Slicks newbie (waterbox)
Administrator
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,664
From: Brunswick, Maine 04011
At New England Dragway there is room to drive around the water box for each lane and back into it to wet just the rear tires. Plus they generally have a decent water box person.
Years back when I raced at Carlsbad everyone backed into the water box as it was at the very start of the track up against a berm wall.
Some tracks there just isn't enough room to get around the water.
Years back when I raced at Carlsbad everyone backed into the water box as it was at the very start of the track up against a berm wall.
Some tracks there just isn't enough room to get around the water.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,326
From: Fort Myers Florida
Jax, thought you had a glide. Be careful of launching a turbo400 in second gear. That's a really weak spot in the tranny. By the way I do my burnout excatly as you stated above but only rev to 5k in the poor little LT1 (same teacher???) . Also at ATCO everyone must go thru the water box.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,326
From: fairless hills pa
last i was there you could drive around it. atco just has a stupid arch-way to prevent you from going around it. englishtown has plenty of room under the skybox.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,037
From: 51°N 114°W, 3500' elevation
At our track they pull you through and up to the edge of the water box. When you do your burnout you only move ahead slightly to come out of the waterbox.
I use a powerglide. With the line lock on, I start off in first and bring it up to about 5000 rpm before shifting to second and bringing it up to about 5000 again. I figure I'm getting about 100 mph wheel speed in the water box. Once I see some smoke coming off the tires I let the line lock go and ease off the throttle coming out of the water box. Start to finish is 5-10 seconds.
Slicks need the heat to make them sticky. Water allows the tires to spin easier so you're not tearing up the rubber.
Street tires are designed not to heat up. That's why they have speed ratings. Watch someone try to do a burnout in the waterbox with street tires. Although they can produce some smoke, they're doing nothing for traction. When track design allows it, drive around to the inside of the waterbox with street tires. They sweep the dirt and rubber to the outside so you don't want to drive through that. Some tracks have no way to drive around the waterbox so you have no choice but to go through it.
I use a powerglide. With the line lock on, I start off in first and bring it up to about 5000 rpm before shifting to second and bringing it up to about 5000 again. I figure I'm getting about 100 mph wheel speed in the water box. Once I see some smoke coming off the tires I let the line lock go and ease off the throttle coming out of the water box. Start to finish is 5-10 seconds.
Slicks need the heat to make them sticky. Water allows the tires to spin easier so you're not tearing up the rubber.
Street tires are designed not to heat up. That's why they have speed ratings. Watch someone try to do a burnout in the waterbox with street tires. Although they can produce some smoke, they're doing nothing for traction. When track design allows it, drive around to the inside of the waterbox with street tires. They sweep the dirt and rubber to the outside so you don't want to drive through that. Some tracks have no way to drive around the waterbox so you have no choice but to go through it.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 861
From: Philly Suburbs
Jax, thought you had a glide. Be careful of launching a turbo400 in second gear. That's a really weak spot in the tranny. By the way I do my burnout excatly as you stated above but only rev to 5k in the poor little LT1 (same teacher???) . Also at ATCO everyone must go thru the water box.
I only do my burnout starting in 2nd - the new tires heat up nicer than the old ones.
Yeah, that career test and tuner, wanna be heads up racer who is nobody in the NJFD seems to think he knows everything and tells us little guys what to do!!!
Atco - the first pic is in the left lane, the second is in the right lane - you can see the wall in both. The reason for the wall is because Jackson Road is 50 ft. behind the burnout box and on the other side of Jackson Road, about 100 ft into the woods are HOUSES. I have a friend that lives back there and you can hear the PA system at their house better than you can in the staging lanes!!
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,326
From: Fort Myers Florida
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Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 487
From: East Petersburg, Pa, USA
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,388
From: Moore Oklahoma
Here’s a water-box and burn-out technique I’ve see that works for some people at the track. Personally I haven’t used it yet, but I want to.
Basically it works like this; you have a “good looking” blonde, red-head or brunette with short-shorts and halter-top stand along side your car. She watches you roll thru the water box and motions you to stop when the tires are wet and where to start your burn-out. Then she watches your burn-out and lets you know when the slicks are warmed-up and when to move on to the staging lights.
