radio-controlled cars | health & fitness | cars | fishing ... · the parts for these don’t...

66 SEPTEMBER 2017 // dentaltownuk.com

dentaltownukLifestyleRadio-Controlled Cars | Health & Fitness | Cars | Fishing | Style & Fashion

Don’t worry, as there is a way you can enjoy all of the above albeit on a smaller scale!

Welcome to the world of professional RC cars.

So where do you start?Depends on what you’re looking for.

Basically, there are a few categories

1. Size 1/10, 1/8, or 1/5th. (Think of this as small, medium or large-scale racing)

2. On-road or off-road? 3. Electric, nitro or petrol powered?

Electric cars are usually powered by lipo-batteries these days. These give running times of between 10-30 minutes, depending on other factors.

These are NOT toys, and can reach speeds of up to 100mph!

Within the petrol models, there are 2 types. Nitro powered models are run on essentially model fuel, whilst the pure petrol powered ones are run on unleaded petrol usually reserved for the larger 1/5th

A stunning 1/8th Scale recreation of the Porsche 959, it requires

some gentle handling.

A large 1/5th scale F1 Ferrari petrol powered 32cc model...not for the faint hearted!

Radio-Controlled DentistsCan’t afford the real thing or your partner won’t let you have the car of your dreams?

by Tejaswi Mellachervu

dentaltownuk.com \\ SEPTEMBER 2017 67

The Traxxas eRevo off-road truck with brushless electric motor can tear up a field with speeds of up to 65mph!

Snapped wheel upright on my vintage Tamiya Frog. That’s £10 right there!

scale models. These models have everything from large exhausts to hydraulic disc brakes.

Most people buy an off-road car to begin with, as it can obviously be used off road or on road and therefore one has greater flexibility where to use it.

The parts for these don’t come cheap, and many of the higher end models can be upgraded with hydraulic disc brakes and alloy parts.

The fun is in repairing and upgrading the cars as much as it is in driving them!

If you want to take it further, then there is the world of RC car racing. Just locate a club near to you, and off you go!

So, to sum up, nothing quite as satisfying as blasting an RC car around a track.

For a moment, just switch off, forget any worries and stresses, and become at one with you and your machine.

Just tell the wife you bought it for the kids! ■


Lifestyle

For a 16 year old, small, skinny kid entering the gym for the first time was pretty daunting. As a newcomer to the gym environment, it appears that everyone else knows exactly what to do and how to behave in the gym. Fast forward 10 years and I now would consider myself to be pretty comfortable in any fitness environment. This is because I now understand gym etiquette, the unwritten rules.

In this article, I will discuss 10 rules, which I think we should try and follow in the gym.

Rule 1: Leave your ego at the door

The first thing we should appreciate about the gym environment is that everyone is there to better themselves. Although we may all be at different points along the fitness journey, we have all been the new guy/girl at some point. Do not be afraid to lift low weights while you master and understand the technique. Correct technique will allow you to achieve better results and will also minimise the risk of injury.

Rule 2: Don’t drop your weightsThrowing your weights down is not

a sign of strength and dominance. It is just a sign that you are seeking attention, can’t control your repetitions and have no respect for the other gym goers and the owners of the gym who kindly supply the equipment.

Rule 3: Put your weights backIf you’re strong enough to lift it, you’re

strong enough to put it back. This is simple advice, but unfortunately, there are so many who fail to act upon it. There are several issues when this rule is not followed. Firstly, as a weightlifter, there is nothing more annoying when you are unable to find the matching dumbbell. Dumbbells come in pairs and they should stay this way! Furthermore, we should consider other people who may want to use the equipment. If you have just finished leg pressing 500kg do you think it is fair that someone else then has to come and unrack all of your weights? Can everyone lift the 25kg plates? Probably not. Put them back yourself.

Rule 4: Don’t gruntHard work can sometimes result in

some strange noises. There is nothing wrong with this. What I’m talking about are those excessively loud grunting noises that are totally inappropriate and serve for no other purpose than to attract attention.

Rule 5: Wipe your sweat up

There is nothing more disgusting that going to use equipment than when the bench is glistening from someone else’s sweat. It’s great if you’re having a good workout and building up a sweat...but carry a sweat towel and make sure you mop up after yourself.

