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CHENNAI: The Chennai-plant of Japanese two- wheeler manufacturer Yamaha is set to go on stream very soon, a top company official said today.
“Very soon. We are even working hard to make it operational,” Yamaha Motor India Vice-President (Strategy and Planning) Ravinder Singh told PTI here.
The company is setting up the plant at Vallam Vadagal in Kancheepuram district. It will invest Rs 1,500 core in phases.
According to company officials, the plant would have an initial capacity of 4.5 lakh units per annum and can be scaled upto Rs 18 lakh units by 2018.
Singh and senior company officials were here to announce the four top riders who will be participating in the 11th Yamaha ASEAN Cup Race 2014 in Indonesia next month.
“This is an international event and we are taking top riders who will participate. We are giving a platform. Basically, we want to bridge the gap between domestic and International exposure”, he said.
Besides this event, the company would also focus on Yamaha Family Safety Programme, Yamaha Child Safety Programme and Yamaha Female Riding Programme.
“Under Yamaha safety programme this year we conducted over 1,000 activities. We are planning to conduct over 3,000 safety activities next year”, he said.
The four selected candidates– Jagan Kumar, Deepak Ravikumar, Padmanabhan, Rajni Krishnan, would participate in the ASEAN Cup Race 2014 at the Sentul International Circuit, West Java, Indonesia on December 6-7.
For automobile proprietors that put their auto on a high end position, auto describing is certainly on their listing. As cars are increasing, as so is the need for better care. That is why car specifying is generating income of concerning 8 billion in earnings. Who states that there is no income in the understanding of cleaning as well as taking care of autos? It is done in how points are done and handled. Just what are things that you should have when installing a business like this?
Expertise
You need to know something regarding autos either small or large. Clients consider their automobile as part of their family since they have striven merely to generate the bacon home. That is why it is of utmost importance that you recognize something concerning automobiles just before venturing in this business. If you currently have the concept, then all you will certainly need is some background on running the business. Cash is just additional but passion should be a must.
Parking
You need to have a place to do the job. You can do it inside your garage but, that would be super disorganized. You could get yourself an exec car park to nest your company. You need to acquire a license from the city office to develop the business in order to acquire consent and authority over that area. This is very much practical to team members who have no time at all to drive their vehicles that would take those 2 hours to drive simply to achieve specificing.
In this type of mobile procedure, you will require a pickup truck or van and running water accessibility. There are business in some cities that tailor and change vehicles right into auto purchase outlining with its own mobile generator and also water reservoir.
Million Buck Cars
Detailers will certainly explain that the bulkiness of their company originates from the dealers yet in reality, to be able to have actually a vehicle revealed in an auction, one need to have their vehicles specificed initially. That is how affordable the marketplace is. Nevertheless, the marketplace still depends on the automobiles driving via and also from every angle. These are the autos that needs for a detailing job for twice in every year.
Budget
You have to consider that for a company to increase from its steeps is to have an adequate budget plan. Without cash to run the detailing job, it is impossible to expect a whole lot. You additionally need to think about the people that will be helping you.
On the other hand, once you have constructed your company, you have to present a competitive price that would be approved by the people who wished a reachable price. You need to supply just what other auto wash solutions do not offer. Contrasting prices, it generally varies from $35 to $70 every outlining service. These rates will certainly also depend on how the customer wanted your their car information ought to turn out.
Rates that are this obtainable will certainly open up a competitive market that supplies customer’s stream. Furthermore, you could supply a list of valued services for the people to recognize exactly what they will get. If you attain a quota of at least 5 consumers a day, it’s a living.
If the spending plan still demands, you could take place marketing your vehicle specifying shop locally to make sure that folks will certainly understand as well as perhaps, in time, you could expand it.
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Honda Gold Wing
Having caught most of the world off guard with the introduction of its CB750 in 1969, Honda introduced another ground-breaking road bike in 1975 that was equally unexpected – the GL1000 Gold Wing.
