Drag racing noob looking for answers

**JarZ** · 10-29-2007, 05:21 PM

Hey guys.

One of the things I look forward to the most after getting the Magnum is meeting up with some of you locals at M&G's in the area, but besides that, I would love to go drag racing one in a while. The problem is that I have never done that before - as a matter of a fact, I haven't been to any drag strip in nearly 20 years - that says a lot since I'm 28.

So I'm a total noob when it comes to that. Which place is the most popular when you guys go out? Raceway Park? There is another strip in E-town, right? I'm not sure of the name though or aware what the difference is, if any, between the two. I'm assuming those two are the closest to me (northern NJ).

What do I need to know? How much does it cost to race? Should my first time there be just to look and check it out or is it "simple" enough for a first-timer to race without a problem? What the hell does DA mean and what difference does it make if it's high or low?

Just you wait - there's a 15 sec. 1/4 mile waiting for me!!!

**SublimeTime** · 10-29-2007, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by JarZ

Hey guys.

One of the things I look forward to the most after getting the Magnum is meeting up with some of you locals at M&G's in the area, but besides that, I would love to go drag racing one in a while. The problem is that I have never done that before - as a matter of a fact, I haven't been to any drag strip in nearly 20 years - that says a lot since I'm 28.

So I'm a total noob when it comes to that. Which place is the most popular when you guys go out? Raceway Park? There is another strip in E-town, right? I'm not sure of the name though or aware what the difference is, if any, between the two. I'm assuming those two are the closest to me (northern NJ).

What do I need to know? How much does it cost to race? Should my first time there be just to look and check it out or is it "simple" enough for a first-timer to race without a problem? What the hell does DA mean and what difference does it make if it's high or low?

Just you wait - there's a 15 sec. 1/4 mile waiting for me!!!

You've come to the right place Jarz. These guys are the ones to ask. Englishtown seems to be the fav. I understand ATCO is close by. I'm not from that area so the Jerzeeee guys can tell you that. Forget watching. Pay the fee, (20-30 I believe), tech the car, and get ready to have fun. They have a few race days at E Town during the season. These guys will be chiming in soon with tons of advice i'm sure. Good luck.

Gary N

**QBNKID** · 10-29-2007, 05:41 PM

JarZ, the closest 1/4 mile track for you would be Raceway Park in Englishtown (E-Town), the other tracks we have around but not as close or as big as RP are Atco, NJ and Island in Hope, NJ. As you can see in this forum the one that we meet the most in is E-Town.

You don't need to go watch first, just go and line up next to what they put next to you. All you need to know is that you have to roll your car up to the stage light tree to get your two stage yellow lights, see them come down and as you see the last yellow (don't wait for the green) step on it. The track staff will help you with that so don't worry, if we are around we will show you how to overthere.

Is about $25 to race and I think expectators are $12
You'll need a helmet to race, no matter how fast or slow your car is, you'll need long pants too. That's basically it.

DA means Density Altitude, the higher the slower you'll run, the lower the faster you'll run, there's a few online calculators to correct the times once you get more into it.

What LX do you have?

A few of us are going to E-Town on 11/2, 11/11 and 11/17, let us know if you want to join us overthere one of those days.

**JarZ** · 10-29-2007, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by QBNKID

What LX do you have?

A few of us are going to E-Town on 11/2, 11/11 and 11/17, let us know if you want to join us overthere one of those days.

Actually I don't have one yet, but I'm buying a Magnum R/T in the beginning of 2008 so after that I'll be looking to go.

**QBNKID** · 10-29-2007, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by JarZ

Actually I don't have one yet, but I'm buying a Magnum R/T in the beginning of 2008 so after that I'll be looking to go.

No problem, feel free to go and be an expectator on this days then, you'll and meet some of us, this way you'll know what to expect once you hit the track with the Magnum R/T.

**SublimeTime** · 10-29-2007, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by QBNKID

Is about $25 to race and I think expectators are $12
You'll need a helmet to race, no matter how fast or slow your car is, you'll need long pants too. That's basically it.

.

Hey QB, I thought if you didn't go faster then 13.99 you didn't need one? I know it's a good idea to have one anyway. Enlighten me please. The also rent them at E-Town, correct?Thanks.

**Carfinish** · 10-29-2007, 07:19 PM

read this for some education

Want to break 14 How

good thread to get the basics for our cars

E-town.... 30 bucks at the door...you have to have a helmet, period...below 14.0 you have to have a snell 2005 approved head cover...be it full face or not...wear long pants, it will be cold now and in spring and is actually required by the track. (Allevon should chime in soon

) .....also t-shirt, jacket...no wife beaters

If you are coming down on 11/17 get there around 8 to 8:30 gates will open @ 9. if you are an Expectator

...get there any time in the morning

Stell

**TPBNANA-1606** · 10-29-2007, 08:36 PM

I think this as good a reason than any to go to the track right???????
I'm in for Friday night anyone else.

DAMN IT,DAMN IT,DAMN IT...
Just remembered a Show this weekend oh well,next fridays good too.

**QBNKID** · 10-30-2007, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by SublimeTime

Hey QB, I thought if you didn't go faster then 13.99 you didn't need one? I know it's a good idea to have one anyway. Enlighten me please. The also rent them at E-Town, correct?Thanks.

Sublime, Raceway Park is known to be very strict with rules and I agree with them totally. I believe they enforce NHRA rules and they have their own or state rules that they follow.

