getting ready for my first run on the drag strip

[kcmm]

Theres a car show this saturday with some head up racing after on an 1/8 mile out here. I was wonderin does anyone have any suggestions? This will be my first time in a track of any sort. Hope its gonna be fun.

[gdmjoe]

Some hints to get you started ..... ( ultimately you'll get your own routine that works/feels best for you ).

* Wash and wax/polish the car before going. *Every litter bit helps.

* Lub' any/all lubable pieces. *Front/rear stablizer bar bushings, A-arm pivots, etc.. Suggest using (say) silicone spray.

* 1/4 tank of gas. *As long as there's a station near-by.

* Remove the junk in the trunk. *Including the spare and jack.

* Traction control -OFF-. *If equipped.

* OverDrive -OFF-.

* Leave the transmission in D(rive). *Unless you REALLY know your car, electronics can control your shifts much better than you.

* All accessories -OFF-. *Radio, heat/defrost, etc..

* Drive around the water box.

* Do a couple of dry hop/chirps to ( somewhat ) clean the tires.

* To launch ... left foot on brake, right foot over gas pedal.

* (assuming a sportsman tree) Leave as close as possible @ the last yellow light.

* Lift the brake foot and nail the gas foot. *Depending on the track condition, you may have to experiment here and opt for a ease into and then nail it.

* Before the next lap, raise the hood. *For cool-down purposes.

Repeat.

Stage deep. Leave hard :D
.

[RR|Suki]

- go around the water box for sure

- with a stock Marauder I imagine you can get into it pretty hard from the launch as long as you have ok tires

-make sure you turn OD off

-those are the big things I can think of, oh and have fun

[kcmm]

i dont have a switch for traction control does that mean i dont have it or its just always on? ive heard that manual shifting the 4w70 is a bad idea in general is this correct? also i so shouldnt hold the brake and hold the gas to around 2500 rpms for pre lanch purposes (might be a dumb question but better to ask)?

[RR|Suki]

i dont have a switch for traction control does that mean i dont have it or its just always on? ive heard that manual shifting the 4w70 is a bad idea in general is this correct? also i so shouldnt hold the brake and hold the gas to around 2500 rpms for pre lanch purposes (might be a dumb question but better to ask)?

You don't have traction control

don't "manual" shift

loading the converter is something you'd have to experiment with. I'd personally just go off idle

[kcmm]

Alrighty thanks for the tips

[Limited360]

Alrighty thanks for the tips

Just take it easy the first time and get a feel for how it launches and how your reaction to the light is.

I wouldn't expect traction issues unless you've got crap tires. Torque it up and let it rip

[sailsmen]

At the very least pre load the susp w/ 1,500 RPM. Search drag racing tips under my user name.
I am not a fan of remove the spare and jack. I say run it in street trim, plus I have gotten flats at the track or on the way home. There are a lot of things you can remove for minimal advantage.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9370 using Tapatalk

[jsignorelli]

MOST IMPORTANT.... have "Born to Be Wild" playing on the CD player, as loud as you can stand it as you approach the staging area.

AND... The stock Marauder will not respond as fast as you think, so try leaving on the last amber light (don't wait for green)

[kcmm]

doesnt born to be wild add 15 horsepower? lol ill try leaving on the last yellow

[sflrainmaker01]

Good Luck! Man, I have been wanting to do this all summer, but between work and the rainy season, I haven't had any luck!


Dumb question: why do you drive around the burnout box? I thought part of the fun was doing a nice burnout...:burnout:

[RR|Suki]

Good Luck! Man, I have been wanting to do this all summer, but between work and the rainy season, I haven't had any luck!


Dumb question: why do you drive around the burnout box? I thought part of the fun was doing a nice burnout...:burnout:

you'll get water on your front tires, you don't want that. You can go around it and back up into it if you really want.

A couple things on that though, doing a burnout with your all season tires isn't going to do anything in particular. But if you choose to do one remember to move out of the water before the tires completely stop or you'll end up with wet tires again.

[tbone]

What tire pressure you guys running on stock tires? I was thinking 25 in back and 45 in front would be good.

