Track Days Ain't Easy and How Not to Tow

[xcarguy]

Anyone on this forum who has participated in an HPDE knows all too well the tremendous amount of work and time required in pulling off a successful event. Even more demanding are the additional commitments if a long-distance haul is involved, annual USA7s at NJMP for example. Prepping and sorting the car, packing and ensuring the trailer and tow vehicle are up to making the journey; much easier said than done. For me personally, these tasks alone involve a self-generated ‘track day’ checklist that has grown exponentially with every year to what is currently several pages. Routes have to be mapped out, hotels (with adequate parking) researched and booked, and fuel stops (with adequate pump ingress and egress) planned.

 

Many of us work and plan up to the very last minute, balancing jobs, family and time constraints. There’s always that one last thing that needs to be packed or the ‘whatever’ item that ultimately gets left behind. No amount of pre-departure planning can prevent it; Murphy’s Law verses Walmart to the rescue. Some head out after a hard day at work. Others leave early in the a.m., drive a long, demanding day and most likely arrive at the hotel late in the evening, hungry and tired. If the journey requires more than a single day of travel, it’s up the next morning and repeat the process.

 

Several arrive the night before the event; once again, late, hungry and tired. Some get there the morning of. Those who rolled in the night before may/may not get a short night’s sleep once there. The next morning, it’s early out of bed (if you went to bed) and off to the track. Once there, the work begins immediately; unload and prep the car, set up camp, then off for registration and tech. If it’s summer, it’s hot, and it gets hotter as the days wears on; upper nineties at times perhaps, mixed with gobs of drenching humidity. Tired or not, the adrenaline’s flowing along with the anticipation of that first session of the day. This is what you’re here for. Being wrapped up in the excitement of the moment masks the journey-induced fatigue that your body is surely experiencing and most definitely has not recovered from.

 

With the fun-factor in full swing, you press on. All day, it’s an attitude of ‘press on’. If you’re not driving, you’re most likely working on your car, or wrenching on someone else’s so they too can make that next session. At some point, Murphy’s Law shows up again and it’s off to the parts store or hardware store so you can source a substitute fix for some obscure part that nobody seems to stock. Toss in a venue (such as NJMP) where two tracks are being driven on different days of a two-day event, and at the end of day one, it’s break up camp at track A, pack up and position to track B for the following day’s activities.

 

When the checkered flag drops at the end of the last session of the first day, you’re spent. But there’s no rest for the weary. It’s time for dinner with fellow track mates for a bit of fun and some much needed detox. After a great meal, a few drinks and some excellent recapping of the day’s activities, you’re back in your room...late. Maybe in bed by midnight.

 

The next day, it’s up early and repeat the process. By now, your body is screaming for a solid 24 hours of nothingness. But it’s press on; prep, setup...drive.

 

This is where the story of 'any track' USA becomes first person and focused on NJMP. The family and I spent several days traversing ten states to get to NJ and we pretty much got busy right away once we arrived. The second day of the event was actually my third day on track and I was pretty worn down from all the traveling and, and, and... In the second session of the last day, my lack of mental acuity shows up in the form of a black flag specifically put out for #27. I pull into pit lane and the track marshal tells me that my chin strap on my helmet isn’t fastened. Holy bat guano!!!! Did I really just run on a hot track with my chin strap undone? Yep. Score one point for fatigue.

 

By the third session of the last day, I’m done...like toast, very crispy toast. Running the last session isn’t even an option for me. It’s to be another evening of excitement, so I skip the last session and start packing up early. Being somewhat methodical, the last thing I do after I'm packed up is connect the trailer to the truck. Once I have the trailer tongue lowered all the way down over the ball hitch (supposedly), I ease the truck forward enough to ensure a snug fit which allows the ball hitch and tongue to seat and thus allows the ball latch to fasten beneath the ball as it should. Well, I apparently overlooked the minor step of seating the tongue and ball and secured the latch on top of the ball. Not good. Score another point for fatigue.

