Wilko's World

Wilko's Tech Talk  #1

Welcome everyone to the 2009 Aussie Racing Cars Super Series Championship and the first of my Tech Tip columns  I plan on providing to you during the season.

 As the new season looms up on us it  has become my tradition to send out a pre season reminder on some technical issues and some little hints that hopefully may make life a little easier in the first couple of rounds especially at the grand prix where some officials have a habit of being a little over  zealous.

1. Make sure your licence is current and that you have located it and put it in your race bag.

2. Make sure that you have checked your  log book and any required repairs have been completed, Also make sure the log book has enough pages to do the new season and the photo is current. Also put logbook in race bag.

3. Make sure you have renewed your club membership and you have a receipt or a card to prove that, again make sure it’s in the race bag.

4. Check your race safety gear for tears or moth holes, make sure that your helmet is current and hasn’t suffered any damage, and remember the drama we had with socks and gloves at last years GP round.

5. If you have purchased a second hand car remember to check with Aussie Race Cars to make sure there are no ongoing issues with the car.

6. Make sure that your Dorian is accepting charge and you have recorded the number on the cover of your log book.

7 Check the race car battery is charged or accepting charge.

8. Physically inspect the date tags on seat belts and fire extinguishers.

9. Make sure that your car complies with the signage requirements for the series and that your numbers comply and are located correctly. If you are 100% sure they are right it’s a real good idea to always have a spare set of stickers with you (in the trailer) just in case you need to do some repairs.

10. Make sure that your rain light works and that you have back up batteries in your toolbox.
11. check that you have current spec tow hooks front and rear and that they are in good condition.

12. check the condition of your trailer and make sure the car secures on properly.

13. MAKE SURE YOUR ENGINE IS SEALED, this includes spares. No engine sealing will be done trackside.

14. make sure you read all sup regs and that you can comply with all requirements. Pay particular attention to refueling and fire extinguisher requirements.

15. Check your emails daily in the week leading up to events to ensure that schedule changes don’t catch you out.

That’s pretty much the list, now for a couple of hints to make your race weekends less stressful
Absolutely minimise the gear you take into the pit tent, You don’t need that much stuff to work on an Aussie car, so leave the rest at home or in the trailer.

At a race meeting don’t just go wandering, Always check with me, Jeanie or the Wardies before you leave the pit area.

Check our grid and notice boards at regular intervals.. It’s a good idea to bring a business card to give me so that if you are needed to be contacted urgently I can have a phone number handy.

Finally at a race meeting the race car should always come first. Try not to leave the track until the car is 100% ready to go for tomorrow, ie all servicing, repairs and cleaning finished. The best operators in this category have always been the guys who can just walk in, rip the covers off and go racing because they did the work yesterday. At most of our meetings we will be supports to the main event so our schedules can get changed at the drop of a hat.  Having done the work as soon as possible may save you rushing it and may be making a costly mistake. Also car presentation keeps sponsors (and category managers) happy.

Anyway that is enough for now, see you all with a smick ready to race car at Clipsal.

Regards
“Wilko”

Phil Wilkinson is the official CAMS Category Technical Commissioner responsible for overseeing  all technical and eligibility aspects of the Aussie Racing Car category.