Rookie Stuff

Start in the rear : I always asked the handicapper to put me in the last position
when I first started racing. My reasoning was that I should learn my car and the track
before I tried to race anyone else. You'll find that at first you're pretty much just an
obstacle for the other drivers. You can lessen your chances of being run over or
getting pushed out of the way by starting in the back.

Bonsai!!! : Dick Brooks (Chief Stewart) says at almost every drivers meeting,
"You can't win a race on the first lap, so don't go bonsai in to the first turn." It sounds
like common sense, but it seems like almost every week someone tries to go three
wide into turn one on the first lap, sometimes with disastrous results. Give it a few laps and the cars will start to spread out and then you can race.

Don't over drive : If every time you enter a turn you're sawing the wheel back and
forth and the car is washing up the banking, you're over driving! Sooner or later
you're gonna wiggle up into somebody or lose the banking and back into the wall.
The problem is a poor set up. You need to slow it down enough to regain control of
the car, then try to figure out what the problem is so you can adjust it out of the car. If
it's tight, loose, or both, slow down and don't try to force the car to do what it can't.
When your car is set up right it'll be easy to drive.

Maintain your lane : Blocking is for people who like body work and welding.
Next to intentionally wrecking someone, this is probably the biggest "sin" in racing.
People get angry when they're being blocked, and they won't let you get away with it
for very long before they "move" you. Pick your lane, high or low, and race there.
When you do change lanes be sure the you're clear. If you're not sure don't change
lanes, it's better to stay put than to wreck because you're guessing.

Build speed : There's a thing called "driving it in over you head." That's when you
throw it into the turn too hard and pray it holds, usually it won't. That whole thing about
"eight tires turning better than four" is funny until the guy with the other four tires
catches back up to you... A new driver needs to build his or her speed gradually. Use
practice to find your limit. Sooner or later everybody loops it looking for the edge,
and it's better to do that in practice when there's more room. Confidence and
learning to set your car up will increase that limit gradually.

Things that go bump in the night : Contact is gonna happen, and here's what
you should know about that. If someone gets into you nine times out of ten it's
unintentional . So don't take it personally! Understand that this is circle track racing
and this happens to everyone sooner or later. You'll see that it's not as easy as it
looked from the stands. Do not go into the other drivers pit all outraged because
you think he was a bonehead. Because next week you may be the "bonehead." It
only makes for bad blood, and you're gonna be door to door with him/her next week.
If you really have to get something off your chest wait until you're both calmer. Most
important: Don't use your car as a weapon. Thompson is a big fast track and you
could easily injure or kill someone trying to get a little "payback". Feuds cost money
and take the fun out of racing. If you really think a driver is intentionally trying to wreck
you take your case the handicappers booth.

Don't beat yourself : The advice above is all about not being your own worst
enemy. Racers who race like I've described above will save their equipment, and
that's important. (It's tough to learn how to set up your car when you're putting it back
together every week.) You'll also earn the trust and respect of your fellow
competitors. That's a great thing to have when you're door to door with each others
health and equipment on the line. Be patient, be safe, and have fun. Good Luck!