I need to know everything everyone knows about drag racing, please tell all your information!?

Question

Ok, so I'm supposed to go drag racing with my bf and some of his family. I'm interested in drag racing, but I dont know a lot about it. I dont want to go tomorrow feeling dumb because I dont know anything about drag racing. Can you tell me everything you know about it? Im talking how it runs, the routine of it, everything. Please and thanks!!

Answer 1

The othe posters are telling you much of what you need to know, but I'd like to add a few things, having been a "car guy" since I was about 8 months old and never really outgrew it.  Besides all the classes (and there are a zillion) and the basic difference between all-out racing and bracket racing (where you're essentially trying to be consistent rather than fast) the basic differences between cars is the level of modification.  Some cars race pure stock, that is, unmodified.  When they don't the changes include a wide range of ,odifications A few obvious changes are

1. Tires (usually big in the rear, smaller in the front) to improve traction and weight transfer: as a car accelerates it shifts its weight from front to rear.  In a rear drive car (you'll see very few front-wheel drive cars at a dragstrip) the big back tires help translate this weight transfer into speed.

2. Weight Reduction.  Most classes have a minimum weight, but nobody cares how you get to that minimum, so throw away the AC, radio, back seat, etc.  If you're below the minimum, add a steel plate down low where it helps the weight transfer.  

3. The Engine.  Lots of things you can do to increase power.  Start with a free-flowing exhaust (BRING EARPLUGS-VERY IMPORTANT) and free-flowing air intake (you'll see kots of hood scoops),  hotter camshafts, higher compression, big carburetors, hotter ignition, superchargers (belt or chain-driven), turbochargers (exhaust gas turbine driven), nitrous oxide injection (whipped cream propellant makes a car go faster, really)

4.  Different Gears.  The gear ratio either allows you to accelerate quickly, but top out at a lower speed, or accelerate more slowly but reach a higher speed when you're topped out.  Think 4.11.  That's probably the best ratio for a street car that goes racing occasionally.



There's more, but running out of time and space.  Good luck, enjoy the show, and BRING EARPLUGS.

Answer 2

hope it's a legal drag race haha.

anyways it's basic. 2 cars against each other over a straight, measured distance from a standing start.

A standard drag racing event involves several classes, each competing in their own single-elimination tournament of head-to-head races.

each driver is allowed a pass before lining up  meaning they can burn out to show off to the crowd basically saying "who can do the longer burn out" AND it does improve traction.

measurements are taken such as . reaction time elaspsed time and speed time.

Reaction is  from when that green light lights up and the car leaves the starting line

elapsed is how long the car took from start to finish and speed is self explanitory.

A win where a driver wins a race with a higher elapsed time but lower reaction time is known as a "holeshot win".

those are the basics. I'm don't know all about the different classes they have tons.  

have fun at the race you'll have a blast!

Answer 3

the cars go fast and they also can blow up

Answer 4

Thats easy.  Drag racing is the first one to cross the finish line first is the winner!!

Bracket racing is a little different.  It is still the first one across the finish line wins but there are a few catches.  Since any car can race other cars of different speeds they handicap the start.  If car A can run 8.90 seconds and car B can run 12.90 seconds they will hold the 8.90 car 4 seconds longer on the starting line.

To make this fair they use a dial in (aka index) to ensure the car is not holding speed so they can cross the finish line first.

If car A can run a 8.90 he will write 8.90 on the window.  That is his dial in.  If car B can run 12.90 he will put that on his window.  Car B will get exactly a 4 second head start.  if both cars have Identical reaction times (leaving the line at the exact moment the light turned green) and run right on there dial in, theoretically they will cross the finish line at the exact same time.  If either car goes faster than their dial in, it is considered breaking out and is eliminated.  if both cars break out the one who broke out by less is the winner.  

If both cars run right on or above there dial in, then the car who crossed the finish line first is the winner.

The reaction time is based on the time it took for the front tires to leave the staging sensors v/s once the light turned green.  There is .5 seconds between each amber bulb on a sportsman tree and they come down consecutively.  on a pro tree, all three ambers drop at the same time and have .4 seconds between them and the green.  most newer timing systems display the reaction time as .000 being perfect however some still display it as .500 being perfect on a sportsman and .400 on a pro tree.

The timing of the car does not start until the tires have left the staging beam.

If car a dials in his car at 8.90 has a .020 reaction time and his actual elapsed time was 8.903

and

Car B dials a 12.90 with a .002 reaction time and runs 12.915

Car B would be the winner.  Although Car A was closer to his number, car b had the better reaction time which would put him across the finish line first by .006 seconds!!

Reaction times are very critical in drag racing.  pro class drag racing is easy to understand because all cars are required to be the same.  Bracket racing is a little different than drag racing due to all cars being different and the rules to make it fair for all racers.

Super class racing has a preset dial in.  all cars have to run a certain index such as 8.90.   both cars leave at the same time and must run as close to 8.90 with out going faster.  It the same as the breakout in bracket racing.  Its not really as fun to watch as bracket racing though.

Have fun and I hope this helps instead of confusing the c**p out of you!!