I am going to Santapod this weekend for the GTi Spring Fest (Anyone else going?) and I am planning to have a go on the the drag strip. But I really have no idea how to race 'properly'. So does anyone know how to get a good start off the line? Like do I just rev it lots then drop the clutch and hope for the best...?

And also, is it even worth trying to warm my tires up by wheel spinning (and pulling the hand brake up at the same time) before going down the strip? Surely that will just harm my car slowly?

Cheers for any advice I just dont want to hurt my lovely car...

On the fast and the furious they rev there car all the way to red line and spin off the line yo.. thats what I'd do. Also When someone is going faster than you downshift, they do that a lot and there cars are really really fast.

On the fast and the furious they rev there car all the way to red line and spin off the line yo.. thats what I'd do. Also When someone is going faster than you downshift, they do that a lot and there cars are really really fast.

Sounds like a plan to me... Ill start to do some research by watching the films to get some more tips off the pro's lol

it all depends on the car really.

its a 6n2 gti right?

If you going down the strip theres no point being a granny with it.

You dont really want to hoon it of the line, as my mk3 GT liked to wheel spin at pod, which is wasted grip and time.

First run just see what grip you get being vigarous of the line, then just ease of the throttle a little to stop it spinning.

A burnout at the start will help drop your run times, plus its cool to do with a few thousand watching you. You dont realy need to rip the handbrake up either, but that up to preference.

Surely you know how to pull away quickly from a junction? If so then just apply that technique but with more throttle, its easy to get a fast start with no wheel spin if you slip the clutch properly.

If it were me I would just dip the clutch and do a quick wheel spin but not sit there with the handbrake on. After all, its only a 125bhp car and a burnout isn't going to make much difference.

I'm assuming you're going in your 6n2 GTi?

In all serious, I would rev to 4k and let the clutch out then. All the torque is at 4.5k. The EDL will catch it anyway, that's if the gearbox doesn't shit itself.

All the power is right up at 6.5k so just before redline change gear and repeat. You will stay in the power band and let the VVT do the rest.

As for warming up, yeah, real racers do a little wheel spin for a quick warm up. Don't use the hand brake, just let the power do it. In reality you'll probably just look like a idiot wheel spinning your polo GTi and it'll make little difference so I wouldn't personally do it.

Hot tyre's = Grip hence the spinning that goes on before they get to the start line.

Revving to much on take off will just loose you seconds by spinning your wheels,

TBH keep your eye on the christmas tree, get enough revs to takeoff with out spinning, hold the car straight, foot to the floor and changing gear in the right place will see you to the end.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragstrip

Hot tyre's = Grip hence the spinning that goes on before they get to the start line.

Revving to much on take off will just loose you seconds by spinning your wheels,

TBH keep your eye on the christmas tree, get enough revs to takeoff with out spinning, hold the car straight, foot to the floor and changing gear in the right place will see you to the end.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragstrip

Hot carcasses give grip. On anything but proper drag tyres you do far more damage to the top layer of tread by spinning them up than the good it does, and you've only got to sit on the line a few seconds for that heat to piss off pretty fast.

On road tyres if you really want to get extra grip for the drag strip, take it for a spirited run to Wellingborough and back then go straight on the strip. That way it's the whole tyre that's warm, not the top shredded mm.

Thing is, your in the que for ages so you cant really 'go straight on the strip' Its impossible.

Just do as you would at the lights with a barry sat next to you.

Cheers guys :) I figured that was the case, Its a low powered road car with no real engine mods so not going to gain much by wheel spinning...

I'll be practicing my start at junction now for the next few days to get use to it aha :)

Shoud be fun...

Anyone else going to this by the way?

Thing is, your in the que for ages so you cant really 'go straight on the strip' Its impossible.

Just do as you would at the lights with a barry sat next to you.

That's the point I was trying to make - no real point in lighting up a road car with road tyres. Didn't come across so well when I read it back.