Rule 6: Clean your workout clothes

The gym isn’t a fashion show, if you want to wear a cheap t-shirt and shorts then that’s cool. But make sure they are clean. Fresh sweat doesn’t smell! There is nothing more unpleasant than working out in close proximity to someone who smells of stale sweat.

Rule 7: Personal spaceIn a busy gym, this one can be difficult.

The only person who should be in close proximity to someone lifting weights is their spotter (someone assisting the weightlifter). This is important for a nicer gym experience, but also for health and safety reasons. It is about been aware of your surroundings – midway through a set someone walking into you while lifting can be very frustrating and also dangerous! Also be aware of the mirrors in the free weights...while some people use the mirrors for vanity purposes, others

Gym EtiquetteDavid Bretton discusses gym etiquette and the unwritten rules of the gym


Lifestyle

may be using the mirrors to check their form. Try not to block the people’s mirror view if possible.

Rule 8: Socialise in the pub, not in the gym

For many of us, it is great to socialise at the gym. A gym is a place we may meet friends and workout together. Working out with a training partner is a great and something I would generally encourage. One thing that really does annoy me, however, are groups standing around discussing their antics from the weekend. This is particularly annoying when the gym is busy, and equipment is limited. I often work out wearing headphones; I find this a great way to prevent people talking to me more than I want them to. If someone is wearing headphones, unless they take them off then this is generally a sign they don’t want to have a chit-chat.

Rule 9: Check nobody is using the equipment; but don’t hog it

When you go to use some equipment make sure you first check that nobody is using it. Signs that someone is using it will be things such as the presence of a water bottle or sweat towel. It is polite if you are

unsure whether someone is using it to just check with people nearby. One thing that many people do in the gym is ‘supersets’. This involves using multiple pieces of equipment in a mini sort of circuit. This can be a great way to work out but can make it difficult to see when someone is using the equipment. If you are doing supersets, please consider other gym users – do not take up the 3 most popular pieces of gym equipment, particularly when the gym is busy! I feel if supersets is a way you wish to work out then you should try and use the gym during the quieter hours.

Rule 10: Leave your mobile in your locker

Now I could be very easily criticised for this one as I am guilty of breaking it more than once – and this is clear from videos and ‘selfies’ on my social media. Generally, though I try and leave my phone in my locker when I work out. Your mobile phone in the gym is a sure way to have a poor workout. The phone addict in us is tempted to continually check our phones instead of working out. It is also extremely frustrating when you want a piece of equipment and someone

is sat on it on their mobile phone! Have a better workout and avoid annoying other gym users by leaving your mobile in your locker

This list of ‘rules’ is probably not complete and I would always encourage users to check their specific gyms rules, as there are usually variations between gyms. It is, however, a good place to start and once you are comfortable in your surroundings you will tend to have a much better workout. Personal trainers can be another good way to familiarise yourself with the gym and learn some of the unwritten rules – more to follow on these guys in a later issue. ■


Lifestyle

With it getting ever more difficult to safely and legally enjoy your automobile’s potential, people are now looking to savour their cars or rent exotica within the safe confines of an organised track event.

Advanced Driver training is a pre-requisite, being able to utilise such performance safely and seeing the advancement of one’s driving skills is very satisfying and makes driving much more pleasurable.

If you are looking for such an experience these come in various levels of exposure and quality of experience

1- Gift experience daysThese usually cost around £150-£250.

Usually, these are held at disused airfields and generally will have some heavily driven cars to trial.

Often, there are no real creature comforts and it’s designed for a short burst of driving for people who are either novices or love the brands involved and may not be able to get to drive such a plethora.

After registration and a safety lecture, there’s usually a couple of laps of an airfield in a variety of cars, it can be crowded on the track with little scope for overtaking around a coned circuit.

It’s usually for people who just want to have the experience of driving a super car but there is little growth or development

to be had here.https://www.trackdays.co.uk

2- Track your own car Usually, tracks will have open days such

as an Evo event where you can bring your own car to track for the day or evening.

Your car should be road worthy and you will need to have or hire a helmet.

A safety briefing again is mandatory and it is worth having track insurance, as generally, your own insurance won’t cover you for these occasions.

Your car also has to meet noise limits, which can vary from region to region.

These can be great fun but you may sometimes find yourself on a crowded track with drivers of varying ability.

It is always worth hiring a pro driver for the event and he or she can be shared between two of you. Their expertise will shave seconds off your lap in a safe and

efficient manner and their knowledge of the track is a valuable advantage.

