Newbie going to CMP

Our team has extremely sophisticated on-board telemetry.  It provides real time data about how the car is handling.  Features include:

-if it's moving forward, we're braking hard
-moving left or right? Yeah, we're cornering.
-If it's upside down, we probably rolled the car
-if it's in a puddle, the car is most likely on fire and evacuation is needed

Haha, but in all seriousness, no, you don't need to know how to work on a car. No one on your team really NEEDS to know. It's just nice to have, because if you can get your car running again after it breaks down 20 minutes in, your team will have a lot more fun.

My suggestion is to start searching craigslist for cheap cars now. You're going to be hooked.  I'll be with Team Eau Rude, a silver/red Sentra.  Come by and say hi, we'll show you the ropes of Lemons building.

As long as some of your team knows some of the car stuff, its a great way to learn (as long as you're willing to put in the time and energy and some of your team members are mechanically inclined).  It does become addictive and time can become precious.

Feel free to stop by and shoot the breeze with the Schumacher Taxi teams; we'll be in side by side in the CMP garage area running the #2 Craptation (aka 1984 Chevy Citation) and a 1990 Audi 80.  Glad to spread the "Lemons experience" or help out.

trippinbillies40,

  That's the kind of high tech stuff that would be in these kind of cars.  The videos that I'm see of a couple of the events seem like they are so much fun.  I'm hoping that this weekend I can learn as much as possible about Lemons racing.  I'm sure I'm going to be coming by to see you this weekend.

Walk around and make some new friends. You'll see that many of the teams are super friendly and more than welcome to chat with you. Be sure to come by our setup (Eagle Racing and TrackGeeks). I'm sure we will be near the StupidButTough guys.

Sounds like a great time and great people to meet.  Can't wait.

I'm only about an hour away for the track. How long before the race should I show up?  I wish I could make the events on Friday but I have other things I have to do. I'll look for you at the track.

I'll be at my first race, spectating for now. What is the etiquette for poking around the paddocks?

"You guys look like you can use a beer" is a great opener.  "I can weld that for you" is a very close second.  Being in a position to provide those items is a bonus.

Wrenching isn't everything.  Fast counts too.  But if you're not fast, don't despair.  And don't worry too much about knowing how to wrench.  If you are willing to do whatever the team needs, you'll be a popular teammate.  When I got involved in Lemons, I knew how to change a tire.

That's it.

I wasn't fast, I didn't know sh!t about car repair, and I couldn't weld.

Two years later, I've gotten faster, I can do simple repairs, help with complex repairs and (sorta) weld.  How did I learn all of this?  I made myself as eager and available as possible, given my job.  Anytime anyone on the team was willing to teach, I was there.  I went to the local Leisure Learning class on welding.  I decided that looking stupid and clueless in front of my teammates (like when I admitted that I had learned how to replace a radiator but didn't remember how to perform an oil change) was less important than seat time. 

I also made sure the husband and I consistently brought beer to the wrenching nights, helped feed the crew (both through my mad skillz in the kitchen and judicious use of Church's chicken) and consistently paid up when $$$ was due.