[jsignorelli]

You don't want wet street tires for several reasons.
#1: loss of traction, both front and back. Loss at the front means no steering. Loss at the back is just tires spinning in place and no acceleration. What works on soft wall slicks doesn't transfer to hard wall street tires
#2: tire pressure. Keeping the front at recommended is best. Over inflation reduces to tread diameter in contact with the road = loss of steering
I would run the rear at 25 lbs, but don't forget to pump them back before driving home.

If you really get into racing, you might want to spring for skinny front wheels and tires and full slicks for the back. I use an impact gun that connects to the battery for quick change in the pits.

[8UWITH6]

Please dont let air out of your radial street tires. It does nothing.

Oh and if you are going to be at US-36 for the the F-body shootout I might see you there.

[kcmm]

Ya thats actually where im headin hope to see you there. Are you bringing your marauder out? MIGHT have my car j modded tomorrow but we will see if time allows gotta get it cleaned up for the show. Also got a good look at the rob sight dtr marauder looks clean and isnt missing anything i could see.

[sailsmen]

I get there early and walk the launch area looking for references for the water box and the line. I watch the first cars launch to see if they are hooking and look for the groove in each lane.
Also watch them to learn the procedure and where the turn off is for the return lane.
When you are in the staging lanes focus on the track staff and their hand signals.

Study the tracks website.

Drag Racing Tips

http://www.musclecarclub.com/library/race/drag-racing-tips.shtml

[8UWITH6]

Ya thats actually where im headin hope to see you there. Are you bringing your marauder out? MIGHT have my car j modded tomorrow but we will see if time allows gotta get it cleaned up for the show. Also got a good look at the rob sight dtr marauder looks clean and isnt missing anything i could see.

If I make it there it will more than likely be 730ish and yes Ill be in the Marauder.

[cj7chris]

Let us know how you do.

[Texas Boy]

Some hints to get you started ..... ( ultimately you'll get your own routine that works/feels best for you ).

* Wash and wax/polish the car before going. *Every litter bit helps.

* Lub' any/all lubable pieces. *Front/rear stablizer bar bushings, A-arm pivots, etc.. Suggest using (say) silicone spray.

* 1/4 tank of gas. *As long as there's a station near-by.

* Remove the junk in the trunk. *Including the spare and jack.

* Traction control -OFF-. *If equipped.

* OverDrive -OFF-.

* Leave the transmission in D(rive). *Unless you REALLY know your car, electronics can control your shifts much better than you.

* All accessories -OFF-. *Radio, heat/defrost, etc..

* Drive around the water box.

* Do a couple of dry hop/chirps to ( somewhat ) clean the tires.

* To launch ... left foot on brake, right foot over gas pedal.

* (assuming a sportsman tree) Leave as close as possible @ the last yellow light.

* Lift the brake foot and nail the gas foot. *Depending on the track condition, you may have to experiment here and opt for a ease into and then nail it.

* Before the next lap, raise the hood. *For cool-down purposes.

Repeat.

Stage deep. Leave hard :D
.
sweet thanks bro

[sflrainmaker01]

you'll get water on your front tires, you don't want that. You can go around it and back up into it if you really want.

A couple things on that though, doing a burnout with your all season tires isn't going to do anything in particular. But if you choose to do one remember to move out of the water before the tires completely stop or you'll end up with wet tires again.

No, I just thought it would be fun to do a "legal" burnout:burnout:. I know it doesn't help the track times etc. But, good points about the front tires. ;)

[kcmm]

I feel i did pretty good for my first time at a track ever. Best time was a 9.9 on an 1/8 mile but i have no idea if thats good for these cars. Best r.t. Was .179. Almost beat a 01 mustang gt he beat me out of the hole but i was running him down. I have videos but i dont know how to upload them.

[sflrainmaker01]

Sounds good to me! I am still trying to go! It seems like its raining out of control here (day after day)! :confused: I hope you had fun! Did you have to wear a helmet?

[kcmm]

I wore it for the first run but then i was told i dont need it unless im gonna run way faster. But ya it was a blast

[sflrainmaker01]

I wore it for the first run but then i was told i dont need it unless im gonna run way faster. But ya it was a blast

That is great! What kind of helmet did you have to use?

[kcmm]

Lol my buddies motorcross helmet

[sflrainmaker01]

Cool! :up: