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**lapyignipinge** · 10-14-2010, 02:51 PM

Again think it through.
Test on Monday. That is assuming you do not have a crashed car to repair.
At best it needs hours of work after a race and likely an engine change.
Next race might be next weekend and hundreds of miles away and practice starts on Fri.
Almost impossible logistics plus totally wiped out mechanics.
If a car breaks or crashes on the Monday and has to be on track on Fri. hundreds of miles away when does it get fixed?
It is bad enough now.
I have been there and it ain't effing fun.
Leave right after a race on Sunday night late after packing up still filthy and stinking. Drive till 1 or 2 am. Crash at a 2 bit motel along with other teams. Hot water runs out before everyone gets a very needed shower. Only food day old sandwiches. Up at 5 or 6 am and start driving. About 8 maybe find some greasy truck stop open to get something to eat. Lunch break maybe or maybe not. Depending on time maybe just take out coffee and a crappy pre made sandwhich.
Stop somewhere about 7 or 8 and hope to get some sleep after maybe a good meal or maybe not. Possibly a decent shower if you have enough energy and a semi decent hotel/motel.
Sometime very late Tues. or maybe early Wed. arrive at next track. Even if no problems car needs total overhaul before going on track first thing Fri.
And you want to move everything 24 hours later?
These freaking cars do not magically fix themselves.
After races two weeks in a row hundreds of miles apart I have been a walking zombie by Sunday night.
Party? All I wanted to do was sleep in a real bed after a decent shower or better yet a long hot bath. Even food was secondary.
Geez isn't glamourous to be a professional racing mechanic and travel all over the world.
I lasted 7 years before I burned out. After 3 years went back and lasted 6 months.
Then did 10 years in non pro racing and quit when my driver did. We got married a year later.
Just the same it was fun much of the time but glamourous it ain't!
The pit popsies are not interested in the mechanics. Well there are exceptions

if you are not too beat.

10-14-2010, 02:51 PM	#9
lapyignipinge Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 576 Senior Member	Again think it through. Test on Monday. That is assuming you do not have a crashed car to repair. At best it needs hours of work after a race and likely an engine change. Next race might be next weekend and hundreds of miles away and practice starts on Fri. Almost impossible logistics plus totally wiped out mechanics. If a car breaks or crashes on the Monday and has to be on track on Fri. hundreds of miles away when does it get fixed? It is bad enough now. I have been there and it ain't effing fun. Leave right after a race on Sunday night late after packing up still filthy and stinking. Drive till 1 or 2 am. Crash at a 2 bit motel along with other teams. Hot water runs out before everyone gets a very needed shower. Only food day old sandwiches. Up at 5 or 6 am and start driving. About 8 maybe find some greasy truck stop open to get something to eat. Lunch break maybe or maybe not. Depending on time maybe just take out coffee and a crappy pre made sandwhich. Stop somewhere about 7 or 8 and hope to get some sleep after maybe a good meal or maybe not. Possibly a decent shower if you have enough energy and a semi decent hotel/motel. Sometime very late Tues. or maybe early Wed. arrive at next track. Even if no problems car needs total overhaul before going on track first thing Fri. And you want to move everything 24 hours later? These freaking cars do not magically fix themselves. After races two weeks in a row hundreds of miles apart I have been a walking zombie by Sunday night. Party? All I wanted to do was sleep in a real bed after a decent shower or better yet a long hot bath. Even food was secondary. Geez isn't glamourous to be a professional racing mechanic and travel all over the world. I lasted 7 years before I burned out. After 3 years went back and lasted 6 months. Then did 10 years in non pro racing and quit when my driver did. We got married a year later. Just the same it was fun much of the time but glamourous it ain't! The pit popsies are not interested in the mechanics. Well there are exceptions if you are not too beat.
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