Hey, Just got challenged to a drag race at the local 1/4 mile drag strip. The thing is I have never been to a drag strip and I have no idea how to get a good run. I have the launch down really good on the highway , but how is traction on an average strip, are most tracks high grip or loose? Is a burnout necessary? When do I leave on green, or the second yellow. Oh the guy I'm racing has a Cobalt SS-supercharged with a bunch of bolt-ons. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

cobalt?

dont sweat at all.. haha..

as for the track ( i havent gonee myself ) but i believe you rev to w/e u want and gracefully release the clutch that way it grabs the track and you launch better...

IF I AM WRONG SOMEONE PLEASE CORRECT ME!

 

DO NOT rev to whatever. Yes, you will get better traction. I personally launch around 2k and let it out slowly (im on street tires). At first I chose not to use the burnout box but found out my times were more consistent and I had better launches when I used it.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll give the burnout box a try. Does the time start once I move, when the light turns green, or when I go across the start line? Do you leave on second yellow or wait for green? I know these questions are common knowledge for most members, but I've never been to a strip and don't know what to expect. I would rather ask you guys, than the guy I'm gonna race. I can only imagine what the Chevy guy would tell me. Thanks.

 

Don't use the water.... just give it a quick burn to clean your tires. The street tires (z) are designed not to get hot so the burnout is pretty but not condusive to anything.....

 

the time doesn't start till you leave. . . so your reaction time has nothing to do with your E/T

there will be a pre-staged and a staged light that you trip before you get your 3 yellow lights to your greens(i would look at the drag tree pics here on the internet to get an idea on what im talking about)

you want to barely ease into your second "staged" light, this will let your car roll forward a couple of inches before it leaves the lights, when you do this, you can leave on the 3rd yellow, not the second, when the 3rd yellow becomes fully lit, take off!!!!

as for RPM's, I go up as high as 3500 rpm, and slip the clutch from there, don't DUMP it!!! if you learn to slip it just right, you can pull below 2.0 60 foots

good luck

 

I've got the launch down pretty good on the street, I just hope the track is of similar surface. Hey there Black06GT what RPM do you shift at to get your best runs? I usually shift at about 6,500 RPM seems to work pretty well on the street.

 

bout 6300, i only do 6500 if im losing

expect the track to be about twice as sticky. . .

make sure the RPM's are at least 3k before you start slipping, its gonna hook better than you think, and you will probobly bogg

just make adjustments as you make passes, if it boggs, start RPM's up a little higher, if it spins, don't let the clutch out that fast