First time to the track
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Joined: 04-03-07
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From: Springfield, Missouri
First time to the track
Its my first time to the track in the cobalt ss/sc, any last minute suggestions. shes stock as rock.
*as a rock*
*as a rock*
Last edited by slo_balt; May 3, 2007 at 03:17 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Joined: 08-24-06
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From: jersey
ya don't break anything, good luck lets us know the times. i never went to the track, i'm too scared, i'm afraid i'll get like 16 seconds and i'll feel like crap even tho i know i can prob do high to mid 14s
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From: Cleveland, OH
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Joined: 07-09-06
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From: PA
^ That is not a good suggestion!
Anways...
Since its your first time at the track, I would be glad to give you some adivce.
First of all you need to figure out how many miles it takes you to get to the track. Take it easy when you drive to the track to get good mpg. Make sure when you get gas before you leave to get a good quilty gas and make sure it is 93 or 94 octane. Do not run anything less for the track. Try to get to the track with about 1/4th of a gas tank. Also take your spare tire out of the back trunk. If you have time remove back seats if you want to save even more weight. Every little bit helps.
At a normal track when you get there you pay and go into a inspection station. Just tell them this is your first time and your car is stock. Tell them your sure you will have no times faster then 14 second passes. This is important because once you hit certain times in the 1.4th you have to wear a helmet and or have a cage.
Next, before you race for the first time watch someone else go. Pay attention at the starting line how they get staged. You will be nervoius your first time. Before you run check your tire pressure and make sure your REAR tires have the max tire pressure. This would be around 32 pounds. You want it even so you do not have any extra drag on the back. Remove some tire pressure out of both front tires. I run anywhere from 17-24 pounds in the FRONT tires. I would start out around 23 pounds and work your way down until you see your best 60 foot times on your time slips. Since you are stock you want to have the best launch off the line for best 1/4th mile times. The less you spin the better but its ok to spin a little bit. Whatever you do, do not wheel hop. If your car begins to shake and hop at all back off the gas until it stops. Otherwise you could break something.
Once you get a few passes you will feel better. Practice makes perfect. Good luck at the track.
Edit Post: Keep in mind, no question is a bad question. If your unsure of something just ask someone who works at the track. When you get to the line, if you panic. Just roll down the window and ask how you get staged if you do not know how. Most of the time they are very nice and will help you. Tell them its your first time. They want you to come back and have lots of fun. So relax, and have a blast man.
Anways...
Since its your first time at the track, I would be glad to give you some adivce.
First of all you need to figure out how many miles it takes you to get to the track. Take it easy when you drive to the track to get good mpg. Make sure when you get gas before you leave to get a good quilty gas and make sure it is 93 or 94 octane. Do not run anything less for the track. Try to get to the track with about 1/4th of a gas tank. Also take your spare tire out of the back trunk. If you have time remove back seats if you want to save even more weight. Every little bit helps.
At a normal track when you get there you pay and go into a inspection station. Just tell them this is your first time and your car is stock. Tell them your sure you will have no times faster then 14 second passes. This is important because once you hit certain times in the 1.4th you have to wear a helmet and or have a cage.
Next, before you race for the first time watch someone else go. Pay attention at the starting line how they get staged. You will be nervoius your first time. Before you run check your tire pressure and make sure your REAR tires have the max tire pressure. This would be around 32 pounds. You want it even so you do not have any extra drag on the back. Remove some tire pressure out of both front tires. I run anywhere from 17-24 pounds in the FRONT tires. I would start out around 23 pounds and work your way down until you see your best 60 foot times on your time slips. Since you are stock you want to have the best launch off the line for best 1/4th mile times. The less you spin the better but its ok to spin a little bit. Whatever you do, do not wheel hop. If your car begins to shake and hop at all back off the gas until it stops. Otherwise you could break something.
Once you get a few passes you will feel better. Practice makes perfect. Good luck at the track.
Edit Post: Keep in mind, no question is a bad question. If your unsure of something just ask someone who works at the track. When you get to the line, if you panic. Just roll down the window and ask how you get staged if you do not know how. Most of the time they are very nice and will help you. Tell them its your first time. They want you to come back and have lots of fun. So relax, and have a blast man.
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Joined: 02-23-07
Posts: 1,120
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From: Orange, CA
^ That is not a good suggestion!
Anways...
Since its your first time at the track, I would be glad to give you some adivce.
First of all you need to figure out how many miles it takes you to get to the track. Take it easy when you drive to the track to get good mpg. Make sure when you get gas before you leave to get a good quilty gas and make sure it is 93 or 94 octane. Do not run anything less for the track. Try to get to the track with about 1/4th of a gas tank. Also take your spare tire out of the back trunk. If you have time remove back seats if you want to save even more weight. Every little bit helps.
