Ok, Before you guys flame me and call me a n00b remember that everyone at some point had a first time down the 1/4 mile track.

So I've been thinking bout trying my balt down the track to see what it ( and me ) can do. I've never raced before so I was wanting some tips, pointers. Ive googled and read the "How To Race Your Car" that I found somewhere. I figured maybe between the flames and noob calling some one might be able to give me some good first timer advice.
Thanks,

 

- drive around the water box
- dont try and stage with your windows down like i did my first time lol
- listen to the advie (most) people offer
_ your first 3 or so runs will suck. Your heart will be beating so fast youll screw up lol

 

Drive around the waterbox as mentioned above. You don't want to get street tires wet. I highly doubt you are using slicks.

Don't really pay much attention to the lights if you want a good time. Just let it go green and then launch. Trying to get the jump off the green and beat the car you are racing is just going to get you too excited and mess your launch up. If you truely want a good time, then take your time, rev it up to like 2500 or 3000 rpms and then let the clutch out quickly (but don't drop it) while steadily pressing the gas pedal down (but don't slam it). Once you feel the tires gripping, get on it hard.

If you don't want to abuse your clutch and transmission too hard, then let off the gas and shift like regular (only really fast). If you want to try and get the best time and aren't worried about a little abuse, then don't let off the gas and just slam the clutch and slam the shifter into the next gear.

Play with different launch RPMS, like 1500, 2000, 2500, etc. and play with different techniques as far as how quickly you let off the clutch and get on the gas.

 

when he says let the clutch out quickly, he didnt mean that... you let the clutch out as if you were driving normally except with your revs somewhere near 2500 rpms.... your just trying to roll quickly off the line without spinning your tires. if your tires spin, let off the gas alittle till they grab then give it the gas again, dont keep spinning your tires... your just wasting tread and not bettering your time.

 

False, it is better to get some spin out of your tires than to let off. Now, of course if they are going up in smoke, then its best to let off, and scrap the run and figure out what you are going to do to remedy the problem.

Alot of the time you have to drive through the tac. You have to let the engine speed match the car's speed (if that makes any sense). Basically, if you are spinning, but still picking up good speed, thats better than letting off. But, I think this is more in depth that a noob needs to be thinking about. He needs to learn the track orientation first. Like, staging, and turn offs, and not to blow off the end of the track into the gravel because everyone else gets pissed because it causes a 40 minute cleanup (OP: hint hint, don't go off the end of the track).

 

all those are good, but remember to have your helmet & seat belt on & be ready when they flag you to go. Here's my 1st attempt a few years back with street tires. It takes practice & you really won't believe how much your hands will sweat when up there. Good luck on your attempts. Everyone's a virgin their 1st time.

http://www.streetfire.net/video/This...k-I_100336.htm

 

My problem

 

lol talk about one hell of a confusing explanation of a video

"This was my first track attempt. I was on street tires, stg3, exhaust, bov, sts, that's it. Stock, everything down to the paper filter."

how does that make any sense lol

 

Go around water box. Do a quick spin of the tires to get stones and dirt off. Roll up slow until first staging light lights up. Stop. Then slowly inch forward until the second staging light lights up. Then brake. Take a deep breathe and remember you're going down the track to improve yourself, do NOT worry about the car next to you. The 3 yellow lights will start to drop. When the last one is going out, take off. Start off with very mild launches and work up to a higher RPM. If you wheel hop, get out of it. If your blowing the tires off, get out of it. Do NOT drop the clutch. Slip the clutch instead. If you spin when you shift to second, you'll have to let the RPM's drop before letting the clutch out on the 1-2 shift.

 

1st track time with my car with stage3 pump gas, exhaust, short throw shifter, 215/45 tires and 3" with a cat exhaust, everything else stock. Stock clutch & mounts, airbox & paper filter, suspension and even the stock stage3 02 housing. I listed the mods at the time of the video. Under the hood was dull at the time, no bling bling or mods to jump out at you.

 

Ok Thanks for all the info people. At first I didn't know what a waterbox is, but my friend google helped me out there. But what I don't understand is, why is it important to have the window down?

 

dont have the window down. you have to put it up.

or you can be like me, and just roll it down after you leave the tree. I had a cig and was listening to Sprintsteen on most of my runs.

 

There are some really good pointers in this thread .... I'm surprised !!

 

Windows up for safety... unless you go to a track that doesn't really give a crap about your safety. And, thats not a track I would wanna run on.

 

I hope this is a joke

 

not a joke it happined to me!!!

 

2.2 + 6,000 feet = no helmet

 

That made me lol

All of the above is pretty accurate. Just have fun and don't break anything




Don't keep going WOT once you get through the traps, they will yell at you. A friend of mine kept doing that like a retard.

 

... a year and a half later I finnaly made it to the track
Thanks for the tips.


Check, Drove arround the wet spot that they sprayed with a hose

Check, rolled up window before stageing

Check, Listend to advice from the others

Fail: Suck at first 3 runs. I made 4 runs and got progressivly worse.

Check, Heart Rate/ Adrelinen made me screw up alot

For results see
https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/drag...ce-day-264898/

 

dont worry man i just did my 1st 3 runs last week. followed basically the same exact advice.. ran a 14.8 @ 96 my first run, then my next 2 runs were worse (too much wheelspin, locked out or 3rd gear, other b.s.)