BY MANY REQUEST - HOW TO LAUNCH YOUR VIPER DRAG RACING TO OBTAIN 1.6\'S 60\'
I have received pm's and many email's asking how I'm able to obtain 1.6's for 60' times
drag racing. I figure I'll just list how I do a run. I by no means say this is
the best or only way to drag race it's just how I do it.
JMO on how to drag race.
To start with, I started racing when I was 16 with a car and 10 with a motorcycle.
As far as shifting that started with the motorcycle and it did help me when I
fisrt started racing my car at 16. I did alot of drag racing up until I was 20,
so yes that makes me 103 now,lol. I didn't race much until I turned 40 and my
wife bought me a used 96 corvette collector edition with the LT4 W/6SPEED, thats
all it took to get me back into it again. I'm on my 4th viper and did race the
others but I was much more of a POSER with the first 3.
Guess I got tired
of seeing all that power just sitting in my garage getting waxed,lol, with only
a shine in return. Enough of the background.
TIRE PRESSURE ***VERY IMPORTANT*** 24 PSI REAR / 40 PSI FRONT
When pulling up to the staging area to make a run NEVER drive through the water!
Go around it and back up just before you get to it. DO NOT DO A BURNOUT WITH PILOTS
OR RUN FLATS, simply spin the tires just to clean them off.
*** NEVER DRIVE FROM YOUR TACH (NO I'M NOT CRAZY)***
Lets address the tach issue first. When I started drag racing I didn't have a
tach (THANK GOD) which required me to feel when the car needed to be shifted.
NO CAR'S ENGINE IS THE EXACT SAME so if your tach shifting you will really never
get the most out of your car. Tach shifting also requires you to look down before
shifting which takes your eyes and concentration away from the track. I would
HIGHLY SUGGEST putting tape over your tach when learning how to drag race. The
worse that can happen is you will hit the rev limiter and when that happens get
your foot off the gas fast (ONLY A ***** WOULD KEEP HIS FOOT IN IT AND WATCH
IT GO KABOOM). You really need to get the feel of your own car, it takes some
time but it will tell you when to shift. I have never hit the rev limiter in my
2002 rt/10.
OK now after spinning the tires cleaning them off approach the tree slowly, try
to relax a little and don't think about the guy next to you. (run your own race)
At the line stage one light at a time. (thats why you stage slowly) when you light
up the second small stage light it tells the system your a go. If you light both
up at once it gives you no time to get ready. The first light just lets you know
your about a inch away from the start. when ready move forward until the second
light comes on.
Once I have both lights on and the other driver has both his on I start reving
my car VERY LIGHTLY. What I'm really doing is getting my timing together so when
the last yellow comes on THATS WHEN ITS TIME TO GO. At that point at the same time
my foot is coming off the clutch fast ( popping the clutch ) and my other
foot is flooring the gas. ( The car is at low rpm's at the start ) if my tires
start spinning i fade the gas back to compensate for it until it bites and when
it gets traction again I floor it and NEVER TAKE IT OFF THE FLOOR UNTIL I GO
THROUGH THE TRAPS. This takes alot of practice and once you get comfortable with
your car YOU WILL GET BETTER AT IT. I have no idea how guys can take the time and
contration at the line watching the tach and tree at the same time. ( bottom line
it cant be done) You can practice this at most parking lots on the weekends,
business parking lots not shopping centers,lol. YOU WILL BE SURPRIZED WITH YOUR
RESULTS after practicing.
***FAST TIMES REQUIRE SPEED SHIFTING***
For one's who dont know speed shifting is keeping the gas pedal floored while
shifting to the next gear.
lol. It's not as extreme as it sounds. Alot and i mean
ALOT of guys are scared to do it, they are the easy ones to beat.
If you miss a shift when speed shifting just get off the gas fast and if you hear
it hit the rev limiter pryor your still ok as long as your get off the gas ASAP
as in immediatly when it happens. Is there a chance you could BLOW IT UP ? yes
but there is also a chance the sun wont rize tommorrow as well.lol You can learn
how to speed shift without even using the gas pedal and going down the road you
live on. (REALLY) Try speed shifting with the car rolling along at idle. What your
trying to learn is the timing of clutch with shifting.( both have to be VERY fast ) After
you start feeling more confident start giving it some gas when doing
it. Try it at 2500 rpm's so even if you miss a shift nothing happens your just
not in gear,lol.
