Mitchell
New member
Drag Racing Tips
Everyone was a beginner at one time, and this page is dedicated to helping those who have not raced before, or someone that has been to the track and raced a little, or someone who just wants to know a little more about what they are watching... Some people don't race for fear of doing something wrong, and being embarrassed. You would be surprised at the number of people who DO race, that are not aware of certain race "etiquette". Hopefully, this guide will provide all the basic information you will need to have an enjoyable, safe experience at Napierville or Sanair near MTL (Pont-Rouge for Quebec).
DRAG RACING BASICS: PIT GATE TO FINISH LINE!
by Michael D. Metzler, adapted from an article by Jeff Tyler @ http://www.speedworldmotorplex.com/tips.htm
If possible, call a few buddies, and go to watch the first time. The spectators entrance is off of Jomax Road .Check out the "lay of the land". Ask the racers in the pits how everything works. Remember, everyone there is a car nut just like you, and everyone there was a "first-timer" once themselves. Every time I go, I get asked questions by new guys!
When you decide you are ready to give it a try, go to the Napierville DragWay or Sanair. They will charge you $15 for the car & driver, plus $10 extra for each spectator you bring. You will be given a tech card.
Go find a pit space. Only take up one space, as the night goes on, it can get very busy. Unload any loose items in your car (I would suggest you leave what you can at home). Fill out the tech card and sign it. There may also be a space on the back of the card that you must sign, so look there also.
*When tech inspection opens (usually 10-15 minutes after the gate opens) go to the tech area. If you are taking your street car, and it is not a death trap, you will pass tech. Some obvious things you need: seatbelts, safe tires (no cord showing), all lug nuts, radiator coolant overflow catch canister (the factory one is fine), no blatant fluid leaks pouring out, etc! Your battery must be firmly attached to the body of the car (doesn't move when it is pushed on). Also, shorts and tank tops are not allowed! You MUST were long pants while racing! All the officials look for this, so don't try to sneak it by them. This is about it for a street car. If your car runs faster than 13.99, you will need a DOT approved helmet. If you run faster than 11.99, then the entire game changes. However, if your running that well, I'll bet you've been to the track at least a time or two....The tech inspector will write your cars number on the window where it is visible by the timing tower. If staging lanes are not open, then return to your pit.
The track announcer will come over the PA system, and say that the staging lanes are open. Listen carefully, as some of the larger tracks have many lanes (Speedworld has 9), and they may have cars of different classes report to different lanes. Classes you may want to run in: Test-N-Tune, Street Trophy. The staging lanes go slowly, then quickly, so stay with your car! Also, do NOT run your air conditioner. The condensation on the system will drip down onto the track. This will lead the track operator to believe that there is something wrong with your vehicle. BELIEVE ME, they look for this, and if they see something dripping, then will pull you off the starting line. When they check the liquid on the ground, and see it is plain water, they will chew your butt, and send you to the back of the staging lane.
At the end of the staging lanes, there will be a track official. Watch carefully, and when it is time, he will point at you, and then point where he wants you to go. His job is to pair up cars to race, then put them into correct lanes, and also make sure that your seat belt is on, all windows are rolled up. If it is near sundown, turn on your parking lights. Having at least one working tail-light is a required rule at all tracks. This is how the officials can see where you are on the track. This is so they don't send another pair of cars down the track while you are broke down at the other end.
Since this is for beginners, I will assume you are on street tires. Do NOT drive through the waterbox! Your treaded tires will just pick up water in the treads, and when you do your burnout, it will sling water all over inside the wheel well. You will then track the water all the way down the track, and water will be dripping down onto your rear tires, making them very slick! If you do this, you make the track dangerous for everyone, and you may be asked to leave if you do it again. The water is for slicks, not treaded tires. Drive around the waterbox, then get your car centered in the lane. Back up slightly if needed. There will be another track official to guide you. For street tires, a long burnout is not necessary. Street compounds are hard, and high performance tires are specifically designed to not heat up. Clean off your tires and warm them up with a quick, short burnout.
Do not pull up to the tree (the pole with the lights on it)! Every beginner does this. The staging beams are actually about 40 feet or so before the tree! Hopefully, you took my advise and watched the other cars run first, and looked to get an idea where everyone else was pulling up to. If you cant figure it out, don't worry, the starter knows it is "street night", and will help you. When he realizes you cant find the staging beams, watch him. He will walk up next to your car, and motion to you to either pull up, or back. Again, don't get embarrassed, or upset. The starter has to do that several times a night. Slowly pull forward until you see the very top, small yellow light come on. You are now "Pre-Staged". It is considered a racers courtesy to wait for the other car to pre-stage, before staging. Then gently roll forward a few more inches, and the other small yellow light right under the top one will come on. You are now "Staged". Do not roll forward too far, or the "Pre-Staged" light will go out, and you may be required to pull back, to re-light that light. That is called "deep staging", and is usually not recommended unless you are driving your Mother's Yugo. If you do accidentally pull forward too far, and deep stage, do NOT pull back until instructed to do so by the starter. He may just start the tree anyway, and you would be sitting there in reverse! Now, watch the bottom, large yellow light (Not the green or you will be caught sleepin'!)!
