Big Bruce's Tip of the Month

Two words: Track Bag. Make sure you carry all your goodies in one bag. Put extra gloves, sunscreen, lip balm and munchies in there. I also like to carry medical supplies such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, allergy medicine, non-drowsy cold medicines etc. along with Band-Aids and Neosporin. Duct tape, binoculars, and other things you think might be useful, but limit the weight of this bag, because you have to carry this bag. Proper clothing is also very important, but no open toed shoes, as you may have to run over uneven ground.

IRS Rules - 2005 Edition

To be in compliance with IRS laws, starting in 2003 the AFM has been keeping track of all money paid out to workers. Workers earning $600 or more during the year will receive a 1099 form as well as having a 1099 form sent to the IRS. The AFM must have your application on file with your Social Security Number on it, or you will not be paid. Also please remember that you must fill out a new application each year. Please send your application in soon to get your 2005 worker number assigned to you before the first race to help speed things up on race day.

What to Wear

The weather can be iffy, so be prepared for almost anything. Layers are the hot setup. Since we all want to look alike, please wear as much white outer clothes as you can get. No red, yellow or orange colors - you don’t want to be mistaken for a flag. You may be grabbed by the leg and thrown thusly, by mistake. Long pants, sturdy shoes, no shorts. Some other good things to bring along are sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, binox, extra clothes, a hat, energy snacks, fruits, juices and a good loud whistle. The AFM can provide you with a whistle if you don’t have one, but you don’t want to know whose lips were on it last. Please no alcohol during the races.

What to Expect on Raceday

Remember, our first race is pretty far away from civilization. Unless you consider Burger King as civilization. Better bring it all with you. If you have a RV, Buttonwillow charges $30.00 for the weekend for electrical and water hookups. There is no dump. There is no charge for tent camping. They also have cold water showers. Brrrrr! Like Thunderhill, personal vehicles are not allowed on to the track. You will be taken out to the turns by our Crash Truck. So be ready to pack it all in with you.

The worker gates open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 6:50 sharp! (We also need to go to Registration and sign the forms.) Please stay to the left as you enter the gate area. That’s where the worker gate is. Because of agreements with the Buttonwillow track, no refunds to workers who arrive after we close the worker gate. Please be on time to save money and help us get used to the new procedures. The morning meeting starts at 7:00 at Start/Finish. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. Attendance at all eight AFM races is mandatory for this year’s DieHard hat. Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of fog will keep us away from the gate taking names of those brave workers. We try to give the weather every chance of clearing before canceling the race and those days count for the hats.

Both Saturdays and Sundays we provide morning coffee and donuts, a sack lunch and after-race beverages and snacks. Please be responsible with post-race activities. We also place water, bug spray, and ear plugs out on the turns. Our payday is Sunday after the race. Our final race gets the checkered flag about 6:00 p.m. C ya !