Well -- if you're not already aware of it, the time to get ready to go racing is NOW! Here are a couple of items that I've thought about in the past few days - things not directly related to building and prepping a race vehicle, that is, but still vital to your effort.
First of all - make sure your trailer is ready for the hard work of getting that race critter to and from the dirt/salt for another year. Are the times in good shape? Did they manage to hold full pressure all winter? Are the wheels balanced (ever since you had to lock 'em up when that jerk pulled in front of you at the intersection)? How 'bout the bearings? How 'bout the brakes - are they electric, so you need to adjust them, or are they surge - so you need to make sure there's fluid in the on-board reservoir? Check with wiring - not only to make sure all of the lights work when you want them to work, and that the running lights work (hard to see in the daytime, so maybe here's where your buddy will help out. Now that they're all working -- look for the connections that have magically turned green over the off-season - - and re-do the joints. Trim the ends beyond where the corrosion stops, then solder (using flux core, not acid core) the joint that's not only good electrically but also mechanically) and then take a hint from how the timing light wires are repaired - and put a sealing coating over them. I use "liquid tape" that comes in a little can with a built-in brush. It works pretty well to keep out moisture -- and it's easy to install 'specially when you forget to put the shrink sleeving on before you solder the joint (yeah, you know how I know that, don't you?
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Check the wiring socket in the back or your tow vehicle, too - make sure it didn't get stretched and worn last year. New ones cost -- less than a ticket and way less than a wreck when you're rear-ended.
Grease the trailer - greasing anything that moves. The landing gear, for sure, and the hinges on the ramp(s) and doors. Got a window? Is it workable (open/close) and is the screen still untorn? Interior lights working? How 'bout the radio? check, as long as you're in there, the tie-down points to make sure they haven't let go - even a little bit. In our trailer the points are metal inserts that go into holes in the wood and then are secured by screws. Last fall I discovered that one or two of them had worn the wood so much that the inserts came right out - not even a prybar needed. Check them, hey?
Tool box is secure and (gasp!) labelled? Now the important part - do you have your landracing.com sticker on the trailer? Not too big so as to tip off the vandals - but big enough to show passers-by that you look at this site. Thanks - and if you need stickers I invite you to get in touch with me.
I'll quit for now - but you're all welcome to add things that I haven't mentioned. heck, I'll encourage you to add stuff.