You need NOS.

Down-gear if you want to wheelie past your opponent.

'Danger to manifold' means ease up else your floor will fall out.

If you see a pizza boy tell him the road's closed and to find another way home.

If you lose the race, you lose MONICAAA.

It's not how you stand by your car, it's how you race your car.

Doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile; winning's winning.

Etc...

^^^

Good luck at gti fest buddy :)

You need NOS.

Down-gear if you want to wheelie past your opponent.

'Danger to manifold' means ease up else your floor will fall out.

If you see a pizza boy tell him the road's closed and to find another way home.

If you lose the race, you lose MONICAAA.

It's not how you stand by your car, it's how you race your car.

Doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile; winning's winning.

Etc...

I will memorise this, I'm almost positive it will come in handy! I think i'll try that wheelie in my front wheel drive car aha :)

remember to take your car liecence as well!!!

Its a Polo GTI. So you aint gonna be breaking any records. With that in mind I'd bear in mind also the fact that you need to get home and the 6N2 drivetrain is made mainly of twiglets. I'd be going on the lines of the "pulling out in front of a truck" start versus the "trying to hit 60 in 5.5 secs by dumping the clutch at 4.5k rpm" start. Just have fun and try and shift smooth. Try not to get sucked in to racing what's next to you.

^Like he said

It might be two lane racing, but chances are, geezer next to you will have a better car and better skills, so just enjoy it and race against yourself :)

to be honest mate when i ran my mates coupe, its literally down to hold the revs to where you know is best lift the clutch just before the biting point on green lift and go for it lol..that was my first run at the pod and it was in a 400bhp car with nitrous lol

Dimz

to be honest mate when i ran my mates coupe, its literally down to hold the revs to where you know is best lift the clutch just before the biting point on green lift and go for it lol..that was my first run at the pod and it was in a 400bhp car with nitrous lol

Dimz

Was going to call bullshit until I saw who you were

This is a fiat turbo coupe, not a 1.3 genesis before anybody wonders

to be honest mate when i ran my mates coupe, its literally down to hold the revs to where you know is best lift the clutch just before the biting point on green lift and go for it lol..that was my first run at the pod and it was in a 400bhp car with nitrous lol

Dimz

Was going to call bullshit until I saw who you were

This is a fiat turbo coupe, not a 1.3 genesis before anybody wonders

haha should have mentioned it was a fiat coupe 20V turbo lol

I know but still end of the day santa pod is a laugh, just don't stall..like everyone has said not there to lay down times, we were for 10 of the best :p

Mr blooby, don't think about it just go and enjoy, if you think about it you'll stall it..

Dimz

Edited 29 March, 201115 yr by don_stavrou

You need NOS.

Down-gear if you want to wheelie past your opponent.

'Danger to manifold' means ease up else your floor will fall out.

If you see a pizza boy tell him the road's closed and to find another way home.

If you lose the race, you lose MONICAAA.

It's not how you stand by your car, it's how you race your car.

Doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile; winning's winning.

Etc...

genuinley lolled

I have to disagre with not warming tyres up on a road car.

My tyres was considerably more gripy after i did it.

On my first ever run i didnt burnout, and there was alot more wheel spin in 1st.

I got so carried away at pod last year, i was mashing through gears quicker than i could blink, but i beat a fair few modded 6n valvers in my standard GT, and i pretty sure i won the standard 1.4<- class.

Best advice i could give you is dont get carried away with your chocolate gearbox

stare your opponent straight in the eyes whilst giving it the biggest big arm you can do!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ljLtRNDi7hk/SebiHgkx...ous%20Movie.jpg

does anyone actualy know what i mean by big arm? or is it just a northern thing?

On the fast and the furious they rev there car all the way to red line and spin off the line yo.. thats what I'd do. Also When someone is going faster than you downshift, they do that a lot and there cars are really really fast.

'Danger to manifold' means ease up else your floor will fall out.