***IF YOU DONT SPEED SHIFT IT WILL EFFECT YOUR 60' TIMES***
After coming out of the hole (LMAO, THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT) it seems your shifting
to 2nd gear right away. (which you pretty much are) If the car breaks loose stay
in the gas and keep it pointed STRAIGHT, it will hook back up quick. KEEP IT FLOORED
Now you have just a little more time to think about your shift to 3rd which doesn't
come as fast as 2nd did.
***MAKE SURE WHEN SHIFTING TO 3RD YOUR MAINLY PUSHING THE SHIFTER WITH THE PALM
OF YOUR HAND, NOT SQUEEZING THE SHIFTER LIKE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND***
3rd gear seems to be where most miss a shift, including me. It's the hardest shift
of the race but rather easy once you practiced. Again don't let off the gas when
shifting to 3rd. (YOU CAN DO IT )
NOW IS THE MOST RELAXING FUN PART OF THE RACE IF YOU DID EVERYTHING RIGHT TO THIS
POINT.
It seems like time stops waiting for that shift to 4th pryor to the
traps. At this point you are really going fast plus you have the car floored and
still picking up speed. Again just because you will be going around 115 to 120mph
when you shift into 4th DON'T let off the gas. It's a very easy shift from 3rd to
4th. Remember even if you miss the shift you have time to get out of the gas. You will
have to shift into 4th gear pryor to the traps.
*** I SEE NO REASON YOU CANT GET YOUR CARS INTO THE 11'S IF YOU DO THIS ***
I live in Bel Air, MD and race alot at Cecil County Dragway so if you ever want
to hook up and go racing let me know. I will be happy to help anyone who wants some
help in learning how to become a better drag racer. Gen I and II's are 11 second
cars.
Again I posted this because I had alot of guys asking me how to launch their cars
so I figured I would just say it once. To the others FLAME ON my flame suit is on,lol.
tom
I have received pm's and many email's asking how I'm able to obtain 1.6's for 60' times
drag racing. I figure I'll just list how I do a run. I by no means say this is
the best or only way to drag race it's just how I do it.
JMO on how to drag race.
To start with, I started racing when I was 16 with a car and 10 with a motorcycle.
As far as shifting that started with the motorcycle and it did help me when I
fisrt started racing my car at 16. I did alot of drag racing up until I was 20,
so yes that makes me 103 now,lol. I didn't race much until I turned 40 and my
wife bought me a used 96 corvette collector edition with the LT4 W/6SPEED, thats
all it took to get me back into it again. I'm on my 4th viper and did race the
others but I was much more of a POSER with the first 3.
Guess I got tiredof seeing all that power just sitting in my garage getting waxed,lol, with only
a shine in return. Enough of the background.
TIRE PRESSURE ***VERY IMPORTANT*** 24 PSI REAR / 40 PSI FRONT
When pulling up to the staging area to make a run NEVER drive through the water!
Go around it and back up just before you get to it. DO NOT DO A BURNOUT WITH PILOTS
OR RUN FLATS, simply spin the tires just to clean them off.
*** NEVER DRIVE FROM YOUR TACH (NO I'M NOT CRAZY)***
Lets address the tach issue first. When I started drag racing I didn't have a
tach (THANK GOD) which required me to feel when the car needed to be shifted.
NO CAR'S ENGINE IS THE EXACT SAME so if your tach shifting you will really never
get the most out of your car. Tach shifting also requires you to look down before
shifting which takes your eyes and concentration away from the track. I would
HIGHLY SUGGEST putting tape over your tach when learning how to drag race. The
worse that can happen is you will hit the rev limiter and when that happens get
your foot off the gas fast (ONLY A ***** WOULD KEEP HIS FOOT IN IT AND WATCH
IT GO KABOOM). You really need to get the feel of your own car, it takes some
time but it will tell you when to shift. I have never hit the rev limiter in my
2002 rt/10.
