wannabe
Pro
Posts: 1931
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posted June 09, 2003 03:16 PM
question about reading the track
OK, here's something that I've been kind of wondering for a while but I never thought to ask. I've asked several of the old guys at the track, but I get different answers.
My question is regarding finding a good spot to line up and launch at the dragstrip. The way I do it is look at the mark left by the guy who launched before me. If his mark is dead nuts straight, I usually just go ahead and line up exactly where he took off. I figure that if he got good traction then, so will I. But, if he (or she) leaves a squirrely mark, I'll line up just to the inside of the mark and launch there.
What do you folks do? How do you pick a spot to launch?
  
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BA
Pro
Posts: 1592
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posted June 10, 2003 07:24 AM
I've never looked at it like that before man, but personally, since I cannot verify the chassis setup or tire pressure/choice/brand of the car, I don't want to put to much faith into their launch at the starting line. I'm not knockin', that's just me.
I do pay attention to whether previous cars were spinning "as a majority" so that I can make a wise lane choice or switch if necessary.
First and foremost, I'm looking for little oil droplets from the cars, up at the line. Obviously I'm STEERING CLEAR of those.
Next, and kind of like you, I'm looking at the rubber at the line. Don't want some bundled up crap down there of course, but I do hope to see a "wide" patch laid down so that I can ride in it.
Lastly, I do a double and triple check to make sure my bike is lined up STRAIGHT, looking all the way to the end of the strip. The last thing you want is to get out of the groove! It would just waste all that previous prepping to end up launching a little crooked!
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kcadby
Pro
Posts: 1733
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posted June 10, 2003 10:55 AM
One car-tire groove or the other...I prefer the inside of which-ever lane I'm in...unless there is obviously something in that groove...
NEVER line up in the middle of the lane...coolant, oil, water...no telling what you might run through (plus no rubber burned in...) 
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TurboBlew
Moderator
BUSY DOING THE SCHIAVO
Posts: 4590
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posted June 10, 2003 02:40 PM
You can usually see the dirt on the line when you stage. I do like Kevin does...inside on the cleanest part I can find. I try to hold that same line down the track too.
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