At a normal track when you get there you pay and go into a inspection station. Just tell them this is your first time and your car is stock. Tell them your sure you will have no times faster then 14 second passes. This is important because once you hit certain times in the 1.4th you have to wear a helmet and or have a cage.
Next, before you race for the first time watch someone else go. Pay attention at the starting line how they get staged. You will be nervoius your first time. Before you run check your tire pressure and make sure your REAR tires have the max tire pressure. This would be around 32 pounds. You want it even so you do not have any extra drag on the back. Remove some tire pressure out of both front tires. I run anywhere from 17-24 pounds in the FRONT tires. I would start out around 23 pounds and work your way down until you see your best 60 foot times on your time slips. Since you are stock you want to have the best launch off the line for best 1/4th mile times. The less you spin the better but its ok to spin a little bit. Whatever you do, do not wheel hop. If your car begins to shake and hop at all back off the gas until it stops. Otherwise you could break something.
Once you get a few passes you will feel better. Practice makes perfect. Good luck at the track.
Edit Post: Keep in mind, no question is a bad question. If your unsure of something just ask someone who works at the track. When you get to the line, if you panic. Just roll down the window and ask how you get staged if you do not know how. Most of the time they are very nice and will help you. Tell them its your first time. They want you to come back and have lots of fun. So relax, and have a blast man.
Anways...
Since its your first time at the track, I would be glad to give you some adivce.
First of all you need to figure out how many miles it takes you to get to the track. Take it easy when you drive to the track to get good mpg. Make sure when you get gas before you leave to get a good quilty gas and make sure it is 93 or 94 octane. Do not run anything less for the track. Try to get to the track with about 1/4th of a gas tank. Also take your spare tire out of the back trunk. If you have time remove back seats if you want to save even more weight. Every little bit helps.
At a normal track when you get there you pay and go into a inspection station. Just tell them this is your first time and your car is stock. Tell them your sure you will have no times faster then 14 second passes. This is important because once you hit certain times in the 1.4th you have to wear a helmet and or have a cage.
Next, before you race for the first time watch someone else go. Pay attention at the starting line how they get staged. You will be nervoius your first time. Before you run check your tire pressure and make sure your REAR tires have the max tire pressure. This would be around 32 pounds. You want it even so you do not have any extra drag on the back. Remove some tire pressure out of both front tires. I run anywhere from 17-24 pounds in the FRONT tires. I would start out around 23 pounds and work your way down until you see your best 60 foot times on your time slips. Since you are stock you want to have the best launch off the line for best 1/4th mile times. The less you spin the better but its ok to spin a little bit. Whatever you do, do not wheel hop. If your car begins to shake and hop at all back off the gas until it stops. Otherwise you could break something.
Once you get a few passes you will feel better. Practice makes perfect. Good luck at the track.
Edit Post: Keep in mind, no question is a bad question. If your unsure of something just ask someone who works at the track. When you get to the line, if you panic. Just roll down the window and ask how you get staged if you do not know how. Most of the time they are very nice and will help you. Tell them its your first time. They want you to come back and have lots of fun. So relax, and have a blast man.
When it comes to getting up there, don't do a burnout like everyone else. Just drive around the water pit. Make sure you get straight in the middle of the track, that's where it is stickiest. You will see the Tree, or the lights, what you do is pull towards them slowly until you get the first pair of horizontal lights on. Stop here. Then creap really slowly until the second pair of horizontal lights come on. Stop. Then you wait until the other person has done the same. Within usually 5 seconds, the big yellow lights below the staging lights will start to move down. There are 3 and they are spaced usually .5 seconds apart. The ideal way to start is that when the light goes green you are just leaving. Don't be afraid to red light, you will still get times and speeds, just no reaction time. Depending on your track, you may only get in a couple runs.
But have fun. Its only a race.
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Joined: 03-22-07
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From: Still fixing others mistakes.
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From: San Antonio
when I went, I ran a 13.9218 @ like 100 and I have BFgoodrich DR's and stage 2 with 2.79" pulley.....and I never stopped running to let her cool off. lol I dump the clutch like there is no tomorrow and wheel hopped like a son of a bitch....just need some suspension mods now. nothing is wrong with mine and I now have over 50 runs @ the strip, and clutch is just fine. with only 14K on the car.
oh, and I was lauching from 4K but quickly realized how bad that was and how it was killing my time so I do 2K drops and she takes off like a dream!
oh, and I was lauching from 4K but quickly realized how bad that was and how it was killing my time so I do 2K drops and she takes off like a dream!
Last edited by burntorange; May 3, 2007 at 06:17 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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