People start turning up shortly before the signing-on time advertised in the final instructions. Unless the final instructions say otherwise, you can park anywhere you fancy in the paddock. The normal order of business is to start by going along to "signing on" where the event organisers check your paperwork is in order and ask you to sign an indemnity form.

Then you prepare the car by sticking the numbers on both sides and fitting the timing strut. Now you're ready to join the queue for scrutineering, which is a basic safety check of the car and your helmet and overalls. At your first sprint the scrutineer will check that the helmet is of an approved type and sell you a sticker for a pound to show future scrutineers that it's OK.

Some clubs organise signing on and scrutineering differently so check the final instructions to see if they've pulled a fast one.

Having got all that out the way, take the opportunity to walk the track if you have time. This is your chance to plan your line through each corner, look for useful reference points for braking and turning-in points, and spot any hazards around the course. By the time you get back the chuck wagon will probably be open for business so you can tuck in to build up the calories you're about to burn off. Make sure you get back in time for the driver's briefing where they'll remind you about how the runs are going to be organized and tell you to be careful. Then you're ready for the action to start.

At most events you get a chance to drive round gently in convoy so you can see what the track looks like from the driving seat. Try not to be too wild - it is considered "bad form" to spin on the convoy lap!

Then the timed runs start. First there are a couple of practice runs (which are timed but don't count towards the final results) followed by the competitive runs. Make sure you know how many practice runs there are, and how many laps the practice and competitive runs are (they aren't always the same!).

Runs follow the same sequence: cars queue up in number order and are ushered up to the line one at a time. Once you get close to the line the start-line marshals will take control of the car and push it the last few inches until it is perfectly lined up. Don't try to help unless they ask you to.

Timing is normally electronic. At the line you are faced with red light, and a green light. These are normally both off. A few seconds before your run starts one of the start-line marshals will direct your attention to the lights. The red light will come on for a few seconds, then it will go out and the green one will come on. This is your cue to start. You start in your own time after the green light comes on - the clock starts when the car actually moves and breaks the timing beam. Now's your chance to give it some wellie!

Times are generally posted a few minutes after your run, so you can see how well you did and figure out how you're going to go even faster next time.

The day ends with a short prize-giving ceremony about half an hour after the last runs. Remember to take your timing strut and numbers off before you drive home - the police take a dim view of people driving on public roads with racing numbers on, and if you're reported your competition license may be revoked.