As introduced in our previous newsletters, checklists were assembled as good reminders for the numerous tasks & hardware that we would need for racing. Note that going through checklist items and organizing the records can be done by an enthusiastic pit crew member, such as a spouse, relative, or friend who is intimate with the racing effort. Here are links to previous checklists:

• View packing checklist
• View safety certifications checklist
• View tow vehicle checkout list; trailer checkout list
• View prior to race day checklist
• Arriving at the track checklist.

In this Newsletter: Checklists are provided for how we did our tuning plans upon arrival on race day at the racing location, unloading, & pit preparation. As we would think of a task or item during preparation, we would add that to one of the checklists. Every time we forgot a preparation task or item in an outing, we would add that to one of the checklists as a reminder for the next outing.

PREPARE RACECAR (OR RACE BOAT) FOR WARMUP
o secure racer on jack stands or chassis lift
o check & rebalance rear tires (racecars) if needed
o reinstall tires & check rear lug nut torque (racecars)
o remove valve covers, lubricate valve train, and reinstall valve covers
o confirm warm up or first round nozzles & bypass jetting
o if the engine was in storage for longer than 2 weeks, a light oil is spray into the cylinders
o install warm up spark plugs that were gapped ahead of time
o for blown engines, check blower belt for proper tightness,
o fill the engine with water if applicable
o fill the engine with oil

Note: On cool mornings, we transported engine oil in the warm tow vehicle or heated trailer; then the engine was filled with warm oil; on very cool mornings, low viscosity, thin oil (such as 5w20 weight) was used for warm up. Then it was replaced with high viscosity racing oil. We used a mixture of:

• 50% oil viscosity 20w50
• 50% oil viscosity 60 or 70 wt.

It was important to me to have a light oil viscosity in the racing engine when it was cold. That was done with either a multi viscosity oil mixture on warm days or a light warm up oil such as a 5w20 multi viscosity on real cool outings. Others use crank case oil heaters as a good alternative.

o for engines with crank case oil heaters, set up heaters as needed

Note: if engine oil is contaminated with fuel from a previous run, heating oil may boil away that fuel causing a fire hazard from the fumes without suitable safety provisions.

o fill with fuel for warm up

Note: When racing fuel is purchased, the container is marked with the date of purchase; old fuel is not mixed with new fuel; old fuel is used first, usually for warm-up.

o install remote starter
o procure squirt bottle to prime the engine
o procure spray lubricant for blower
o locate near by fire extinguishers
o spin for oil pressure
o start in a safe manner as necessary
o bring up to temperature
o check for response as needed.

RACE ENGINE PRIOR TO RUN CHECKLIST
_________Location
_________Temp
_________Barometer
_________Humidity
_________air density
_________blower OD
_________throttle plate clear
_________idle % leak down
_________idle pressure
_________main BP jet
_________AFR low speed
_________AFR high speed
_________HS jet size
_________HS opening RPM
_________HS pressure
_________plugs
_________plug gap
_________timing advance
_________fill engine oil
_________fill engine water

DRAG RACECAR PRIOR TO RUN CHECKLIST
fill differential _________
brake fluid check _________
brake handle clear _________
check fire bottle levers_________
check chute levers _________
nitro percent _________
nitro by wt or vol _________
nitro temp _________
fill fuel _________
rear tire psi pass _________
rear tire psi driver _________
tire roll out pass _________
tire roll out driver _________
front tire psi _________
front tire toe-in _________

TOW VEHICLE SETUP CHECKLIST (DRAG RACING)
tow vehicle fueled up _________
battery pack _________
remote starter _________
remote starter cables _________
primer bottle _________
blower lube spray _________
fire extinguisher _________
pull cable _________
tools _________
heat gun _________
pen / pencil _________
records checklist _________
camera _________
cell phone _________
check tail gate straps _________

DRIVER SUIT (FOR DRAG RACE STAGING LANES)
fire suit _________
helmet _________
anti fog _________
clean towels _________
water _________
fire boots _________
fire socks _________
fire underwear _________
neck harness _________
neck brace _________