People probably won’t remember if you won or lost, or what you ran, but they will be impressed with your burn-out and staging assistant.
WD
Basically it works like this; you have a “good looking” blonde, red-head or brunette with short-shorts and halter-top stand along side your car. She watches you roll thru the water box and motions you to stop when the tires are wet and where to start your burn-out. Then she watches your burn-out and lets you know when the slicks are warmed-up and when to move on to the staging lights.
People probably won’t remember if you won or lost, or what you ran, but they will be impressed with your burn-out and staging assistant.
WD
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,307
From: Haverhill MA
Here’s a water-box and burn-out technique I’ve see that works for some people at the track. Personally I haven’t used it yet, but I want to.
Basically it works like this; you have a “good looking” blonde, red-head or brunette with short-shorts and halter-top stand along side your car. She watches you roll thru the water box and motions you to stop when the tires are wet and where to start your burn-out. Then she watches your burn-out and lets you know when the slicks are warmed-up and when to move on to the staging lights.
People probably won’t remember if you won or lost, or what you ran, but they will be impressed with your burn-out and staging assistant.
WD
Basically it works like this; you have a “good looking” blonde, red-head or brunette with short-shorts and halter-top stand along side your car. She watches you roll thru the water box and motions you to stop when the tires are wet and where to start your burn-out. Then she watches your burn-out and lets you know when the slicks are warmed-up and when to move on to the staging lights.
People probably won’t remember if you won or lost, or what you ran, but they will be impressed with your burn-out and staging assistant.
WD
thats funny because one year i dn about 6 years ago i saw that exact same thing done... i was like 12 at the time but i remember my dad and his friend noticed it real well lol.... great technique i might have to try it sometime... bad thing is my gf hates me racing lol and is scared of the cars because they r too loud! lol i love her shes so cute
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,326
From: fairless hills pa
Basically it works like this; you have a “good looking” blonde, red-head or brunette with short-shorts and halter-top stand along side your car. She watches you roll thru the water box and motions you to stop when the tires are wet and where to start your burn-out. Then she watches your burn-out and lets you know when the slicks are warmed-up and when to move on to the staging lights.
People probably won’t remember if you won or lost, or what you ran, but they will be impressed with your burn-out and staging assistant.
WD
People probably won’t remember if you won or lost, or what you ran, but they will be impressed with your burn-out and staging assistant.
WD
Moderator
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 10,745
From: Buffalo, New York
Here’s a water-box and burn-out technique I’ve see that works for some people at the track. Personally I haven’t used it yet, but I want to.
Basically it works like this; you have a “good looking” blonde, red-head or brunette with short-shorts and halter-top stand along side your car. She watches you roll thru the water box and motions you to stop when the tires are wet and where to start your burn-out. Then she watches your burn-out and lets you know when the slicks are warmed-up and when to move on to the staging lights.
People probably won’t remember if you won or lost, or what you ran, but they will be impressed with your burn-out and staging assistant.
WD
Basically it works like this; you have a “good looking” blonde, red-head or brunette with short-shorts and halter-top stand along side your car. She watches you roll thru the water box and motions you to stop when the tires are wet and where to start your burn-out. Then she watches your burn-out and lets you know when the slicks are warmed-up and when to move on to the staging lights.
People probably won’t remember if you won or lost, or what you ran, but they will be impressed with your burn-out and staging assistant.
WD
LOLers!
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,802
From: Annapolis MD
Seeing as how Ive worked the burnout box at MIR in the past for 3 years, I figure Ill post the vast accumulated knowlege into this here post.
1st if you dont have slicks DRIVE AROUND! Do NOT do a burn out. Your tires will turn to goo when warmed up and have less traction. Not to mention its annoying.
