I hope to be able to take the '6 drag racing to Bandimere tomorrow in Denver. I've never been drag racing before, so this will be my first time. With that, I'm looking for any tips that you pros may have.

 

Are you using drag radials or slicks? Turn the traction control button off, put the car in 1st gear and hold the brake and warm up the tires for about 5 seconds at 5500 rpms, and then at the line, hold the brake and revs around 1500 rpm and let her rip. If you spin too much, you'll have to not smash the pedal like I do. Good luck!

 

Thanks. I'll be using street tires for now. If I don't do too badly, I'll post my slips.

 

Evan ... here's what I was told:
1) turn off the traction control
2) keep car in 1st gear, and take your hand off the gear shift. The tranny will automatically downshift at redline's, thru out the run
3) Keep windows up
4) turn off radio, heater/AC
5) with street tires, warm them up "a Little" by braking and spinning them. At the time of launch, sit on the brake and bring the rpm's up to @ 2000. On the green, release the brake as you depress the accelerator to the floor and hold it there.
6) Wear a helmet, and try to wipe the smile off your face.

 

Evan, defenitly throttle control unless you get a good heat on the tires. Also, is it a .4 tree or a .5 tree that you are running? If its a .5 tree, dont wait for the green light. When the last yellow lights, go for it, by the time the car actually moves the green light will be lit I would love to see what extra 60hp you have makes in drag times over my stock times

 

you said you'd never been drag racing before soft take it from the top
-------------- street tires----------------------
if you can, drive around the water, two reasons, one your front tires will slide, when wet, if you're trying to launch ,2 the water will get up in the thread of your rear tires and when it's time to go your spinning because the water is all over your tires.
do a quick spin just to clean your tires off,,you do not need to get them hot because they are not slicks
when this is done rolled slowly toward the tree, there are two small yellow light bulbs at the top of the tree, when you lite the first one stop, now rolled very slowly to the second one when it lights up stop dead still. You can now hold your brake peddle and give it a little gas, not enough to make the car move. now drop your eyes down to the green then look up one blub to the last yellow,, stare at that yellow above the green, when it lights up: go, if you find yourself spending the next time you will have to ease the gas pedal down when that last yellow lights up. At the end of the quarter mile there should be a light either on the left or right side of the track showing that you finish the race, if there are'nt any,,-use scoreboard as the end of the run when your past scoreboard by maybe 10to15 car lengths, let off, it is time to start to slow down and exit the track, either to the left or to the right,,, on your way back there will to be a person, small building, or something from where you will pick up your time slip.

You do this will and you be a top-notch drag racer in no time, say 10 years LOL good luck,

Note; when you light up that's small yellow light on the bottom, you have 6 inches of tire roll until you red light, so you will have to time yourself as to when to go, . Jim

 

To win a race, line up next to a green SLK.

Oh, and what AMX said.

 

LMAO

The above comment is certified to be true and accurate as far as I can tell.

 

My first time I went straight to the line without watching what the other racers where doing. I got scolded a few times for being clueless at the tree. My $2.

 

Good information. I've never raced at an official drag strip either. A few more mods then I'll see what numbers I can come up with. Thanks...Squirrel Crusher

 

with street tires theres no need to do a burnout or raise the rpms at the light. simply clean the tires and at the lights hold the brake. when the 3 yellow lights up roll into the throttle and go. stop at the end

 

Stay away from the rails and keep your foot down until you cross the line and then BRAKE. Good luck.

 

sage advise, indeed.
I always forget that part ......

 

Well, I was rather disappointed with my times, but I chalk it up to a few things:

- First time drag racing
- Slow reaction time
- Track at ~5900' - I calculate that I lose about 70BHP compared to sea level
- Street tires - I think I was definitely spinning the first 20-30' at least.

There were two other SRT-6s there with pretty much the same mods that I have and they were within .1 to .2 seconds of me. Temperature was about 77 and the dew point around 30 degrees. I'd love to do it again and even try it in the lowlands.

IMG_20120425_192748-s.jpg

 

It was a four tree. My reaction times improved after my first run, but I still have much to learn.

 

ive never been good on a .4 tree, gotten use to the .5 tree. Well your times are abou .6 faster then what i was able to run last week in grand junction at our dragway. I had some traction issues, but was suprised she didnt run quicker myself. Did you have any hook up issues? or did she just scoot? Im thinking i may have to invest in a sprint booster like i did for the na, seemed to make a difference in launch capabilites

 

Evan - I think elevation has to be the biggest thing. Chuk doesn't even stage our SRT with street tires & we are a full second faster with only a CAI. Come to FL and run - should be a HUGE difference!!!

 

The track Bandimere is always so slow. Its high altitude, hot ,and there is generally a head wind to boot.I am always disappointed in my times up there. The DA was 8500' yesterday not making for quick runs.I think my only real advantage over Evan was larger (285) tires. Note these two identical times.

 

I wasn't paying too much attention to any tire issues, but I'm pretty sure that I was spinning a bit for the first 20-30' at least.

 

OK-I'll Bite Here. What's the difference in a .4 tree and a .5 tree. One extra bulb or different timing for the bulbs to come on? Squirrel Crusher