 

The next morning, the family and I wave goodbye to Millville. Setting our course for Arkansas, we drive through several states and make it ‘uneventfully’ to Pigeon Forge, TN. Another long day that has us arriving at the hotel around 10pm. The following morning, we’re back on the road and not too far along on I-40 when we encounter a very rough and uneven section of interstate. You couldn’t see the imperfection until you were almost on top of it; certainly too late to adjust speed or make a lane change. The inertia of hitting this patch at 70+ mph really put the Tundra suspension to the test when the rear of the truck dipped suddenly and then, just as quickly, shot back into the air for what felt like a solid ten or twelve inches. I suspect when the rear of the truck catapulted upwards, that’s the exact moment the trailer tongue and ball parted ways. And I’m pretty sure I was braking before the trailer wheels ever crossed the patch.

 

The sound and commotion a trailer makes when it separates itself from its tow vehicle is comparable to that of a Cossie-powered Escort shedding its entire left rear wheel assembly as it exits turn four on NJMP’s Lightning course. Although, our very own Kitcat has already admitted to being a charter member of the ‘hang loose’ towing club and may describe the sound he encountered a bit differently.

 

So here’s what’s happening at this point. The truck and trailer are joined at the hip only by a couple of crisscrossed chains, the trailer emergency brake lanyard and the pigtail as we all go barreling down the road. The trailer tongue is beating the crap out of the rear bumper until it finally slips completely off the top of the hitch, drops to the ground (jack pad is now acting as a NASA X-15 skid pad) and somehow wedges the jack stand on the right side of the hitch in between the bumper and one of the other balls attached to the hitch. Having the jack stand wedge up against the right side of the hitch could not have been a more perfect result of a major screw-up. We were in the right lane and needed to exit to the right shoulder. The jack stand being wedged as it was kept tension between it and the hitch thus keeping the trailer tracking somewhat straight until we came to a stop. The photos below tell the tale. And there is now a provision for ‘fatigue’ on my track day checklist.

 

Some takeaways:

 

Chin Strap: I was belted in the car and ready to roll when the track was abruptly shut down due to lightning in the area. I remained in the car, but removed my helmet to relax and stay somewhat relatively cool; almost went to sleep while I waited to see if we could salvage our session once the lightning cleared out. The call finally came for our run group to line up and the helmet goes back on. I'll admit that it’s easier for me to become distracted when I’m tired, and shutting down the track was a distraction. Taking off my helmet and remaining in the car moved me outside of my routine. The takeaway: if you’re in your car, are strapped in and track ready, stay that way. If you take something off and put it back on (such as your helmet) have a second set of eyes look you over before leaving the paddock.

 

Black flag: the dreaded black flag is not always bad. The corner worker who’s been standing in the hot sun all day for your benefit, and is now singling you out, just may be trying to save your life.

 

Trailer: when you’re tired, use a second set of eyes, if/when available, to ensure you’ve properly hitched the trailer. Cross your breakaway chains and twist them to shorten the length if necessary. If your trailer has brakes, secure the emergency trailer brake lanyard to the tow vehicle. Wind the jack stand all the way up when towing, not just high enough to clear the roadway (having my jack stand wound all way up was what aided in preventing the stand from being damaged).

 

Fatigue: bottom line is I was tired and fatigue began catching up with me on the last day of the event. I was smart to stop early and not run the last session, but still, I hitched the trailer incorrectly.

 

A couple of photos of what I first saw after we came to a stop.

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14315&stc=1

 

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14316&stc=1

 

Where the trailer tongue engaged the bumper

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14317&stc=1

 

This shows just how low the trailer was sitting as it skidded down I-40 (luckily, there was no damage)

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14318&stc=1

Edited July 14, 2018 by xcarguy

[xcarguy]

If ever a guy deserved the Golden Skid Marks award, this should suffice (the thin, discolored line on the asphalt is where the jack pad skidded along)

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14323&stc=1

 

Once I had the trailer secured and the jack stand off the ground, I found the top layer of asphalt melted away and stuck to the bottom of the jack pad (that's hot)

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14322&stc=1

 

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14324&stc=1

[xcarguy]

. . . I love fine alcohol spirits but given the risks associated with dehydration and the desire to operate our machines at peak performance, I think that when I participate in activities like this in the future that alcohol will not be part of the celebration before, during or immediately after an event.

