Ok when your at the track (1/8 mile here :( ) And you line up for the sensor, do you hold the handbrake while you have the clutch pressed down and in 1st gear? I noticed when I was watching them race that if they moved a tiny bit it would give them a false start.

Is that what you have to do so you car doesnt "roll" away as your waiting to go?

Also I heard you should start going right after the 2nd to last light, lights because your reaction will be too slow if you wait for the last GO light?

Many drag racers use a Lineloc to hold the car's brakes while on the line. It's an electronic solenoid in the brake line controlled by a switch, usually mounted on the gear shift. That way you can have one foot on the clutch and the other on the gas.

Drag strips should have a level surface for the starting area. So, the car shouldn't roll.

You'll have to experiment on the tree to see when you want to leave. Whether you stage shallow or deep has an effect on the possibility of a red light too. If you stage shallow, you can drop the hammer sooner without red lighting. If you stage deep, you'll break the timing beam sooner.

I always staged shallow. Then, I'd either leave when the last yellow came on or when the next to last yellow went out. A very small distinction. Depended on the track and the car's ability to launch that day.

Jay

They are probably rolling forward because they have they are trying to get their clutch right at the engagement point.

Originally posted by vjlax18
They are probably rolling forward because they have they are trying to get their clutch right at the engagement point.

Ya that's how I will "launch". Makes it a lot easier to get a smooth transition with the clutch and it doesnt bog then.

Should I leave the spare in or no?

Take the spare out.

You shouldn't need to brake to hold your spot as you practice and get a feel for the clutch engagement, etc.

Using the e-brake in a car with a manual would mess you up on your launch anyway.

Line-locking an auto is easier, produces good launch results, but also kills your torque convertor.

With a stick, just practice and get a feel for when it's gonna grab, if you start to roll for any reason, you can use the heel of your right foot to just barely rest up against the brake pedal to hold you in place, but make sure the toes/ball of your right foot keeps the gas nice and even (takes practice).

Ok, my last question is powershifting better/faster than regular? I've tried it a couple times and it "felt" the same to me acceleration wise, maybe a lil bit faster but it is bad for the clutch.

If by "powershifting" you mean upshifting sans clutch, it can be faster, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you have it down pat...

Jay, I always thought deep staging was with only one staging light on...

When I used to drag (just for fun), I would see cars with DEEP written on the window. I was told that this signaled the starter than the car was only going to "pre stage" (1 light), so he would know to start the tree at that point, and not wait around for him to "stage" (2 lights). I observed this to be true as well.

I think yoiu may have your shallow and deep mixed up.....or maybe it is the opposite in Oregon? LOL. Tim

Deep stage = further from the line.

Shallow stage = right on the line.

Tim-

Shallow staging is when you light the pre-stage light and then just tickle the stage light (2nd or lower light). Deep staging is when you go in, light both lights and then go in further until you almost turn out the pre-stage light. I've never seen a drag strip that used the "DEEP" on the window. But, it's been a long time since I drag raced.

My guess is it would be so the starter didn't start the tree before the guy was actually staged the way he wanted to be. I'm not positive, but I believe if you roll out of the 1st light, you'll get the immediate big red eye. Not sure about that though.

The advantage of shallow staging is that you get a rolling start at breaking the start beam. That means better ET. The advantage to deep staging is that you may have a physical head start over your competitor. Unless he deep stages too. But, deep staging is red light time. Less of a problem on a pro tree. It's harder for them to anticipate the green because they only get one yellow, then green.

Jay

Tim-

This is pirated off the NHRA web site. It doesn't say whether both staging lights have to be lit to avoid a red light but it does make reference to staging too deeply.

RED LIGHT: When a car leaves the starting line before the green light comes on, or, in some cases, is staged too deeply into the staging beams, the red light will flash in that lane. It indicates the driver in that lane has been disqualified. During competition, only one red light will illuminate, thus eliminating only the first offender.

Jay

Great stuff, Jay!