first time at the track
 

A few weeks ago I went to Lebannon Valley dragway NY and raced for the first time. I was hoping for 13s but my best et was 14.33 @101mph.
my reaction time was horrible .632 and my 60ft time was 2.36. I only got 3 runs in. THe first run I was nervous and slowed down before the end of the track:o ( 14.6 @ 96mph) . The 2nd run was the 14.33, but I got bad wheel hop in first gear.

On the last run I let the tires down to 28psi, did a bigger burnout, and had a better reaction time. But the score board had an error and I didn't get a time slip.

I never had the car dynoed but is there anyway to guess how fast I should be running just from looking at the mph, 60ft, and reaction time?

I def. need more practice with the tree and launch.

Thanks,

L-82Kid

Hang in there kid, spend some time in the drag race section, there are a number of discusions for beginners. Nothing beats seat time:thumbs:

Here are some calculators you can use:
Link - http://www.tciauto.com/tech_info/calculators.htm

thanks guys

I used that calculator for mph, and it said 13.4. Next time I go to the track I'm goin to run 28psi and do a good burnout and then try to get my 60ft down. I have to drive 120miles to the track,race, and then drive back home. So I have to run street tires- 275/60 bfg.

Not sure if the burn out does any good with street tires. Sometimes it makes the tires gummy and not conducive to gaining traction. You might try driving around the burn out box and just spinning the tires very shortly in order to clean them instead off heating them up. Are you running DRs or just street tires?

You might want to increase your tire pressure a little. I have BFG 255 60s on my car (automatic) and I run them at 32 psi. I usually go 2.0 for the 60 ft time. Also, like The3 said, only do a short burnout.

Don't do a burnout, it's even debatable if letting the air out of your street tires will help or not. You don't drive through the water box do you?

The best thing you can do is practice launching - just high enough in the RPM band where you don't lose traction at launch. Maybe practice shifting (auto or manual? both may apply) to shift at the proper power band.

I'm running brand new street tires


The first two runs I had 32 psi. THen I went down to 28psi but didn't get a time slip. I didn't have wheel anymore with 28psi though.

If I launch two low the car will bog. my cam has no power below 2200rpm. The car is stick so I tried dumping the clutch at 2500rpm and go no traction.

brand new definately means they're greasier. that's worth a little but not noticeable where you're at in terms of 60' times.

Go around the waterbox, never thru it.

inspect the track pre-race and find the groove wherre all the rubber is. if nothing else watch the guy in front of you and see where he lines up, especially if he has slicks.

for my firebird every 0.1sec in 60' netted me 0.18sec in 1/4 mile time. given that you have another 0.6 seconds or so in your ride. I'd guess you'll hit 13.7's no problem. Better if you can go sub 2.0 60' times but that's hard to do on street tires without suspension mods or a good starting line with lots of VHT.

101mph is great. mph will be high by 2+ depending on how much sinning you do. when your 60' time goes down your mph will go down with it. You lose the extra momentum gained when the tires grab at high rpm. this is what elevates your mph when spinning; impulse force.

My 1st run ever was a 15.3 @ 102mph followed by a 13.8 @ 105mph.

Can't wait to see your times from your next run! :cheers:

If you went 14.33 on your first time out, then the 13's you are hoping for should be no problem with more practice.

Apparently I suck big time. according to the calculators i should be running high 8's:toetap:

With some drag radials you will go 13.60-70s pretty easy with 101mph traps. Harder you leave, the quicker it will be. On my old TA, it would run 12.80s@only 102-3mph but it would 60' low 1.70s and 330' 5.30s. It was an auto with a good converter.

60' and 330' are the key.

I might go back to the track this sat. Lebanon Valley is having a test and tune from 10am-2pm. I'll prob be able to get like 2-3 runs in.
I'm at school in RI, so I'll have to drive 80miles home, to CT, on friday night, pick up the car and drive 120miles to the track.