How to Build a Drag Race Bracket Car

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By Charles Rutherford
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10.5 Second Bracket Camaro

Ever thought about having you own race car? Like drag racing? Did you know that you can build a low-cost car to compete for money? Read on my friends.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Vehicle
Tools
Mechanical ability
Desire

Step 1

Find a vehicle that you're interested in as it makes it easier to stay with the project when things get tough. Look for something from Ford, GM or Chrysler as replacement parts are easier to find. Try to find a vehicle that has a V-8, automatic and as a bonus a limited-slip rear.
Step 2

Once you have the vehicle of your choice and we have seen good candidates in the trader papers for $200, you're ready to convert it to a drag race vehicle. First decide if you must drive the vehicle to the drag strip or not as this will limit you in removing items that you do not need. If the vehicle can be towed or trailered you can remove a lot of weight from the vehicle making it quicker for just the work involved.
Step 3

Resolve any engine issues that exist, you want an engine that runs smoothly, doesn't blow a lot of smoke and doesn't leak. Check compression with a compression tester (rent or borrow) to provide a state of health on the engine. Perform a good tune-up on the engine, replace the oil and filter plus never run anti-freeze as a coolant. Straight water with a water-wetter product or water pump lubricant is a lot safer. Make sure the transmission shifts through each gear, doesn't leak and that the universal joints are in good condition.
Step 4

At this point, you have a race car and it's performance is simply dependent on its weight, engine size, transmission gears, rear gear and level of grip. All of these factors can be altered, but none of them need to be done right away. The fun part about bracket drag racing is that you predict how fast your car will run and when two cars with different performance levels are matched in a race, the slower vehicle is given a handicap start and in theory both cars should get to the finish line exactly at the same moment. As long as you car meets the safety requirements based on the elapsed time of the car, you're ready to go.
Step 5

Find out where your local drag strip is located and obtain a copy of their basic rules. Call or email them to be put on their mailing list and also ask if anyone is available to help a new person racing for the first time but if not simply ask an official if you do not understand something.

Take your car to the drag strip and bring basic tools with you. You also need a bottle of white shoe polish to change what is called your dial-in or the elapsed time prediction. As you race more, you will tailor the tools and other items you bring to your racing efforts.

Look for our next article on How to Drag Race Your Car.

Comments

Rutherfordms said

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on 7/10/2009 I would suggest a copy of the book named "How to Bracket Race". You should be able to find it on Amazon.com. It has a good breakdown of the changes that you need to make to a vehicle to compete with it as a bracket car. Good luck!