March 2009 Newsletter

Like our website, our newsletter has a new look! Not only will you continue to get information about products and services we offer, but you’ll also get bits of racing and driving wisdom we have learned over the years. Who better to share these with you than our Crew Chief and Lead Technician, Jon Ament, and one of our lead Driver Coaches, Taryn Sparacio. We want to help you achieve your personal motorsports goals, so if there’s a particular topic you’d like to see in future newsletters, send me an email.

Drive smarter, not harder!

Sincerely,
Carlo Sparacio
TC Motorsports, LLC
(253) 887-0500

News from the Front
By Carlo Sparacio

Service Center Hours for March
TC Motorsports’ Service Center will be closed from Wednesday, March 11, through Monday, March 16. We will be at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida for the first two races of the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge series. Otherwise our normal business hours are 8 AM-5 PM (Pacific) Monday-Friday for parts or service.

Arrive and Drive-It’s Easy to Do!
We are already scheduling arrive and drive rentals and trackside support for the upcoming racing season. If you are interested in renting a BMW Pro-3, Mazda Spec Miata, Ford Mustang FR500S, or having TC Motorsports support you and your car at the track, now is the time to schedule your event days.

Click here to view the complete club racing schedule and plan your 2009 season today! Arrive and Drive racing with

TC Motorsports is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Visit our club racing schedule.
2. Call or email the dates you desire.
3. Send your deposit to secure your seat for the selected event dates.

After that, you simply arrive and drive-we take care of all the details! Each one of our team members is dedicated to making your experience with us the best it can be because we want to help you achieve your personal motorsports goals. You have our 100% guarantee that you will have a great experience or your money back!

Crew Chief’s Corner-Being in Control
By Jon Ament

Being in control is important for being fast on track. But, being fast on track is only a part of being truly competitive. Only when you are in control of all aspects of your racing can you truly be competitive. What do I mean by being in control? I mean knowing that every fastener is tight, the correct fuel load is in the car, your transponder works, you packed all the right spares, etc. We have all seen sessions cut short because of loose lug nuts or other loose or forgotten items.

At TC Motorsports, we use checklists as a tool to stay in control. Our pre session checklist covers everything you can imagine for car prep prior to putting a car on track. A car does not leave the paddock for a session unless the list is 100% cleared. Then, we go through a post session checklist. Each car is checked before and after every session. We also use checklists for other aspects of the race weekend within our control. This includes packing the trailer, travel grids, and the ‘lists’ go on.

Reducing your doubt increases your success. Being successful does not start when you get to the track, but, well before you leave-it starts now. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Happy motoring and we will see you at the track!

Driver’s Dictum-What’s in Your Gear Bag?
By Taryn Sparacio

Now is the perfect time to go through your gear bag to make sure you have all of the personal safety equipment you’ll need for the season. Check that everything is in excellent condition (no holes, frayed seams, or stains like grease or fuel) and that it still meets the specifications of the series you’re driving in. Here’s a list of what’s in my gear bag:

• Helmet (in its own bag) along with one clear and one tinted visor
• HANS device
• Nomex suit
• Nomex or Carbonex underwear
• 2 pairs of Nomex gloves (after I get a new pair, I keep the old pair as a spare)
• 2 balaclavas (these get sweaty so it’s nice to have two)
• Nomex shoes/boots
• 2 pairs of Nomex socks (these get sweaty like balaclavas so it’s nice to have a spare pair)
• Earbuds (to use with the radio)
• Earplugs (to use without the radio)
• Helmet freshener
• Extra underwear (just making sure you’re paying attention!).

The best way to keep your gear working the way it was designed and have it last a long time is to only wear your drivers gear when you are driving on track. (Plus, there’s no better way to say “I’m new to this” than to wear your drivers gear all day.) Take the couple of minutes to change out of your gear after each session to make sure your gear works the way it was intended when you need it.

If you have questions about safety gear, or need to order some safety gear, either call or email us. Be fast and be safe!