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Drag racing tips?!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 53 hemi, Jan 3, 2020.

  1. Roger O'Dell
    Joined: Jan 21, 2008
    Posts: 1,150

    Roger O'Dell
    Member

    Rent a car or truck and go practice, read a rule book.
     
  2. SR100
    Joined: Nov 26, 2013
    Posts: 1,130

    SR100
    Member

    This is good advice, but I'd do it after getting a few runs in at a test-n-tune so that you can practice the things that you found effective.
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  3. Tickety Boo
    Joined: Feb 2, 2015
    Posts: 1,610

    Tickety Boo
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Install a micro switch on the clutch pedal arm to cut the power from button to the line lock when clutch is fully engaged.
    Don't have to think about releasing the button with your hand while releasing the clutch with your foot at the same time, ;) (One less thing to worry about making happen during a run)
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2020
  4. wisdonm
    Joined: Jun 20, 2011
    Posts: 444

    wisdonm
    Member

    What do these mean?
    1. "tree the bastard"
    2. "You can always wing it in the staging lanes."
     
  5. I bet it will be a great match-up. Both stick cars will even things up. You won't need all the suggestions below for one match up, but I bet you'll get hooked.

    I run similar 12.60 to 12.80 with 2900 lb 40 coupe with a 410 small block, Super T-10, 3.89 gear and Towel City recaps. In my opinion modern track prep is really good and hard on parts especially stick cars I've replaced everything behind the flywheel.....(broke a low first gear ratio super t-10, broke an axle on a GM 10 bolt, twisted off the Moroso leaf springs mounts. Beefed things up with a nine inch, 3.89 posi, boxed leaf spring mounts, new super T10, bellhousing, driveshaft loop. I run the cheaters slicks at about 20 lbs, they are a radial casing. Next will be a line lock, and try some good shocks.

    What is your first gear ratio with the TKO600? I bet it has a pretty low gear, and you'll risk going up in smoke with the cheater slicks. I think you'll want to try easing it out. Maybe try 2500 RPM launch and work your way up from there, and you'll need to grab 2nd really quick.
    Good fabrication on the rear locating method? I see you have leaf springs... I do as well and had Moroso axle pads fold up. I'm using Cal Tracs which may put more leverage on things than slapper bars so I went to plated axle mounts, and beefy lowering blocks.
    1350 u-joints with no grease zerks are a good idea.
    Driveshaft loop?
    Scattershield? (Required at Joplin and just a good thing in general.
    Clutch activated neutral safety switch? ( This was required at Joplin)
    Catch can? Tracks appreciate if you run straight water.
    And yes leave on the last yellow...Takes a long time for light to hit your eye to signal your foot to drop the clutch, for the clutch to turn the dif, to rotate the tire and break the beam!

    Wish you were closer, I'd like to race the winner!
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  6. RmK57
    Joined: Dec 31, 2008
    Posts: 2,659

    RmK57
    Member

    Providing both cars have equal power and weigh about the same the race would be won or lost in the first 60 ft. Put most of your effort into a good start, the other 1260 ft. is just hitting your shifts on cue.
    As far as cutting a good, bad or great light that takes lots of practice and really nobody here can tell you how to achieve that because no one knows how hard your car will hit the tire. No doubt it will take more than a Saturday night to figure it all out. Lots of Saturday nights!
     
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  7. slowmotion
    Joined: Nov 21, 2011
    Posts: 3,330

    slowmotion
    Member

    Ton of good advise you've been offered. Only thing I'd add is, if it's your first experience with slicks, practice, practice, practice the launch (especially being a stick car!) It's a whole different ballgame than street tires. Drag races are won at the starting line for the most part. (Oh, and bring some extra parts....:D)
     
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  8. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 12,592

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    And street practice will not be like track practice. ;)
     
    slowmotion likes this.
  9. Mimilan
    Joined: Jun 13, 2019
    Posts: 1,230

    Mimilan
    Member

    I asked my Husband this!

    His reply..........Cheat! :D

    You can spend $500+ on mods to improve your car , or you can spend $500 bribing the guys in the tower so your DYO is more favorable.

    Or you can "take it on the chin" and spend the $$$ on beers afterwards.

