The Cal-look Lounge

All you veterans of the strip must have some advice for newbies like myself on what to expect for their first run up the strip.  Right?  Or has this been discussed elsewhere?

gyles are you running treads or slicks?

treads at the minute.  205/70 BF Goodrich. 

If you see the light go green... it's too late ;D

(http://www.volksforum.com/forum/images/smilies/drive.gif) ;D ;D ;D

Michael

Take your time race you own race don't worry about the other guy next to you.

Oh and Mat right leave on the 3rd orange light.

Well thanks chaps.  So it's basically like driving on the open roads ???
I jump the lights, floor it with a big smile on my face and don't worry about anything else thats going on! I think I can manage that ;D 8) :o

that is certainly true if the car next to you is a golden turbocharged beetle.  ;D

Well if you're on threads, you don't want to launch at 7k RPM, you won't get traction and your wheels will spin. So start at maybe 4k for the light, then put it all down and, if you have an RPM limiter, don't put your feet off the gas pedal when you change gears...

Also, at the end of the quarter mile, no hard braking or engine braking. Just put it into neutral and slow down gently until you reach the end of the track...

That's what we like.  Very useful stuff. Keep it coming :)

Here's a tip from another beginner: keep your foot on the gas until you've crossed the finnish line!

Because for some reason I didn't on my first two runs...  ???

I prefered to get out of the throttle fairly gently, never liked the stomp on the clutch/drop into neutral idea. I watched plently of cars going through the lights and it always seemed to unload the back end a little quickly just dropping it into neutral.

you might think I am being funny, but

make sure you leave in first gear.

my first pass ever, 1990 Sacramento..... left in 3rd gear. How embarassing. Let off, shoved it back in "first"... nope, 3rd gear AGAIN. Third try was the charm, got first, revved the motor way too high, spun tires thru 60' mark (still in 1st)  ::).....ran a blistering 18.30.

more than anything, just have fun. Don't take it too seriously.

Great advice Jim...

You also wanna make sure you're not in reverse.. Because your gearbox won't like it... And it happens.. (ask uncle keith :) )

If you go too far to get the right position in the starting cells, don't just back up to get it in the right position. Back up a few meters, then position yourself in 1st gear...

get sure that your throttle pedal wont disassemble itself   ;D

ran a 39s quarter  ;D

This is all good stuff. Learn from other peoples mistakes and all that ;)
What about that big christmas tree on the start line ???

Once you move into the first beam'yellow bulb, take a deep breath and try to relax.
When you're staging, moving into the second yellow bulb, ease up a bit on the emergency brake to preload the trans as you move in. Takes up the 'slack' in the trans between gears and lessens a bit on the thrashing it would/will see.
Timing is differnet in every car. As said before, you will want to leave somewhere in the duration of the third bulb. The slower you can make this occurence happen in your brain, visually, the more successful a racer you will be. If the tree has incadescent bulbs, there are numerous transitionsthroughout its 'flash': it begins to iluminate, is fully brightened, and fades. Work out a timing in your head, perhaps a count, that starts with the first bulb. That's how you'll become consistent. Then you can change/alter the timing depending on your 'reaction times'.
The tree is all about consistency, concentration, and control. Nothing else around you matters.

Good luck!

so the idea is to leave as close to the green light as you can without seeing the green light come on ??? (spot the drag virgin everyone :-[)

you have to be either be moving on the green light (with the mutiple orange lights) so you wont see that as you are looking in front off you or at the cameras, some at the sky  ;D
so that is why it is too late, your body, mind and car need time to react and that is what you allready anticipate during the last orange light. but you'll get that trough practice.

any preference on tyre pressures?

Running 205/70 on rear with about 27psi and 155 on front with around 24psi for street use.  Any ideas for strip?

I'd drop the fronts down to 19-20psi, even for road use. I'll bet your car feels quite skittish! On the back I'd go for 25-26 on the road and about the same on the track, certainly going no less than 20psi. You may even find that going up in pressure helps, especially for a regular radial. Just try it out! :)

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so the idea is to leave as close to the green light as you can without seeing the green light come on ??? (spot the drag virgin everyone :-[)
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You'll be leaving at some point in the 'duration' of the third yellow bulbs illumination.
I count the lights down for timing and know when to judge letting go of the clutch and brake lever (at the same time): 1 .. 2 .. 3 leave! Something like that.
As you develope consistency, you can adjust your 'count' to alter your reaction time.
Between rounds, I go up to watch the other cars leave and practice my 'count'.

Just this 'old man's' way of doing things ... works for me.