Caravan Reminders

Being in a caravan doesn’t increase your safety on the road and can actually increase your risk. Here are some of the dos and don’ts…

• Keep a safe interval, depending on conditions, without lagging behind. (Recommended distance is 3 seconds) Remember, you have a line of cars that will have to rush to catch up when the leader picks up the pace if you’re behind. This causes an unsafe “whiplash” effect.
• Let a metal car pass and/or get in line when they have a need to. Other cars on the road can be very discouraged or challenged by a long caravan and we can’t control other drivers.
• Don’t “follow the leader” if conditions don’t lend themselves to a safe move for you. Instead, wait until it is safe to follow; remember, you can always get back into a caravan further up…we’ll let you in!
• Although we enjoy “pedal to the metal” when traveling alone, a string of Corvettes makes a great target and the sheer number of cars might dictate a slower speed. This is especially true in congested areas/towns.
• When appropriate, we’ll “play”, especially on squiggly roads, but you should drive at your comfort level keeping interval in mind.
• It is courteous to change positions in a caravan from time to time. It is much easier to be right behind the leader than at the end of the line, so give everyone a turn. Be aware of which car is just in front of you and behind you so you can report if they have a problem.
• Help the caboose; they have a huge responsibility to keep the caravan safe. The tighter a caravan rides, remembering safe intervals, the less difficult it is to keep everyone together.
• When we come in towns and have a 4-lane road with stoplights, it is helpful to take both lanes. After the light, merge back into one line.
• When the leader indicates they are going to change lanes and you are near the back of the caravan, move over when it is safe; this makes it easier for all the cars in front of you to change lanes.
• If you need/want to leave the caravan for any reason, notify the leader and caboose first…perhaps it’s time for everyone to take a break. We won’t worry if we know why you left.
• Keep your FRS radio (tuned to 11-0) handy for directions and safety warnings.
• Put your parking/road lights on to increase visibility.

It's Racing Season!

Spring is a great time to give your car a thorough safety checkup before you get on the roads. This is especially true when you are planning to join NSCC at a racing event. Spending time now prepares your car for optimum performance and safety!  Here’s what you can do at home to prepare your car for the track.

• Empty the car of any/all loose objects. Leave as much as you can at home.
• Seatbelts: need to be checked for good operation.
• Windshield: cannot have any cracks that threaten safety. Be sure your wiper fluid is full to keep the windshield clean.
• Brakes: adequate pads, rotors in good shape, and adequate fluid. Solid pedal with no “sponginess”. When did you put in new fluid last? Be sure your brake lights work.
• Tires: street legal with minimum 2/32” tread in good shape. (Racing slicks exempt). Be sure to check your tire pressure.
• Tie rods, ball joints, and steering links: solid, no play or binding.
• Motor mounts: no play of mounts or engine rubbing on hoses or cables.
• Coolant system: all hoses free of cracks, clamps tight and reserve tank to the full line. Have you had it flushed lately?
• Fuel system: throttle linkage free and tight. Hoses solid, clamps tight, no visible leaks.
• Oil system: be sure it’s topped off with no visible leaks.
• Helmet: Snell or DOT (loaners are available)
• Battery: make sure it is secure.

Our autocross events are low speed. However, you will do lots of braking, turning and generally putting your car through actions not experienced in everyday driving. A car that is carefully maintained and given a good going over on a regular basis can save you problems later—it’s especially important for a racing event.

WHY SPRING DRIVING IS DANGEROUS

With winter fading into the background ( not yet) and better weather around the corner, you would  think the roads would be safe again.

Rainey days and flooding

Spring rain brings slippery road conditions and flooding.  According to the Federal Highway Administration, rain was a culprit of 46% of all weather related crashes from 2005 to 2014, and wet pavement in general accounted for 73%.What makes rain and wet pavement so dangerous?  For one, slippery roads reduce your cars handling and increases the distance it takes to stop (up to 4 times normal stopping distance).  Big puddles can also cut down on tire traction and could lead to hydroplaning.

Hail season

Beware of hailstorms, particularly if you live in a hail-belt state.  Even small hailstones can shatter windshields, and raining balls of ice are never good for roads.

Winter road wear and tear

In many states, winter wreaks havoc on the roads (no kidding). Snow plows, salt, sand and the aftermath of ice can all leave roads a bit battered.  Once snow melts away, expect to drive over new and bigger potholes.

Animal activity

Animals are incredibly actibe during the spring.  Some are emerging from hibernation, and other are entering mating season. This could mean animals are crossing roads and roaming around .  Many animals especially deer, are most active at dawn or dusk. Do not overdrive those headlights.

More bicycles on the road

Spring also brings out cyclists and motorcyclist out of hibernation.  Driving alongside cyclists can make traffic maneuvers, from turning right to parallel parking more dangerous.

SPRING DRIVING TIPS

Check your lights, since spring rain hinders driving visibility, make sure all your lights work, including headlights, taillights, backup, turn signals, parking and brake lights.

Replace your wiper blades, worn-out wiper blades may not be up to the task of clearing water away from your windshield.

Check your tire pressure, harsh winter weather (for those who’s Corvette left the garage) can deflate your tires.  Make sure you have enough air in them once spring rolls around. Proper inflation can mean better gas mpg.

Slow down and drive carefully, the first few rainy days of sping can produce exceptionally slippery roads due to oil and other leaked fluids mixing with rainwater, so slow down and increase your stopping distance when it’s raining.

Keep your eyes peeled for bad road conditions, remember that harsh winter weather breeds potholes and other driving obstacles.

Once gain keep your eyes open for animals and motorcyclists, they are both coming out of hibernation.