never been to a drag strip, guys. any tips for me? thanks.

 

Be sure that you have all your safety equipment (seat belt, functional door handles, etc.)

Take a moment to familiarize with the dynamics of the strip; staging, time slip hut, etc.

Concentrate on one skill at the time, staging, reaction time, 60' time, etc.

Talk to people learn from them and from their techniques.

Good luck and post your experience.

 

WHAT I DO.....

TAKE OFF AT 2500 - 2600 RPM
REAR TIRES 26 PSI , FRONT 40 PSI
SHIFT AS CLOSE TO REDLINE AS POSSIBLE
TURN OFF TRACTION !!!! ( FIRST TIME I RUN I FORGOT TO TURN IT OFF , NOT A PLEASANT THING )
TURN OFF A/C , RADIO ETC....
TAKE OUT ALL THE GARBAGE FROM YOUR CAR , SPARE TIRE ETC..

IF U RUN MORE THAN 15 SECONDS SALE YOUR Z BUY A BICYCLE , THERE'S NO HOPE FOR YOU J/K , HAVE FUN

 

I held an NHRA et record with my 68 mustang in the early 70s....the best mod to make to go quicker is up the rearend ratio.....and short shift the move....never overwind in each gear.....

 

OH YEA , DONT RUN ON YOUR FULL TANK OF GAS...

 

OH YA AND dont forget...big rearend ration and free up the exhaust with headers.....leave the engine alone...the effort on the engine for wat you get in accelaration isnt worth it....2 biggest things to do....rearend ratio, headers,,,and never forget.....short shifting.....that way you are allways in the middle of each gears power curve......take it from me at 65 years and 40 of drag racing experience with street cars......its all in breathing, shifting and rearend ratio

 

Everywhere that I have raced requires you to wear long pants, closed toe shoes, and at least a shirt sleeved shirt. I thought this was fairly well known info until some of my friends went and couldnt run because of it. Just familairize yourself with the track setup and the NHRA rules. Also, dont speed in the pits, it kinda pisses the regulars off. Always remember, if you dont know something, just ask someone. People are normally more than willing to help. Are you familiar with how the "chrismas tree" works? It can be a little tricky for a newby, at least it was for me. Good luck with everything.

 

well, i plan on checkin things out at first; might not even run. depends on how much of a grasp of things i feel i have. short-shiftin? i assume u mean not totally winding out your gears? someone wanna explain, please?

 

Start as soon as the THIRD yellow light activates. as SOON and at lights, disengage the clutch and nail the gas, that way your R/T or "response time" will be low. Starting as soon as the third YELLOW light activates is perfect because your car won't take off until the green light is activated. My first run EVER at the strip I had an R/T of .595 with this advice. I've only false started once out of probably 50 runs.

So only think about the third yellow light and as soon as you see it activate, nail it baby!!!

 

Haven't seen this one yet, so...

Stage your FRONT tires, not your back ones. Yes, it's been done before (just not by me--I grew up at the drag strip.)

 

You gotta run. You wont forgive yourself if you dont. I have only been once where I didnt run and it was because my car broke at the track. I sat in the stands and watched and it killed me just sitting there watching instead of being out there. My advice is go ahead and run, you'll be hooked. Even if you run bad, you'll wanna go back and run better next time.

Also, good advice zoasis. Even though R/T has nothing to do with your time unless you are bracket racing, its cool to get a good jump on the green and your competitor. Go on the 3rd yellow and by the time you actually hit the gas pedal and the power gets to the ground, it will be green and time to go!

 

my advice to you would be forget about reaction time unless you are bracket racing -- just go for time trials and test and tune --- and concentrate more on your driving skills and less on the guy next to you!!! --- just take off somewhere around the green light-- when im goingfor just test and tune, and trying to get my best time--- ive hat RT as slow as 1.55 -----

fact is -- u could sit at the staging lights for 10 seconds after the green and still run a 14.0 -- your clock dont start till u cross the line!

as far as th launch ----- i usualy rev to 3500 and ride the clutch out

imo -- 60' isnt everything -- i think the 330 is a better way to judge how well u launched!

my 60' was a 2.11 -- but my 330' was a 5.91 --- thats pretty good bone stock if u ask me