Everyone was a beginner at one time, and this page is dedicated to helping those who have not raced before, or someone that has been to the track and raced a little, or someone who just wants to know a little more about what they are watching... Some people don't race for fear of doing something wrong, and being embarrassed. You would be surprised at the number of people who DO race, that are not aware of certain race "etiquette". Hopefully, this guide will provide all the basic information you will need to have an enjoyable, safe experience at Napierville or Sanair near MTL (Pont-Rouge for Quebec).
DRAG RACING BASICS: PIT GATE TO FINISH LINE!
by Michael D. Metzler, adapted from an article by Jeff Tyler @ http://www.speedworldmotorplex.com/tips.htm
If possible, call a few buddies, and go to watch the first time. The spectators entrance is off of Jomax Road .Check out the "lay of the land". Ask the racers in the pits how everything works. Remember, everyone there is a car nut just like you, and everyone there was a "first-timer" once themselves. Every time I go, I get asked questions by new guys!
When you decide you are ready to give it a try, go to the Napierville DragWay or Sanair. They will charge you $15 for the car & driver, plus $10 extra for each spectator you bring. You will be given a tech card.
Go find a pit space. Only take up one space, as the night goes on, it can get very busy. Unload any loose items in your car (I would suggest you leave what you can at home). Fill out the tech card and sign it. There may also be a space on the back of the card that you must sign, so look there also.
*When tech inspection opens (usually 10-15 minutes after the gate opens) go to the tech area. If you are taking your street car, and it is not a death trap, you will pass tech. Some obvious things you need: seatbelts, safe tires (no cord showing), all lug nuts, radiator coolant overflow catch canister (the factory one is fine), no blatant fluid leaks pouring out, etc! Your battery must be firmly attached to the body of the car (doesn't move when it is pushed on). Also, shorts and tank tops are not allowed! You MUST were long pants while racing! All the officials look for this, so don't try to sneak it by them. This is about it for a street car. If your car runs faster than 13.99, you will need a DOT approved helmet. If you run faster than 11.99, then the entire game changes. However, if your running that well, I'll bet you've been to the track at least a time or two....The tech inspector will write your cars number on the window where it is visible by the timing tower. If staging lanes are not open, then return to your pit.
The track announcer will come over the PA system, and say that the staging lanes are open. Listen carefully, as some of the larger tracks have many lanes (Speedworld has 9), and they may have cars of different classes report to different lanes. Classes you may want to run in: Test-N-Tune, Street Trophy. The staging lanes go slowly, then quickly, so stay with your car! Also, do NOT run your air conditioner. The condensation on the system will drip down onto the track. This will lead the track operator to believe that there is something wrong with your vehicle. BELIEVE ME, they look for this, and if they see something dripping, then will pull you off the starting line. When they check the liquid on the ground, and see it is plain water, they will chew your butt, and send you to the back of the staging lane.
At the end of the staging lanes, there will be a track official. Watch carefully, and when it is time, he will point at you, and then point where he wants you to go. His job is to pair up cars to race, then put them into correct lanes, and also make sure that your seat belt is on, all windows are rolled up. If it is near sundown, turn on your parking lights. Having at least one working tail-light is a required rule at all tracks. This is how the officials can see where you are on the track. This is so they don't send another pair of cars down the track while you are broke down at the other end.
Since this is for beginners, I will assume you are on street tires. Do NOT drive through the waterbox! Your treaded tires will just pick up water in the treads, and when you do your burnout, it will sling water all over inside the wheel well. You will then track the water all the way down the track, and water will be dripping down onto your rear tires, making them very slick! If you do this, you make the track dangerous for everyone, and you may be asked to leave if you do it again. The water is for slicks, not treaded tires. Drive around the waterbox, then get your car centered in the lane. Back up slightly if needed. There will be another track official to guide you. For street tires, a long burnout is not necessary. Street compounds are hard, and high performance tires are specifically designed to not heat up. Clean off your tires and warm them up with a quick, short burnout.
Do not pull up to the tree (the pole with the lights on it)! Every beginner does this. The staging beams are actually about 40 feet or so before the tree! Hopefully, you took my advise and watched the other cars run first, and looked to get an idea where everyone else was pulling up to. If you cant figure it out, don't worry, the starter knows it is "street night", and will help you. When he realizes you cant find the staging beams, watch him. He will walk up next to your car, and motion to you to either pull up, or back. Again, don't get embarrassed, or upset. The starter has to do that several times a night. Slowly pull forward until you see the very top, small yellow light come on. You are now "Pre-Staged". It is considered a racers courtesy to wait for the other car to pre-stage, before staging. Then gently roll forward a few more inches, and the other small yellow light right under the top one will come on. You are now "Staged". Do not roll forward too far, or the "Pre-Staged" light will go out, and you may be required to pull back, to re-light that light. That is called "deep staging", and is usually not recommended unless you are driving your Mother's Yugo. If you do accidentally pull forward too far, and deep stage, do NOT pull back until instructed to do so by the starter. He may just start the tree anyway, and you would be sitting there in reverse! Now, watch the bottom, large yellow light (Not the green or you will be caught sleepin'!)!
