Discontained
12-09-2009, 01:49 AM
Here is a list of general things you will need before you head down to the drag strip. Note that the procedures and rules sometimes vary from one drag strip to another so if in doubt, call ahead to verify.
Car
1/2 tank (possibly less) of gas
Pen (to fill out your tech card)
White shoe polish, paper towels, and windex (if you need to change dial in's)
Proper clothes for the day's weather. It's cooler at night so bring a jacket. NHRA rules say no shorts or tank tops. Long pants and shoes are required!
Sunscreen.
Helmet (required by NHRA rules if your car runs 13.99 or quicker or if you have a convertible or motorcycle)
Money
Bug repellant
Fold up chairs
Ice chest (glass is a no-no)
Heat is your enemy: the hotter your engine is, the slower you will be. Try not to idle the car any more that you have to. Keep the hood open until you are ready to run.
Weight is your second enemy. Remove all unnecessary items from the car, and make sure that you're fuel tank has around a 1/4 tank or so (less and you'll miss as the fuel sloshes, more and you'll be slower than you have to be). In addition, some people remove the spare tire and jack at the track. If you want to get really wild, you can start taking off interior pieced, the front sway bar, washer fluid, floor mats, etc. Every little bit helps!
Don't do burnouts in the water with treaded street tires. Water gets into the treads and tracks all the way to the starting line. This makes the drivers with slicks very angry. It won't help you're 1/4 mile times either.Don't do burnouts in the water with treaded street tires. Water gets into the treads and tracks all the way to the starting line. This makes the drivers with slicks very angry. It won't help you're 1/4 mile times either.
Another thing that could get you removed is running your AC. Water condensation drips onto the track.
Find the yellow light just above the green, and concentrate on it! Go when this last yellow comes on! If you wait till the green, you will get a terrible reaction time! .500 is perfect, .400 on a pro tree.
You probably don't want to mash it to the floor immediately: you're tires (and your ET!) will go up in smoke. Instead, "roll" the throttle towards the floor. You should be a WOT (Wide Open Throttle) in a second or a bit less.
Car
1/2 tank (possibly less) of gas
Pen (to fill out your tech card)
White shoe polish, paper towels, and windex (if you need to change dial in's)
Proper clothes for the day's weather. It's cooler at night so bring a jacket. NHRA rules say no shorts or tank tops. Long pants and shoes are required!
Sunscreen.
Helmet (required by NHRA rules if your car runs 13.99 or quicker or if you have a convertible or motorcycle)
Money
Bug repellant
Fold up chairs
Ice chest (glass is a no-no)
Heat is your enemy: the hotter your engine is, the slower you will be. Try not to idle the car any more that you have to. Keep the hood open until you are ready to run.
Weight is your second enemy. Remove all unnecessary items from the car, and make sure that you're fuel tank has around a 1/4 tank or so (less and you'll miss as the fuel sloshes, more and you'll be slower than you have to be). In addition, some people remove the spare tire and jack at the track. If you want to get really wild, you can start taking off interior pieced, the front sway bar, washer fluid, floor mats, etc. Every little bit helps!
Don't do burnouts in the water with treaded street tires. Water gets into the treads and tracks all the way to the starting line. This makes the drivers with slicks very angry. It won't help you're 1/4 mile times either.Don't do burnouts in the water with treaded street tires. Water gets into the treads and tracks all the way to the starting line. This makes the drivers with slicks very angry. It won't help you're 1/4 mile times either.
Another thing that could get you removed is running your AC. Water condensation drips onto the track.
Find the yellow light just above the green, and concentrate on it! Go when this last yellow comes on! If you wait till the green, you will get a terrible reaction time! .500 is perfect, .400 on a pro tree.
You probably don't want to mash it to the floor immediately: you're tires (and your ET!) will go up in smoke. Instead, "roll" the throttle towards the floor. You should be a WOT (Wide Open Throttle) in a second or a bit less.