Never thought I'd actually do this

xr8d302 · Jun 16, 2005

Well, a track about 20 minutes away is having a test and tune on Friday night, and everyone and their dog is asking me to go. SOOOO I'm going! Anyway, question to you guys, is it smart for me to just use my stock tires on the first run (this is my first drag race), or should I slap on some drag radials? If I do the second option, should I worry about breaking something? Either way, IF I do end up going, I'll take pics and post'em.

I'm really not expecting huge scores, just wanna get a good baseline

94-302-vert · Jun 16, 2005

I Think with drag radials you need a d/s loop (that may only be with slicks though)...

At any rate I would run it with the street tires so you get a good feel for what you are doing and this way you won't break anything. Then next time out you can go with the drag radials if you want.

BUT I am also a run what you bring kind of guy. THe 2 times i have been to the track with previous vehicles I always drove up, throughthe gate, through tech and straight to the lanes...

Chris

Killercanary · Jun 16, 2005

In your case, I'd just run on street tires. If you run on drag radials they will give you a false sense of a traction advantage and you will probably try too hard and end up spinning like crazy and come home upset as so many people do when they first try drag radials. Go on street tires this time and "get your feet wet" first, then next time go back with the DR's and see how much you can knock off your times. If you need any tips on how/what to do just let me know. If this is your first time, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR... make your mind up NOW that when you go you are going to launch the car just like you would leaving a red light when you get there. If not you'll get there and be all excited, your buddies will be egging you on, and you'll try too hard and spin on every run and come home unhappy. Do this type of launch on the first few runs and if time and traction permit, THEN try leaving at say 1500, then 2000, and see what happens, just remember to not dump the clutch but rather slip it and you should hook better. Also run the car as cold as possible, as in below the N on the stock gauge, and you'll run better MPH. Good luck and have fun!

xr8d302 · Jun 16, 2005

Killercanary said:
In your case, I'd just run on street tires. If you run on drag radials they will give you a false sense of a traction advantage and you will probably try too hard and end up spinning like crazy and come home upset as so many people do when they first try drag radials. Go on street tires this time and "get your feet wet" first, then next time go back with the DR's and see how much you can knock off your times. If you need any tips on how/what to do just let me know. If this is your first time, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR... make your mind up NOW that when you go you are going to launch the car just like you would leaving a red light when you get there. If not you'll get there and be all excited, your buddies will be egging you on, and you'll try too hard and spin on every run and come home unhappy. Do this type of launch on the first few runs and if time and traction permit, THEN try leaving at say 1500, then 2000, and see what happens, just remember to not dump the clutch but rather slip it and you should hook better. Also run the car as cold as possible, as in below the N on the stock gauge, and you'll run better MPH. Good luck and have fun!

Thanks alot, I might send you a PM if I have any questions. Really do appreciate the assistance

Caldwell · Jun 16, 2005

Killer: spoken like a true agent of racing

that pretty much sums it up for you x8...
what else do you really need to know after that lol

i feel like i should go to the track now and run his advice

xr8d302 · Jun 16, 2005

Come to shannonville this weekend, man!

Killercanary · Jun 16, 2005

My PM box is always full, so just email me at killercanary@hotmail.com if you need any more help.

LOL! Thanks Caldwell!

I actually typed a book recently on track tips in another thread so maybe this stuff will help you out too... I did add a few thing since I originally wrote it for Striped who was running on drag radials.
Here's the thread:
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=544862

And here's what I wrote:

Killercanary said:
Tips:

-DO 2nd gear burnouts (unless you have stock gears)
-
-drop the pressure to around 18lbs and go from there ON DRAG RADIALS. I never had any luck below 16lbs in my 16" nittos, I run my 17's at ~18lbs. If you are on street tires run them at around 25lbs and not much less
-
-try and run the car between 150-180* max
-
-ice your intake (ESPECIALLY on a blower car)... I wouldn't ice the blower itself as I've read internet rumors about the severe temp changes causing premature bearing and casing failures, it may be BS but I figured I'd throw it out there.
-
-on your 1st pass, leave the starting line just as you would leaving a red light. Trust me, do this on your very first pass. Forget your on drag radials, forget you are racing to run your best, just go out and launch normally, then nail all your shifts as fast as possible and see where this gets you. This will be your basis on which to judge the track by the rest of the day. If you go and launch too hard on your 1st run and blow it, it will be on you mind for the next pass, and the next pass, etc. This si a lot harder than you think, everyone will be there asking you what you run, you'll be thinking about coming home and posting up here your times, etc and you'll want to try too hard, and normally this results in a bad track outing for the novice. If you do what I say, you'll come home happier than you woudl if you try too hard right off the bat.
-
-on your second pass (assuming the first pass went well and you didn't spin) up the launch rpm a little (say 2000-2500 on drag radials, 1500-2000 on street tires). If you dump the clutch and spin, next time slip the clutch out a little on the launch. I have found personally this is the KEY to running on drag radials... using the clutch to eliminate "shocking" the tires on the launch.
-
-after you get a few passes under your belt look at what your finish line RPM is, this will let you know how close you are to getting an optimum gear ratio for your car for the drag strip, this is good for future reference.
-
-keep upping the rpm's on the launch until you find you can not control wheel spin with the clutch/the tires won't hold. Remember, clutch slippage is the key. You don't have to murder it, just walk it out of the hole maybe 10 feet or so.
-
-sit close to the steering wheel so you don't have to reach for the shifter. I ALWAYS do this... but guess what, the last time I raced I forgot (it was the first time I even drove the car since winter this year!) and I whole heartedly believe that is one of the main reasons I went from 3rd to 2nd.
-
-shallow stage... this means when you light up the first pre-stage light, just INCH forward until you just barely break the stage beam light, it will give you about a 6" head start before the timers start to time you.
-
-make sure your front tires have equal pressure and they are around 38lbs or more (do not exceed the max pressure)
-
-DRIVE STRAIGHT... this sounds simple but stand behind the starting line and watch guys go down the track, they are all over the place. Everyone knows the shortest distance between 2pts is a straight line. Minimize your movements inside the car as you go down the track, if you are bounching around like a monkey inside the car as you try and muscle the gears, it will be evident to those watching you as you'll be all over. I lock my left arm on the arm rest and put it on the steering wheel at around the 8 o'clock position. I put my other hand on the shifter and I leave it there for the whole run... again... minimizing movement.
-
That's a nice little start huh? LOL! You'd think someone writing this would know not to go from 3rd to second huh???