The element of surprise was compounded by the number of radical innovations that the Gold Wing featured. As the 40th anniversary of the Gold Wing looms in 2015, it’s time to take a look back at the history-making motorcycle that started it all, the GL1000.
These days, the Gold Wing is regarded as an Alpha class touring machine, but according to Honda, it didn’t necessarily start out that way. Honda literature says: “Not originally positioned as a touring bike, the GL1000 was intended to be, quite simply, the best motorcycle ever built.”
Be that as it may, the GL1000 featured a buttermilk-smooth 999cc (72mm x 61.4mm) SOHC liquid-cooled horizontally opposed four-stroke four- cylinder engine that produced 80 horsepower at 7,500 rpm.
That put it near the top of the performance range of bikes generally available in 1975. With nearly vibration-free, whisper quiet operation and a touring-oriented five speed transmission with low maintenance, long-lived shaft drive, it was a natural long-range touring choice.
Despite the power train superbly suited for long-range work, the original Gold Wing came naked; no fairing, windshield, lowers, top box, hard bags, sound systems, adjustable footrests or backrest. Demand for after-market touring equipment quickly led to fully-equipped Gold Wing touring bikes appearing in the Honda line-up.
The original GL1000 had a number of unusual design innovations. For example, the “gas tank” wasn’t the gas tank at all. Instead, the fuel tank was moved under the seat, allowing for a lower center of gravity and that thing that looked like a gas tank was actually a storage pod and service bay housing the fuse panel, tool kit, removable back-up kick starter lever and access to the coolant tank cover. Filling the five gallon fuel tank required raising the seat—a rather uncommon approach.
Other unique design features of the first Gold Wing included activation of the four 32mm Keihin constant-vacuum carburetors by a slick linkage system that allowed all four to be controlled by a single cable.
Though the ignition system had capacitors, it had points and coils; digital electronic ignition had not yet arrived on the scene. The GL1000 had electric start, of course, but included a kick starter as a back-up system.
The alternator was gear driven and counter-rotating to the engine to partially cancel out the torque reaction of the engine. The clutch and five speed transmission were pulled up under the engine to keep the driveline as compact as possible and a shock absorbing system was built into the countershaft to smooth out power delivery for the most luxurious ride possible. No detail was too small to consider; even the gear shift lever was fitted with a widened pedal.
The Gold Wing was designed with the wide open spaces and Interstate highways of North America in mind and according to data from Honda, of the 5,000 units sold in 1975, about 4,000 were sold in the U.S.
Before long, as sales grew, the Gold Wing itself grew and changed. By 1980, the 1000cc four cylinder engine was pumped up to 1100cc, in 1984 it grew again to 1200cc and in 1988, a major overhaul of the model that was the result of the one of the most exhaustive development projects in Honda history, the motor sprouted two more cylinders and grew again to 1500cc.
That model, the GLX1500 came with premium features such as stereo radio and tape deck system and an on-board compressor to not only air up the tires no matter where you were but to power the air-adjustable suspension that enabled the rider to adjust suspension firmness from the saddle while underway. As a practical matter, it also provided reverse. By 2001, the flat six engine was pumped up again, this time to over 1800cc.
The physical size of the bike has changed dramatically over the years as well. In 1975, the GL1000 had a 60.6 inch wheelbase; today’s Gold Wing is almost half a foot longer with a 66.5 inch wheelbase.
In 1975, the GL1000 weighed in at 650 lb.; today it tips the scales at 933 lb., depending on the options selected. Fuel capacity has increased from 5.0 gallons to 6.6 gallons. Perhaps the most exponential increase in size is that of the price tag. In 1975, the GL1000 would set you back $2,899; for 2015, suggested MSRP starts at $23,999.
Stay tuned to Ultimate MotorCycling for more features on the Gold Wing as the 40th Anniversary of this history-making motorcycle rolls up in 2015.
It’s Movember, or No Shave November, that time when men everywhere are growing beards and moustaches, sometimes creatively, to raise funds and/or help bring awareness to men’s health, specifically testicular or prostate cancer.
