DRAG RACING IN THE REAL WORLD
Hello Jok, nice article this month! Good advice about watching what the track/class champions are doing but in all my years of racing I've had exactly one guy ask me for help. He's a Mopar guy and it was his first season at the track. He was first round runner-up more often than not but it didn't take him long to introduce himself and start asking
questions. Very good ones at that. Now I don't mind helping someone out but by the end of the season I had to cut him off when he ended up in the final against me. He had learned too well!
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I know you said you would go into more detail next month so I may be jumping the gun here, but I thought I'd share with you what I see most people need to learn if they hope to turn on the win light more often.
Weather gauges - even the 3 gauge, hang on your family room wall type, are better than nothing.
Log book - most people just carry around a wad of time slips in their
pocket.
How to read a time slip - I am amazed by the number of long time racers who still don't know what MOV means or how to calculate a package.
What the cones in the center of the track represent and where the finish line is. Again, I'm amazed by the number of racers who think the finish line is where the scoreboards are (not always the case and definitely not at my home track).
And probably the most basic, yet most important thing one can do to become consistent...in reaction time, 60', and ET...staging precisely and consistently! Far too many people just roll in to light the stage bulb and then blame the track or their car when they're not consistent.
I really don't mind sharing the basics with everyone as I'd actually rather race someone who I know has their act together than someone who's usually a duck but might pull one out of their butt.
Keep up the good work.
Ray Block
Block Party Racing
DELIGHTFUL DESOTO
Thanks for putting the pic of my pink T Bucket with the DeSoto Hemi in your online magazine. Jim Drew was very professional when he came by at Goodguys Del Mar, and the photo came out great.
I thoroughly enjoy having a DeSoto instead of a Chrysler just because of the strange looks and questions you get…it’s like the DeSoto is definitely the most forgotten engine from the ‘50s. Add a nicely appointed 6-2 set up and folks really have a blast checking out the car.
Anyway, thanks again.
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