NOTE: Gateway Drag Racing School Begins Thursday, 5/10!

Bret Kepner · Post by **Bret Kepner** » Tue May 01, 2007 12:25 pm

This is just a reminder that Gateway Int'l Raceway's FREE Drag Racing School begins its eleventh year on Thursday, May 10th, at the track in Madison, IL, just two miles from the Gateway Arch.

Normally, the first class would begin on the first Thursday of May but, because of the new date for the NHRA O'Reilly Midwest Nationals, the first class of 2007 will be on the second Thursday of May. All other 2007 classes will be held on the first Thursday of each month through September.

Everybody, (racers, crew, spouses, kids, etc.), is invited; there is no cost for the class, no admission charge, and no expense incurred during the course. The classes meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7 PM at the dragstrip control tower. (Be sure to tell the guard at the security gate you're there to attend the school). Classes meet rain or shine and are held out on the starting line when it's nice (no mosquitoes) or in the air-conditioned media room of the tower when it's not. Each class covers a different main topic and lasts until 9:00-9:30 PM, (including bathroom/smoking break).

This is not a "Go On Green and Drive A Straight Line" type of program. It's a hardcore series of lessons guaranteed to make you a better racer. Although some aspects are devoted to bracket racing, most of it is directed to applicable information for any drag racer. It is intense and technical but the basics of each concept are always explained for the novice.

Subjects covered include Staging Technique, Launch Technique, Logging Speadsheet Information, Tuning Decisions In Relation To Weather Conditions, and Drag Racing Psychology. Front-wheel-drive theory and motorcycle applications are also specifically addressed in each class.

Participants do not need to bring a vehicle (to race) for the first class, but later courses do include on-track sessions.

Graduates of the Gateway Drag Racing School include ten track points champions (and six Junior Dragster track champs), six National Event champions, five NHRA Divisional Champions, and three NHRA Top Five season competitors...several of whom had never raced before enrolling in the class! Believe it or not, another graduate has won five IHRA Top Fuel Eliminator World Championships!

Whether you want to or not, you WILL become a better racer. It's also a great way for your "significant other" to finally understand what's going on!

Bring something to drink, a notepad, and a pen. Hope to see you there!

90CivicEx · Post by **90CivicEx** » Tue May 01, 2007 5:44 pm

Thanks I was gonna go out there today

boner · Post by **boner** » Tue May 01, 2007 8:23 pm

I think I just may have to go to this Bret

Bret Kepner · Post by **Bret Kepner** » Tue May 01, 2007 11:57 pm

Sounds good! I'll look for ya!

sharpie · Post by **sharpie** » Wed May 30, 2007 11:15 pm

do you have to go to all of them

SlowOne.5 · Post by **SlowOne.5** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:41 pm

no, but they all tie into each other. the next one is June 7th, 7pm. we get to get on the track that night.

***for those of you who think you don't need it....guess again!! there were old guys out there w/ 9/10 sec beasts that were claiming to learn something new every year at this class.

the track is constantly changing via regulations every season...it's well worth the 2hours of your night.

one quite useful, and interesting tip i learned. there are 3 lasers for staging, not 2 like everyone thinks. the 3rd is a rollback beam, w/ a distance of 7.25 inches, potentially saving you a 1/10 sec off time. you WILL NOT KNOW YOU'RE IN THAT ROLLBACK ZONE IF YOU CAN'T PROPERLY STAGE!

the last class was mostly rules/regulations of the track, history of it, expenses of it, and proper stages. IE staging too deep/shallow.

this one we actually get to have a car on the track and practice staging/launches.

ImAJandILikeToSuckMenOffForMoney · Thu May 31, 2007 5:14 pm

SlowOne.5;46148 wrote:no, but they all tie into each other. the next one is June 7th, 7pm. we get to get on the track that night.

***for those of you who think you don't need it....guess again!! there were old guys out there w/ 9/10 sec beasts that were claiming to learn something new every year at this class.

the track is constantly changing via regulations every season...it's well worth the 2hours of your night.

one quite useful, and interesting tip i learned. there are 3 lasers for staging, not 2 like everyone thinks. the 3rd is a rollback beam, w/ a distance of 7.25 inches, potentially saving you a 1/10 sec off time. you WILL NOT KNOW YOU'RE IN THAT ROLLBACK ZONE IF YOU CAN'T PROPERLY STAGE!

the last class was mostly rules/regulations of the track, history of it, expenses of it, and proper stages. IE staging too deep/shallow.

this one we actually get to have a car on the track and practice staging/launches.

So do you just show up to the track that night? Is there anything special I need to do to go? I have always heard about this and saw Grinners Vid of one class. I might go out on the 7th if I dont have to work. Thanks for the info Kelly.

SlowOne.5 · Post by **SlowOne.5** » Thu May 31, 2007 7:06 pm

soundqjr;46153 wrote:So do you just show up to the track that night? Is there anything special I need to do to go? I have always heard about this and saw Grinners Vid of one class. I might go out on the 7th if I dont have to work. Thanks for the info Kelly.

The classes are in the Tower. We meet up there, brush up on the last week's class, and follow Brett down whenever they're ready for us.