While it's nice to be able to dial in your tune for the best power, if you have never made a pass on a drag strip before, I would suggest that you concentrate on the basics of running at the strip and how your car will react. Understand how the grid works, look to see who is responsible to get you to the staging area, when to move up to the lights and how to stage properly.

You might even want to watch a couple of runs first to see how everything works. Watch the cars at the line and watch the tree to give you an idea when to leave.

At first, launch easy so you can get a feel of how the car will hook up. The 1-2 shift should be easy at first; put power down smoothly. A WOT 1-2 shift on street tires could get the car sideways or at least way out of shape. The 2-3 shift can be done at nearly WOT and should not cause any issues. Depending on gearing, you will soon filgure out if you should even shift into 4th. DO NOT use the OD! It doesn't like abuse like being engaged at WOT.

There will be a lot of variables that can impact tuning. Ambient air temps, humidity, track surface temp, and of course engine temps (both oil and coolant). Suspension will play a part in how the car handles power.

I don't recall you mentioning a lot about brakes. You will most likely see speeds at the top end somewhere around 100. Be very aware of the shut-down area length and where you have to turn off for the return road. I have been to test and tune nights where it got to the point during the event that I didn't have to wait much more than a couple of minutes between runs. That can be real hard on brakes as they don't have a good chance to cool down. If nothing else, install new pads like Hawk HP+, flush the brake fluid and use a good DOT4 brake fluid.

 

That is way more than enough time for brakes to cool down. If not, something is very wrong with your brakes.

 

Hey Tom, at RMR there is normally an hour between runs, it is possible that the drag strip that he goes to, they are able to hot lap...

 

You can hot lap at most every track if you get to the fifth or sixth round .

 

Yeh, we are not bracket racers, but do the open days and midnights along with T&T days. We were giggling about how many runs you can get in a day at RMR at T&T. They have super bad track management and if you can get in three runs at a T&T you have had a good day..

And your correct, I have run many times in phoenix both tracks, and in Vegas lots of runs. My Bro lives in Danville, and I am trying to figure how I can get my car, slicks, and luggage there without trailering. I would really like to race Sonoma, before I am too old to race anymore....

 

I'm fortunate to live less than an hour from Sonoma. Great track, good people. I have raced in Phoenix and Tuscon and Vegas a number of times. Definitely have to dial up a half second or so at those venues.