Drag Racing: A First Timer's Impressions

[2ndclasscitizen]

It's fun.

Last night I cruised up to Sydney and went to Western Sydney International Dragway's "Wicked Wednesday" open Off-street drag meets. The idea being rock up with your "street" car or bike, pay $50 and get a few runs in. There was a huge crowd racing, with all sorts in the cars. A few very very fast cars, especially the small rotaries, a couple of ridiculously fast V8s and turbos (500Ci Mustang with chutes anyone?) and few hilarious randoms, like the bloke in a Rodeo with his toolboxes still on the tray. Night started badly, with a (admittedly very nice) Mk3 VR6 losing its lunch mid track first run of the night. But apart from that it all runs very smoothly, and they whip the cars and bikes through pretty quickly.

I got 4 runs in for the night on my ZX-6R. My aim was to get in to the 11's, and pulled an 11.90 first go, (beaten by a Busa that ran 10.60), then had an 11.98 and an 11.78 (beat a 1800cc M109R both runs by .99 then 1.3 sec) and finished badly with a 12.4. It's damn good fun, and good test of skill at the launch, especially on the 600 which picks the front up hard in 1st, but can't hold it in 2nd (i.e long wheelies followed by a bit of head shake). Definitely wanna go again.

Oh, and my bike shoots flame off the limiter. Nice.

Time Slips (I'm M111):









And at the line(photographer obviously reacting quicker than me):

[Wouter Melissen]

That looks like good fun!

[clutch-monkey]

11's? nice work!

[ruim20]

Sounds very good, i wish we had drag strips here.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Originally Posted by clutch-monkey

11's? nice work!

I was quite happy. I don't think I'd be able to get more than a 11.5 tops, without fiddling with suspension, air pressure, lowering straps etc etc. The guys one the 1000's were getting down around low 11s/high 10s.

[pimento]

I should head down in me Volvo.. or not. Still, a drag Volvo would be rather amusing.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Mate, you wouldn't look any less stupid than a lot of people. And your Volvo would probably get some decent times in.

[drakkie]

I'd love to take the Alto for a run against the Volvo. Might beat ya of the line but higher than 100 km/h the power is gone for me We do have drag strips though in Europe, they are called traffic lights

[whiteballz]

should have told me.. i drove past on the way to the gf's.

[charged]

Good work mate your reaction times got quicker but what the f#ck happened on the last run ? Were you having a sleep . Went years ago when I had a few fast cars, I want to take my rolla down one day but we dont have a F#CKEN DRAGSTRIP

[Blue Supra]

Boo urns to the cry baby greenie hypocrits in canberra putting a stop to ours...

Does look like fun mate

[Cyco]

Looks like you had a great night 2ndCC!

Some good looking times

[IBrake4Rainbows]

They let you drag in Jeans?

Still, job well done

[fpv_gtho]

Jeans would be the best thing short of leather pants, surely.

My older brother's taken his bike to the strip a few times over the years as well, and had the same problems with keeping the front grounded. I cant remember if it was his 600 or 750 Ninja that he did it in though.

[pimento]

Originally Posted by 2ndclasscitizen

Mate, you wouldn't look any less stupid than a lot of people. And your Volvo would probably get some decent times in.

I think I'd be about a 14.5 at a good launch.. which would probably surprise a lot of onlookers for a Volvo.

As for the pants naysayers... ever heard of kevlar jeans? The first jeans in a long while where holes aren't fashionable!