Going to the track for the 1st time soon, need tips.
03-30-2009, 09:12 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Going to the track for the 1st time soon, need tips.
Hello,
I am a newbie when it comes to drag racing but I have some friends that want me to take my car to a local 1/8 mile strip to see what it will do.
I need any and all tips that may help.
such as.
Some of those may sound stupid to people that have been doing it for years but I have never even been to a drag strip.
My car is a 98 Coupe.
Automatic.
I have a few mods but nothing major.
I also have a set of Drag Radials I can put on the rear but I only have street tires for the front.
I am assuming that the Drag radials will get lots more traction that my Goodyear runflats.
I am a newbie when it comes to drag racing but I have some friends that want me to take my car to a local 1/8 mile strip to see what it will do.
I need any and all tips that may help.
such as.
- Tire pressures
- traction control on or off
- how much gas should I give it or just floor it
- manually shift or leave it in drive
Some of those may sound stupid to people that have been doing it for years but I have never even been to a drag strip.
My car is a 98 Coupe.
Automatic.
I have a few mods but nothing major.
- vararam
- longtube headers
- Cat delete
- Borla Quad tips
- Custom tune (done before the header install)
I also have a set of Drag Radials I can put on the rear but I only have street tires for the front.
I am assuming that the Drag radials will get lots more traction that my Goodyear runflats.
03-30-2009, 11:07 PM
#3
Drifting
03-30-2009, 11:31 PM
#6
Instructor
get advanced ;)
Also read the origional bracket race strategy thread from the top of this page. But honestly, start on page 6 
It will be ahead of your learning curve, but if you take up drag racing as a regular hobby, you will gather SOME informative crap
But you gotta sift through the
It will be ahead of your learning curve, but if you take up drag racing as a regular hobby, you will gather SOME informative crap
But you gotta sift through the
03-30-2009, 11:50 PM
#7
AMP Racing
Member Since: Aug 2006
Location: Washington TWP NJ
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Dont worry too much about your ET. and especially dont worry about your R/T. All that will get better with practice. If you have the DRs, then use them and start out at 25psi.
Just be sure to Have fun!
Just be sure to Have fun!
03-31-2009, 05:29 PM
#8
Advanced
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03-31-2009, 09:46 PM
#9
Instructor
Originally Posted by jadams67
Let the Vette guys give you tips on how to set up your car......I only have dedicated race cars and none are vettes. LOL
Let the drag racer give you a few tips how not to look like an ***. Doing things right makes less people laugh at you, which does not make you feel embarased. When you get embarassed you get timid, and get frustrated, and tend to screw up even more.
I am not being a jerk, or sarcastic. I am just typically brutally honest.
So, a few tips. The staging bulbs: the top two are pre-stage indicators. The bottom two are staged indicators. You drive into the pre-stage beam slowly, and when you light the pre-stage bulbs COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. This is the point of no return. Now slowly creep forward and turn on the stage bulbs. When the tree activates, and the three amber lights count down, go when you see the third amber light up. DON'T WAIT FOR THE GREEN or you will have a horrible reaction time.
Find a racer who really understands how to race. (a guy with a RACE CAR and not just a street car) Just walk up and be honest. Say "This is my first time, and could you spare me 10 minutes of your time and take me to the starting line and explian how this works? At least enough for me to learn a little before i prove it's my first time? Maybe ask if they would be willing to drive your car with you in the passenger seat, or them in the passenger seat just to coach you through it.
You will gain more respect from racers by asking them to share knowledge, than you will looking like a clown and doing it wrong with no appreciation for the skill and knowledge involved in drag racing.
You are already better than 90% of newbies by asking advise on the forum. So good luck and try to have fun!
This was the PM I sent.
Let the Vette guys give you tips on how to set up your car......I only have dedicated race cars and none are vettes. LOL
Let the drag racer give you a few tips how not to look like an ***. Doing things right makes less people laugh at you, which does not make you feel embarased. When you get embarassed you get timid, and get frustrated, and tend to screw up even more.
I am not being a jerk, or sarcastic. I am just typically brutally honest.
So, a few tips. The staging bulbs: the top two are pre-stage indicators. The bottom two are staged indicators. You drive into the pre-stage beam slowly, and when you light the pre-stage bulbs COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. This is the point of no return. Now slowly creep forward and turn on the stage bulbs. When the tree activates, and the three amber lights count down, go when you see the third amber light up. DON'T WAIT FOR THE GREEN or you will have a horrible reaction time.
Find a racer who really understands how to race. (a guy with a RACE CAR and not just a street car) Just walk up and be honest. Say "This is my first time, and could you spare me 10 minutes of your time and take me to the starting line and explian how this works? At least enough for me to learn a little before i prove it's my first time? Maybe ask if they would be willing to drive your car with you in the passenger seat, or them in the passenger seat just to coach you through it.
You will gain more respect from racers by asking them to share knowledge, than you will looking like a clown and doing it wrong with no appreciation for the skill and knowledge involved in drag racing.
You are already better than 90% of newbies by asking advise on the forum. So good luck and try to have fun!
This was the PM I sent.
04-02-2009, 12:13 PM
#12
Race Director
Find a racer who really understands how to race. (a guy with a RACE CAR and not just a street car) Just walk up and be honest. Say "This is my first time, and could you spare me 10 minutes of your time and take me to the starting line and explian how this works? At least enough for me to learn a little before i PROVE it's my first time?"
You will gain more respect from racers by asking them to share knowledge, than you will looking like a clown and doing it wrong with no appreciation for the skill and knowledge involved in drag racing.
You will gain more respect from racers by asking them to share knowledge, than you will looking like a clown and doing it wrong with no appreciation for the skill and knowledge involved in drag racing.
"..... survey-says.....
..... NUMBER-ONE ANSWER on the board, darlin'!!!!!"
[/Richard Dawson]
04-03-2009, 10:33 AM
#13
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
again, thanks for all the tips.
I would rather ask for help on something I know almost nothing about than just try to wing it and end up looking stupid.
I would rather ask for help on something I know almost nothing about than just try to wing it and end up looking stupid.
04-03-2009, 02:03 PM
#14
Instructor
You couldn't be more right with that attitude. You will actually learn the basics a lot quicker, and spend more time enjoying yourself. If you were to approach a lot of the guys I know with that mind set, chances are you will be hanging out with some good racers every weekend.