SmokinOkie
Parking Attendant
Posts: 28
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posted January 19, 2009 07:04 PM
1/4 Mile Newbie
I posted this in the ZX-14 forum and Bawls said you guys might have some good advice and that some of you were regulars at Thunder Valley.
I was thinking about looking for a track somewhere in Oklahoma this spring to try my hand at some 1/4 mile fun. I thought I would just try some test & tunes.
My bike is a bone stock 2008 ZX-14 except for a fender eliminator. I thoght I'd try leaving it stock until I got my feet wet.
I was just wondering if you guys had any advice for a complete newbie. I was planning on trying to call Thunder Valley, since it's the closest track to the house, and see what would be required as far as safety gear, kill switch, etc....
  
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almost_les
Zone Head
Posts: 590
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posted January 19, 2009 07:23 PM
take it in steps. most of the new guys that i've seen go down, its cuz they get jumpy and wanna try firing out of the hole first try. you're not gonna be fast first time out, just practice practice paractice! oh, and the guys here have more knowkedge about racing than you'd ever need. i've learned tons on this forum.
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted January 19, 2009 08:57 PM
full leathers, boots, gloves ect. "dead man" teather kill switch. metal chain guard (1/8 aluminum, tiger racing has nice ones), i think a snell 95 or higher bucket. some guys have issues with the flies, (when they open instant wheelie) but some dont. be careful and dont be disappointed if you go and run an 11 or 12 sec pass. practise and the et will drop away. dont focus on the 60ft time. focus on the 330 time. sometimes you trip the beams with your back tire and it looks like you had a bad 60ft
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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entropy
Moderator
Posts: 8671
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posted January 19, 2009 10:51 PM
best advice:
Get a new Mastercard 
( & don't tell yr wife about it)
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NOX
Needs a job
PMRA / TMRC Super Street 4022
Posts: 3745
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posted January 19, 2009 10:57 PM
Don't turn.
____________
42 Wins
21 Runner-ups
2010 TMRC Super Street Points Champion
2010 PMRA Super Street #3 Points
2009 PMRA Super Street Points Runner-Up
6 Time Centerville Dragway Points Champion
Sponsored by:
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brendasue555
Expert Class
Posts: 436
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posted January 19, 2009 11:09 PM
LMAO at NOX
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Brenda
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woppi
Pro
Posts: 1362
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posted January 19, 2009 11:45 PM
quote:
best advice:
Get a new Mastercard
( & don't tell yr wife about it)
that´s funny !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
____________
1st TFA Member / Austria !
" if it has wheels or titts - sometimes you will get troubles "
2000 Limited ZX12R NOS
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted January 20, 2009 12:54 AM
yeah, I should have mentioned, dragracing is like a bad coke habit. once you start you are hooked, and it will drain your bank account! :P (but damn its fun!! )
yeah, no turning lol. we joke around sometimes when a car gets out of control and is all over the track that he drove about 1400 feet in the 1/4
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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NOX
Needs a job
PMRA / TMRC Super Street 4022
Posts: 3745
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posted January 20, 2009 06:40 AM
Now we know how Karl is paying for those Godzilla Lobsters!!!!!
____________
42 Wins
21 Runner-ups
2010 TMRC Super Street Points Champion
2010 PMRA Super Street #3 Points
2009 PMRA Super Street Points Runner-Up
6 Time Centerville Dragway Points Champion
Sponsored by:
Scorpion Helmets
Galfer Braking
AMSOIL
Steve's Speed Shop
Kawasaki Sports Center
Mickey Thompson Tires
Catalyst Racing Composites
Conway Cycle
Syed Leathers
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted January 20, 2009 08:00 AM
hahaha his bike master card
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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entropy
Moderator
Posts: 8671
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posted January 20, 2009 08:50 AM
quote:
Now we know how Karl is paying for those Godzilla Lobsters!!!!!
my wife actually KNOWS who much i paid for the lobsters
And i even confessed that i had to spend just over $110 for a brand new Trac 6" arm w/N2O bracket, she wasn't happy, but thought it looked pretty nice for $110.
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted January 20, 2009 09:57 AM
about time you got the stealth kit on!!
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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SmokinOkie
Parking Attendant
Posts: 28
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posted January 20, 2009 06:10 PM
Thanks for the replies. I'm not to worried about setting any records right now, I just don't want to make a COMPLETE ass of myself. I don't know about the whole Masterlcard idea though. I was hoping this would be a relativly cheap way to try out drag racing, but the more I read the more I realize that was just a pipe dream.
Still this has to be cheaper than buying a 10 second street legal car.
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SmokinOkie
Parking Attendant
Posts: 28
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posted January 20, 2009 08:00 PM
I was curious, is the metal chain gaurd required to pass tech inspection or is it just a good idea?
