Learn Me: Racin'

1: Smile

2: Are you prepared not only to NOT win, but to blow up in the first five minutes, spend the rest of the weekend wrenching, and still have a smile on your face on the end? If you answered "no", think about it a whole lot more before you go.

3: Don't be too aggressive. Don't be not aggressive enough. Yeah, it matters. I got in trouble for being too aggressive as many times as I got into trouble not being aggressive enough. Find another car to follow and follow them.

4: You are not going to win. I promise. It's okay.

5: Smile

6: Drink a lot of water

7: Make sure everyone on the team is comfortable wrenching on the car in 100 degree heat under a car with hot oil pouring down on your crotch while your buddies are scrambling around wondering why it is taking you so long.

8: Smile

9: Be nice to the judges, don't ever complain, about anything. Hard liquor at inspection doesn't do much, but different teamates bringing them cold beverages and stuff during the heat of the day can be a good idea.

10: Have fun.

keep in mind though, that tuna's team does more breaking and fixing than almost anyone else.

the "blow up within 5 minutes" thing is true, though. happened to us once (lost a head gasket in the first 10 laps)...good luck finding a 4AGE head gasket in the middle of south carolina.

turboswede wrote: I don't know how Lemons starts their race, but at the ChumpCar race I drove in, they started us out a minute apart and let use cycle around for a couple of laps at about 6/10th's speed under caution to make sure everyone had a chance to get used to the cars, the track, the flag stations, etc.

there is a 10-20 minute pace period where the cars circle the track and they make sure everyone's transponder is working. then they throw the green flag at a random car.

it's usually a good idea to have the new guy go out first b/c they get that "warmup" time. of course, my first time was driving the third shift, so it was right into the deep end. finding someone to follow is a good idea until you get comfortable.

Reading this really makes me want to try it too. I'd be in the "rookie" catagory as well...though I do have a handful of HPDE and a lot of autox experience.

Don't have a "team" here, and I'm not a mechanic...two big drawbacks...but I'm always eager to learn. Wonder if I can find a team that needs a driver for the event in Rhode Island?

Get started at this link:

http://www.goaheadtakethewheel.com/

ddavidv mentioned situational awareness. That is a big thing; the first time you go into a turn and another car magically appears between you and the apex is at best unnerving. If you have 'checked six' a couple of times previously, you'll know that there is a possibility of a car appearing there and it won't be such a surprise.

If it does happen as a surprise, your instinct will tell you to jerk the wheel to get away, don't do it! That's what causes crashes. Hold your line but don't hit.

If a situation arises where you have to wave other drivers around you, remember that when you point you are telling them the way you want them to go. For instance, if you point to the right suddenly there's gonna be a lot of traffic on your right. If you think that you are telling them that's the way YOU want to go, oops.

This is going to be a lot to remember, don't be surprised if your first session is nothing more than a blur. But it's going to be the most fun blur you have ever tried (except that 16 year old first sex thing).