5 Star Motor Sports - A guide to motorsport.

If you want power, good looks and reliability, you could do a lot worse than a Mercedes. The latest C-Class model has the aim of mixing traditional Mercedes quality with extra refinement and sharp driving dynamics.

Depending on the kind of look you want, the C-Class offers either the traditional three bar grille and three point star on the hood (SE or Elegance models) or an athletic body kit and badge smack in the middle of the grille (Sport model).

Compared to the last model offered, there is a lot more space available in both the front and the rear. Taller passengers (or indeed drivers) may find their heads brushing the ceiling though. Luggage capacity ranges from 475 litres in the saloon to a whopping 1,500 litres in the estate. Ideal for the weekly shop. If you’re feeding the five thousand.

Relaxation and comfort is the name of the game with Mercedes and the C-Class is no different. Light controls make for an excellent long-distance drive and the steering is tuned for a sharper reponse in the sport model.

Like all good things, you get what you pay for and the C-Class is not cheap to buy. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are among the lowest out there and depending on the model, road tax ranges from reasonable (for tax) to eye watering.

The Mercedes holds its reputation for safety with a five star NCAP rating. With seven airbags fitted as standard, an anti-whiplash head restraint system and electronic stability control, you’ll be as safe as possible should the worst happen.

On the inside, the new and larger display along with new metal trims and quality leathers play their part in giving a better feel when driving. The new generation telematics and easy to read layout will please most drivers and they’re faster – and easier- to use.

Whatever the reason for the increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions at different times of the year, it means car drivers need to think about how to cope with everything from flood-level rain to thick ice and snow. New or used cars for sale bought from an online classifieds network such as motors.co.uk or by any other means will most likely be fitted with all season tyres, which will be fine as long as you are not driving in extreme weather, but you will need to consider the various options available for coping with more severe conditions.

Performance or Summer Tyres

There are a number of different tyres that are classified as ‘summer’ tyres – however most car drivers will be using those which suit driving on hard roads in city areas. These tyres are made withstand heat and to enable drivers to brake sharply at high speeds.

Mud Tyres

These are considerably larger and thicker than most other types and are more often fitted to vehicles such as a 4×4. They feature very wide, thick tread patterns – often in the shape of paddles as opposed to the usual block pattern. They are suited purely for getting a vehicle through thick, wet mud in rural areas, but are not at all suited to road driving.

Wet Weather Tyres

These are designed to cope with slippery, wet roads and are made with softer compound rubbers to enable them warm up more quickly. They also frequently feature additional slits cut into the grooves of the treads to improve the level of water absorption and expulsion.

Winter or Snow Tyres

Intended to cope with thick, hard ice and snow on the roads, they are made of specialised compound rubbers and have wider treads to improve the grip and traction of your wheels on icy roads.

Stanley Woods was born in 1903 in Dublin and he died aged 90 in 1993. During his professional career as a motorcycle racer he won the Isle of Mann TT races on 10 occasions and won Motorcycle Grand Prix 29 times.

He first raced in the Isle of Mann TT when he was seventeen and finished in fifth place in the Junior TT race on a Cotton despite loosing his brakes before the end of the race, but the following year he finished in first place, also on a Cotton.

In 1926 he teamed up with Norton and he continued the association until 1934. During that time he won 5 TT races, in 1926, 1932 when he won the Junior 350 cc and the senior 500cc, and in 1933 when he again won those two races. Also during his Norton years he won the Dutch TT race on 6 occasions and 15 Motorcycle Grand Prix.

For some reason his relationship with Norton soured somewhat and in 1935 he switched to Moto Guzzi and delivered the first Isle of Mann TT victory to the Italian motorcycle manufacturer. One of his reasons for leaving Norton was money; the Italian manufacturer was far more generous that Norton had been.

Between 1936 and 1939 he rode for Velocette and found that he was happy there despite the fact that they could not pay him as much as he had been used to, however he received good bonuses when he won, which he dis so at the Isle of Mann TT in 1938 and 1939.

In his obituary Jim Reynolds wrote that the final link with 1930s motorcycle racing had been severed, adding that his 10 TT wins had been an unbroken record for 25 years until finally it was broken by Mike Hailwood. Woods was present when he did so in order to congratulate him.

Stanley Woods had a fearless riding style yet off the track he was a modest man who did not set himself above his peers. His success has placed him firmly in the small band of motorcycling heroes.

When it comes to sports cars, Vauxhall probably wouldn’t be the first name that you’d think of if you had to name some manufacturers. While they might not be in the same league as Porsche or Lambourgini, Vauxhall’s VX220 has the same underpinnings as a Lotus Elise, so it’s well worth a look.



Budget wise the Vauxhall VX220 will set you back about £10,000; not exactly cheap but you get a lot of car for your money. First introduced back in 2000, the VX220 is visually stunning and has plenty of power under the bonnet too. With a 2.2 litre four-cylinder engine, producing 145bhp, you can easily get from rest to 60mph in around 5.6 seconds, with a maximum speed of around 136mph, so there’s no doubt that this is no ordinary Vauxhall.

