The basic definitions of Drag Racing and what to expect at a race track....

A drag race, by definition, is a contest of straight line acceleration between two drivers in a head-to-head competition between two points. Beginning from a staging start and ending at the other end of the race track. The length of the track is most often a quarter mile, a distance that was long ago established as the standard for drag racing. Some race tracks are eighth mile.

A drag race is won by the fastest car, or the car that gets to the end of the quarter mile first. The car that wins is not always the faster car. Human participation plays a role in how fast the car gets to the finish line. A person in a less competitive car could make up this difference by being a better driver.

Elapsed Time or E.T. is the time it takes for the car to go from a standing start at the starting line to the finish line. Reaction time or R.T. is the length of time between the flash of the green light on the Christmas tree and when the car actually starts to move, which is related to how quickly the driver reacts to seeing the light.

Heads-Up racing is when both cars leave at the same time and the car that crosses through the traps first is the winner. Most professional classes race "heads-up" style. Horsepower and putting it to the ground are the keys to winning in this style of racing.

In Bracket Racing you literally pick the level of competition at which you wish to compete. The driver is the key to this style of drag racing, although the car is not an insignificant part of the equation. How the car is tuned, consistency and accuracy rather than speed and quickness are everything in bracket racing.

Now let's learn about going to the race track and what happens there. The below drawing is of a basic 1/4 mile dragstrip.

The Pits
In this area is where everyone parks their tow vehicles and work on their race cars. In most cases this is a first come first serve area. When choosing a space make sure that you are parked in such a way that you are not blocking someone from getting in and out of the staging area or other entrances for spectators, emergency personnel or racers. This is also the place where you want to tune your car or make other adjustments, except for of course adjusting tire pressure in the staging lanes.

The Staging Area
Various types of cars will wait in line here, usually grouped in a class, most places have a set of lanes designated for different classes, lanes for the faster race cars, lanes for stock or sportsman cars, and then motorcycles and Jr. dragsters. When it is time to race cars will slowly advance up to the starting area, usually at the rate of two lanes at a time. Pay close attention when in the staging lanes for announcements from track officials, it is not wise to wander off too far from your car, and be ready to "load-up" when they call your lanes to run next.

The Burnout Box
At the beginning of the track just before the starting lights is what is called the burnout box or burnout area. This area is used to spin the tires as the car remains in place, or to do a "burnout". Your goal is to warm the tires and add extra adhesion for launching the car, while at the same time you are cleaning them from any debris that may have gotten on them while driving in the pit area. once you are finished with your burnout slowly move forward to the starting line when told by the starter or when the cars ahead of you have completed their pass.

The Starting Line
This area is easily identified by the Christmas tree, a set of lights that will start your timed run. When the cars in front of you have raced to the end of track it will be your turn to run next. The process of staging consists of tripping a set of light beams with your front wheels. There are a pair of amber lights at the top of the tree, the top is for pre-staging and the pair directly below are for staging. The first lights tell you where you are, which is approximately 6 inches before the staging light will come on. Once you are up to the starting line, pre-stage and then slowly creep forward and stage, this will light up both lights on your side of the tree. Prepare to go. The lights will then blink sequentially down the tree to green. When you see the last amber light go out, you should leave, not when you see the green. If the red light comes on while you are staged, this means you are staged too deeply. If you see the red light come on in your rear view mirror, you left too early.

The Drag Strip
The strip or track is consisted of two lanes separated with a white or yellow line. It is extremely important that you do not cross the center line at all times! On a typical 1/4 mile drag strip there may be timers located at the 60', 330', 660' (1/8th mile), 1000' and 1320' marks. Near the end of the track itself is where both the E.T. and MPH timers are tripped , this area is a distance of 66', and it is known as the traps or finish line. There are 1320 feet in a quarter mile, and the track is usually a great deal longer than that because cars need room to slow down once they pass through the finish line. This area at the end of the track is called the shutdown area.

Return Road
After you go through the speed trap and gradually slow down the car, there are usually more than one turnoff exit onto a separate road that runs parallel to the drag strip, known as the return road. Somewhere along the return road there should be a time slip booth, this is where you will collect your time slip, which contains all the information about your run.

Here are a few basic drag strip rules:
1. Obey the starter and track personnel.
2. Burnout's across the starting line are prohibited unless approved for your racing class.
3. Do not begin your burnout until the cars ahead of you have left the starting line, or until you are instructed to.
4. Always make sure your car number (and if you are bracket racing, your dial-in) are clearly legible.
5. Crew member's should not approach the starter when cars are staged, nor should they argue with the starter during a race.
6. Never drive the opposite direction of the drag strip.
7. If your car breaks, pull off to the side and out of the racing groove immediately.
8. While doing a burnout, if your car gets crossed up in the burnout box, stop, straighten the car, and do it again. Do not continue the burnout and risk hitting someone or something.

A Final Note
Drag racing is not just a sport of individuals participating as a group, but a sport of personal achievement....You never know how good you could be at it, unless you try. Good Luck and Have Fun!