Dragstrip definitions

[Malakaone]

Yesterday at Portillos I was listening to several people talk and realized I did not comprehend a word they said for like 5 minutes. I wouldn't say I am a dumbass, but dragstrip terminology is interesting. Because of this I was hoping someone could fill me in on some of the typical terms used so I do not look at everyone crazy. Some terms that come to mind:

1. 2 and the hit

2. 3 and the hit

3. Slipping the clutch - sounds like it means holding the clutch in while giving the vehicle gas and moving in the forward direction with traction.

4. Trap - speed at the end of the 1/4 mph

5. 60' - entails reaction time and time that the car has traveled by 60'. What is a good time though

Feel free to add more. I know much more about road courses than dragstrips, but always willing to learn. You never know what the next toy will be.

Click to read more...

 

[Jean Ralphio]

The hit = getting the leave. Usually given to the slower car. Whoever has the hit gets to go when they want and the other person has to chase.

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

The number (2) is car lengths, "the hit" "the break" means leaving first. So if I said I want two and the hit, I want a two car length head start and I get to leave first.

 

[KAR]

2,3,4,5ect means car lengths they are getting/giving to the other person.

The hit means the person that gets the hit gets to leave(launch) first and the other person can't leave till the one with hit leaves.

Slipping the clutch not exactly sure but I'm going with they can't leave full throttle thus not pulling a good 60 foot.

60 foot is just that 60 foot. Reaction time is solely reaction time to the light turning green. A good 60 foot all depends on if it's a car or bike. But we'll go with 1.5 being a general great 60foot

Trap is what speed aka mph they go through the lights at the end of the quarter mile.

 

[RossiGTP]

# and the hit means how many car lengths you give/or get and the hit means you get to leave first.

For example. Someones faster then you so they say "I'll give you 2 and the hit." You get 2 car lengths ahead and you take off first or as soon as you start moving forward the other car gets to go.


* Edit * Damn to slow on response

 

[Malakaone]

Thanks guys. Makes sense. Any other terms I should know?

 

[Yaj Yak]

60 ft is so relative. I'd love a 1.9 or 1.8. But for the quicker cars it's slo

 

[KAR]

60 ft is so relative. I'd love a 1.9 or 1.8. But for the quicker cars it's slo

some cars 1.7 is awesome others it's really slow.

 

[Malakaone]

Dumb question, but 1.7 is the time in seconds to the 60' mark?

What about a good reaction time?

 

[Turk]

Yup, 1.7 seconds from 0 point to 60ft. Reaction time actual has no bearing on your ET (elapsed time) and only matters if you are racing somebody heads up. The winner would have the lower number of ET+ Reaction Time.

 

[Malakaone]

So does the timer start after you pass the line, not when the light turns green?

 

[Turk]

After you pass the line.

 

[Malakaone]

Makes sense. So with a hit the reaction time also does not matter?

What about the various numbers on a slip, what do they all mean?

 

[Turk]

The numbers on the actual paper slip measure time from 0 distance to 60 ft, 1000ft, 1/8th mile and 1/4 mile. It will also tell you your MPH at 1/8th mile and 1/4 mile. I don't know how the slips work on days like RSDs where you can spot people out etc. 95% of days at the drag strip consist of 2 cars going head to head with the lights, no spotting out or anything like that.

 

[79vette]

Nut Swinger: A guy who tries to brag about or talk for a car he does not own and does not have the rights or permission of the owner to do so.

 

[Dasfinc]

'out of the hole' - referring to the launch of the car or 60 foot times.
'down low' - my Truck used to have all it's power and speed down low, so it would rip out of the hole, but it fell on it's face uptop/on the back half
'up top'/'back half' - usually refers to how fast a car goes from the 1/8th to the 1/4th.

 

[CrunkMaro]

Makes sense. So with a hit the reaction time also does not matter?

What about the various numbers on a slip, what do they all mean?

reaction time matters when you are racing in a sanctioned event like bracket racing where you 'dial in' or set your estimated e/t and you have to get as close to it as possible without going faster. reaction time is factored into the scoring as well. if two cars were to be just as close as to their dial in as each other...the one with the lower reaction time gets the win.


slipping the clutch is exactly what it sounds like.

you are slipping the clutch against the flywheel

think of how on a hill you let up on the clutch and feather the throttle a little bit to keep the car from going backwards

its the same idea...

you don't want to launch by revvin to the moon and dumping the clutch. you will just roast the tires...
alternatively you don't want to launch by dumping the clutch at idle as that will just cause you to bog down.

you want to find the happy medium...thats what slippin the clutch is all aboot.

a little bit of wheelspin is usually a good thing...1 or 2 revolutions to minimize drivetrain stress and then you are off.

 

[Bru]

VHT = A resin spray that increases the grip of the track. Usually sprayed down in the launching area of the track.

 

[TonzKnock-G]

Asking for spots is like the Bears asking the Saints to sit Drew Brees for 2 quarters.

 

[DanJ]

Stealing the hit - Car that is supposed to give the other car "the hit" leaves first, if the car that was supposed to go first flinches and goes anyways, "a chase is a race".

 

[otter1363]

Asking for spots is like the Bears asking the Saints to sit Drew Brees for 2 quarters.

 

[POS Neon]

What is "Floating the Clutch?" A tow truck driver used that reference when he was towing my car once and I have no clue what he was talking about.

 

[SRT41320]

maybe shifting without the clutch? i drove a tow truck and never used that term...

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Maybe when idiots use the clutch to hold a vehicle from moving like on a hill. Kind of "floating" the clutch from on off?

I always

 

[CrunkMaro]

Asking for spots is like the Bears asking the Saints to sit Drew Brees for 2 quarters.

huh

What is "Floating the Clutch?" A tow truck driver used that reference when he was towing my car once and I have no clue what he was talking about.

shifting without using a clutch.