Drag strip advice
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 838
Likes: 180
From: Indianapolis Indiana area
Drag strip advice
I'm going to the dragstrip tomorrow for the first time in 15 years. I've never ran a stick car at the track and never had my Vette at the track either. I'm pretty much stock except for eforce with a 3.5" pulley. I have a set of Nitto nto5r's. Any advice on tire pressure, launch techniques...
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 201
Likes: 84
From: Nokomis, IL
I'm going to the dragstrip tomorrow for the first time in 15 years. I've never ran a stick car at the track and never had my Vette at the track either. I'm pretty much stock except for eforce with a 3.5" pulley. I have a set of Nitto nto5r's. Any advice on tire pressure, launch techniques...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 838
Likes: 180
From: Indianapolis Indiana area
Thank you. I've read that and thought I was going to go out and be a rock star right away. I've got a lot of learning to do. My best 60 was only a 1.97 with drag radials. I got to make 5 passes all together.
After the 1st 3 passes I felt like there was no way I could ever bracket race a stick. My 4th pass I knew I has to try something else. I was rolling backwards at the line. Previously I was trying to let the tree start with my foot on the brake then leave. I started holding the park brake to hold me. My next 2 lights were .4 something on a. 5 tree then a .663. I feel like I can do a lot better at the tree with some seat time. Now if I can get better at 60'. I'm hoping in time to get a 7.30 or better.
After the 1st 3 passes I felt like there was no way I could ever bracket race a stick. My 4th pass I knew I has to try something else. I was rolling backwards at the line. Previously I was trying to let the tree start with my foot on the brake then leave. I started holding the park brake to hold me. My next 2 lights were .4 something on a. 5 tree then a .663. I feel like I can do a lot better at the tree with some seat time. Now if I can get better at 60'. I'm hoping in time to get a 7.30 or better.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 201
Likes: 84
From: Nokomis, IL
I went to the drag strip my first time ever this past summer. I was really nervous my first time pulling up to the tree, but started having a lot of fun after the nerves wore off. However, I was on street tires on a no prep track and quickly realized there was no point going to the drag strip until I get some drag radials. I've not been back yet, but plan on getting more time at the strip next year with some proper tires.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 381
Likes: 58
From: Pittsburgh PA
Thank you. I've read that and thought I was going to go out and be a rock star right away. I've got a lot of learning to do. My best 60 was only a 1.97 with drag radials. I got to make 5 passes all together.
After the 1st 3 passes I felt like there was no way I could ever bracket race a stick. My 4th pass I knew I has to try something else. I was rolling backwards at the line. Previously I was trying to let the tree start with my foot on the brake then leave. I started holding the park brake to hold me. My next 2 lights were .4 something on a. 5 tree then a .663. I feel like I can do a lot better at the tree with some seat time. Now if I can get better at 60'. I'm hoping in time to get a 7.30 or better.
After the 1st 3 passes I felt like there was no way I could ever bracket race a stick. My 4th pass I knew I has to try something else. I was rolling backwards at the line. Previously I was trying to let the tree start with my foot on the brake then leave. I started holding the park brake to hold me. My next 2 lights were .4 something on a. 5 tree then a .663. I feel like I can do a lot better at the tree with some seat time. Now if I can get better at 60'. I'm hoping in time to get a 7.30 or better.
How do you feel now after the passes? once you get a bunch under your belt and if you don't modify the car, you will know how to feather that launch in and how to get those 60's down... when you have that confidently, it becomes a game of chess against yourself. Bracket racing a manual is hard, I used to just get to know my car and know my best times and then shoot for just under that, so if i did break out, it was a personal best and if not, i would die trying. A local would drive a dodge station wagon automatic running 17 second quarter miles and would take the bracket racing pot 8 out of 10, it was annoying to watch and have to live through lol. You can bracket race a manual, you just won't win
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 838
Likes: 180
From: Indianapolis Indiana area
How do you feel now after the passes? once you get a bunch under your belt and if you don't modify the car, you will know how to feather that launch in and how to get those 60's down... when you have that confidently, it becomes a game of chess against yourself. Bracket racing a manual is hard, I used to just get to know my car and know my best times and then shoot for just under that, so if i did break out, it was a personal best and if not, i would die trying. A local would drive a dodge station wagon automatic running 17 second quarter miles and would take the bracket racing pot 8 out of 10, it was annoying to watch and have to live through lol. You can bracket race a manual, you just won't win
There was an old guy in his 70's there this weekend in a Demon. He was running 7.30s got a 7.2x once I feel like my car should be able to run those times if I can drive it better. He was really fun to hang out with and helped me a bunch. He's going to get a lot faster when he gets it hooked up! So I need to hurry!
