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
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
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!
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
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:
Nice write up Paul! I am going to the track tomorrow too. I need to see what these heads are worth...finally.
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.
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.
: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?
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...?
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.
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!
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
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.
Just practice on the street and remember the highest number on the tac you can have without losing traction.
All this info is good, but unfortunately it's raining hard out right now, hopefully we can get in on another day...
