1st time hitting the drag strip

[FIREBIRDV6RAGE]

so on the 31st of this month its gana be 1 year since i have had my fire bird.:banana: and ive driven it for 2 months now since i finally got it running right. and sense then, i have had no problems. :rock:

so to test it and do improvements i want to take it to the local drag strip here where i live witch is called yellow belly. and its a 1/8 mile.

this will be the first time i actualy run a car down the strip, ive gone but just to watch.

all i need is some pointers : for example, do i just floor it?

do i go on green or half a second before green lights up?

should i line up right after im done again or wait a couple of min?

psi? what should i have it at ?

what do i check ?so my car wont have a failure half way though the run

if yall could give me some advice that would really help. thanks!

[bigbrian442]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

Don't race something you can't afford to break.

[Docta]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

I would take a few minutes to cool down, check everything out especially if you've been having issues. I run 22psi in tires, no burnout since they're my street tires. Always heard to launch it when you see the last yellow light up. I would check all your vital fluids, bring a flashlight to check any major gaskets you can see, and do your best to focus on the tree. But that's just the input of someone that's only been a half dozen times, still get nervous at the line even.

[FIREBIRDV6RAGE]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

yea, i know im gana get nervous , im gana go up agains my friend, he has a 2002 gmc siera, a v-8 , were gana go all out. but its a friendly competition. an 22 that 10 psi lower than normal? plus i always have the basic tools with me, always. and thats wat i hears too just go once that 3rd light flashes .

[vanbibber]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

rule 1: no burnout, go around the water

2. dont go farting around rolling thru the beams, roll up slow until you light up to 2 lights. you dont want to be THAT guy.

3. hold the brake down, feather the gas to get the revs up to 1800 or so, you'll know when you hit the stock stall speed, it'll want to jump a bit, just hold it until the lights start dropping

4. soon as you see the 3rd yellow its go time, by the time you launch it'll be green. sometimes you'll redlight but its not often.

5. nail it, traction isnt going to be a problem really for a stock v6 unless the prep for the track sucks.

6. relax, have fun. dont worry about the dude next to you. youre going to find out 9 out of 10 times youre gonna get worked. its the track, people drop ****loads of money to be fast. it happens.

7. if you break down on the track get the hell out of the grove and get over as far as possible. everyone hates the guy that shuts the track down for an hour for leaking crap everywhere.

1/4 tank gas, start at 28psi in the tires and work your way down in psi until its hooking. keep the motor cool. hot lapping is fun but it takes its toll and a hot motor isnt a happy motor when youre looking to improve timeslips. reaction times dont matter if its a test and tune night, so dont worry about them. focus on the 60 foot times

[FIREBIRDV6RAGE]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

rule 1: no burnout, go around the water

2. dont go farting around rolling thru the beams, roll up slow until you light up to 2 lights. you dont want to be THAT guy.

3. hold the brake down, feather the gas to get the revs up to 1800 or so, you'll know when you hit the stock stall speed, it'll want to jump a bit, just hold it until the lights start dropping

4. soon as you see the 3rd yellow its go time, by the time you launch it'll be green. sometimes you'll redlight but its not often.

5. nail it, traction isnt going to be a problem really for a stock v6 unless the prep for the track sucks.

6. relax, have fun. dont worry about the dude next to you. youre going to find out 9 out of 10 times youre gonna get worked. its the track, people drop ****loads of money to be fast. it happens.

7. if you break down on the track get the hell out of the grove and get over as far as possible. everyone hates the guy that shuts the track down for an hour for leaking crap everywhere.

1/4 tank gas, start at 28psi in the tires and work your way down in psi until its hooking. keep the motor cool. hot lapping is fun but it takes its toll and a hot motor isnt a happy motor when youre looking to improve timeslips. reaction times dont matter if its a test and tune night, so dont worry about them. focus on the 60 foot times

ok so...

1. i cant go around the water theres a dip where the pudle of water is so no can do.:(

2. lol yea THAT guy that does that looks dumb when he cant get it right lol to me its halarious.:D

3. i know what you mean on this

4.do i just floor it or what?

5. i have like 30% tread left in the rear so i know i might slip plus the water thath is gana be dipped in.

6. yea i know this too

7.i hate when that happens

8. the 1/4 tamk is for less wheight im guessing, start at 28, will doo . ,how long should i wait o run again. and whats the reason tpo focus on 0-60 time?

[96blackmaro]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

He meant 60 foot times. Its the most important thing to make sure you get right when you race.

[insidethreat07]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

rule 1: no burnout, go around the water

2. dont go farting around rolling thru the beams, roll up slow until you light up to 2 lights. you dont want to be THAT guy.