    Being a Road Racer he said even "Lewis Hamilton had a 1st lap"
    Have fun
     
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  10. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    No additional advice but my ‘33 5w ran 12.27 @ 110 mph at Lions. It was a stock 325 hp 396 with an L88 cam, 4 spd, 3.55 gears and 10.00x15 M&H slicks. I used to drive it to and from the track and just drop the mufflers when I got there. Seems pretty similar, so if your car is running well it should be a good race. Like they said, the area you need to practice most will be staging and leaving the starting line. What fun..... Good luck!


    Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  11. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member


    1. Beat him off the start line. As in the Christmas tree with the lights to start the race.

    2. Aggressively race your engine hoping to intimidate or startle the other guy.
     
    1947knuck likes this.
  12. Bbdakota
    Joined: Oct 23, 2019
    Posts: 81

    Bbdakota
    Member

    It will be difficult to beat him at the tree if he's been down the track multiple times and you've never done it so just go have fun. If he's use to a full tree, ask for a pro tree, that will even things up a little. One thing I've seen multiple times is once you put sticky tires on a car, you are likely to find your weakest part in your drivetrain. The more passes you make, the more likely you'll find that week link. Things may not break on the first trip but as you learn how to leave the line, you start becoming harder on parts. It can get expensive.
     
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  13. I see you're running a Hemi with 2x4s and a manual. Not sure what your rear gear is or if you have a posi or not, but you might consider making a few passes before you put the slicks on to get a feel for it. The skinny bias plies will spin before you break anything, but let you get a feel for launching hard. Then once you know the staging and launching drill, try the slicks. Another consideration is track prep. My local track likes the VHT, so it's pretty sticky – traction is very good – not at all like launching on the street. If you find you're slow on the reaction, you can stage deep – that's rolling far enough in to turn off the first staging light.

    I have a similar set up – mild 354, 2x4s, T5, and a nine inch with a 4.11 posi and 31 inch tires. I don't drive through the water box and don't do a burnout because the tires are just too expensive to burn up. Plus, they're so skinny that a burnout probably isn't going to help anyway. When I light the second staging light, I load the drivetrain – taking the slack out of the drive shaft and rear end by slipping the clutch slightly with the brakes on. I'm pretty good on the light (lots of practice) and I launch at about 2,000 RPM with a good bit of wheel spin in first and second. I've purchased a set of Towel City cheaters and have them on the car, but have yet to make any passes. They're a little shorter than the bias plies at 29.5, so I'll effectively lower my rear gear ratio. That should equal quicker acceleration and more RPM through the traps.

    As others have said practice, practice, practice. My best pass in my car with the bias plies and no tune was 14.08 @ 97 MPH in the quarter. I hope to get into the 13s at over a hundred this spring. This video was a 14.11 pass that shows my launch and considerable wheel spin for your reference.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2020
  14. Wing it in the staging lanes. Roll up, stage and stand on it. 9 out of 10 times your opponent will jump and you win before you ever leave. from what I understand its an old Swamp Rat trick.
     
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  15. Borrow a really fast car.
     
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  16. Tickety Boo
    Joined: Feb 2, 2015
    Posts: 1,610

    Tickety Boo
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    I always wing it once after the burn out while approaching the stage beams, cleans the plugs from the rich mix
    (load up) it got from getting off throttle quick.
     
  17. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 12,592

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    And while your cleaning out the engine you can clear your thoughts to start the staging posses.
     
  18. Tickety Boo
    Joined: Feb 2, 2015
    Posts: 1,610

    Tickety Boo
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Yup, got to get into my Bubble :rolleyes:, usually start this in staging lanes before crossing the red line, about 3 cars ahead of heading to the burn out box.
    Helmet and seat belts on and strapped, switches and gauges checked, no distractions, game face on :D in your bubble.
     
  19. earlymopar
    Joined: Feb 26, 2007
    Posts: 1,608

    earlymopar
    Member

    "What is your first gear ratio with the TKO600? I bet it has a pretty low gear, and you'll risk going up in smoke with the cheater slicks. I think you'll want to try easing it out. Maybe try 2500 RPM launch and work your way up from there, and you'll need to grab 2nd really quick. "

    Depending on tire diameter, car weight and the 2nd gear ratio you have, you may want to test a few 2nd gear launches at higher RPM.....

