Anyone willing to drive my car at Milan (or give any advice)?

[kb73rr]

I've been interested to see what my car will do, but up until last month I had vibration issues at about 80+ due to the unilug wheels. No amount of balancing or tightening procedure ever resolved it. I finally just got some new wheels and now the shakes are gone.

Last night I was planning to take it to Milan for Test and Tune night but I gave up on that idea after driving it home from work. It was about 92F outside and 99% humidity and the car felt 20 degrees hotter inside. It was just too miserable, plus not conducive to decent performance anyhow. Weather permitting, I'll try taking it again maybe next Weds or Friday.

I am not a racer and I've only been to the strip a handful of times in my whole life. That was many years ago and on a motorcycle. Basically, I've got zero relevent experience. Squid, noob, etc - that's me.

The Milan web site says they have Drag Racing 101 classes and the next one is next Friday. That sounds cool and fun but I wouldn't expect it to help as much as some real world experience. No doubt someone who has that experience can do better. When I got to thinking about it, the the best way find out what the car (not me) can do is for someone who knows what they are doing drive it.

So I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask on here if anyone local might be going to the Milan Test and Tune any time soon, and if so would you be willing to run the piss out of my car a time or two, or at least give me some pointers?

Disclaimer - don't expect much. The car is just basically a stock 440 with TTIs and a 750 Holley. It's got a 3.21 rear axle too so don't forget the NoDoze! I read the Milan rules and according to them I suspect you might not even have to wear a helmet either....

Thanks

 

[Budnicks]

Hell I'd run the piss out of it, if I was back Milan, Michigan way... talk to a couple guys who look like they are trustworthy at the track, someone will drive it, if you don't want to drive it yourself, it's really no big deal, just don't try to spin the tires & you'll do fine, don't over rev it & don't worry about your reaction time either, that will come with practice, the clock doesn't start until the car leaves the line/crosses the beams, so reaction time won't effect your ET/MPH, like I said "I would drive the piss out of it", as long as it was safe.... have fun

 

[747mopar]

That's mighty brave of you "asking someone to drive the piss out of it". I'm like you, when my car is done I plan to drag it at least a couple times with zero experience "should be fun".

 

[coloradodave]

Don't worry about driving it yourself...that's the fun of drag racing, anyone can do it. Google 'NHRA bracket racing' and read about the basics so you have an idea what you should do. Most guys working at the strip are more than happy to help out a new guy, as are most racers. Just don't approach a racer if he/she is in the middle of an a**holes and elbows rush session. Once you learn about the staging lights and amber to green lights below, you'll have a blast. Give it a try and let us know how you do. It really isn't intimidating to race a street car on a bracket/grudge night. Have fun...

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

If you can wait till October, I'll drive it. I'll be heading out there in the fall.

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

Take your car to the track, go through the class and drive that car down the track yourself! Go to some test and tune sessions, you will get the hang of it. Take a couple easy passes until you find out how it handles at speed, you probably won't see 100mph.:icon_winkle:

 

[Cranky]

If you've hot rodded on the street, you can do the same at the track. You just need to look at how things at the track work. For your first pass, just take a drive down and see what the layout is. Sometimes they will let you take someone that's experienced (or even one of the track workers) with you for your first slow pass to point out where everything is. And remember, everyone had their first time so everyone will be watching and everyone is going to laugh if you flub up. It's the rite of passage! Don't worry about it and just do it.

 

[ZR9B]

The first time I went down the track I didnt know much about drag racing....drive it yourself your foot will be shaking a little at the line and a lot at the other end.

 

[moparpoor]

Just drive your own car! I will go with ya to a test and tune and walk you through it! I need to get my car down there. I haven't had it out yet.Shoot me a pm I am in Howell basically around the block from you!

 

[Moparmatt72]

Its way better to drive it yourself, first time I went down a real track my dad and I drove a gremlin and yea my reaction time was horrible like yours might be but just go and have fun with it. The more you go the better your times will get and you can start messing around with rpm launches and shift points if you want to manually shift your trans. Take moparpoor up since he's around the corner take the tips and have fun.

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

I agree with the above posters, drive it yourself.not a better feeling than the adrenalin that goes through your body when you are sitting at the line.i still get it after all these years.

