Going to the Track for my 1st time . . .Any hints?

Mac_5.0 · 07-31-2002, 09:54 AM

Hi all, I am going to the track this friday for my first time. I was hoping that some of you could offer me some tips on how to help me get the best time possible. I have been told that launching the car at the track is a lot different then lauching it on the street. Any hints/ tips to do with racing at the track (ie. burnouts, launching, shifting) would be greatly appretiated!

Thanks

bigred90gt · 07-31-2002, 10:26 AM

What kind of tires do you run? Excessive burnouts on street radials will actually hurt you. It brings out the oils in the tires and makes them slippery. I did that the first time at the track and ended up with a 2.8 60ft time the first run. Also if you are running street radials, don't hammer it right off the line. You won't go anywhere. Did that too. You'll just have to try different things. If it is like Houston Raceway, you will have plenty of time to make many passes. Try something different on all your passes, shift points, launch techniques so forth and so on, until you find what works for you.

Dark Knight · 07-31-2002, 10:46 AM

unless you're running drag radials... DONT! drive through the water....

stick or auto? I just spin my regular street tires enough to clean any rocks etc off them... after that. some people like to ride the clutch... I just increase the launch rpm each time till the tires spin to much... if it's stock... shift around 4900... by the time you react and shift, it will be around 5100.,,, but vary that,,,, each car is different .... and have FUN

Mac_5.0 · 07-31-2002, 12:33 PM

My car is a mostly stock 91 coupe. I have just plain old radial tires on it and it is a 5 speed. When launching, should I rev it up and drop the clutch or try to feather the clutch out of first to prevent spinning the tires? I know that on the street if I don't feather the clutch I spin all the way through 1st . .. .

Sonics2042 · 07-31-2002, 01:01 PM

On old radials, I would feather it out. You could try dropping from low-RPM and work your way down after a few runs to see what you get get away with.

Thanks,
DoranW

magicmerll · 07-31-2002, 04:40 PM

This is a great question, here's been my experience...

Try lowering your rear tire pressure a few pounds, to around 26 psi.
Slipping the clutch is necessary for vehicles with no low-end torque (such as your buddies Honda), but not for a 5-oh.
Drop the clutch somewhere between 1600-2200 rpm. This will allow the car to bog ever-so-slightly, and then just bite. Practice this around town until you get the feel for it. Believe me, it takes a long time to get used to that sweet spot where you launch with very little wheel spin.

Most local tracks will not let you drive around the water, but that will certainly help if you can. Also, as the gentleman above mentioned, just give them a little roast to clear the dirt and debris. Brake torquing them, although a lot of fun, just doesn't help with street tires.

Shift from 1 - 2 around 5200. Third will come a little earlier, just before 5000, and if you have to go to fourth, do so around 4800. It's easier to do this if you have a large tach that you can actually see. You may be used to shifting by 'feel', but if you have an idea of your target RPM, you can glance at it every few seconds to keep from under, or over-shifting. Also...if you have stock 2.73 rear gears, you should not need fourth gear. Try screeming through the traps in third, unless you can tell you're going past 5000 rpm, then you will have to bang fourth.

Also, try my favorite trick (this always makes people smile)- bring a cooler with about six bags of ice. Slap two of them across the top of the intake and throttle body. and one under it if it will fit. Leave them on as long as you can between runs, and you'll find that the intake is ice cold when you go to make each pass! Just be sure to pull them off before you get to the starting line! Honest to God, this works. I'd sware it's good for a solid tenth!

I have a '91 LX convertible that I took when it was stock as a rock, and ran 15.0 @ 92. After installing the 'short belt', bumping the timing, running 100 octane fuel, and using the ice, I went back and ran 14.52 @ 96.3 mph the next weekend. This **** works, believe me!

GOOD LUCK! Let us know how it goes...

>magicmerll

magicmerll · 07-31-2002, 04:48 PM

ALSO, REMEMBER THAT A SMALL AMOUNT OF SPIN IS OKAY! IF YOUR CAR RUNS GOOD, YOU'LL GET A LITTLE SUEAK NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO!

chris91LX · 07-31-2002, 04:50 PM

Best bet on street tires is to walk it off the line IMO. Don't expect much your first few trips you have to relearn your car, remember Drag Racing is about 10ths of a second. I went from a 15.99 to a 14.99 my first trip to the track just on driving, bone stock (air silencer and all) 91 LX hatch on street tires. Then I went from a 14.99 to a 14.0 with mild bolt ons, exhaust and drag radials. Good luck.