“The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free,” states the American Cancer Society’s website for No Shave November. “Donate the money you usually spend on shaving and grooming for a month to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle.”
Men across Fort Collins are along for the ride. Take a look at their progress, and share your own facial hair achievements with us by submitting photos at Coloradoan.com/share.
For more information about Movember and No Shave November, visit Movember.com and no-shave.org.
MovemBeerFest
Whether you’re growing a November beard or not, you can help out by bidding for a seat at a rare beer tasting event.
MovemBeerFest, organized and hosted by Fort Collins-based Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine to support the Movember Foundation, is from 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30 at They Whiskey in Old Town. All proceeds from the event will be donated directly to the Movember Foundation. The deadline to bid for a seat is noon Saturday. For information, visit http://movember.beerandbrewing.com.
Sixteen people will get a chance to attend. The highest bidders will enjoy food and 3-ounce tasters of 10 rare brews.
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Features:
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-Material：Knitting & wool
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-Navigate both winter and your Smartphone at once with the Magic Touchscreen Gloves.
Forget frostbitten fingertips. Numb thumbs are dumb.
Scroll, pinch and swipe painlessly all winter long.
-The thumb, index and middle finger tips of the Magic Touchscreen Gloves contain conductive fibers that allow you to navigate your touch screen device as though you were using your bare fingers.
In case you haven’t already tried it, most regular gloves will not work with your touch screen device.
No need to bear bare fingers! The Magic Touchscreen Gloves make a great gift for the gadget guy or gal on your list.
-Color: gray/coffee/orange/purple/yellow/light blue/black/pink/red
Note:
Due to the different monitor and light effect, the actual color of the item might be slightly different from the color showed on the pictures. Thank you!
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1 x 1 Pair of Gloves
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Yes, two singers were ejected from “The Voice” tonight, but can we talk for a moment about the Blake Shelton group performance? It’s like he couldn’t think of a song that would work for all of his disparate singers, so he picked Elton John’s “Sad Songs (Say So Much), one that would fit … none of them, including himself? That was an embarrassment.
After last night, the bottom three were fairly expected — Sugar Joans, the melisma addict (just say no-o-o-o-o-o!) from Team Pharrell, Ryan Sill, the boy bander wannabe from Team Gwen, and Jessie Pitts, the indie singer from Team Blake.
For the instant save, Jessie sings “Gravity,” and Blake says she should get a pass because Jessie occupies a space that no one else occupies on the show. (That argument only works for so long, Blake.) Sugar takes on “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” giving it probably about 10 percent too much. “There’s just so much texture to your voice and so much real deep incredible ambition,” Pharrell says. Ryan picks the ballad “More Than Words” and does nothing particularly special with it, but Gwen still claims he keeps getting better and that Ryan has “an amazing spirit.”
In the end, that spirit — or maybe those pearly whites and Bieberiffic hair — was enough to win him a reprieve, sending Sugar and Jessie home. That leaves only three women left in the competition.
Those saved, in order announced: Matt McAndrew, Anita Antoinette, DaNica Shirey, Craig Wayne Boyd, Damien, Reagan James, Taylor John Williams, Chris Jamison and Luke Wade.
How well did we predict tonight’s results? Spot on for the bottom three, people. Here are the results of our poll about which two singers would be ejected:
• Sugar Joans ……………. 33.97% (466 votes)
• Ryan Sill ………………….. 28.35% (389 votes)
• Jessie Pitts ……………… 11.01% (151 votes)
• Reagan James …………. 6.78% (93 votes)
• Anita Antoinette ………… 4.45% (61 votes)
• Taylor John Williams …. 3.72% (51 votes)
• DaNica Shirey ………….. 3.35% (46 votes)
• Luke Wade ………………. 2.55% (35 votes)
• Chris Jamison ………….. 1.9% (26 votes)
• Matt McAndrew ………… 1.38% (19 votes)
• Craig Wayne Boyd ……. 1.31% (18 votes)
• Damien …………………….. 1.24% (17 votes)
Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.
