Before You Go
We’re often asked, just what is the best car for drag racing? Well, a trip to any race day at the Pod will reveal that, in reality, you don’t need a millionbhp, sub-10 second, custom-built monster to have a good day out. Of course, a bespoke dragster is always going to be the quickest thing to reach the finishing line, but pretty much anything with a Blue Oval on the front can be immense amounts of fun.
From a Fiesta to a Focus, a Cossie to a Cougar, or even your dad’s Mondeo ( Oi, you cheeky sod! – Dan) they all have great potential, and of course the real fun is in making them faster than they should be!
Get the basics right before you go though. Take out anything you don’t need – last week’s shopping, your CD collection, the dog! Not only do they add weight that you don’t need, but after 15 full-bore starts, there will be bread and milk everywhere, and Michael Buble’s ‘Greatest Hits’ will have disappeared beneath the rear seat!
Also be sure to check your oil, coolant and tyres – and replace if any look below par. Although tyre wear is far less than on a circuit day, you will lose a little rubber as the day goes on and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that if you roll up with 1.6mm on your boots in the morning, you might be pushing your luck on the way home. Some RWYBers bring a spare pair of driving wheels to allow the luxury of screaming starts on every run. This is a good idea, and the superb pitlane camaraderie that develops between racers usually means that there’s someone to keep an eye on your road rims while you go and play.
And, of course, check that you have some clutch left! If the pedal feels as if it’s getting towards the end of its travel, it might be prudent to replace it before you go. Although there are plenty of people who will push you out onto the main road for the AA man to come and rescue you while you put on your best ‘I’ve not been racing, honest!’ face, this is one regular part of every meeting that’s wholly avoidable.
One other, very important, thing is to check your car for any fluid leaks. The guys at the ‘Pod spend hours prepping the surface and are very precious about their beloved drag strip, so don’t be surprised to see some angry faces if you turn up spitting PAS fluid, coolant, fuel, or oil all over the place. Likewise if you have intercooler spray bars or the like – DO NOT use them! Not only does it put the strip out of action for other users while the staff have to clean up your mess, it’s also not very healthy for your motor, and with a day of hard launches ahead you want your car in top nick.
One final thing, and it may sound bizarre, but check your tyres and wheel arches aren’t full of mud – especially if you have been camping overnight and have just driven through a muddy field. Huge clumps of mud falling under your tyres at high speed is not something you’ll enjoy!
So, assuming that your car is in good mechanical condition, you’ve remembered your driving licence ( passengers will also need to bring theirs), and there’s fuel in the tank, let’s go racing!
Unless you think that you can hit 110mph at the end of a quarter mile, you won’t even need a helmet. It’s that simple.