First time push truck driver. tips, tricks, ideas?

[Bob Drury]

  Over the years on this site I have probably told this story several times, but at my age you meet new freinds every day that you met the day before.
  Anyway, the first and I hope last time I spun my car I pulled off of the course after getting it aimed in the right direction.
  Afterwards I asked my engine builder/crew chief/push truck driver how many times I went around.
  Him being almost as big of a smart ass as me, replied "how many times did you see the push truck go by"?
  He still builds my motors, but I fired him as my crew chief, push truck driver, and team Comedian.                                 Bob

[jacksoni]

Couple years ago just managed to get our G/GMS car qualified for long course. In the process a throttle linkage hold down came loose so only was getting half throttle on that critical first run and of course car didn't perform. Push, push, push trying get her moving. Announcer suggested the push truck was trying to get a timing slip too.  (Race car driver error of course. Should have pulled off track as soon as was clear she was not gonna run. More  )

[fast_TA]

Our main concern is going to be taking off in second gear, without coming off the push bar and smaking back into it.  Just thought I would rather look like a fool in an empty parking lot than to do it infront of everyone and make everyone wait.  Wouldnt be very concerned if it was a auto or if I was starting in first.

[RichFox]

When i push, I hit the brakes somewhat, when the car starts. Once when I was running the vega, Gary was pushing me and the engine stumbled just after firing. Gary ran my truck, hard into the back of my Vega. Said later that he wanted to hear it winding out, so was doing his best to keep up. Don't do that.

[Bob Drury]

  What I do before EVERY run is to have a "one on one" with my push truck driver and remind him that not only do I need to do a good job as a driver, but just as importantly, how he pushes me off is just as important for a successfull pass.
  I let him pick two of our crew to ride along, and have given them instructions which include:
  Make sure the C.B. is on LOUD, that the microphone is not under anyones ass, and that the truck driver is "the Boss" and they don't do sh#t without him instructing and directing them, from the staging lane to the time they pick me up (hopefully at the seven mile).
  I also remind the truck driver to exit the course as soon as posible, and to under NO CIRCUMSTANCES (including me crashing or being on fire) to enter the course without permission from the Timing Tower.
  This year I have written out a procedure list for the three member chase crew, instructing them on not only the above mentioned items, but on the responsibilities of each when they arrive at my race cars stopping point.
  This includes: the driver stays with the truck until we attach the tow rope; One guy gathers the chutes up and makes sure they are not laying on or near the return road; and Last but MOST IMPORTANTLY, one guy runs up to help me out of the car if I am not allready standing.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT  and if you have ever driven a enclosed vehicle on the Salt, I think you will agree.
  In my view, they need to understand that they are not just there for the "ride", but may help save my life if they do what they have been instructed to do.         Bob

[wheelrdealer]

Well said Bob.

I picked up a few ideas I had not thought of in the way of crew instructions. I will be sure to add them to my notes. Since I wont be racing in 2012. I have to make notes for 2013. The difference between being young and old is when you are young you "think you will remember," when your old you know you wont remember.

Bill

[GH]

After reading all this, I remember why I elected to drive off the line.

[Jon]

I always planned to drive off....

Now I'm thinking  "is my ego more important than my clutch, traction and my 1 mile speed?"

I'll be drive off until I start chasing some speed.

Thanks for sharing info everyone.
jon

[desotoman]

As the Push Truck Driver it is very important to make sure the RACECAR DRIVER never starts out in REVERSE GEAR.  The driver will argue with you like no tomorrow that they did not start out in reverse. It happened to this push truck driver twice. How do you recognize these symptoms? Your one ton truck feels a bang like you cannot believe and you start to chase a fishtailing vehicle in front of you since they are sliding their tires. And if they never realize they are in reverse they will not pull away from the truck, but if they do realize the error of their ways, they will put it into first, re fire the motor and pull away.

Tom G.

[Richard 2]

OK, heres' my way since 1975.

I will assume one thing, both drivers know where they are going after the race vehicle leaves the push truck under it's own power. The push drive has the CB on and the driver knows ALL the speed limit rules.

1.The push truck is running and in park

2. The race vehicle is against the push vehicle and the push vehicle driver is positioned where the race vehicle driver can see him.

3. When told it's our time to go. The driver starts the race vehicle. Maybe easy, squirting into the injectors, shutting the   hood ...whatever is your procedure. (we use the push vehicle driver for this)

4. The race vehicle driver puts the race vehicle in gear (we have stick shifts and choose different gears) and signals to the push driver with a nod of the head or a finger pointing forward.

5. The push driver goes to the push vehicle puts it in drive (we have alway had automatic push trucks) trying not to have the tires spit up too much salt and kicks the livin' s--t out of the truck for all it's got until the race cars pulls away when it wants.  This is the drivers responsibility. Then slows down and veres off to the return road safely

6. Push drivers procedes to retrieve the race car at 45 mph for us normal on the return road and less by the pits...Hey what could YOU DO anyway...........................

Has always worked for us. The more powerful the push truck the better...............Tone Motorsports

4A shift push truck into 4 wheel drive.

[Avanti Kid]

I'm pretty sure our rule book makes it required that you disconnect reverse gear linkage on the race car so it can't start out in reverse gear. I looks like I will be doing the timing on course 4 which will start out with the rookies, please be sure your CB works, and have it on and you have a fire bottle & tow strap in the push truck. Never go on to the active race couse with out the towers permision, if you need to cross the race track always ask the tower for permission via the CB. Be sure if required to use a chute, that its saftey pin/flag has been removed. If your chute doesn't work right, Mr Lee Kennedy with be visiting you,  take care, be safe and have fun,  Dave 

[Nortonist 592]

Hope course four is a bit (read a whole lot) smoother than it was last year.  If it had a couple of jumps it would have made a great motocross course.  Sunday's storm did the course a favor by washing it out.

[desotoman]

I'm pretty sure our rule book makes it required that you disconnect reverse gear linkage on the race car so it can't start out in reverse gear.  

Dave 

Dave,

3.H.1 Transmissions: Any type of transmission may be used in any class. Automatic Transmissions shall have a positive reverse lockout to prevent accidental reverse gear engagement.

The car I was pushing was equipped with a 4 speed manual, and it just so happened that reverse was all the way over to the left and up. I tried to talk them into disconnecting reverse, but was told they needed it for in and out of storage. I then suggested a separate lever for reverse, that fell on deaf ears also. Not my car, only so much I could do, but very frustrating.

Tom G.

[Stan Back]

It's hard to believe how many push trucks are motioned ahead to bump the race vehicle, and again, and sometimes again -- when it's so easy to just roll the race vehicle back a foot to the truck.

[maguromic]

when it's so easy to just roll the race vehicle back a foot to the truck.

That would be too logical. Tony