Increasing your driver reaction time in a drag race is a vital part of achieving victory, since even a tenth-of-a-second delay can result in a loss of an entire car length by the end of a quarter-mile race. By practicing your launches and familiarizing yourself with the drag racing staging light system, you will be able to increase your reaction time significantly.
Instructions
Increase Driver Reaction Time in a Drag Race
1. Practice to increase your driver reaction time in a drag race whenever you get the chance. Most professional drivers will tell you that this is the most important step in improving your quarter-mile times. Every driver and every car is different, and they are affected by variables such as turbo lag, tire type and the type of fuel used.
2. Become familiar with the drag racing staging light, or "Christmas Tree" light, which is used to mark the beginning of a race. A staging light consists of two rows of seven lights that mark the pre-stage of a drag race, the countdown to the launch, and the actual green light (the final red light marks a premature start and disqualification). Knowing the exact timing of these lights will help to increase your reaction time.
3. Consider purchasing a practice staging light, or tree, to carry with you wherever you go. You can purchase these from many online resources, such as the Biondo Racing website (see Resources below). Many of these practice lights have built-in stopwatches, so you will be able to document your drag race times in the quarter mile.
4. Purchase additional accessories for your car that can help you increase your reaction time in a drag race. For instance, a tachometer with a lighted shifting indicator can help you to know when to shift without looking away from the road.
5. Enlist the help of friends whenever you can to document your reaction times so that you can focus on the driving rather than dealing with all of the associated equipment.
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