[Greg Reimer 7376]

Michael Beard, Adger Smith, and Juie Jordan were spot on with all their comments. You just never know what might happen. It's the thing you didn't think about or even know about that could get you. Safety equiment is there for a reason. Build your car with the General Regulations pages of the rule book right on top of your toolbox. Go by the book. Tech people can see when a racer builds something with every effort directed toward compliance.They like that. Adger hit on the concept of living right. Good idea. Getting out of bed can test that concept as well. Julie was right on about the tow to the track being more scary than the actual racing. The way these screaming third world maniacs drive down here is enough to scare a Blue Angels pilot. Not fun when towing. Make sure your trailer brakes work, your lights work, your tires are all good, your hitch is installed right and works, and all is well.
Sunday, at Irwindale, I got to the finish line and a front tire blew out right in the lights. The car stayed straight, I got off the track, even drove it to my pit space on a flat front tire. I knew it was junk anyway, so I didn't worry about it. I put a spare stock tire and wheel on the car and just made it for the next round. The tread on both front tires was worn thin in the middle of the tire,but this tire had a flat spot I never really noticed, and that's where it blew out. Some front tires are only two ply nylon, and not too strong, and prior to the race I aired it up to 35 PSI. That was a contributing factor,as well. Believe me, good front tires are as important as good rears. They get a good thrashing at the end of the track as well. Keeping an eye on maintenance items is essential,as well.
It's always sad to lose good racer friends due to natural causes, after all,nobody gets out of this planet alive, but preventing fatal accidents is a good way to increase the odds of being able to come back and race again.Isn't that all our goals, anyway?