why road racing
#1
why road racing
i use to drag raced and have been looking into road racing, vettes are super quick and just wondering why some of you are on the road courses and not the drag strip.
great little site you have here, lots of information!!
great little site you have here, lots of information!!
#2
I came from a drag racing background and IMO road racing is MUCH more challanging as well as rewarding.
think of it like this; would you rather spend 11 seconds (maybe less if you're faster) in the driver seat at a time, only shifting 3 times... or, would you rather spend 25min (or more) doing EVERYTHING the car was designed to do (braking, shifting, turning, accelerating). Seems pretty obvious to me.
welcome to the forum
think of it like this; would you rather spend 11 seconds (maybe less if you're faster) in the driver seat at a time, only shifting 3 times... or, would you rather spend 25min (or more) doing EVERYTHING the car was designed to do (braking, shifting, turning, accelerating). Seems pretty obvious to me.
welcome to the forum
#7
Former Vendor
Randy
#8
Racer
#9
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2003
Location: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 0
Received 24 Likes
on
24 Posts
Drag strip
10 sec runs, 12 runs per night = 120 secs or 2 min.
10 times a year = 20 min
10 years = 200 min or 3 hours and 20 min
Road racing
Warm up 20 min
Qualifications 20 min
Race one 40 min
80 min per day X two days or 160 min per weekend
2hours 40 min per weekend PLUS Friday test day at 2 hours
4 hours and 40 min per weekend
10 weekends a year = OVER 40 hours of race time per year
OK OK not quite the same apples to apples.
or the other one we use
Any one can learn to be fast in a straight line, it takes skill to go fast around corners, and corners, and corners, and corners, and corners, then short straight, then ( repeat for 12 -15 laps)
ok ok not same apples to apples
Different skill set. Not just speed, but lots of strategy, and even more luck.
PLUS 20 to 50 OTHER guys all trying to be in the same place, in front of YOU.
10 sec runs, 12 runs per night = 120 secs or 2 min.
10 times a year = 20 min
10 years = 200 min or 3 hours and 20 min
Road racing
Warm up 20 min
Qualifications 20 min
Race one 40 min
80 min per day X two days or 160 min per weekend
2hours 40 min per weekend PLUS Friday test day at 2 hours
4 hours and 40 min per weekend
10 weekends a year = OVER 40 hours of race time per year
OK OK not quite the same apples to apples.
or the other one we use
Any one can learn to be fast in a straight line, it takes skill to go fast around corners, and corners, and corners, and corners, and corners, then short straight, then ( repeat for 12 -15 laps)
ok ok not same apples to apples
Different skill set. Not just speed, but lots of strategy, and even more luck.
PLUS 20 to 50 OTHER guys all trying to be in the same place, in front of YOU.
Last edited by AU N EGL; 09-01-2009 at 02:13 PM.
#10
I LOVE drag racing.
But lets face it. If you are really successful at a drag event, you might spend what, a total of 2 minutes behind the wheel. And if you are not, and get eliminated early.....you might have less then a minute in the car.
At a road race event you will get about 90 minutes behind the wheel. Top speeds will be pretty close (if you are talking about the same car for each) and you will get to hit that top speed at least 15 times/race!!!
But lets face it. If you are really successful at a drag event, you might spend what, a total of 2 minutes behind the wheel. And if you are not, and get eliminated early.....you might have less then a minute in the car.
At a road race event you will get about 90 minutes behind the wheel. Top speeds will be pretty close (if you are talking about the same car for each) and you will get to hit that top speed at least 15 times/race!!!
#11
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2003
Location: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 0
Received 24 Likes
on
24 Posts
Wait, Every time two guys go though a corner side by side, they DRAG race to the next corner. ( repeat)
Guys Post some videos for our new friend. Especially those standing starts races
Guys Post some videos for our new friend. Especially those standing starts races
#14
thanks for pointing out what i have been missing. I did do a DE and have to say it was fun but it was in a street car, probably if i was in a full out race or more of prepped car i could compare it to my drag racing.
One thing i have been researching is the money we spent on a car for a short time, my engine was 12 to 15k , car and stuff another 15k and that wasnt even the best. I just feel for that money i could have a great road race car.
I love vettes and the new body styles, so i am fishing through the threads here for info. I would leave the motor alone but i would want a cage and seats for safety. Are the newer vettes hard to work on?
thanks again.
great video, i go to the ALMS races all the time in Lime Rock, i love the action!
One thing i have been researching is the money we spent on a car for a short time, my engine was 12 to 15k , car and stuff another 15k and that wasnt even the best. I just feel for that money i could have a great road race car.
I love vettes and the new body styles, so i am fishing through the threads here for info. I would leave the motor alone but i would want a cage and seats for safety. Are the newer vettes hard to work on?
thanks again.
great video, i go to the ALMS races all the time in Lime Rock, i love the action!
#17
i do not think i would even add more power, i would just want to make it handle like its on rails and then may be when i am driving better add power. How long do the manual trannys, clutches and also the engines last? I saw in another thread that some one mentioned a drysump, what do they cost to put on?
#18
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Jul 2004
Location: In front of C6s.
Posts: 9,835
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St: Jude Donor '10
Comparing drag racing and road racing is like comparing apples to oranges. Totally different skill sets in use.
Personally, I do both and enjoy both. For my part, I want to experience as many different things as possible in my vettes. So far, I've had an absolute blast doing so!
Personally, I do both and enjoy both. For my part, I want to experience as many different things as possible in my vettes. So far, I've had an absolute blast doing so!
#20
I've never drag raced, but every time I've had an autox run, or lapped around a road course, I always think I could have done better. Even good runs, when my time was better than expected, I know I could have done better. That's what makes me look forward to the next event.