Drag Racing vs Road Racing

[Shawn96VR-4]

Why do we are about road courses anyhow?


Topic split from another thread.

[JClark]

Well, I would drag race, but I'm afraid of falling asleep at the wheel.

Road racing is much more complex and intricate to me. Far more difficult to master and a million times more rewarding. 8-14 seconds of acceleration doesnt do it for me. I'll take 1 hr+ straight of adrenaline instead. Just my $.02.

Shawn and I could do, and have done, this all day.

[Shawn96VR-4]

Well. To be honest, I would not want to do it because:

1) I would DESTROY my brakes
2) Amazing amount of wear and tear
3) Fear of crashing
4) Blowing the motor from constant abuse
5) Embarressing myself

I'll stick to drag racing. I figure the same win/lose and excitment is better contained in a short amount of time.

[JClark]

(I know I wont change your mind) But:

Brakes do very well when upgraded to withstand some heat. Even without it, the first few times out for a driver wont do any noticable damage to them.

My car fairs better on a road course than it does driving around Albany. A car is meant to sustain gradual G loads in any direction. What hurts a chassis are things like potholes. A properly functioning car does not see excessive wear and tear on a road course. Yes, it wears, but far from excessive or abnormal. For example, a set of shocks will last you twice as long on a road course as they will driving up and down Central ave.

Crashing is a very, very rare occurance in student groups. Good instructions have a reign on their students and dont let things get out of control. It only happens when a student blatantly disregards instruction, which is entirely up to the student. (Makes me rethink my desire to be an instructor...)

Blowing the motor is up to whoever designed it and what for. 12 seconds long on a race gas tune....well you might have issues after 20 minutes of WOT.

Everyone has to start somewhere. I've never been to a track event where ego has been a factor. It's an environment where people come to learn. No one can make fun of anyone. It's like calling a 5th grader stupid for not understanding quantum physics. Everyone learns, and no one is waiting to jump on you to make you look stupid (like at a drag strip).

Again, just my $.02.

The first time someone goes out to the track is VERY tame. The car sees very little action. It takes a little while to get the driver up to speed on what a car can do. If and when, after that, you become hooked, then one can readjust one's mod plan.

[Captain Moai]

^concur. I'm going to be slow as balls my first time out, becuase this car is constantly evolving and right now I'm not familiar with it at ALL. Just driving it around town, i'm getting behind it and that's not good. It's going to take a while to learn how to safely extract high performance out of it. I'm definitely dropping all my expectations of being fast the first time I drop the hammer.

[intern8tion9l]

Originally Posted by Shawn96VR-4

Well. To be honest, I would not want to do it because:


5) Embarressing myself

thats going to be me the first time at the drag strip, let alone any road coarses

[2fast4u]

Originally Posted by JClark

(

Everyone has to start somewhere. I've never been to a track event where ego has been a factor. It's an environment where people come to learn. No one can make fun of anyone. It's like calling a 5th grader stupid for not understanding quantum physics. Everyone learns, and no one is waiting to jump on you to make you look stupid (like at a drag strip).

I have seen too many people stage at the ol 1320 with the back wheels to no longer become an understanding person. If you have eyes, you watch how everyone else does it and you copy them. Its not hard... but apparently when you are worried about your underbody lights being on, you forget how to drive

Most of the underbody lights crowd never makes it to the real race track (one with corners) ... requires too much money, a decent car, moms permission (haha), a tech inspection (which the dragstrip does but is a joke), and to check the upside down visor attitude at the door. JC... youre right... there is always one or two cars sitting in the pits after the first few full speed laps with an instructor violently shaking his/her fist/finger. My buddy was an instructor at an event last year in an 05 carrera S... that thing was so fast... but with the stability control on... the driver shut it off in the pits went back out and was sideways through the bus stop on the first lap since turning it off My buddy (and I'm sure the driver paying off his new 90k car) nearly shat a brick... I guess it is possible for a car to make someone a better driver... or at least appear to be

[Shawn96VR-4]

Originally Posted by intern8tion9l

thats going to be me the first time at the drag strip, let alone any road coarses

Stage and don't launch. Just roll out on GREEN to break the cherry.

