New guy, and want to try drag racing

[FROSTBITE]

Im looking to get into doing some drag racing, was hoping you guys could give me some advice. Im planning on going down to bandimere in a few months with a group of srt-4 guys...I really dont want to look like a dumb *** lol.

My car is a 1966 Charger 4 speed, fresh 383 .30 KB 10.5 pistons, stock bottom end. Heads are 906 stock, comp cam, pretty sure this is the cam http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-21-671-4/overview/make/dodge
ill have to double check the part number when i get home i remember the lift was in the high .400s for sure.

MSD atomic fuel injection, msd 6a, msd billet distributor with red bushing and 2 light silver springs installed.

8 3/4 3.91 suregrip
Also got, a safety clutch switch installed. Still gotta put a coolant catch can on

I have no idea what rpm i should launch at and where to shift at. Any help or tips would be awesome.

 

[Polara Pat]

Most tracks that I go to have a Friday night street drags, you can learn a lot from just flogging your car with all the tuners. Don't worry about the huge smoky burn-out unless you're really trying to impress someone or have a tire sponsor, your car will spin for sure on street tires. Less is more. Just try to figure out the lights and do the same thing every time. Seat time is everything.

 

[RamNBee]

Like Pat said, go to a test-N-Tune at your local track. Learn the difference between a Pro tree(All lights Flash) or Full tree(single light at a time). Watch how cars stage and then try it. You will like it and you don't have to be John Force!

 

[FROSTBITE]

Wish could, no local tracks in Nebraska but have one 3 hours in every direction except north.... :sad5:

 

[Budnicks]

Good luck... Good to get more people involved in the sport of Drag Racing... If your going to Bandimere in Morrison Colorado, don't expect to set the world on fire it's @ 5800ft elevation on a good day & could be much worse depending on weather condition the change the relative air density, with cloud cover or sunshine, it's extremely thin air up there @ Mile High... it will run almost a full second faster @ sea level... don't get discouraged... There use to be a pretty good track, I think it was in Scribner Nebraska {Nebraska Motorplex} & Kearny Nebraska {Kearny Raceway Park} , like it was in the middle of a corn or wheat field, but It's been many years now, 8-9 probably since I've been out that way thou...

 

[moparstuart]

welcome from kansas

 

[Budnicks]

Launch where you don't get excessive wheel spin, it will kill ET very quickly, probably launch just off idle like 1500-rpm's maybe, hit the throttle when you see the last yellow light, of course when the tree is activated, after you have both staging lights lit, if you wait to see green, you will have a horrible reaction times, a pro-tree is 0.4 tenths of a second after you see the "all 3 yellows" at the same time, below the staging lights come on, then green light will come on, & on a sportsman tree it's 0.5 tenths of a second between each big yellow lights coming down, then after you see the third yellow light down on the tree blink/come on you will get a green light all in 0.5 tenths of a second intervals... your ideal RPM range & probably your shifting points will only be about 5000-rpm's max, with a mild hydraulic camshaft & stock heads, stock valve spring limitations & the high altitudes...

I would highly suggest you look at the safety rules on/in the NHRA website, make sure you have all the proper safety equipment for what your trying/expect to run, what your car is equipped with, it's a long way to drive to not be able to run because you can't pass tech inspection or something... bring a SFI/Snell rated helmet @ a minimum... Have Fun 1st & foremost

 

[actionange1]

You'll need a driveshaft loop also. Get an NHRA rule book to make sure no surprises at tech- as others have already said. A long tow to be told you're a spectator won't make for fun day.

 

[HT413]

Here's the 2012 NHRA rulebook. I'm getting my car ready for my 1st race as well. Actionange1 and superstockracer on this site both run local Nostagia organizations - you should look into one near you.

http://www.gatewaymsp.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2012_NHRA_RuleBook.pdf

 

[dvw]

Drive shaft loop for sure. Don't worry about reaction time at all at this stage. Leaving with street tires and a stick is tricky. I suggest 2500rpm, let the clutch out like your leaving a normal stop ,then wood it. I found a clutch stop to work well later when trying to cut a light.
Doug

 

[actionange1]

Hey HT413:
Looking forward to seeing you at Atco on April 21 for the first ECNSSA race.
Thanks for supplying the link to the NHRA rule book for all to use.
Ange

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

HT413 where do you live in NJ?

