During this time of year, when I prepare the submission documents, I usually feel nervous, so I try to channel that energy into my work. However, this year, I was able to complete the document preparation smoothly. I believe it's because my health has improved a bit.
After a year, I met with the person in charge at the prefectural office, who said, "Here, take this as a receipt," and for the first time, I received a document stamped with the "receipt seal." I'm looking forward to what kind of conversation we will have next year.
The "Amigasa lilies" with their downward-facing flowers like umbrellas have bloomed all at once. There are more flowers blooming than last year. The garden is not being maintained at all, but it seems to show that it grows well when grown from seeds dropped by plants that grow in the area, just like the method recommended in natural farming.
The "Lamb's Lamium" has small purple flowers compared to its leaves. It is not as flashy as other flowers, but when viewed from above, it is a gorgeous flower that looks like it is spinning and dancing on a stage.
Unlike the white daffodils, the "Kizuinensis" are blooming noisily in a group of yellow flowers, like newly hatched chicks. I don't remember them blooming so much in this place last year, so perhaps this is exactly in line with the teachings of natural farming.
Thus, in my garden, many flowers are announcing the arrival of spring, even though I have not been taking care of them at all. Today, a serious earthquake occurred in Myanmar. I hope that the government will provide detailed information on the damage and make an appropriate request for international aid.
On March 21, with the severe cold weather gone and the weather showing signs of spring, the road surface cleaning activities were hampered by the unexpectedly thick “sediment puddles” that we encountered.
The road surface cleaning activity in Ako Traffic Park has entered the most serious “sediment puddle” area on the outer road of the park. But unlike the idyllic atmosphere of the “sediment puddle” where the grass is spreading on the surface, the work was, contrary to our expectations, the hardest work.
長さ 約1.8 m 、幅 約1.1 m のエリアの清掃に、予想に反して、4時間掛かった理由は、「土砂溜まり」の厚みが最大 18㎝ にもなっていたからです。
The reason it took 4 hours to clean up an area about 1.8 m long and 1.1 m wide was that the “sediment pool” was up to 18 cm thick.
The next cleanup will be in the area next to this one, and we plan to complete the cleanup of this area in 5-6 more days before the Spring Traffic Safety Driving Week.
The day after the next cleanup, I saw a motorcycle class for the first time in this traffic park. It seemed to be people from the post office we visited in early March to promote the use of the park, and we were very happy to see that our efforts were rewarded. We will do our best to make the park available to more people.
"I participated in a motorcycle seminar, and during the practice run on the figure-of-eight section, the instructor who was measuring my time told me to fully lock the handlebars with my arms while using the half clutch and brake, and was taught that this is the fastest way to ride, but please tell me your thoughts?" ［Vehicle : Honda CBR500R］
Please take this opportunity to tell us what you think. We will use the survey responses we receive to create an article to answer the questions to the questioners, and the results of the survey tally will be announced at that time. Answers are by the no-name system, so please, we would appreciate your cooperation.
Today, when I went shopping at the city hall, I was joking with a woman at the store, and I met a passionate person again.He was a city council member who had stopped his car and helped me when I was picking up trash.
Then, he started by saying, "I'm going to propose to hold a safe driving course at that traffic park for XX elementary school and △△ elementary school."He continued with great energy."Children could wear marks on their heads and act as drivers, etc." He talked in one go.
I told him, "We cleaned the road surface of the traffic park for a year last year, and all the wide roads are now safe, so please make it useful for the citizens," but seeing his enthusiasm, I had no choice but to act.I will resume the road cleaning that I had stopped using the cold weather as an excuse.First, I will continue from the area I cleaned in January, and remove the thick piles of dirt and grass that had invaded deep into the outer road.This is the most time-consuming and labor-intensive part of cleaning the park.
Lately, every time I go out, I meet various people whom I have been curious about or with whom I can talk even though it is the first time. It is almost as if someone has arranged it.
Today, too, at the city hall where I went by bicycle, a nice young woman (even nicer than me) talked to me at the bicycle parking lot, saying, “It's cold again today, isn't it? At the city hall, too, I was joking around with a woman who was a familiar face (for the fourth time) who was selling in the lobby. On my way home, as I was picking up trash I had found on my way out, a woman beside me said, “Thank you,” and told me about the “cherry tree” she was taking a picture of.
The tree is a cherry (western seed cherry) tree, but I was told that it would not produce “cherry” fruit as it is. After returning home, I found out that due to its “self-incompatibility” characteristic, it must be pollinated by pollen from other varieties of cherry trees, such as Sato Nishiki, Takasago, Napoleon, and so on. I went home and found out that due to its “self-incompatibility,” the cherry must be pollinated by pollen from other cherry varieties, such as Sato Nishiki, Takasago, or Napoleon, in order to produce fruit.
