ok so the strangest thing happened yesterday. I seem to be part of a pit crew...actually come to think about it as it stands at the moment I am the pit crew.
here's the story...
on Sunday they had races slightly out of town. Part of the events put on by the local car club. Well my friend Donna went for the first time. It completely blew her away. Now she is determined to be the first and only girl to race. It's on a dirt track...and the car has to fit into the requirements and be for the most part stock. So we go shopping for her car. It's gotta be some crap...all it needs to do is run and have a seat. We come across this toyota tercel for $75. It needs a water pump (which we priced out to be $21.50) and probably some other small things here and there but it'll work to get her started. First part done we've got a car.
Next sponsors...this is where I thought it would become a problem. But if you met Donna you would know better. This girl could get money from a rock. She knows how to talk to people like no one I've ever seen. She can play the cute dumb girl and get anything she wants pretty much. We've got a list of possible sponsors already. She's working the girl racer angle. Hitting up the female owned businesses and saying this car club needs a girl racer and you need to sponsor me to get one there. Then she works the male owned places...gives them that look, her little speech on how badly she wants to do it and give those guys a run for their money and bam once she's got them smiling...dude it's all over.
Next...safety equipment. Which is where I could use some help actually. I'm trying to find her a helmet and racing coveralls. We've got a lead on her 4 point harness from the guy selling us the car. And a muffler shop can make her roll cage. Just need to get that other stuff before race day. (2 weeks)
Honestly I can't believe we're actually doing this. She has never raced anything in her life before. And I don't know what the hell I'm doing on her pit crew but I'm there. It's awesome but kinda nerve racking. Offer up advice if you can and wish us luck. It should be one interesting experience to say the least.
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Yeah, I punched a baby once, in anger. But in my defense the baby was being kind of a dick.
there is the website to the races if anyone wants to check it out or maybe lives near by and wants to come out and support us. We are starting in the hornet class for now but she wanted to be in mini stock at least by next season. The car we found doesn't work for any other class but it was to good of a deal to pass up. Besides it's better to probably start off small.
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Yeah, I punched a baby once, in anger. But in my defense the baby was being kind of a dick.
i asked the wife...lol not her thing at all. But she will be cheering for Donna in the stands. We are also trying to get a good section of people there to support her. I know she talks big but she has to be nervous as hell. She's a great driver tho I know she'll kick some ass
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Yeah, I punched a baby once, in anger. But in my defense the baby was being kind of a dick.
Thanks! It's my main job to make sure we get all the safety equiment we need and practice time on the track before the race. So keep your fingers crossed! Still in need of a helmet and coveralls. I thought it would be easier to find then this. lol
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Yeah, I punched a baby once, in anger. But in my defense the baby was being kind of a dick.
NEVER underestimate the talent of a female driver. Some of my best competition in autocross was female. There are a lot of excellent female drivers in autocross that I know of. I've run into a few in Club Racing also. So when Donna gets out there, she might shock a few guys.
Diane has giving me great runs to beat. Now she's Club Racing. We have yet to be on the track at the same time (she runs ITB & I run ITA), but we hope to find a club that has both our classes running in the same group. You can see her Escort GT at http://www.mathermotorsports.com .
____________________ "It's better to be a racer for a moment, than a spectator for a lifetime."
Ohh, that riminded me, if she needs a helmet that's SA (race rated, nomex lined) instead of M (motocycles), try Simpson World (I went to the one in Mooresville SC) if they still exist. They had helmets with 'blems' on them. It took me an hour to find the 'blem' on the helmet I bought, but I saved $100 on a $400 Bandit 8.
I also went to http://www.racerswholesale.com and bought the rest of mt gear (fire suit, gloves, shoes, underwear, socks, head sock [cause I can't spell what it's really called]). Great prices and great stuff. They have many brands there. Located in Georgia.
____________________ "It's better to be a racer for a moment, than a spectator for a lifetime."
Maxx wrote: We've got a lead on her 4 point harness from the guy selling us the car. And a muffler shop can make her roll cage. Just need to get that other stuff before race day. (2 weeks)
Please don't go to a muffler shop to get a roll cage. I realize you are trying to save money everywhere, but don't ever skimp on safety. The right thickness bars need to be used, and welded strong enough, not to mention designed right. Also, I'd recoommend getting a 5 or 6 point harness instead of a 4. 4 points tend to have submarining issues, which can lead to bodily harm.
We worked like crazy to get everything ready and done. We were so close too..The car was almost completely painted. It was gutted and the roll bar was installed. She was ready to go but the night before we blew a head gasket. So there we stood, in the dark trying over and over again to get the car to turn over. We can fix it before the next race but it still really sucks.
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Yeah, I punched a baby once, in anger. But in my defense the baby was being kind of a dick.
That's the good and the bad and the ugly of racing summed up nicely.
It's never perfect.
It can always be better.
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. It will go wrong at the worst possible time.
First time you actually finish a race and are competetive is a moment that you'll never forget. All the prep work is meaningless to someone who has never done it. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. You now know why there are more spectators than racers.
Good luck and keep at it. It is worth it.
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A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams...John Barrymore