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NOX
Needs a job
PMRA / TMRC Super Street 4022
Posts: 3745
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posted January 20, 2009 11:05 PM
Karl, what did you do with your old arm?
____________
42 Wins
21 Runner-ups
2010 TMRC Super Street Points Champion
2010 PMRA Super Street #3 Points
2009 PMRA Super Street Points Runner-Up
6 Time Centerville Dragway Points Champion
Sponsored by:
Scorpion Helmets
Galfer Braking
AMSOIL
Steve's Speed Shop
Kawasaki Sports Center
Mickey Thompson Tires
Catalyst Racing Composites
Conway Cycle
Syed Leathers
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entropy
Moderator
Posts: 8671
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posted January 20, 2009 11:50 PM
quote:
Karl, what did you do with your old arm?
hey nox
10" still on the bike; i'll put the 6" on for the Mar Mile.
I'm holding on to the 10",oops
let me re-phrase that;
I am keeping the 10" for when i go back to dragracing or in case the 6" is too short for the mile.
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted January 21, 2009 12:18 AM
LOL thats how he gets the umbrella girls... 10 inches hahaha
metal chain guard is required to pass tech. it must extend back at least to over the center of the rear axle. (so if you plan on extending the bike later get a long one now to save some cash)
it is way cheaper to go fast on a bike than a street car. trust me, my uncle played the whole street car drag car game for a few yrs. he hasnt raced in over a yr because his motor blew up. looking at $30 000 to fix it....(he was running a 548ci v8, im hoping he just upgrades to a 632 ) your 14 is capable of 8s with just chassis work, and lots of practise. a stock motor will do it just fine. how many street cars can do that?
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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zxboy
Expert Class
Posts: 292
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posted January 21, 2009 09:17 AM
 Edited By: zxboy on 21 Jan 2009 17:18
Okie... you'll probably be okay with the stock chain guard. Scotts tech at his track sounds a little more strick than down here in the states...most of the tracks I run at don't even require full leathers till over 120 mph......
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2000redrocket
Pro
Posts: 1662
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posted January 21, 2009 03:28 PM
the stock chain guard on the stock bike should be ok. i think the book says chain guard. i do not think it says anything about material. i never seen anyone get flagged for the stock guard. just getting flagged for no chainguard.
the flys will make it hard to pull out at first.in the end getting them out is what it needed but u will be ok cause after they are gone it will seem eaiser to pull out well. expecially if u get ok with them in.
i think u need a snell 2000 now for nhra tech. technically a new bike does not need a kill switch and they get away with it at maplegrove but they should be on. a bike can go a long distance and mess up a lot of stuff riderless.
you will need full leathers and boots above the ankles. you will be able to pull out from a stop sign and then nail it and go over 121mph. seems like to a piont a bad 60ft os more mph than a good one though that is not always the case depending on how long you slip the clutch.try to get it out before 30ft if it doesent bog.
and above all else do not go to be the fastest. go to have fun. watch others go through the routine before u do it so you know what to do and where to stop and stage.
i say do not waste your rear tire by heating it up till you start spinning. also go around 25 to 28psi rear for starters (i would do that anyway).
welcome to a lot of fun.
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SmokinOkie
Parking Attendant
Posts: 28
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posted January 21, 2009 04:12 PM
Thanks for the help guys. I look forward to giving it a shot. I think the only things I need to worry about getting right now are a new helmet (mine has gotten a little sloppy), some pants to go with my jacket, gloves, and a kill switch.
I know I'll end up getting hooked and spending way more than I planned on, but for know I'd like to keep it simple.
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2000redrocket
Pro
Posts: 1662
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posted January 21, 2009 05:24 PM
i do not know how much you weigh but just the flys removed and a good powercommander program, down 1 in the front strapped, allelse stock a person under 190 should be in the 9s easy with a good 60ft. just my 60ft input.
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SmokinOkie
Parking Attendant
Posts: 28
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posted January 22, 2009 06:19 PM
That whole 190 lbs thing may be a problem. I weigh around 250 lbs. How much of a handicap is that? I know I won't be competitive with the little guys, but is there a "so many tenths per pound" kind of formula or anything?
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted January 22, 2009 06:30 PM
i think 30-40#s is a tenth?
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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SmokinOkie
Parking Attendant
Posts: 28
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posted January 22, 2009 06:45 PM
Hell that's not that bad. I just need some nitrous and a turbo and etc.... to be competitive right? lol
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted January 22, 2009 07:08 PM
Edited By: KZScott on 23 Jan 2009 03:10
the biggest help will be more wheelbase to(help) get rid of the wheelies. then add power
my 12 still likes to stand up at 8.5in over
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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