How to Drag Race (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Burning rubber, fun tracks, cool cars. As Bruce Springsteen said, when summer comes, it's the perfect time to race. But you don't have to own a 69 Chevrolet with a 396 engine, Fuelie headlights and Hurst tires to take part in this great sport. A competitive open drag race is an acceleration contest conducted on a professional track, and all types of drivers can participate. Racing can be a fun and lucrative hobby, but knowing how to drag race properly will ensure you're keeping yourself and others safe and spending quality time on the track. You can learn how to enroll in the right class, register a vehicle for inspection, and match the best possible track to your vehicle's capabilities. See Step 1 for more information.

Step

Part 1 of 4: Selecting and Modifying a Dragster (Racing Car)

Step 1. Choose between style and speed

When you're choosing a vehicle for a drag race, there's a lot to consider besides how quickly your vehicle can leave the starting line. The cost, your commitment to rebuilding and repairing the vehicle, and your main ambitions for your car should also be considered. Most drag racers want the same basic thing: a cool car that's a nice color, and looks just as cool when it's parked as it is racing down the track.

• Ideally, choose a lamp that is versatile for various types of modifications. A good race car usually has an engine that has been modified with market cameras, headlights, and other components to maximize power (horse power / HP) so the car can run at 600 or 700 HP. If you have a car like this, then your car is a powerful monster car. But for many drivers, cars with capabilities above 500 HP are usually considered excessive. This 500 HP car is already very fast.
• Many great race cars have a particular frame or model when set up, because of the factory look. A '57 Chevrolet Bel Air is a good drag race candidate for classic car enthusiasts, but for others, the car's heavy frame may not be worth its style points.

Step 2. Choose something you will like

Personalizing the look for a drag race is a great nostalgic project. Buy the Corvette that your dad always wanted when you were a kid, it's sea green, and it's the car he never drives. Or maybe, you could buy a Mustang like the one Steve McQueen drove in the classic chase scene from the movie Bullitt. You might as well get really crazy and buy a Chevrolet Apache frame from the '40s, and build your own cute car to entertain your friends on the track. There is no wrong choice here as long as you like the car.

Step 3. Start with a lightweight, resaleable frame

Most cars that are successful in drag racing have a body that is light and easy to modify. For this reason, you usually see a lot of Fox-body Mustangs manufactured between the late '70s and early '90s, which are very light and can hold just about any type of engine you could want. Hey? V-8 Flathead Engine? Everything can be used in the body of the Mustang.

Because the Mustang can be found almost on all tracks in America, the Mustang loses its uniqueness a bit. Mustangs are easy to modify, but do you really want to have the same car as another racer? Trans-Am, Z28, and Charger have similar characteristics, coming from the factory with high specifications. The charger that McQueen drives is actually a base production from the factory, with only minor suspension changes. If the car was good enough for the movie Bullit, it's good enough for you too

Step 4. Consider rebuilding the machine or installing a new one

How fast do you want the car to be? What type of machine do you want to make? What types of engines can be installed in your vehicle's body? Much of the hard work and fun when planning a car building project lies in the decisions you make yourself.

• A good drag machine should maximize its power, perhaps by using modified parts on the market to maximize the efficiency of the engine. Market cylinder engine heads and hydraulic roller cams are a common type of modification. Depending on the engine, you should be able to use some factory-made components in the drivetrain to ensure your project is affordable.
• Try setting limits for yourself. Sure, you could say you want a powerful 1,000 HP dragon engine in the frame of your Trans-Am, but is the cost of all the components in the drivetrain worth the payoff? What about the pressure updates needed for the chassis? If you can make at least 500 HP on a street race scale, then you don't have to worry about being humiliated on the track. Try to keep your ambitions practical, Mr. Andretti.

Step 5. Upgrade the suspension with control arms and shock absorbers for drag racing

As you increase the power of the engine, your suspension will quickly become unstable. One of the most important modifications you have to make to become a serious drag racer is suspension modification. Make sure you upgrade the suspension after increasing the engine power, so that the pressure specifications match the power of your new vehicle.

• If your race car has leaf springs, consider upgrading to a CalTrac stud to increase vehicle stability and control. If your rod is built into threaded spring suspension, using a market control arm is the best way to go. You can also try using the "no-hop" system to modify the geometry of your suspension points, giving your car more power when the race starts.
• Some racers will remove the front swing rod and install threaded springs for drag racing. Drag racing will put pressure on the axle of the vehicle, so problems are often encountered, so use shock absorbers that are specifically made to withstand the pressure in drag racing.

