big day sunday nervous about it

Good luck, and make sure your insurance is paid up! Seriously.

 

Drink heavily.

Before, during, and after the race.

 

Be careful, and remember you're not out there to make friends. Your rivals sure aren't.

BTW - don't the Michigan police have radios yet?

 

I've never raced cars. But I would imagine that it's a lot like surfing. If you hesitate you eat it. Charge and go!

 

The morning of I usually lie in a bit longer than usual then I go out for a run to clear my head. Before the show, when I used to smoke, id just sit there and smoke and stare at the wall for about 10 mins before the event. Thats just what I do, just go with the flow and give it all you've got.

 

How to prep for the race? Watch the adrenaline. Keep a good eye on the time. Make sure you have ALL your safety gear. If you are racing during the day, use a clear windshield on your helmet, and dark glasses. If it turns to night, it is hard to get rid of the dark windshield, but easy to ditch the glasses. Pee BEFORE you get in the car. Expect a fair bit of fender rubbing and banging. Make sure you have enough money to purchase fuel and tires on race day. Be nice to the race officials; They are not there to give you a bad time. They are there to make sure you live through it. If you get asked to speak, make sure you mention your sponsors. Try to arrive early, and leave a bit late. Send pix of yourself in action to your sponsors. Set reasonable goals. Your goal for your first race should be to finish, not win. You will be lucky if you finish on the lead lap. Wash your car, if you can, between track sessions. Check all the lug nuts yourself.

Most important: Relax & have fun. You will laugh about this day/night sometime.

edg

PS: While I never drove a race car, 20 years involvement in racing taught me a few things.

 

A "major" race in a $1,200 car? Destruction derby? Figure 8?

 

Hi BluesMan,

Good looking car.

Feel free to put up a "sponsors wanted" sign at the track, in your pit. Remember that it is as much about marketing as racing skill. Maybe even more about marketing.

Also, check to see what stickers your sanctioning body requires. Sometimes they even pay $$ just because you have their sticker on your car. NASCAR is like that.

One rule to check for this race: Are you allowed to exit the track, into the pits, & re-enter the track and have it count as a lap, even if you don't stop? This might help if the track is mostly blocked.

Endurance racing is about patience, not fast laps.

Find out what sorts of things pay $$. I refer in part to the stickers mentioned above. But there might also be other things that pay $$. You have to ask.

If it's not "show time" feel free to ask the other drivers how to get around the track quickly. Most of them will help you.

Let us know how you do.

edg

 

Well, tear 'em up then!

 

Man up!


Just kidding... Good luck with it

 

No dents yet? We need another picture of that car after the race!

 

It's a good cool day for drivin' a hot running motor at least.

 

Congrats, man. Not finishing DFL is a success for a first race.