Drag Racing Basics coutsey of Summit Racing

[Bill Putnam]

This is something I picked up at one of the races I attended and it has a lot of good info that everyone can use.

Bill

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[Whitestang98]

Very good info for first time racers Bill....

[Real-slo98]

Didn't see anything on there about courtesy staging? For people who don't know what this is here it is.....the 1st person to light the pre-stage bulbs waits until the other car has also lit the pre-stage bulbs before fully staging. At FFW they would warn you once...then DQ you. And no i didn't find out from personal experience...:D

Adam

[03trubluGT]

Another thing that I didn't see that I thought was weird was that they make you roll up your windows before you race. I remember thinking that if I wrecked, I didn't want flying shards of glass in my face, but that's the rule....

Matt

[Bill Putnam]

Originally posted by 03trubluGT
Another thing that I didn't see that I thought was weird was that they make you roll up your windows before you race. I remember thinking that if I wrecked, I didn't want flying shards of glass in my face, but that's the rule....

Matt

They also don't want you flying out of the window if it were open. Plus keep in mind you have tempered glass so it would shatter into little pieces.

Bill

[DeadLurker]

Why is the mph the average of the last 66ft as oppose to what i'm at when I cross the traps?

I always though that my ET and MPH were taken as I crossed the finished line.

[03trubluGT]

Originally posted by Bill Putnam
They also don't want you flying out of the window if it were open. Plus keep in mind you have tempered glass so it would shatter into little pieces.

Bill


WTF?? They don't check to see if you are belted in, but want to make sure your window is up?????

If my seatbelt doesn't stop me, then that glass isn't gonna do SQUAT for keepin me in the car.

By the way, I've seen first hand countless times what "tempered glass" does to accident victims... Don't be fooled, that stuff can cut like a razor, and the shards are just like splinters.

(Not flaming you Bill, but it just doesn't make sense)...

Matt

[03trubluGT]

By the way Bill, you need to update your avatar to "Florida Marlins - World Series Champs"...


Matt

[Bill Putnam]

Matt, you better start flaming your track officials then. The starting line guy at Moroso will stop you if he can't visibly see your seat belt on and honestly you deserve to fly out of the window if you don't put it on (no flame intended either). The guy running the staging lanes at Gainesville won't even let you pull forward if your seat belt is on, windows are up and helmet is on and straped under your jaw. Rules are put there for a reason not to harass or piss off people that is not the goal. As for shards of glass I won't be worried about that one bit I wear my full face helmet and long pants. I've been in a car that had a window shatter and never had a problem.

Yeah I do have to update it I haven't had time to look for a WS Champions picture.

Bill

[03trubluGT]

Originally posted by Bill Putnam
Matt, you better start flaming your track officials then. The starting line guy at Moroso will stop you if he can't visibly see your seat belt on and honestly you deserve to fly out of the window if you don't put it on (no flame intended either). The guy running the staging lanes at Gainesville won't even let you pull forward if your seat belt is on, windows are up and helmet is on and straped under your jaw. Rules are put there for a reason not to harass or piss off people that is not the goal. As for shards of glass I won't be worried about that one bit I wear my full face helmet and long pants. I've been in a car that had a window shatter and never had a problem.

Yeah I do have to update it I haven't had time to look for a WS Champions picture.

Bill


Well, you have to remember, this is Texas, and they just recently make it illegal to drive with an open container of alcohol.......:(

Matt

[DeadLurker]

Originally posted by DeadLurker
Why is the mph the average of the last 66ft as oppose to what i'm at when I cross the traps?

I always though that my ET and MPH were taken as I crossed the finished line.

ANYONE?:confused:

[Gt]

I believe that had to do with the speeds Top Fuel cars started going. They moved the reading to the last 60' as an average to lower the mph. Thus, making insurance cheaper.

[RADRB8]

Bill thats good stuff for those who are new to racing. I hope you don't mind I posted a link on my local club site for those guys. Thanks

[Bill Putnam]

Originally posted by RADRB8
Bill thats good stuff for those who are new to racing. I hope you don't mind I posted a link on my local club site for those guys. Thanks

I don't mind at all.

Bill

[jimfitzgerald]

Originally posted by DeadLurker
Why is the mph the average of the last 66ft as oppose to what i'm at when I cross the traps?

I always though that my ET and MPH were taken as I crossed the finished line. I'm guessing that it's just how they calculate your speed, ie distance/time=speed.

[Ares]

Should also note for consistency you should shallow stage everytime. Which is just getting the second staging bulb to just come on. Bumping in even an inch can change ET and is only really good for cutting a better light(reaction time)

[jimfitzgerald]

Originally posted by Ares
Should also note for consistency you should shallow stage everytime. Which is just getting the second staging bulb to just come on. Bumping in even an inch can change ET and is only really good for cutting a better light(reaction time) I disagree. Consistency is only important in bracket racing, where you are trying to hit a pre-determined "dial-in." In bracket racing, you should "deep stage" to get a better reaction time. Your ET's will be a little slower, but just as consistant, if not more consistant. Deep staging is where you light the pre-stage light, light the stage light, then move in more until the pre-stage light goes off. You should "shallow stage" when you are going for lowest ET and consistency is not a factor.

[Bill Putnam]

Actually deep or shallow isn't the key. The key is to stage the same very single time in order to be consistent. Either do the same routine every single time or use a line lock to control just how far you roll in. As Ed said 1" can mean a few hundredths so whether it's deep or shallow you will only be as consistent as your driving and the way you stage the car.

Bill

[jimfitzgerald]

Originally posted by Bill Putnam
Actually deep or shallow isn't the key. The key is to stage the same very single time in order to be consistent. Either do the same routine every single time or use a line lock to control just how far you roll in. As Ed said 1" can mean a few hundredths so whether it's deep or shallow you will only be as consistent as your driving and the way you stage the car.

Bill Agreed. But deep staging will give you a lower reaction time, which is important in competitive drag racing. The resulting slower ET can be factored into your dial-in.

[TruBlu02]

Thanks for posting this Bill, I wish they would pass out the same info at the track. I see alot of first timers who have no idea of what to do. It's a good thing that most guys at the track are willing to help out.

[Bill Putnam]

Originally posted by jimfitzgerald
Agreed. But deep staging will give you a lower reaction time, which is important in competitive drag racing. The resulting slower ET can be factored into your dial-in.

Sure it will but that isn't always a good thing. With enough practice deep staging will equal a red light. If I go more than 1/2" deep then I go red. On a .500 pro tree if I go deep I'll be red.

Bill

[IslandVobra]

Originally posted by 03trubluGT
WTF?? They don't check to see if you are belted in, but want to make sure your window is up?????

If my seatbelt doesn't stop me, then that glass isn't gonna do SQUAT for keepin me in the car.

By the way, I've seen first hand countless times what "tempered glass" does to accident victims... Don't be fooled, that stuff can cut like a razor, and the shards are just like splinters.

(Not flaming you Bill, but it just doesn't make sense)...

Matt

You body may stay in the car but your arms would probably get outside the vehicle, possibly losing one. This is why dragsters use arm restraints and 9 second cars use window nets, to keep your head, and arms inside where it is safe.