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Part 11: Making a list, and checking it twice

by Phil Abrami (514 487-4646), abrami@education.concordia.ca)

I love lists. And notes too. I sometimes wake up at night and write myself notes. I don’t like Post-It notes as much as scraps of paper and tape. That’s because I keep notes for a long time. My office desk is covered in notes stuck to the sides and edges. And, yes, I have notes stuck to the computer too. When we’re driving my wife, Valerie, will write down a list for me. I have lists about my courses, lists about my research, lists about my car, lists about the club, and, naturally, lists about my articles in Contact. And do I have electronic lists and notes? The personal computer has added a whole new electronic dimension to my list and note behavior. Of course, I have a "To Do" folder but I’ve got others too, organized by topic and year. And what I consider the more important stuff gets stored on more than one computer, so I have duplicate lists. Yes, I’m a pack-rat too but that’s another story. Anyway, if you love lists you’re going to love this installment of Club Racing Views. If you don’t I’m sorry. But at least you get to turn the page. Think of my poor family. A couple of my friends in club racing love lists too. Carter Hunt and Mark Magee agreed to share their car and track lists with me and you. If you are not a racer the usual caveats apply to the information in these lists. Some of what’s on them is not going to apply to you and some goes beyond what is necessary for driving school preparation, especially if you are just starting out. Even so, these lists should give you some idea of the things to look out for when its time for an inspection. And then, of course, if you love lists… We’ll start with three lists from Carter Hunt: a pre-event checklist, a parts checklist, and an event checklist. Carter lives in Raleigh, North Carolina and began taking driving schools in the late 1980s. By the early 1990s he moved on to become a driving school instructor. From the mid to the late 90s, Carter raced in the Improved Touring class of SCCA. In 1996, he was the 1996 Southeast US Endurance Champion in ITC. He is presently building an E30 for BMW club racing which should make its debut in Spring, 2000. We hope that Carter thinks about escaping the summer heat and joining us in our Canadian races this year. Our next two lists are from Mark Magee. The first is both a pre-event and parts checklist. It’s less detailed than Carter’s in some areas but more comprehensive in others. Mark also provided us with a neat event checklist. Mark's first introduction to high performance driving was in 1992 at a Skip Barber school. Over the next few years, he attended almost all of the BMW CCA schools on the west coast, and started instructing in 1995. In 1997, Mark joined the BMW CCA Club Racing series, driving an E30 M3 in J-stock. Mark's pre-event checklist has evolved from the intial driving schools, through a couple autocross seasons, and a couple racing seasons. He evolves the list by keeping a copy at hand during each event, and making note of anything he wishes had packed. The list is pared down substantially when he drives his street car to an open track event, and used in its full glory when he tows to a race. Mark's session check list is adapted from a check list developed by Darren Young, and who campaigns an ITC BMW 1600 in southern California. We hope Mark decides to race with us this summer too. go to top

Pre Event Check List

1. Front Suspension and Steering lower control arms inspect front struts, springs, left side right side inspect tie rods, left right anti roll bar mounts and end links upper strut mounts steering rack steering wheel movement power steering pump and lines	2. Front Brakes fluid level fluid color master cylinder mount booster and vac hoses fluid tubes under hood caliper mount, left right pad mounting bolts, right left fluid hoses to caliper, left right caliper condition, right left pad condition, left right rotor condition, right left
3. Rear Brakes fluid lines, left right pad condition, right left rotor condition, left right	4. Rear Suspension subframe and trailing arm mounts, left right upper shock mounts, left right lower shock bolt, left right spring, left right anti roll bar mounts and endlinks, left right CV boots and half shafts, right left diff mounts, leaks
5. Fuel System fuel tank mounts fuel lines from tank to engine, pressure regulator return lines fuel filter fuel pump	6. Interior fire extinguisher guages belts two way radio general look over window net Cool Pad Unit Driver Cooling System (Shameless Plug for my product) water bottle cage and mounts
7. Cooling Systerm radiator fan and fan clutch coolant fill tank hoses thermostat housing coolant level burp valve	8. Oil oil cooler cooler lines oil filter oil level oil condition
9. Engine throttle linkage intake valve adjustment? distrib/plug wires coil battery wiring starter oil pan bolts, etc.	10. Exhaust manifold/header O2 sensor manifold to tip inspection
11. Drive Train transmission mounts shift linkage trans. fluid level bleed clutch? drive shaft guibo center bearing universal at diff.	12. Body front bumper rear bumper front air dam glass tail lights head lights turn signal and side marker lights hood and hood shock wipers, function and blade condition wheels and tires

Parts Check List

Spark plug box Spare coil Distrib. cap Spare distrib Rotor button Plug wires, the longest one that can be used in any position Oil filter Motor oil Trans. oil Timing belt Brake pads box Gloves box Compression tool box (silicone and gasket seal tubes, etc.) Various materials box (metal, string, bungee cord, tie down wire, electrical wire) Spares box # 1 (alternator, belts, etc.) Spares box # 2 (Fuel Pump, Earls Tubing, etc.) Blue top box # 1 (aerosols, paper towels, etc.) Blue top box # 2 (50/50 Coolant Mix, other Fluids) Toe Gauge Smart Camber Mounted Rain Tires Second set alum wheels Jack Jack Stands

