I think this weekend im gonna head to the track and run my car for the first time (97 del sol w/ b16 and aem cai) anyone have any tips for a 1st timer??

 

First advice I can give is watch other people Stage. There's nothing worse then watching someone go back and forth because they can't stage there car. Other than that drop tire pressure to 24-26psi launch around 5,200 if stock's and just make smooth shifts. Have fun that's really what we do this for right.

 

Go to the track a little early and watch other people race, watch their technique. Learn where where everything is (where you stage at, where the traps are at the end, where the e.t. shack is, return road, etc.

Your first time up to race, don't go out and try to set a world record. Do the first pass just for your own experience, and to get the nervousness out of your system.

And if you have any questions, just ask the track officials. They know you're a newbie and they are there to help you. Most of all just go out and have fun

 

when staged (both double yellow lights are lit up on the top of the light tree) the leave on the 3rd yellow... if you leave on the green light at the bottom, you're leaving too late and your R/T will be 1.xxx+... .500 is a perfect reaction time.. Have fun...

Other tips:

* If you have adjustable shocks: turn front all the way soft, back all the way hard
* If you have coilovers: front lowered, back all the way up
* Stock Tires: start at 25psi, once your confident with your starts then every 2-3 or so passes, lower the pressure 2psi until you start seeing your final MPH getting slower... once it starts to slow down, raise your tire pressure up 1-2 psi.
* You wanna try and spin your tires up to the 60' mark, if your spinning too much further than that, lower your RPM's on the launch
* FINALLY: Try to race against your own times... beat your own times, don't focus on who your racing against cause you'll usually run slower than you would if you were trying to beat your own times...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crex23 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Go to the track a little early and watch other people race, watch their technique. Learn where where everything is (where you stage at, where the traps are at the end, where the e.t. shack is, return road, etc.

Your first time up to race, don't go out and try to set a world record. Do the first pass just for your own experience, and to get the nervousness out of your system.

And if you have any questions, just ask the track officials. They know you're a newbie and they are there to help you. Most of all just go out and have fun </TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree 100%. Don't be afraid or discouraged your first time out if you don't run as well as you thougth you where. It's just like anything else, practice, practice, practice. And definitely if you are in question about something, ask the track official and/or your fellow racers. Trust me, once it's in your system you are gonna be hooked. It's all about having a good time... enjoy

 

Some very good info.
You will be very nervous. I was, and I still get nervous, just not as much. Go very slow while staging. Make sure you go around the waterbox, you'll know what it is when you see it. Concentrate on shifts and going straight, I've wandered towards the wall before and didn't want to correct so I wouldn't lose control, it was scary.

Give you car an inspection between each run, make sure everything is intact. I lost a grill once. Analyze your timeslips.

Have fun, it's addictive, so be careful!

 

have fun with it

 

Most important is saftey.! The only thing i can tell you is dont be nervous. Adrenalin feels good. make sure there arent alot of people watching you. trust me on your first pass will be your most memorable.