Welcome!
Some things you should bring:
Personal/General Stuff:
1. A well rested driver.
Start getting extra sleep a couple of nights before the event. In my early years I'd arrive to the track exhausted, having spent the night staring at the clock.2. You need your M2005, M2010, SA2005, or SA2010 helmet.
3. You need long pants (ie, jeans), a long-sleeve shirt (t-shirt is fine), socks, and "closed-toe" or "closed" shoes (sneakers, shoes, etc, NO SANDALS or shoes with openings, etc). 100% cotton pants/shirt/socks is recommended, nylon or 'breathable' fabrics are NOT.
4. Some water, refreshment, and snacks. The restaurant will be open, it is actually pretty good (as far as track restaurants go).
5. A folding chair to sit in, if you have room in the car.
6. A fresh t-shirt. Short sleeves, shorts, etc., are all acceptable in the paddock, just not on-track.
7. Rain gear if you have any. We run rain or shine.
8. $10 for the not-to-be-missed all-you-can-eat BBQ for dinner at the track Saturday evening, after we throw the checker for the day.
Car Stuff
A. A mechanically sound car. No fluid leaks, no play in the wheel bearings, no loose objects either in or attached to the car. Plenty of brake pad & rotor material and tire tread. Could you drive back and forth to Washington D.C. without expecting any mechanical problems? If so, the car is likely ready. As a student, you will be very busy during the day and will not have much if any time to work on your car. Please know that COM is unique in that several of our members have built kit cars or race cars. The ones that built kit cars know to nut and bolt the car and closely inspect it before every event.
B. A torque wrench and the socket or any specialty key that you may have or need to remove or tighten your lug nuts. If you don't have a 1/2 torque wrench, that is fine. Your neighbors will have one and will gladly let you borrow it.
C. A tire pressure gauge. If you don't have a decent one, you'll want one eventually. Like the torque wrench, your neighbor and/or instructor will have one for you to borrow.
D. Blue masking tape. If you care about your the paint on your car, you may want to cover some of the leading panels. It can be easy to pick up chips, especially on lowered cars. You'll also need to have your number and class on the sides of the car, and blue tape usually works very well (and is common), unless your car happens to be the same shade of blue as the tape.
You and your car should be fine. I would suggest that you pull 4-5 plug wires at the start of the day, and if I see your car in tech I may do it myself.
I kid...I kid...Reading between the lines, I'm thinking that Frank (Cuda6666) would like to be your instructor.
Any questions, let us know, or contact me directly.
WIll Martins
Chief Instructor
