Going to track for 1st time (Need advise)

[Merlin]

Hi all,

I am taking my fairly stock Camaro (3.23, 5-speed) to the track next wednesday at Moroso in South Florida (should be 60 deg temperature or so). Can you guys give me tips on ideal tire pressures, and amount of gas to carry? My car has copletely new 245 tires. Oh yeah and open differential :(

Also any other tips that I should know so I dont make an a$$ of myself when I am out there would be appreciated.

Thanks
Merlin

[ December 22, 2004, 12:34 PM: Message edited by: Merlin ]

[1DangerousV6]

i wouldnt worry so much about your times first tim eto the track...just get an idea of how everything looks, works, and feels...you may even want to watch a few cars go before you...thats what i did so i wouldnt look like an @ss lol ...watch closely at everything they do...you'll have to pass tech inspection...usually the only thing stock guys need to worry about is the battery...it can come loose in there so make sure its held down tight...other than that...i would drop your rear tires to about 28 - 30 psi ..i usually carry about a 1/4 tank of premium gas...go around the water box if you can and just give your tire a quick few spins...when you get up to the line...put the brake to the floor and stall the car up to about 1500 - 1700 rpms to start...launch from there at the second yellow light (the one right before green) ...a lot of guys take out their spare tire/jack, rear seats, passenger seat, etc for weight reduction..but i wouldnt worry about that your first time out...id just practice your launch...know how everything works...and have fun..let us know how you do [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ December 22, 2004, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: 1DangerousV6 ]

['98 BlackBird]

read the sticky !!
http://www.camarov6.com/ubb/ultimate...;f=10;t=001517 you will prob find all your answers there.

if running on street tires, rear tires should be 24 psi and fronts at 37. Thats my ideal setup. Others may vary.
Try to get to the track with no more than 1/4 tank of gas.
Drive around the water box with street tires, do not drive though it. Do a quick 1-2 sec burn out just enough to clean the tires but dont go crazy.
Before you race, watch the other drivers stage and get familiar with where the staging beams are.
When you pre-stage, roll VERY VERY slowly towards the stage beam. As soon as the stage lights come on, stop and wait for the tree.
for a good reaction time, leave right when the 3rd yellow comes on. That should give you enough roll-out to break the beams when it hits green.
As far as launching, I drive an automatic so I cant help you there.

Good luck

[1DangerousV6]

Originally posted by '98 BlackBird:
read the sticky !!
http://www.camarov6.com/ubb/ultimate...;f=10;t=001517 you will prob find all your answers there.

if running on street tires, rear tires should be 24 psi and fronts at 37. Thats my ideal setup. Others may vary.
Try to get to the track with no more than 1/4 tank of gas.
Drive around the water box with street tires, do not drive though it. Do a quick 1-2 sec burn out just enough to clean the tires but dont go crazy.
Before you race, watch the other drivers stage and get familiar with where the staging beams are.
When you pre-stage, roll VERY VERY slowly towards the stage beam. As soon as the stage lights come on, stop and wait for the tree.
for a good reaction time, leave right when the 3rd yellow comes on. That should give you enough roll-out to break the beams when it hits green.
As far as launching, I drive an automatic so I cant help you there.

Good luck

oops..yeah third light..BlackBird's tire pressure setting might apply better to you..i've been racing on 18" tires [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Amphilophus]

I have a question are the tracks completly flat because how can you have a foot on the clutch ,gas and brake at the same time?

[1DangerousV6]

yes..the tracks are COMPLETELY flat...otherwise they would give you a false time..people run better times at different tracks...but that is due to altitude (more o2 in the air makes more power) and track prep...my launch instructions are actually geared more towards an auto because thats what i have...i too am not positive on how you M5s do it

[ellik]

Originally posted by Amphilophus:
.....how can you have a foot on the clutch ,gas and brake at the same time?

you do it with lots of practice. clutch with the left, brake and gas with the right.

[Timmy]

use the brake to stop you when you get staged and then take your foot completely off it and dont touch it again until you are through the traps. once you are staged, push the clutch all the way in and then let it out slowly until you can feel it start to grab. once you are there, put your rpms to about 2300 and hold it there. when the last yellow light before the green lights up release the clutch and hit the gas at the same time. if your tire grabs and your engine bogs, then you need to launch a little higher next time. if you roast your tire all the way though first, you need to launch a little lower. however, you WANT to spin your tires at the launch. generally speaking you want them to spin and finally hook up right before red line without you having to let off the gas at all. let us know how it goes.

[Merlin]

thanks guys!

What worries me the most is not my driving, but making an a$$ of myself out there. I will watch others go first. I'll let you all know how it goes. I will also try to get it on video and post it.

[12secondv6]

http://www.camarov6.com/ubb/ultimate...;f=10;t=001517

Good stuff.... but.. it has already been posted [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Read up... let us know how you do!

[20-psi]

Remember, there is a first time for everything. Don't worry about looking like an @ss.

Also, try to find someone that has raced before and let him show you what you have to do.