- Once you have the helmet on and strapped in, it is way too late to wonder if this is a good idea
- The racing and rally communities are small, and they have long memories, so be nice
- It does not matter if it’s a 12 car road rally or a national championship, you are still a racer
- The part you need will be left at home
- Fast cars are cool, knowing when it acceptable to go fast is even cooler
- Rally cars are drawn towards stumps, ditches and trees. Despite the best efforts of the driver the inevitable can only be delayed, not prevented
- “Fast – Reliable – Cheap” decide which two out of the three you want before you buy a car
- This is way too expensive a hobby not to have fun
- It always used to be better than it is now
- Nap when you have the opportunity, go to the toilet before you need to
- Racing extracts a heavy mental toll, be ready with correct change
- Food and beer is the post race social lubricant, always come prepared with both
- Being both good and lucky is great, but at times it’s still not enough
- The louder the bang when you hit something the longer you should take to make sure the car is good before pushing again
- Racing isn’t just a sport, it’s a lifestyle filled with incredibly generous people, and a few arseholes
- It will cost more than you budgeted, get used to it
- The more you stare at the temperature gauge the quicker it goes from OK to red
- It gets cold in the desert
- Only one person is responsible for your results. It’s a waste of time and energy to play the blame game.
- Remember nomex is not fireproof, it just buys you a few seconds to get out
- If nothing on the race car is broken give it a few minutes, that will change
- Real toilets are to be appreciated, you can’t have quiet time in a portapotty
- Everyone is a brilliant driver after the 4th beer at the post rally party, don’t correct people
- The closer to the end of a race the louder and more urgent the strange noises coming from the engine become
- Rolling a car hurts
- Know when to be serious, and when to laugh.
- Almost all racers are slightly OCD
- Rule of P’s – planning and preparation prevent a piss poor performance
- A HANS device will not stop you getting a stiff neck, just a basal skull fracture
- “Did Not Finish” is a very expensive, and frustrating, way to go racing
- No one said gravity is fair, just consistent
- Happiness is fresh tires
- Nobody cares what you did yesterday or what you are going to do tomorrow. The now is important
- You’ll never stop learning
- Enjoy the moment, the feeling and the people that make racing so very, very special
