5 Ways to Improve Consistency on Race Day

Whether you are a touring professional or weekend bracket racer, consistency is key when it comes to going rounds and winning a drag race.
With so many variables at play and products on the market that promise to increase your performance, it is easy to get caught up looking for the next best part or technique that will put you in the winner’s circle. More often than not, it is a consistent mindset and protocol for running your race program that will get you there.
In this video, we highlight five proven measures that will increase your consistency on race day.
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The information contained in this video is based on the opinion of Tim McAmis and his 30+ years in the motorsport and manufacturing industries. Any action you take based upon the content provided shall be done at your own risk. TMRC and its affiliates are not liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of this information.

[@ricknelson7824]

Having a checklist and using it to verify things are done and not missed. Too many changes not good. Interpretation of data, watching and video of car. Making sure help is informed and not confused. Too many cooks in the kitchen not good. All great info Tim.

[@Peter-V_00]

100% on point Tom, back in the 80's we had a record setting motorcycle that we worked on making as consistent as possible, on race day the job was to maintain that consistency, knowing where to look when the ET starts falling of is a huge advantage, like you pointed out, "you have to put in the time prior to the event", we tested tested tested, a good racer is nowhere without the equipment being up to the job. FWIW we were not well funded but one tool that I used with great success was dictation recorder in a zip lock bag suspended under the seat rails with the microphone mounted out of the wind blast behind the engine, I would play back the runs using a stop watch while looking at the time slip, in essence a "poor man's data recorder", it was a super effective way to dissect a run.

[@maxium4x4]

No Bullshit advice here, you hit the nail on the head Tim no matter what you are racing. I could set in the pits and just watch the teams who were behind and doing last minute scrambling. Do your homework in the shop and keep detailed notes.

[@shorty808100]

maxium4x4 once you get your car tuned you shouldn’t have to mess with it much I never messed with my car except for at test and tune when I got something new but once it was setup right I just left it alone and I was cutting 5.0 lights like they were going out of style on a bracket tree once I even cut a 5.00 red which you reaction time is actually 4.999 so you red lighted by 1 1000th of a second but the time slip ET only reads out to the 100’s mark so it reads as a 5.0 perfect red light pro tree is a whole other animal as soon as the last guy goes full stage you count to your number mine is 3 and you go you don’t even look at the ambers at all soon as you see both stage lights go full you start your count and look at the end of the track not the tree that’s how the pro like John force, don garlitz, and tony schumaeker just to name a few and that’s how they cut such good lights on a pro tree you don’t use the tree only on a bracket tree do you watch the tree and your gonna leave on an amber bulb is you want a perfect light not the green which amber you leave on depends on your personal vehicle if it reacts fast you might wanna leave on the last amber if your running a straight up street car you may leave as soon as the first amber coming on all depends on your cars lag time between the power going from engine to ground most people don’t think about it like that

[@kevingarren5198]

I love Tim! He's 100% straight up! Tim for President! He's got my vote!

[@Boostedm3nace]

Great advice on practicing runs inside of the car, if can’t make it to the track. Dry fire drills with guns are one of the most effective techniques for accurate and consistent shooting. From unholstering, to punching out, getting site picture, and a slow squeeze until you hear the click. Doing it in the stance, with the same intensity you would during timed qualifying and never taking your eyes off the target. During SWAT school we were required to run 250 dry fire drills, every morning, as a group, before the day began. Everyone’s qualification scores showed drastic results.

[@mikeschwindt7407]

Great video, That was probably the best advise to really help a new or inexperienced driver or any driver for that matter.. Thank you Tim, all your videos have really helped my racing program and I thank you for taking your time to share your knowledge.

[@chrismannifield3222]

One thing Ive seen, is consistent rest, not necessarily sleeping till noon, but knowing when to shut the shop door, and go rest. Doesnt matter how good the car is if you are running on fumes. It affects your attitude, your crews attitude, and most importantly it affects safety. There are those times where you gotta burn the candle at both ends, but dont make that the norm.

[@mitchsays1]

Bravo, once again Tim! Thank you!

[@bman1655]

Awesome no nonsense advice Tim thank you very much.

