What to expect on your first Race weekend/ Day

[DrSwade]

Excellent list!

I forgot my xponder one weekend and I had to drive all the way home (20 miles:laughing)
and get it. Made it by by the second practice session. TAKE THAT all of you who laugh at me for living waaay up north.

I would add that you should pack a couple of Myoplex, Muscle Milk, etc "ready-to-drinks". No matter how many times I do it, I still seem to forget to eat. This way I can just jam down some calories when I realize I haven't eaten. It is not just about hydration. If you are at T-Hill in July and don't stay on top of nutrition, you could very well get woozy by the time you do your clubman race that afternoon.

I can't stress enough to new racers how fast the pace of the weekend is.
Last time I put out chairs in the morning, my friend asked why? "It's not like you are going to sit down ever today".

Most of all, ask questions.
I was amazed how helpful just about everyone in the paddock is. The roadracing community here is awesome!

 

[hitman5532]

I would add that you should pack a couple of Myoplex, Muscle Milk, etc "ready-to-drinks". No matter how many times I do it, I still seem to forget to eat. This way I can just jam down some calories when I realize I haven't eaten. It is not just about hydration. If you are at T-Hill in July and don't stay on top of nutrition, you could very well get woozy by the time you do your clubman race that afternoon.

That is why I bring a girl to cook and feed me

 

[Corey]

I was amazed how helpful just about everyone in the paddock is. The roadracing community here is awesome!

My first race weekend, this guy ^^ jumped in and helped me modify my belly pan so it wouldn't scrape. I didn't know who he was before that. Robert is a "stand up" kind of guy, and I will always remember that. :thumbup

 

[Texwasabi]

I have low expectations

Beat tex

rly:kicknuts

 

[Texwasabi]

My first race weekend, this guy ^^ jumped in and helped me modify my belly pan so it wouldn't scrape. I didn't know who he was before that. Robert is a "stand up" kind of guy, and I will always remember that. :thumbup

Yeah Robby boy is all right, even if he did punt me off the track with a bump pass... :laughing

 

[Hellraizer547]

Just reading these posts is making me remember the good times when I raced for a couple weekends. Thanks Berto for the good info, I will be making a checklist. This time around I am not going to try to burden myself with everything, my wife will be their taking care of the checkslists, and that will also include water/food.

 

[Med23]

What is the deal for gridding in the first Clubman race of the season? I read about gridding in the rulebook and it mentions previous points standings, which I assume only a few people in Clubman have points from last year. What about the rest? Did I miss the outlining of this subject in the rulebook?

 

[Corey]

I thought the first race was gridded by the number on the bikes, then based on points from there. ???

 

[hitman5532]

What is the deal for gridding in the first Clubman race of the season? I read about gridding in the rulebook and it mentions previous points standings, which I assume only a few people in Clubman have points from last year. What about the rest? Did I miss the outlining of this subject in the rulebook?

It is either by date signed up or by number. I have heard paople say it is by number, but I was gridded behind people with bigger numbers and smaller numbers despite all being brand new. I waited to the last second to sign up, and started dead last. Remember if you start in the back, at least no one can hit you if you stall (a good thing to help calm your nerves)

 

[hitman5532]

I thought the first race was gridded by the number on the bikes, then based on points from there. ???

It is points from prior season up front

rulebook 3.4.1

 

[MellowYellow]

rly:kicknuts

yup you wore the dress.....

 

[Dos]

Thank you Berto for starting this!
and thanks to everybody else for all your input! a lot of great info.

It is either by date signed up or by number. I have heard paople say it is by number, but I was gridded behind people with bigger numbers and smaller numbers despite all being brand new. I waited to the last second to sign up, and started dead last. Remember if you start in the back, at least no one can hit you if you stall (a good thing to help calm your nerves)

Then its last minute signup for me!!! But mainly because no one will pass me then! :rofl

 

[hitman5532]

do you take the belly pan with you when you take the bike to Tech Inspection?

for the first time, yes. Thereafter, no (unless you wreck and they remove your bellypan sticker from your bike)

 

[ZXR400SP]

Always good to have help the first weekend since you have to take everything to tech. Leathers, boots, gloves, helmet, and belly pan. There have been Friday night belly pan/gear inspections done by the head tech for a small donation to the airfence fund. Hopefully Dave Worthington will continue the tradition this year.

 

[Texwasabi]

Just reading these posts is making me remember the good times when I raced for a couple weekends. Thanks Berto for the good info, I will be making a checklist. This time around I am not going to try to burden myself with everything, my wife will be their taking care of the checkslists, and that will also include water/food.

Ah Sergio, be good to finally meet "The natural". :thumbup

 

[Tigre13]

wakeup, BRUSH YOUR TEETH, and go to registration.

Don't forget to floss, too.

Seriously, big props on this thread, Berto. You captured a lot of the essentials of the experience. Very useful for new-types. Hope to see many more of them out there, too -- isn't the economy bouncing back?

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Hellraizer547]

Ah Sergio, be good to finally meet "The natural". :thumbup

I think we have met once. It was during a tracktactics trackday at Buttonwillow, I recall my friend lent you gloves. Anyways, hope to see you on track, but if your riding a Honda 1k we will have to see each other in the Pit, not the track.

Sergio

 

[RedMist]

I think we have met once. It was during a tracktactics trackday at Buttonwillow, I recall my friend lent you gloves. Anyways, hope to see you on track, but if your riding a Honda 1k we will have to see each other in the Pit, not the track.

Sergio

Long time Serg, what you racing this year?

 

[DrSwade]

What is the deal for gridding in the first Clubman race of the season? I read about gridding in the rulebook and it mentions previous points standings, which I assume only a few people in Clubman have points from last year. What about the rest? Did I miss the outlining of this subject in the rulebook?

Gridding won't matter as most will be piled up by turn one or two.

Hopefully, not really!

 

[akathisia]

It is either by date signed up or by number. I have heard paople say it is by number, but I was gridded behind people with bigger numbers and smaller numbers despite all being brand new. I waited to the last second to sign up, and started dead last. Remember if you start in the back, at least no one can hit you if you stall (a good thing to help calm your nerves)

Very nice check list. I really wish I would have had it last season, my first with the AFM.

No joke, I liked the idea of being gridded last for my first start. Knowing I wouldn't be run over or taken out in the first corner allowed me to focus my energies on getting round the track the first lap.

Oh yeah.... everyone at the track was really helpful in answering my questions, and even helping me get to tech and listening to the announcements, etc. I couldn't have figured it out without all the help. Thanks fellow racers!