Jan 11th, 2010 by T.C.
If there is one thing I’ve learned about changing tires in my career, it’s that the only way to be successful is to get my head straight. If I’m not focused when I step off the wall, I’m defeated before I’ve even started. Hitting 20 lugnuts becomes very difficult, and mistakes are in my future. But keeping my wits about me, remaining calm, and not letting my mind wander all lead to my success. And while carrying tires and jacking might be the same, changing seems to me to take just a little bit more.
The actual technique and fundamentals to being a good tire changer are really very simple. I could probably teach them to someone in just a few short sessions. As long as you get a good set, keep your elbows up, wrists locked, square the shoulders, stay low, and hit them hard, you’ll have a good shot of doing well. But where the trouble starts is when the mind wanders or isn’t focused.
When one pits a car during a race, there are a ton of distractions. You are surrounded by thousands of people, both in the stands and on pit road; you’ve got a driver and crew chief yacking in your ears; and there are cars coming and going all around you on pit road. When it’s time to go though, you’ve got to learn to block it all out and just see your own car and do your own job.
One area that was a struggle for me early on, and I would imagine is something that all changers deal with at one time or another, is confidence. If I don’t believe I can step off the wall and hit just 20 lugnuts, no amount of luck in the world will make that happen for me. I’ve heard it said that to be the best, you’ve got to believe you’re the best. This certainly goes for pitting race cars too. But there is a fine line between being confident and being cocky. I’ve never understood those guys who think they are the baddest, yet make mistakes, and then blame others. Confidence will get a guy a long way in his career. Cockiness and a bad attitude will end it pretty quickly.
And to go right along with the idea of staying confident, one must be able to bounce back from mistakes and the crazy things that happen sometimes. No crew member will ever go through their career mistake free. Lugnuts will be dropped, jack posts will be missed, and tires won’t always be studded. What separates the good guys from the great guys, besides consistency, is the ability to deal with the mistake, not make it worse, and then forget it ever happened. Dwelling on a mistake and letting it affect you mentally can be extremely detrimental.
Every sport on this planet takes a combination of physical ability, hardwork, heart, and mental focus to be successful. Pitting a race car is no different. Crew guys must have all the tools to make it to the top and remain there. But (and I’m going to give my profession some kudos here) where a mistake in a football game might get you benched, a mistake on pit road could get somebody hurt. How’s that for pressure?
