Timetable for the Beginning Racer

6 MONTHS - Purchase GCR and applicable rule book for class you plan to race.
Study the general rules in the GCR and peruse the rules as you see fit for the class
you race (it's your responsibility to be legal). Look at the schedule of events (or last year's) and plan for three schools. Always plan for an extra school or race just in
case. Racers always need spares--even races. Look at other divisions for
schools if your division's dates don't fit with your plans.

5 MONTHS - If you are building a race car, you should be well under way. If
you are planning to rent a car for school, you should contact suppliers for prices and terms. Make the deposit and commit to an event now.

4 MONTHS - Make sure you SCCA membership is current. Join now. Anyone who is
going to be crew (in the hot pits) for you must also be a member.

3 MONTHS - Make an appointment with a doctor to get your physical.
Contact the license chairman or the SCCA office for appropriate forms. Make
sure you have your safety equipment in order according to the GCR and your
desire to live. Buy a new helmet (make sure it meets the current SCCA SNELL
standards). Sit in your car. Think about sitting strapped in tight for 30
minutes. Can you reach the gear shift? Are the belts in the right place?
While strapped in, can you reach all switches that you need to start and
shut off the car? Can you activate the fire system? Can you see behind you
with your helmet on and strapped in?

2 MONTHS - Make sure you have a trailer to fit your race car and that it
will make it to the race track and back (believe me, you'll have enough
trouble without highway breakdowns). Make the same assurances for your tow
vehicle. Glance over the GCR again and brush up on the stuff that looks like
you never saw it before. Consider what rubber you will use at your school.
Buy the tires and have them mounted now. There is rarely any tire service
company at a driver's school. Finish your race car.

1 1/2 MONTHS - Call the registrar for the school you plan to attend.
Make sure that you get the application forms in time. You should have or
almost have your Novice Permit in your hands by now. Make sure that your
bill is current at the body shop. You will probably need them again when you
get back from the school. Finish your race car.

1 MONTH - Call the license chairman if necessary to make sure that you have
your Novice Permit in time for the school. Finish your race car.

25 DAYS - Call the chief of TECH for your region and make plans to have your
car certified if it is not already. You must have a vehicle log book to
participate in SCCA events. Make sure your bill is current at your machine
shop. You will probably need them when you return from the school! Finish
the race car! Tech will not certify cars in a cardboard box.

23 DAYS - Make sure that your wife or husband actually did mail the entry
for the school. You don't want to show up and have them say "Who?".

20 DAYS - Load your car on the trailer. Make sure it will really fit.
Make sure your trailer is street legal. Tow everything somewhere (like to
get the vehicle log book) to make sure there are no problems. Make sure you
have spare tires for the trailer, tow vehicle and race car. Do all the
lights work? Especially the lights on the race car required for the
certification. Make sure that your bill at the parts store is current. You
will probably need them when you get back from the school.

10 DAYS - Put all of your tools in one place and make plans to pack them
into the tow vehicle/trailer/race car assembly. You will need them all! Pack them in to make sure that they fit somewhere. Now, unpack all the tools and call all of your friends (if you have any left by now?) - you will need them to help you finish your race car in time for the school.

7 DAYS - Surely you are finished with the race car by now. Pack everything
up and put it whereyou can find it when you need it - you WILL need it. Pack some extra clothes to change into when the ones you are wearing will no longer wipe the grease from your hands. Pack an umbrella and a rain suit - sun screen - warm
weather clothes - cold weather clothes - ignore the forecast, they're never
right? Get a canopy or cover for the car at night. Consider an alternate
career. Your boss may object to your never working on Fridays and Mondays
again. Make sure your new job can do without you during October (after all,
you ARE going to make the Runoffs, right!?)

3 DAYS - Make plans for extra liquid (of ALL Kinds) in the cooler.
Water can taste awfully good after a hot session of RACING. Plan light food
during the day. Your stomach will probably not hold anything anyway.
Besides, you won't have time to eat in between working on the car, meeting
the instructor, working on the car, looking at the track, scratching your
... head, working on the car, listening to your wife (husband) tell you what
a stupid thing you have done, working on the car, etc.

2 DAYS - Actually pack up all your equipment for the 'last' time. Load the
race car (finish it first!). See your attorney - your spouse will probably
file for divorce as soon as you get back from the school. Think about what
it would be like if you could actually get some sleep. After all, you have a
long drive tomorrow, and a tough weekend ahead.

LAST DAY - Go back and add three days to this list. The car is ALMOST
finished and you are ALMOST ready to start loading up. Call your friends again!

FRIDAY - Take a breather. Relax. Drive carefully. It really would be dumb to
have a wreck on the way to your first race wouldn't it!?

SATURDAY - WOW! Why didn't I do this sooner?

SUNDAY - Now I understand why we do this! When's the next event!?