Etiquette for drag racers.....is there such a thing?

What things should a first time track user be aware of so they don't piss off the seasoned guys?

The biggest thing would be to ask questions BEFORE going on track, or at least just watch the starting line for a while to see how things work.

Another big one is to make sure you know where the finish line and return road are so you can stop safely and get off track without crossing in front of the other car.

Read a rule book. Lots of good information in there.

It's up to us old-timers to help the newbies along, no matter hwat kind of vehicle they are driving. New blood is our future.

be sure you don't block someone elses pit space. I feel that the CARS have the right of way over pedestrians. Guys may be coasting back to their spot to help speed cool down, and they don't want to hit the brakes as they would then need to re-fire the car. Also, they may be trying to get into the lanes quickly.

Real good valid points from all! Let's not forget about NOT leaving the cars in the staging lanes and wandering off to talk w/friends or check out something else, (jamming up the lanes when the staging director's trying to keep things moving smoothly) or blocking the staging lanes with ones pals in that ever-present 'Bull-Session', that can be addressed from another place, preferably out of the way! One note to the 'experienced' racers...try to remember the early days when we ALL made mistakes (like we don't do these things anymore?!), be patient and helpful to the new folks, they need it, as we STILL do ourselves! Have a great time...*varoom*

Good points above.

ASk questions. Drag racers for the most part are very friendly folks. If you are not sure about something ask. After all we were all newbies at one time.

Watch the cars stage. Try to get a feel for where the pre stage and stage beams are.

My biggest pet peave is courtesy staging. What this means is do not rush in and light both your pre stage and stage bulbs before your opponent has pre staged. Wait until both pre stage bulbs have been lit before you pull in to stage. If the auto start system is on(does not happen much at most tracks)you have seven seconds before 3 of the bulbs are lit until the tree starts. Some feel if you light both bulbs before they prestage that you are trying to gain an unfair advantage on them by making them hurry. I dont feel this way personally. If it happens to me I make them wait even longer before I pre stage. Besides it is called Courtesy Staging for a reason

Be aware of where the finsh line is and where the return roads are and stay in your lane in the shut down area! In other words if you are in the left lane racing and the return road is on the right side the person in the right lane has the right of way. One of my only on track iincidents happened this way. I was in the right lane and was first to the finish line by over 1.5 seocnds. While slowing down in the shutdown area the other guy in the left lane continued to run under power in the shut down area. He cut in front of me to make the second return road and it was all I coudl do to avoid hitting him and ended up in the grass. Still not sure what his problem was. Just pay attention and know where things are at all times.

Also pay attention in the pits. Dont block someones car in or block a trailer. Watch for people on thier pit bikes, scooters etc, because they dont watch out for you. I wish folks walking and riding in the pits did but fact is they dont.

Go have fun, and dont be afraid to ask questions....Al

I almost rolled out of my car laughing when the newbie kept creeping forward until he was all the way down track, even with the tree, head hanging out the window,looking staight up at the tree, wondering when the stage light was coming on.

you should look to see where those light boxes are so you have some idea where you are pulling up to.

One of the 1/8th mile tracks I race at has track etiquette posted on their website. http://www.bonanzaraceway.com/Regulations/TrackEtiquette.asp
This might answer some of your questions.

Like Weedlayer said one of the HARDEST things to do as a new racer is to stage the car. Some tracks don't have lines painted and even if they do you have to know where the light beam box is. Pull up to it and inch your way into the beams. If you don't know where the box is your gonna embarass yourself for sure.

Mike, all the things mentioned are great advice, and there's lots more too.

I feel its best to go prepared, mentally and physically and also be well equipped. Lots of things you can do WEEKS ahead of time to prepare.

1st, have a gameplan!
what do you want to accomplish? You lookin' for 10's first time out or a nice straight launch?? You lookin' to cut a perfect lite or find your cars perfect shift point?? there's so much to this you'll only begin to learn the first time out.

Sit in the car and mentally go thru each step of the burnout, are you driving thru the water or around?? pre-stage, and stage, are you leaving on 2nd or 3rd yellow?? tbrake, footbrake?? Have you checked your tire psi, fuelpsi, ?? Make a checklist and go thru it every pass. As you accumulate data from your car and your driving skills you can then look to improve certain things like 60', rt, mph, etc.

also remember the tool you leave home will be the one you need. Its difficult if your driving the car to the track, if your trailering its much easier to bring what you need. Don't forget additional fluids for your car.

Most of all, have fun and make some friends, to me thats what racing's all about!

Wow thanks for the great advice so far!
I have found with the different sport activities that I have done over the years that there is an un-written set of rules to follow for common courtesy to your fellow participants.....and yes I would like to start out on the right foot , so thanks again for the heads up on the "do's and don'ts"

Every single reply so far has giving me a head start in perparing for the big day in Feb of 04 when I start test and tune at my local track. This is where I will apply the suggestion that you guys are giving me now, because I want to be as relaxed as possible for the Vegas at the Strip meet im March of 04.

