Drag Race Slowing Technique
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 8
From: Cockeysville Maryland
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Daytona Jam 1 Veteran
Drag Race Slowing Technique
Is there such a thing??
Does one let the engine deceleration assist in slowing down, or does one just put car into neutral right away after finish line?
Should one consider downshifting?
Thanks in advance.
Chuck
Does one let the engine deceleration assist in slowing down, or does one just put car into neutral right away after finish line?
Should one consider downshifting?
Thanks in advance.
Chuck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara Ca
Re: Drag Race Slowing Technique (chucschramm)
Is there such a thing??
Does one let the engine deceleration assist in slowing down, or does one just put car into neutral right away after finish line?
Should one consider downshifting?
Thanks in advance.
Chuck
Does one let the engine deceleration assist in slowing down, or does one just put car into neutral right away after finish line?
Should one consider downshifting?
Thanks in advance.
Chuck
Drive through where they stop the topend measurement ( you get higher topend results) and then lift g-pedal and downshift rather then slamming on the brakes for you never know how many of those racers were blowing fluids down on the track.
Don't shift to neutral esp if your on the right and car on left is waiting for you to exit first.
Most tracks say that if the exit is on the right side, the car on the left always allows the car on right to exit first thus that may change how you slow down.
Also some track have two exits and one is all the way to the end of the slowdown road so you have plenty of distance to let engine RPMs slow you down.
Also, if your winning and use the brakes right before finish line and the others see your brake tail lights they might assume you were sandbagging with the E.T you dialed in. We hate sandbaggers
[Modified by team-zr1, 10:28 PM 9/18/2001]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,145
Likes: 1
From: Bradenton FLORIDA
Re: Drag Race Slowing Technique (team-zr1)
We just lift after the line and use a combination of brakes & downshifting. At a little over 100 mph it's not hard to make the first turnout...if worried use the further one.
Hey, we all sandbag when needed...the race is mental skill as well! as long as you cut a good tree you can win it at the finish line as well. The rules say "No locking up the tires" a little brake is ok though. ;)
Hey, we all sandbag when needed...the race is mental skill as well! as long as you cut a good tree you can win it at the finish line as well. The rules say "No locking up the tires" a little brake is ok though. ;)
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Re: Drag Race Slowing Technique (chucschramm)
Before decelerating, I make certain I go through the final trap light and add a small cushion. I then shift to neutral and brake gradually. I usually take one of the last return roads. No shame in that. If I used more brakes, could easily take an earlier return road. But why?
At the track, I don't downshift to brake, preferring instead to give the clutch a break after those hard runs. :yesnod:
While there's always a first time, haven't had any trouble with congestion at a return road entrance.
Ranger
At the track, I don't downshift to brake, preferring instead to give the clutch a break after those hard runs. :yesnod:
While there's always a first time, haven't had any trouble with congestion at a return road entrance.
Ranger
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Crown Point IN
Re: Drag Race Slowing Technique (team-zr1)
Team, why do you hate sandbaggers? Last time I checked I never built a car just to show off how fast it was. I just wanted to make sure I had a better chance of beating the man in the other lane. :D You go to the track to drag race and drag racing's drag racing, you want a car show, go to a car show. :crazy: Not mad, angry, frusterated, flaming or singling you out. Just figured I'd tell ya's how I felt about it. Besides, it doesn't always take brakes to sandbag :yesnod: :flag :D :D :D :flag
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,145
Likes: 1
From: Bradenton FLORIDA
Re: Drag Race Slowing Technique (Allgonoshow)
You can sandbag by keeping a couple of hundreths in your pocket and just lift early!'The old saying is, if racing a slower car catch em and just keep a wheel (or bumber) on em. :D :D
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara Ca
Re: Drag Race Slowing Technique (Allgonoshow)
Team, why do you hate sandbaggers? Last time I checked I never built a car just to show off how fast it was. I just wanted to make sure I had a better chance of beating the man in the other lane. :D You go to the track to drag race and drag racing's drag racing, you want a car show, go to a car show. :crazy: Not mad, angry, frusterated, flaming or singling you out. Just figured I'd tell ya's how I felt about it. Besides, it doesn't always take brakes to sandbag :yesnod: :flag :D :D :D :flag
There is a big difference in putting a few tenths in the bank in case of a bad launch but another to dial in 5 tenths or more just so they can race a car that can't go any faster then that dial-in. To me that is not good sportsmanship if this is dial-in E.T bracket racing.
Those that even go so far as shutting off their rear brake lights, when I know they are outright sandbagging will do my best to get them to redlight or breakout of their dial-in.