2nd if you have DOT's or Slicks and the track will let you, drive around the water box and back in to the middle of the box. It is important not to get your front tires wet if possible because they need to hold the car still during the burn out. Obviously most people just pull in though. If the track does not have a water box guy, have a buddy sweep it out before you pull up. Spin your wheels once quickly once you have backed into the mid way into the water, then have someone guide you forward till your tires are half off and half on the water. Start your burn out there holding the car there till your tires are warm and continue on up to the line. Being half on and half off is enough to loosen the tires but not too wet and the spinning tires dry it a little and push the water back so its a little more dry than being in a puddle.
THERE IS A WRONG WAY TO DO IT! If you pull through and start your burn out in a puddle you can throw water into the wheel well. While youre sitting on the line, sometimes the starter can tell as the water is dripping down on your tires and it will cause you to loose traction on the line. Of course it will just get mopped up but at the expense of your race.
1st if you dont have slicks DRIVE AROUND! Do NOT do a burn out. Your tires will turn to goo when warmed up and have less traction. Not to mention its annoying.
2nd if you have DOT's or Slicks and the track will let you, drive around the water box and back in to the middle of the box. It is important not to get your front tires wet if possible because they need to hold the car still during the burn out. Obviously most people just pull in though. If the track does not have a water box guy, have a buddy sweep it out before you pull up. Spin your wheels once quickly once you have backed into the mid way into the water, then have someone guide you forward till your tires are half off and half on the water. Start your burn out there holding the car there till your tires are warm and continue on up to the line. Being half on and half off is enough to loosen the tires but not too wet and the spinning tires dry it a little and push the water back so its a little more dry than being in a puddle.
THERE IS A WRONG WAY TO DO IT! If you pull through and start your burn out in a puddle you can throw water into the wheel well. While youre sitting on the line, sometimes the starter can tell as the water is dripping down on your tires and it will cause you to loose traction on the line. Of course it will just get mopped up but at the expense of your race.
Last edited by 5thgen69camaro; Feb 24, 2007 at 09:00 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,307
From: Haverhill MA
Seeing as how Ive worked the burnout box at MIR in the past for 3 years, I figure Ill post the vast accumulated knowlege into this here post.
1st if you dont have slicks DRIVE AROUND! Do NOT do a burn out. Your tires will turn to goo when warmed up and have less traction. Not to mention its annoying.
2nd if you have DOT's or Slicks and the track will let you, drive around the water box and back in to the middle of the box. It is important not to get your front tires wet if possible because they need to hold the car still during the burn out. Obviously most people just pull in though. If the track does not have a water box guy, have a buddy sweep it out before you pull up. Spin your wheels once quickly once you have backed into the mid way into the water, then have someone guide you forward till your tires are half off and half on the water. Start your burn out there holding the car there till your tires are warm and continue on up to the line. Being half on and half off is enough to loosen the tires but not too wet and the spinning tires dry it a little and push the water back so its a little more dry than being in a puddle.
THERE IS A WRONG WAY TO DO IT! If you pull through and start your burn out in a puddle you can throw water into the wheel well. While youre sitting on the line, sometimes the starter can tell as the water is dripping down on your tires and it will cause you to loose traction on the line. Of course it will just get mopped up but at the expense of your race.
1st if you dont have slicks DRIVE AROUND! Do NOT do a burn out. Your tires will turn to goo when warmed up and have less traction. Not to mention its annoying.
2nd if you have DOT's or Slicks and the track will let you, drive around the water box and back in to the middle of the box. It is important not to get your front tires wet if possible because they need to hold the car still during the burn out. Obviously most people just pull in though. If the track does not have a water box guy, have a buddy sweep it out before you pull up. Spin your wheels once quickly once you have backed into the mid way into the water, then have someone guide you forward till your tires are half off and half on the water. Start your burn out there holding the car there till your tires are warm and continue on up to the line. Being half on and half off is enough to loosen the tires but not too wet and the spinning tires dry it a little and push the water back so its a little more dry than being in a puddle.
THERE IS A WRONG WAY TO DO IT! If you pull through and start your burn out in a puddle you can throw water into the wheel well. While youre sitting on the line, sometimes the starter can tell as the water is dripping down on your tires and it will cause you to loose traction on the line. Of course it will just get mopped up but at the expense of your race.