Drag Racing: Just Like the First Time

Ask any of my friends or coworkers and they will quickly tell you โ€œBarett Loves Curves!โ€

ย Iโ€™ve always been the first guy to dive into the corner, hit the apex and power out with just a touch of wheel spin. ย My car follows suit with its build; upgraded sway bars, big brake kit up front and the steering wheel to hold it all together. ย Of course, my friends were always there with the peer pressure to hit 1320โ€ฆLuke McCarvel being the biggest offender (check out his โ€œDrag Strip Checklistโ€). ย ย However, one day my opinion changed. ย 

At some point I realized that I canโ€™t knock it until I try it, so I finally succumbed to the straight line life.

So letโ€™s go through the first line up: ย Do a burnoutโ€ฆthat was much easier than I expected. ย 

Ok now roll up to the staging lineโ€ฆdonโ€™t be that guy that rolls through and has to back up. ย Knuckles white on the steering wheel, heart beating in rhythm with the launch control, closely watching the tree light upโ€ฆGREEN LIGHT! ย Launchโ€ฆwheel spin to redline. Shiftโ€ฆwheel spin to redline. Shiftโ€ฆtry to modulate the throttle, but still tons of wheel spin. Shiftโ€ฆfinally the car hooks, builds speed then itโ€™s over in the blink of an eye. ย 

All that build up waiting in line, doing the burnout, staging, launching and rowing the gears for a few seconds of intense adrenaline. ย It was an absolute blast; I couldnโ€™t believe how intoxicating just a single pass was. I wanted more and I wanted it immediately. Back in line, I went. ย 

My first pass was an awkward 14.37sec @ 119.8mph. ย I say awkward because that is a slow ET for the trap speed. ย It shows just how much tire spin I was fighting and how much time I was giving up because of it. ย With full interior and street tires this was to be expected, however, the crowd thought it was quite funny either way. ย 

I proceeded to make 3 more passes as the night progressed. ย Each time making a small change to the car or to my approach and control of the launch and throttle modulation. ย ย Each pass rewarded me with a small improvement for my efforts. Each pass down the strip left me wanting more from the next pass.

The third pass was the most frustrating of them all. ย At the start of the night, I set a personal goal to break into the 12s. ย I didnโ€™t know if it was realistic or a complete dream, but I had to start somewhere. ย That third pass was also the one that drove me to get my shit together because it teased me with a 13.000sec @ 120.95mph. ย So Close!

Alright one more pass, this was the one I could feel it. ย 30 minutes later Iโ€™m staring at the burnout box, line up drop 2nd and get the tires nice and hot. ย Pull up to staging next to a real crowd killer (I mean Mustang). ย 

Yellowโ€ฆ yellowโ€ฆyellowโ€ฆโ€ฆ.GREEN LIGHT!

Launchโ€ฆlittle wheel spin to redline. ย 

Shiftโ€ฆlittle more wheel spin to redline. ย Shiftโ€ฆmodulate the throttle with only a tiny bit of wheel spin. ย Shiftโ€ฆnow the car really hooks but Iโ€™m a few lengths behind that Mustaโ€ฆoh shit thereโ€™s the turboโ€ฆIโ€™m reeling him inโ€ฆitโ€™s so closeโ€ฆI fly past him with the rev limiter dancing.

ย Itโ€™s overโ€ฆdeep breathโ€ฆthat was it I know it.

Now the quick jaunt to the end of the strip then back to the little building and the old guy thatโ€™s been racing since flatheads were a thing. ย 

โ€œCar 610?โ€

โ€œYes Sirโ€

โ€œHereโ€™s your slip. ย Is that a Maaazda?โ€

YES! Hit my goal for the night and the car can still drive me home. ย I call that a success.

I parked my car, picked up my 120+mph club sticker and enjoyed the rest of the night with my good friends from Idaho Mazda Takeover. ย It was a great night and one I plan to top in the near future.

Anybody have some stock brakes and drag slicks I can borrow?

 

-BS @ CS