OK now after spinning the tires cleaning them off approach the tree slowly, try
to relax a little and don't think about the guy next to you. (run your own race)
At the line stage one light at a time. (thats why you stage slowly) when you light
up the second small stage light it tells the system your a go. If you light both
up at once it gives you no time to get ready. The first light just lets you know
your about a inch away from the start. when ready move forward until the second
light comes on.
Once I have both lights on and the other driver has both his on I start reving
my car VERY LIGHTLY. What I'm really doing is getting my timing together so when
the last yellow comes on THATS WHEN ITS TIME TO GO. At that point at the same time
my foot is coming off the clutch fast ( popping the clutch ) and my other
foot is flooring the gas. ( The car is at low rpm's at the start ) if my tires
start spinning i fade the gas back to compensate for it until it bites and when
it gets traction again I floor it and NEVER TAKE IT OFF THE FLOOR UNTIL I GO
THROUGH THE TRAPS. This takes alot of practice and once you get comfortable with
your car YOU WILL GET BETTER AT IT. I have no idea how guys can take the time and
contration at the line watching the tach and tree at the same time. ( bottom line
it cant be done) You can practice this at most parking lots on the weekends,
business parking lots not shopping centers,lol. YOU WILL BE SURPRIZED WITH YOUR
RESULTS after practicing.
***FAST TIMES REQUIRE SPEED SHIFTING***
For one's who dont know speed shifting is keeping the gas pedal floored while
shifting to the next gear.
lol. It's not as extreme as it sounds. Alot and i meanALOT of guys are scared to do it, they are the easy ones to beat.
If you miss a shift when speed shifting just get off the gas fast and if you hear
it hit the rev limiter pryor your still ok as long as your get off the gas ASAP
as in immediatly when it happens. Is there a chance you could BLOW IT UP ? yes
but there is also a chance the sun wont rize tommorrow as well.lol You can learn
how to speed shift without even using the gas pedal and going down the road you
live on. (REALLY) Try speed shifting with the car rolling along at idle. What your
trying to learn is the timing of clutch with shifting.( both have to be VERY fast ) After
you start feeling more confident start giving it some gas when doing
it. Try it at 2500 rpm's so even if you miss a shift nothing happens your just
not in gear,lol.
***IF YOU DONT SPEED SHIFT IT WILL EFFECT YOUR 60' TIMES***
After coming out of the hole (LMAO, THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT) it seems your shifting
to 2nd gear right away. (which you pretty much are) If the car breaks loose stay
in the gas and keep it pointed STRAIGHT, it will hook back up quick. KEEP IT FLOORED
Now you have just a little more time to think about your shift to 3rd which doesn't
come as fast as 2nd did.
***MAKE SURE WHEN SHIFTING TO 3RD YOUR MAINLY PUSHING THE SHIFTER WITH THE PALM
OF YOUR HAND, NOT SQUEEZING THE SHIFTER LIKE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND***
3rd gear seems to be where most miss a shift, including me. It's the hardest shift
of the race but rather easy once you practiced. Again don't let off the gas when
shifting to 3rd. (YOU CAN DO IT
)NOW IS THE MOST RELAXING FUN PART OF THE RACE IF YOU DID EVERYTHING RIGHT TO THIS
POINT.
It seems like time stops waiting for that shift to 4th pryor to thetraps. At this point you are really going fast plus you have the car floored and
still picking up speed. Again just because you will be going around 115 to 120mph
when you shift into 4th DON'T let off the gas. It's a very easy shift from 3rd to
4th. Remember even if you miss the shift you have time to get out of the gas. You will
have to shift into 4th gear pryor to the traps.
*** I SEE NO REASON YOU CANT GET YOUR CARS INTO THE 11'S IF YOU DO THIS ***
I live in Bel Air, MD and race alot at Cecil County Dragway so if you ever want
to hook up and go racing let me know. I will be happy to help anyone who wants some
help in learning how to become a better drag racer. Gen I and II's are 11 second
cars.
Again I posted this because I had alot of guys asking me how to launch their cars
so I figured I would just say it once. To the others FLAME ON my flame suit is on,lol.
tom
