher finished third in the Drivers' Championship, behind the two Williams drivers, Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill. He won races in Spain, Belgium and Italy, the first one in the wet
In 1997, he again took the title fight down to the last race, narrowly leading the points for the Drivers' Championship title. Schumacher uncompromisingly crashed into Villeneuve's Williams Renault after Villeneuve attempted to overtake Schumacher, when the German left the door open under braking into the right-hand 'Dry Sac' hairpin curve at the end of the back-straight of the Jerez circuit. Schumacher ended up on the gravel and out of the race. Villeneuve's badly damaged Williams eventually finished third in the race, thereby winning the Drivers Championship title that year. In a controversial decision by the FIA, Schumacher was disqualified from the World Championship final classification that year, but his results and points were nevertheless kept in the official records

Schumi's Benetton years 1995 season

In 1995, Schumacher stayed with Benetton, which had switched to Renault engines. He successfully defended his title, accumulating 33 more points than second-placed Damon Hill. With team-mate Johnny Herbert, he took Benetton to its first Constructors' Championship. He became the youngest double world champion in F1 history.

During these two championship seasons, Schumacher's dominance of Formula One was such that he won 17 out of the 31 races and finished on the podium 21 times. Only once did he qualify worse than fourth, which was at the 1995 Belgian Grand Prix, where he qualified 16th, but went on to win the race

Schumi's Benetton years 1991-1993

After his impressive debut, he was quickly signed by Benetton-Ford for the next race, and immediately showed great potential. This move angered Jordan who believed Benetton had "stolen" his driver from a binding contract.

Schumacher became known as an up-and-coming driver in F1 as he claimed his maiden victory in the Belgian Grand Prix with Benetton Ford. In 1992 he finished third ahead of three-time world champion, Ayrton Senna in the final standings.

1993 was a year of great expectations for Benetton and Schumacher. The German won one race at the Portuguese Grand Prix, but was not able to challenge for the World Title as the Benetton machine was not fully competitive with the technically advanced Williams. The year was once again dominated by Williams and only Senna, in a largely inferior McLaren, was able to challenge Alain Prost, who had at his disposal the strongest package in terms of engine, chassis and especially electronics.

1994

Schumacher won his first World Championship in 1994 while driving for Benetton, in an extremely controversial season marred by allegations of cheating and the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola.

Schumacher started the season strongly, winning six of the first seven races. The raw speed of the Benetton was a surprise to the other teams, who levelled allegations of cheating. They claimed Benetton had found a way to violate the FIA-imposed ban on electronic aids, including Traction Control and Launch Control. On investigation, the FIA discovered illegal software on their car (and the cars of several rival teams), but could not prove that it had been used.

After Senna's death, Damon Hill inherited the responsibility of fighting for the championship. Hill struggled to keep pace with the Benetton in his Williams-Renault, but due to several mid-season controversial disqualifications and bans for Schumacher, he began to close the gap in the standings. In the British Grand Prix, Schumacher was penalized for overtaking on the formation lap [5]. He then ignored the penalty and the subsequent black flag during the race, for which he was disqualified and later given a two-race ban. Things took a turn for the worse at Spa, where Schumacher was disqualified after winning the race, after his car was found to have illegal wear on its skidblock.[6]

Leading by a single point going into the final race in Australia, Schumacher clinched the title after colliding with Hill in a highly controversial incident, taking both drivers out

Schumi'sFormula One debut

Schumacher made his Formula One debut with the Jordan-Ford team at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix as a replacement driver for the imprisoned Bertrand Gachot (incarcerated for spraying CS gas in a London taxi-driver's face). Schumacher was signed by Eddie Jordan after he was greatly impressed at a Silverstone test the previous week, and Schumacher assured Jordan that he had vast experience at the challenging Spa circuit, despite the fact that he had only been around the track once —- on a borrowed bicycle. Schumacher impressed the paddock by qualifying seventh in his first competition in an F1 vehicle, matching the team's season-best grid position, and out-qualifying his seasoned team mate, Andrea de Cesaris, an 11-year veteran. He retired on the first lap of the race with clutch problems

Schumi's early years in carting

Schumacher began kart racing at the age of four and a half. He used a homemade kart built by his father, Rolf, who managed the local karting track in Kerpen, Schumacher's home town. He obtained his first license and began racing competitively by the age of twelve. Between 1984 and 1987, Schumacher won numerous German and European kart championships, including the Formula Konig Series. In 1988 Schumacher raced in the Formula Ford series and competed in the German Formula 3 series for the next two years, winning the title in 1990. In 1991, he continued his ascent up the racing ladder, joining the Mercedes junior racing programme in the World Endurance Championship, winning races in Mexico City and at Autopolis, at the wheel of a Sauber-Mercedes C291. He also briefly competed in the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship and the German Touring Car Championship in the early 1990s

Schumi the driver of the decade

Schumi has been noted throughout his career for his ability to produce fast laps at crucial moments in a race and for his abilities on wet racetracks, earning him the title "Regenkönig" (rain king) or "Regenmeister" (rain master)[2]. As the senior driver in the Formula One world championship, Schumacher has continued to win races up to and including the 2006 season, having won at least one race every season since his first victory in 1992.

Michael Schumacher has also become a committed spokesman for road safety, most recently in support of the Make Roads Safe campaign. At the end of 2006, Ferrari will define Schumacher's new position within the reorganised Ferrari team, following his retirement as a race driver.

Ruthless Schumi

Schumacher has attracted not only accolades, but also controversy during his long career. Some of his rivals have accused him of being excessively ruthless and unsportsmanlike on the track. These accusations have rarely been supported by the FIA, and some people just consider them little more than sour grapes in a sport that has become more and more competitive. However, he was in fact stripped of his second place in the 1997 championship after he was judged to have deliberately driven into title rival Jacques Villeneuve at the final race of the season

Schumi , world's first billionaire athlete

According to EuroBusiness magazine [[1]], he is the world's first billionaire athlete, tens of millions of which he has donated to humanitarian causes. He announced his retirement as a driver on September 10, 2006, and will be replaced at Ferrari by Kimi Räikkönen for the 2007 season.

SCHUMACHER the legend

Michael Schumacher (pronounced /mɪçaeːl ʃumaxɐ (help·info)/, (nicknamed Schumi / Schu in German) born January 3, 1969, in Hürth Hermülheim, near Cologne) is a German Formula One driver and seven-time Formula One world champion. Statistically, he is the most successful Formula One driver ever, holding many Formula One records, including those for most drivers' championships, race victories, fastest laps, pole positions, and most races won in a single season. Schumacher is the only German to have won the drivers' championship

Advantages of the new SAfari DICOR

The Safari 2.2 VTT DiCOR offers the following advantages.

• 140 PS Power
• 320 Nm Torque
• Improved Fuel efficiency
• Emission Compliance of BS III
• Lowest Noise, Vibration & Harshness level
• Peak Torque of 320 Nm in lower and wider RPM band of 1700 – 2700
• Lighter weight engine