Top 20 Drag Racing Tips That Every Racer Should Know
In the car racing world, the most famed tournament is the Grand Prix Formula One. You may also know about drag racing if you are a racing fanatic. For those who don’t know, drag racing is a car race contest but of a different type. Generally, it is held between two cars that need to reach a fixed destination to win the race. The cars compete side-by-side, as quickly as possible, to reach the finish line. These races start with a signal from an electronic machine called the Christmas Tree.
A typical Christmas tree has a column of seven lights. This is for each lane or driver. There are also a series of light beams along the length of the track.
Every racer has to begin a timer from a starting point. The timer stops automatically when the racer reaches the destination. Elapsed Timing is the name given to this start-to-end time. Drag racing is all about having fun. If you are a new professional racer or want to improve on drag racing, a through-the-dash style roll cage is important in drag racing, along with proper roll cage fabrication. Hereby, we are sharing some drag racing tips with you in this blog. Keep reading!
Drag Racing- A Brief History
Looking back at the Drag racing era, it is much older than you think. The roots go back to the war era, i.e., the 1930s. In the 1940s, side-by-side racing became extremely popular. It was termed the “drag race”.
Drag racing, or side-by-side racing, gained popularity in the 1940s. It’s unclear how the name came to be. It might have begun when rival racers inspired each other to drag their vehicle out of the garage so they could compete against one another. When racers maximize the revs, operators may hold the automobile in gear for a long time or drag it through gears.
In 1951, a few people came together and made NHRA or National Hot Rod Association. This association became an authorized body for drag racing events across Canada and the United States. Such a body would also sanction performance and safety standards to legitimize drag racing.
Both Hot Rod Magazine and NHRA became popular during the 1950s era. Drag racing cars came more into demand during this period, and there was no looking back since then.
20 Drag Racing Tips & Techniques For Racers
Over the past few years, several incidences have occurred on the track. Most of them were easily avoidable. That’s why we will give you some drag racing tips to make your car racing experience even better both off and on the strip.
1. Safety first
We hate to say this, but racers overlook this point very often. In a high-speed tournament like this, the lives of the driver, crew, spectators, and track are at risk. Take all the time you need to do a safety check. Racers or their team should inspect the lug nuts with the right torque wrench before operating the racecar at a high speed. This is particularly when you’ve switched your tires for a set of sticky rubber bands. Keep in mind, that dropping the torque wrench could cause it to lose precision. Double-check the gear, tank, seat belts, leakage, groove, alignment, fuel cap, tire pressure, and more. Be thorough in every aspect of drag racing parts.
2. Be Professional
Good mental preparation is the first step to good driving. You’ll behave like a pro driver if you think like one. Then you might drive like one someday. If you’re serious about your driving, you won’t come to the track in slippers and a tank top. Even if the racetrack doesn’t mandate one, wear a helmet and proper attire. You’ll eventually be accustomed to wearing one.
3. Plan ahead
You may avoid future problems by making a thorough plan now. Make a list of questions like- Are you able to complete your runs and return to the closest gas station with adequate fuel? Have you carried the right lug wrench and the jack? Did you make sure there weren’t any alterations or cancellations to the track timeline? Look for these things and then take part in a fun drag race.
4. Keep it lightweight
Any item that you don’t need has to be discarded. It can be iPods, CDs, papers, etc. Put it in a glovebox or some other place that can help you have a lightweight back end of the car. This will help racers gain some added ballast. Just keep the driver’s license and safety gear.
5. Respect the host
Kindness and respect don’t cost anything. Be kind to the track personnel. They are present to keep you safe. They help with the drag racing auto parts, strategize, and may see things that you, as the driver can’t. Obey their command as they are more aware of the situation than you during the race.
6. Peripheral views
Be vigilant and watch out for the participants in another lane. Your competitors could lose control at any time, and if you never look, you won’t see them coming into your lane until it’s too late. This also goes for the shutdown area, as you’ll want to keep track of the other cars so that you don’t cross into it or vice versa.
7. Burnouts
Do not carry the burnouts from the starting line unless you’re competing in a top-tier professional class like Top-Fuel, Pro Stock, or Funny Car. Burnouts on a street car should not take longer than ten seconds. The vehicle shouldn’t advance less than a mile two. If you are unable to control your vehicle during that period, you may need to attend a driving school.
8. Practice Makes Perfect
Practice is one way to get you a perfect drag racing rank. Use the best drag race cars, if you are a beginner. Make sure to practice the shifting techniques, and launch skills. Don’t stress about the cutting light. Once you become good at the start line, you can practice the reaction times.