I am awaiting Stephen. I overlook at my phone, 7:58, he still has two mins. I do not comprehend why I also care, why I would in any way be worried about being stood up. Our very first day wasn’t good, why do I wish a second one. I ‘d most likely be happier in this bar by myself, then a minimum of I would not have to share my red onion rings. But for some reason I want him to appear. I wish to have sex with him. He appeared form of sad last time, in some way not sure. I want to make the moves. I wish to press him right into a dark corner as well as make his dreams come true. I take one more sip of my draft beer, as well as I view him stroll in the door. I undo another button on my outfit. I really did not use a bra this time around. I want to be one hundred percent certain of exactly what’s on his thoughts. The moment he sits down I can see that he noticed. But he is respectful, he doesn’t stare. Small talk.
Table talk.
More table talk.
“Allow’s play a video game” I disrupt. He has actually stopped checking out my boobs as well as I am growing impatient. “It’s called inquiries. The only regulations are; you take turns and you NEED TO respond to. I will begin with a very easy one … What’s your favourite colour?”.
“Blue”, he replies. “Exactly what’s yours?”.
“Yellow. Have you ever gone roof covering climbing?”.
“No”. He chuckles as if that is a ludicrous notion.
“Allow’s go tonight then” I say increasing my eyebrows, “I recognize of a roof covering or two.” He is interested. I could tell that this is not something he would often accept. He doesn’t state anything, yet I know he will do it. He is taking a look at my upper body again. “Your turn …” “Why did you consent to fulfill me the very first time?”.
“Considering that you sounded fascinating,” I reply.
“Exactly how long was your last partnership?”.
He looks down, “4 years.”.
I attempt not to look stunned. He looks back up and also I nod. I understand now.
“Permit’s go,” I say and I grab my coat.
He follows me with the dark streets.
“The amount of folks have you copulated?”.
“Do you own any kind of sex playthings?”.
“Have you ever before copulated another woman?”.
This video game consistently winds up being about sex.
“This one … I need some help up,” I exist. Stephen steps to me, he scents damn great. He snatches my waistline and also lifts me up until I can reach the walk. I know that he could view directly my dress. I am glad. I get to to him as well as draw him up. I walk back across the roofing as well as applied my back. I could feel his footsteps as he strolls to lie down beside me.
Quiet.
I am excited and honored, he fidgets and hopeful.
“What would you say if I asked to kiss you?” He timidly breaks the silence.
“I thought you ‘d never ask.” I roll into my side and press my lips against his. He tastes like draft beer as well as he scents like snow. He glides his arms around my midsection, gliding his hand up my spine. I press myself more detailed right into his physical body and I could feel him through his jeans. I retreat and also push him into his back. Bestriding him he tries to draw me down towards him but I resist. I look straight right into his eyes and also start to unbutton my gown.
“C-can I drop on you?” He stammers.
I say nothing. I lean back in the direction of him. Pressing myself versus his breast I kiss him long and also hard. I attack his lesser lip and pass on, drawing him with me up until he is on top of me. My outfit is brought up around my waste. Stephen draws aside the gusset of my cotton underwears. He grins at me and then his face goes away between my legs. Immediately I gasp and also every muscle in my physical body tightens up. I am wet already. As I unwind he pushes a finger deep into me. He indications his tongue in circle my clitoris. He draws his finger in and out, in and out, in and out together in the same rhythm with his tongue. I can not help however cry out. My hips pull up from the roof shingles, yet he does not stop. He pushes in one more finger, quicker now. He delicately munches my labia.
“Kiss me” I whisper. He follows, pulling up towards me, but his fingers don’t leave my cunt. He changes his tongue with his thumb, pushing circles in merely the ideal spot. He reaches his hand to my chest and also I carefully start to rise. However he presses me pull back, holding me there as my muscular tissues tense. I get viciously and securely around his fingers then gradually relax. He pulls his give out from in between my shivering upper legs. It is leaking with my orgasm.
