There should be a drivers test to be allowed to drag race!
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,813
Likes: 15
From: Doylestown PA
There should be a drivers test to be allowed to drag race! After reading Nineball's recent experience with a stupid ricer, and my own personal experiences at the track, I think there should be some sort of written exam given to drivers before they are allowed to get on the track.
I'm not talking about something long and difficult, but common sense things like where the staging beams are, should you ever back up on the track, right of way procedures at the end of the track, where the end of the track is.
I have seen a couple mishaps and the explanation was that they hadn't raced before. I actually saw a guy in a TT 300z run into the gravel traps at Englishtown because he didn't realize where the end of the track was, so he kept 'racing' till he passed the last turn off. Mind you, he almost destroyed a beautifully restored '69 Trans Am in the proccess.
This isn't just for ricers either. I saw a couple people take 5 minutes to stage at the last gm high tech event because they had no clue where anything was. One guy actually started his burnout and just decided not to stop. He did his burnout through the lights and ran all the way down the track, again, becuase it was his first time at the track.
I am pretty new to this as well, but my first time to the track I just WATCHED and asked lots of questions to another seasoned racer (thanks XTrooper).
Anyone else feel the same way?
Add more questions you'd like to see on this exam.
I'm not talking about something long and difficult, but common sense things like where the staging beams are, should you ever back up on the track, right of way procedures at the end of the track, where the end of the track is.
I have seen a couple mishaps and the explanation was that they hadn't raced before. I actually saw a guy in a TT 300z run into the gravel traps at Englishtown because he didn't realize where the end of the track was, so he kept 'racing' till he passed the last turn off. Mind you, he almost destroyed a beautifully restored '69 Trans Am in the proccess.
This isn't just for ricers either. I saw a couple people take 5 minutes to stage at the last gm high tech event because they had no clue where anything was. One guy actually started his burnout and just decided not to stop. He did his burnout through the lights and ran all the way down the track, again, becuase it was his first time at the track.
I am pretty new to this as well, but my first time to the track I just WATCHED and asked lots of questions to another seasoned racer (thanks XTrooper).
Anyone else feel the same way?
Add more questions you'd like to see on this exam.
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: bay area
Re: There should be a drivers test to be allowed to drag race! [quote]Originally posted by Pewter_00_TA:
<strong>
One guy actually started his burnout and just decided not to stop. He did his burnout through the lights and ran all the way down the track, again, becuase it was his first time at the track.
Anyone else feel the same way?
Add more questions you'd like to see on this exam.</strong><hr></blockquote>
ROTFLMAO!!!
man i totally feel ya on that ****. i see some funny things on the track all day.
most of the ricers go around the waterbox and back in to it and just wet there rear wheels on a front wheel drive!!!!! and then to proceed to do a burn out. HAHAHAHAH
some people dont like to listen to the stage guys and they almost do burnouts into other cars!
<img src="graemlins/gr_punch.gif" border="0" alt="[fight]" />
<strong>
One guy actually started his burnout and just decided not to stop. He did his burnout through the lights and ran all the way down the track, again, becuase it was his first time at the track.
Anyone else feel the same way?
Add more questions you'd like to see on this exam.</strong><hr></blockquote>
ROTFLMAO!!!
man i totally feel ya on that ****. i see some funny things on the track all day.
most of the ricers go around the waterbox and back in to it and just wet there rear wheels on a front wheel drive!!!!! and then to proceed to do a burn out. HAHAHAHAH
some people dont like to listen to the stage guys and they almost do burnouts into other cars!
<img src="graemlins/gr_punch.gif" border="0" alt="[fight]" />
11 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: loretteville pq. MARS
Re: There should be a drivers test to be allowed to drag race! EGO plays a big part,many people are too proud to ask ??s before since it looks so easy.They look like idiots after the run though.We spot the newbies go over and chat[would be better if track did it but won't get into that]5 minutes well spent.+ we are sure that if we face them in eliminations we won't be cranked for 45 seconds because the newbie doesn't know about the beams.
It is a pain thoug!!! <img src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" border="0" alt="[judgement]" />
[ December 09, 2001: Message edited by: timelord ]</p>
It is a pain thoug!!! <img src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" border="0" alt="[judgement]" />
[ December 09, 2001: Message edited by: timelord ]</p>
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,813
Likes: 15
From: Doylestown PA
Re: There should be a drivers test to be allowed to drag race! I remember the last GM High tech event this fall, after repeated people taking forever to stage, the announcer said that if you haven't raced, make sure you tell an official and he will help you. That and he recommended people to watch some races trackside and get a feel for what goes on before they jump into the staging lanes.
What would be so bad about a simple ten question exam and you get a little laminated card that says you have a license to race. If people don't have one, they have to watch for a half hour before jumping in the staging lanes.
I have seen some really dangerous stuff that just plane scares me. That's why I hate some of the 'popular' events.
What would be so bad about a simple ten question exam and you get a little laminated card that says you have a license to race. If people don't have one, they have to watch for a half hour before jumping in the staging lanes.
I have seen some really dangerous stuff that just plane scares me. That's why I hate some of the 'popular' events.