JJ95GTID · Jun 16, 2005

Nice write up Paul! I am going to the track tomorrow too. I need to see what these heads are worth...finally.

JJ95GTID · Jun 16, 2005

Oh yeah xr8td, the first time is very exciting. Paul has a good idea with taking off like leaving a stop light and then increasing with each run after that. I like to go on days when gold cup points or a special event like nitro funny cars come to the track. This because they prepare the track with lots of sticky stuff. You can launch hard on these days. Most likely though the track you are going to won't be prepped much if at all and will be very slick. You gotta get a feel for it in the first couple runs.

Swarzkopf · Jun 16, 2005

The track is the natural home of the Ford Mustang....

You will become addicted, as anyone who goes to the track in a Mustang becomes.

Killercanary · Jun 16, 2005

:OT:
Swarzkopf- if you haven't already, you should check out the "local" mustang site for us Western PA guys. The site was down this morning for whatever reason, but it should be back up soon. Here's a link...
http://www.steelcitystangs.com
Do you race at PRP?

Swarzkopf · Jun 16, 2005

Yep, was out there last Tuesday running off the bottle. I'm going out this upcoming Tuesday, though I don't know if I'll be running my car as I have an empty nitrous bottle and don't have the time to get it refilled between now and then, and running 14s gets old. I'll probably go help my buddy try to get low 13s out of his STI.

I'll try your site again later this afternoon as it still seems to be down.

You race at Raceway Park also? Seems kind of far for Altoona...?

Swarzkopf · Jun 16, 2005

I guess Altoona is no further from Raceway Park than Pittsburgh, now that I think about it.

Nobody · Jun 16, 2005

Another tip: It's a test-n-tune. Don't try to anticipate the light. Just wait until the light is green and then launch. This way you can concentrate on getting the launch right rather than being distracted with timing the tree. Every one of my videos looks like I'm asleep at the light but I'm just not concerned with reaction time.

95GTAODE · Jun 16, 2005

Check out this months MM$FF they have a great article for first time racers going to the strip. They basically start with before you leave home all the way too when you leave the track. A lot of that info's already been mentioned, but it never hurts to read up some more!

Black95GTS · Jun 16, 2005

xr8d302 said:
Well, a track about 20 minutes away is having a test and tune on Friday night, and everyone and their dog is asking me to go. SOOOO I'm going! Anyway, question to you guys, is it smart for me to just use my stock tires on the first run (this is my first drag race), or should I slap on some drag radials? If I do the second option, should I worry about breaking something? Either way, IF I do end up going, I'll take pics and post'em.

I'm really not expecting huge scores, just wanna get a good baseline

Make sure to go around the water box too on street tires. Street tires are designed to grip at normal temperatures. DRs and Slicks are designed to grip when heated up.

I'm not saying avoid a burnout, just do a little one to get all the chit off the tires. Doing a huge burnout on street tires might impress your friends, but it won't impress your time slip.

adam

Swarzkopf · Jun 16, 2005

You can't drive around the water box at every track. If you have to go through it, do it quickly and burn the water off of your back wheels before you stage.

NakedRaygun · Jun 16, 2005

Just practice on the street and remember the highest number on the tac you can have without losing traction.

94gts · Jun 16, 2005

Swarzkopf said:
You will become addicted, as anyone who goes to the track in a Mustang becomes.

yea you will

xr8d302 · Jun 17, 2005

All this info is good, but unfortunately it's raining hard out right now, hopefully we can get in on another day...

Never thought I'd actually do this

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