Pushing to the top of each gear on the street is a recipe for broken bones and time in the slammer. As tempting as it is to rip the throttle on a backstretch of country road or piece of open freeway, the only safe place for a speed-induced chubby is at the track. You don’t need a closet full of leather and a garage full of tools either. Running down the strip is cheap, and public test and tune events are abundant—resources like speedwaysonline.com list nationwide eighth-mile and quarter-mile dragstrip locations.
Open drag nights are the perfect venue for gearhead camaraderie and machine testing, but a heavy turnout can really cut into the amount of time slips you come away with. Find out when the gates open and get in early. Once there, avoid looping out on launch or crossing the line on your back by following these words of wisdom from Ryan Schnitz, AMA Dragbike champion:
1) Know the fundamentals
Make sure you’re aware of how the timing system and staging process work. I’ve seen many new riders not know where the starting line is or how to pre-stage or stage properly.
2) Get to know the track
The last thing I want to do at a new track is make a 160+ MPH pass and not know how much shutdown room I have or where the turnoffs are. Take a ride down the return road and get familiar with the track’s shutdown area and turn offs. Also, pay close attention to where the 330, 660, 1000-foot and finish line cones are.
3) Wear proper safety gear
Different tracks have different safety regulations depending on sanctioning body, ET of motorcycle, etc. Some require full leathers for bikes quicker than 9.99, others require full leathers for all motorcycles. Make sure you have the proper gear before getting to the track.
4) Bike prep
One great thing about drag racing is that you don’t have to safety wire every little nut and bolt on the bike like you do for a roadrace track day. But, you do need to make sure your bike is in good running condition—properly inflated tires, good chain, solid brakes and working clutch.
5) Don’t try to impress anyone
Look, if it’s your first time trying this out don’t bust a nut on the first pass and get yourself hurt. Focus on properly staging the bike and launching with a green light. Remember, you can roll off the throttle anytime you need to. I recommend making a 330-foot pass first, then rolling off the throttle and coasting to the next available turnoff. This is beneficial because you can get a better feel for the track length and shutdown process. Next, try an eighth-mile (660-foot) pass. Get comfortable at your own pace.
6) Remember the time slip
Once you’re on the return road you’ll be able to stop and grab your time slip from your pass. Take a look at it and understand what you’re looking at; reaction time does not affect your ET. I also like to keep a log of my runs to help me remember what I did or didn’t do on a particular pass. ssb
THE ITEMS YOU'LL NEED
8-14mm open-ended wrenches, and sockets with ratchet wrench
4-8mm metric Allen key set
Purified water (for hydration or makeshift coolant)
Cash (bartering chip and covers unforeseen track fees)
Extra gas (normally available at track but expensive)
Tire pressure gauge
GEAR:
One or two-piece leather suit (light gear may be acceptable but at the cost of speed restrictions)
Full-length boots
Full length gloves
Undamaged helmet (clear and tinted visor ideal for varied weather conditions)
MISC ITEMS:
Foldable chairs and table
EZ-Up
Tire warmers
Sunscreen
Energy snacks