if there are 10 other 1st time drag threads, my apologies. i'm taking my nismo to the track for the first time this friday and i'm looking for some general tips/advice. i feel like i can launch ok, mostly i'm just looking for a baselime time to improve from. i'm not all about drag times, but more just hoping i can see where i am and how i can improve later on. any kind advice on launch techniques and other advice for my first few runs? the car is well broken in with just over 10,000 miles on the clock. stock except for k&n drop ins and hks hi power. for a first timer i'm just hoping to get under 14's...realistic?

 

First timer? Eh i'm going to say high 14's. Just relax and have fun. It's going to be a learning experience. Back in 98 when i had a camaro SS. My first run was mid 15's and i missed the exit lane off the track.

 

Yes.

a. Safety is paramount. Familiarize yourself with the staging technique. Before jumping into the staging lanes, watch other vehicles stage.
b. Take your time. Officials recognize new racers, and are patient. Go where you are directed when you are directed.
c. Where is the return road? Does the right lane return to the right? Left lane to the left? Or is there one common return road? I have seen more safety problems in the runoff then any other area.
d. Safety is more important than ET. If you are having problems with traction, back off the gas. There are no trophies for hitting a wall.
e. Have fun.

 

I got 13.9 on my very first time out. And I suck *****.

On my third time I managed to get 13.7. I haven't gone again since December.

Good luck. Not really much advise to give, just go out there and find out for yourself. That's what I did.

 

thanks guys. coming from the aviation world, safety is part of what i do...so i'll keep it in mind. i'll post my times when i get back!

 

GOOD LUCK! im excited to see your times

 

well i won't post all the gory details, but i went, made 4 runs and had a good time. all 4 runs were between 14.5 and 14.7 with 60' times ranging from 2.3-2.5. i can see where just getting more runs in will "slow the whole process down" and let me work on refining the launch technique. from this one experience, it seems like 90% of running a good time in a mostly stock Z is getting a good launch. gotta get that 60' time down huh? 2.0 would be really, really nice.

how long (if at all) do you sit between runs to cool down?
does anyone here burn out to warm their tires up? i'm on the stockers, so A) putting heat in them probably doesn't help, and B) i don't want to buy new tires. so needless to say, while the GTO spun his tires for 10 seconds, i was sitting there staged.

 

oh and best trap was in the mid 99's. ranged from high 96's to mid 99's.

 

It's all good if you had fun. Nailed your times

 

post up the results of your time slip, how did you launch, and where you shifting at. and whatever you do dont go threw the water

 

yeah kind of hard to not go through the water at that place...i don't know if i'll post the slips, my scanner seems to not be talking to the computer anymore. as far as launch, it was pretty soft...being my first time i didn't want to kill the clutch or glaze it up, so pretty much what i would call an aggressive stop light launch, nothing you wouldn't do out in town. probably explains my bad 60' time.

 

yea if you got threw the water on street tires it will kill your 60'.

 

Agree. Get the first 60 feet down and the rest is a piece of cake.

EDIT: In the summer I like 30 minutes between runs.