I will be going to the track frequently this year and the last time i went i was totally unprepared. Can you guys make up a list or possibly a sticky for going to the track? Also, add any tips which you think might be beneficial for better times and of course safety.

 

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Thanks, Springs. I am definately going to need this. Last time i went to the track, i kind of made myself look stupid.

Are you going to get any track time this year?

 

hell yes, track opens in spring, by then i should have over 300 rwhp n/a..its gonna be a fun season

 

I should be about 410 with some traction this time.

 

heh heh..with an s/c :P


so how did u mess up last time?

 

I didnt have the proper safety equipment, not too much practice heating up slicks, and i kept trying different launching techniques. I got tired of everyone giving me instructions, i felt like a complete newbie.

 

that suck...but what saftey equipment do u need for a 13 - 12 second car???

 

They kept asking me about helmet, harness, safety loop for drive shaft etc. For precautionary measures i guess. I told them it was my first time.

 

The safety loop is just if you have slicks, the helmet, I think you should have one if you have like a 13.99 or lower, and the harness is I think another one of those low time things, but I wont use a harness until I have a roll bar.

 

man I hear ya.. try being a girl and going to the track and making a mistake.. you hear it from EVERYONE lol

it took me many visits until I got my launch down perfect.. now that I know exactly how to do it I can do it right everytime.. but I messed it up a million times before getting it right. Just takes time and a lot of practice. Now I'll spend the rest of this year getting on my shifts perfect lol and learning how to launch the auto (5.0 )

 

I have done a many of passes on back roads but when it comes to slicks and being at the track its totally different.

 

Ill tell you right now, the street and the track is totally opposite when it comes to taking off. Practice your QUICK shifting or powershifting if its manual. Leave it in D if its auto. Pretty much your time is going to depend on how you get off the line. Dont be scared to talk to other people who have more experience, and have a good time. Everyone is there for the same reason : to better their times or see what it can do.

 

Stupid question but what's 'powershifting'?

 

making a gear change wth-out lifting off the gas pedal and just stabbing the clutch pedal and change gears as quickly as you can.

 

exactly what he said.. if you've got a manual you just leave your foot on the gas and press in the clutch and shift like normal. You have to be quick though and not miss a gear or you'll redline it VERY easy. The point of doing it is that it keeps the RPMs up between your shifts

 

lol no embarrasment just messing around.. I actually might be getting ANOTHER 5.0, geez. My dad knows a guy that needs an engine in his 5.0 swapped into a SN95 I believe, or a newer fox.. and the guy who's suppose to be doing it now is a thief and my dad told him he'll probably swap half his **** out with stock stuff lol. so the guy might be bringing it to us and letting us do it and then giving us the 88 5.0! I'd like to have that over my 84.

 

I just take my good ole law chairs, a grill, some..... lol just messin... well i do bring the lawn chairs. But the important things are tire gauge, helmet(even if its not required, they give you less **** is you just have it), PANTS AND SHOES(dont show up in shorts and expect to race), Air tank or a way to fill your tires back to street pressure, and a couple basic hand tools.

A few extra things I bring are two way radios so if your there racing with a couple buddies you can be on the radios when ur waitin to run, I buy a bag of ice to toss on the intake plenum and cool it down in between runs, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT EXTRA.... FOOD, cuz I hate paying 3 bucks for a hamberger at a track cuz im starvin from being there all night long!

 

from my exp. take it out of overdrive. with the 373's your tranny will shift into 4th at 105 with overdrive left on. helmets a big one with a mid to low 12 sec car. i read in the other thread to flash your convertor i never tried this, but you have slicks so ill doubt you will spin.

 

AMEN about the FOOD, I haven't dragged my V6, mostly outa embarissment, but My friends WRX and another friends 5.0 are at the track all the time, and I swear being a fat puerto rican kid in a $5 a burger track isn't the greatest thing...

 

13.99 or faster requires a helmet.
Must wear long pants (no shorts)
Drive shaft safety loop when running slicks
Roll bar at 11.499 or faster (13.99 verts)
Some tracks enforce the rules more than others.
I have run at tracks were guy's were running 11's with no helmet. My track strictly enforces all the rules.
Tools you need
tire pressure gauge
flashlight
simple hand tools, screw driver, pliers (if pulling headlight)
And yes eat at home, most tracks have poop for food and it's way over priced. Don't be shy at the track, ask questions of other racers. Find out if they have air so you don't to haul more stuff.

 

Usually the drive shaft saftey loop and helmet are required for 13.99-13.00. You need harness/rollcage, saftey loop, helmet if running 11.99 or lower. check your track requirements. But that's pretty much standard NHRA/IHRA requirements.

 

saftey loop is only for when you are using sticky tires.