Further investigation reveals that fruit trees with “self-incompatibility” are not only cherries, but also apples, pears, apricots, prunes, persimmons, chestnuts, peaches, blueberries, and many other fruit trees that require pollination from other species, and by not self-pollinating, they maintain genetic diversity and can adapt to changes in natural conditions. This is a characteristic that many plants possess that allows them to adapt to changing natural conditions. 40% of all angiosperms are “self-incompatibles.
I had no idea. Meeting people is also important. I had been living at my desk every day in the cold, but I knew I had to go out for some reason. I will go out for some reason in the spring after all.
Yesterday, I was so depressed by the tragedy in Gaza that I could not do anything, but today, after the rain had stopped, I went shopping for the first time in a while by bicycle along my favorite road in the city, and found camellia flowers blooming as if they were waiting for me.
The petals that had fallen onto the road after being battered by the cold rain until yesterday seemed to herald the arrival of spring. I am happy to receive such a beautiful welcome. I can't help but hope that spring will come to the people living in Gaza, who have suffered so much.
Student Formula” is a competition in which students from around the world compete in car-making techniques. Watch the competition for engineers who are needed in the current era of change.
Student Formula is one of the largest scale “Monozukuri Competition” in Japan, in which students from Japan and abroad compete against each other with the aim of nurturing human resources who will lead the future automobile industry.
◆ The 23rd Student Formula Japan 2025 Competition Outline ◆
Name: 23rd Student Formula SAE Competition of Japan 2025 Date: September 8 (Mon.) to 13 (Sat.), 2025 *Dynamic judging will be held during the latter three days. Venue ： Aichi Sky Expo (Aichi International Exhibition Center) Official Website ： https://www.jsae.or.jp/formula/ Video introduction of the competition (reference): https://youtu.be/mkoMJlfvoaI
Student Formula, officially known as Formula SAE, was first held in the United States in 1981, where college students and professionals compete in small racing cars designed and built by themselves for performance and teamwork. Today, it is held in many countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Germany, and Japan.
USA: The first host country and the birthplace of Formula SAE. Many universities participate, setting the standard for the competition.
United Kingdom: Hosting the event since 1998, the country is known as a powerhouse, especially in Europe.
Australia: Held since 2000, with active participation by universities in the region.
Japan: Held since 2003 as the “Student Formula Japan Competition,” the event attracts about 70 teams from universities and technical colleges in Japan. In Japan, an EV (electric vehicle) class has been established, and the number of participating teams has been increasing in recent years.
Judging Items
The following judging criteria will be used in the competition.
Static judging: Evaluate vehicle design, cost, manufacturing methods, presentation skills, etc. Dynamic judging: Vehicles are actually driven to evaluate their performance in terms of acceleration, cornering, durability, etc. Vehicle Inspection: In order to participate in the competition, vehicles must pass a rigorous inspection to ensure that they meet safety standards and regulations.
Categories
Student Formula has two main categories
ICV class: Formula cars powered by gasoline engines. EV class: Electric cars. In recent years, participation in the EV class has been increasing.
Differences between Japan and the World
Japan's Student Formula has had an EV class since 2013, and the number of participating teams has been increasing year by year, but overall it is still a minority. In Europe, on the other hand, the shift to EVs is progressing and more teams are building electric vehicles. In Japan, the design and manufacturing process of the cars built by students is conducted through company-like team management, which is also attracting attention for the practical learning experience it provides.
Student formulas are thus spreading around the world, and while there are differences in how they are held and the characteristics of the participating teams in each country, they all share the common goal of providing students with an opportunity to make things.
Superbike Championship), Moto2, and Moto3 since 2024, but will also start supplying to the MotoGP class from 2027. And what is being promoted in this post is that most of the tires supplied to the Moto2 and Moto3 classes are the same high-performance tires available on the market.
The tires for the MotoGP class, which will start supplying from 2027, will be introduced when the vehicle regulations change from 1000cc to 850cc, but will they be dedicated tires? It will be interesting to see whether they will be at the level of commercially available tires. The company also supplies tires to F1 races, but as expected, the tires for F1 should be dedicated tires.
The one-make tire system has been adopted in the racing world for some time, including in F1 races, from the perspective of cost reduction and fairness, and tire manufacturers are working on it as a great opportunity to promote their brand worldwide.
Founded in Milan, Italy in 1872, Pirelli is currently under the umbrella of its Chinese parent company, ChemChina, which holds 45.5% of the company's shares. The company has adopted an aggressive sales strategy for high-performance and premium class tires, and appears to be aiming to further strengthen sales in the Asian region.