3. hold the brake down, feather the gas to get the revs up to 1800 or so, you'll know when you hit the stock stall speed, it'll want to jump a bit, just hold it until the lights start dropping

4. soon as you see the 3rd yellow its go time, by the time you launch it'll be green. sometimes you'll redlight but its not often.

5. nail it, traction isnt going to be a problem really for a stock v6 unless the prep for the track sucks.

6. relax, have fun. dont worry about the dude next to you. youre going to find out 9 out of 10 times youre gonna get worked. its the track, people drop ****loads of money to be fast. it happens.

7. if you break down on the track get the hell out of the grove and get over as far as possible. everyone hates the guy that shuts the track down for an hour for leaking crap everywhere.

1/4 tank gas, start at 28psi in the tires and work your way down in psi until its hooking. keep the motor cool. hot lapping is fun but it takes its toll and a hot motor isnt a happy motor when youre looking to improve timeslips. reaction times dont matter if its a test and tune night, so dont worry about them. focus on the 60 foot times

Everything this guy said.
I usually do a 3-5 sec burnout just to make sure the water is off my tires. If you dont, when your staging your car, the water droplets will fall on the track causing your tires to spin. The highest I ever launched was at 2500. But for points racing I left around 2k for consistancy. Also common courtesy is dont double bulb your opponet meaning dont turn both your bulbs on before he turns on one of his.
Not sure about tire PSI bc I usually ran about 35psi on my strret tires and a 3/4 tank since its 110 miles one way lol

[insidethreat07]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

ok so...

1. i cant go around the water theres a dip where the pudle of water is so no can do.:(

2. lol yea THAT guy that does that looks dumb when he cant get it right lol to me its halarious.:D

3. i know what you mean on this

4.do i just floor it or what?

5. i have like 30% tread left in the rear so i know i might slip plus the water thath is gana be dipped in.

6. yea i know this too

7.i hate when that happens

8. the 1/4 tamk is for less wheight im guessing, start at 28, will doo . ,how long should i wait o run again. and whats the reason tpo focus on 0-60 time?

#4 yea punch it as soon as you see the 3rd yellow. I did this on my 16'' wheels and my best RT was a .006. Thats damn good.
#8 a good 60' will improve your 1/4 by a lot.
crappy 60' = crappy 1/4 unless your car is a monster on the top end. i.e. turbo lol
Head to head youll get whooped 90% of the time. Now bracket racing is a whole different story :D

[akirony]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

Yeah yellow belly is close but your better off going to kennedale. Better track and way less drama. Ive only raced at Northstar in Denton but they sold the track. Ive seen the dragstrip at kennedale when I went to their circle track. Too much crap at the belly man

[vanbibber]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

Everything this guy said.
I usually do a 3-5 sec burnout just to make sure the water is off my tires. If you dont, when your staging your car, the water droplets will fall on the track causing your tires to spin. The highest I ever launched was at 2500. But for points racing I left around 2k for consistancy. Also common courtesy is dont double bulb your opponet meaning dont turn both your bulbs on before he turns on one of his.
Not sure about tire PSI bc I usually ran about 35psi on my strret tires and a 3/4 tank since its 110 miles one way lol

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 goddamn double bulbers!!! lol. i used to hate getting rushed by someone like that.

bracket racing: lol it is pretty damn fun. kind of a bummer being in the slower car a bit though, being in the faster car and getting to run them down is great though.

[FIREBIRDV6RAGE]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

Yeah yellow belly is close but your better off going to kennedale. Better track and way less drama. Ive only raced at Northstar in Denton but they sold the track. Ive seen the dragstrip at kennedale when I went to their circle track. Too much crap at the belly man

where is kennedale ive never heard of it?

[insidethreat07]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 goddamn double bulbers!!! lol. i used to hate getting rushed by someone like that.

bracket racing: lol it is pretty damn fun. kind of a bummer being in the slower car a bit though, being in the faster car and getting to run them down is great though.

Doubler bulbers suck bc then it turns a timer on to get your car staged in a certain time (10 sec?) then you lose by default.Its a good way to piss a lot of people off lol

[insidethreat07]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

I love being in the slower car. Puts all the pressure on the other guy to not to red light, run you down as quick as possible without breaking out. I cant tell you how many times ive won bc they are sitting at the line just waiting, then they red light bc they get impatient

[akirony]

Re: 1st time hitting the drag strip

where is kennedale ive never heard of it?

Texas Raceway
3830 Kennedale New Hope Road
Kennedale, TX 76060
Go down 20 past arlington before ftworth. Its about the same distance as ennis.