Unable to talk I lay back for a moment, yet only for a moment. I want more. I get on leading of him. In a blog post orgasm stupor I fumble with the button on Stephen’s pants. I manage to press them down disclosing black cotton boxers. I press those off the beaten track also and also take all him into my mouth. He is very hot and also tight and also I can feel him pressing right into the back of my neck, yet I press deeper. Then slowly I draw back, threading my tongue around like a curl. I stop briefly at the tip, he gasps. He likes this place. I suck harder, running the idea of my tongue backwards and forwards his frenulum. I am getting excited once more, therefore I quit. He seeks out at me questioningly. I sit up and climb on best of him. “I desire you inside me.” He doesn’t object, he enables me to lower myself onto him. Relocating my hips in circles I groan and also look up at the sky.
“How many people do you assume are enjoying us right now?” he asks me.
“Simply one or two,” I laugh as well as slim in for a kiss.
Increasingly, Stephen gets hold of the rear of my neck and holds me down. We roll over up until he is on leading and also he takes control. He is pushing himself deep inside me. Each drive much deeper than the last; it is as if his penis is growing within me. He runs his hands gradually up my sides and also I quaver at his touch. I reach for his chest. I run my hands across his nipple areas and also along his shoulders up until I grip his strong biceps. I map my fingers slowly down his back. I softly caress the cheeks of his butt. I press his butt and I push him further. I relocate him at the rhythm I want, and also I come again. I kiss him softly. He pulls out and also looks straight into my eyes as he comes all over my blowing up upper body and rapidly defeating heart.
Without a word I pull my outfit back down, now tarnished by both of us. He hops down off the roof, as well as assists me down after him. This time I know for a fact that he is looking at my now extremely damp panties.
We kiss goodbye and he states he wishes he can see me again.
“You could depend on it.” I respond with a smile. “I would like to do this once again.”.
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Yamaha Motorcycles has picked JWT Jakarta to help build its brand profile and launch new products in the Indonesia market.
JWT won the account in November after a month-long pitch against four competing agencies. Going forward the agency will create campaigns for the brand that cut across print, TV, radio, and outdoor media.
Currently, Yamaha holds the second-largest share of Indonesia’s motorbike market.Motorcycle sales, which is a key indicator of domestic consumption in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, rose 7.1 percent to 4.22 million units in the first half of 2014 over the same period last year, according to the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association.
“The JWT team put the brand idea at the core of their pitch proposal, and had a clear approach to how we can position the Yamaha brand to build deeper, emotional connections with Indonesian consumers,” said Hendri Wijaya, general manager, marketing, Yamaha Motorcycles Indonesia.
Asian Honda Motor Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s Honda Motor, remains upbeat about Thailand’s motorcycle market, insisting it has yet to become saturated.
“Despite an average 5% decrease in sales during the past three years, there are still many positive factors to boost the market including popularity and multipurpose usage,” said president and chief executive Noriaki Abe.
“Thailand’s weather contributes to the popularity and usage of motorcycles, unlike Japan and Europe, where motorcycles are not so popular due to long winter seasons.”
From April-October, the number of completely built-up (CBU) motorcycles sold here dropped to 768,000 units from 926,000 in the same period last year.
The number of CBU motorcycles exported fell to 67,700 units from 91,000, bringing the total number of CBU motorcycles produced in Thailand to 835,700 units from 1.02 million units in the same period last year.
For fiscal 2014 ending next March 31, Honda expects CBU motorcycle production will amount to 1.5 million units, down from 1.68 million in the same period last year.
But it expects the number to rise to 1.531 million units in fiscal 2016 starting next April 1.
In the previous fiscal year, the company sold 1.52 million units domestically with exports of 157,000 units.
In a related development, the company yesterday revised down the number of Honda passenger cars sold this year in Thailand to 110,000 vehicles against the 125,000 it projected in September.
In the first 10 months of this year, Honda sold 83,508 passenger cars, down from 188,468 in the same period last year.
Currently, Thailand ranks as Honda’s fourth-largest production base, after Indonesia, India and Vietnam.