9. Switch off the AC
While at the drag racing track, avoid using air conditioning. To remove condensation from the car’s evaporator, HVAC systems have a water drain that normally empties from underneath the vehicle. The track authorities will back you up and take you to the pits to rectify anything they notice dripping as you approach the starting line.
10. Shaft Play
Driveshaft loops offer inexpensive protection from potentially dangerous circumstances. Your U-joints are two small links that connect the transmission to the rear end. Even though they are just as important as the engine and suspension, most individuals consider them as the cigarettes they toss out the window. Take care of this aspect of the drag racing car part.
11. Know Your Surroundings
We have seen folks stage their automobiles with the rear tires so many times that we can’t even count. You should probably raise your seat back to a suitable driving position if you can’t see the clocks. Take your time; the projected time to start initially does not decrease.
12. Good Crews Win Races
Typically, when you first start drag racing, it’s you and a friend or partner. You might be alone as well. However, there’s a point where you decide to start racing professionally. This is the time to begin searching for a crew. Finding good and reliable individuals who are prepared to give up their free time for your needs. But having the proper team on your side can change everything. A crew’s duties include well-known tasks like fixing the car and making food, among others. But supporting the driver is a crucial duty of the crew that we tend to neglect.
13. Pulling the chute
There may be times when the car is roaring at 100 miles per hour and lose control. In those times, one option is to stay in control and keep away from gas pedals. Another thing to do is pull the chute. When you pull the chute, the car slows down. But it’s not just that, the front wheel starts giving control in a better way.
14. Frequent tire pressure gauge checks
When you prepare for drag racing, be sure to keep your tire pressure gauge handy. Check it frequently. To get optimum elapsed time, you should not only use the proper tire pressure but, also ensure that they are even from side to side. In direct sunlight, tire pressures can climb quite a bit.
15. Rev-Limit mistreatment
Do not just sit in the burnout box along with the engine on the rev limiter. This cuts down the power when you most need to keep the wheels moving. It is a vital safety mechanism made to save the engine. If you use it to cover up the elapsed time, it will slow things down even more.
16. Tune in with your competitor
A secret for people with large bankrolls and/or the quickest vehicle. Create the speediest automobile. After then, speed it up just enough to beat the following competitor. If you wish to break a record and believe you have the vehicle to do it, by all measures, open it up and let it go. But in the fiercely competitive sport of head-to-head drag racing, defeating the leader by just .01 second is sufficient. One should conceal such trade secrets.
17. The groove
Bumper dragging looks cool to a certain extent. The spark-ejecting wheelie looks cray and is quite a cool thing a race car can do. But the front end needs to stay down for the elapsed time and safety aspect. Several mishaps and crashes on the tower side occur because the drivers can’t control the car wheelie. If you see the sky during the launch, and swift elapsed time is the goal, do some tuning to reduce the power amount the car produces.
18. A Solo Affair
Leaving the group of pals at home is a good idea if this is your first time competing at the track. You won’t have to listen to your friends speak trash and you’ll be able to concentrate more easily. If you’ve visited the racetrack before, you shouldn’t have all of your friends witnessing you deliver a hit from the starting line. There should not be anybody at the start point but the other racer and the circuit starter unless you’re driving a seven-second vehicle.
19. Ask questions, don’t be afraid
The track staff is there to assist you with everything, including your performance, drag racing tips, drag race car parts, and other issues. They will respond to all of your inquiries. Before you run, it’s beneficial to inspect the track. Discover the site of the scale, the return road, the timeslip booth, and the direction of the track turnoff. Asking for directions will help you return to the staging lanes more quickly, so don’t be shy about doing so.
20. Have a good sleep
People compete aggressively in every sport and drag race isn’t an exception. Practicing for days and competing can make you tired. Make sure you get some good sleep regularly so that you don’t lose focus on the game. People have had accidents just because of sleep deficiency. Avoid stimulants like caffeine. Stay organized and eat right. Keep this going a few days before D-day.
It’s All About Having Fun!
Due to the best drag race cars and drag racing performance parts, it attracts much competition. It may be the most costly hobby for an individual. Due to its nature, winning the race is a goal for everyone. However, many participants do not have fun! Be a viewer and enjoy watching a match once in while. Do not let criticism and tournament loss pull you down. If you are a beginner or a pro, Red Eye Racecars can provide affordable and customized drag race car parts and accessories. You can trust them with the best car racing solutions.
