Pete McCluskey.
Lifetime Supporter
Track Tips for the Racing Novice
<HR style="COLOR: #dedcd7; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedcd7" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->1. Racing isn't dangerous: Crashing is dangerous.
2. It is better to be spectating and wishing you were out there,
than out there and wishing you were spectating.
3. Learn from the mistakes of others; you will never live long
enough to make all of them yourself.
4. To win, you must first finish; to finish, you must first start. To
start, you must first spend an inordinate amount of time and
money.
5. Drive your own race. Others will be all too happy to tell you
what you did wrong.
6. Every driver knows the 3 simple tricks for winning races;
ask your closest competitors to share theirs.
7. An oversteering car generates higher slip angles at the rear
than the front. Keep all slip angles under 360 degrees.
8. Wear a full-face helmet. It will be easier to hide your fear.
9. Choose a close-fitting racing seat. Do not get it brown.
10. Wear ear plugs; they muffle the jeers and catcalls of
spectators
11. Good judgement comes from experience; unfortunately, the
experience usually comes from bad judgement.
12. Wave to corner workers. They will doubtless be talking about
you on their radios, and it will easier for them to refer to you as
"the idiot who is waving."
13. Obey All Flags:
Green: "All Clear" - You are free to retire from the
event at your convenience.
Yellow: "Danger" - Be alert and do not allow the faster
cars behind to pass you.
Yellow/Red Stripes: "Surface" flag (see #7 above, "Slip
Angles")
White: "Emergency Vehicle On Course" - One lap to
go before he passes you.
Blue/Yellow Stripe: "Mirror" flag - A faster competitor
is closing; watch your mirrors and be prepared to block.
Black: "Aw****" flag - You have committed the uncon-
scionable; come in immediately to re-take the
written exam.
Black/Orange circle: "Meatball" - Mechanical black
flag. You have been disqualified for your illegal
cam lobes.
Red
roceed at a pace fast enough to beat everyone left with four corners on their car to the nearest shade tree
Checker: Wave to the corner workers, you idiot!
14. Be gracious in defeat, and less than insufferably arrogant in
victory.
15. Remove your arm restraints before the trophy presentation.
16. And remember, it is OK to start racing with an empty bag of experience if you also have a bag full of luck. Fill the bag of
experience before you empty the bag of luck.
I'm sure you blokes could add a few more
<HR style="COLOR: #dedcd7; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedcd7" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->1. Racing isn't dangerous: Crashing is dangerous.
2. It is better to be spectating and wishing you were out there,
than out there and wishing you were spectating.
3. Learn from the mistakes of others; you will never live long
enough to make all of them yourself.
4. To win, you must first finish; to finish, you must first start. To
start, you must first spend an inordinate amount of time and
money.
5. Drive your own race. Others will be all too happy to tell you
what you did wrong.
6. Every driver knows the 3 simple tricks for winning races;
ask your closest competitors to share theirs.
7. An oversteering car generates higher slip angles at the rear
than the front. Keep all slip angles under 360 degrees.
8. Wear a full-face helmet. It will be easier to hide your fear.
9. Choose a close-fitting racing seat. Do not get it brown.
10. Wear ear plugs; they muffle the jeers and catcalls of
spectators
11. Good judgement comes from experience; unfortunately, the
experience usually comes from bad judgement.
12. Wave to corner workers. They will doubtless be talking about
you on their radios, and it will easier for them to refer to you as
"the idiot who is waving."
13. Obey All Flags:
Green: "All Clear" - You are free to retire from the
event at your convenience.
Yellow: "Danger" - Be alert and do not allow the faster
cars behind to pass you.
Yellow/Red Stripes: "Surface" flag (see #7 above, "Slip
Angles")
White: "Emergency Vehicle On Course" - One lap to
go before he passes you.
Blue/Yellow Stripe: "Mirror" flag - A faster competitor
is closing; watch your mirrors and be prepared to block.
Black: "Aw****" flag - You have committed the uncon-
scionable; come in immediately to re-take the
written exam.
Black/Orange circle: "Meatball" - Mechanical black
flag. You have been disqualified for your illegal
cam lobes.
Red
roceed at a pace fast enough to beat everyone left with four corners on their car to the nearest shade tree Checker: Wave to the corner workers, you idiot!
14. Be gracious in defeat, and less than insufferably arrogant in
victory.
15. Remove your arm restraints before the trophy presentation.
16. And remember, it is OK to start racing with an empty bag of experience if you also have a bag full of luck. Fill the bag of
experience before you empty the bag of luck.
I'm sure you blokes could add a few more
