2005-2014 Mustangs Discussions on the latest S197 model Mustangs from Ford.

Drag Racing Tips

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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 10:12 AM
  #1  
swieduwi's Avatar
swieduwi
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: No. Virginia
Default Drag Racing Tips

Maybe with enough input and corrections, we could make this a sticky

Drag Racing Tips
· Try to go to the track when you have less than a 1/4 tank of gas left. (Every gallon of gas adds to your cars weight)
· Use *91* or higher octane Fuel
· Let your engine cool off by popping the hood and position your car so the hood will cast a shadow on your engine BEFORE you make any runs at the track.
· If you drive a V6, take off as many of the plastic covers off the engine as you can, all they do is help hold in the heat.
· Buy the 8lb bags of ice, they are worth the $1.50 you will spend! Put the ice on top of your intake manifold. Bring a towel if you can to mop up any condensation from the bag. When the ice starts to melt, use a key to poke a hole in a corner of the bag and drain out the water. When you put the bag back on, make sure the hole is facing UP so the water doesn't get all over your engine.
· Ideally your engine temp should be just above the C line when you start your car. By the time you finish staging it should be 3-4 lines above the C line. If your temp gauge is still at the C line when you race.
· Every 5-10 minutes while your car is cooling off, start your engine for about 30 seconds so you can move the hot engine coolant away from the engine with colder coolant from the radiator.
· Avoid the water pit if possible when staging.
· Turn OFF traction control (TCS) and disable OverDrive (on autos).
· Do a quick dry spin of your tires to knock off any rocks or dirt that may be sticking to them. In an auto: To spin your tires just hold the brake, punch the gas real quick and let off the brake.
· Staging: Slowly pull up to line while watching the Tree (The thing with all the lights in the middle) Once the first pair of yellow lights come on, slowly inch forward until the second pair of yellow lights come on. You are now staged!
· Launching: In an automatic wait until the car next to you is staged and then begin brake torquing. Use your left foot to FULLY depress your brake pedal while using your right foot to bring the revs to around 1,800rpms or whatever works for you particular setup. There are 3 yellow lights and a green light. When the THIRD yellow light comes on, release the brake while flooring the gas peddle at the same time. If done correctly your car will start moving right as the light turns green and you will have a quick reaction time.
· If your tires peel out to much on the launch, reduce your rpms next time.
· If your engine bogs down of the line because your tires don't chirp, increase your rpms when launching.
· A small quick chirp generally gives the best results in an automatic.
· Racing in D3 or D4 makes no differences in your 1/4 mile times since 3rd is good for a very high speed and you will never go fast enough in the 1/4 mile to worry about your tranny shifting to 4th.
· Always turn off your radio, AC and any electrical accessories. When racing at night, only turn on your parking lights. Always roll up your windows before staging and ALWAYS buckle up!
· When you finish a run, find a spot, pop the hood, put your bag of ice back on the intake manifold, and wait a good 30 minutes before you next run.
· If you go to a track with long lines try to push your car up to the staging area before starting it. Otherwise your engine will just heat up and your cool down period will have been wasted.
· If you drive an automatic leave your tire PSI around 30-34psi. It doesn't hurt to increase your rear tire pressure but typically auto's don't have problems with traction off the line.
· If you lower your tire pressure too much its going to increase your rolling resistance and decrease your trap speed and probably hurt your 1/4 mile time.
· Write down your launch rpm on the time slip so you can compare how your rpms affect your time.
· If you can buy a radio shack indoor outdoor thermometer that measures the humidity. After each run write down the the temp and humidity. This will help you because there are websites that can factor in temp and humidity to adjust your times so you can compare runs from different days when the temperature was different.
· Convert your times for hot and cool days: Drag Calculator
· If you want the best possible quarter mile time, take EVERYTHING out of the car that can easily come out. Empty the glove box, console, and OF COURSE, the trunk. (Don't forget the jack and tools Remove the floor mats and trunk floor/spare tire cover. If you want to go nuts, pull the front passanger seat. That thing weighs a TON.
Old Oct 28, 2005 | 11:49 AM
  #2  
Professor Wizard's Avatar
Professor Wizard
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,441
From: Missouri
Default RE: Drag Racing Tips

Very Nice swieduwi ...

Thanks for putting that together for us.

But - it probably should be a sticky out in the general area.

I don't have "powers" outside of the 05 threads, so I will bring it up with the other mods.
Old Oct 28, 2005 | 11:57 AM
  #3  
nautiluscont's Avatar
nautiluscont
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Default RE: Drag Racing Tips

Ive been drag racing for a while.... nice post
Old Oct 28, 2005 | 01:54 PM
  #4  
swieduwi's Avatar
swieduwi
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2nd Gear Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 186
From: No. Virginia
Default RE: Drag Racing Tips

That would be Great Wiz,
I did not think about sharing with all, (I am in my own little S197 world)
I hope this list will help everyone a few tenths... I have been colecting this list
over some time now and thought I could get some input and see what works for others
[sm=smiley20.gif]
Old Oct 29, 2005 | 03:21 PM
  #5  
GIDDEUP's Avatar
GIDDEUP
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 188
From:
Default RE: Drag Racing Tips

Add it to the street/strip section where this other post is...
https://mustangforums.com/m_682787/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm
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