My 1st drag strip run

[BB73Challenger]

So got my 1st time ever run ( and more after that ) down a legal drag strip.
With the Challenger I want to get an idea of were my fine tuning is heading, and frankly it's a bit scary to be doing on the streets, as now this is this most potent car I've had to date.

So I figured I would get my feet wet on a local track with an average automatic car.
No it wasn't a Mopar, but it's my Mom's car and it is fun to drive.
She let me rash on her 1989 Pontiac Formula 350 and it ran pretty well and consistent for a best of 14.75 at 92.3 MPH.

It was nice to get a feel of where to set-up, tech inspection, staging, and the actual feel of a tree as it comes down.

My best reaction time was .0331, not bad for a rookie.

My goal now is to take the winter to just tie up a few loose ends on the Challenger to pass tech as I have an embarrassingly large amount of rubber fuel line under the hood and debating a torque strap.

Shows and cruises are fun but I sure had a blast with the test & tune... can't wait to do it again!

[brads70]

Hi Jeff! Sounds fun!  Can't wait to hear how the new motor runs!

[Chryco Psycho]

Cool deal , fun to run on the strip & yes you will need a few mods to run legally

[Katfish]

I guess it all depends on how fast you go and which track.

I've been to 2 different tracks and they never even walked around the car, much less asked to see under hood.
Just put some shoe polish on the glass and said have fun.

[torredcuda]

Carefull-it can become an addiction! 

[moparmaniac59]

Very cool Jeff & yes...it's addictive. I used to race my '73 Barracuda at the now closed Suffolk Dragway 1/4 mile drag strip in the early 80's and it was a blast. I had that little 318 running low 13's. I hadn't run down a track in years and last summer ran the '68 Barracuda down the 1/4 mile in Petersburg VA and forgot what an adreneline rush it was!! I spun all  over the track & still turned a 14. So get the Challenger on the track and you'll be hooked!! Good reaction time! 

                                                                        Matt B.

[brads70]

UH OH.... I smell a grudge match with Don next year at Carlisle in your future!    

[BB73Challenger]

Definately was fun. 

I have also talked to some about tech inspections, and it does seem to matter on what track & possibly the events.
They ran a tech the 1st time I did a "walk through" but the 2nd time they didn't and it was just a test & tune night.
I figure to look at it as being up to snuff on tech is good for the car anyway, so I'll just play it safe. 

[AARCUDADEN]

Carefull-it can become an addiction! 

Yes it is but damn its fun 

[moparclown]

Yes it is but damn its fun 

congrats and have fun thats what its all about

[torredcuda]

Definately was fun. 

I have also talked to some about tech inspections, and it does seem to matter on what track & possibly the events.
They ran a tech the 1st time I did a "walk through" but the 2nd time they didn't and it was just a test & tune night.
I figure to look at it as being up to snuff on tech is good for the car anyway, so I'll just play it safe. 

I`d be nervous running next to a guy at a track with NO safety inspections.I`ve seen some pretty scary stuff done to cars! 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Nice! I've certainly made a few passes in my car, however I'm not sure 10ths of a second is something worth all too much trouble anymore. But it is a blast to head out!

This was the last time I went out, still the same 318 in the car. I went to school for a year with the Mustang owner...consistent trash talking with his Mama-paid-for supercharged Mustang. Just goes to show, you can have the faster car (his was certainly)...but you have to drive it there! I had about 80 passes under my belt in my car, it was his first time. But I did win bragging rights going 2 for 2 and the second he red-lighted and still didn't get it! 

Good times, try not to mind the music, guy from our class edited it with that.

http://youtu.be/3dyxFzL0krw

[GranCuda1970]

looks like loads of fun!!!!

[Oldschool]

Sounds like you had fun.     One thing most tracks require is a dedicated battery hold down.  Sounds like an obvious deal, but a lot of folks forget that one and aren't allowed to race, after all the car prep in the other performance areas.       

[Road_Runner]

The only 'legal' racing I've done was on a little part-time track (fulltime airport runway) in Fairburn Georgia years ago in the Roadrunner.  It was only a 1/8 mile, because the run-off area already ran between the parked Cessna's & Pipers!  Lots of cool stories there, but one of the draws was that it was an unsanctioned track so there was zero tech inspection and only if there was an obvious problem with the car (fluid leaks, etc.) you just pulled into line and were good to go.  The Bird was fast enough that if I had gone to the NHRA sanctioned track in Convington, GA I would have had to have at least a 4 point roll bar and other safety measures.  So it was safer than public roads, but not by much!  Congrats on your first run, I look forward to getting one of my cars ready for the track by next year.

Later, Jim