A couple questions. Will be racing on street tires at Atco dragstrip.
1. What psi should I run in rear tires?
2. should I do a quick burnout to clean off tires, or is that a bad idea?
3. Is it better to launch with RPMs high off line (for greater inertia) and get wheelspin. Or is it better to start at a lower RPM, get traction , but have less torque off the line?

THanks

 

What engine?
What transmission?
Stall converter?

Need more info for people to give you some advice.

 

Well I'll be racing 2 cars (I hope they allow that by the way)

a '91 supercharged formula 305 (5spd) nitto DRs. Stock internals. SLP bolt ons, Crane roller rockers, 24#injectors etc etc

a '03 Nissan 350z 6spd bone stock

Oh yea, does anyone know if open face helmets are allowed?

 

Well, for the350Z, or anycar with street tires for that matter, you shouldn't do a burnout. That will only make the tires not stick. Just go around the water box and pull up to the line. I would reccomend that you start low with the launch RPM's and work your way up to see what your tires can handle. But also ease into the throttle off the line too. If you have a low launch RPM but you still mash the throttle, you will spin the tires.

For the Formula, do a burnout to get the tires sticky, i'm not sure about the pressure, maybe 20lbs. I would start there and go down to see the difference.

Yes you can wear open face helmets.

I hope this helps, and if I am wrong about anything, please someone correct me.

 

1. I've had the best luck running regular radials at 25-28 psi. If you go too low, you'll get less contact patch due to the shape that the tire takes. I am not too sure about Nittos, I am sure it will be lower, just not sure how low.

2. With the street tires, drive around the water box and just do a real quick spin of the tires to clean all of the junk off of them. There isn't really any point in heating them up a whole lot because that won't help, and if you go through the water box, you'll just end up with water in the tread of the tires.

3. If you're trying for a low E.T., it is best to back off a bit off the line to limit wheelspin. You may find that there is a point though where the engine bogs too much and the car becomes slower (i.e. - it may be better to spin a tad, but don't get too agressive on your launch or you'll loose half a second in the first 60' of the run).

4. Open face helmets are allowed but it must be SNELL approved.

Good luck and let us know how you do!

 

Trevor and Mcas, thanks a lot. I'll use that advice. The only problem: I think Atco is so narrow you CANT drive around the waterbox. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. When I was there last year, this is what it seemed like though.
THanks

 

about the helmets i dont even use one when i go to the strip

 

NHRA rules (I am assuming that this is an NHRA track) stipulate the requiment for a helmet if your ETs are 13.99 or quicker. I am assuming his supercharged formula with DR will be faster than that.

 

that is true our track requires if you are in the 12's you need a helmet so i just hold back on the car and make it in the 13's cause i cant afford a helmet

 

i donno about the drag radials, but the street tires, id start out at around 23psi and work from there...

no burnouts with the street tires, yes with the DRs

are you trying to get the best time or be consistant? with street tires, ive gotten my constistantly best times by launching a lil low on the RPMs, and easing the pedal down to the floor.
ive gotten my best (and worse) times launching it right at the edge of wheel spin and working it...
if its for fun at test 'n tune, try a few diffrent launch RPMs to find what you like... if its bracket racing, its better to be a lil slower and consistant then it is to try get that extra half a tenth and lose..
stockish cars like that Nissan is incredibly easy to bracket race when you dont want to be "fast"

 

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You can get some helmets for pretty cheap. I am sure that you can find a plainer SNELL 2000 approved helmet for under $50. I did.

 

thanks guys. I have 2 eyebrow barbells and dont want to snag them like I did last time. Going to find an open face helmet

 

Many tracks because of safety regulations require you to wear a helmet for all speeds. Open face helmets are legal to use in all but a very few classes. The 13.99 and quicker rule will require a Snell approved helmet. 14.0 and slower it's a track specific policy so slower vehicles may be able to use out of date or different rated helmets. Go to any motorcycle shop and check out open face helmets look for the lable inside the liner for the snell rating. We're still on M2000 ratings for a couple of more years. Don't bother buying a M85, M90 or M95 helmet now. You don't need to spend the extra money on an SA rated race helmet when an M rated helmet will do.

As for answers to everything else, everyone else seems to have covered it pretty well. I can't give any specifics about racing at Atco.

 

If you're racing at Atco you'll need a helmet and an open face will be fine. Also, there is no getting around the waterbox. Just roll through it and spin your tires enough to shake the water off.

 

Give the Formula a chance! You'll never reach it's potential with street tires and a manual trans. 60 ft. times will be 2+ with the light rear end weight. Do you have WS-6? If you do, you need to change for some serious times! Birds were made for the curvy road! not the drag strip. My advice, get some stickies for the track, disconnect the front sway for the track, and show up with at least 3/4 of a tank of fuel.