I never paid attention to who was in the other lane.....it may as well be a one lane track. Focus on what you need to do. Then do it.
man, I am overwhelmed by the response! if any fellow Hambers are at Bowling green for the Goodguys Nats, look me up. My truck is black primer w/ green stripes with 'Gang Green Racing on the door. "What seems to be the problem, officer...sir!"
as long as I'm asking stupid questions, will I need windows to run? I currently don't have any door glass. thanks for your help so far. If I'm not here when you get back, tell me to wait...
Yes you will! And seat belts, Long pants, closed toe shoes. You might want to get with someone local and go with them. At the very least, just go to a local event and talk to the guys running. It's amazing what you'll learn by watching and asking questions.
If you wait until the light turns green, you lose. As others have already said, go when the last yellow lights.
Because of your reaction time, and the roll out of your car(the period of time your car's front tire is still blocking the beam ot the timing equipment) you will be very late if you wait for green...as soon as you see the last yellow light come on, go. If it's a pro tree leave when any lights come on. (all yellow at the same time.)
Good common sense advice here. As for nerves, I've been racing for a few years now, but still get butterflies - especially before the first run of the day. But when it's my turn to fire up and roll into the water box, the sound of the engine always puts me right back in the zone - it's very reassuring to me. By the time I'm doing the burnout, it's a one lane track with no spectators, like others have said. Just me and the starter. If I really focus, I can see the element begin to glow in the last yellow and cut a decent light. You're in for a new perspective on what fun is. Enjoy...
thanks...guess I'll head to Lowe's first thing Monday. Of course there are no window tracks or hardware either, so I'll have to fabricate some pins or something to hold them up. always something, isn't it?
My wife wanted to race this year and I took her to a tune and test during the week so she could learn How to stage, When to leave, and when to shift. Don't overwhelm yourself with too much info, and take a deep breath Because it goes real quick... I'll see you in BG... Spoons
Be calm. Pay attention to track personnel and where they're at. Be ready to get on the brakes when you cross the finish line. It's flat amazing how many fly across the finish and don't start braking for 200-300 feet. Wasting time here is eating up your stopping distance. Your truck appears capable of 90-100 mph trap speeds and maybe a touch more. Those kind of speeds eat up a lot of distance in a short time. Learn to use the brakes well, flink-dink around here and you'll be looking at the end of the track while still at a good speed. Wear a good helmet even if the track doesn't require it in your class.
I don't want to pop your bubble, but I doubt your truck will get through tech at Bowling Green. You will probably need a driveshaft loop, and other safety items you or the others here haven't mentioned. A Goodguys event is pretty hight profile for your first drag race. Kinda like showing up at the Olympics and trying to run with the big boys. Start off at a local test and tune and work your way up the ladder.
no chance to t&t before BG, so I guess I'll do it in front of a couple thousand grandstand experts. as for the driveshaft loop, the ladder bar support would stop the from from digging in, but the tail end could hit if it broke. I plan to contact goodguys Mon to check on specs. haven't been able to find out anything particular online. oh well..... p.s. diveshaft loop only required for 11.49 & under cars. do need reverse lock-out & neutral safety switch tho. thanks for the info
Mash it on the last yellow.On tuning if you gain 1/2 sec in your 60ft time will equate to a full sec at the 1/4.
if you get it there the stab and steer part is easy but don't spike your brakes at the end just gradualy apply them incase one side is pulling more than the other
Watch when you are going up to the line to see where the light beams are. Try not to make the rookie mistake of rolling past the light beams and having to back up after going too far... this does not make the starters day. It's very easy to do with your legs bouncing up and down from the adrenaline dump everybody gets on their first run. And like everybody said have fun.
Just Have fun and be safe, one word of advice if your running street tires, don't do a john force burnout, Just spin them to clean them off, I see alot of people blow there tires off, and can't figure out why they can't hook up, thats all i can think of if your in a street car, OH YA be careful!
Well---pastorbc---you've heard from all of us...we'll be waiting until after BG to hear from you------good luck
With all the "expert" advice you've been receiving, you'll probably go rounds and wind up in the winner's circle with loads of endorsement deals at your feet... But seriously, if you have any intentions of cutting a good enough "light" off of the christmas tree, a light (reaction time) good enough so that you'll have some chance of winning a round, man-o-fire pretty much summed up the way to leave the line, when the last yellow light is BRIGHT, that's your sign to launch-- Even veteran drag racing electronics maven, Sam Biondo, recommends that you leave when that last yellow is bright, and not a wink before-- try not to redlight as if your life depended on it--- H*ck, just have a good time with your trick truck and be safe... Good luck... Have fun at the drag strip... THAT'S what it's all about!... Looking forward to your race report on these cyber pages... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...
I do appreciate all the advice, people. my goal is not to win rounds necessarily, but to 1) have a good time, 2) get all the way down the track, and 3) not break anything expensive. and yes, I will report when I get back, whether anyone wants to hear it or not... "let's see, I think the left is brake, and the right is gas, or is it...?
When the light goes green smash the loud peddle. Actually if you don't get any more traction than most pickups you should probably leave on one of the yellow lights. My '65 only made about 400 ponies ( give or take a few) and i normally left on the first yellow but that is something you will have to sort out by trial and error. Other than that point it down the track and go really fast.
I'm with Rich, you probably won't make it thru tech. That aside, this would not be a good place to start your dragrace career, go to a local 1/8th mile track on a test-n-tune night and learn. We all make an ass out of ourselves the first time we have at it, stage on the rear tires and all kinds of dumb shit. It'll happen. Just don't let it happen with tens of thousands of people watching you do it.
A little bit of time before light turns green, right foot hits floor. It takes a little time for car to move. If you wait till light is green, you'll be left in the dust.
I will be at Beech Bend, unless the weather turns against us. Look me up if you wish...Primer Gray Willys and '63 Belair called "Faded Memories". I would be happy to help you. Seriously, this may not be the best place to debut. Sounds like your mind is made up, though. I hope it all goes well, but the advice given earlier about T&T is right on. This track has a wierd staging setup, short burnout area, narrow groove and trees at the end. Not a great place to learn by your mistakes. But if you still want to run, look me up.
With your th350, don't worry about trying to manually shift it the first couple of times. Just put it in drive and let it do the work until your comfort level comes up.
The Jalopy Journal