The company yesterday celebrated production of 50 million motorcycles and power products in Thailand after its establishment in 1965.
Of the total, motorcycles and power products accounted for equal amounts, which were exported to 80 countries and territories worldwide.
“Power products are currently only sold in Thailand, but in the near future we plan to export them and increase production capacity,” Mr Abe said.
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Furry selfie Some Movember participants choose all-over growth, as does Paramount Sleep President Richard Fleck.
This morning I received an email from Richard Fleck, president of mattress manufacturer Paramount Sleep. He’s observing “Movember”—or “no-shave November”—and sent a selfie to prove it.
Movember has grown into a worldwide movement to raise awareness about men’s health—with an emphasis on cancers, mental health and obesity—by having men grow facial hair and/or “the Mo”—a moustache—during the month of November.
In 2013, sleep accessories supplier Malouf encouraged participation in Movember among employees at its Utah headquarters.
Richard’s participation honors his good friend retired Capt. Chaz Heron, a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and former Navy SEAL commander who currently is battling Stage 4 prostate cancer.
According to the Movember Foundation, one in two American men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, 6.7% of the U.S. population receives a diagnosis of depression each year, and more than one-third of American adults is obese. In America, women continue to outlive men by about five years, on average.
If there are other hirsuite mattress-industry folk out there who have taken the Movember hair-growth challenge, send in your selfie. Let’s turn Richard’s head into a slideshow.
More importantly, please consider making a contribution to the Movember Foundation.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — About 400 riders — some in Santa costumes — on 232 motorcycles participated in a benefit ride for the homeless on Sunday.
The annual Toy Run by the Treasure Coast Chapter, ABATE of Florida, started at noon on U.S. 1 in Sebastian and ended at an outdoor celebration at the Moose Lodge on 43rd Avenue.
Participants collected hundreds of toys and more than $1,000 for the Homeless Family Center and the Hibiscus Children’s Center, both in Vero Beach, said club vice president Susan Hulce, of Sebastian.
“It is all for the children,” she said.
Riders came from Melbourne and Stuart but most were from the Indian River County area, she said. This year’s event was the fifth in a series of annual events benefiting various causes during the holiday season.
The Belkin Chef Stand is an ideal accessory for chefs who keep recipes on their tablet device. Designed for use in home kitchens, this stand fits neatly on your countertop and allows for several viewing orientations so it’s easy to watch your favorite cooking channel or any other show while you’re in the kitchen. It also comes with a magnetic-tipped stylus, which lets you use your tablet’s touchscreen even when your hands are messy.
Tablets are fast becoming the newest kitchen gadget. They offer instant access to measurement conversions, ingredient substitutions, recipes, and a great library of cooking shows. Designed for the modern chef, the Belkin Chef Stand keeps your tablet convenient and safe in the kitchen.
The Chef Stand is designed specifically for kitchen use with a clutter-free, compact design and non-slip rubber base that prevents your tablet from slipping on wet countertops. The stand can also accommodate a wide range of tablet sizes–even ones that are protected with cases.
The Chef Stand includes a stylus so you can access your tablet without ever laying a finger on the touchscreen. This helps preserve your tablet from crumbs, grease, germs, and excess moisture. The stylus uses a magnetic, capacitive tip to ensure accurate and responsive touchscreen control–the screen wakes up as soon as the stylus touches it. When not in use, simply use the included stand to store the stylus conveniently out of the way.
The stand can switch seamlessly between two different viewing orientations. A low-angle orientation holds your tablet flat against the counter for optimum typing or up-close reading. Additionally, a vertical orientation props your tablet’s screen up, allowing you to see it from across the kitchen.
The Belkin Chef Stand is backed by a one-year limited warranty.
Belkin offers a diverse product mix that provides people with seamless electronics integration in their homes, cars, and on the go. Founded in California in 1983, Belkin is a privately held company and the recognized leader in connectivity solutions, in addition to accessories for MP3 devices, computers, and more. The company provides extensive solutions for networking, home theater–with PureAV line of cables, power, and digital wireless accessories–and many more categories. Belkin’s phenomenal growth has led to an expanding global presence. In addition to corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, Belkin now has offices throughout Europe–in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany, among others–and in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Shanghai, and regional headquarters in Hong Kong.
