Drag Race Tips

[jmarino]

I am going to the track on Friday and I was wondering if anyone had any last minute tips for a better time.

Thanks

[SC Cheesehead]

Are you stock or have you done any mods?

Make sure OD and TC are switched off.

If stock, do a small dry burnout, just enough to clean the tires.

At the line, load the T/C slightly (around 1,000 rpm) by power braking, light turns green, dump the brake, punch the gas and go.

If you're bone stock, expect times in the low to mid 15's.

[DOOM]

Cross the finish line with the roof side up! :D

[SC Cheesehead]

Cross the finish line with the roof side up! :D


^^^^^ Important safety tip. ^^^^

[Blown3.8]

Take the seats and spare out. Pull the driver headlight.

[sailsmen]

Get there early and walk the launch pad, watch the first few cars with track rubber and see where the grove is and if there is traction, concentrate on the launch.

With out your mods/car cannot help you any further.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=20728&highlight=drag+race+tips

[Paul T. Casey]

One of the biggest things I see people mess up is not lining up straight. Get in the center of the groove (you'll be able to see this) and get your car pointed good and straight. Anytime you move the steering wheel, you are slowing the car, and adding to the distance you travel. Although these ammounts are minute, they do add up.

[SC Cheesehead]

One of the biggest things I see people mess up is not lining up straight. Get in the center of the groove (you'll be able to see this) and get your car pointed good and straight. Anytime you move the steering wheel, you are slowing the car, and adding to the distance you travel. Although these ammounts are minute, they do add up.

Spoken by one who definitely knows how to do it!

[jmarino]

I have 4:10, Zack Tune, KN intake, and rear cat delete so I am hoping to run in high 13s

[AConvertedChevy]

If you have a modded Marauder, pretend you don't know what your doing in the staging area and have low expectations for your 2ton grocery getter...get someone to race you....watch jaws drop...enjoy your new friends/MM enthusiasts in the pit area

[babbage]

As soon as you see the 3'rd yellow light illuminate - leave with haste! If you wait to hit the gas until you are seeing green -- you waited WAY too long.

1/4 tank of 93. New fuel filter perhaps...

[yjmud]

+1^^^^^^^^^^^ I got the best r/t leaving on the 2cnd yellow .005

[RacerX]

Courtesy Staging: If you're first to the line lights, only light the first set until the car in the next lane lights theirs, then light your second set and be ready.

[LANDY]

Go around the water and just clean the tires. No need for a smokie burnout at your power levels l.

[slickster]

Try to run in the coolest part of the day

[fastblackmerc]

Eliminate as much extra weight as possible
Remove the drivers side headlight
Do not go thru the water box... drive around it
Do a short burnout to clean the tires.
Windows up
T/C off
A/C off
Radio off
Shifter in drive (don't manually shift)
Light the first lights
Light the 2nd set after your opponent lights his first set
Power brake the car to load the torque converter, keep it around 1,200 - 1,400RPM.
Release the brake and try to push the go pedal thru the floor when you see your last yellow light lite up.
Smile as you hurtle down the track
Don't let off the gas until you cross the finish line
Try to see the stunned look on your opponents face.

[sailsmen]

I have 4:10, Zack Tune, KN intake, and rear cat delete so I am hoping to run in high 13s

Be sure and post all the numbers on your time slip.

The most dangerous part is the return through the pits.

[BODYMAN]

More then anything take a little time & watch the Tree when others run try to get a fell how the 3rd yellow is timed. Like Babbage said May want to try going on the 3rd yellow to get a good R/T. #1 thing to a great pass is a great R/T.. Good Luck! Is it Midnight Madness at GIR Friday?

[Shaijack]

True Billy watch for people, midgets and small children in pits.....

[Timw286]

I heard dropping a few PSI out of your rear tires is beneficial?

[sailsmen]

R/T and E/T are unrelated. If you want a low ET do not pay attention to the R/T, just so long as you do not time out.
For a low E/T all your concentration should be on the launch and as Paul said start with the groove, the Dude prefers GROOVY, and the car pointed straight down the track. Do not let up until you are past the finish line.

Look for he turn off on a web site of the track or as other cars go down. I always watch in the stands after my walk through the launch area. Gives me a good view of how they are launching and going down the track.

[Juice]

What about with a Trilogy? I'm new to the area so I'd like to keep it a secret until go-time. Can I still get away with no burnout?

[sailsmen]

What tires, stall, pulley, exhaust and rear gears?

You can ask for a now time display..

[slickster]

I heard dropping a few PSI out of your rear tires is beneficial?

Only if you have a traction problem. Our cars cost 5k to have a traction problem:burnout:

[Juice]

What tires, stall, pulley, exhaust and rear gears?

You can ask for a now time display..

Nitto NT850 255/50 in back

Stock stall, pulley, rear gears

Flowmaster Super 40s with rear cat delete, stock manifolds

[1stMerc]

Chuck all the above. Just have fun. There will be other times to perfect your technique.

