Team Chemistry

   Without question, January is the most difficult month in racing.  Primarily because we aren't racing and everyone is itching to do so.  This is the month where lots of little, off-season preparations are being handled.  Parts and supply inventories are being tallied; new equipment is being brought on (if budgets allow); and team commitments are finalized.
   Since what we do is nearly all-volunteer; considerations have to be made for real-world jobs and obligations.  Unfortunately, many of these get in the way of racing and when they do changes to personnel on a team take place.  Team chemistry isn't something that you can go and buy OTS; it takes awhile for everyone to get to know each other and gel with the pace and work styles.  It's a delicate balance that is either there, or it's not - similar to dating, but way more important. 
  The single most important component in any team is commitment level.  Everyone needs to be focused on the same outcome at the same level - ALL IN!!  If you have half-assed commitment; then you're going to have a half-assed team and no one wins.  Passion other than drag racing falls into this category; drinking, fighting, other forms of "f'ing"; we could add to this list based on the individual, but you get what I'm saying.  Bad ju-ju if you come to win races....
   Then there are the challenges that come in the form of unavoidable, external circumstances that are just a part of life, but interfere with the task at hand.  Bosses, relationships, bills, alimony, child support, mortgages....need I continue? This is where you have an opportunity to support your boy by letting him blow off steam, complain about the ol' lady, whatever.
   It all comes down to the individual team.  It helps (a lot) if everyone likes and enjoys spending time with the other people they're working with day to day.  A weekend of racing can be six consecutive days of 12 to 16 (and sometimes more) hours every day.   You have to have skin thicker than an elephant, an ability to laugh at yourself, but mostly at others; forgive a slight but never a prank and don't ever, ever, ever let your team down.  If you tell them that you'll be there - by God, you better be there - doing what you said you would - exactly when you said you would. If another team badmouths one of your boys; you better be prepared to kill that MF'r.  It doesn't matter if your boy just kicked his grandmother - not saying it's right, just saying you have to have his back and be willing to take an ass-kicking for him.  Fortunately that doesn't happen too often, but you'll know when you have to do it.
  The biggest single factor is trust.  I trust that you will do your job and you trust that I will do mine.  We'll do it correctly and we'll check each other's work because we want our driver to be safe and our race car to be fast and get the job done.
  I didn't even get to tell you about the changes that are taking place in our camp!  Well I guess I'll just have to save that for another time.....