1. If you are married, make sure you set enough time aside for family. Because it takes a lot more time to build and maintain multiple cars.
2. When you pick someone to drive your car, make sure they know what is involved before you let them give you their decision. With five race we need a lot of "advertisers" on the race cars and trailers to make everything happen. That is why we show our race cars about 40 times per year and we are also in six parades every year. We don't just show up at the race track and race every Saturday night. It isn't that easy. I get a lot of phone calls and people asking to drive my hot rods. I usually tell them how much time is involved and you can see them lose interest fast. I want all of my drivers to feel proud of the race car they drive. I want each driver to have fun and I'd like each driver to win every week also. But that won't happen. The arrangement between my drivers and myself is simple, I pay all race car expenses and entry fees and we split the winnings. All they have to do is a little maintenance and get the car to the track.
3. I own five race cars. In two years I will probably own six race cars. Just getting all of them to the drag strip all at once isn't easy. Owning five race cars is a major investment, just like owning five race car trailers, and insurance on the cars, trailers and all the spare parts in the trailers. Each driver takes their race car home every week during the racing season and parks it inside. We all keep our race cars, trailers and tow vehicles spotless. I have high expectations. If you don't expect much from a driver, that's what you will get.
4. I let the driver know that I don't hold them responsible for anything that happens to the car, I won't have picked them to drive if I didn't already trust them. Just make sure that they won't hold you responsible if they happened to get injured at the races or on the way to the races. I won't hold them responsible for blown engines, transmissions, etc. If it was going to blow, it didn't know who was driving. See a lawyer if you want something written up. Take a copy of the paper you signed when you entered the race track to the lawyer as an example.
5. Make sure the driver knows what he can and cannot do to the race car. One of my one-year drivers (three years ago) decided he should set the timing the "right" way. I quizzed him what happened on the run, as it slowed .3 in the quarter. "I changed the timing." was his reply. This gentleman was also a rookie drag racer that year and that is another thing, I'll never do again. Make sure your driver is experienced. Let them drive their pickup for two months first or better yet, get a veteran driver who has a lot of time. Because they will be busy, unless you don't have the sponsorship commitments.
6. Thank your drivers and show sincere appreciation for all that they do. I wouldn't be doing this unless I enjoyed it. We really have fun and at times it is a lot of work. We have a great group and I am looking forward to another racing season. I will be adding to this list as time and ideas permit.
7. Read my 10 tips to keep you sponsor (advertiser) happy at http://racingsecrets.com/article_racing-5.html you will need it with multiple race cars
Phil Veldheer ©2001
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