- 26,911
- Houston, Texas, USA
- JMarine25
This thread is a spinoff of my oval racing thread with a similar title. We conquered the corners. Now we're going straight. Again, I'm not surprised if I get posts like the following:
"John, are you serious? Drag racing? Skills? What's next? Moped Skills?"
"John, it's simple. Go in a straight line."
Why isn't drag racing as easy as it looks? There's a number of issues including making sure your car hooks the track well, trying to control the car in traffic, and a little something we like to call... reaction times. Car varieties range from decent street car draggers all the way up to the big dogs in the NHRA. This is about discussing some of the different skills needed to go drag racing. As a note, I'd recommend discussion on racing on actual drag strips or at certain street-sanctioned events. NO illegal street racing in this discussion.
Now let me talk about what I've sort of learned by watching drag racing. I think a key to drag racing is having some close gear ratios so that you could go through the gears as best as possible without having to wait too long in one specific gear. It pays to have some smooth shifts. I think you have to have super-low aerodynamics. I've seen those low and long aftermarket rear wings for certain cars. It's about the best way to cut through the wind for what I know.
I have some questions regarding drag racing setup by drivetrain. Some of you fans of drag racing series which feature races for both front/FWD and front/RWD cars may know that racing them are different. For what I know, you're not able to translate power to the track as well with an FWD car. I think that any 4WD car drag racing will probably be a bit too heavy. You'll get the launch off the line and some of the traction, but it isn't too often you hear of 4WD drag racing since the 4WD makes the car heavier. All the muscle cars (generalization?) have a front/RWD configuration. Most were ready-made for this kind of stuff (unless you're also a fan of Trans-Am like I am). The hardest to drag race are mid/RWD and rear/RWD configurations. NOTE: For the purpose of this part of the discussion, I'm talking about mid-engined and rear-engined STREET cars, not top fuelers. I've seen some Porsches and the classic Beetles drag race. Most of these configuration machines have the rear wheels driving, but I think these cars have an imbalance at the rear which limits any real stability of these cars. It's the reason why back in 2000 or so, (I forgot his name) had an AEM-sponsored, purpose-built, Acura NSX drag car. The guy later had to move the engine to the front to get better grip of the track when going down the 1/4 mile. I even recall an episode of Speed Channel's "Pinks" program. The Season Finale to Season 2 featured a Honda CRX going up against a classic Volkswagen Beetle the final negotiation called for the VW Beetle to take off the rear drag racing wheels. The end result? If you are a fan of Pinks, then you know the VW Beetle crossed into the CRX's lane, almost hit him, and hit the opposite wall pretty hard. It can be pretty tough drag racing an engine modification that isn't front-engined.
This part is for top fuel drag cars now. Some of you fortunate enough to go racing in top fuel machines know what it's like- big ass rear tires, skinny front tires, small steering wheel... buckle up. Riding one of those things is like trying to tame a bronco or a Longhorn out here in Texas. I remembered one year I was watching a video demo of an NHRA Drag Racing game for the PC at a Wal-Mart once. Wal-Mart has serious inconsistencies in trying to have most of the electronics working properly, but that's another story. Anyhow, the video featured a top fuel drag car trying to make a pass down the block. If drag racing is so easy, then why did the demo racer miss a shift and almost veered into the wall? Not easy wrestling all those 6,000-something horses down the block for a five-second pass at 320 mph or more.
Finally, there's drag racing motorcycles. I've seen drag racing bikes ranging from tuned street bikes all the way up to pure speed demons in the NHRA and even in FIA drag racing. I'm not very good with motorcycle knowledge, so I'll leave motorcycle racing up to you. I think I've seen some Harleys in drag racing competition. The AMA has a drag racing series for a variety of motorcycles.
Well, go straight or go home. This is all about drag racing techniques and skills you would suggest for those looking to go drag racing. So have at it, people!
"John, are you serious? Drag racing? Skills? What's next? Moped Skills?"
"John, it's simple. Go in a straight line."
Why isn't drag racing as easy as it looks? There's a number of issues including making sure your car hooks the track well, trying to control the car in traffic, and a little something we like to call... reaction times. Car varieties range from decent street car draggers all the way up to the big dogs in the NHRA. This is about discussing some of the different skills needed to go drag racing. As a note, I'd recommend discussion on racing on actual drag strips or at certain street-sanctioned events. NO illegal street racing in this discussion.
Now let me talk about what I've sort of learned by watching drag racing. I think a key to drag racing is having some close gear ratios so that you could go through the gears as best as possible without having to wait too long in one specific gear. It pays to have some smooth shifts. I think you have to have super-low aerodynamics. I've seen those low and long aftermarket rear wings for certain cars. It's about the best way to cut through the wind for what I know.
I have some questions regarding drag racing setup by drivetrain. Some of you fans of drag racing series which feature races for both front/FWD and front/RWD cars may know that racing them are different. For what I know, you're not able to translate power to the track as well with an FWD car. I think that any 4WD car drag racing will probably be a bit too heavy. You'll get the launch off the line and some of the traction, but it isn't too often you hear of 4WD drag racing since the 4WD makes the car heavier. All the muscle cars (generalization?) have a front/RWD configuration. Most were ready-made for this kind of stuff (unless you're also a fan of Trans-Am like I am). The hardest to drag race are mid/RWD and rear/RWD configurations. NOTE: For the purpose of this part of the discussion, I'm talking about mid-engined and rear-engined STREET cars, not top fuelers. I've seen some Porsches and the classic Beetles drag race. Most of these configuration machines have the rear wheels driving, but I think these cars have an imbalance at the rear which limits any real stability of these cars. It's the reason why back in 2000 or so, (I forgot his name) had an AEM-sponsored, purpose-built, Acura NSX drag car. The guy later had to move the engine to the front to get better grip of the track when going down the 1/4 mile. I even recall an episode of Speed Channel's "Pinks" program. The Season Finale to Season 2 featured a Honda CRX going up against a classic Volkswagen Beetle the final negotiation called for the VW Beetle to take off the rear drag racing wheels. The end result? If you are a fan of Pinks, then you know the VW Beetle crossed into the CRX's lane, almost hit him, and hit the opposite wall pretty hard. It can be pretty tough drag racing an engine modification that isn't front-engined.
This part is for top fuel drag cars now. Some of you fortunate enough to go racing in top fuel machines know what it's like- big ass rear tires, skinny front tires, small steering wheel... buckle up. Riding one of those things is like trying to tame a bronco or a Longhorn out here in Texas. I remembered one year I was watching a video demo of an NHRA Drag Racing game for the PC at a Wal-Mart once. Wal-Mart has serious inconsistencies in trying to have most of the electronics working properly, but that's another story. Anyhow, the video featured a top fuel drag car trying to make a pass down the block. If drag racing is so easy, then why did the demo racer miss a shift and almost veered into the wall? Not easy wrestling all those 6,000-something horses down the block for a five-second pass at 320 mph or more.
Finally, there's drag racing motorcycles. I've seen drag racing bikes ranging from tuned street bikes all the way up to pure speed demons in the NHRA and even in FIA drag racing. I'm not very good with motorcycle knowledge, so I'll leave motorcycle racing up to you. I think I've seen some Harleys in drag racing competition. The AMA has a drag racing series for a variety of motorcycles.
Well, go straight or go home. This is all about drag racing techniques and skills you would suggest for those looking to go drag racing. So have at it, people!