 

Bob,

 

My apologies, I think you’ve misread me. First of all, the standing rule at any track event is NO ALCOHOL before the last checkered flag of the day. That means none before or during the event. If someone were indulging in alcohol DURING an event, I, along with rest of the group, are going to actively participate in having that person banded from running.

 

After a long day at the track, some like to have a glass of wine or a beer, and deservedly so; it’s time to unwind a bit. As for staying hydrated at the track, water or Gatorade are the normal drinks of choice. At NJMP, these, along with a variety of nutritious snacks, were provided daily by the venue. When I reference having a few drinks once the checkered flag drops, don’t get me wrong. The evening social is very gentlemanly and family friendly. It’s not some wild party where everyone is drinking to the point of putting themselves in a drunken stupor; remember, I had my family with me. Many drivers had their spouses with them. In fact, this year’s event had the greatest number of non-driving participants to date. (Croc, correct me if I’m wrong).

 

Drinks can refer to pretty much anything. Take me for example, I don’t drink alcohol; an ice tea, Arnold Palmer or coffee are usually my choice of beverage. When my wild side comes out, I’ll have a Diet Coke. :jester: My daughter is hardcore root beer at this stage of her life. And all 'drinks' in the evening were had while dining at establishments that offered some of the absolute best cuisine to be found in south NJ. :cheers:

Edited July 14, 2018 by xcarguy

[BeagleGuy78]

Wow! I am glad everyone is ok and the damages were relatively minor! Great write-up ... valid and very useful incite and tips for others to avoid the same issues!

 

Thanks for taking the time to type this up and share!

[Anaximander]

Shane, Thanks for the follow-up. Actually, I don't think I misread you and did not think for a moment that alcohol was anywhere near the track during runs and it did not sound like you all were having wild parties. I think I just moved the goal posts a bit for myself in deciding that alcohol and certain foods prior to grueling days at the track seem less interesting to me after thinking about the fatigue factors that can affect both driving performance and all of the other tasks required to have a successful day or two. With my Storker, I use that rapier sword for autox and find that here in the Deep South, hot days at solo events almost turn me into a rag doll from the heat and difficulties in staying hydrated. I find that when it is my turn to do solo runs, I am half in the bag in terms of fatigue and so I am thinking about modified strategies for staying as fresh as I can.

 

This coming Fall, I hope to get my first couple of track days with my new-to-me Caterham Superlight 300r and will be very mindful of the ETOH/food issues to enhance rather than detract from my first track days. Unfortunately, even through November here in South and Central Florida, the heat can be quite intense and I am surprised at how much cockpit heat the 400r spec engine is making in my Cat. Bob

[xcarguy]

Shane, Thanks for the follow-up. Actually, I don't think I misread you and did not think for a moment that alcohol was anywhere near the track during runs . . .

 

Bob,

 

Again, my apologies. Pretty sure I misread you from your earlier post which referenced alcohol use 'during' an event. By this, I'm now assuming that your reference to 'during' means the evening in between a two-day event. Admittedly, Suave put me up to responding with the 'wild party' comment; he wanted me to use the word orgy, but I refused. I now have his little feathery a$$ duct taped to the grill of the Storker and I'm going to drive him around the bypass til his beak is full of bugs. :iamwithstupid:

Edited July 14, 2018 by xcarguy

[MightyMike]

Glad it wasn't worse and you guys are okay. I see stuff like that happen all the time out here in Colorado; often with bad results. Thanks for sharing your story Shane.

[Croc]

Croc, correct me if I’m wrong

 

Thats right Shane, I am never wrong.

 

For the record we did have the most non-drivers attending the July NJ event. Surprisingly, there is a good amount to do around Millville and even within the track property.

 

While you can buy beer at the NJMP property (General Store at back of Thunderbolt pits plus the clubhouse/restuarant) they will not sell it for pit consumption until after 5pm when the track is cold. I would not tolerate it at any event of mine. We have enough distractions as it is, witness some unmentionables going out on track without helmet straps done up or with only one driving glove on their hand because the other one was resting on the back of trunk/boot area of their seven. I dont think I ever want to ever see again, a French track day where drivers, track safety staff, corner works, break for a leisurely 2 hour 3 course lunch with several glasses of a local red wine and then resume activity on track.

