I'm leaving on a trip to CA in an hour or so and I'll be running at Carlsbad on Saturday. I will be making my first pass ever. (Not in this car, I mean EVER.) Can anybody share any experiences with how bad their inexperience hurt their timeslips or any stupid mistakes that they might have made?
Think back to your first time at the track...
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turbot2112
Active Member
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yea, i smoked the sh$t out of the tires , didnt even now what a 60 ft. was. if you can stay relaxed youll be fine. thats half my problem, i get all fired up and shaky but its a great feeling. good luck and go have some fun.
My first time at the track, I was not aware of courtesy staging. I would go up and trip the first 2 lights before the other car was even out of the burnout box. I heard over the loud speaker as a reminder to courtesy stage. I had to ask someone what that meant. HTH
Zac
Zac
My first time, I just skipped the burnout, didn't worry about building boost off the line. Just get up there, stage, and go. Get a pass out of your system before you worry about making good ET's.
Make sure your windows are up, radio is off, seatbelt is on, etc...
Make sure your windows are up, radio is off, seatbelt is on, etc...
Reginald West
Senior Member
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- May 25, 2001
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- 541
I know most of the buick guys you will be racing with at Carlsbad this weekend. Just keep an eye on them and get that first pass over with and you will do fine.
First time I ever drag raced was about 6 years ago in my GN. It was my dad's at the time and we'd had it about 2 years or so. I was racing against my brother in his 85 IROC. My dad brought his 55 Chevy also . We also brought our 1970 Chevelle SS 396 to race but they wouldn't let us because it was a convertible.
This was in South Carolina and we drove about an hour in 90+ heat. I was running on 92 octane with about 16psi on radial T/A's through full stock-like exhaust. Car had blue tops and a thrasher chip, thats about it. The 55 Chevy was running on slicks and open exhaust. The 55 Chevy we've had for 30 years and my dad raced it in the 70's and 80's and just had the motor rebuilt, a small block 350 with headers, port/polished heads, etc. My brother's IROC was stock. The Chevelle had a nice engine but a tall geared rear end so it wouldn't have been too fast.
My dad gave me some pointers about staging, when to leave, and avoiding the water box. The car was hot and only cooled off for 15min or so. I did this big smokey burnout, heating the back brakes, and left it in overdrive. I wasn't able to hold any boost, of course, but still cut a 2.0something 60' and turned in a 13.9sec 1/4. The car didn't even break 90mph though probably due to heat or not enough octane. I was racing against my brother and he turned like a 15.5 or something, spinning for about 80ft with his peg leg.
I ran a couple more times but the car was very hot and got into the mid 14's. It was great watching my dad though. He turned a 13.1 at about 104 or so . Best thing was he had a 4 speed and his shifting was great. He never lets off the gas, speed shifting the whole way, something I could never do. The 55 was probably the coolest car there and the last time my dad's raced. Its baby blue with cragers and a small hood scoop, with MURPHYs 55 painted across the front fenders. My dad couldn't believe the GN ran in the 13's on regular tires with just a V6.
This was in South Carolina and we drove about an hour in 90+ heat. I was running on 92 octane with about 16psi on radial T/A's through full stock-like exhaust. Car had blue tops and a thrasher chip, thats about it. The 55 Chevy was running on slicks and open exhaust. The 55 Chevy we've had for 30 years and my dad raced it in the 70's and 80's and just had the motor rebuilt, a small block 350 with headers, port/polished heads, etc. My brother's IROC was stock. The Chevelle had a nice engine but a tall geared rear end so it wouldn't have been too fast.
My dad gave me some pointers about staging, when to leave, and avoiding the water box. The car was hot and only cooled off for 15min or so. I did this big smokey burnout, heating the back brakes, and left it in overdrive. I wasn't able to hold any boost, of course, but still cut a 2.0something 60' and turned in a 13.9sec 1/4. The car didn't even break 90mph though probably due to heat or not enough octane. I was racing against my brother and he turned like a 15.5 or something, spinning for about 80ft with his peg leg.
I ran a couple more times but the car was very hot and got into the mid 14's. It was great watching my dad though. He turned a 13.1 at about 104 or so . Best thing was he had a 4 speed and his shifting was great. He never lets off the gas, speed shifting the whole way, something I could never do. The 55 was probably the coolest car there and the last time my dad's raced. Its baby blue with cragers and a small hood scoop, with MURPHYs 55 painted across the front fenders. My dad couldn't believe the GN ran in the 13's on regular tires with just a V6.
Wow....it was a long time ago, almost 20 years! I think my best run was a 16.88 in my rip-snortin' '77 305 2bbl Camaro. 
