need a few track tips

[stprorolla49]

i should be goin to the track for the first time this weekend and i need a few tips...im not new to racing, i mean i haven't done it before, but ive been goin to the track for over 10 years with my dad so i get the idea to say the least, but i need a few questions answered about my car in particular.....

first off, does a 1200-1400 launch RPM sound about right on a pretty much stock 5spd coupe with my mods sounds about right?? this is on 245/45/17 street tires...

also, shifting at about 5200 sound about right?

reason i ask these questions is because i know many of you have raced your basically stock cars with similar mods to mine so you might have some general ideas for me...

wish me luck

 

[nmcgrawj]

You should go out in an empty parking lot(a big one) or an empty road and practice launches. Its hard to say cause it depends a lot on tires, clutch, driver, etc. So just try to practice to get a better idea. I think u'll catch on pretty quick.

Im not sure on shiftpoints...i never raced mine while stock at the track.

 

[SeventyMach1]

Give 'er hell!!!!

 

[Joe 5.0]

Here's my suggestions, start to finish

• Before even leaving remove all uneccesary weight from the car. This includes the spare/jack, any subwoofers, and even the passenger seat if you dont plan on having a passenger
• Arrive at the track with no more than a 1/4 tank of gas
• Air up the front tires to the max psi rating on the sidewall, start the rears at 25psi and work down from there depending on how its hooking up
• DRIVE AROUND THE WATER BOX!! dont think itscool to do a smoky burnout, with street tires it will only hurt. First off the water will get into the treads and stay there so when you launch the ground will be wet. Go around the water box, tach it up to ~ 4k and dump the clutch. It'll spin a bit and clean any debris off the tires.I wouldnt try brake-torquing just yet.
• With the launch rpm you'll just have to experiment. I would say try 2k rpm and work up from there. Most times on street tires you'll have to slip the clutch a but in order to keep it from bogging or spinning like crazy. Just remember not to slip it too much, as thats not healthy for the clutch.
• Shift the 1-2 @ 5300rpm, and the 2-3 @ 5200rpm, and the
• With stock gears you will finish in 3rd gear, so you only have to shift twice. Try to shift fast, but only within your skill level. Its better to shift a touch slow than to miss a shift.
• Dont let off until the last marker, alot of people let off too early.

I hope that wasnt too much info, but it hopefully will help a bit.

Just out there and have fun. Experiment with shift points, launch rpms, and shifting techniques. Write on each slip what your procedure was, so you can see what patterns work best for your car.

Good luck, report back with the times.

 

[SeventyMach1]

^^^^ Looks like excellent tips .... but .... 2-3 @ 1200 RPM?

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

^^^^ Looks like excellent tips .... but .... 2-3 @ 1200 RPM?

I was thinking the same thing?
When I went, I staged to ~4000 RPM, and slipped the clutch to just before losing traction. Gave me my best time of 14.79 @ 92 bone stock.

 

[Joe 5.0]

sorry, fixed lol

 

[SeventyMach1]

Hehe, that would have been some serious bogging, lol. Those are really good tips.

 

[gcomfx.com]

#1 rule on your first trip to the track.... HAVE FUN!!!! Don't get all stressed out about it. If your car disappoints you on your first trip, just shake it off and consider it a base meter for improvments of future trips.

 

[stprorolla49]

thanks guys...hopefully it wont snow too much, and if it does, i hope its clear by sunday....these are some great tips! i learned a lot of that by goin to the track like 234569873456 times, but the ones that are specific to mustangs, and my car specifically really help...2 more questions....

1- If its 40 degrees outside will i risk a chance of breaking something on the car?? keep in mind that its a 50 mile drive to the track so everything in the driveline will be warmed up, and its Test and Tune day with open lanes, so you can just keep going and going so the car wont really cool down....

2-any estimates as to what i could run? im guessing if i can launch decently, i know i can shift really fast cause i practice so much, ill run maybe 14.6-14.8?? somewhere in there??

thanks guys! ill definately post up results if/when i go!!!:SNSign:

 

[94gts]

You arent gonna break anything. Ive taken the 2hr 100+ mile trip to etown a bunch of times. My car has about 8 trips to the track and 35+ passes under its belt. No breakage yet(knocks on wood). Even if you suck at driving, which i did when i had the same mods as you, you should go high 14's. The 3.08's should help you out of the hole better than my 2.73's did. with basically the same mods + headers, pulleys, and aluminum ds i went 14.6 @ 95 with a 2.2 60ft.


One thing i dont like about etown is how strict they are about the rules. And they make everybody where a helmet. Also, it sucks to drive all the way there and only get like 2 runs in(which is what happens on tnt days).

 

[stprorolla49]

You arent gonna break anything. Ive taken the 2hr 100+ mile trip to etown a bunch of times. My car has about 8 trips to the track and 35+ passes under its belt. No breakage yet(knocks on wood). Even if you suck at driving, which i did when i had the same mods as you, you should go high 14's. The 3.08's should help you out of the hole better than my 2.73's did. with basically the same mods + headers, pulleys, and aluminum ds i went 14.6 @ 95 with a 2.2 60ft.