The helmet rule like Stell mentioned is just like that, for cars that run 14.00 or slower drivers still need a helmet but don't have to be snell 2005 rated. For faster than 14.00 they need a snell 2005 helmet.

Other tracks are not that strict or strict at all, for example I was just talking to a friend of mine that goes to Lebanon Valley in upstate NY and he told me you can even ride with a passenger and no need to wear a helmet, not sure to who this rules aply to but he drives a mid 15s jeep.

Originally Posted by Carfinish

read this for some education

Want to break 14 How

good thread to get the basics for our cars

E-town.... 30 bucks at the door...you have to have a helmet, period...below 14.0 you have to have a snell 2005 approved head cover...be it full face or not...wear long pants, it will be cold now and in spring and is actually required by the track. (Allevon should chime in soon

) .....also t-shirt, jacket...no wife beaters

If you are coming down on 11/17 get there around 8 to 8:30 gates will open @ 9. if you are an Expectator

...get there any time in the morning

Stell

Yeah... Allevon should chime in soon... He tried to race once with speedos and a tang-top, they almost kicked him out...

Originally Posted by TPBNANA-1606

I think this as good a reason than any to go to the track right???????
I'm in for Friday night anyone else.

DAMN IT,DAMN IT,DAMN IT...
Just remembered a Show this weekend oh well,next fridays good too.

Ohh well Steve... I'll probably be racing my wife's jeep on Friday. This will be the first time for my wife's jeep at the track, is a 2002 GC with a 4.7L V8 bone stock.
I'll see what it runs before I add next week CAI, full exhaust, TB, Superchips, Addco antisway bars front & back. Then I'll take it back to the track...

Yes this is her jeep and I have nothing to do with modding it this way, this is what she asked me to get for her... I think she wants to keep up with my jeep or something... lol, must be the pregnancy hormones...

Sorry to the OP for getting a little off topic here...

Back to topic...
JarZ, just let us know when you're going... must likely one of us will be there.

**KWhale** · 10-30-2007, 02:08 AM

I don't want to hi-jack here, but this is related to new guys going to the track. I was wondering how your car insurance works at the track if you scrape the wall or something? Is this basically a "you're on your own" situation because you are racing your car? Just curious, and I bet a lot of people haven't thought about it, and might be caught unaware if there is no insurance. Thanks, and I now return you to your regular non-hijacked thread

**nhdave** · 10-30-2007, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by KWhale

I don't want to hi-jack here, but this is related to new guys going to the track. I was wondering how your car insurance works at the track if you scrape the wall or something? Is this basically a "you're on your own" situation because you are racing your car? Just curious, and I bet a lot of people haven't thought about it, and might be caught unaware if there is no insurance. Thanks, and I now return you to your regular non-hijacked thread

No hi-jack at all, in fact a good question!

While there are a few unscrupulous people around (not in our groups

) that may try to make a claim, be it insurance or warranty, legally you definitely are on your own if anything happens at the track.

**JarZ** · 10-30-2007, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by nhdave

No hi-jack at all, in fact a good question!

While there are a few unscrupulous people around (not in our groups

) that may try to make a claim, be it insurance or warranty, legally you definitely are on your own if anything happens at the track.

That's good info as well - figured as much. No auto-crossing for me then!

I'm thinking a mostly stock car shouldn't be too risky, but if you're pushing 500 RWHP maybe you could get sideways. It's understandable the insurance companies wouldn't cover at racing events.

**QBNKID** · 10-30-2007, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by KWhale

I don't want to hi-jack here, but this is related to new guys going to the track. I was wondering how your car insurance works at the track if you scrape the wall or something? Is this basically a "you're on your own" situation because you are racing your car? Just curious, and I bet a lot of people haven't thought about it, and might be caught unaware if there is no insurance. Thanks, and I now return you to your regular non-hijacked thread

There is a disclaimer we all have to sign at the E-Town entrance stating pretty much we are responsible for our cars, I think that's fair for them and for us since we are doing this as a hobbie, something we enjoy and we know it's pretty safe with our cars.
I have never seen a 12 to 15 sec or slower car loose control and hit the wall, which are the range in seconds of the cars in our group, with the exception of a few in the 11s, I'm not saying that it can not happen but is very rare, I think is more likely we brake something than to hit a wall and that's also rare.
The only time I've seen people loose control (on a straight line 1/4 mile), is with 10 sec or faster cars, some of this cars the front wheels lift off the ground, G forces, traction difference from one rear tire to the other and other factor that can take place are the cause for such things to happen. I still haven't seen any LX or jeep lift the front wheels off the ground and go 10 seconds or faster (I'm working on that thou... LOL j/k

).

**6bblbird** · 11-03-2007, 08:40 PM

Clarification: Minimum Snell certification would be K-98 or Snell 2000.
The K-98s will expire in 2009 while the Snell 2000s will expire in 2012.
The rules requiring helmets for drivers slower than 13.99 and the rule banning passengers are old rules that were established by the N.J. State Motor Racing Commission. Those are state laws, not track rules.
WTF

**TPBNANA-1606** · 11-03-2007, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by 6bblbird

Clarification: Minimum Snell certification would be K-98 or Snell 2000.
The K-98s will expire in 2009 while the Snell 2000s will expire in 2012.
The rules requiring helmets for drivers slower than 13.99 and the rule banning passengers are old rules that were established by the N.J. State Motor Racing Commission. Those are state laws, not track rules.
WTF

Good to see you on WTF....Passengers would be cool,but i don't want the added weight,i'd probably bootem out half way to get a better time.LOL