I'm a total noob at the track.. actually, i've never been, even to watch. I've watched plenty videos and thats about it. I'm planning on going soon and would really like some advice on how to do it and do it right so i don't pull 15's in my 392...

what buttons do i turn off/on do i run in manual mode and let it shift automatically??

i've seen yall talk about things like rev it to 1000rpms on the last yellow?!???

go around the water in stock tires... uh wut?

go 3/4 on the pdeal and when your tires stop spinning go full throttle all the way down the track??

yeah whats all this mean? help a bro learn these basic tricks so i can represent the 392 in the right way :) maybe i can bring home that 11's sheet dadstoy is dying for us to get ;)

btw, i'm running a 2012 392 auto.

Once you clear tech, park it and raise the hood for 20-30 minutes, you will be amazed at the amount of heat retained under the hood.Then go to the staging lanes, drive around the water if possible.Spin the tires once just to clean them off.Turn off esp. Use auto stick it will shift fine by itself. Brake torque @ 1200 rpms, leave on the third yellow.Pick up your 12 second time slip.

In park, hit the traction control button to lite up the little light.

hold the button down for 10-15 seconds and you will get the message that ESP is OFF

put car in manual shift 1st gear

wait in line

the track guys will flag you when its your turn

pull around or through the water box.

the track guy will tell you when to stop once you are forward of the water box.

when they give you the signal to do your burnout, do a good one, MAKE SURE YOUR WHEELS ARE POINTED STRAIGHT. the tranny will automatically shift through 2nd and 3rd during your burnout. let off a little when the car gets close to 6000 rpm and keep it at 5000 to finish your burn out.

once done, pull forward until you activate the first staging light when the track guy says to move forward.

roll forward slowly until the second light comes on.

left foot on brake and right foot rev to 1000 rpm

wait until the other guy is set with two lights. when the 3 lights start going

go on third yellow because by the time you react it will be green, if you wait for the green your reaction times will suck

floor it, if you did a good burn out you will get a little spin.

watch the tach and shift at 6000 rpms

do same fron second to third.

you should hit the end of the 1/4 mile at around 5800-6000 rpm.

slow down and shift to 4th and 5th to let the car cool down while slowing down.

get your time slip and try again.

Dont be dissapointed in your times if you have less than 4000 miles on the car. When I first got mine, I went to the track with only 300 miles on it. I could not get any better than a 12.7 @ 110. And now with the car broken in at 5500 miles, its a different story. :)

yup and keep a log of times to go with track temps to see how your car gets faster when the air gets cooler.

for your first run or two, jus tline up without a burnout to get comfortable.

when you get to the track and are letting your car cool down, watch others run since you have never been to the track and see how they do the water box, burnout and stagging.

you will find that everyone blows a run, its what makes it fun.

Great advice from all, but since it is your first trip out, I would just concentrate on the basics. If you have never done a burnout (brake stand) simply drive around the burnout box and figure out how to trip the starting lights (Christmas tree). Pull up slowly until you trip the first yellow light. Pull up just a bit more until you trip the second light. and STOP. If you get staged first, you will be waiting for the guy in the other lane to do the same. Once he stages the lights will start to count down to green. GO GO GO!! Leave your car in auto so you can concentrate about getting down the track straight and not have to worry about shifting. Keep going, refine your technique and have fun!!

Check out this video. It shows the point of the driver and you can see the lights as he stages and leaves. Notice the other driver stages first, you can see his pre-stage and staged lights light up on the right side of the starting lights. Then this driver pull up and you can see his pre-stage and staged lights come one.

Not dangerous - YouTube

Good stuff guys. I didnt even know about all the light stuff.

So some of you are saying put itinmanual mode and shift at 6k but i thought it will shift on its own like auto but a higher rpm?

Do i need any gear? Helmet, extinguisher, etc?

Just watched the video. Wow. So as soon as the second guy is staged the count down begins. I think it would be best to be staged first so u can sit and collect your thoughts??

Do i need any gear? Helmet, extinguisher, etc?

Check your local track & requirements change the faster you go.

If you are stock a helmet with a Snell 00 or SFI 41.1A should be all you need.

Just watched the video. Wow. So as soon as the second guy is staged the count down begins. I think it would be best to be staged first so u can sit and collect your thoughts??
That vid shows one driver fully stage before the other driver prestages. This is NOT COOL, if the track has a compustart system the second driver could be timed out before he gets staged. You should always curtsy stage( light the prestage lights and wait for the other driver to prestage before you final stage ). Most starter at the track will make you backup if you fully stage before the other driver can prestage.

Good stuff guys. I didnt even know about all the light stuff.

So some of you are saying put itinmanual mode and shift at 6k but i thought it will shift on its own like auto but a higher rpm?

Do i need any gear? Helmet, extinguisher, etc?

The only reason I say to leave it in auto is that you have enough to worry about with staging and what not. Dont be worried at this point about winning or losing, just worry about getting staged, getting a somewhat decent start, and keeping the car pointed straight.

Just leave it in autostick, it will upshift at redline for u, dont have to worry about shifting it manally.

Most 1/4 mile tracks require a helmet if you run better than a 14.00,1/8th mile track where I run require a helmet for 8.5.They are not very strict as I ran two 8.50's tonight, and no one said anything.I have a helmet in my trunk, but I hate helmet hair :)Ran a heads /cam C6Vette, only lost by three carlengths. It was an auto and the tuner was working on the tranny computer, setting shift points.Red lighted on one run, so I coasted the last 60 ft and still ran an 8.6@80+mph

In park, hit the traction control button to lite up the little light.

hold the button down for 10-15 seconds and you will get the message that ESP is OFF

put car in manual shift 1st gear

wait in line

the track guys will flag you when its your turn

pull around or through the water box.

the track guy will tell you when to stop once you are forward of the water box.

when they give you the signal to do your burnout, do a good one, MAKE SURE YOUR WHEELS ARE POINTED STRAIGHT. the tranny will automatically shift through 2nd and 3rd during your burnout. let off a little when the car gets close to 6000 rpm and keep it at 5000 to finish your burn out.

once done, pull forward until you activate the first staging light when the track guy says to move forward.

roll forward slowly until the second light comes on.

left foot on brake and right foot rev to 1000 rpm

wait until the other guy is set with two lights. when the 3 lights start going

go on third yellow because by the time you react it will be green, if you wait for the green your reaction times will suck

floor it, if you did a good burn out you will get a little spin.

watch the tach and shift at 6000 rpms

do same fron second to third.

you should hit the end of the 1/4 mile at around 5800-6000 rpm.

slow down and shift to 4th and 5th to let the car cool down while slowing down.

get your time slip and try again.
Thanks John for the tips, explained in details! I really like it.