what items are the most important to the consistancy of your drag car? What should i workon this year to improve this? this a race only Dart 414 smallblock 727 w/brake ladder bar with coilovers . shock settings, rpm, temp,and what else?

If your class allows it, get an air or electric shifter and a two step to launch the car.

Temp is a biggie. But so is fuel delivery. Driver Routine is another way to stay consistent; Do the same thing at the same time everytime. Same length burnout everytime etc.

Great BIG tires

Yabba dabba doooooooo ..

Shock setting will change from track to track and
some what at the same track but mostly once you have
the sweet setting they tend to stay the same. Ladder
bars are violent on the launch so have GOOD adjustable
shocks. Most of the other stuff the guys have said
but it ALL starts at the tire and if its a bracket
car get big tires(you dont care if its a tad slower
due to the size). Also a little fat on the carb is
better. The rest is up to the driver to do ALL the
things the same way EVERY time temp, burnout, stageing
and the tree

If you have a Tach with a nob to ajust your shift light, I would recomend you get one that takes the pill. I found that my light was changing from vibration , it would read different comeing down the return road then when I set it befor the run.
If you are footbraking a brake presure gauge helps stage the same.
A playback tach will help you get every thing the same every run show you the run not what you thaught was the run
Good raceing

I am still learning,,,and follow ALL of the above advice, very good info.

I have found using a WEATHER STATION... is a big plus.

I thought my car was "changing" from day to day,,,or track to track,,,when actually the weather was playing a huge role,,,and when you crunch the numbers into the weather station,,,,and take out the variables,,the car was about the SAME....as far as what it was doing or wanted...

I learned alot about it this past summer,,after using the weather station,,and charting every run....

Mid way thru the season,,,i could punch in the weather parameters,,,check my log book,,and know what the car was going to do that day,,,,or as the weather changed...

I was able to go a few more rounds than usual, which was cool for me.

What i need to do,,,is figure out what "settings" the car wants for various weather conditions,,,,so i know what "jet" to throw at it,,,

I didnt TOUCH any jet settings all year,,,and watched the car pick up and slow down based on the weather alone....

this is just my observation,,,,Mike (Mr P body),,is pretty savvy on this stuff as well...

before i used the weather station,,,,i was running around changing all kinds of stuff,,,(jets/timing/etc),,,but not knowing if i was going in the right direction or not,,,and then started thinking something was "wrong" with the car,,,,especially when it slowed down....come to find out,,,it was the weather changing the car...not the "car itself"
again, i was amazed at how much the weather condtions affects stuff....

Doug

Just hold .05 and drive the stripe....As long as you cut the best light you will never go wrong.....

Consistency items for me are engine temp, trans temp, tire pressures, tire temperatures and shift points.

I dont like a light, always use the needle.

I found that if I write every little detail down about weather, track temp, run information etc....I end up over thinking a dial in prediction a get it wrong. To many variables from one week to the next to take any prediction software as the gospel.

That gut feeling, first instinct dial in for me is usually the best guess....

stage as shallow as possible each time .this effects et.
have to learn top end racing lift to much other car goes around you .
dial too far under so you don't brake out you give up to much.
dial up sandbag might brake out .
just go out and practice
what you will learn my your time slip racing someone is the MOV where reactions have come into play
somedays its just your lucky day enjoy it
good luck
don