One thing i dont like about etown is how strict they are about the rules. And they make everybody where a helmet. Also, it sucks to drive all the way there and only get like 2 runs in(which is what happens on tnt days).

im actually not going to etown this weekend...a few buddies are going to island dragway which is a lil quieter track and for $25 you get unlimited runs during the test and tune days....as soon as you get back from your run you can head back to the lanes...im expecting that if i can cut a decent like 2.1 60' or something ill run 14.8 at like 93-94..something like that...

 

[bill302]

Here's my suggestions, start to finish

• Before even leaving remove all uneccesary weight from the car. This includes the spare/jack, any subwoofers, and even the passenger seat if you dont plan on having a passenger
• Arrive at the track with no more than a 1/4 tank of gas
• Air up the front tires to the max psi rating on the sidewall, start the rears at 25psi and work down from there depending on how its hooking up
• DRIVE AROUND THE WATER BOX!! dont think itscool to do a smoky burnout, with street tires it will only hurt. First off the water will get into the treads and stay there so when you launch the ground will be wet. Go around the water box, tach it up to ~ 4k and dump the clutch. It'll spin a bit and clean any debris off the tires.I wouldnt try brake-torquing just yet.
• With the launch rpm you'll just have to experiment. I would say try 2k rpm and work up from there. Most times on street tires you'll have to slip the clutch a but in order to keep it from bogging or spinning like crazy. Just remember not to slip it too much, as thats not healthy for the clutch.
• Shift the 1-2 @ 5300rpm, and the 2-3 @ 5200rpm, and the
• With stock gears you will finish in 3rd gear, so you only have to shift twice. Try to shift fast, but only within your skill level. Its better to shift a touch slow than to miss a shift.
• Dont let off until the last marker, alot of people let off too early.

I hope that wasnt too much info, but it hopefully will help a bit.

Just out there and have fun. Experiment with shift points, launch rpms, and shifting techniques. Write on each slip what your procedure was, so you can see what patterns work best for your car.

Good luck, report back with the times.

auesome info. here a few things very important 3rd gear is all the gears you will need with the 3.08s you will want to shift before the end of the quarter mile .... DONT DO IT!!!!! practice and learn how to feather the clutch properly and power shift properly and when to apply each and until you get the experience race your car, not the car next to you. dont get frustrated when you lose.i have seen a good driver with a slow car beat a bad driver with a fast car happens all the time.... build your experience and confidence then start racing the car beside you....

 

[8950HO]

The best advice I can give you is don`t drink before going to the track,j/k,couldn`t resist.

I`ve never gone to a track,but others here have given good advice.It`s basically experimenting with how you launch and where you shift for a given vehicle to get it down good.

Your father sounds like your best source of advice as it sounds like he has plenty of experience on the 1/4 mile blast.Has your father 1/4 mile raced both manual and automatic trans cars?Manual is harder and takes more skill.

 

[stprorolla49]

The best advice I can give you is don`t drink before going to the track,j/k,couldn`t resist.

I`ve never gone to a track,but others here have given good advice.It`s basically experimenting with how you launch and where you shift for a given vehicle to get it down good.

Your father sounds like your best source of advice as it sounds like he has plenty of experience on the 1/4 mile blast.Has your father 1/4 mile raced both manual and automatic trans cars?Manual is harder and takes more skill.

haha ill never live that night down man yes, by dad has raced both manual and automatic cars at the track...the chevelle used to be a 402 bbc with a 4spd...now its a 502 with a th400 auto tranny...well, was....its being taken apart now and dropped in the nova....but back to the topic, i tihnk i really needa just practice launches when i go because ive got the shifting down...

 

[94gts]

island dragway is the ****. its an old school track. just not prepped all that well. Its ok for us slow cars because its gonna be more similar to launching on the street vs etown or lebanon which can be sticky as hell if they prep it right.

 

[stprorolla49]

island dragway is the ****. its an old school track. just not prepped all that well. Its ok for us slow cars because its gonna be more similar to launching on the street vs etown or lebanon which can be sticky as hell if they prep it right.

exactly...not to mention its the first day they are open so the surface isnt gonna be amazing anyway...plus i know im gonna spin some, so it doesnt matter...i should get in at least 5 runs if i go and ill be happy...i just need a lotta practice which is why test and tune at island is so great....its cheap speed

 

[Zero Signal]

Make sure you know the track etiquette too! Such as: never cut across the other lane to exit untill the other car has exited, pit speed limit, which staging lane you are supposed to be in, always have tailights on if after dark etc. . . .

 

[stprorolla49]

Make sure you know the track etiquette too! Such as: never cut across the other lane to exit untill the other car has exited, pit speed limit, which staging lane you are supposed to be in, always have tailights on if after dark etc. . . .

yup...i HATEEEEEE when people think they are the **** and launch or do burnouts in the pits...pisses me off so much

 

[ninety15.0]

I would suggest taking some time in the parking lot practicing the luanch a little bit. When i had stock gears i used to be able to launch from about 3500 and just feather the clutch so the tires were just barely, barely spinning the whole way through 1st. The trick is if you leave from 3000 rpms is to not let those RPMS drop back down below 3k. Bogging is slower than a little bit of spinning in my opinion. The first time i went i was pullin hihg 2.3's with a couple 2.4's but after a couple trips to the track and practice i was down to high 2.1's. Take all the weight out you can....let the car cool off a little bit from run to run. Maybe bring some ice in a cooler and plop a bag on top of the intake between runs. HAVE FUN man...