How to Drag Race: Car Setup, Driving Techniques, Bracket Racing and Pro Classes

How to Drag Race will show you all aspects of this popular sport, one that is attracting more drivers to its ranks than any other motorsport in the U.S. You'll learn how to avoid rookie mistakes and other common pitfalls, which will make your drag racing experience safer, more fun and rewarding. This book is an indispensable resource for any aspiring drag racer, or the experienced one who wants a refresher course. Learn how to launch from the line, plus what you'll need in order to maintain, tune and set up your drag car. The book includes more than 300 b&w photos and illustrations covering things such as performing a burnout, staging, launching, racing electronics, safety equipment, and more. The book also includes a section dedicated to bracket racing, which is the most popular form of drag racing. Plus run and logbook sheets so you can keep complete and accurate records.

Book Excerpt

HOW TO GET STARTED IN DRAG RACING

FIRST-TIME EXPECTATIONS To be blunt, one thing you should not expect during your first trip to the drag races is a victory, but you most likely will have a blast cutting your ride loose on a race track. While there certainly is something to be said for beginner's luck, and there are documented cases of competitors winning the first time out, the reality is that you will likely be racing against competitors who have much more experience than you do. Until you have made a few runs and accumulated some knowledge, you'll be the underdog. With this in mind, don't be discouraged if you're eliminated early. Your first trip to the races is basically a learning experience and should be treated as such. If you happen to lose early, you might want to hang out and watch for a while. You can learn a lot just by sitting in the grandstands. In future chapters, we'll cover some basic mistakes made by beginners and how to recognize and reduce them. Like any other competitive endeavor, drag racing requires a lot of practice to be successful. Watching from the stands is helpful and a great way to gather information, but nothing beats on-the-job training. Above all else, your first experience at the drag strip should be fun and should leave you wanting more. If you analyze your runs and learn from your mistakes you should quickly see an improvement, and before long, you'll begin to see the win light on in your lane.

Subject: Racing and Competition: Automobile Racing: Drag Racing: How to drag race, a how-to book for future drag racers. ISBN-10: 161325072X | ISBN-13: 9781613250723 | CarTech SA136P