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Preparing for the Race Weekend:
A few thoughts from the chief scrutineer. By Tivvy Shenton

Karl G. (Tivvy) Shenton

Tivvy Shenton, vintiv@aol.com
This is a quiz:

What's the most important vehicle you can prepare for the race weekend?

The race car, you say?
Hardly. Think about it for a second.

If it breaks down on the track there's a tow waiting for you at the end of the session and it will bring you and the car safely back to your space in the paddock.
You may be a bit embarrassed and it may cut into your fun but you'll either fix it or put it on the trailer and take it home.
What happens if the tow vehicle breaks down on the way to the event or on the way home?
You see my point? In truth the most important preparation we do is to the tow vehicle and the trailer because they are the critical underpinnings of the weekend.
We should start there and then go on to a few items to keep in mind for the race car as well.
Yes, I do realize that it is an important component of the equation as well.
The Tow Vehicle and Trailer:
x The tow rig electrics should be checked out early.
x Are all the lights working?
x How are the brakes?
x When was the last time you checked the trailer's wheel bearings? They need checked at least once a year.
x How about the trailer tires? They don't get a lot of mileage but they spend inordinate amounts of time sitting in the sun and sun (and ozone, they tell me) destroys them more than we realize. You might notice that a lot of folks with Motorhomes keep covers over their tires when not using the vehicle. It always looked kind of silly to me but it turns out to be a good idea and one we might borrow from them.
x Do you have a jack that will lift the trailer when it's fully loaded? It's a lot heavier full than empty.
x Prepare an inventory list of stuff to put in the trailer or to make sure you bring with you. Don't just try to remember. One day, without the list, you'll forget your helmet.
x Carry a fire extinguisher in the trailer or the tow vehicle and know where it is. You may not need it for your rig but you never know what you will run across on the weekend.
x Jumper cables? We all claim to carry them but I've seen lots of people running around the paddock looking for a set late in the day.
x When you load the car tie it down with the straps straight, not crossed. They have less angle of deflection that way. Cars seldom move sideways on the trailer but they do tend to work a bit fore and aft. When underway, check them from time to time. They (especially new ones) can stretch and we don't want any surprises in that area. Too often, particularly, in box trailers, the door gets opened at the end of the trip only to find the straps have stretched enough to allow the car to hurt itself.
General Preparation:
x Don't forget your log book and tech sheets. This year we will enforce the log book rules more stringently - no log book, no tech sticker.
x Driver's gear should be safely packed and checked. Did you put it back in the bag after it was laundered?
x Antifreeze in the race car is OK for some of our events - the Spring Sprints, Pocono, the Finale, and the Turkey Bowl, for sure. If you are headed out for one of these events and the weather report indicates cold weather, then make sure you remember the antifreeze. In Vermont at our shop we can't put a car in a closed trailer even late in the spring without running the risk of freezing.
x Bring enough fuel for the first few sessions. At the end of the weekend put enough into the car or into your spare jerry cans to make sure you start the next event with enough fuel to get you through the first day. That way you won't be worrying about when they will open the pumps at the track.
The Race Car: This is a bit easier to focus upon. The idea is to have everything ready before you leave home and that results in a much more relaxed weekend where you can think about your driving and enjoying the event.
x Wheel nuts. Check them - particularly the Knockoffs.
x Tighten the coolant hoses. After a time they collapse a bit and the clamp gets loose. It's even better to tighten them with a wrench rather than just a screwdriver.
x Throttle return springs. Attach them to the throttle spindle, not someplace further back in the linkage. They are there to close the throttle if anything anywhere in the linkage lets go.
x Brake Pedal: Don't ask why but it's true. Hydraulics just seem to go away sometimes so, even if it was OK last night, check it again every time you start the car.
x Belts: There probably aren't too many but do make sure they're tight.
x Seat Belts: Check them for any visible signs of wear, that's fraying, chafing, getting kind of stiff and crinkly, etc. If they are showing any signs of this sort at all then replace them.
x Muffler/exhaust system: Some tracks require them for sound control even though most of us would prefer not to have them cutting into our horsepower. The answer to the dilemma, though, is not to leave it loose enough to fall off on the track so as to free up that restricted horsepower. I nearly hit one on the main straight at Lime Rock one day and it wasn't a pleasant thing. Make sure the muffler is on good and tight.
x The comments on mufflers also apply to hoods/bonnets. When heading for the grid after checking the engine compartment it's pretty easy to close the hood but to forget to put the retaining pins in or to tighten the belts that hold it down. A hood blowing off at speed is not at all good for the paintwork and if it bangs you on the head on the way by it can break your neck.
x Tire pressures: I overfill my tires before I leave home and then lower the pressures to whatever is appropriate for the race when I get to the track. This is much easier than adding air there when it may be hard to find.
x Is the exterior kill switch well marked?
x How well do the inner tube stems fit their holes in the wheel? Lately many are showing up a lot smaller and they can move around enough to cut the stem on the wheel rim. If that happens the tire can deflate instantly with unpleasant consequences. The farm stores that deal with tractor bits are a good place to locate a sleeve to put over the stem when mounting the tire. The sleeve fills the rest of the hole and protects the valve. They're not expensive.
x Does your car have a tow eye on the front and rear? The winter season is a good time to think about having them installed if they're not there. The time will come when you need a tow back to the paddock and it's easier on all concerned if there is a nice obvious place to tie on rather than picking the wrong place or wrapping the strap around the roll-over bar and holding tension on it with your hand.
There are, no doubt, a few other things you'll add to this list that I've forgotten or that are particular to your requirements. That's as it should be. Remember that the product of thorough pre race preparation isn't a guarantee that you'll win the race but it will help a great deal in eliminating some of the worries that could get in the way of a pleasant weekend with your friends.
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