For a seasoned driver this can become a monthly occurrence as addiction sets in, and then you will be looking at suitable vehicles, which are cheap to maintain yet fun on the track and still get you home. (Example: used M3, 911, Lotuses, Alfa 4c).

https://www.trackdays.co.uk

3- Jonathon Palmer sport http://www.palmersport.comPalmer Sport is a full-day driving

event created in 1991 by former F1 racer Jonathan Palmer, which has earned a well-established reputation.

Guests drive a collection of high-performance sports cars and open-top racing cars on four purpose-built circuits in an eight-activity programme at Bedford Autodrome.

Getting the Most Out of Your CarNeel Jaiswal talks skills, thrills and track training


Lifestyle

They actively encourage guests to push right to the limit and the tracks have more run-off areas than other venues, so the track is much safer too.

Driving their new F3000 single seater is surprisingly manageable and the closest you’ll get to an experience with an F1 car.

4 - Manufacturer experience days • Mercedes have Brooklands and are

useful for novice drivers looking to learn and participate in such an experience. They also have programmes for young and teenage drivers. It’s the closest centre to London, which makes it convenient for some, but their track is not as involving as the others.

• The Amg cars are always good fun though with their sonorous tremulous exhaust notes. The adjacent Mercedes World museum is worth a visit, alongside the Brooklands museum.https://drivingexperiences.mercedes-benzworld.co.uk/#!/

• Porsche run their experience day at a bespoke facility within Silverstone. If you buy a new car this day is usually

part of your buying experience, but experiences can also be bought separately or as a gift. They will teach you the capabilities and you will explore the modern safety features of these cars. It’s worth doing as a novice to a moderate driver and they also have performance driver training programmes. Circa £300-£900. http://www.porsche.com/silverstone/en/experience/

• Aston Martin run days at Millbrook, about twice the price of the Porsche experience at £1500 but you will get a full day of dedicated tutelage on a variety of tracks including the famous Alpine pass and the high-speed bowl where you can take your hands off the wheel at 130mph, and steer it with the throttle! There’s also a high-speed straight run where you should be able to get up to 180 mph safely, which is exhilarating. https://www.astonmartinartofliving.com/experience/millbrook-performance/

• Porsche, Aston and McLaren also arrange driving experiences abroad

such as ice driving and Nurburgring tutelage. https://www.astonmartinartofliving.com/experience/nurburgring/

• And driving holidays too! http://go.mclaren.com/lifestyle-heritage-canada-drive https://www.astonmartinartofliving.com/experience/norway/

5- Road driving coursesRoad driving takes a different skill to

be able to safely and efficiently on public highways and still enjoy yourself, it’s a skill that everyone should have as we all see such terrible driving on a daily basis, sometimes with disastrous consequences.

Clubs such as the High-Performance Driving Club extol this virtue and lessons can be arranged to help gain entry into this enjoyable club.

http://www.high-performance-course.com

Again as always if any of these are of interest please do drop me a line and I will help facilitate as best as I can. ■


When I was about 8 years old, I went fly fishing for the first time. Even then, I realised that the point of going fishing wasn’t just about catching a fish.

There is a wonderful sense of peace and tranquillity.

Catching a fish is a bonus. It is satisfying to enjoy a meal that you have caught yourself in a fishery, however when river fishing for wild trout, it’s equally satisfying to ‘catch and release’. There is certainly an opportunity for bonding and camaraderie with your fishing companions- whether that is a father/son fishing day or a day with friends.

This photo is the first fish my son Edward caught with me (the fish was safely returned to the river).

Glasgow Trades House Fly Fishing Competition 2010. Myself with fellow dentists Phil Friel and David Devine

representing The Incorporation of Barbers at The Lake of Menteith.

It can be relatively inexpensive to set up as a fly fisherman/woman. (Fly fishing has become a very popular activity for females in recent years.) Shakespeare and Daiwa, for example, make some great rods starting at around the £30 mark, and reels starting at around £25. You will need a fishing line (which can either float, sink, or do something in between, and leader- which is the thin, invisible line that makes up the last couple of feet and attaches to the fly). There are many types of flies, and a local fishing supply shop will help you select which ones would be best for where and when you plan to fish. The flies can be wet (sink), dry (float) or there are a variety of others including nymphs and lures. For a while (before I had children) I tied some of my own flies. It is certainly a satisfying feeling catching a fish on a fly that you have made by hand yourself!

