Tips at Drag Strip??

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Old 07-27-2001, 01:27 PM
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Thumbs up Tips at Drag Strip??

Im heading to the drag strip tomorrow in Baton Rouge, LA in my TL-S and want to get some advice from you guys before i mess up or anything.
Old 07-27-2001, 01:38 PM
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Talking

Make sure when the tree goes green you step on the gas!!

Seriously though.... I've read everything from removing the spare, to only having a 1/4 tank of gas, to removing the rear seat. People with an intake have also put ice by the opening so you're guaranteed to have the intake pulling in cold air.....
Old 07-27-2001, 02:16 PM
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Originally posted by juniorbean
Make sure when the tree goes green you step on the gas!!

Seriously though.... I've read everything from removing the spare, to only having a 1/4 tank of gas, to removing the rear seat. People with an intake have also put ice by the opening so you're guaranteed to have the intake pulling in cold air.....
Line up and power brake till 22000rpm or 25000 than release on the three yellow. If stock tires leave the vsa on. Use D1, shift to d2, than d3. Sport shift don't work for me. yeah and get rid of all the extra weight. spare tire but if you want to go super crazy just take out the intake and run it with nothing

Mr.T
Old 07-27-2001, 03:26 PM
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Originally posted by Mr.T


Line up and power brake till 22000rpm or 25000 than release on the three yellow
Heh....now *that's* gonna be one heLLe of a sound....
Old 07-29-2001, 03:11 PM
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Too late . . for a response.

But for next time . . . and IMHO

Start with these two and get them down first. Like with anything, it takes practice and you don't want to think about 20 + things. You won't get it right the first dozen or so times anyway.

Before you ever get to the point where you line up start watching the xmas tree when other drivers are staging. Start counting down with the light in your mind and imagine yourself letting off the brake and mashing the throttle down. Do this 10-20 times until you have a rhythm down. Then focus on when the last yellow light goes out before the green goes on. For the best reaction times you are going to launch before the green comes on. Between the average person's reaction times and the capabilities of our cars you might even be able to launch on the last yellow. I don't know since I've never raced a stock car at a drag strip before. Only heavily modified V8s. Most races are won and lost at the light. If you should red light, don't worry. Practice.

Second. Work on getting your shifts down. You only have two, but by either over-reving or under-reving you aren't making the most of your cars powerband. Since these aren't highly tuned transmissions it's going to be hard to get a consistent shift at say 6900RPM. Assuming you know how to read your time slip you can make a few passes shifting at slightly different RPM and see if it makes much of a difference. But remember, if you aren't consistent on your shifts you'll just be guessing. Also keep in mind that track, temperature, engine temperature, car weight, and such can and will vary between each pass. Some of this you can control, some not. These too will effect your runs.

Oh, before all this. Ignore the other person next to you. They don't exist. It's just you and your car against the light and the track. This is a very important point.

You may also want to check with SSMAN66 as he has run his TLS on a track and may have better recommendations for "stock"cars. As I said, my track days were with competition class cars and they were probably more difficult to manage than our stock or slightly modified car.

Either way - have a great time. I can't wait till fall to go test mine out.

RUF
Old 07-29-2001, 03:56 PM
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What class are you running the car in? I went to the new track in Donaldsonville but not with the TL-S... Let us know how you did!!!!
Old 07-29-2001, 07:04 PM
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well..i couldn't make it to the track because my friends Super AFC didn't come in for his Celica GT-S. Hoping to run soon though.
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