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First race tonight. WTF do I do???

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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 11:45 AM
  #1  
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Default First race tonight. WTF do I do???...THE RESULT

I know it sounds dumb.The guys at work finally convinced me to go to a local track and race with them tonight. I baby my car and know nothing about racing.
I was hoping for some tips, tricks, or advice so I don't look like a total douche. I'm not expecting great times since I'm basically stock but, how do you drag race the thing??
I have an 02 ws-6, A4, with z rated low profile tires and will be on a 1/8 mile track in low to mid 40's temps, if that helps any.
I FEEL LIKE SUCH A WUSSY MAN

Last edited by bob320fa; Jan 29, 2007 at 01:03 PM.
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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 12:16 PM
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Check out the link below:
http://www.nhra.com/basics/basics.html

They have all kinds of info about drag racing in general.

As far as your car specifically, it should be pretty straight forward.

1) Once you are staged and ready to race, keep your left foot on the brake, just enough to keep you from rolling forward.

2) Its up to you, but a lot of people with automatics will "load" the torque converter by giving it just a little gas to bring the engine up to higher revs. This will help you launch a little harder and quicker.

3) When the last yellow light flashes, let off the brake and put your right foot to the floor.

4) Keep your foot to the floor, until you cross the finish line.

5) VERY IMPORTANT!! Look in your rearview mirror to see how bad you smoked your buddy! Don't forget to slow down.

Good Luck and Have Fun
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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 12:32 PM
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Takes practice. Having an A4 will help. Follow instructuons above and have fun. Don't forget your helmet.
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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 12:37 PM
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call me crazy, but you're probably gonna be feathering the throttle a little on stock Zrated tires, and in 40* weather.
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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by tim99ws6
call me crazy, but you're probably gonna be feathering the throttle a little on stock Zrated tires, and in 40* weather.
good point.
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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 04:09 PM
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Hmmm......drag racing 101...thanks.
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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 04:38 PM
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Watch a couple of races before you run.Watch the officials,take note of there hand gestures (our track guy is always changing signals,very confusing for newbs).Asks lots of questions.Check out the track rules,as different tracks have different rules.If you screw up,learn from it everybody does at least once.Above all,have fun!
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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 05:06 PM
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take a helmet because i dont know if it is the same where you are or not and even though your car is pretty much stock you will still see 13's and up here if you bust into the 13's a helmet is required i just dont want you to get there make one pass and then not be able to run the rest of the night because if you're like me after that first pass you will be hooked
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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 05:20 PM
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To avoid looking like a total D-bag, do what they said and watch a few races first! Learn how the tree works and be ready for it. If it's an .5 tree (sportsman tree), go when the 2nd yellow lights up (yes before the 3rd, it takes a few moments to get that pig rolling out)! If it's a .4 tree (pro tree), good luck (it'll just take practice to get good)! Remember to have fun, too many people go and don't have fun at the track any more!!

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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 07:14 PM
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I've been trying to avoid sinking cash into mods other than appearance we'll see what tonight brings. I'll report back tomorrow
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Old Jan 27, 2007 | 03:32 PM
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Remember R is for Race, lol.
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Old Jan 27, 2007 | 04:20 PM
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Well how did you do??
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 12:47 PM
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Sorry. I got tied up the last few days. Well.....it was fun but, I sucked. I ran 3 times against my buddy in a magnum. I won 1 race.It was a little podunk track that didn't give any time slips and to be honest I didn't pay attention to the time signs. Mainly it was because the track was soooo damn narrow and my *** end was fishtailing like crazy.
I felt the car was good but, I drove like ****. Lots of fishtailing and very slow take offs. There was a ton of rubber covering the start and I kept spinning.
I tried two different starts...1 I kept it in drive and just punched it, 2 I put it in third to start and shifted up to drive. It didn't seem to help much either way. One of the guys from work got the races on video so I'll have to watch them and see if I can get the times and what my sliding butt looked like.
Overall, it was fun and that was what counts. If I can just figure out my mistakes I'll feel better.

P.S. I got razzed for losing to a "station wagon, grocery getter"
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 01:50 PM
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Refer to post #4 and try again...


Just be glad nothing broke, neither the car, or your wallet! Now go get some decent tires, and the Driver mod, and see what it'll really do!
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 03:51 PM
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remember when spinning, let out of the gas little by little and when you can feel it start to hook easy back into in and by the time they do hoo kyou car will be trying again. all of that in like the first 1/2 a second. until you get slicks and dead hook. haha
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 04:04 PM
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I've been to podunk tracks but damn... no time slips?
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 07:13 PM
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Dont get off it all the way, get off it a little bit to help the car get traction......


I can make my car spin for ever by peddling it and letting off and getting on it when I mess around etc....Its not good for a good drag time, but its good to make the car skate/fish tail..
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