    - EM
     
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  20. Almostdone
    Joined: Dec 19, 2019
    Posts: 892

    Almostdone
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You’re going to have a lot of fun. I drag raced a bit in the 1970s then again a bit last year. I was very nervous last year - been a long time, not my car (that was the best part!), didn’t want to screw up. Everything on this thread is true - butterflies, burn out, staging, reaction, don’t miss a gear, don’t break anything, don’t wreck., etc.

    Here’s even more reality: the track officials were very helpful, it was a breeze, and hot damn how fun was that! I made back-to-back passes and would have done way more except we had three drivers and we all drove that day. You (53 Hemi) heard the story from Tom already; just wanted to share it with the others. Definitely let us know how it all goes. You’ve got quite a following here!

    By the way, he’s racing my brother.
     
  21. 53 hemi
    Joined: Jan 8, 2009
    Posts: 501

    53 hemi
    Member

    Hey! Ok, I'm back in town and getting a few little things sorted out.

    My trans has a first gear ratio of 2.87:1

    I mounted the slicks yesterday and found a quiet place to launch it a couple of times. To my surprise, slipping the clutch at 2,000 rpm with about 35psi in the tires, the car launched pretty hard with very little wheel spin. I forsee some broken parts in my future!

    IMG_20200114_132231_779.jpeg 20200114_125108.jpeg

    Sent from my SM-G950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  22. Tickety Boo
    Joined: Feb 2, 2015
    Posts: 1,610

    Tickety Boo
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    burn out 2018.JPG Might want to remove or find some less restrictive air cleaners for the race. ;)
    What I have is overkill, but my home track is gravel in the pits, dust every where and sticky slicks kicking up the gravel stones.
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2020
  23. 53 hemi
    Joined: Jan 8, 2009
    Posts: 501

    53 hemi
    Member

    I had actually ordered a set of velocity stacks from Summit, but I never bothered to measure, and they were too wide to fit on my intake...

    Sent from my SM-G950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  24. RmK57
    Joined: Dec 31, 2008
    Posts: 2,659

    RmK57
    Member

    One thing that happen to me last time going through tech were my valvestems. NO rubber valvestems. They let me race that evening but told me to get them changed to steel for the next time you come out.
     
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  25. 53 hemi
    Joined: Jan 8, 2009
    Posts: 501

    53 hemi
    Member

    I'm concerned about my rubber fuel lines passing tech, as well. They run from my fuel block on the firewall to my carbs.

    But honestly, right now my biggest concern is my rear u-joint. My trans yoke and drive shaft are all 1330, but the pinion on my differential is 1310. I'm not going to change anything now, but I'm mentally prepared for it to break.

    My frame has an x-member in it and my driveshaft sits comfortably in it; I think that will supersede a driveshaft loop?

    Sent from my SM-G950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  26. Tickety Boo
    Joined: Feb 2, 2015
    Posts: 1,610

    Tickety Boo
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Might be possible to double stack using a 2nd set same as existing filters, I stacked on another set of the Summit filters along with using longer threaded rod air cleaner studs.
     
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  27. RmK57
    Joined: Dec 31, 2008
    Posts: 2,659

    RmK57
    Member

    NHRA wants the driveshaft completely surrounded.

    loop.jpg
     
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  28. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,319

    dwollam
    Member

    Just a thought, are those slicks radials? Looks like your front tires are bias plys. They typically don't play well together and can get really hairy at speed, even on the highway. I've had mixed radial/bias setups that would swap lanes on ya without notice, just driving down the road!

    BTW, my '33 Ply PD coupe has a 331 Hemi and a LaSalle 3 spd. Not done enough to drive it yet but should be fun!

    Best of luck in the race!

    Dave
     
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  29. Mikeszcz
    Joined: Apr 5, 2011
    Posts: 296

    Mikeszcz
    Member
    from Winona, Mn

    Be careful, this is how it all starts. One innocent drag rage and the next thing you know, you're addicted.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2020
  30. 0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Joined: Nov 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,782

    0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Member

    Lol , best of luck and above all have a great time! Lots of great advice from a lot of great people, I know first hand that James {saltflats} and Norb {tickey boo} know what they are talking about! Not from racing them { I admit to being insane , but not stupid! } ;);) But from years of watching them run at the Meltdown Drags at Byron Il. And again have fun, even if the beer ends up on you it is still one of the best times you can have with clothes on! Larry
     

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