VIRGIN TRACK TIMES

[03GTRACER]

My reaction times were awful, but I will post them anyway.
1st run .663 60' 2.302
2nd run .583 60' 2.266
3rd run .634 60' 2.256
4th run .737 60' 2.246

[coolvirus]

This is pretty interesting stuff. I'd love to get into going to the track and racing. I've never done it before.

Since I'm a newbie when it comes to this stuff, can you guys explain what the different times mean and what's considered a good time or a bad time?
For example, what's reaction time?
60'? - is that the time recorded at 60 feet? why is it important?
1/8? - I guess that's 1/8 of a mile? again, why is that mark important?
Any other times that are important?

Thanks in advance guys.

[purple04]

Coolvrius, reaction time is the amount of time from when the green light turns on until the car moves out of the staging beam. If you are running a 'sportsman' tree, the yellows flash at .5 second intervals and a perfect reaction time is a .500 second. this includes the amount of time that it takes to roll forward, so you have to hit the gas before you see the green light. Really good racers can cut consistant .510-.530 lights.
60 foot times are a measure of how well the car launches and accelerates.
1/8 is what many tracks are, and again the launch and acceleration is a big factor. Most times and speeds are about 80 percent of the same car's quarter mile times.
If you can buy or borrow a National Dragster, you can look in the back and see the current records. Compare times (1/8 vs 1/4) and time to speed. These guys are serious, and if your MPH is higher than the same time, the launch and/or suspension aren't as good (pretty common for a street car). If you Google search for "bracket racing 101" there are 27,00 hits. That should give you enough to understand a bunch more of what's going on.

[Mr.Blonde]

60 foot times. show your traction basically. my best was a 2.1

[ksquared11]

quote:Originally posted by coolvirus

This is pretty interesting stuff. I'd love to get into going to the track and racing. I've never done it before.

Come Spring keep your eye on the Northeast PT Forum. We will be having a day at the track at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. This is probably the closest track to NYC. Last time we went we had six PTs running. I hope you will be able to attend.

[MYREDPT]

Hey Keith, please let me know when you guys are doing this event! I am definately interested in trying it at least once. I'll have me son bring his 1.8T Jetta so I can smoke him!

For a newbie, do you power brake the autostick to launch or just punch it at the last yellow?

[8)]

[SuGamer]

My cousin used to take his old nova to Englishtown all the time. I'll see you guys there! I should be Stage 1 (or hopefully Stage 2) by then.

[Mike-in-Orange]

Those times are great man, you should be really happy! I'm impressed, and a bit surprised, at the consistancy. Seems almost everybody out here in SoCal goes faster as the night goes on. In fact, if any of you SoCal guys are interested we're hooking up on Jan 22 at California Speedway in Fontana for Street Legal Drag Night again. Always a blast!

[coolvirus]

ksquared11, I'd love to go to Englishtown to check out the races. Let me know when you guys go.

Thanks for the explanations guys.