[PS] Please take a look at the list of tires provided for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes. The tire size and recommended tire air pressure (warm) are displayed, but what is interesting is how they differ from the mainstream sizes and air pressure settings currently used for commercial vehicles.
This article is about KTM, one of Europe's largest motorcycle manufacturers, which declared bankruptcy in November 2024 and is based in Austria, and as part of its restructuring plan, it will end production of 125cc vehicles that were produced in India.
なお、KTM を CEO として率いてここまで急成長させた ステファン・ピエラー（Stefan Pierer）氏ですが、今回の破産宣告を受けて、KTM AG の CEO の座から退きましたが、以前として KTM AG の親会社である ピエラー・モビリティAG の コーCEO に留まっており、再建策がどこまで進むかが懸念されています。 また、125㏄ は世界で最も人気のあるクラスですが、市場は ヤマハ R15 や MT-15 などが席巻しているので投資効果が得られないと判断している様です。ただ、僕としては、1999年に KTM のグループ会社（子会社）になった、高性能サスペンションメーカーWP の行方が気になります。
Stefan Pierer, who led KTM to such rapid growth as CEO, stepped down from his position as CEO of KTM AG following the bankruptcy declaration. However, he remains CEO of Pierer Mobility AG, the parent company of KTM AG, and there are concerns about how far the restructuring plan will go.
Also, although 125cc is the most popular class in the world, it seems that they have decided that the market is dominated by Yamaha R15 and MT-15, so there is no return on investment. However, I am curious about the future of WP, a high-performance suspension manufacturer that became a KTM group company (subsidiary) in 1999.
The reason is that in 1992, when I bought a Honda Bros. as a competition vehicle, I was able to achieve overwhelming results because I installed the front and rear suspension kits for Bros. that WP had set up and released. I realized that the Bros. released by Honda was a vehicle that was completely set up for touring and was not suitable for sports driving at all after I bought it. However, WP's front and rear suspension kits, especially the front springs, transformed the vehicle into one suitable for sports driving. In other words, they purchased a Bros. (NT650) that was also sold in Europe at the time, and designed and test-driven springs suitable for sports driving on their own test course. The springs were completely different from the manufacturer's standard springs, and were designed with not only the spring rate in mind, but also the damping characteristics and natural frequency of the springs. That's why I feel indebted to the engineers who designed and tested WP at that time. Since then, I have never seen a suspension that was tested and designed independently to bring out the capabilities of the vehicle like they did. Especially the springs. Most of them are designed to comply with the vehicle manufacturer's specifications and are not unique.
Finally, the results of examining related materials regarding the circumstances that led to KTM's bankruptcy declaration and its future are summarized below.
KTM is a well-known Austrian motorcycle manufacturer that began bankruptcy proceedings on November 29, 2024. This decision is the result of the company's poor management and worsening financial problems. KTM has achieved significant growth over the past 30 years and has been highly regarded, especially in the off-road motorcycle market, but the recent sluggish sales of luxury motorcycles and supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact.
When announcing the start of bankruptcy proceedings, KTM's management expressed its intention to implement a large-scale restructuring plan for reconstruction. In particular, maintaining the employment of more than 5,000 employees is considered a key challenge. Management is trying to find a sustainable solution through cooperation with creditors, and details of the restructuring plan are expected to be announced in the future.
The bankruptcy proceedings are a legal restructuring procedure selected by KTM through self-management, and it is necessary to formulate a restructuring plan and obtain agreement with creditors within 90 days. At the end of this period, in February 2025, KTM will have to decide whether to find a way to restructure or go into further insolvency proceedings.
Most engines used on land are four-stroke engines due to exhaust gas regulations, while most ships used for marine transport are two-stroke engines. This article explained the reasons and future changes in an easy-to-understand and detailed manner, and I learned some new things.
1. As you know, two-stroke engines are called two-stroke engines because the piston moves (strokes) twice upward and downward while the crankshaft performs one cycle of compression, explosion, exhaust, and intake. On the other hand, four-stroke engines move (strokes) four times during one cycle. In other words, two-stroke engines have one explosion for each rotation of the crankshaft, so they can use the engine power (torque) at lower revolutions than four-stroke engines, which is an advantage over four-stroke engines in the case of large ships that are not equipped with a transmission and drive the propeller shaft directly from the crankshaft. Furthermore, being able to use it at low revolutions means that it operates with low fuel consumption, just like land-based engines, which is also a major benefit.
