Am I a wuss?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington IN
Am I a wuss?
There's 1/8 strip (bracket racing) about 20 minutes from my house and I watch a couple times a month. My friends are always asking me to put my car on the strip to see what it'll do. I get all psyched and when the day comes I start having doubts. I'm kind of worried about tearing up my engine or maybe having an accident in a 26 year old car which wouldn't be pretty. I've done a lot of mods and I know I don't have an extremly scary fast car by any stretch but can't bring myself to do it. I'm sure it would be a great rush.
What do you guys think? wuss? Any suggestions to get over the worries? :eek:
What do you guys think? wuss? Any suggestions to get over the worries? :eek:
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Am I a wuss? (midwest-vette)
I put a alum heads, a roller cam and headers on then took it to the strip the next day. I was nervous at first so on the first pass I took it easy out of the hole but after that I didn't spare the horses. The scariest part is the fear of finding out you got a slow car. ;)
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Re: Am I a wuss? (midwest-vette)
No reason why you shouldn't. You can line it up and go as fast or as slow as you want. Once you feel more comfortable, you can flog it little harder. Before you know it, you'll be at max boost all the way down the track.
Brett :thumbs:
Brett :thumbs:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa Beach FL
Re: Am I a wuss? (midwest-vette)
Yes, you're a wuss! :lolg:
Just kidding...I am the same way. I have friend that is dying to race me (he has a turbo Supra) but I'm a big chicken for the same reasons you are. :conehead
Just kidding...I am the same way. I have friend that is dying to race me (he has a turbo Supra) but I'm a big chicken for the same reasons you are. :conehead
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria VA
Re: Am I a wuss? (midwest-vette)
If your primary fear was crashing, then yes, you would be a wuss. But since your primary fear is breaking something in your car, then that is a perfect reason to not race. Drag racing can be extremely hard on your car. Don't worry about an accident, you're safer on the track than you are getting to and from it. If its a good track they will have rules and inspections to make it really hard for you to hurt yourself or your car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Am I a wuss? (pingdashf)
My thoughts:
1) Accidents don't bother me - stuff happens and I don't think it is that likely (as said, my luck would be having it totaled on the drive home)
2) The risk of blowing a engine, rear end, or minor things that haunt me later is reason enough not to race.
You would be a wuss if your car is set up for racing with bullet proof parts and you still chose not to race.
PS: I am one that does not see the point of drag racing. Road courses, though, are a different story.
[Modified by Robert N, 9:45 AM 4/23/2003]
1) Accidents don't bother me - stuff happens and I don't think it is that likely (as said, my luck would be having it totaled on the drive home)
2) The risk of blowing a engine, rear end, or minor things that haunt me later is reason enough not to race.
You would be a wuss if your car is set up for racing with bullet proof parts and you still chose not to race.
PS: I am one that does not see the point of drag racing. Road courses, though, are a different story.
[Modified by Robert N, 9:45 AM 4/23/2003]
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Re: Am I a wuss? (midwest-vette)
Personally, if there was a track around me, I'd be all over it (likely getting my **** kicked). Your car, your decision, but i don't think a little run on the track is gonna break anything that isn't close to breakin' anyway. :cheers:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington IN
Re: Am I a wuss? (Corey 68)
I'm gettin' an alignment and going for it. I'm the one on the throttle. I can see it coming, I'll be at the track on Friday nights and parts store Saturday mornings all summer long. :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Am I a wuss? (midwest-vette)
I' gettin' an alignment and going for it. I'm the one on the throttle. I can see it coming, I'll be at the track on Friday nights and parts store Saturday mornings all summer long. :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 924
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
Re: Am I a wuss? (midwest-vette)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zero...=533584&page=2
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=537125
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=537209
.....but don't let something little like this stop you. It rarely happens. Go have fun! :D
mark
[Modified by 81vette, 12:53 PM 4/23/2003]
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=537125
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=537209
.....but don't let something little like this stop you. It rarely happens. Go have fun! :D
mark
[Modified by 81vette, 12:53 PM 4/23/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,407
Likes: 2
From: Carmichael CA
Re: Am I a wuss? (midwest-vette)
You DON'T have to go all out when you race.
You DON'T have to rev it up and pop the clutch.
You DON'T have to floor it and try to go like a bat out of hell.
You DO have to have fun!
You DO have to see what you want to do.
If you just take it easy, then it won't be any worse than getting onto the freeway from a standing start. I took mine to the track and had a blast beginning with the water burnout, just being on a race track, hanging with other drivers and their fast cars, not having to worry about a badge turning the red lights on, etc. For your first time you could just take it easy. The only times I hear sad stories are when people are pushing their cars over their limits and something breaks.
You DON'T have to rev it up and pop the clutch.
You DON'T have to floor it and try to go like a bat out of hell.
You DO have to have fun!
You DO have to see what you want to do.
If you just take it easy, then it won't be any worse than getting onto the freeway from a standing start. I took mine to the track and had a blast beginning with the water burnout, just being on a race track, hanging with other drivers and their fast cars, not having to worry about a badge turning the red lights on, etc. For your first time you could just take it easy. The only times I hear sad stories are when people are pushing their cars over their limits and something breaks.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Re: Am I a wuss? (QuickVet)
Go for it and drive like you want to. I personally drive it as hard as I can. The only place to legally do good burn outs and drive fast. You are safer on the strip than the street. Parts can break anywhere.
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Re: Am I a wuss? (midwest-vette)
My friend Charlie and I have raced one or the other of our Corvettes against each other many times. Stop light kind of stuff, lots of fun. A few years ago we were in Seattle and had a chance to run in some nostalgia drags for the weekend. By the time he staged he was a nervous wreck, a complete drooling shnook, a boob. Hardly the guy I'd partied and raced with a million times. He red lighted everytime he launched. His car was fast, unfortuneately he was just a little faster. His wife jokingly said she could do better so he tried her at her word. Her reaction time was excellent! She cut a near perfect light first time out and ran strong all weekend. He was happy just doing the dialing in for her. You can't argue with what works.
Of course the last time I heard from Charlie he was painting his wife's toe nails at a Celine Dionne concert. ;)
Of course the last time I heard from Charlie he was painting his wife's toe nails at a Celine Dionne concert. ;)