Working on your racecar at the track can be a stressful and trying task. It is even more difficult if you do not have enough light to see what you are doing. Unless your track has individual garages for each competitor you will most likely, if you are lucky, be working on your car under the equivalent of a street light. The only option left is to bring your own lights.
In fact, in many cases, providing your own lighting is really the only available option. Fortunately we are living in the best of times for the racer. Tools that lend themselves to the racers' needs are available at a variety of sources all across this country. And the prices are really quite reasonable.
In the not-too-distant past, the only real selection racers had was the common flashlight in its various forms. While there have been some real advances in the technology used to make the flashlight a better tool for hand-held lighting, and even as a stand-alone light source, the flashlight is still an illumination device that is designed to provide a limited amount of light. The problem is that there are usually several people who need to work on the car at the same time. The other problem with the flashlight is it requires one hand to hold it and illuminate the work, leaving only one hand to work on the area of focus. Or you have to have a helper direct the light so you can work on the car with both hands. It's simply not a very efficient solution to what seems like a very simple problem
One solution is a larger, area-type light available at a variety of vendors. The best part is that these are not racing-only fixtures, so they are available at sources not racing specific. Most of the major chain hardware stores sell a variety of area-type lights mounted on stands. Lowe's and Home Depot sell a wide selection of lights that are completely collapsible so they are portable and fit well in your trailer or truck for transportation to the races. These lights are a variation of the trouble light that was merely an incandescent light bulb in a hand-held fixture on the end of an extension cord.
What is offered now is a stand or a hand-held fixture that uses a halogen or a LED (Light Emitting Diode). These lights can turn a dark pit into virtual daylight, illuminating the whole area so that you have both hands free to work on the car. The stands come in a variety of colors so it may even be possible to get a light stand that matches your car's color scheme. The cost is very reasonable.
A collapsible, fully adjustable, two-light stand can be purchased for less than $40. If it was twice as much it would still be a great value.
While you may purchase a light stand that turns night into day you still may need a flashlight. The options here are huge. You can get rechargeable lights that have a magnetic base, LED-type hand-helds, and the ever-popular flashlight is still a real option. Sometimes you will need to see into a dark area where there is just no other option other than a hand-held light.
Long story short: The technology has caught up to the need. Racers do not have to fumble in the dark while they work on their cars. For a very reasonable cost you have a tool that will help you out at the track and the shop. Isn't technology grand? It is even better when technology helps you and your racing program. The only problem is that this technology is available to everybody. You still have to tune the car to get the advantage.
The author can be reached at Vahok.Hill@cox.net.