On Co-Piloting: The Unsung Heroes of Drag and Drive
So your buddy just called and said, “I’ve got a race car, I’ve got a week off work and I’ve got a passenger seat.” Sounds like you just got roped into a drag-and-drive! He might have even convinced you to pay for half the hotel bill…but you’d better take him or her up on the offer because co-piloting for a drag-and-drive event could be some of the best damn automotive fun you’ve ever had.
“Lift with your knees, bud…”
I've competed in drag and drive since 2014, first as a driver, and in 2020 I made the move to co-driver for my then girlfriend, now fiance, Stevie Ellingson. My initial stint as a driver found me in a position to include one of my buddies in my adventure, Brad Stapp. He was in a small car club with me in Denver and stepped up to join me for my first few years, and thankfully he was the creme-de-la-creme of co-pilots. There is no better co-pilot in the land as far as I’m concerned, and I’d put him against anyone in the passenger seat of any ride.
Bob’s not fixing it anymore. Brand new shirts now in!
“I’m gonna stage this f*cker deep, serve him right for snoring…”
Here’s some of his secrets to making both of your weeks easier, in no particular order:
Learn about the car you’re riding in and what will need to be done daily to swap it from street to race. If it’s lengthy or complicated, ask the driver to make you a checklist and get it laminated so you know your task(s) each race day.
Map out the route when you have time to do so. If your drag-and-drive races in the morning and drives in the afternoon, you’ll need to do this quickly and efficiently, and you may need to do it in pieces from the road. If it’s a night race, you’ll have more time to do this at the hotel before you leave in the morning. Whether you’re on a map program on your phone or using an “analog” map, drive the route via the map. If you’re on your phone, you’ll need to do this when you have cell coverage, but if you drive it and note/screenshot turns or difficult looking interchanges, you won’t be caught off guard and you’ll make the drive easier. Be sure you can do this in the dark as well. Many of these cars don’t have interior lighting and odds are good you’ll be lost at night and reading a map on the side of the road in the light of the headlights is not ideal.
Keep an extra eye and ear on the car. After all, this hunk of junk is what you’re also relying on to get you back to a soft bed and a shower. Keep an extra set of eyes on the gauges and listen for anything funky going on with the car. Your driver may or may not be paying attention, so an extra set of eyes and ears are never a bad thing.
Remind your buddy that food exists and that you need to eat it to stay alive. Sometimes stopping at a place with food not on a bun and not out of a drive-through window is exactly what both of you, and the car, need to keep on going. Matt Reekie’s article about finding the best Mexican restaurants may come in handy.
Remember that you’re actually on vacation and remind your driver of this. You should be having some fun and making memories while you’re cruising through Americana at large with a person you’re either going to love or hate by the end of the week.
Carry spare keys for everything! If your driver doesn’t have spares, make him get spares, and you carry those just in case! This includes the tow rig/big trailer as well (if applicable). Oh, and remember your hotel keycard, because you’ll be surprised at how long the receptionist takes to get to the front desk at 2am…
“I can’t believe you’re making me do your laundry.”
Hopefully at least a few of these points help someone out that is just now getting in the passenger seat with one of their friends on one of these. You’re about to embark on a journey of the likes you’ve never seen before. Enjoy it and soak in all the fun! Meet people you’ve only seen on YouTube or in magazines and check out some of the baddest street cars that exist in the world! It’s an experience for everyone on the property, and you’re no exception. We can’t wait to see you at the next one, and if no one has told you today, you look great with changing those drag tires and pulling the exhaust off your buddy’s ride!
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