starting line reaction tools/methods for stockers

[Eric Merryfield]

Re the starting line follow Beards suggestions and you will never go wrong.

Re the physical end, its no secret, get your body in some sort of condition/weight level you can repeat time and time again, and put your body in that state when you practice......

Rise at the same time, hydrate the same way, take the same vitamins, exercise the same way, use caffiene/don't use caffeine the same way. Going out or not and getting wrecked, is up to you, but if you do it, do it consistently.

Pre-game/race meals and snacks should be pretty consistent.....don't loose the race due to the chili-dog blues, or tasting the shots you had the night before.

After you get to that point, then you can make the needed adjustments for everything you are taking into consideration for your car. Don't pass out due to de-hydration!

I run every day, 6-8 miles, drink the same amount of water each morning, don't try anything new, and try not to get injured when its the day before and day of an event/game.

Works for me and my hopefully slowly aging 40 year old body still playing competitive baseball, the racing thing is a newer pursuit. Your results and milage will vary.

Eric
Stk 1883

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

No, I am not kidding. As a matter of fact, many of the top racers do follow a diet prior to a race, exercise and get a good rest. Do you think your reaction times are going to be better after downing beers and having a steak the night before a big race?

As a matter of fact, I remember a well known Pro Stock racer at a Safeway store on a Sunday morning prior to a national event, searching for Tylenol to deal with a hangover due to excessive drinking. He admitted to another person that he only had two hours of sleep, had been partying and drinking heavily. If NHRA had taken a close look at him, probably they would not had allowed him to drive.

There is a book about motrosports driving that was written by Jackie Stewart. He wrote a whole chapter about diets and physical conditioning for racing. I feel it was one of the reasons why he became such an excellent driver.

As a matter of fact, one of the best sections in National Dragster, was the Running Healthy column with Dr. Jeremy Torstveit. He addressed many of these issues on his articles.

[Greg Hill]

what fun is that?

Greg

[Rob Petrie E395]

I am attempting the whole diet and getting in shape deal starting Jan 2 of this year and by the time racing started at end of march I was down 35lbs and felt great and was driving much better. Sadly I could not keep it up and have now gained about 1/3 of it back as I could not stay away from the beef and sodas. I am still off of the fast food and went back to just water this week. My wife and I are going to go back to the hard core diet soon as well. Although it has helped me at the track especially on those 100 degree summer days, I really did it mostly for myself. My hips were killing me after a long day in the shop due to the extra weight and I am only 38. I also dont want to end up like may father who has had several heart attacks over the last couple of years. Dont get me wrong as the owner of a beef cattle operation I want you all to eat it, just dont do what I have done and eat it almost every day since I was a very small child. If you are thinking about getting in shape this has helped me alot, Next time you think a big mac sounds good ask yourself the same thing you ask before you buy that trick speed part of the week is it going to make the car faster. After a month it gets easier but its never easy at least not yet for me.

[Jack Matyas]

For the first time in probably ten years or so I'm eating properly and getting the right amount of rest nightly and it has made a huge difference in my driving and how I feel on race day........................Getting old is tough and it takes more work trying to keep up with todays young guns . Now if I could only stay away from "Uncle Buck" and those SuperGas guys ........they really know how not to eat ! ! !

[Jim Cimarolli]

Gregory P.

I think you and I are in trouble on this one!!!
Sounds like they are getting ready for a 15 round boxing match.

Jim

[Jared Jordan]

Cimo,

If it makes you feel any better, my old football coach was told by his Dr. to stop drinking beer in order to lose some weight (mind you this is a man that LOVES his Coors Light). He quit drinking beer for a month and gained 4 lbs. Who says beer isn't good for the waistline?

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Jared Jordan

Cimo,

If it makes you feel any better, my old football coach was told by his Dr. to stop drinking beer in order to lose some weight (mind you this is a man that LOVES his Coors Light). He quit drinking beer for a month and gained 4 lbs. Who says beer isn't good for the waistline?

Jared...it was not the lack of beer...it was the substitution for the beer...

[Jim Cimarolli]

Originally Posted by Jared Jordan

Cimo,

If it makes you feel any better, my old football coach was told by his Dr. to stop drinking beer in order to lose some weight (mind you this is a man that LOVES his Coors Light). He quit drinking beer for a month and gained 4 lbs. Who says beer isn't good for the waistline?

Jay-Rod!

I think it all has a lot to do with how long ago you were born. I attended an IHRA bracket finals over the weekend. The kid that won both gamblers races stayed up all night howling at the moon, drank and ate everything he could get his hands on all weekend and still kicked everybodys butt.

Jim

[Jack McCarthy]

greg hill... ill drink to that !

i agree you should repeat your agenda, most of us division 3 racers have it down...
rookies and recreational drinkers should not show up at murphys the night before 8am eliminations, leave that for the professionals !

hell if i wanted to drink fruit juice and eat baked fish i'd take up chess.

jack mccarthy

of course i dont win a lot of rounds but my FUN vs. MONEY SPENT is way up on the meter !!!!

[Ron Ortiz]

I've been partying and racing for many years. I've been close several times at national events, but have not won yet. I party hard and will suffer the consequences if necessary. I try to do it consistently. I have read books, heard advice from great racers, and witnessed many versions of how to win. I am 60 years old and feel OK. I am overweight, but I enjoy good food. I do not eat or drink anything "diet" Beer is my favorite drink. I figure that when I die it is not from some illness from how I have lead my life, but from some idiot who crashes into me on the highway.
As for the racing aspect of things, I have put pressure on myself, I have tried to be calm, I have tried to refrain from partying the week before, I have tried to be careful of what I eat before a race. The resuls are always the same........some times you win, sometimes you don't. The actual race for me is only 14 seconds, alot more time to concentrate than you fast 10 or 11 second cars. Stuff happens, you have heard of the million ways to lose a race or win a race.

Dragsinger, I am going to give you the greatest bit of advice I recieved from a very smart friend.
When you are sitting in the lanes. Look around, see the sights. Are you happy that you are there? Do you enjoy the competition? Are you having fun? If you are then take in this time and really relish in it, put a smile on your face and enjoy. When you start your engine to pull into the waterbox, smile one more time and let the fun of competition begin. Good luck to you.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA PARTY