I remember the days when three weeks til Race Day seemed an eternity. Sleepless nights waiting til the day you could hit the track to see what you can do…wondering how you’ll compare with the others…visions of the checkered flag waving as you secure your spot on the podium. Three weeks couldn’t come fast enough. Those were the days where I had no clue what could have happened, what should have happened, and what kind of preparation was needed to make it happen.

Life was so simple back in the day. All I had to worry about was having enough cash for fuel, making sure there was enough tire tread left for a day at the track, and maybe an oil change before the big day. Lunches and drinks were packed, and maybe a sleeping bag in case you didn’t have enough money for a hotel room.

All was grand except for one small, intricate detail…I wasn’t competitive. I wasn’t even close…heck, looking at our lap times, one would think we weren’t even at the same track! Class was in session and I was getting schooled out there.

After a few “three weeks til race days” had passed, I quickly learned what I was lacking. It wasn’t a huge budget that I was missing, nor was it a full team backing me up. Although these things would definitely have helped looking back, what I was lacking was simple. What I was missing was Preparation! I lacked a plan, I lacked Motivation, and I lacked the drive to come up with a plan before the big day.

Whether you are racing on a shoestring budget or running a full race team with an unlimited budget, Preparation is the one thing that separates those that just go out there are wing it and those that grow, learn from what works and what doesn’t, and strive to make the changes needed to see a difference every time they hit the track. It is that Preparation that takes an individual or a team to the next level.

As I have learned through my years of success and failures on and off the track, its not the results of what you do that matter, but rather its that you learn from those failures and successes and then integrate them into a plan as you prepare for the next event.

Preparation starts with research. It starts off the track…in your garage…or at the shop. It doesn’t matter where or who is working on your car. It just matters that there is a clear goal and it is communicated to everyone involved. In my case, much to my own ignorance, lack of time and motivation to learn how to turn a wrench, I am fortunate to have an elite group of people to help me with those mechanical skills in which I lack. At the same time, I am at their mercy of their own availability.  Without them, I would seriously be sitting next to a half finished car scratching my head where to go next. Where I lack in mechanical skills, I make up for in areas where I can make a difference.

As a driver, I educate myself well in advance about the track I plan to run next. Studying track maps, discussing with other drivers about the proper line, and watching YouTube videos with in car footage to see what it looks like from behind the wheel.

When sourcing parts, whether at a junkyard or with the help of the expert performance parts specialists like those at NissanRaceShop.com, finding the parts you need will always be be a challenge. It takes an endless amount of time but with some diligence and patience, the information is out there. And don’t let people tell you that you have to be rich to be competitive…although most of the time, it is true, don’t let it deter you from your plan. Figure out a way. Learn from those around you. Barter for parts or services…utilize the skills you have to help someone that has the skills that you need and don‘t have. Clean out your garage to generate the money to get what you need. Heck, I took extra car parts I had laying around and traded flat out for the transmission I needed for my own project!

Buy yourself a notebook and keep it with the car at all times. Take notes while you’re at the track. Pay attention to what works and what didn’t. What were your tire temps and pressures when you came in from a session. How did the car feel on track during that session. What were the weather conditions that day…how much traffic did you have during your sessions. What tires where you running and what were the alignment settings. All of this is important when planning for the next event. Keep it as a log of everything that you do, write down your thoughts, and write down your plan. Make a list of what you need…no matter how big or small, write it down. Check off your list as you complete your tasks. You will be surprised how long your list will be with only “Three weeks til Race Day”.

For those that are receiving help or those that are looking for help (I’m referring to sponsorships), you also need to come up with a plan on what you are going to do for them. Simply placing a company decal on your car does not equate to “doing your part”. Think of yourself from the position of the sponsor, and ask yourself, why would I want to help this person? Companies sponsor people and cars with the expectation of getting some sort of return on their investment…or ROI. If you have sponsors, or looking for sponsors, it is YOUR job to determine how this will happen. If you can’t justify this to yourself, you’re definitely not going to be able to justify it to them. This is all part of the preparation process. It is up to you to decide how you will represent them and how you will get them the attention they think they deserve. It is your job to do whatever it takes to turn what they gave you (X) and return to them (10X). Its how you come up with this formula that will give you success. Your Preparation will pay off if done right.

As a race car driver, you need to prepare for 3 elements…Prepare the Car, prepare the driver, and prepare the marketing plan. Three weeks til Race Day used to be an eternity for me, and now quickly becomes the blink of an eye. Knowing what I know now, and with only Three Weeks Til Race Day…I am scared that it won’t be enough time. I lose sleep every night as I worry that somehow we miss a small detail and that we forget that one thing that could mean the difference between sitting on the podium and sitting on the sidelines kicking myself for not spending enough time Preparing to succeed. Three Weeks til Race Day…its just around the corner!