NEQ’s new sponsor Stable Energies has done a brisk business in helmets and other track goodies. Supply’s are reduced now, don’t wait too long if you hope to get a particular helmet. If your helmet says 2000 on it, it is not valid for NEQ track days. NEQ has gone to the 2005/2010 standard. There is a lot more helmet info HERE.

An “M” rated helmet is currently not acceptable; it's actually a motorcycle helmet. An “SA” rated helmet is preferred. They are designed for very different impact criteria and only the SA is fire rated. Open faced helmets are not legal at New Jersey Motorsports Park. This is New Jersey state law. Read up HERE. It’s your head.

Your seat belts, if aftermarket, have expiration dates and so does the HAN’s device tether. Take a look. Discuss it with your favorite shop.

Having trouble hearing or hate the “lollipop” style earpiece you put up inside your helmet? You can have your helmet wired up for stereo speakers and a mic very easy. It is not that expensive either. Almost everyone out there is using a “Chatterbox” intercom. THIS UNIT probably looks very familiar. The Chatterbox intercoms have an NI-MH nickel battery. Old technology, cheap replacements though. These batteries have a memory. Do not give them a quick boost charge. They last best if left on until they are dead and then charged for eight hours. Let’s just say a quick charge hurts and so does a 24 hour charge. Run them way down and give them a big charge. The Chatterbox battery normally lasts in excess of eight full hours. Long time you instructors.

By now you surely have heard NEQ has partnered with America’s favorite tire shopping destination, , to bring you the most information, the best choices and the best pricing on new tire and accessories, right here from your NEQ website.

Clicking on the Tire Rack symbol above and to the right (under our sponsors), will take you to the very same Tire Rack site you have always seen. Your shopping remains the same, the price is the normal everyday great deal that you get from Tire Rack.

NEQ secured this affiliation for a few reasons. Our members buy a lot of tires obviously so having this link on our site is helpful to you. Probably the most important reason is that that as drivers who demand the most of their cars and themselves on the road and track we want to make well informed decisions. Tire Rack’s Tech Center is impressive and their surveys give you the knowledge and confidence to make your choice. Lastly, your business with Tire Rack- if you click through our link- will benefit NEQ through the commission process we have been selected for. Your purchase of anything from Tire Rack brings a commission to NEQ- at absolutely no upcharge to you- and is having a positive effect on the pricing we can provide to you for our events.

The first NEQ Kart Night, Tuesday 3-9-10 at On Track Karting in Wallingford was great fun. While it was a bit chaotic as we got registered on what ended up being a very busy night for the track we got it done. 27 NEQ members, family and friends all had a blast with two runs in the quick Sodi karts. While we can certainly improve the admin side of this event with forms and registration and maybe pick a better night, it would be hard to improve the fun.

We had three run groups, two adult and one junior. More pictures will be posted here and our new Flickr account soon.

Thanks to everyone who came out, old friends and new alike, it was a fun Audi NEQ social event.

Some Thoughts on Trailers

Whether you are looking to pick up a trailer or getting ready for that first spring tow read on for some considerations. While a used trailer may look like a good way to go, or if shopping for a new one, make sure you know all the in’s and out’s. Don't buy used to save a little and then be sorry later. Could it work? Sure, but consider everything below and the potential "real" cost may be higher. Know what you are getting and what you need. Do an annual spring check of your trailer or shop with a trailer checklist if looking used. Has yours been inspected this spring?

Trailers have weight ratings just like tow vehicles. The axles are rated. Most car trailers are dual-axle. Know the trailer and tow vehicle weight limits. If you are at the maximum you are asking a lot of the equipment. How much can it carry? Read the manufacturer's plate on the trailer or the manual. Leave a pad. Your tow vehicle normally has more frequent service intervals for towing. You do work the tow vehicles transmission and engine more. Do you need a flush and fill on your transmission, an oil change? Are the tow vehicle brakes okay?

States may require trailer inspections. A trailer is considered a vehicle and as such would normally have a VIN, title, plate and insurance. You pay property tax like a car. Do not forget the title or registration when going to Canada. There are maximum widths, 8’6” is a common max and will feel tight at most toll booths. Check your states DMV for requirements they may differ from Connecticut’s here.

This is a public domain image of the history of the Audi logos.

If you look carefully at the font and the rings of the Audi image in the collection below, you will see it differs from that in use today.

This is the latest version of the Audi logo. This was introduced in the fall of 2009 on the 100th anniversary of Audi.

Well, where to begin?

I have owned various Audi’s in my past (87 GT Coupe, 93 100S, 95 90 and other VW’s) before I took delivery of my 08 Audi TT. It was such a different little car that I knew I needed some time on a track to get some of my YaYa’s out and decided that at this time of my life (over 50), with teenage kids and an understanding wife, I could afford the time to do that. So I told Susan, my wife that I wanted to just check out a track with the Audi Club I had just joined and that it wasn’t racing, it was about safety. She wasn’t overly thrilled when my helmet showed up at the front door and less thrilled when I left our upstate home to drive 1.5 hours to Watkins Glen, for the MSI (Mike Scanlan Invitational) in August.