Belkin Chef Stand, stylus, stylus stand, and user’s manual.
Design and Engineering Honoree
Compact design and non-slip rubber base ideal for kitchen countertop use
Stylus provides clean, mess-free access to your tablet’s touchscreen
Capacitive, magnetic-tipped stylus for responsive touchscreen operation
Low-angle and vertical viewing positions for flexibility
Includes repositionable stylus stand for convenient storage
One-year limited warranty
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Colombia’s Tatiana Calderon is very much at home in the Macau Grand Prix paddocks and hopes for at least a top 10 finish in the F3 race this weekend. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Tatiana Calderon is talking about the challenges of being a female racing driver as teammate Lucas Auer strips to his underpants over her shoulder – it’s clear she’s long been accepted as one of the boys.
But it’s been difficult for the Colombian, only the second woman to compete at the Macau Grand Prix, after Cathy Muller in 1983.
It’s been very tough, no boy likes to be beaten by a girl and they make it tough for you
Tatiana Calderon
“It’s been very tough, no boy likes to be beaten by a girl and they make it tough for you,” says the 21-year-old from Bogota.
“Slowly you earn their respect and they start to treat you like any other driver. With the results I’ve had that’s started to happen – I’m really happy to be the only one because that represents a big challenge.
“It’s amazing that no one else has ever competed in such a long time. It’s really special to be representing my gender and my country in such a big event. It’s a really special place and an honour to be here.”
Calderon just finished her second season in the Formula Three European Championship, finishing 15th after a difficult first half was followed by seven top-10 finishes in the second. Her best result was fifth at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps.
Her teammates in Macau this week for Mucke Motorsport – Felix Rosenqvist and Auer – have made six previous visits to Macau, while Calderon got her first taste on Thursday. She starts today’s race from 16th on the grid.
“It was an amazing feeling, the first few laps you’re like, ‘Wow is this real?’. It’s like a roller coaster, up and down, to one side with the cambers.”
Being a woman makes it tougher still, she admits.
“I think you definitely have to work harder – even physically. A Formula Three car without power steering is very difficult.
“Our nature is to be not as strong as a man so you have to work harder than them in that area and also to earn respect from your team and others, to prove that you’re not just there to compete but there to win.
“That takes a bit of time if you’re a girl and not a boy.”
Calderon is clear about her long-term goal: to compete in Formula One.
Scotland’s Susie Wolff has driven for Williams in practice sessions this season, though the sceptics will say her marriage to Toto Wolff, head of the Mercedes team and a shareholder in Williams, might have helped.
The last woman to race in a grand prix was Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976.
The absence of role models doesn’t encourage young women drivers and Calderon has everything an F1 marketer could dream of in that regard: intelligence, eloquence in multiple languages and good looks. It all counts for nothing if she doesn’t have the talent.
“First I want to do well here in Macau. I think a top 10 would be really good for my first time and I know it’s very tough, but I want to be the first female driver to get to F1 in a very long time. We have Susie as a test driver but she hasn’t raced and that’s my goal.”
Calderon’s role model was compatriot Juan Pablo Montoya, whose success in F1 sparked a boom in karting in Colombia. She’d love to have a similar impact on young girls.
“I tried a lot of sports before that but one day I went to a go-kart track with my sister and did a run of 10 minutes and loved it. I was going every weekend, every day after school. I quit all other sports and just focused on racing because it was my passion.
“We [women] have a lack of preparation and opportunities probably, and we just need to make people believe that we can do it and get a chance.
“We haven’t had many chances and I want to prove I’m doing all the learning in Formula Three and hopefully I will get the chance to show what I can do.
“I think they are searching for a girl to go to Formula One – and I am preparing as much as I can to be the one.”
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Calderon gains respect for her driving skills