 

I also don't think we had any massive drinkers present for the evening dinners. We were just not into alcohol as the weather required us to make sure we kept on top of our hydration efforts. Who needs alcohol to get a laugh when a lovely red nylon sash and blonde wig can bring the house down with laughter.

[Anaximander]

Sometimes I can't stand the two-dimensionalness of the Internet. I chalk all of this up to Suave and his evil twin Suave Less who have been whispering in Shane's and my ears:dupe:I just completed my 69th lap around the Sun which means I am getting older by the minute like we all are. However, each subsequent lap around the Sun seems to bring new challenges in the way of physiological and psychological challenges. I wish that I had gotten into autocross at an earlier age in life but was doing other high-performance things with motorcycles at the time which were more affordable for me in the earlier years.

 

When Shane was describing how challenging it is to do track days far from home, what I got to thinking about was how conservation of available human energy is a very important commodity and was for myself thinking how I can remain in the autocross game with improvements and how I might best approach tracking my new-to-me Caterham Superlight. At 69 years of age, one might begin to wonder if my perceptual/cognitive/physical capabilities are sufficiently up to the task and if so, how might I deal with these natty issues of human energy conservation as the years roll on. As a recently retired medical psychologist, I have a certain appreciation of how substances of all kinds, including food choices have an impact on my overall functioning. In this vein, Shane's story about the fatigue he was having to deal with called into question for me, how I could possibly best mitigate some of these external challenges?

 

It is really a privilege to hang out on this forum with so many experienced drivers that are willing to share the good, bad and ugly of our enthusiast endeavors. The openness to share is quite refreshing and I suspect is helping many of us to more safely face the challenges we choose to pursue. So, I am not on any soapbox trying to convert anybody but myself in terms of figuring out strategies to maximize my performance within the numerous constraints that life presents to my aging carcass:deadhorse::nopity::bigear:

Edited July 15, 2018 by Astro Bob

[xcarguy]

. . . As a recently retired medical psychologist, I . . .

Bob, I may have to pull you out of retirement and do a session. Suave is getting into my head. And the fact that he keeps begging me for a Pee-wee Herman doll doesn’t help. :willy_nilly:

Edited July 15, 2018 by xcarguy

[yellowss7]

I agree that loading up and getting the gear packed for a trackday is a chore and in this heat can be exhausting in and of itself. Since none of us have a crew to get things ready for us, this is not an easy sport to participate in.

 

However, my feeling is that it's more about the comraderie than the lap times. The NJMP event is really a social event, not a competition and therefore skipping a session isn't a big thing for me. Hanging out with the attendees between session and at the meals is great. Nice people and lots of laughs.

 

I autoxed for about 8 years and it was more exhausting as you had to work between runs and really don't have much time to socialize. So for me, trackdays allow for more seat time and more rest and social time.

 

As for the heat, taking it out of you, I heartily recommend buying a cool shirt cooling system.

 

Sitting in the infield after I pulled off track, and over to the flag station, I was greatful that I had that coolshirt system working. They make a six pack and a 12 pack soft bag that you can belt in the passenger seat. I have the six pack which will keep you cool for a 30 minute session. Just fill it with ice and water and you are good to go. It really does help keep you from overheating and brain fade.

 

Running at the speeds we do, you really don't want to be out there if you aren't able to focus, because of heat or fatigue. IMO.

 

Tom

[xcarguy]

. . . Sitting in the infield after I pulled off track, and over to the flag station, I was greatful that I had that coolshirt system working . . .

I’ll beat Croc to the punch on this one. Tom, we all know about the ‘hot’ corner worker. It wasn’t the heat that had you hot and bothered. :jester:

[yellowss7]

I was in church at the time. that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Croc]

I’ll beat Croc to the punch on this one. Tom, we all know about the ‘hot’ corner worker. It wasn’t the heat that had you hot and bothered. :jester:

 

FFS, he used a cool shirt because he was 'hot to trot'? :svengo:

 

 

 

 

Bob - The lesson you should take from this is that a cool shirt will improve your performance with women, not necessarily your car or autocross times.