red82gt · 07-31-2002, 11:32 PM

I take it you're going to Mission eh? Great track! Anyways, drive around the water box, and the guy wil back you up, let him know with a hand signal that you don't want to back all the way into the water (you'll see lots of meatheads do burnouts in the water box with radials and you'll see them with 2.5 60' times). Do a quick dry hop to clean the tires and WAIT for the starter to signal you up to the line. Try staging shallow (just tickle the second bulb) for maximum rollout. Also the starter there starts the tree as soon as both cars are staged so be on your toes if you want to win.
I'm going to Kelowna for the weekend so I won't be there friday, anyways, use your first day as a learning experience. I started in April with a dismal 15.1 @91.5mph. My best now is a 13.8@103 with some tuning, and an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. Hopefully I'll be a 1/2 tenth faster with my new M/T Sportsman pros. Let me know how you do and look for my buddy Jay's Black 99GT. His car # is 1759.

maverick0716 · 08-01-2002, 08:51 PM

I'm going to mission on the 23rd of august with my car because I'm still breaking in my centerforce II. The last time I went my clutch was just not working, it wouldn't grab at all. I'm looking for about a 14.9-15.0 @ 92 mph though......hopefully a little better but I would be happy with that.

07-31-2002, 09:54 AM	#1
Mac_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Delta, BC, Canada Posts: 58	Going to the Track for my 1st time . . .Any hints? Hi all, I am going to the track this friday for my first time. I was hoping that some of you could offer me some tips on how to help me get the best time possible. I have been told that launching the car at the track is a lot different then lauching it on the street. Any hints/ tips to do with racing at the track (ie. burnouts, launching, shifting) would be greatly appretiated! Thanks __________________ "I work to live . . . not live to work!"

07-31-2002, 10:26 AM	#2
bigred90gt 2 Stangs in the Stable Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 1,209	What kind of tires do you run? Excessive burnouts on street radials will actually hurt you. It brings out the oils in the tires and makes them slippery. I did that the first time at the track and ended up with a 2.8 60ft time the first run. Also if you are running street radials, don't hammer it right off the line. You won't go anywhere. Did that too. You'll just have to try different things. If it is like Houston Raceway, you will have plenty of time to make many passes. Try something different on all your passes, shift points, launch techniques so forth and so on, until you find what works for you. __________________ '90 GT Under construction Best E.T. = Fast @ High Speeds - OK So I Lie. So What!!! 04 F-150 STX 4.2L 5 spd Rice Haters Club Member #128

07-31-2002, 10:46 AM	#3
Dark Knight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Az Posts: 854	unless you're running drag radials... DONT! drive through the water.... stick or auto? I just spin my regular street tires enough to clean any rocks etc off them... after that. some people like to ride the clutch... I just increase the launch rpm each time till the tires spin to much... if it's stock... shift around 4900... by the time you react and shift, it will be around 5100.,,, but vary that,,,, each car is different .... and have FUN __________________ 84 convt,roller 302,AFR's, performer 3.55's, underdrives BBK shorties stock cam, 1.7's 13.58@102.84 and a '68 stang .. project 8 sec street car... 557 big block + N20 :-) http://members.cox.net/darkknight302/68nwrear.jpg

07-31-2002, 12:33 PM	#4
Mac_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Delta, BC, Canada Posts: 58	Car information My car is a mostly stock 91 coupe. I have just plain old radial tires on it and it is a 5 speed. When launching, should I rev it up and drop the clutch or try to feather the clutch out of first to prevent spinning the tires? I know that on the street if I don't feather the clutch I spin all the way through 1st . .. . __________________ "I work to live . . . not live to work!"

07-31-2002, 01:01 PM	#5
Sonics2042 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 381	On old radials, I would feather it out. You could try dropping from low-RPM and work your way down after a few runs to see what you get get away with. Thanks, DoranW __________________ What I have: 1990 Red Mustang 5.0 LX: [BBK X-Pipe]-[MAC Cat-Back Exhaust] [MAC Cold Air Intake]-[BBK Equal Shorties] [3.55 Gears]-[Cobra Intake Manifold (Upper and Lower] [E-303 Cam]-[Granetelli Mass Air Flow Sensor] [Front and rear sway bars]-[New black carpet and seats.] [Adjustable Fuel Regulator]-[T5 Conversion w/ K. Cobra Clutch/Hurst STS] [Cobra Throttle Body]-[130A Alt. Conversion] Thinking about: Aftermarket Heads! Vortech A-Trim

