Drag Racing Discussions > Front Engine Dragsters

Making that first run in your new car

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rooman:
 On the subject of that first run, please do not try to rotate the earth and set low et of the world the first time you go down the track. Make a moderate run to make sure that everything works as it should. This weekend I watched a brand new car from a very reputable chassis builder totally get away from the driver partially because he tried to make a full hit on his first run in the car. When it shook he punched high gear as he had done with good results in his previous car. For whatever reason the car was instantly totally out of control and it changed lanes and made heavy contact with the wall, first with the front end and then in a hard side impact.  Add to the package the fact that the team had been thrashing to get the motor finished and the car to the event so everyone, including the driver, was tired to the point that a crew member ended up a little beat up due to a simple incident while they were warming the car.
  At this event (the Bowling Green NHRR) the weather was iffy and I can understand the pressure to try to get a run in but it was an all run first round for eliminations so simply staging the car and making a moderate lap would have put the car in the show. Now it needs a front half (at least) and the driver was exceedingly lucky to be able to walk away as I have seen people injured in less violent impacts.
  I am sure that there are photos of the incident out there on the net but I did not get home from the event until 4:30 am and am still trying to catch up. If someone can find them and post a link you will see how quickly one of these cars can get into a bad situation, and how much worse this one might have been.

Roo

Van:
Lots of wisdom being shared, thanks Rooman   I personally would never take a new car to anything other than a test & tune & make a few easy runs to start out.

wideopen231:
Yea keeping that driver ego in check can save money and your butt at times. Not knocking anyone but racing smart is always best bet.

 I have seen simular things dne with welll tuned car.Nothing looks worst than legging out a already dead run and tearing up lots of good equpiment.

 This is very reason I plan on doing 2 or 3 hits each farthuer down track before doing hammer down run.

H.G. Wells:
Great advice there. I was very blessed when I made my first shakedown passes to have a track to myself and the track owner (an ex TF FED pilot) there to coach me. 5-6 partials before I felt comfortable running a full pass. My previous race car was a mid 12 second door car.

That car was destroyed when a driver was flown in for a race in an altered he had never been in, and tried to make a full pass in a car that had some safety issues and he ended up crossing into our lane and bounced off the guardrail.

It might not just be your car you are saving by starting out gradually.

Nitro hillbilly:
I seen the wreck this weekend also. It could have been WAY WORSE! If it would have went over the wall it could have been really bad. My buddy has spent the last couple of weeks painting the car and never got a picture with it together. We where going to do it after that pass. So if anybody has any pictures could you please send them to me. Unfortunate Lessons learned.

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