Hello to all my Hittin’ the Apex devoted followers all around the world and any new petrol head joining us for the first time. I mean that sincerely, welcome to all! This month I’m going to start this entry with a quote, “Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail”. This might sound like a cliche, and you’re right, it is, but it is an important one. In every fact of life there are certain consequences to not preparing properly. You don’t study for a test in school, likely you won’t do well. If you are’t prepared to be in a real relationship, likely you will do, or perhaps not do, something that will screw it up. If you weren’t prepared for your grown up job, you are the one to blame for searching Indeed or perusing Craigslist for a new job. Like life, racing requires a ton of detailed preparation. This is why it is vital, for any racing that you want to do, from HPDE events and track days to full on road racing, that you have a very specific idea of what you want to accomplish, and when it needs to be done. I am going to spend this month giving tips If you are mechanically inclined enough to perform your own prep, this time frame is easily assessed. You know your schedule, your ability and what is needed parts wise. A good idea is to shake down your car immediately after the last event you did. You can check wheel bearings, fluids, brake pads, filters and overall condition, and plan on what needs done before the next event. Those items fall into two categories. This first category is the more vital repairs or upgrades needed. Worn bearings, joints and friction surfaces cannot go through the next event, so they must be planned for now. Get a list together and get parts ordered today. Take this opportunity to make upgrades you have been considering. Have you wanted to improve on your brake system and now the pads are worn? Make it happen now. Is the car in good condition, just need to change the oil and put it in the trailer? Great, now go a little deeper into the car in a “maintenance mentality”. This is category number two. You didn’t break anything, congratulations! Peruse your spare collection and make sure you are ready for anything that could come up. A little low on spare fluids? Order them. Forgot that two events ago you put on your spare drive belt? Get one. Have you had that nagging feeling you should have a backup spare ignition system because you saw that one guy replace his at the track on his car that is completely different than yours and you decided you don’t want to be him? Research and order it. You have no control over how long parts take to get in. Order them now and put them in your spare parts tote, and once that tote is filled, seal it with masking tape. The masking tape serves a purpose. If you seal it once you fill it, you know that it is ready to go on the trailer. If you can, put it on the trailer now. The more you can do today, that you don’t have to do the days before you leave for the track, the better. Now lets talk about if you have a prep shop do all your repairs and prep for you. This is obviously much easier on your schedule, you are letting the pros do it! Some prep shops even deliver the car to the event for you! All you have to do is show up, give them a big check, and hop ion your car and drive. Pretty sweet deal right? In those arrive and drive set ups, they have everything ready to go and down to a science, making it quote literally the easiest form of track activity for you. it also is easily the most expensive. But what about when you are responsible for transporting the car and orchestrating what you want done? This is where courtesy and setting clear expectations for both the shop and yourself falls on you. You are the one who is enjoying you r car on the track so it all is up to you to set expectations. When you will get the car there, what you want or need done, and when you need to have the car back. Understand that you are not the only customer they have and as a reputable shop, they likely are prepping multiple cars for your event. Understand that they may have difficulty in getting parts, and getting the job done in a truncated time table if that is what you have given them. A good prep shop will be up front with you to help you manage expectations. If they cannot match your needs or desires, try to understand why, and change your expectations accordingly. Most HPDE or track days require a simple inspection. Don’t wait until a couple days before or worse yet, the day before a track day to schedule this. Shops are in the service business and will do everything they can to get you taken care of but you have to give them a fighting chance. If anything is needed to pass the inspection it is unlikely and unreasonable to expect them to get it done with the time frame you allowed the. Putting a car on track is inherently dangerous, and any responsible prep shop will not rush a job that cannot be done appropriately, so please be mindful of that. Schedule out inspections and repairs at least a week. They will really appreciate it. All this leads to the main point. You and only you are in control of your racing schedule. Do whatever you need to to bring a safe car on the track. And at the track, before you turn on to pit road, before you strap in to the car, make sure your wheels are torqued, gas and oil caps are on, and the hood pins are inserted in your car. It is embarrassing as hell to have stupid stuff happen on the track that is easily preventable, and more often then not it will also ruin someone else’s day as well.
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