I cannot get my Weber grill going. Can you give me tips?

Question

How much charcoal and how much lighter fuel do I use. How long do I let the coals burn before I slap the wings on?
What kind of charcoal and lighter fluid?
My grill is a black weber with a grid in the bottom and some kind of metal pan under there and a big round black lid.
Hope that helps you to help me figure this thing out.
Believe it or not....I am in a contest for chicken wings. They must have been desperate to ask me to participate.

Answer 1

I don't like to use lighter fluid. I don't like the taste of gasoline. You can light the coals 1 of 2 ways. Use an electric starter. (Pour the coals into the grill, put the starter into the coals, and plug it in. When some coals start, remove the starter and unplug it. Pile the coals on top of the ones that are going.) Or you can use a chimney. It's a device That looks like a coffee can with a handle. (Lightly crumple 5 to 6 sheets of old newspaper and arrange on the bottom of the grill. Put the chimney over the newspaper. Fill the chimney with coals, and light the newspaper.) In either case let the coals go until they are covered with gray ash. Spread the coals out, put the cooking grill in, and put your food on the grill.

How much coals to use? Pour some coals into the grill until you have a single layer covering the fire grate.

***** added info *****

I just went back and reread your question. Your comment "some kind of metal pan under...." has me concerned. Does your grill look like this?

http://www.weber.com/bbq/pub/grill/2005/charcoal/cg_ot_s225.aspx

Or does it look like this?

http://www.weber.com/bbq/pub/grill/2007/charcoal/SmokeyMountainCooker.aspx