Getting Started in Enduro Elite

  A Note From The Race Director A look at the spirit of the series, by CEO & Race Director, Chuck Carvalho In my opinion, the purpose of amateur endurance racing, is to bring bucket list items within everyone’s grasp. We also put a big focus on keeping the level of comradery high and the amount of “overly competitive” folks to a minimum. Trust me when I say, there are no F1 scouts in the stands. There are no big prizes. We expect all drivers to stay cool, calm and collected while being behind the wheel. Put simply, there are no reasons for taking big risks. Go out there, have fun, fine tune your racing skills and bring the car home safe. Once the checkered flag drops you can bond with the other teams (maybe over a drink or two) about how great of a time you all had out there. You may find yourself chatting with another driver that was on track at the same time as you, giving you the chance to exchange some stories. If I could sum up the driver etiquette portion of the rule book...

Choosing a Car How to pick your ride. Whether you are buying a built car, or starting from scratch, there are some things to keep in mind when choosing your platform. If you are a passionate and loyal fan of a specific brand or model, and you already have the knowledge and resources to maintain that vehicle, then it’s probably a good place to start. Often finding a pool of knowledgeable people to draw information from is half the battle, whether it's friends and family, or active online forums. If the online communities for the car of your choosing are buried in threads about wheel tuck or 50 horsepower cone filter testimonials, prepare to do a lot of your own research and development. Platforms with a strong aftermarket will save you many headaches down the road. Your initial investment, if choosing a car from scratch, will long be forgotten when you are deep into your build before realizing you can’t find parts. Be sure someone makes a racing brake pad for your car, and you have ...

 Team Structures Finding people to share in the fun... and finances Putting together a good team may be the difference between a long term hobby or frustrating short term venture. As a team captain, you have the responsibility of making sure everyone wants to keep coming back for more, without dragging yourself into financial ruin. If you have a group of friends/drivers that will be involved in the project from the ground up, you may be able to split the cost of the entire build and the materials for your first event. This could be the cheapest and most fun way to get started. Or it could be the end of friendships. Make sure everyone agrees to their financial commitments and labour responsibilities ahead of time so there are no surprises. A team of four drivers can have dramatically different views on how the program is run. A more costly, but likely longer term solution is to buy/build your own car, and have paid drivers. If you are operating on your own, you will likely need ever...

Your First Race Weekend How not to go in blind. Enduro Elite provides a novice meeting prior to the race weekend. The meeting will cover some safety items, driving etiquette, a little bit about the race circuit, and pretty much anything else you need to know to survive the weekend. This is a great time to ask questions. For most of us, the tracks are not in our back yard, and getting the whole circus there is half the battle. This might be the last chance to make sure you have covered your bases before you set off. Even if you don't plan on hitting the track in the next year or two, it would be a good idea to get on the mailing list and attend some meetings. Email info@racelucky.ca and ask Chuck to put you on the list. As nerve wracking as your first event may feel, everyone has been new at some point, and the majority of your competitors will be willing to help. There will be moments when everyone seems to know what is happening except you. Over time, the regulars may forget that ...

  Pre-Race Prep Keeping everything glued together. You might get away with just checking the oil and adding fuel for the first race or two, but eventually things start to wear out, break and fall off. A between-race prep ritual will mostly keep you on track rather than wrenching in the pit lane. Eventually something will fail on track and put a damper on your day, but you may as well eliminate as many variables as possible. Check/Change Fluids Opinions may vary, but I change engine oil and filter prior to each event, and gear oil over the winter. I use the highest viscosity synthetic engine oil that I can buy off the shelf, gear oil will depend on your application. Brake fluid will also vary by application, but after testing some obscenely expensive fluids, I found that off the shelf, high-temp DOT3 makes it through a race for us without any boiling or degradation. I do a full flush over the winter. Coolant by the rules is just water and Redline Water Wetter. Some will recommend di...

Expectations at Tech A helpful guide on avoiding common tech inspection failures. Brought to you by Matt, Head Tech So, you’re getting ready for the track and you think you’re ready to run an endurance race. When thinking about prepping the car, most teams focus on car maintenance. Checking and changing fluids, inspecting CV boots, and examining the suspension are all important, but it’s pointless if the car doesn’t pass tech and you can’t go on track. As you roll in with your trailer and negotiate for some paddock space, you’ll probably have a number of things on your mind. Two of those things should be getting the car and your driver gear through tech inspection. It’s very worthwhile to pre-tech your car yourself before showing up because you’ll likely find something. Tech inspection at the track typically takes between 10 and 30 minutes, meaning that’s all the time it would take you to go over the car and check the critical safety gear. You might be surprised how often teams get cau...