My First Drags

[GQ_01]

On Saturday, I spent my Halloween at the drag strip - my first time ever racing anything! $25 got me through the gate, and it was for time, only. My squad leader rode out there with me on his '05 FXDL, displacing a not-too-modest 95 ci with the heavy breather hangin' off the side, singing the tune of a Supertrapp. Me, I'm rocking the Thunderheader, and a K&N air cleaner. Beyond that, I'm sporting the base calibration for an '09 1250 VRSC with O2 sensors and performance air cleaner. That's to say, not exactly tuned.

I was so nervous, I had cotton mouth, and I had a slight tremble as I took the bottle of water from the two very cute blondes working the concession stand. Yeah, sexy Night Rod Special be damned, it was not my smoothest moment! It was go time.

I was too nervous to do a burnout on my first pass, even in the water. I've done them on dry pavement before, I just wanted to get up to the line!

Adrenaline was maxed out as my senses dulled out. I had tunnel vision, staring at the tree, barely hearing my Thunderheader belting out a ferocious roar at about 6,000 rpm. I'm staring at the tree with all my focus, just waiting for that first yellow light. My opponent (my squad leader) is ready. My heart is pounding in my throat. I start releasing the clutch and opening up the throttle. I'm launched into my seat. I hit the rev limiter a couple times, and I'm down the track!

"Brake, you idiot! You can't just keep going," I reprimand myself as I pass the board. Clutch is in, applying the brakes. "Brembo makes a good brake," I think, doing about 25 mph, now cruising down pit row. I'm at the ticket booth. Congratulations to me! I won my first race ever! I get back to the concession area, where I've set up my private pit/garage (I rode my DX to the track, after all. No comfy trailer or SUV to work out of), and get to setting my rev limiter up to 10,000 rpm. I don't plan on actually needing it that high. Besides, I can set it as high as 11,500 rpm, so I'm sure I'm still treating her okay. Now: my red tach needle is going to be my shift light.

We head back to the track. It's fairly scarce, so we don't have to wait long. I run five more passes - six all together. Here were my bests (mind you, not all on the same pass).

Reaction: .1750 sec.
60': 1.8494 sec.
1/4 ET: 11.81 sec.
1/4 mph: 112.78

I know there's room for improvement. As a matter of fact, I've done some fine tuning with my Super Tuner tonight, and, I plan to do more next Saturday as I prepare for my first competition: the MMI Drags.

Thanks for reading.

[GQ_01]

My mobile Pit.


Love Potion #9! I didn't actually pick it. I guess I was the 9th guy there.

[big worm]

11.81 is pretty good. about the rev limiter, i wouldn't go up to 11,500. i'm not so sure the stock 1250 will turn 11,5 without trowing a rod out the cases (you might want to contact Jimmy McMillian down at the FLA MMI about that, hes an instructor and drag races vrods along with his wife stacey) anyway the rev limiter is set around 9000. for a stock motor your not going to make horsepower after about 8500, on my 1130 it drops off about 8000. i launch at 8000 and shift at 8000 and run 12.0's and 11.90's and weigh 204lb.

sounds like you have the principles down and are off to a good start. next trip i would lower the air pressure to about 15 to 20 psi, do a little burnout, and spin OUT of the water don't stop while in the water. turn it up to about 7500-8000 and release the clutch while rolling on the throttle as you explained earlier. a shift light will come in handy if you plan on competing. raptor makes the most popular and only around 100.00 too, but there are many out there and depending on the functions you want, well that will determine how much money you spend.
have fun and be safe

[GQ_01]

Thanks! I ended up launching at 7,000. And I never planned on going much higher than 9,000, I just didn't want to hit the rev limiter before I did. Once I set it to 10,000, I never hit the limiter, just shifted right at 9,000. I just didn't want to hit the limiter because regardless of where I stop making power, I'm definitely not making power if the injectors are getting shut off! Also, I did do burnouts after the first race. I was just so excited the first race, I rolled right past it without thinking!

I'm glad you mentioned when you stopped making power, I had a dyno chart from back when I had it totally stock. I wanted to look, but I can't find it now. I need to make a new one anyway for the updated hardware and software. I'll try out shifting at 8,000, see how it does. I'll have time Saturday morning to do some more tech. Right now, it's back at 9,100, the factory setting. Depending on how I feel about my shifts at 8,000, I may keep it there or around 9,500.

[big worm]

well like i said your off to a real good start, i've been drag racing for 25 years and i know guys that have been racing longer than i have AND STILL DON'T GET IT! the biggest problem i seen with people first starting out was thay listen to to many people, because everyone will tell you how to do it and everyone will be a little different in how they do it. if you just work on the program you have now you will be running like a pro in no time.
keep up the good work and be safe.

[EZE RIDER]

Great story. Not too many things feel better than overcoming fear successfully. Keep us posted on your results.

[geouhl]

Have a friend who drag races motorcycles, has for a long time. Just got up enough guts to take his first flight on an airplane 2 years ago. His wife made him and he said he was scared shtlss. Congrats and sounds like you're heading in the right direction.

[Crocodile56]

Congrats....I drag raced years ago and its really a thrill ride... makes your dumper slam shut!!! Ride true and straight.........stay safe.

[Tennjack]

Watch out Drag Racing is highly addictive !! we drag raced cars most of our lives i cant count the nights working on them at 2 am in the morning i loved it ! still do have a half finished tube chassics on the jig now . all the parts sitting in the garage . ran out of money to finish this year but its there when when things pick up. Good Luck and have fun. thats what its all about . i bought an old 750 honda was gonna bracket race it but an ol` friend was down and needed a bike ( Divorce got his ) so i let him have the thing.

[gruss]

now that sounds like a damn good time !!!
congrats on the great looking runs !!!..........