Step 6. Install a booster if you want your car to run fast on the road

After the Fast and Furious movies came out, everyone and their brethren wanted to hit the nitro button and leave the competition far from their rear bumper. Using a small nitro system for your races will give you more basic laps, which will be modified to support driving on roads and overpasses at normal speeds. The use of nitro can also help make your engine leaner so it's easier to run at lower compression ratios. Engines with natural suction will require a larger cam and will need to process fuel with a higher octane rating as the compression ratio increases.

Step 7. Beware of the danger of overheating in modified powerful cars

The greater your level of modification of the factory components, the more problems you will run into with all those modifications, especially if you run your race car roughly and hit the accelerator. Hot trunks of cars usually have overheating problems, so some precautions are necessary. You may not experience any problems if you make the modifications properly, but you should still be careful to be prepared for potential problems in various areas.

Install a larger radiator to keep the vehicle from overheating and check your fuel pump regularly. Driving a race car aggressively will erode these components very quickly. Make sure you have a sensitive and accurate heat meter, and pay close attention when you drive

Part 2 of 4: Registering and Taking Pre-Race Inspections

Step 1. Understand the different classes of drag racing cars

Most of these race cars are usually designed specifically for short distance racing, but racing enthusiasts and weekend race enthusiasts have their own categories. Vehicles are graded and classified into specific classes based on a variety of information, including the manufacturer's advertised weight, the type of fuel used, and the horsepower of the engine. For the US, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has more than 200 separate vehicle categories, although the basic categories can be divided into two:

• Top Fuel Dragsters (High Class Race Car) has an unusual body length, ranges from 20–30 feet (6.1–9.1 m), has a horsepower of 7,000 HP, and is run on nitromethane fuel. These cars can usually be found in professional races as a participant. Top Alcohol Dragsters are similar to their cousins in the Top Fuel category, although they use some methane as fuel.
• Stock Dragsters (Factory Race Car) was originally a regular factory production car and has been modified according to NHRA guidelines to increase horsepower and efficiency. On free track days, this is the type of car you can usually find, and may be the car you're looking for if you're interested in drag racing. If you have a powerful car that has been modified, you can inspect your vehicle against the NHRA Classification Guidelines, which you can access here.

Step 2. Look for closed race tracks with drag tracks in your area

If you want to race a drag race, make sure you do it on a race track that is in the right conditions. The drag trail is usually a quarter mile long, with a "speed trap" trail that follows, about 70 feet (21.3 m) long, which is where your top speed measurement is located. Many tracks will be open to the public, provided you pay a registration and use fee for the tracks. So is the time trial. If you want to take part, these trials are usually held regularly.

• When you arrive, you usually have to pay a small entry fee, as well as a track usage fee if you plan to race. If you want to race, the fees will depend on the class of vehicle you're competing against, so call ahead and find out all possible fees before you visit the track.
• Watch a few races first and try to pay attention to the culture and types of races that take place on the track you want to try. Speak to other racers and track staff for advice. If you drive a Honda Civic and want to take part in a drag race, you might be able to get into Bracket-Style races with handicaps, but you may also feel a little alienated. Before you drive all the way to the race track, take some time to watch the races first. As well as being a fun sport, racing is a fun community so you can also be a part of the fans.

• Participate in drag races only in places that have obtained permits. Drag racing in perfect and professional conditions is dangerous enough, and drag racing on public roads is suicidal and illegal everywhere. Never take part in a drag race on a public road.

  

  Step 3. Register your vehicle in the correct category

  To balance the playing field, most track and racing organizations divide it into a large number of vehicle classes. After paying at the main gate, you will need to fill in your race card, information about the class you will be joining, your name and other specific information about your vehicle.

  If you only have a factory standard vehicle that you want to race, or a regular vehicle with minimal modifications, the class will still vary based on engine size and other specifications. Many of the tracks will be open to the public on a regular basis, so you can register your car and find out which class and category is right for your vehicle, or what you need to do to prepare your vehicle to meet the specifications of the class you are looking for. This is the easiest way to find out more about your class if you're not sure

  

  Step 4. Choose the right type of drag race for your vehicle

  Depending on the type of vehicle you have, your racing ambitions, and the specific rules of the tracks in your area, you'll usually get a lot of choices. You may want to take part in professional-style elimination races, which are probably the most common type, or you may just want to race and burn your tires in a time-tested manner. As long as your vehicle is good enough and competitive, you're sure to find something that suits you on most tracks.