To me E.T racing is not about sandbagging it's about what a person thinks they can really turn in the quarter and in 35 years of drag racing I have never sandbagged for if I am racing someone I am going to give them an honest run to see who really has the better E.T.
Yes there is other ways to sandbag but to show a slower car tail lights, esp if that person is sandbagging cause they are chickenchits to race against a car with about the same quicker E.T is not looked at kindly and in Chicago back in the 60's a guy getting caught S.Bing, well it was best he left the track much earlier then the rest of us
John
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,272
Likes: 0
From: Gaithersburg MD
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Drag Race Slowing Technique (team-zr1)
John,
I have to agree with you. A race is a race. Who has the faster car and the best reaction time. Not to mention the ability to launch under any condition.
Shutting off early, hitting the brakes, etc., just doesn't seem right and it is something that goes against my grain. I much prefer heads up racing.
However, drag racing is not that way anymore except for grudge matches on Test & Tune days or the pro's. I read that it costs $1,000,000.00 per season to run a Funny Car (plus the cost of the car). Afraid that's way out of my league.
So, I am struggling with making the choice of trying to go fast or win races.
Back to the original point, if you don't mind replaceing brake pads, hit the brakes after the 1/4 mile. If head gaskets are your thing, then let the engine slow you down. Or maybe a little of both.
I have to agree with you. A race is a race. Who has the faster car and the best reaction time. Not to mention the ability to launch under any condition.
Shutting off early, hitting the brakes, etc., just doesn't seem right and it is something that goes against my grain. I much prefer heads up racing.
However, drag racing is not that way anymore except for grudge matches on Test & Tune days or the pro's. I read that it costs $1,000,000.00 per season to run a Funny Car (plus the cost of the car). Afraid that's way out of my league.
So, I am struggling with making the choice of trying to go fast or win races.
Back to the original point, if you don't mind replaceing brake pads, hit the brakes after the 1/4 mile. If head gaskets are your thing, then let the engine slow you down. Or maybe a little of both.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara Ca
Re: Drag Race Slowing Technique (Steve Row)
Being a sandbagger never gets good praise, Golf a game I know nothing about also has issues with S.Bers and an excerpt says:
A "Sandbagger" is one who intentionally establishes an inaccurate handicap that will work to his advantage. There are people who try to establish lower handicaps than they deserve, but for the purposes of this story, we'll just consider them fools, not sandbaggers. The way a person establishes a falsely high handicap is "by selectively posting scores, or posting some higher than they've actually shot," says USGA Director of Handicapping Dean Knuth. . . .
It has always ben frowned on within Nascar as this excerpt :
By Monte Dutton
Special to NASCAR '99
HAMPTON, Ga. -- No one likes the term sandbagging.
It is a slang term that raises the specter of going slow on purpose. When Pontiac hotshots Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart and John Andretti all qualified poorly at Atlanta Motor Speedway last week, allegations were everywhere.
When Labonte drove from 37th out of 43 cars at the start to dominate the NAPA 500, the whispers became shouts.
--------
To me winning a drag race by SBing is not much pride to take home at the end of the night.
John
A "Sandbagger" is one who intentionally establishes an inaccurate handicap that will work to his advantage. There are people who try to establish lower handicaps than they deserve, but for the purposes of this story, we'll just consider them fools, not sandbaggers. The way a person establishes a falsely high handicap is "by selectively posting scores, or posting some higher than they've actually shot," says USGA Director of Handicapping Dean Knuth. . . .
It has always ben frowned on within Nascar as this excerpt :
By Monte Dutton
Special to NASCAR '99
HAMPTON, Ga. -- No one likes the term sandbagging.
It is a slang term that raises the specter of going slow on purpose. When Pontiac hotshots Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart and John Andretti all qualified poorly at Atlanta Motor Speedway last week, allegations were everywhere.
When Labonte drove from 37th out of 43 cars at the start to dominate the NAPA 500, the whispers became shouts.
--------
To me winning a drag race by SBing is not much pride to take home at the end of the night.
John
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Re: Drag Race Slowing Technique (team-zr1)
I'm not sure where exactly this thread is going, but if the original post was one regarding simply how to slow down after a run, I stand by my old philosophy that brake pads and/or rotors are a helluva lot cheaper than clutches, trannies and engines... and a lot easier to replace. I brake with my brakes. That's what they are for!
Mike
[Modified by mchaney, 8:35 PM 9/19/2001]
Mike
[Modified by mchaney, 8:35 PM 9/19/2001]