in another thread someone brought up the fact of bein a good driver while racing... so what is it that makes a good driver a good driver.. and how would you improve your driving....i was told i wasnt a good driver and i take that with all respect.. my last time i drag raced on a track was my first time and i only got to take 3 runs and my best time was a 10.9 (that was a 1/8th mile track and the only mod i had was a intake) so let me kno how i would get a better time (other and practice hahaha) and what is it that you do that makes u a good driver

 

I have never been to a track and havent driven my cobalt much yet but many other people say that the launch is one of the biggest things when drag racing.

 

2500 rpm and very quickly feather the clutch with minimal tire spin. Take it as close to the red line as you can without hitting it and slam it into gear and keep going.

I have a bone stock 2.4 and i managed a 2.2 60 foot with a 10.07 1/8th mile, also i had only been driving 5 speed for a few weeks so im sure i can get it into the 9's for the 1/8th mile this year

 

hate to be a pain in the butt, but can you explain feather.... ive heard so many different diffenitions of that term i jsut want to get your verision of it

 

just like a normal launch from a traffic light, u dont just fully release the clutch and have the car jerk and stall out. you give it gas and slowly let out the clutch. Well for the track you do that but just do it very quickly. Dont just dump the clutch and let it spin the tires and wheel hop. It hurts your 60 foot times and could snap an axle.

 

ok thanks man and if anyone else has anythin to say about any other questions and or about drag racing let me know thanks

 

the best thing would be to get your wheel hop down to as minimal as possible as others have said. adjusting your tire pressures help as well, the tire pressures are really trial and error. i go as low as 25psi frt and leave the rears at 35psi. turn your AC off. and work the tree, you don't want to be leaving on the green rather start leaving on the 3rd yellow. and nice clean, quick shifts will help as well.

 

lesson number one. most people that come on the internet claiming they are great drivers are probably not.

 

right right thats why i tried to make it seem like i wasnt sayin i was....

 

i wasnt directing it towards you. you asked what makes a good driver, and typically you will have the person come in talking themselves up.

 

Experience and practice.

 

so
1)start leavin on 3rd light
2)keep wheel hop down and feather clutch till spinning is mostly done
3)lay into the gas and shift fast hahah
thanks guys i think test and tunning open at the track hopeing i can work on all this, this weekend

 

so says the only person on this site that actually knows how to drive. Good stuff.

 

You don't want to spin at all. That's the hard part about it. You'll get it down with practice bro. Don't sweat it.

 

no where close to accurate, but i appreciate it

 

Psh. Hatrick sucks ***** at driving. His car should run 7s. With driver mod that is.

 

i dont know about 7's, but im hoping for 12.6's with some hotter tires

 

ok sooo
1) start leavin on 3rd light
2) DONT SPIN hahaha
3) lay into the gas and shift fast haha

 

for the record i'm still learning as well. those are just points that have been given to me by people that have been drag racing longer then i've been alive.

 

Yeah basically. It's a matter of getting a feel for your own car and knowing what will happen with any little action you take as the driver. Launch at 2,500rpms. Feather (Fast). Give it as much power as you can without spinning. When you're about 60% thru 1st gear you will most likely be flooring it or pretty close. You should still have full traction when you do this. The key is controlling the power at the bottom of first at the best of your capabilities. If you spin or hop chances are you wont be able to drag out first gear anywhere near accurate because you might start guessing when to shift 2nd and/or you'll wait to stop spinning.. and get back on it and it will be too late for a good time. Once you get a good first gear pull at the track and hit 2nd nicely right when you're supposed to.. 3rd is cake and you'll have yourself a nice run.

 

o ya do yall find it beneifcial to do a burnout before to get the tires sticky and what not

 

if your running your stock tires, its highly recommend you don't do a burnout. more times then not a burn out will not do much on the stock tires. that and all the other guys running slicks and DR's will get mad as well.

 

Take out ur subs, make your car is empty with 1/2tank of gas

 

Don't do a burnout on street tires. Just spin em' a little bit after you drive around the water to get any excess gravel or pebbles or what not off of your tires.

 

ok cool cuz a frind of mine has a gto and hes like ya u have to do a burnout it helps so much and what not