 

[Moparmatt72]

Adrenalin rush and sweaty palms everytime I stage

 

[67Satty]

Here's another vote for just trying it yourself. I guarantee you will be hooked after your first pass. It's still really fun for me and I've been racing just for fun off and on since 1986. It's even been fun when I've taken slant 6 Dusters down the track.

 

[69roadr]

throw me the keys! i'll drive it like i stole it lol! :3gears:

 

[alleyoopmgv]

Nothing like experiencing it for yourself! It's quite the rush!

 

[dvw]

I agree. Learn the staging procedure. Watch a few runs so you know where the starting line is. Walk down to the finish line ,where's the turn off? If there was a problem and you can't stop ,where will you go? Wheres the return road and ticket shack? Then stage and just take a drive down the track at your own pace. Come back and work up to it. There are no dumb questions. When your watching and don't understand, ask.
You'll be fine.
Doug

 

[kb73rr]

Thanks for EVERYONE who took the time to reply and all the encouraging words and suggestions. You guys are awesome! When I re-read my OP I can see I wasn't clear. I am most definitely going to be driving my own car. When I was at Milan before in '83 I was bracket racing my Suzuki GS1100. There was plenty of scary and adreneline and sweaty palms allright! I took it there three or four times and got in 10-15 passes or so total. I quit going because it finally spun the crank and it was still under warranty and it was in the shop the whole rest of the year waiting for parts. Then I got married and sold it to help pay for a house. That's my total lifetime drag strip experience. I have never driven a car at the strip.

When I ran my bike I did pretty much as you would expect for someone with that level of inexperience - real inconsistent. I figure that's going to be the same with my car now. I might get lucky and get in a decent pass, but I still believe someone who knows what they are doing can do better.

...talk to a couple guys who look like they are trustworthy at the track....

Don't worry about driving it yourself...that's the fun of drag racing, anyone can do it...

Take your car to the track, go through the class...

If you've hot rodded on the street, you can do the same at the track....

I agree. Learn the staging procedure. Watch a few runs...

Perfect - thank you guys

If you can wait till October, I'll drive it. I'll be heading out there in the fall.

I hope to go next week but it would be an honor to have you drive it in October too.

Just drive your own car! I will go with ya to a test and tune and walk you through it! I need to get my car down there. I haven't had it out yet. Shoot me a pm I am in Howell basically around the block from you!

Awesome - PM sent. Thank you!

throw me the keys! i'll drive it like i stole it lol!

Ha ha ha ha - Yeah - Thats what it needs!!!!!!!!!

As to advice, how about some basics? I am driving the car there and back. It's got regular BFG Radial T/A 255-60R15 tires on back. Should I adjust the pressure when I get there? If so, to what? Is it better to heat them up or not first? Any other real basic stuff I should know?

 

[67Satty]

The BEST thing you could do would be to buy, beg, borrow, or steal a pair of bias ply slicks or drag radials for your car before your outing.

If you have to use your regular radials, I'm not sure there is anything you can do to really make them hook very well. I don't think they are meant to respond to lower air pressure and burnouts like slicks or drag radials.

So my first piece of advice would be to invest the $400 or so and buy some slicks or drag radials. There's no way for you to really know what your car is capable of until you to do this first IMHO. I have some 255/60-15 BF Goodrich radial T/As and I used to be able to spin them off the line with my stock 318 2 barrel when it was in the car. Most of having a low ET depends on getting off the line well, so you will just get discouraged and think your car is slow if you try with the regular radials IMHO.

 

[Moparmatt72]

If you use your street tires or even drag radials do a quick burn out next to the water box not in it heard the water stays on these tires. Before I got my slicks for my neon srt4 I would spin like crazy if I went through the water box. As for tire pressure you can try dropping it down a bit but you really can't do that much, I'd drop my street tires from 32 to 25 psi when I ran noticed a little better grip, but if you know of someone borrow some slicks its a world of a difference. Oh if you run your street tires make sure you have a air compressor to fill it back up before you leave don't want to damage the tires driving home on low psi.

 

[coloradodave]

At least you won't have to worry about doing a wheelie and going over backwards...