Canopy Chairs Video Camera Top tool box Bottom tool box Clipboard Cooler Pit Board Sunglasses Credintials and paperwork box Car cover Fire extinguisher Shop manual Club Racing Rule Book Three ring binder (to keep records of set up, etc.) Driver suit Driving gloves Driving shoes Horse collar Helmet Creeper Work light Roller tray Half bag oil dry

Event Check List

Set Up:  Practice  Qualify  Race  (circle one) Event _____________________ Date ______________________ Location _____________________ Weather _____________________ Time of Day _____________________ Plugs ________________________ Tire Brand and Size _______________________ Tire Pressures ________________ LF ____________________RF                     _________________ LR _____________________RR Wheels ___________________________ Front Shock Setting __________________________ Rear Shock Setting ___________________________ Front Camber ________________ LF ___________________ RF Rear Camber _________________LR ___________________ RR Front Toe __________________________ Rear Toe Front Spring Rate _____________________ Rear Spring Rate ______________________ Front Brake Pads ______________________ Rear Brake Pads _______________________ Front Spring Setting (coilover height) ____________________ Rear Spring Setting __________________________________ Motor Oil Brand and Type ______________________________ Brake Fluid Brand and Type ____________________________ Oil Filter Brand and Type _________________________________ Air Fuel Ratio, fuel Pressure setting ________________________ Fuel Level Leaving the Pit _______________________________

I used to refer to these after every race weekend. It really was great being able to look back at what I had tried. go to top

Pre Event and Parts Checklist

Car Preparation   tech inspection   oil change   brake fluid change   balance tires   wash car   wash spare wheels   tape headlights   numbers   tire pressure       Car Supplies/Tools   duct tape   brake pads, rotors, fluid   bleeder kit   micrometer   air tank   air guage   air pump   motor oil   windex/towels   jack   jack stands   mechanix gloves   latex gloves   knee pads   back support   tool box   repair manual   flash light   tarp   water   spray bottle (soapy water)   shoe polish   wax   baking soda   jumper cables   spare nuts & bolts   hand cleaner   trash bags   oil absorb   gas cans and nozzle   broom   oil drip pan

Shelter   EZ up & tie down straps   chairs     Personal Safety Stuff   helmet   neck support   ear plugs   driving suit (hanger)   driving gloves, shoes   nomex sock, head sock, underwear   cotton shorts, t-shirts     Electronics   video camera (blank tape, batteries, battery eliminator   Hotlap timer   transponder (battery)   9 and AA volt batteries     Paper Work   tech inspection form   track map   registration package, directions, schedule, entrance passes, etc.   log book and license   clip boards, track check lists     Tow Rig Preparation   tire pressure on trailer   tire pressure on truck   fuel   check oil

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Event/location _____________________ Date: ______________ Session: P Q R

Ambient conditions, comments: _______________________________________

Morning check (for first session of day, do this in addition to pre-session check list)   exterior: tire (wear, cuts, pressure – consider sunlight)   other: timing light – check batteries, set up and turn on (near start/finish)   exterior: torque wheels (17mm, 75 ft-lbs)   cockpit: steering wheel screws -- 3mm allen   exterior: tape wheel weights   cockpit: batteries (transponder, timing system)   exterior: numbers installed   cockpit: passenger belt buckled   exterior: headlights taped   under hood: alternator bolt (13 mm)
Morning (or new tire) tread depth   left right front               out mid in in mid out rear	brake pads   l-out l-in r-in r-out front         rear
Pre-session checklist   under car: suspension – esp. REAR COILS, exhaust, brake lines, drive and half shafts, leaks   cockpit: gauges & mirrors clean   under hood: oil level (dip stick FULLY reseated)   cockpit: helmet, gloves, baclava, neck support   under hood: brake fluid (level, leaks)   cockpit: fire extinguisher   under hood: coolant (level, catch tank)   cockpit: fill water bottle   under hood: belts, hoses, wires, throttle linkage, leaks, hood closed   cockpit: video camera (tape, electrical, sign board updated)   under hood: shock settings LF___RF___LR___RR___   cockpit: loose items   exterior: windows & mirrors clean   exterior: fuel (level, cap)   exterior: check trunk for loose items, check battery   exterior: tire pressures (record cold below) Noted action items:
Pre-grid check   helmet cinched   timing system (turn on and reset)   window net in place, door closed, hood closed   video camera (start)
Post session check list (immediately after session)   tire (pressure, wear, cuts)   timing system (turn off) end of day: retrieve light from start/finish       video camera (turn off)
Post session tread depth   left right front               out mid in in mid out rear	Pressure   left right   cold hot cold hot front         rear
Driver comments (and excuses):
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Lap Times

1		11
2		12
3		13
4		14
5		15
6		16
7		17
8		18
9		19
10		20

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Last updated on 18 March 2002.