  • Elimination Races (Elimination Race) is a collection of elimination rounds. Two cars of the same class will compete with each other. The loser will be eliminated, and the winner will advance to the next round, until there is only one car left. To practice, hit the track and take a time trial before the race.
  • Bracket Races (Special Races) are similar to Elimination Races, but with the inclusion of special vehicles of different specifications to compete against each other, so these races are a test of ability rather than a vehicle's prowess. Instead of regular time trials, the cars here have to complete "Dial In" laps, which aim to get closer to the approximate speed (how fast your car can complete one lap). The difference will then be deducted from each of your trials throughout the racing session.
  • Time Trials (Time Trial) is available for every class of vehicle that passes security checks and pays a track fee. Usually, if you don't plan on testing to qualify, you're only allowed to race on certain days, which are sometimes referred to as "test and tune" nights. You can request a timeline with specific details about each lap you went through, and keep track of your long-term progress. This is a good way to start and develop your drag racing skills.

  

  Step 5. Go through a technical inspection on the drag track of a closed track

  After paying at the gate and registering, you will drive your vehicle to the inspection area. Here, the track staff will check your vehicle, its fuel level, weight and other specifications to ensure that your vehicle is safe to run on the track. If you pass the inspection, they will usually put an inspection sticker on your windshield to certify that you have passed and can continue racing.

  Most tracks require a minimum weight for each vehicle, which is calculated when the driver is in the car. Many serious drivers will figure out this minimum weight and get their vehicle as close to it as possible to increase engine power and efficiency

  Part 3 of 4: Following the Race

  

  Step 1. Complete your pre-race qualifying round

  Before you get to the starting line and hit the accelerator, you'll need to figure out where you'll be racing by taking a qualifying round to determine your starting position. Depending on the track rules and vehicle class, you'll meet different standards, but usually the elimination round starts with qualifying for the starting position based on your best lap. Several measurements will be taken for each race, including your reaction time, total lap time and your speed.

  • Your reaction time will be measured right at the start of the race, and this time should be set as early as possible taking into account the time between the green light and the start of your vehicle leaving the starting line.
  • Your lap time will be measured from the moment you leave the start line to the end of the line.
  • Your highest time will be measured as you cross the starting line, so make sure you speed up to the maximum for the best results. Later you will have room to slow down.

  

  Step 2. Set up your wheel in a water box

  Usually, in the inspection area behind the track, you'll find something called a water box (or bleach box). This box is actually a small area of the track that has been delimited. This is the place for racers to get their wheels ready and remove any deposits that may have accumulated.

  If you don't want to do this before the race, that's fine. Drive around the water box and approach the starting line. Flat race wheels should always be prepared, but volcano racing wheels usually do not need to be prepared. If you're concerned about the deposits that might be on your road racing wheels, you can peel them off

  

  Step 3. Approach the line starting from the inspection area

  On professional tracks, this starting line is a bit tricky, as it is usually not marked on the ground and is only monitored through the use of a laser. Let the track staff guide you to the large area, then look for the "Christmas Tree" (a collection of colored lights in the center of the track) to determine its location.

  On most tracks, an amber light will flash as you approach (within 7 inches/17.5 cm) of the starting line, and a second light will flash when you are above the starting line. Watch the track staff between the two lines for more specific instructions. They are there to help you

  

  Step 4. Watch the Christmas Tree to see the lights starting

  Most trees usually have seven lights, including indicator lights when you hit the starting line. Depending on the class and type of race you are participating in, this tree will light up differently to signal the start of the race. In some races, three large amber lights will flash simultaneously, followed by a green light for a period of 4/10 seconds. In other races, all three lights will flash twice, followed by a green light 5/10 seconds later. Make sure you pay attention to other racers as you start and find out what kind of lights to use before you hit the starting line.

  

  Step 5. Start when the green light is on

  In general, if you see the green light, you are probably too late. You need to practice and have the ability to get started well, because it's about anticipating the green light and starting when it goes on, not waiting for it to come on first. Experienced racers are usually really good at this, so don't be frustrated if you need a few more time trials and laps before you get the hang of timing marking.