Essentially the VX220 is, like the Elise, a stripped out racing car and comes with a superb chassis and brilliant handling, belying the lack of sophisticated traction systems. Balance is something that the VX220 excels in, and it’s a pleasure to drive on the road, with low-down torque giving it a near instant throttle response.

If it’s mod cons that you’re interested in, then this probably isn’t the car for you; there’s no air-con or even a radio, as standard and electric windows are a no-no. However, this does save some weight, adding to the excellent steering and handling. But if you’re a track day fan then this is a car that you can really have some fun with on the track. If you’re buying your car second hand, make sure to check the underside for any signs of damage, which may have been caused by low flying gravel.

Inside, it’s a pretty snug fit, and it’s a bit firmer than the Elise, but if it’s a sports car you want, then it’s a sports car you’re getting. Inside the cockpit it feels like a race car with tiny steering wheel, drilled aluminium pedals and it’s all very minimalist. The seats though give the driver plenty of support, there’s the option for lumbar adjustment but unfortunately the passenger’s remains in a fixed state, so it’s not the most comfortable ride for them.

Back in 2003, a new model was introduced to the range – the VX220 Turbo, with 200bhp. It weighs in at a miniscule 2050lb, and the performance is stunning, reaching a top speed of 151mph and easily getting from rest to 60mph in just 4.7 seconds. It’s a serious rival to the Elise, but either version is a great investment for any budding race drivers but before buying it’s worth checking out how much Vauxhall car insurance will be, as it doesn’t come cheap. Second hand VX220s are rare, but you might be able to find one through a specialist dealer.

Motor racing circuits, especially the Grand Prix Circuits, have become extremely popular in recent years with fans following the drivers to an array of destinations across the globe. Many of the races have been associated with the a-list celebrities and attending such an event has a certain element of pizzazz attached to it. There is also a lot of money attached to the racing sport and many top car manufacturers will appear both at the event and on an assortment of the sponsorship deals.

The Grand Prix is certainly a great destination for those that enjoy both the speed and suspense of the races; it is also a playground to those that are fanatic about cars.

Silverstone in Northampshire is currently classed as the number one circuit; it is also the oldest circuit and has continuously held Formula One championships for years now. The present circuit length measures 5.091 km and the exact race length comes in at 306.747 km. With recent modifications being completed and a brand new circuit configuration in tow, this track is only set to become even more popular I the very near future!

With so many flash racecars on the track and off the track, attending one of these prestigious track events can only make you dream of owning a super motor. However with such a super vehicle comes hefty insurance and if you intend on investing in something, new, flash and sporty you will be wise to get a car insurance quote prior to stepping into the showroom. Once you are inside and amongst the impressive vehicles it may be hard to think about budgeting and a rash decision could cost you a lot!

Always look into getting a car insurance quote first as this way you won’t risk spending more than you bargained to.

There is little doubt that Valentino Rossi is one of the greatest MotoGP drivers of all time. He is an Italian and was born in Urbino in 1979. Before racing bikes he started racing karts, which he did from the early age of 5. By the age of 11 he had won a regional kart championship. He then started riding minibikes as well as karts and within a year he was winning races. By the time he was 18 years old he won his first championship race driving a 125 Grand Prix class Aprilia RS125 and since then he has accumulated a total of nine Grand Prix World Championships of which seven were in the premier class.
As is natural he started in the 125ccm class and was soon spotted by Aprilia, and was signed by them. He came third in his first season and first the following year becoming the youngest ever 125 champion

Subsequently in 1998 he moved up to the 250ccm category where he finished second in his first season and in his second season won the 250 championship, and again was the youngest rider ever to do so.
The next stage was to move up to the 500 cc class which he did in 1000. Again he finished second in his first year and again took the championship in his second year, winning a massive eleven races.

In 2002 there was a significant change in the MotoGP formula. 990 cc machines were introduced. He again won the championship following eleven wins on a Honda RC211V 990cc four stroke. He repeated his success in 2003 before moving to Yamaha in 2004 on which he also won the championship.

He continued with Yamaha until 2011 and won the championship in 2005, 2008 and 2009. In 2011 he moved to the Ducati team and he is riding a Ducati Desmosedici 799cc bike. Whether or not this was a wise move has yet to be seen.

The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most famous Formula One races in the world, loved both by drivers and racing fans all over the world. The glamorous setting, Monaco is one of the premier hotspots for the world’s playboys and playgirls, and the brilliant track that winds its way through the streets of the famous principality means that there are few sporting events that combine such extravagance and excitement at the same time. The fact that the race heads through the twisty streets at some points as well means that even the average Joe, driving used cars, can head to Monaco and drive around the corners that they have seen their heroes, from Senna and Schumacher to Hamilton and Vettel, drive round in their Formula One cars.

One of the best things about the Monaco track is that, due to its winding and tight nature, it is one of the, if not the very slowest race on the Formula One calendar and why this may seem bad at first, what it does mean is that it is far more intense than the majority of formula one races, allowing the skill of the driver rather than the speed of the cars on the straights that decides who wins the race. IT also means that the races often become dogfights where overtaking and clever pit stops often decide who wins the race.