07-31-2002, 04:40 PM	#6
magicmerll Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 19	This is a great question, here's been my experience... Try lowering your rear tire pressure a few pounds, to around 26 psi. Slipping the clutch is necessary for vehicles with no low-end torque (such as your buddies Honda), but not for a 5-oh. Drop the clutch somewhere between 1600-2200 rpm. This will allow the car to bog ever-so-slightly, and then just bite. Practice this around town until you get the feel for it. Believe me, it takes a long time to get used to that sweet spot where you launch with very little wheel spin. Most local tracks will not let you drive around the water, but that will certainly help if you can. Also, as the gentleman above mentioned, just give them a little roast to clear the dirt and debris. Brake torquing them, although a lot of fun, just doesn't help with street tires. Shift from 1 - 2 around 5200. Third will come a little earlier, just before 5000, and if you have to go to fourth, do so around 4800. It's easier to do this if you have a large tach that you can actually see. You may be used to shifting by 'feel', but if you have an idea of your target RPM, you can glance at it every few seconds to keep from under, or over-shifting. Also...if you have stock 2.73 rear gears, you should not need fourth gear. Try screeming through the traps in third, unless you can tell you're going past 5000 rpm, then you will have to bang fourth. Also, try my favorite trick (this always makes people smile)- bring a cooler with about six bags of ice. Slap two of them across the top of the intake and throttle body. and one under it if it will fit. Leave them on as long as you can between runs, and you'll find that the intake is ice cold when you go to make each pass! Just be sure to pull them off before you get to the starting line! Honest to God, this works. I'd sware it's good for a solid tenth! I have a '91 LX convertible that I took when it was stock as a rock, and ran 15.0 @ 92. After installing the 'short belt', bumping the timing, running 100 octane fuel, and using the ice, I went back and ran 14.52 @ 96.3 mph the next weekend. This **** works, believe me! GOOD LUCK! Let us know how it goes... >magicmerll __________________ Ever notice the people that know the best way to raise kids are the people that don't have any?

07-31-2002, 04:48 PM	#7
magicmerll Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 19	ALSO, REMEMBER THAT A SMALL AMOUNT OF SPIN IS OKAY! IF YOUR CAR RUNS GOOD, YOU'LL GET A LITTLE SUEAK NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO! __________________ Ever notice the people that know the best way to raise kids are the people that don't have any?

07-31-2002, 04:50 PM	#8
chris91LX Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Suburban Chicago, Hanover Park Posts: 695	Best bet on street tires is to walk it off the line IMO. Don't expect much your first few trips you have to relearn your car, remember Drag Racing is about 10ths of a second. I went from a 15.99 to a 14.99 my first trip to the track just on driving, bone stock (air silencer and all) 91 LX hatch on street tires. Then I went from a 14.99 to a 14.0 with mild bolt ons, exhaust and drag radials. Good luck. __________________ My Ford Club http://www.midwestfords.org/ Best time N/A 12.9 @ 107 1.711 60' 125 shot - 12.04 @ 113 1.59 60'

07-31-2002, 11:32 PM	#9
red82gt Sober voice of Reason Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Kelowna, B.C., Canada Posts: 1,514	I take it you're going to Mission eh? Great track! Anyways, drive around the water box, and the guy wil back you up, let him know with a hand signal that you don't want to back all the way into the water (you'll see lots of meatheads do burnouts in the water box with radials and you'll see them with 2.5 60' times). Do a quick dry hop to clean the tires and WAIT for the starter to signal you up to the line. Try staging shallow (just tickle the second bulb) for maximum rollout. Also the starter there starts the tree as soon as both cars are staged so be on your toes if you want to win. I'm going to Kelowna for the weekend so I won't be there friday, anyways, use your first day as a learning experience. I started in April with a dismal 15.1 @91.5mph. My best now is a 13.8@103 with some tuning, and an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. Hopefully I'll be a 1/2 tenth faster with my new M/T Sportsman pros. Let me know how you do and look for my buddy Jay's Black 99GT. His car # is 1759. __________________ 393W: AFR 205's, hydraulic roller, TKO600.

08-01-2002, 08:51 PM	#10
maverick0716 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chilliwack Posts: 4	I'm going to mission on the 23rd of august with my car because I'm still breaking in my centerforce II. The last time I went my clutch was just not working, it wouldn't grab at all. I'm looking for about a 14.9-15.0 @ 92 mph though......hopefully a little better but I would be happy with that.

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