[burtial]

I am going to an 1/8 mile track for the first time this weekend...don't really plan on racing this weekend, but maybe some test/tune passes to get a feel for my car and get ideas on bracket times for her. What are some tips that a newbie like myself could stand to know?

 

[mxbandit]

Don't burn your clutch, launch at 2500 rpms, no TCS, no radio, no a/c. Don't go to redline, shift at 6250rpms max, otherwise you will fall on the low part of the torque curve.

Please don't crash

 

[DTL]

Pull AROUND the water box, not through it. Don't stage with the back tires.

 

[Kenaizer]

Have fun. You'll learn more there than you could ever hope to here

 

[Guest]

Have fun. You'll learn more there than you could ever hope to here

This! Don't overthink it!! Ask the track workers to walk you through the staging process and also the entrance/exit lanes. Watch a few other guys and make yourself comfortable with the entire process before lining up yourself. Find a good parking spot. Don't even think about launching the car on street tires, walk it off the line like leaving a stop light. Increase aggressiveness as you learn the track surface.

 

[csamsh]

Don't drive through the water box, don't do a burnout. You can spin the tires a little, but heating them up too much will make oil come out and you will LOSE traction.

If anything weird happens (noises, missed shift, getting out of the groove, etc.) BACK OFF. No pass is worth your car.

Don't worry about the tree. Get your revs right and just go after the light turns green. Your ET and trap speed have nothing to do with your reaction time.

Most of all- have fun with it. You'll be faster than some and slower than others. You'll make bad passes. Your friends will make fun of you. You'll make good ones too- set a target and go for it!

 

[burtial]

Thanks for all of the info guys!
So since I'm in street tires, I drive around the waterbox. Do I need to do a brief burnout after the waterbox (is there even room?) or just creep up to my prestage light, stage and take off like I normally would from a light?

 

[G-Mann]

Lots of good stuff can be found in the drag racing section of this forum.

Drag Racing Forum | AllFordMustangs.com

I just picked up a Snell 2010 certified helmet at cycle gear $79 (interestingly they've started advertising on our site after I made that purchase or at least it seems) and will be heading to the track any day now.

Not a bad idea to call the track and bounce a few questions off them as well is another thing I did.

You will want to do a brief burnout to remove dirt and warm up the tires just don't do it in the wet areas.

 

[Baysixx]

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/drag-racing/153624-drag-racing-101-learn-basics.html

Good luck

 

[wproctor411]

Thanks for all of the info guys!
So since I'm in street tires, I drive around the waterbox. Do I need to do a brief burnout after the waterbox (is there even room?) or just creep up to my prestage light, stage and take off like I normally would from a light?

Not a burn out just chirp the tires for half a second and let off to clean the tires off.


You may surprise yourself by starting slow - quickly rolling into throttle at launch - do not mash it to the floor. There will be people around - watch people and you will see who is doin it right - ask them questions.

 

[jdnull68]

take a camera! Take lots of pics and have lots of fun! Post pics here if you can (unlike me).

 

[Revenge]

I go right before the light turns green not after???:?:

 

[jdnull68]

yes, the time it takes for you to think "go!", time to move your feet, time for car to respond and move, all play a part in reac. if you wait until you see the green light, your opponent will be halfway down the trackbefore you know it.:shiny: every car anddriver are different, but watch the others launch. try watching the 3 yellow lights, and their timing. Imagine leaving as the last yellow is about to go out. Hell, just go have fun!:laugh:

 

[Tominator]

Basics of Drag Racing

Track rules can vary. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The officials will be happy you did rather than just go and make mistakes.

Watch and learn.

Don't sweat the bad times you are bound to get. It takes practice and concentration. Just like sex, the more you do it the better you get!

The most important advice? HAVE FUN!:gringreen

 

[burtial]

Thanks for all the info guys...It's supposed to rain this weekend, so I will have to postpone my trip out. :weeps

 

[G-Mann]

Did not realize you were in Dallas Burtial. Which track were you thinking about checking out?


I was planning on going up to NorthStar Tonight myself but the forecast is not looking favorable.

 

[burtial]

I was going to go to Redline Raceway, but they were going to have a big grudge match this Saturday anyway, so I was just going to do some test and tune passes to figure out my bracket ET.

What part of town are you in?

 

[G-Mann]

It will be my first track outing as well so I'm just looking for something low key without all the fan fare so I can get a few runs in under the radar so to speak till I figure out what I'm doing.


I'm way over in North Fort Worth right by Texas Motor Speedway, which I believe has some bracket racing going on Friday nights but North Star is just 15-20 mins down the road and I hear you can pretty much run at will after 10pm. Redline is a waaaay on the other end of the metroplex a good 72 miles from my house. Might be worth the trip if it is a 1/4 track. I was unable to tell from their website.

 

[Zathras]

Keep in mind some tracks now require you to have a helmet of certain rating, even for relatively stock cars. (Usually 13.99 or faster.)

I've been trying to figure out how to get a cheap helmet, but automotive-rated crash helmets are pretty big bucks, and it's not so easy to find a used one that fits my big head.

 

[G-Mann]

Keep in mind some tracks now require you to have a helmet of certain rating, even for relatively stock cars. (Usually 13.99 or faster.)

I've been trying to figure out how to get a cheap helmet, but automotive-rated crash helmets are pretty big bucks, and it's not so easy to find a used one that fits my big head.

So if I have this stamped on the back of my helmet will I will be good to go??