Although the track has been altered many times in the past (with the last change coming in 2003) so that the circuit is no longer as danger as it was before, the narrow circuit with plenty of corners both fast and slow means that it is incredibly demanding. The Monaco track has both the slowest and one of the fastest corners on all of the circuits in the Formula One calendar in fact so there is plenty of variety for drivers and spectators on this brilliant track.

Lewis Hamilton’s stunning career in motorsport began when he was only 8 years old and with two years he had won a British Karting Championship. He gained the support of McLaren to pursue his Karting and by the age of 15 he was the World Karting Champion.

Those early glory days were to set the stage for his motor racing career proper which began in 2001 with the Formula Renault Winter Series in which he finished fifth. He moved up to Formula Renault the following year and finished third and the following year he won the championship.

He moved up to Formula 3 where he continued his success, winning 15 out of 20 races, before moving to GP2, winning the championship in his first year.

When in 2007 a vacant F1 seat became available in the McLaren team he was given the seat where he would be number two driver to Fernando Alonso. In his very first race in F1 he finished on the podium – he came third. Other successes followed and soon he was leading the championship, though the relationship between he and Alonso quickly soured. He would have won the 2007 championship had it not been for a number of technical problems and some elementary mistakes on the part of Hamilton.

In 2008 Alonso had been replaced by Heikki Kovalainen. Hamilton won the season’s opener in Australia. By then it was apparent how aggressively he drove and with what enormous determination he approached racing. He stormed through the year winning many poles positions and races. By the end of the season the championship was very close and was decided in the final lap of the final race. He clinched the championship by a single point after a daring overtaking move just before the finish.

2009 proved to be a difficult year for Hamilton. A number of events caused him personal distress and he failed to perform at his best, though he still ended on the podium in several races. He also experiences several technical problems.

He came back in 2010 obviously with an improved spirit. His new team mate was the other British champion driver Jenson Button; it seemed that the new McLaren would be an all British dream team. Unfortunately McLaren could not compete with the up and coming Red Bull team and the championship went to Sebastian Vettel.

Now that the 2011 season is underway the Red Bulls again seem to be dominant. If Hamilton is to repeat his championship success then either McLaren need to improve or he needs to move to Red Bull in 2012; a head to head race between Hamilton and Vettel in the same machinery would really be spectacular.

For those of us who are looking to save a little in the hope of one day owning a supercar check out car insurance deals online.

Motocross is rapidly becoming more popular by the day, and with more people gaining interest in this exciting and thrilling sport, the amount of riders is increasing exponentially. However, many new riders are anxious to begin riding and having fun, and as a result they forget some of the basic safety fundamentals and necessities of motocross. Accessories are absolutely necessary for new riders and experienced riders alike, especially if you are planning on riding professionally. Aside from helping you look cooler and more reputable, motocross accessories also keep you safe and help you perform to your maximum capabilities. The following motocross accessories are absolutely necessary.

The most important motocross accessory is by far the helmet. Obviously the helmet keeps your head safe, but aside from this it is the most noticeable motocross accessory. Getting in a motocross accident could cause serious fatal head injuries so it is important to use helmet’s whenever you’re riding any motorcycle.

Gloves are just as important because they help you keep a solid grip on the bike which is especially crucial when you’re going over jumps or trying to land. Motocross glover have special grip on them so they easily latch onto the grips of the handlebars. Do not try to use regular glover for motocross riding.

Goggles keep dirt and other debris from getting in your eyes, which could cause a serious accident by impeding your line of sight. When you;re traveling at 30 MPH or or more on a dirt track it can be easy to get dirt or other objects in your eye. Make sure you never forget a pair of professional motocross goggles.

Participating in ATV races can be very fun, especially if you’re properly trained and matched up against competitors that are of an even skill level. Unfortunately, even when you’re facing people that are of an equal skill level it can be difficult to pass someone even when they are going slower than you. In ATV racing passing someone is not about going faster or even having a more powerful vehicle. Instead, you have to know how to maneuver the vehicle in order to gain leverage on their positioning within the track. This can be incredibly difficult because when you get on their side you cannot always find the opportunity to pass them due to the spacial restrictions of the track.

Thus, ATV racing has become a very aggressive sport that is often referred to as a contact motorsport. However, there are ways to pass opponents elegantly and smoothly, which not only prevents your risk of injury, but also keeps your vehicles moving smoothly allowing it to gain momentum and accelerate more swiftly. The best way to do this is to set up the other rider before the turn approaches. When you execute the turn try to cut to the inside of the corner, thus blocking your opponents path and overtaking the trajectory of his ATV. When you come out of the turn you will have the opportunity to accelerate and gain a lot of distance ahead of your opponent. Passing someone in a corner is perhaps the easiest and most common form of passing. Try not to pass someone while in the air, or while going over many bumps as it could cause you to lose control of your vehicle.