How well you do in life is almost always dependent on how well you prepare. Having worked with several different teams and organizations I have been both well-prepared and ill-prepared with various groups. The difference between the two are more than pronounced. It can make or break a whole event, whether you are running it, or participating. This is especially true in emergencies. I have been working for the Tri-County Children’s Dream Foundation for a few years at different events, and they are an example of preparedness and care that others should copy. We had a little snag last year during the bar stool races when organizers let on-lookers “suggest” different ways to bracket the races, and it turned out to be a nightmare. This year (next year, technically) they will stick to a plan, making things as fair as possible, and much more efficient. Lately, a lot of folks have been following the ideas of the “zombie apocalypse” crowd, watching TV shows like the Walking Dead and movies like Zombieland etc. I watched Zombieland last night and it portrayed real people dealing with the effects of said apocalypse. What I have noticed is that all the preparation you take to avert disaster during this kind of disaster will work for any disaster (earthquake, flood, attack, etc). Keeping a “go bag” on hand for family members seems like a good idea. I have begun to pack a couple, and intend to reduce the clutter at home and make it easier to find things that are really useful in times of need. I will know every time the power goes out, or when zombies attack, that I will be ready. This all first occurred to me when a storm hit the area, and only half my flashlights had good batteries in them, and I couldn’t find my scanner.
Racers can prepare like this, too. Sorted tools, generators gassed up, tires labeled, and all that stuff done during the week that will save a minute or two is key. You can visibly see the difference between those prepared and those not. The prepared ones grab the broken part, fix it, see it all under decent lighting and go racing quickly. The ones not ready run around the pits until a race starts and the watch from the fence because they werent preapred. Don’t be that guy. Make your lists, sort your parts, make a plan, and be ready.
Even if you don’t need it during a race, who knows, maybe the zombies will attack that night.
