First timers: inspire me!

Ok, I'm writing up some first timer advice and want to take it back... way back. What questions do you (or did you) have as a first timer? I'm talking the very basic stuff here, like:

How do I pay? Where is the entry form? Am I allowed to build my own rally car?

I'm talking about from zero to entering your first rally. Nothing about racing in your first rally, but just getting to that starting line for the first time.

Thanks guys.

Anders

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Grassroots rally. It's what I think about.

If I have a blue Subaru GC8 with graphic pack, and enter, does the organsier pay for the Groupies, or are they free?

Where are the groupies?

Are there groupies at all the Parc Exposes? What about at regrouping controls?

Have the groupies been thru a medical check or should I just sheath me ol John Thomas with a foot of FIA approved roll bar padding?

I have a lot more first time questions but I may have forgotten the best ones..

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Tech for the first time.



Also service, especially if you dont really know anyone and no one came with you. I guess thats after you've raced already, but you need to think about that before you show up.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2012 06:52AM by czwalga.

Excellent, added those to my list... what else?

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Grassroots rally. It's what I think about.

Here's what I've run into so far, haven't actually made it to an event yet, they kept getting canceled.

I couldn't find the necessary medical forms provided by NASA, I found the NRS ones, but they referenced a NASA form not availible in the same location.

How do I get a number? Can I pick one not already in use? Do I buy the vynil before or at the event, or is it provided? Are numbers assigned and I have no control over it?

I didn't know that the entry fee listed for the event was for the team and not per individual (driver + co-driver). Not complaining, it was a pleasant surprise, but I was confused on how to register my co-driver.
I didn't know that clicking "register" to get more info on the event, like the cost, would actually add me to the registation list for the organizer to see. Seems premature to me as I didn't even have a race car in the database yet.

A lot of information is given at an event, not before, so the first timer may not know how service areas are assigned or crew exectations or what ever else might be in there. Maybe provide a sample of supps and at-event docs. Maybe this isn't as big a deal as I think it is because I can't think of any other specific info...

The NRS DB has a spot for tow vehicle info. What if I am renting/borrowing at the last minute? How important is that info, to whom?

Tim.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2012 08:54AM by TronDD.

Quote
czwalga
Tech for the first time.

I would actually like to see the tech inspecter's checklist so I can check my car at home before I get all the way to the event and find I'm missing something silly but can't get out in the middle of nowhere. Yes, I can look at the rules, but a lot is implied and to have the list as a final pass would be great.

Like, I always walk around my car and check my lights and toot the horn before I get a state inpection. Silly to waste your own time if you get there and there is a $1 bulb out on a corner marker.

Tim.

Quote
TronDD

Quote
czwalga
Tech for the first time.

I would actually like to see the tech inspecter's checklist so I can check my car at home before I get all the way to the event and find I'm missing something silly but can't get out in the middle of nowhere. Yes, I can look at the rules, but a lot is implied and to have the list as a final pass would be great.

Like, I always walk around my car and check my lights and toot the horn before I get a state inpection. Silly to waste your own time if you get there and there is a $1 bulb out on a corner marker.

Tim.

RA has one on their website that I use. Not sure if NRS does, but I use the RA one before going to any rally.

I had this big long post written up (about recce), but simply:

what the hell recce is (if a NRS event is doing so)

It's something you need to be prepared for, and if an event offers recce without a novice school on recce, can be very confusing. I had a team of accomplished road racers recently crossover into rally. They'd even helped organize TSD's before, and I was sort of mentoring them. Had zero clue how to recce, didn't tell me until after. So a complete newb I can see struggling with that.

A LIST OF WHERE TO GET ALL OF THE SUPPLIES THEY NEED TO BUILD A CAR. This one would be huge. I'm not talking about things like cages and seats, I mean first aid kits (that are legal), triangles, the stickers that indicate where the first aid, electrical killswitch, and fire extinguishers are, etc. The little things are what kill a build and consume the most time getting.

CARS has this absurd first aid kit that you can't buy anywhere, so it requires you to go to a store, buy a kit, then find a store that actually sells the individual pieces they need... and the "approved" list of items are in sizes (for bandages) that don't appear to be available. It's dumb.

When Mitch first opened Checkpoint I told him to make two items.
A rally ready spill kit.
A rally ready first aid kit.

I easily spent a day or two running around town trying to put together a first aid kit. I didn't even have a clue what a Sam Splint was much less where to find one. I never did but thankfully didn't get any shit for it in scrutineering, though I was worried. Thankfully Susquehanna or someone similar had a spill kit you could buy. I think a few places like maybe Safe Drives have both now.

Decals had me pulling my hair out. Where am I supposed to find number? Who can I have print names for me? American flag? Wha! The requirement for name, number and flag should be eliminated and the sticker package should come with your assigned car number so that teams don't have to try to find someone to rape them on cutting vinyl. I think I was charged like $80-100 to print our names for the side windows...

I also didn't have a clue what my blood type was. Not sure if the helmet rule still stands but we didn't think of it until tech and then it was a mad dash and I ended up just writing O positive which I think is the universal donor?

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Grant Hughes

we need to have our blood type somewhere?

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First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
Driver (0), Co-Driver (7)
Organizer (3), Volunteer (3)
Cars Built (2.5), Engines Blown (2) Cages Built (0) # of rotations (3.5)
Last Updated, Apr 9, 2023

Depends. One NRS form asks for it, another, almost otherwise identical form does not. Also asks for last tetnus shot. My med records have neither piece of info.

I found vinyl for my name pretty easily...but by the time I bought a car, I had already poured over the forums and racing supplier web sites for that kind of crap. Other than my name, I only needed a couple "tow" decals. Previous owner fashioned some out of extra NEFR decals. I assume it was a case of "at the event, didn't meet the requirements, what do I do? Quick, get me some scissors."

Tim.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2012 01:34PM by TronDD.

i know the owner of the local sticker booth and he makes everything i want for a good price. Case in point, this one for my S6 wagon.

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First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
Driver (0), Co-Driver (7)
Organizer (3), Volunteer (3)
Cars Built (2.5), Engines Blown (2) Cages Built (0) # of rotations (3.5)
Last Updated, Apr 9, 2023

Excellent guys, I've added another half dozen questions.

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Grassroots rally. It's what I think about.

Questions? I thought you'd be providing answers. Or are you collecting those in a future thread?

Tim.

I can think of three different friends that can cut vinyl for names for pretty much free for me now. Wasn't much use when I was first getting started.
At least in the SCCA days you were supposed to have some selection of pertinent info on your helmet. Name, DOB, and blood type come to mind. Ours were on name tag stickers we bought at Wal Mart in Salem, MO.
I think that requirement was eventually removed or maybe was never even enforced or looked at? I know I never put shit on my new helmet that I've been using since 2005.

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Grant Hughes