I will be printing out this thread for myself so that I can read it daily for the next couple of months, and make the suggestions given, become 2nd nature to me before hitting the track.

Thanks for the help guys, I knew I could count on you.....

Happy Thanksgiving!

All good advice. And some more little points:

(1) Unlock both front doors

(2) Roll up the windows before staging (I got yelled at the very first time to roll up the driver's window! )

In general, develop a routine that feels comfortable.

Have fun!

Happy Thanksgiving, too!

440shorty

another thing- if it is a small track, and you get there early, see if you can have a chat with the starter. Let him know it is your first time, and that you'd would appreciate a bit of help. Keep your eye on him even if you do not talk to him. The guys running the water box at Englishtown, for example, are usually very good. They will put you in the right spot to start your burnout, let you know when to "hit it" and then let you know when to let off. Of course you can just do your routine and not completly follow their guidence such as a shorter or longer burnout. Sometimes they will even motion you (hand waving up, or thumbing up) to give a bit more throttle. When they know you are a rookie they will even help you into the beams.

No whining/sniveling.

Here is a tough one. When in the staging lanes, don't let big gaps (5 or 6 car lengths) occur in front of you, pull up. I prefer that everyone pull up at the same time, if the group of cars ahead of you pull up, don't sit and wait.

i really cant add any more to this then the others have said. i watched ALOT of racing before i did it---actually, i just finally got the nuts to go out and do it. study, study, study. like others have said, watch where the cars are on the line and see what they do. if you dont act like you know what you are doing and have attitude, then others will help you out. walk to the end of the track and see where the turn offs are, find the ticket booth AND , OBEY ALL TRACK SPEED LIMITS. countless times i have been almost hit by someone(usually a ricer) that was going far too fast in the pits.you will be nervous enough as it is so try to settle yourself down and dont forget to breath---seriously. i have been racing for a short time--about 10 years, but i love the feeling everytime i get to go down the track and get out of the car. experience is all for the taking here. good luck

I can't really add anything either, But stress the watch, listen and learn factor. And don't concentrate on how much smoke the guy is making in the waterbox, watch him watch his tach and pull gears. and don't be amazed about how big a wheelie a guy just pulled. watch when he reacted to the light. Get the feel for everything going on. There is a bunch of things you need to remember when going racing. and a bunch of things you must do from the time you pull out of the staging lanes, until you shut it off in the pits.

Well, I thought we covered everything but, I just remembered this little note for first timers. DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT IF YOU HAVE BEEN DRINKING OR ARE HUNGOVER, OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY KIND OF DRUG THAT CAN SLOW YOUR REACTIONS. It takes 100 percent of your concentration. If you break a axle, blow a tire, or find a greasy spot, you need to be able to react. And one more thing. If you blow something up, get it on the shoulder as quick as you safely can. I've seen people blow them up and let it roll down the track surface, causing a hell of a mess and making it dangerous for everybody after them.

After reading the rules in the link from Hemi Jacks post, #11, shut down area rules, has never been clear to me. I've been drag racing off and on for 30 years. I've heard all possible solutions to who should pull off the track first in the shutdown area, or who has the right of way. I feel if the turnoff is to the RIGHT, the right lane should turn off ahead of the left lane so the left lane racer can see it's clear to turn off. In some cars it's hard to see out of the right rear, so the right lane, with it's good visibility out of the left window needs take control and exit first and in front of the left lane so the left lane racer knows it's clear. And if the turn off is to the left, the left lane racer goes first and in front.
Anyone have any other ideas of shut down area rules.

Cecil

Here's a couple more;

Don't do an across the starting line burnout if you have front brakes!!! Stay in the burnout area.

Most tracks have a guy that waves you into the water box when it's time. If they don't, don't just sit in the lanes until the cars ahead of you take off towards the finish line, you need to be sitting in the water box, ready to do a burnout, when the cars ahead of you take off. Watch the car ahead of you, when he's obviously finished doing his burnout, fifteen dryhops, and is pulling his car into the beams, it's time to pull into the burnout box.

Make sure that your neutral safety switch is working and make sure that your car is in park or neutral before trying to start it. I saw where a guy was letting his wife drive his car. She had been pulling the car forward in the lanes. When they were about one car away from their turn, she hit the key and nothing happened. In a huge panic, the guy jumps under the hood and starts the car at the relay. When the car started (the wife had left the car in gear) it lurched forward and almost hit some people.

This sounds simple, but, keep it in your head that if you go through the finish line and the throttle stays wide open, just turn off the ignition. I've seen guys panic and go a long way past the finish line before they realize what to do, some have even wrecked.