2. Also, compared to four-stroke engines, it has a wide range of suitability for fuel composition and quality, so it is easy to use heavy oil, which has a low fuel unit price, low flammability, and is easy to maintain. Furthermore, while marine diesel engines (naturally four-stroke engines) also use heavy oil, it is also a major benefit that it can use cheaper heavy oil that is suitable for two-stroke engines.
3. And perhaps the biggest reason is that compared to four-stroke engines, the number of engine parts is far fewer, and it can be operated at a lower revolution, so there are fewer parts that require maintenance, the probability of breakdowns is reduced, the maintenance time required for safe operation can be shortened, and the price of the engine itself can also be cheaper, which is also a major benefit.
. In the future. As we move towards decarbonization and improved environmental performance, we will likely see a shift to hybridization and more environmentally friendly fuels, just like with land-based vehicles, but it seems likely that two-stroke engines will continue to be popular.
The GRA Meeting held today (March 9) has successfully concluded!
With a total of 8 participants, including those attending in person and by proxy, we discussed activity reports, the 2025 activity policy, and the "opinions" and "proposals" submitted for the meeting. It was a very meaningful discussion, filled with various dreams, and we ended up exceeding the scheduled time.
ミーティングに寄せられた「意見」や検討結果など、後日、詳細を報告しますので、どうぞご期待下さい。
We will report the details of the "opinions" and the results of our discussions at a later date, so please look forward to it.
日本で初めて、ジムカーナで全国を転戦するシリーズ戦を始めた GRA が、1999年、北海道を初めてシリーズ戦に加えて『北海道GP』を開催し、その日の詳しい資料を画像付きで公開していますので、ぜひ、ご覧下さい。
In 1999, GRA, which started the first nationwide series in Japan for gymkhana, held the "Hokkaido GP" for the first time in Hokkaido as part of the series, and detailed materials from that day are available with images, so please take a look.
『 ジムカーナ グランプリ・北海道GP / Gymkhana Grand Prix Hokkaido GP 』
Since 1995, this series has been held across the country, with the champion determined by the total points earned throughout the year. Many participants also enjoy sightseeing, and the event has grown each year as a place for riders from various regions to interact and enjoy gymkhana. In 1999, with the cooperation of the Chuo Bus Driving School in Sapporo, it was held for the first time in Hokkaido (Sapporo).
At that time, the enthusiasm for gymkhana in Hokkaido was not as high as it is now, but among the 49 participants in the "Hokkaido GP," 15 came from Honshu across the sea, making it a heartwarming and enjoyable event to watch.
Please check the "Participant List," "Time Trial Course," "Results," and fun images from that day on the official GRA website.
The renovation of the timeline for 1999, which hosted 46 events in one year, has been completed. Although the completion was significantly delayed from the original schedule, the atmosphere of the event day is now more easily conveyed, so please open the timeline and click on the events you would like to see.
In particular, please click to see the 'Gymkhana Grand Prix' which was held 9 times a year with the addition of the 'Hokkaido GP', and the 'Gymkhana Party' (held twice a year) which was lively with riding wear that matched the theme color and games. I believe you will also enjoy the 'impressions' written by the party participants.
Today (Mar. 4), we received a donation via registered mail.The donation was a very generous amount of 65,000 yen in cash and 2,200 yen in stamps. We are deeply grateful.
Any donation will help GRA to continue its activities. We will also send a thank you to those who donated at a later date.
【 公式Webサイト 寄付金報告ページ / Official Website Donation report page 】
Today (March 4th), as part of the third information activity to promote use of Ako City's Traffic Park, I met with the director of Ako City Post Office and felt a strong sense that my efforts had paid off.
I was unable to meet him on my last visit (2/14) because he was not there, so I made an appointment with the postmaster near my house, and it turned out to be a very good interview.
The postmaster looked over the documents and business card I left with him on my last visit, and was so intelligent that he was aware of GRA's activities, and told me that he also has a strong interest in traffic safety and accident prevention for employees. However, he said that he will be transferred on April 1st, and that he will pass this on to the next person to be assigned.
On my way home, I visited the post office that had mediated my transfer, and thanked and reported to the postmaster, and asked him to introduce me again after April. I strongly hope that this will help improve the safety of postmasters who use motorcycles to collect and deliver mail.
We are currently producing an article titled "GRA is a Mass of Support" that introduces the relationship between GRA and support. This introductory article will be published in several parts, and the opening words are presented below.
”Since its inception, GRA has receiving countless Support from numerous people. Therefore, to protect and pass on that precious Support, we will continue our support activities with people who share the spirit of Support."
I cannot introduce everyone who has provided support, but I plan to publish specific and easy-to-understand information about the support and individuals in several installments. I hope this article conveys why GRA values "support" so much. Please look forward to it.
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