Get Into... Drag Racing
Pitting your car against a mate’s over the quarter mile is one of the purest and most exciting forms of racing there is. And it’s actually easier to get into than you might think. We spoke to Santa Pod to find out how...
Awise man once said that there are those who ‘talk the talk’ and those who ‘walk the walk’. The question is, which one are you? We’ve all engaged in a bit of healthy pub banter over who’s the best driver, or who’s running the quickest motor, or biggest numbers. The thing is, once the beer haze has cleared and alcohol- enhanced BHP figures have evaporated, just who is top dog?
Dyno days are one way of finding out whether your wellchosen mods have worked, but having your pride and joy strapped to the rollers can only ever tell you so much. Then there are track days of course. A safe way to explore the limits of power and handling in your chosen steed, but don’t even think about racing. You’ll be black-flagged in a heartbeat. And at a realistic £300400 a pop, once you have factored in tyres, fuel and entry fee, it’s hardly an activity that most of us can afford on a regular basis.
As a real-world, high- octane, low-cost buzz, ‘Run What Ya Brung’ ( RWYB) drag racing is very hard to beat. As its name suggests, the ethos is on you turning up in your daily driver, paying a small entry fee and then taking as many turns on the track as your nerves allow, until darkness falls and the pub beckons for tales of your derringdo to be recounted ad infinitum. These days, the ‘Pod even lets you take a mate in the car with you, so whoever you’re looking to impress or entertain, they can come along too, as long as they also have a valid licence.
It scores on many levels. At £35 all-in for your entry fee and sign on, Santa Pod’s
RWYB days shouldn’t break the bank. If you’re sensible with your starts, your clutch shouldn’t suffer too much and a full tank and decent tyres will easily last you all day long. Best of all, unlike circuit track days, where it’s all very genteel and overtaking is by consent only – here, this is gloves- off, first-tothe-finish and full-throttle.
The final icing on the cake is the fact you are running under true race conditions using FIA approved timing gear, on an FIA- approved track. It’s the equivalent of turning up to Silverstone on GP day and the track staff leaving all of Lewis’s timekeeping equipment out for you to play with. And those timing slips offer some serious bragging rights, believe us...
When You Arrive
Having paid your entry fee (a tenner), simply take a stroll over to the signing- on office, present your licence and sign your life away in the usual manner. You will just need your photo-card driving
licence, but if you only have the paper part you can use that in conjunction with some other form of photo ID.
After paying your signing on fee (£25) and being presented with your wristband, you are free to join the queue in the appropriately named ‘Fire-Up Lane’ to wait for your turn to be beckoned forward onto the hallowed quarter mile.
If you have gone with a mate, it’s fine to queue side by side to ensure that you race together. It’s half of what these days are all about. Don’t worry if you are ‘Billy No-Mates’ though, as you’ll soon find a worthy adversary that will pair up with you, or you can always go solo against the clock. And once you have seen a few cars going up the strip and compared their times with your own, you’ll have a good idea of who will provide a good match for your prowess and power. Every meeting
contains a vast spectrum of talent, from total rookie, to borderline pro, so don’t worry about being a newbie. There will be plenty of others with you in the same boat!
On the Strip
So this is it, you’re lining up for your very first pass – so what happens now?
Firstly, it pays to watch the startline marshals. Follow that basic maxim and you can’t go far wrong. They’re there to help and guide you through – and a well aimed shrug of the shoulders and suitably blank face will be enough for them to know that you need a little extra love.
Before you hit the line proper, you will pass over the heavily wetted ‘bleach box’ where, should you feel the need, you can warm the tyres by performing a burnout. Our advice on your first few goes is don’t bother. Showboating and optimum launches can wait! If you’re feeling confident, drop the clutch and pile on a few revs to toast your treads, but if you’re not familiar with the art and you’re in a RWD car, just be careful that you don’t swing into the gantry for an epic fail! Like we say, save these moves for later in the day for when you’re more confident. And, of course, don’t even bother if you’re in a 4WD car. Their immense amounts of grip usually means that the tarmac wins and your transmission loses….
Across the line
As you clear the finish gantry, you’ll see the braking boards and directions to return to the paddock. Now is a good time to stop!
Nice one... you’ve just completed your first RWYB pass! But don’t forget the one simple rule at the ‘Pod – only turn left at the end! And watch out for the driver in the other lane, who could be coming up fast behind you.
And it really is as simple as that. Return to the sign- on office throughout the day to collect your timing slips and see your progress, but remember, above all else, just relax and enjoy yourself. It’s all meant to be a bit of fun after all. RWYB is a great way to experience your car at full chat without breaking the bank, and a superb day out for a bunch of mates.
One last thing though. Don’t come crying to us when you get addicted to the adrenaline rush. Almost every single leading Top Fuel driver started this way, so it just goes to show, it may begin as a cheap day out... but it sometimes finishes with a very expensive 8,000bhp sub-5 second, but very happy, ending! Enjoy!