If you are a beginner- google search to find out what fishing clubs/societies are in your area. They may have an introduction day. Rod licences for river fishing usually only cost around £30 for a year.

Alternatively, lake/loch fishing or visiting a fishery can be a good introduction to fly fishing (the water on a loch moves less than a river allowing you to hone your casting skills, and there

are fewer overhanging trees, riverbank weeds, rocks etc to lose your flies on!) A well-stocked fishery can also improve your chances of landing a reasonably sized fish!

You can take casting lessons, or even teach yourself via a youtube tutorial! There is a certain skill to casting in fly fishing. It can be quite mesmerising to watch the arc of a fly rod and line as it is being cast. Again, there is a very satisfying feeling when you land your fly exactly on the spot that you have recently seen a fish rise (a small splash when the fish takes a fly from the surface of the water).

Lifestyle

Gone Fishin’ by Mike Gow


A number of years ago, for my birthday, I treated myself to the ‘Rolls Royce’ of fishing gear. I bought a Hardy Jet Rod and reel. The rod was actually an eBay purchase- for £70 and is a 1970s classic. The reel was about £150 new and both are beautifully crafted and a pleasure to use.

In 2011 my wife’s friend invited us to her wedding in Denver, Colorado.

When travelling I will often make contact with a local dentist and meet them for a coffee and a chat. It is a great way to get new ideas for your practice. I tend to try to find someone with a shared interest in anxiety management dentistry or digital dentistry.

On this trip, after a quick ‘Google’ search, I contacted Dr Tom Bonbright at Lowry Dental in Denver as he was a fellow Cerec user.

We met at his office and while we were chatting, Tom asked what plans I had for my time in Denver. I explained that I may have some free time due to my wife attending dress fittings etc for the wedding and that I might try to find

a way to go fishing. It turned out that Tom was a keen fly fisherman and the following day was, in fact, planning a day trip fishing north of Denver with a dentist friend, and he invited me along. Of course, I said yes! We drove for miles through the outstanding scenery of the Colorado Rockies and spent the day fishing on a stretch of water where President Eisenhower used to fish.

With little spare time, it is hard to pursue a hobby like fishing which involves time away from the family, especially with many other commitments.

So several years ago, when house hunting, we came across a house with a river in the garden- I was sold on it before even seeing inside! As a kid, I lived near a river and it had always been a dream of mine to have a river actually in my garden!

So now my rod is assembled at all times in the basement, and I grab 10 minutes on the river here and there.

Even 10 minutes standing by the river is therapeutic. Spotting a kingfisher darting past is something I get to enjoy on a fairly regular basis. No matter how often I see one, that moment still feels special!

Fishing truly isn’t just about catching fish although it is a bonus when it

happens! Fishing is a chance to breathe fresh air, to listen to the flow of the water and to be near nature. It is a chance to find clarity and peace in a world that sometimes pretends it’s hard to find or doesn’t exist. ■

Tight lines,Mike

Lifestyle

Fishing with Dr Tom Bonbright in Colorado


The MonochroniclesA quarterly insight into our style articles lead Dr Shiraz Khan’s wardrobeVol.1


1.

Hat: Reiss Fedora | Blazer: Double Breasted Plectrum by Ben Sherman Top: Reiss Fleck Rollneck | Trousers: Reiss Fleck Trousers

Socks: Paul Smith | Shoes: Mr Hare Postmans | Overcoat: Ted Baker


2.

Blazer: Paul Smith | Pocket Square: Hermes Top: Versace Shirt | Tie: Gucci

Belt: Reiss | Trousers: Ben Sherman Chino


3.Blazer: Ted Baker Check Blazer Pocket Square: Paul Smith Herringbone Wool Lapel Pin: VOCO Tooth Top: Custom-fit shirt, Shirt Makers of London Trousers: Reiss Pin Stripe Socks: Paul Smith


4.

Blazer: Ted Baker Contrast Velvet Collar Blazer | Pocket Square: Reiss Cotton Polka Dot Top: Reiss Collar Bar Check Shirt | Tie: University College Dublin Club Tie

Waistcoat: Hackett Lapel finish Waistcoat | Tie Clip: Ben Sherman Tie Bar with chain

radio-controlled cars | health & fitness | cars | fishing ... · the parts for these don’t...

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