STUFF YOU NEED TO BRING

Before you leave for the drag strip there a few items that should always accompany you on your trip.

Accurate tire pressure gauge
This little piece is a valuable item to ensure that your tire pressure is equalized, which is important for running at the track at high speeds.

Tools, Tools, Tools!!
These can’t be stressed enough! You need tools for everything, from changing your tires to changing spark plugs. The point is, you never know, so bring up as much as you can.

Extra gas
This isn’t something that is needed, but is something to consider. Getting to the track with as little fuel as possible will ensure your vehicle is as light as it can be to achieve those times you want, and the extra gas will get you to the nearest gas station on your way home.

Pen
This may sound funny, but there’s nothing worse than wanting to race but not being able to because you can’t fill out your tech card. And running around the pit area begging to borrow someone’s pen looks silly.

Car jack and jack stands
Items that not everybody has, or has room for, but is something that’s useful at the track especially if you’re changing tires or have to do any kind of mechanical repair.

Dial up
This stuff is great. If you have ever had to write a “dial in” number on your vehicle like they do at the track then this stuff is your saving grace. Unlike traditional shoe polish this stuff wipes off at the end of the day. Using anything but this stuff will cause you to spend an hour trying to clean your windows. The name of the product is as I said “Dial up”.

Suntan lotion
A long day out in the sun at the track can take its toll on your skin. Speaking from experience, if you take only one of these items to the track with you, and you burn easily, take the suntan lotion. You’ll thank me later.

SAFETY ITEMS AND DEVICES

Before you head down the strip for the first time there are a few things related to safety that you must know and have before you can run.

Snell approved helmet
All racers that run 13.99 or quicker are required to have a proper helmet, and that it’s worn during the entire run.

Driveshaft loop for rear wheel drive cars
This rule states that you need a driveshaft loop if you’re running 13.99 or quicker on slicks, or 13.00 or faster on street tires (NHRA rules), and that the loop must be within 6” of the front u-joint on your driveshaft.

Safety shut off switch
If your battery has been relocated to the rear of your vehicle or anywhere other than the stock location, a shut off switch that is clearly visible on the rear of your vehicle is required.

Nitrous safety
If you’re running nitrous there a few things that are required and a few things that shouldn’t be overlooked. The track will require you to have the bottle securely fastened and if the bottle is located inside the vehicle a blow down tube that directs expelled nitrous outside the vehicle must be present on your bottle. A few other safety items to be considered for your safety and your engines safety are, fuel pressure shut off switch, and a window switch. And a fire extinguisher isn’t a bad idea either.

Roll cages
A 6 point roll cage is required by both sanctioning bodies (NHRA - IHRA) if you run 11.49 or quicker, or 13.99 or quicker if you have a convertible.

Other things to remember when racing is to keep your windows up at all times, don’t run your air conditioning while in the staging lanes (AC condenser drips water on the pavement and can spell trouble to fast cars on slicks) , and make sure your equipment is up to par and in good mechanical repair.

Everywhere you go the rules are a bit different. I’m just trying to hit on the rules that would pertain to most drivers. Not every track will inspect your vehicle as good as the next track. And not every track will enforce all these rules, but they are good to know and can save a bunch of headaches if they are followed.

TRACK COURTESY

This is an issue that most don’t understand or sometimes even know about.

Driving around the water box
The water box is the area that you pull into to do your burnout. Unless you have a pair of skinny racing tires on the front of your vehicle it is recommended that you pull around the water box and back into the water to do your burnout. Unless of course you have a front wheel drive vehicle than this cannot be prevented. Driving straight through the water with regular tires can drag water out of the water box and prevents slick tired race cars from completely drying their rear wheels off, and this can cause accidents to happen! Pulling around the water box prevents your front tires from dragging water out of the box and keeps everything dry.

Courtesy staging
Assuming we all know how the “Christmas tree” works at the strip I can explain to you the act of courtesy staging. When pulling up to stage your vehicle and prepare to race, the act of courtesy staging comes into play. In the spirit of fairness one should only “pre-stage” their vehicle if your first to the line and wait for the other competitor to pull up to the line and “pre-stage” their vehicle before proceeding and fully staging your vehicle. This is simply to give time to the other competitor to be ready for the race, THIS IS NOT A RULE, but it’s courtesy at the track. We all want a fair race and if someone did it to you at the track you’d be a bit pissed too.

Breakages on the track
This is something we never want to think about but it happens when racing. If a breakage happens while on the track pull over immediately and stop as close to the guardrail as you can and as quickly as you can without being unsafe! Pulling over prevents anything leaking from your vehicle from getting onto the racing surface and makes the track cleanup much quicker.

Pulling off the track at the end of the race
This pretty much explains itself, but exiting the track at the end of the race can be confusing. Basically whoever gets to the exit first can pull off the track first, just check your mirrors to make sure the guy next to you is stopping before you pull in front of him or her to get off the track. If you both get to the exit at the same time, give the right of way to the competitor who has the inside lane.

That’s pretty much it boys and girls. Just remember above all to have fun! It is after all the reason we drive our vehicles…. To have fun!

Evildime & Steve40