Things You'll Need:
- Racing slicks or tires
- Water box or hose and water supply
- Drag-racing car
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Step 1
Apply water to the rear tires just prior to reaching the starting line. This can be accomplished by spraying them or by driving through the water box, which is a small trench of water located before the starting line. If you're using treaded or street tires, as opposed to racing slicks, skip this step, since wet treaded tires will drip water all along the race stretch, making it unsafe for the drivers after you.
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Step 2
Do your burnout. This achieved by shifting your car into high gear,and stepping on the brake and gas at the same time (although experienced drivers learn to do this without stepping on the brake at all). Some drag racing cars have a line-lock switch on their car which allows a burnout without wearing out the brake pads.
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Step 3
Avoid performing your burnout for longer than three seconds or so. The idea is to heat up the tires and to remove excess dirt and debris from the rubber. Tires, and racing slicks in particular, are expensive, and excessive burnouts only reduce the lifespan of the tire and cost you money in the long run.
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Step 4
End the burnout as soon as you feel the tires hit or begin to gain traction. Make sure you give yourself plenty of room prior to the starting line to allow your car to drift slightly forward as a result of that traction.
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Step 5
Allow your car to roll up to the drag-racing staging lights until the first light comes on, which indicates that you are in the right position to start the race. Don't roll in too quickly, since your brakes may be a little hot after the burnout, and you might roll right past the starting line and disqualify yourself.
