Hey guys,

So far I'm still on track to hit comp school in late sept. in Memphis (MIR).

Any vets out there willing to lend a friendly tip or two about comp school, or anything that might be of help to me?

Watch for and respond to flags

Don't try to be fast, be smooth and use consistent lines and braking points

Look ahead, look to the corner exit from entry, look at the big picture

Prep the car fully beforehand, and have someone to help with fuel and tire stuff, if the NASA school is like the SCCA school you won't have any time to futz with the car.

Listen to your instructor, figure out what they are looking for, and do it

Look at each and every flag station, every lap. You need to have a real time flag status marker in your brain - don't count on catching a flag as an exception.

When you are thinking about passing someone, ask yourself what the flag status is

Read and understand the CCR "Rules of the Road"

If there is something you don't quite get about those rules, ask your instructor. If he can't answer, ask the chief instructor.

Don't try to be super racey, but don't be so timid that people are worried you aren't ready yet. Basically, no dicey passes. Body contact will usually be an immediate fail unless you're on the receiving end. There's no prize money for winning comp school.

Make sure whoever is crewing for you (if you are lucky enough to have someone) triple checks hood/deck pins. Saw someone end their comp school weekend early when the hood flipped back into the windshield because they hurriedly got into the car after class.

Read the CCR on passing 2-3 times and ask questions on areas that aren't clear.

Hadn't thought about that - I'm sure I will be short on time. Good reminders on other points too.



That's a great idea - as you are thinking of setting up the pass, part of the checklist should be flag status.



As you and TJ have said - I need to go back and reread a couple more times. I did spend some time in there, but more would be better for sure.



I will keep this in mind to help ensure I don't get caught in a situation where I don't know the needed protocol in the situation.

Sounds like a 9/10 type of pace then, but smart and not overly aggressive.




I will have a friend with me but he's running time trials, so won't likely be much help. I don't usually have anyone with me other than my wife, but she tries to be helpful. I just need to be a little more clear what I need from her and I think she'll be glad to do it. She's not the typical sideline wife, thank goodness. Up till now, I just haven't really pulled her into it too much.



Noted, will do.

I guess the one thing that I don't quite understand is the whole concept of allowing one blocking maneuver. I will probably ask some questions about that to make sure I understand for both sides of it (trying to pass, and getting pressure from car behind). I would imagine the intent is to prevent the guy ahead from swerving all over to block the car behind, creating a volatile unsafe (and also not fun) situation. Is that right?

As an instructor I always preached about safety first and foremost. Bring yourself and your car home in one piece. Second was fun - and if you're not having fun then something isn't right (and it sure ain't worth spending this much money to NOT have fun!)

Be prepared for rain. Have rain tires and wipers that work. If there's any chance for rain in the forecast put the rain tires on. If your school is anything like mine, you will not have time to swap tires between sessions.

Correct. You're allowed one move to try to keep him from passing you.

Example: There is a car behind you and coming off T10 at Putnam, he has a better run then you. In anticipation of him trying to pass, you move to the inside going down the straight away. You have just used your one allowable move, but now the car trying to pass you has to try to complete an outside pass into T1 at Putnam. Not impossible, but usually not likely.

Well I don't have wipers but I do have Rain X and a hillbilly defroster that works. Has been okay so far.

Will also have a new unshaved set of RA1's (the only RA1s I have at this point), so that should do it for the rain tires.

So in this example the "move" is to go off line in a defensive maneuver. When does that "reset"? As in, when can you make another move? After turn 1 in the example or after the front straight?

Put your wipers back on! Rain X might work if you're out in front running 60 mph but it won't work at all when your nose is up behind the guy in front of you and you're below 50 mph turning into a corner!

Try this...next time it's raining take your street car out on the highway and pull up behind a semi. Turn your wipers off and see how well that Rain X works. In the draft/wake of another car the air won't blow the windshield clear. Wipers on full speed car hardly keep it clear enough at the start of a race when 20 cars are all bunched together and the roostertails are at full song. What you'll see is a heavy, fine mist that is best described as what you experience behind/passing an 18 wheeler in the rain.

Sidney

I don't currently have any of the components to put wipers back on, but I could find some on thirdgen.org I"m sure.

The real issue though is that I have a polycarbonate windshield. I don't think wipers work too well with that. Doesn't the lexan end up scratched beyond belief after a few short moments? I know the stuff scratches pretty easily, even with the anti scratch coating some have.

But I can see your point, wipers would be great for sure. I could in theory go back to a glass windshield I guess.

What do other people do about this problem?