One important thing to remember (if you're just doing time trials or test & tune) is that, once both you and the car in the other lane are staged, the other car doesn't matter. You're not trying to race him, you're racing the clock. Be aware of his car, but don't let it affect your run....unless he veers into your lane (duh!). This bit me in the ass a couple weeks ago though, I lined up against a gorgeous 9-second '70 Chevelle SS that pulled 4' wheelies at the starting line. Startled the hell out of me when he launched, and I lost concentration.
The feeling you get when it's your turn to race is pure adrenaline. Awesome feeling. When you're movin' down the track, you'll swear that it feels like you're making an 10-second run, but don't be disappointed if you run slower than it felt.
Another simple, but often overlooked thing to consider is to stay hydrated. I can only imagine how hot it is at Carlsbad. Even mild dehydration can affect your reflexes. I usually go thru a six pack of Powerade when I go to the track.
Good luck and have fun!
Steve
One important thing to remember (if you're just doing time trials or test & tune) is that, once both you and the car in the other lane are staged, the other car doesn't matter. You're not trying to race him, you're racing the clock. Be aware of his car, but don't let it affect your run....unless he veers into your lane (duh!). This bit me in the ass a couple weeks ago though, I lined up against a gorgeous 9-second '70 Chevelle SS that pulled 4' wheelies at the starting line. Startled the hell out of me when he launched, and I lost concentration.
The feeling you get when it's your turn to race is pure adrenaline. Awesome feeling. When you're movin' down the track, you'll swear that it feels like you're making an 10-second run, but don't be disappointed if you run slower than it felt.
Another simple, but often overlooked thing to consider is to stay hydrated. I can only imagine how hot it is at Carlsbad. Even mild dehydration can affect your reflexes. I usually go thru a six pack of Powerade when I go to the track.
Good luck and have fun!
Steve
Have fun...
Relax, and have a good time.
Be careful.
Take it easy the first pass.. get the hang of things. And keep stepping it up (safely). This is how I did it the first time I went to the track and every time. First pass.. shake down.. see how the car's doing. Next time a little more boost off the line. Next time, let 'er rip!
Be careful not to get fixed on any one guage. I know the first time I went down the track I could beleive how fast speed was climbing. I had to keep myself from staring at the needle running across the gauge. Same with boost.
Don't stage with your back wheels. Seen that before.
If the girl at the booth for the timeslip is hot ask her to put a phone number on the back of the time slip...
Relax, and have a good time.
Be careful.
Take it easy the first pass.. get the hang of things. And keep stepping it up (safely). This is how I did it the first time I went to the track and every time. First pass.. shake down.. see how the car's doing. Next time a little more boost off the line. Next time, let 'er rip!
Be careful not to get fixed on any one guage. I know the first time I went down the track I could beleive how fast speed was climbing. I had to keep myself from staring at the needle running across the gauge. Same with boost.
Don't stage with your back wheels. Seen that before.
If the girl at the booth for the timeslip is hot ask her to put a phone number on the back of the time slip...
I agree with the above. Don't worry about the car next to you. Don't worry about trying to cut a good light or beat the other car. Just worry about you. On my first pass ever, I just knew I was going to cut a great light. Well, the lights come down, I see the green, the car next to me goes and a second or so later I finally left. After the run, the guy I was with asks me all sorts of questions - how much boost? any KR?, RPM through the traps? I didn't see a thing other than my lane! My adrenaline was pumping and I had a small case of the shakes after the run. Heck, I still get butterflies before the first run of the day and the shakes after a fast (for me) run. The two most important things to remember is to HAVE FUN and DON'T BREAK anything.
salvageV6
Daily Driver
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
- Messages
- 20,990
Find out where the trip beams are first and watch a few passes.
If you have Nittos or street tires drive around the water box and then back up near the water box but not in the water then do the burnout.
Buy a line lock all the fans love them.
Race in 3rd gear that be the D position.
Lock the converter if you are gonna do it at the proper time.
Rolling up the windows before you get to the burnout area keeps you from getting the reminder from your friendly or not so friendly starter folk.
It will be difficult to breath so turn on the vents and not the A/C.
I use fan speed two since three takes more power.
Empty the car from loose flying stuff too, keep a fire extinguisher around however.
Make sure if you have direct scan it is set to trigger on 3.0 TPS signal so you don't have to spacebar activate it.
Watch the track your first pass and brake slowly and take the far exit lane so you don't wear out your brakes, no reason to brake hard to turn off early, if you are in the right lane make sure the left lane car is clearly on the exit lane before you cross over into the off ramp.
If you have Nittos or street tires drive around the water box and then back up near the water box but not in the water then do the burnout.
Buy a line lock all the fans love them.
Race in 3rd gear that be the D position.
Lock the converter if you are gonna do it at the proper time.
Rolling up the windows before you get to the burnout area keeps you from getting the reminder from your friendly or not so friendly starter folk.
It will be difficult to breath so turn on the vents and not the A/C.
