Help me out... Goin to the Strip
 

Hey guys... thanks for lookin in....
I'll be goin our local Dragstrip (1 hour away) Aug 21/2010 for a Test and Tune day.
I'll be towing the GTA on a flatbed car trailer So I don't have to worry about driving it home ;) My buddy spun a bearing the last time we went (6-7 yrs ago) in his 68 Cutlass.... that wasn't fun...

But I was wondering if you more experienced guys had a shortlist of things to bring with me to the track. Besides my laptop.

Ramps, Tools, jack with stands (just in case)
It looks like I'll have a 1/2 ton to pull the car and trailer and a 98 Jimmy following so I should have some room.

Any help is appreciated!!!
Thanks in advance.

Re: Help me out... Goin to the Strip
 

I always take some motor oil and trans oil. Basic tools and a Fluke meter and some spare electrical wire and tire pressure gage. That's about it. Have fun!

Re: Help me out... Goin to the Strip
 

a portable canopy and some chairs....and unless you wanna spend 6 bucks for a plain burger/hotdog and 4 bucks for a small coke, some food and drinks.

Have fun!

Re: Help me out... Goin to the Strip
 

Good one Tony.... I wasn't even thinking about a place to sit out of the sun. I'm sure who ever else comes out with me will appreciate it!!!!

and Helmets are required if you run 13.99 or quicker right?

Sorry for the NooB questions...

Re: Help me out... Goin to the Strip
 

The helmet thing may be different at every track. My local track is 13.99 or quicker...unless it is a convertible. I have heard of tracks requiring every racer to wear a helmet regardless of ET.

Re: Help me out... Goin to the Strip
 

This is why we have the old motorhome. In the 100+ degree temps in Texas (like my poor old junk needed anything else to make it slower), you do not want to be sitting out in it, eating a $3.00 Frito Pie, counting how many steps to the non air conditioned fly infested no toilet paper restrooms.

Dan

Re: Help me out... Goin to the Strip
 

No matter how much I take to the track, I always have too much and always don't have the one thing I need. Having the enclosed car trailer has helped. I keep a lot of stuff in there so I'm not constantly loading and unloading stuff.

A good selection of tools. You'll never know if you need any and there's always a chance you'll need a tool you don't have. Emergency repair stuff. Lock wire, electrical tape, hose clamps, etc.

If you plan on trying different air pressures in the tires, an air tank or 12v compressor to put pressure back in will help.

As for the helmet, the best thing you can do is contact the track to ask. As mentioned above, track rules vary. 14.00 and slower may not need a helmet or if they do, it may not need to be a current Snell rated helmet. 13.99 and quicker will probably require a helmet but you can't use just any old helmet. There's a minimum Snell rating allowed. If required, you can pick up an open face Snell M2005 or M2010 for under $100 from any motorcycle shop. The M2010 would be preferred as it will last you a lot longer. You don't require an SA rated helmet so an M rated helmet is fine and you don't require a full face helmet until you hit 9.99

The worst thing will be traveling all that distance and not passing tech. If you have enough stuff, minor repairs can be made to pass tech.

Battery secure with factory hold down or a proper metal bar across the top. No bungee cords etc. No missing wheel nuts. Driver seat secure. No more that 12" of rubber hose on the feed side of the fuel system (EFI hoses exempt). That rule mainly was for old GM engines where people would run a rubber hose from the fuel pump on the side of the block all the way to the carb instead of the metal line. With a carb, 2 throttle return springs. Working lights for evening racing. No bald tires.

The quicker you go, the more things are required. Don't forget, you're not out to set any records and you shouldn't care that the (insert any brand name) car beside you beat you or you beat it. You're out to have fun. Ignore the vehicle in the other lane. It makes racing a lot easier.

Re: Help me out... Goin to the Strip
 

There is really a rule about this? Wow, I know a lot of people who wouldnt pass tech then. They dont count stainless braided the same as rubber hose do they?

Re: Help me out... Goin to the Strip
 

Steel braided line is allowed. The 12" rule is to allow short pieces of rubber hose to join connections such as a fuel filter etc. They just don't want any unprotected rubber fuel line. If you want to run a rubber line from the tank in the back all the way to the front, you can do it with steel braid but hard line is much better.

And yes it's in the rulebooks.