CONGRATULATIONS! You have now entered into an age old fraternity who have found a more creative way than farming to consume more than 150% of your time and financial resources! Welcome! Fandom ends here. Now you find out all the behind the scenes answers to the questions you posed while sitting in the grandstands.
- Why doesn't he just fire the engine back up??? He's just bringing out a yellow so he can catch up to the field!!!
- Why won't that car get into his starting spot, is he an idiot???
- Doesn't he know he's got a flat???
All this and MORE...
But seriously, Jason and Ken's advice is sound. Chain maintenance is critical. Nothing more disappointing that FINALLY getting the car on the track and running and having a decent result, and then the chain falls off. Been there and done that!
Other advice for a new start up. Don't worry about carrying all of those spares you just acquired. Experienced teams make a lot of adjustments and try different setups at the track because they know what they want to try. YOU need to focus on GETTING TO THE TRACK. That sounds elementary, but until you've tried to do it, you don't realize how much work there is in just getting the car on the trailer and to the track each week. You've got a few nights of just getting on the track for the feature before you need to worry about making a bar change. Baseline setup in the shop and turns some laps...
And that's the key to getting better is racing as much as you can possibly afford to. That's why I said in an earlier post, the reason all these wunderkids out of the micro ranks are so good is they can race that car in 3 - 4 classes on the same night. Three times the laps means three times the experience. So don't be afraid to follow Ken's advice and pull those wings off and run with the D2 groups that will let you.
My last piece of advice to a first time driver is, once you actually get there and get strapped in and pull out onto the track, DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE. I'm not kidding about this. You cannot hold your breath for 8 laps, but you will try to and it will exhaust you before you get the crossed flags. Every time you get an opportunity to get on track, take it. Hot laps, mud laps, engine heat, whatever it is, every time you get in the car, strap in, fire the engine, work the clutch, and circle the track, you're learning something. You're getting more comfortable in the seat and that's the key. You'll be amazed at how many things you have to make a concerted effort to do when you first get in the car and then after dozens and dozens of repetitions, it becomes second nature. THEN you can focus on learning how to execute a slide job or diamond off a turn.
Good luck. Stay humble. Keep your nose clean. Be respectful of your competitors and don't be afraid to ask for advice or help at the track or in the shop. You'll know you're making progress when you ask a guy for help and he turns you down. That means you're getting good enough that he considers you competition.