  Before starting, keep your engine speed (RPM) at maximum speed to quickly jump into the gear you want (for example, many racers will jump immediately in one second). Watch for changes in the timing of the lights through the lights, anticipate the green light, and step on the gas

  

  Step 6. Accelerate the vehicle as it crosses the finish line

  Drag races are not races to relax in, but are a good time to see what your engine is capable of. If you've passed safety inspections and are very familiar with your vehicle, you know what it's capable of and can use this opportunity to hit the gas and go as fast as you can. Run, change gears as you go through the track, and hit the accelerator deeper as you approach the finish line.

  Even if you're speeding, be careful to stay in your lane. Don't look at other cars, if you are competing with two, watch your own car and what you do. Crossing the halfway line is not only very dangerous, but usually you will be immediately disqualified

  

  Step 7. Follow proper slowdown etiquette

  Usually, at various tracks, there is a "track rule" label regarding the paths that can be used in a race lap. However, the general policy is for the slower car to stop immediately and leave behind the faster car. The two of you will then get off track and drive to the timekeeping.

  

  Step 8. Take notes of your time in this place

  After the race, you'll get the results, by receiving a slip that records your reaction time, total time and your top speed. On some tracks, these notes may also be displayed on a large scoreboard screen, but these are usually closer to the starting line for viewers to see.

  Part 4 of 4: Winning Races and Keeping Safe

  

  Step 1. Always put security first

  When you're really excited about the race track, it's easy to forget the most important part of a drag race: staying alive. Make sure you're aware of everyone on the track, around the track, and stay focused on completing the lap safely. If you are unsure about the race, not confident in your vehicle, or not comfortable with track conditions, leave the track.

  Your vehicle should always be inspected before participating in a drag race. A tire that explodes at 120 mph (190 km/h) is extremely dangerous, and losing control at that speed can be deadly. Be careful with extremes

  

  Step 2. Prepare for the investment by purchasing a Snell certified helmet

  The Snell Memorial Foundation was founded by William "Pete" Snell, an amateur racer who died in a racing event in 1956. His sophisticated helmet failed to protect him, and a number of his fellow racers, colleagues and friends gathered together. to seek to improve helmet design and capability. These helmets are now considered the standard helmet in the field of racing. If you want to participate in a drag race event, you need it.

  

  Step 3. Change gears at the right time

  The ideal time to change gears is when the curve of decreasing strength in low gears crosses the curve of increasing strength in high gears. Most drag racers will use a tachometer to closely monitor RPM and feel this sweet spot, just before the RPM moves to the red part of the gauge.

  • Many racers will also use an illuminated tachometer, which will turn on the light to indicate the optimal time to change gears. However, great racers usually anticipate this light, shifting gears by 200 to 300 RPM ahead of its ideal time for a smoother transition.
  • Drag races for vehicles with automatic transmissions also exist, but are less common. Vehicles with manual transmissions have a faster acceleration time if you can master the technique. If you want to take part in a drag race, practice changing your gears in a vehicle with a manual transmission.

  

  Step 4. Use a bald race wheel that has been adjusted to the right specifications

  If you want to master the track, buy special racing wheels for your vehicle. Patternless, bare racing wheels will ensure you get to know the track and increase engine efficiency.

  Contrary to popular belief, the lower wheel won't increase the time as much as rumored. While this may indeed increase the surface area of the wheels to a small degree, a wheel that is too low can cause the inside of the car's frame to wrinkle, which will have the opposite effect. Prepare the wheels in a pumped state to at least meet the minimum specifications for the class you wish to take

  

  Step 5. Drive at the "rhythm" created by the tracks of the other racers

  After a few laps on the race track, you'll start to notice some of the other car's rubber marks and splattered exhaust gases. Here comes the sweet spot. Clean asphalt will not have the traction that this rubber coating has. Follow the beat and speed along the track.

  Tips

  • Always use common sense when driving, and don't be afraid to ask the track staff if you are new to the sport or to a particular track.
  • Those who are mentally weak should not try this sport.
  • Use your time on the track as time to build your network and social circle of racing buddies. They may also have various tips and suggestions for your next race.

  Warning

  • Fatal injury is possible if the car is not controlled or crashes.
  • Cars can also explode in accidents.