I use fan speed two since three takes more power.
Empty the car from loose flying stuff too, keep a fire extinguisher around however.
Make sure if you have direct scan it is set to trigger on 3.0 TPS signal so you don't have to spacebar activate it.
Watch the track your first pass and brake slowly and take the far exit lane so you don't wear out your brakes, no reason to brake hard to turn off early, if you are in the right lane make sure the left lane car is clearly on the exit lane before you cross over into the off ramp.
Lot of good advice. I have no idea how fast of a car you have, but let me say this....
Before making any all out blast, you should go up to the starting line (avoid the water box or do enough burnout to dry them), prestage, stage, let the lights come down and just make a REAL NICE AND EASY pass down the track.
This will settle your nerves a bit and MOST importantly familiarize you with the track, the shut down and the turn off road. You don't want to make a wide open blast and have no idea where you are supposed to go or how much room you have. (The guy next to you wouldn't appreciate that much either. )
Then when you feel you are comfortable, go make a bonzai pass!
Goodluck!!
Before making any all out blast, you should go up to the starting line (avoid the water box or do enough burnout to dry them), prestage, stage, let the lights come down and just make a REAL NICE AND EASY pass down the track.
This will settle your nerves a bit and MOST importantly familiarize you with the track, the shut down and the turn off road. You don't want to make a wide open blast and have no idea where you are supposed to go or how much room you have. (The guy next to you wouldn't appreciate that much either. )
Then when you feel you are comfortable, go make a bonzai pass!
Goodluck!!
turbov6joe
Signal 1 J-12
- Joined
- May 22, 2002
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- 2,220
I did my burn out in reverse because some dude said to pull around the water box with radials....never put it abck into drive. I felt like a horses rear!
SilverSleeper
Senior Member
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- May 24, 2001
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- 1,248
When doing your burnout, you just want to heat the tires, not burn the things off. Besides, you dont really want to be a showoff and then run a really bad time down the track.
Get used to the tree, watch the others first, and get used to how the staging works. The toughest concept for me was leaving on the last yellow. My first few 60's were horrible because I was leaving on the green. You want to be moving when the green comes down.
Listen to the annoucements. Some tracks have poor PA's and you really have to be paying attention to hear whats going on. My first time at a 1/4 mi track I missed my third round because I couldnt hear the PA in the pits. I was running right on my dial-in, and doing well that day, so going home early sucked!
Good luck and be safe!!
Get used to the tree, watch the others first, and get used to how the staging works. The toughest concept for me was leaving on the last yellow. My first few 60's were horrible because I was leaving on the green. You want to be moving when the green comes down.
Listen to the annoucements. Some tracks have poor PA's and you really have to be paying attention to hear whats going on. My first time at a 1/4 mi track I missed my third round because I couldnt hear the PA in the pits. I was running right on my dial-in, and doing well that day, so going home early sucked!
Good luck and be safe!!
TR Custom Parts
Mark Hueffman - Owner
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
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- 12,735
And A/C off!
Observing others for a while is a good idea. Pay attention to the starter for when to do your burnout. If running street tires don't drive thru the water box, back in if they let you and don't do the burnout IN the box or else you will be spinning water into your wheelwells that will just drip down onto your tires and ruin any chance of a good launch.
First pass just build a couple of lbs of boost to see how your tires react and just go up from there.
BLACK6PACK
1 sec reaction King
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- May 24, 2001
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- 4,849
If you run street tires DON'T do a big burnout. Just spin them a little to clean off the crap.
Turbov6joe, don't feel bad, I've done that too. I'm sure others have too, bad thing is, I think I've done it more than once. You drive around the water box, back up a little, you're pretty excited and are checking out all the guages etc and forget to put it back in drive! It does make you feel like an ass, and people are pointing at you, but then you throw down a low 12 on street tires and blow away the mustang or camaro and every body forgets about it.
Turbov6joe, don't feel bad, I've done that too. I'm sure others have too, bad thing is, I think I've done it more than once. You drive around the water box, back up a little, you're pretty excited and are checking out all the guages etc and forget to put it back in drive! It does make you feel like an ass, and people are pointing at you, but then you throw down a low 12 on street tires and blow away the mustang or camaro and every body forgets about it.
Little6pack
Active Member
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- Jun 2, 2002
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If you have a 4-speed like I did in my 65 GTO.
NEVER I MEAN NEVER try to coast in netrual after crossing the finish line.
I almost killed myself on my very 1st 14.40 run back in 1977.
If you get tire slippage you better Pusy foot it offline or thing about a good set of Drag tires
NEVER I MEAN NEVER try to coast in netrual after crossing the finish line.
I almost killed myself on my very 1st 14.40 run back in 1977.
If you get tire slippage you better Pusy foot it offline or thing about a good set of Drag tires
