My first drag race .. ever!

au-steve · 17-02-2005, 03:01 PM

About to take my car down the 1/4 mile for the first time, a little nervous.
Should i be worried about tyre pressures? also, i have koni yellow shocks, will the setting on these matter at all? i usually have them set to softest all round.
Another thing, my car runs best on a full tank of fuel, will this matter much? how much fuel should i aim at having when i get to the track?
oh, and any secret advice you wanna pass on to a newbie like myself?

loxxr6 · 17-02-2005, 03:09 PM

Try reading here https://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=2198 and on the second page of this forum for some more info.

SpoolMan · 17-02-2005, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au-steve

About to take my car down the 1/4 mile for the first time, a little nervous.
Should i be worried about tyre pressures? also, i have koni yellow shocks, will the setting on these matter at all? i usually have them set to softest all round.
Another thing, my car runs best on a full tank of fuel, will this matter much? how much fuel should i aim at having when i get to the track?
oh, and any secret advice you wanna pass on to a newbie like myself?

Just Relax go out and have some fun, then after friday night the bug will have bitten...dont worry about the car in the other lane, race your timeslip, if i get a chance, i will come say hi..
good luck..and enjoy..
ps:if your car is heading sideways get of the gas..

rodderz · 17-02-2005, 05:03 PM

The first few times you go to the drags it's all a learning experience anyway, as Mark has said the most important thing is to have a bit of fun doing it

Dont expect some whizz bang time as it wont happen 1st outing, you have to get the feel of the burnout, the launch then the run...may sound funny but a lot different to the road. Good luck too!

CAMS290 · 17-02-2005, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au-steve

About to take my car down the 1/4 mile for the first time, a little nervous.
Should i be worried about tyre pressures? also, i have koni yellow shocks, will the setting on these matter at all? i usually have them set to softest all round.
Another thing, my car runs best on a full tank of fuel, will this matter much? how much fuel should i aim at having when i get to the track?
oh, and any secret advice you wanna pass on to a newbie like myself?

I found it very similar to sex.......Very nervous the first time not knowing what to expect, but once you start you cant stop....very addictive, just enjoy yourself and experiment with launches and shifting at different rpm's.

Work Horse · 17-02-2005, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRFPV8

if your car is heading sideways get of the gas..

Good advice :hihi:
Having fun is the main thing, no one does their best time first time out.
One tip, try and keep "in the groove" on the start line. The area in the middle of the lane is the stickiest. If you are lucky enough to run after a comp car or a street car on slicks, drive right onto the line of rubber they leave. Getting your car to launch is where the quickest ET's come from. Takes lots of practice ie lots of fun.

rodderz · 17-02-2005, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAMS290

I found it very similar to sex.......Very nervous the first time not knowing what to expect, but once you start you cant stop....

Cam was it you that was telling me in reference to that analogy that the 1st time you drag raced you prematurely left the line before the green, then blew your motor halfway down the strip?

:

:dr_Evil:

:

CAMS290 · 17-02-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodderz

Cam was it you that was telling me in reference to that analogy that the 1st time you drag raced you prematurely left the line before the green, then blew your motor halfway down the strip?

:

:dr_Evil:

:

I am always prematurely leaving the line Rodderz, but Judy brings me back into line very quickly, she says something about sitting on me.lol

:

hamo · 17-02-2005, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au-steve

oh, and any secret advice you wanna pass on to a newbie like myself?

yeah, get used to driving with a helmet on...i find it distracting...can't hear or see as much...you can only hear yourself breathing nervously

rodderz · 17-02-2005, 06:07 PM

Good point on the noise Hamo.... you will find that sometimes you will come up against some loud thing that will drown out the sound and vibration of your own car so you lose that feeling of what yours is doing

Best thing to do it wait till he goes after the green, and you go when you are ready, as your time wont start till you cross the timing beam

au-steve · 19-02-2005, 02:40 AM

thanks for the tips everyone. I had an awsome night, so much fun! i managed 4 runs, as the weather wasn't the coolest. But my first run ever was the fastest, the time slip reads like this

60' 2.25
660' 9.36
mph 76.57

ET 14.489
MPH 96.43

so where can i improve? is that 60' time bad?

SpoolMan · 19-02-2005, 06:49 PM

Steve i seen your runs, i was on the little hill on the infield.
Your 60 foot does need to be better, do you spool up much?

au-steve · 20-02-2005, 01:38 AM

i wasn't cause usually i just get wheel spin, but the track seems really sticky. i was launching off boost every time.
so much different to driving on the street though so i need to go more and get some practise.