[sailsmen]

Nitto NT850 255/50 in back

Stock stall, pulley, rear gears

Flowmaster Super 40s with rear cat delete, stock manifolds

I would drop the rear pressure to 25 and do a lite burn out to clean them off. The with your left foot on the brake bring the RPMs up to ~1,500 at the line for your launch. Definitly go around the water box.

[Bradley G]

I hear a helmet is required at any speed/power level?

[drewb457]

I hear a helmet is required at any speed/power level?

helmets required for any vehicle running a 14.00 or faster

[sailsmen]

A fire jacket for a vehicle that has an S/C that was not installed by the Mfg. I rarely see this enforced and would not worry about it.

At any time if any thing goes askew both feet up she is a very stable paltform and will settle back down on her own. Just coast to the finish to make another run. 90% of the wrecks I have seen the driver did not let up like it was the last run before the World ended.

[Bradley G]

OK thanks for clarifying
helmets required for any vehicle running a 14.00 or faster

[jmarino]

More then anything take a little time & watch the Tree when others run try to get a fell how the 3rd yellow is timed. Like Babbage said May want to try going on the 3rd yellow to get a good R/T. #1 thing to a great pass is a great R/T.. Good Luck! Is it Midnight Madness at GIR Friday?

YES this is midnight madness. Whoever can make it, I will be there so maybe I will see you... AND EVERYBODY racing at Midnight Madness MUST HAVE A HELMET!

[sailsmen]

YES this is midnight madness. Whoever can make it, I will be there so maybe I will see you... AND EVERYBODY racing at Midnight Madness MUST HAVE A HELMET!

You need to do your home work. All the Midnight Maddness I have been to is a ProTree and they don't prep the track, plus the street tires tear up the luanch pad resulting in no traction.

If so you will have to walk it out. Start with ~1/2 throttle and progreesively mash it through the first 150', backing off if you lose traction, modulating back and forth.

Like you are running away in snow in your leather soled penny loafers after your GF just found out you have another hotter looking GF.

[Odinson]

This may be a dumb question but will a plain old dot/snell helmet be OK?

I ride so I have a couple half dots and a full dot/snell.

[jmarino]

This may be a dumb question but will a plain old dot/snell helmet be OK?

I ride so I have a couple half dots and a full dot/snell.

I was talking to my cousin who told me about the rule and he said I can just wear his atv DOT helmet

[jmarino]

Just found this on their web site

"Snell 2005 or better for 13.99 or quicker)
(DOT helmet for 14.00 seconds or slower)"

[Odinson]

Snell it is. Thanks!

[Paul T. Casey]

Best deals I've found on helmets:

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/

All good tips here. I drop my tire pressure to 22-23 psi, it helps. If you're real baller, remove the front anit-sway bar. Helps with launch/weight transfer.

[CameronVic]

You need to do your home work. All the Midnight Maddness I have been to is a ProTree and they don't prep the track, plus the street tires tear up the luanch pad resulting in no traction.EXACTLY!! Which is always funny to me because a .400 pro tree takes some practice! It's hilarious to see the reaction times because midnight madness is full of complete amateurs, completely stock cars, and a bunch of street bikes burning up their clutches! Talking like .8 and .9 reaction times!

[sailsmen]

Tell us what happened and post all your times!

[hotford]

Stay full out through the checked area, frist line is et and the line from the first to the second at the top is your mph marker,it measures the distance between the et line to the second, which will give your mph.
most people let off as soon as they hit the first line at the 1320.
this will not give a accurate mph if you let off.

[351carlo]

Stay full out through the checked area, frist line is et and the line from the first to the second at the top is your mph marker,it measures the distance between the et line to the second, which will give your mph.
most people let off as soon as they hit the first line at the 1320.
this will not give a accurate mph if you let off.

Unless you race at an ancient, non-sanctioned track, the speed box will be 66 feet BEFORE the ET 1320' line.

[robertmee]

Thinking about taking my Trilogy to 1/8 mile test and tune in Benson/Dunn speedway....I dyno'd 463 RWHP with custom tune.

I've read through the thread and have a few newbie questions....

Drive around water box, check...Do a short burnout to clean tires. My question here is I've seen waterbox burnouts where the car goes quite a distance, and you back up then forward to stage. How much room after pulling around the water box do you have to do a burnout typically? For this type of burnout, do you just powerbrake and spin the tires a bit, never going beyond the staging lights?

After the burnout, if you did somehow creep past the staging lights, is it okay to backup, or do you need to wait for signal from track official?

To stage, pull forward until first light...wait for other guy's stage, then pull forward to second light. What if you go past light? I know deep staging you go past it, but if you accidentally go past it, do you stay there, backup or what? What kind of distances are we talking here? My tune has a bit of a jump on the pedal...

After that, launch on third yellow...on test and tune, do they even use the red light for early launch? If so, and the red light goes, I assume you still run balls out?

After passing the 1320 (660 for Benson) mark, begin to brake gently. Is is customary to always let inside guy pull off first? What if he broke down and is limping to the line...Do you wait or go ahead and pull off?

Thanks!!