Its good you have a buddy to hang out with, but I will suggest you fight the urge to ride along with each other. I can't remember, but I think we may even have a rule against that for first timers? It might be good for both of you two find different people to ride with (their car and yours). Random thoughts...
* Don't be late to the drivers meeting and pay attention during it.
* Make sure you understand when you are expected to run and work (should be covered in meeting).
* Find and ask for help from the novice coordinators.
* Participate in the course walk and take it seriously.
* Walk with someone who has experience and ideally is in a car like yours.
* Course walks are not a social event. So don't be offended if everyone else looks really serious as they walk and don't talk to you. Remember they are likely highly focused and are potentially running the course through their head over and over again. There will be plenty of time to socialize between runs at the event
* Take notes during the walk and maybe after each run. Some say this is worthless. I get the point that they want you to commit it to memory vs. paper, but I think paper is fine as you start out.
* Envision driving the car through the course at speed during the walk. Where will you place the car as you pass a cone (i.e. do you treat the cone as early or late apex)? Where will you brake? When will you get back on the gas?
* Pace slalom cones. Are they spaced evenly or do they change (i.e. get closer as the slalom progresses, so you will have to slow as you go)
* Do your best to memorize the entire course. You don't want to spend each run lurching from one element to the next with them showing up as if you have never seen them before.
* Figure out which cones matter an which do not. For example cones on the inside of a sweeper are more important than those placed on the outside. Knowing what to ignore helps with the memorization.
* I don't know your gearing, but remember that you are highly likely to launch, shift into second and leave it in second the entire time. So typically your first to second upshift is the only place you need to plan out a shift. But if the course is fast and your gearing is short, be prepared for 2nd to 3rd upshift. Someone experienced in a car similar to yours will help you understand if that is needed.
* Don't be late for your worker assignment.
* Key tricks to working the course...
** As you arrive at your worker station. Determine which cones your station is handling and make sure you know their location before they get knocked out of place. Imagine shagging a cone and then realizing you don't have a clue where it goes as you try to place it back into position. This is particularly bad if multiple cones get moved and more than once person is shagging cones at the same time.
** If you shag a cone and can't get it back into place in time, be safe and run off course with the cone in hand and put it back after the next car passes. If it screws up the driver on course then call it in so they can get a re-run. But if you get run down while trying to place a cone....
** Watch cars as they approach your section, look at the class and number before they hit a cone vs. trying to see it afterwards! Otherwise you will get complacent and a car will hit a cone and be gone before you realize it. Calling in on on the radio with "white car plus one" is not good enough.
** I think its OK to socalize at a worker station as long as you are able to keep an eye on the cars and course. But no day dreaming.
** Watching how others drive the course while working can be very educational.
** Understand the flow of the course at your station. That way you can be confident that if you call in a DNF that you are correct vs. screwing up someones run!
** If you are a novice let others at the station know it is your first time. They can help show you the ropes.
** Plan an escape route. Some stations will see no activity while others can be very busy and some might have lots of "offs" by cars. So think where a car might go and be prepared to exit in a different direction. Hopefully course design will prevent you from being in that position.
* After each run, try to get your time, or at at least make sure you didn't DNF due to being off course. Some people will show up, and run the course wrong each run (such as missing a gate) and leave never knowing they got it wrong each time until the results are posted.
* Bring rain gear. There is nothing worse than working a course when it is raining and you have no protection.
* Bring water to drink and food if there is nowhere close to get lunch. Snack bar or candy for while working is also a good idea.
* Bring a hat and sunscreen.
* If you bring a bunch of stuff in your car that you have to leave in the pit and it might rain, have a tarp or something to cover your stuff.
* Have a plan, but be prepared to adjust it after each run.
* For the most part, don't over think while driving.
* Its your first event. Just try to make personal improvements and don't worry about the other guys.
* Look ahead
* Be smooth
* Slow in, fast out
* Have fun and be prepared for the shakes after a quick run.
Richard
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