Im going to be going to the track tom night and i cant wait. One stupid question, i know i need a helmet but besides that is there any rules on clothing, like is it ok to wear shorts?? it is so bloody hot out that im not going outside in jeans unless i have too. Anyway besides that any tips for a first timer would be greatly appretiated, i dont know what to expect as far as times so we shall see.

Also i put on a set of kumho ecsta mx tires in place of the stock all season tires if that matters...

Im going to be going to the track tom night and i cant wait. One stupid question, i know i need a helmet but besides that is there any rules on clothing, like is it ok to wear shorts?? it is so bloody hot out that im not going outside in jeans unless i have too. Anyway besides that any tips for a first timer would be greatly appretiated, i dont know what to expect as far as times so we shall see.

You have to wear pants or they will kick you out. Practice makes perfect.

You have to wear pants or they will kick you out. Practice makes perfect.

I am kinda worried about taking my GTO to the track also. I have never had a manual car that I have seriously raced, and with wheelhop, the GTO looks to be a challange. I am excited though!

As for pants, I always just wear nylon track pants...much cooler.

If you encounter wheel hop just don't launch as hard, lower RPM, let the clutch out slower, change your tire PSI...only way to really learn is to do it yourself.

Cool. Thanks for the info. I will let you know how i do.

I am kinda worried about taking my GTO to the track also. I have never had a manual car that I have seriously raced, and with wheelhop, the GTO looks to be a challange. I am excited though!

As for pants, I always just wear nylon track pants...much cooler.

As far as wheel hop is concerned, I would recommend the BMR Drag Bags. For me, the drag bags have eliminated wheel hop. At the right inflation pressure (for me 17 psi), the goat feels like it has a solid rear axle. For about $100 it is hard to beat. If deciding to install the drag bags, make sure you have a spring compression tool. Don't try doing the install with a pry bar...what a pain that was. Obviously this is only a band-aid fix for wheel hop, but it works.

-K

Well here are the results... 2 runs. first run nervous ass hell being my first time and all... forgot to take off tc had a slow ass rx time and ran a 13.2 @107. Second run with tc off i pretty much duplicated the first time, maybe a hundreth or two quicker. I was hot as hell and im sure the engine was pulling timing back like crazy so for my first time ever at a track im pretty satisfied. Next time i will mess with my tire pressure and buy some ice to try to cool the temp sensor/ intake down before i run it.. let me know what you guys think... I will post my slip this weekend im too tired now

Thats pretty good with your mods and the temps! Keep us posted if you go again!

Well here are the results... 2 runs. first run nervous ass hell being my first time and all... forgot to take off tc had a slow ass rx time and ran a 13.2 @107. Second run with tc off i pretty much duplicated the first time, maybe a hundreth or two quicker. I was hot as hell and im sure the engine was pulling timing back like crazy so for my first time ever at a track im pretty satisfied. Next time i will mess with my tire pressure and buy some ice to try to cool the temp sensor/ intake down before i run it.. let me know what you guys think... I will post my slip this weekend im too tired now
Nice run...especially for being the first time taking the goat to the track. What method of launch did you employ? (Also, have you had your car tuned, or at least dynoed?) - edit: I see that your car has been tuned...do you have the results from your tuning?

BTW: I am still trying to get BRMike to go with me to No Problem Raceway. I am really not interested in doing the whole Bracket Racing thing. Instead, I would much rather go out on a Wednesday evening for test and tune. It would be nice to get a baseline idea of where I am under a controlled environment.

-K

Check my one post a while back... I made i think 366 on like the 4th or 5th run on a 90 degree day, with the engine starting to get major heat soak issues. I was trying to keep it below 2000 rpm and feather the clutch but im sure with my nerves i didnt do much feathering.... anyway im sure you and i could brake 13 on the right day with a perfect launch...

Do you guys powershift (not take foot off the gas when you shift)? I have never raced a manual car, so I am learning here. I am guessing you only need third at the most. Also, at the line, what do you do? Let the cluth out just enough that the car wants to roll, but the breaks are holding it back, they stomp it when the lights go?

I feel dumb...I have been racing for 7 years, but never a manual.

Check my one post a while back... I made i think 366 on like the 4th or 5th run on a 90 degree day, with the engine starting to get major heat soak issues. I was trying to keep it below 2000 rpm and feather the clutch but im sure with my nerves i didnt do much feathering.... anyway im sure you and i could brake 13 on the right day with a perfect launch...

Getting that perfect launch is the key. I suspect that my 60' times would be mighty high because of nervousness, and that would obviously lead to a heavy right foot. ;)

-K

Do you guys powershift (not take foot off the gas when you shift)? I have never raced a manual car, so I am learning here. I am guessing you only need third at the most. Also, at the line, what do you do? Let the cluth out just enough that the car wants to roll, but the breaks are holding it back, they stomp it when the lights go?

I feel dumb...I have been racing for 7 years, but never a manual.
I have not taken my baby to the track yet, but I have been known to, I call it, speed shift during a spirited ride around town. I find doing this will help me keep the RPM's up a bit going from one gear to another. Besides, it sounds cool when you hear the tires chirp going into 4th gear. :D

-K

Do you guys powershift (not take foot off the gas when you shift)? I have never raced a manual car, so I am learning here. I am guessing you only need third at the most. Also, at the line, what do you do? Let the cluth out just enough that the car wants to roll, but the breaks are holding it back, they stomp it when the lights go?

I feel dumb...I have been racing for 7 years, but never a manual.

You don't want to be on the breaks at all, just gas and clutch. Raise the RPM up a bit, and let the clutch out. Don't begin to let it out untill you get the green, then depending on if you have wheel hop or you bog the engine change your launching RPM. IF you feel the clutch begin to slip then try letting it out faster, if your bogging, try letting it out slower.


I, who has recently rebuilt a transmission, would strongly recommend NOT powershifting, it may net some better times but it will destroy your transmission eventually. It isn't a big deal now, but down the road when your forking out over a grand it will be. I suggest not doing it at all.