 

[alleyoopmgv]

Welcome to the site FROSTBITE! Take her easy the first pass or two, to get used to it, and then give her hell after that!

 

[HT413]

Hey HT413:
Looking forward to seeing you at Atco on April 21 for the first ECNSSA race.
Thanks for supplying the link to the NHRA rule book for all to use.
Ange

No prob, ange, I'll be there for sure. Car's just about ready unless there are any other unforseen issues. Either way, I'll just hijack my dad's 68 vette if needed lol.

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

Im looking to get into doing some drag racing, was hoping you guys could give me some advice. Im planning on going down to bandimere in a few months with a group of srt-4 guys...I really dont want to look like a dumb *** lol.

My car is a 1966 Charger 4 speed, fresh 383 .30 KB 10.5 pistons, stock bottom end. Heads are 906 stock, comp cam, pretty sure this is the cam http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-21-671-4/overview/make/dodge
ill have to double check the part number when i get home i remember the lift was in the high .400s for sure.

MSD atomic fuel injection, msd 6a, msd billet distributor with red bushing and 2 light silver springs installed.

8 3/4 3.91 suregrip
Also got, a safety clutch switch installed. Still gotta put a coolant catch can on

I have no idea what rpm i should launch at and where to shift at. Any help or tips would be awesome.

very importantly, bring a set of spare underwear or a oversize depends. 1st pass will feel a little scary with alot of adrenalin and if the 1st pass goes good, you might see some WOOD depending on your age. give em hell!!:headbang:

 

[HT413]

HT413 where do you live in NJ?

Not to hijack the thread, but i'm in Bridgewater, near Rutgers. I'd LOVE to race with you guys for now, though for now I'll race more local to see how it goes. I hear all over the place you have a great bunch of racers up there. I googled it and it's like 3 hrs, not sure i can take 3 hrs in the beast lol.

Hey, how about you and Ange get some sort of end of season championship goin?

 

[383man]

Welcome ! Go to the track early and watch how the racers stage and race for about a 1/2 hr or so as that will help you know what to do. And on street tires you cant just rev it up to 5000 and dump the clutch as you will spin like crazy. The trick is to get your car out of the hole as fast as you can but without spinning the tires or even breaking them loose. As soon as your tires spin you et will be no good. You may have to ride the clutch a tad to get it out of the hole. But thats why they call them Test & Tune so you can do that. You will be able to test and work on your launch as that will be your hardest thing to do on street tires. Good luck , Ron

 

[actionange1]

Not to hijack the thread, but i'm in Bridgewater, near Rutgers. I'd LOVE to race with you guys for now, though for now I'll race more local to see how it goes. I hear all over the place you have a great bunch of racers up there. I googled it and it's like 3 hrs, not sure i can take 3 hrs in the beast lol.

Hey, how about you and Ange get some sort of end of season championship goin?

Sort of a "Challange of the NSS Groups"?
Run like a grudge style race? Maybe even at the Dover Nostalgia race at at LVD in August sine both groups will be in attendance?
Sounds interesting. Will have to discuss with members of my group and Chris will have to discuss with his guys.

 

[67Satty]

Since you have a fresh warmed over big block, a 4 speed, and a 3.91 sure grip, my advice is to complete the package and get yourself some 9" bias ply slicks so you really see what your car can do without all the traction issues.

My experience has been that even my cars with lower power that I've tried to launch with street tires, they just spin and spin all day. I'm talking about a stock 318 Satellite and a stock 302 2 barrel Maverick - 230 hp or so cars. Maybe I just don't have any finesse. I like to just nail it out of the hole and you need slicks to do that and see what it can really do.

 

[Budnicks]

Since you have a fresh warmed over big block, a 4 speed, and a 3.91 sure grip, my advice is to complete the package and get yourself some 9" bias ply slicks so you really see what your car can do without all the traction issues.

My experience has been that even my cars with lower power that I've tried to launch with street tires, they just spin and spin all day. I'm talking about a stock 318 Satellite and a stock 302 2 barrel Maverick - 230 hp or so cars. Maybe I just don't have any finesse. I like to just nail it out of the hole and you need slicks to do that and see what it can really do.

I agree..yeah slicks or at-least Drag Radials are much better, than street any type tires, soon as you add slicks, you'll have instant improvements in ET's... also but when you add them, you have allot of different NHRA Sfi/safety rules you will need to comply with too... look at the rule book very closely