If there aer any other tips or things to remember when you go out there, please reply and tell everyone what they are.


DSM SHOOTOUT TIPS

Preparing for the trip:

Car preperation: Make sure all fluids (oil, tranny, coolant, brake, ect) are checked and the car is in good running condition. Also make sure your battery is in good condition. You don’t want to break down driving out there, or once you get there. Check the condition of your tires and keep them properly inflated, including your spare. Even though you don’t race with the spare in the car, it is such a long drive you should bring it. Bringing an extra can of fix-a-flat is a good idea.

Tools: Bring a few basic tools and equipment for your car, such as a pressure gauge (you will need it for racing anyway), a small flashlight (the mini mag lights are perfect: small, tough, and bright), electrical tape, an adjustable wrench, screwdrivers (flat and phillips) or a leatherman (probably the best compact all around tool to have). These are things you should always have in your car anyway, but this is especially true for a long trip.

Stuff for the track: Bring plenty of sunblock and sunglasses. You don’t want to ruin your shotout experience by getting burned out there. Don’t forget to bring at least one bottle of water with you (preferrably several) for each day you are racing. It will be very hot out there, and you don’t want to have to pay the track’s sky-high prices for drinks. It might be a good idea to bring a few snacks too(ones that won’t go bad in the heat and sun), since the price of food at the track is also very high. (With the noteable exception of the 1 lbs of ice cream for $1 deal!)

For racing: Bring a bottle of shoe polish or window chalk (window chalk probably works better) so you can write your dial in time on your window. It will be hot out, but you will not be able to race unless you are wearing long pants, a shirt with sleeves (a short sleeve T-shirt is good), regular sneakers/shoes (no sandals or open toed shoes), and socks. Bring a helmet if you run faster than 14.0 seconds in the ¼ mile.

Other items: Some other things to remember for the trip are your cell phone and a cell phone charger, maybe a portable CD player if you have any down time, the usual bathroom stuff (shampoo, brush, deordorant, razor, ect), and all the clothes you will need for the length of the stay.

Funding: Make sure you have enough money for gas, food, toll roads, hotel, racing/entry fees, entertainment, and anything else you might need to buy out there. And, then bring a little extra on top of that just in case.

Directions: Have your directions printed out and you go over the route ahead of time. Getting lost on the way out there is not a good idea.

Just before leaving: Get a good night’s sleep before driving out to the shootout. You don’t want to fall asleep at the wheel.


The drive:

Caravan: Keep the speed down while you’re in a caravan, and keep the caravan formation “loose” so other cars can merge onto the highway and get to their exits without problems. Nothing scares other drivers more (and causes them to get on their cell phones and complain to the cops) than a dozen loud sports cars driving by in tight formation at 90+ mph. Keeping the speed down also helps to prevent losing members of the caravan. A good idea is to have at least two people in the caravan with radar/laser detectors. Position one of them at the very front of the caravan, the other at the very rear, and keep people without detectors in the center.

Communications: If you’re in a caravan, CB radios or those short-range walkie-talkies work well for keeping in touch with other members (no cell phone roaming charges). This will help to notify other caravan members of cops ahead or closing in from behind (cops have CBs too, so don’t make it obvious you are warning other people of cops on the road), if someone is having mechanical problems, and it helps pass the time on the long drive.

Don’t doze off: Take breaks along the way, especially if you are getting a bit tired and need them! You don’t want to fall asleep while driving.

At the shootout:

The strip: Get to the drag strip ahead of time so you can properly prepare your car for the day’s racing. And pay attention to the PA system for when your class is up for time trials or eliminations.

The 5-O: The cops will be out in force in and around Norwalk. They know there are two big racing events this weekend. Don’t drink and drive (there is a huge national crackdown on drinking and driving this July) and don’t speed. And DON’T RACE on the street. With all the DSMs around it’s tempting enough, but with the import event on Saturday, you will have a lot of stupid Honda owners and ricers trying to race on the street. The cops will really throw the book at you if you are caught racing, so keep it at the track!

Be good: And, be on your best behavior out there. There were some problems last year with cars getting vandalized, things being stolen at the shootout, street racing, people disturbing the peace, and some people driving by cops at 110+mph. The shooutout will not continue if the people that attend it behave badly, so be on your best behavior and make sure the people you are with are also on their best behavior.

"Tutto fa brodo."

Todd Scungio
98 RS
15.173 @ 90.70 MPH

And also a 2011 Ralliart