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: DFW, Texas
Re: There should be a drivers test to be allowed to drag race! a while back i saw a guy do a burn out, backed up, dry hopped, backed up again, then tried to do another burn out but forgot to put it back in first gear. the look on his face was priceless but he almost hit another car. not too long ago i say a guy in a conv. fox body mustang start his burn out, open the door and look at the back wheel during the burn out. we tried to get it on video but couldnt get it on in time. the sad part about it is the boy in the mustang worked at the track, i suggested aiming his side mirrors down so he could see when smoke was coming off the tires. my first time to the track was a good expierence, i went with some friends that went there often and asked them questions. i didn't have any major screw-up's other than bieng nervous and leaving too high and spinning past the 60' mark.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 0
From: Chi-Town
Re: There should be a drivers test to be allowed to drag race! any time i go to a new track, i watch first. I didnt watch at one track, and passed the beams because the track i was used to had the beams a lot farther past the burnout box <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0"> .
but i think the best advice really is to watch what everyone else is doing. Notice where
the beams are, and what everyone else is doing at that particular track <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0"> . make sure you know where the turnoffs are, and where to pick up the slips. But yea, ricers **** me off too <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0">
but i think the best advice really is to watch what everyone else is doing. Notice where
the beams are, and what everyone else is doing at that particular track <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0"> . make sure you know where the turnoffs are, and where to pick up the slips. But yea, ricers **** me off too <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0">
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Arcadia, CA
Re: There should be a drivers test to be allowed to drag race! Amen Brother.
I've been at the track on night with a large contingent of ricers out nearly doubling the amount of domestics there and there must've been 10x the announcer had to remind the silly ricer's that you may not under any circumstances make a u turn on the track. <img src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0">
Jesus m*#$%^&#^$ how stupid can they get, and this isn't even counting the numerous rookies that were staging way past the beams or on the rear tire or not at all. Even when I started I at least knew how to stage but then I looked stupid and really slowly rolled to a red light and then paniced instinctively thinking stop and not doing anything for a few seconds until the linesman waved me on to a 7.5 60ft. That was my one rookie blunder or is it one of my rookie blunders <img src="images/icons/wink.gif" border="0"> . Now the only staging problem I've had is the smoke from my burnouts being so thick that it starts tripping the staging beams before I even make it to the line and then the smoke nearly obscures the tree too <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0"> <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0"> .
I've been at the track on night with a large contingent of ricers out nearly doubling the amount of domestics there and there must've been 10x the announcer had to remind the silly ricer's that you may not under any circumstances make a u turn on the track. <img src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0">
Jesus m*#$%^&#^$ how stupid can they get, and this isn't even counting the numerous rookies that were staging way past the beams or on the rear tire or not at all. Even when I started I at least knew how to stage but then I looked stupid and really slowly rolled to a red light and then paniced instinctively thinking stop and not doing anything for a few seconds until the linesman waved me on to a 7.5 60ft. That was my one rookie blunder or is it one of my rookie blunders <img src="images/icons/wink.gif" border="0"> . Now the only staging problem I've had is the smoke from my burnouts being so thick that it starts tripping the staging beams before I even make it to the line and then the smoke nearly obscures the tree too <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0"> <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0"> .
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 0
From: Corona CA
Re: There should be a drivers test to be allowed to drag race! Our car club is going to set up a beginners Drag School, to show people what to do, and what to expect, at their first track day. I'm going to show folk how to get crap 60's and still whip Vipers... <img src="images/icons/wink.gif" border="0"> J/K.
Some problems with drag racing:
Very little instruction is available at most tracks. You must rely on other racers and track officials who are often too busy to give complete instructions. (Thanks out to "Woody" at Carlsbad for showing my wife correct staging.)
All tracks are different. You MUST drive thru the water, You CAN'T drive thru the water, you Must have a helmet, you Might need a helmet (I always wear one even if not needed, I might be in a 15.0 sec car, but a 9 sec may line up on us), stand in the box, stand outside the box, etc. It can get confusing.
Your best bet is to do a shakeout run with an experienced racer in your car if possible. But not all tracks allow this. If they do allow it for 13.99 and slower, and you have a 12.9 car, just launch and short-shift or lift at half track.
But most important, it's up to all of us as racers to show the new folk the ropes. Friendly and helpful competitors is what makes drag racing one of the great motorsports for ages and cars.
Oh, and about turning around on the track. I had to it at Carlsbad <img src="images/icons/frown.gif" border="0"> . I didn't see the first turnout, and there ISN'T a second one. You must NAIL your brakes to make it, and many cars must turn around. It's up to the track officials to make sure the last set of cars is off the track BEFORE starting the next pair.
Some problems with drag racing:
Very little instruction is available at most tracks. You must rely on other racers and track officials who are often too busy to give complete instructions. (Thanks out to "Woody" at Carlsbad for showing my wife correct staging.)
All tracks are different. You MUST drive thru the water, You CAN'T drive thru the water, you Must have a helmet, you Might need a helmet (I always wear one even if not needed, I might be in a 15.0 sec car, but a 9 sec may line up on us), stand in the box, stand outside the box, etc. It can get confusing.
Your best bet is to do a shakeout run with an experienced racer in your car if possible. But not all tracks allow this. If they do allow it for 13.99 and slower, and you have a 12.9 car, just launch and short-shift or lift at half track.
But most important, it's up to all of us as racers to show the new folk the ropes. Friendly and helpful competitors is what makes drag racing one of the great motorsports for ages and cars.
Oh, and about turning around on the track. I had to it at Carlsbad <img src="images/icons/frown.gif" border="0"> . I didn't see the first turnout, and there ISN'T a second one. You must NAIL your brakes to make it, and many cars must turn around. It's up to the track officials to make sure the last set of cars is off the track BEFORE starting the next pair.
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