[Cossey]

I have a feeling if I ever get out to a road course my first time, I'd be driving slower than I do on Central Ave.

[Celtic1982citleC]

I've been to a lot of road races...but nothing was more thrilling then driving the new Audi TT at Atlanta Motor Speedway...got to use turns 1/2 to the backstretch to turns 3/4 and then to the infield road course...10 laps of that and I was worked...driving on 25* banked turns at 130-140 really makes you look at nascar in a different perspective. Real crazy as you're looking out the top left corner of your windshield to see what's ahead of you

Anyway, can not WAIT for this season. Going to do a LOT more Auto-X's with the local guys and probably a hand full of track events.

[QuickLT1]

I wanna do more road course....before the caprice lost a few parts, i did pocono turn 1-2 road course. That was fun!

Now that I have a car built for it, I would like to try again. Brakes and sways are something im looking into after I get new wheels and tires.

I am afriad of breaking something or blowing her up because shit for this baby aint cheap and im not made of money!

[slwrthnu]

i want to do it all...drag/scca/road race...hopefully 2 out of 3 at least will be done this summer.

[intern8tion9l]

Originally Posted by Shawn96VR-4

Stage and don't launch. Just roll out on GREEN to break the cherry.

yeah i at least had that much in mind. def looking forward to it though

[2fast4u]

Originally Posted by QuickLT1

I am afriad of breaking something or blowing her up because shit for this baby aint cheap and im not made of money!

Run the vette... new front rotors are 27 bucks a corner from napa... my buddy with an 04 Z06 runs them and gets 3 very fast days out of them before they start to show fatigue. You cant beat that! (Pads are ~100 a set) Rubber and gas is where you run into some $$

[19Cutlass94]

I wouldnt mind trying both, even though both would be safe for me because I dont think I can get into too much trouble with my car lol, but yeah first time out will be fun since Ive never done either one.

Hopefully this summer Ill be able to try it out!

[QuickLT1]

I have a new set of rotors right now....my fronts have a little warpage to them...lol. The previous owner gave them to me when I bought it, havent put them on yet!

Im planning on running it as soon as I get rid of the runcraps and stock wheels.

[JClark]

Just throwing it out there again... Your first time out, you cannot, and will not abuse the car in the slightest. You'll have the biggest rush of your life but the car wont break a sweat. After a few days with a good instructor, then you'll start to drive the car at it's full ability.

Those of you who want to go, check out the sticky thread in the motorsports forum: "Beginner's Guide to Tracking" (or something). It has everything you need to know.

If anyone wants to come out and watch, the local group that goes would love to have you and would be happy to give you a tour or rides where available.

[Shawn96VR-4]

Originally Posted by intern8tion9l

yeah i at least had that much in mind. def looking forward to it though

Give me a PM when you plan to go and we can meet up. Honestly, I still get a bit "nervous" when I stage. I just keep thinking: "Please rear end, don't fubar".

[QuickLT1]

I plan on running points this year on wendsday nights, So look for the big rig! any questions ill be glad to help anyone out.

[gsxtc]

it all stems out to idiots on the road going too fast around corners and killing people, im getting old

[2fast4u]

For those who want less of an experience a lot of club track events also have parade laps some part of the day (lunch break, night time) Its an interesting way to get to look at the track not full throttle...

[JClark]

Originally Posted by gsxtc

it all stems out to idiots on the road going too fast around corners and killing people, im getting old

Lollers. What?

[19Cutlass94]

My dad used to drag race, so maybe Ill be able to get a few pointers from him.


JOhn if you do decide to go the LVD to drag, lemme know because I wanna be there, maybe Ill run mine as well, maybe well even race!

[intern8tion9l]

hell yeah man, always nice to have numbers. too bad it'll have to be a saturday event and not the el cheapo wednesday night

[19Cutlass94]

haha I hate to say it but saturday would prolly be better. Atleast Id be able to get that off work if needed! But either way Im down.