[@MrHalfpint32]

I really like your no bullshit videos! Great info and it's great to hear someone that's been there and done that. Thanks Tim McAmis

[@hayyarbrough]

Awesome information and video thank you

[@anthonyhager1770]

Thanks, for being brutally honest, and so true. Even though I not bigtime racer like this ,I have been on both sides of what you're talking about . I actually slowed my car down and it made it consistent and it picked up .

[@DragsterJeffCrider]

Thank you. You reinforced all I preach. Spot on.

[@mikebonge7206]

Great information. Thanks

[@bigrockets]

priceless information ! thanks Tim

[@jeremyeubanks2387]

Great information.

[@krazziee2000]

good info, thanks

[@russellwarwick8633]

It's called making wholesale changes when you screw with everything at the same time. Tim makes the best videos on KZbin!!! I think he should still call everyone a fat fuck though. That shit cracks me up😂

[@hatrisha]

Thank You Tim

[@JohnW1711stock]

You are absolutely right!

[@charlesmcmillian3778]

As always the professor speaks the truth 💯 everyone needs to pay attention

[@roadtoad7704]

Back in original ADRL days I was blessed to "help" a couple of low budget PX teams. I was asked to simply video the launch/tires and afterwards slo mo it for them. At that time I had little clue what they commented between them. Over time I was able to understand what exacting was being watch. Generally, it was simple physics.

[@GFPRACING]

All Ways ! . The Very Best ! ! ! . . .

[@dohcloser1]

Legend

[@MrTheHillfolk]

4:00 The multiple changes on a car at the track .... That can bite you in the butt at home too on a project car.....

[@rching5039]

Words of wisdom

[@GFPRACING]

All Ways the Very Best

[@exit9mastertec7]

Big difference the crew ...

[@GFPRACING]

I have tried to watch all your Video's ! . Every One Is Great ! . Please Make a Video on Belly Pan / Enclosing the under side of the car

[@Timmcamis]

Any particular questions that you'd like to see addressed?

[@mikeshallal4856]

@@Timmcamis what's required under the engine a diaper and a pan? Does it need to be ballistic? For Top Sportsman.

[@bigredracer7848]

602nd 👍's up guys thanks for taking us all along with you

[@bigredracer7848]

My car 9.06 et over 100 pass at 154mph

[@robertmaldonado2935]

If you dont fuck them up You will be consistent

[@RocketDogRc]

When I comes to the crew, where do you find guys who know what they're doing

[@Timmcamis]

You'll either have to hire some that know what they're doing OR... Find some guys with a passion for the sport that want to be a part of a team and learn the ropes. If you are a good leader/teacher and they are willing to listen and learn, that can go a long way in putting together a top notch crew.

[@KSIXRIDER]

If i had a dollar for every time a new racer did not check their tire pressure, I'd be rich.

[@hayyarbrough]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🏁🏁🏁🏁

[@exit9mastertec7]

So if your program works, why not import too

[@randalljames1]

sure glad more people do not heed this advice... bette for them to be rolling the dice between rounds...

[@raymondj8768]

An altornater charging or not charging on a run will be off 2 tenths of a second so make it charge all the time !!!!

[@exit9mastertec7]

F1 racing data

[@tillman40]

The four thumbs down are drift racing dudes

[@richardmogel2186]

Somebody already doesn't like the video.... car must be fucked up.

[@drubradley8821]

Anybody may answer my question..... What is a pretty good defining factor, of installing new front steering tires? Or course, out side the obvious, damaged, dry-rotted, cracks, lol... Sponsorship quota's, etc.. Why I ask is, I see quite often, higher level teams changing front tires, and from my tiny little mind, seeing the tires that came off, looked brand new to me, and still have the mold venting tits still on them, even right down the center line of the foot-print, still had them... Again, brand new... But they still change them... What don't I know, other then, they are rich mofo's, and I am not, and I (with in reason) had to squeeze out every inch of my consumables... Safety being paramount of course... Heck, I could get several seasons out of a set of front steers, before I started to question the measured durometer of the rubber... As per ever seeing skinnies ever looking bad, with dry-rotted cracks, heck, those were because they were in some old timers barn for a bazillion years on his high school heep ... Maybe it is temperatures that get to high and the ride height of the nose gets too high, for the aerodynamic efficiency of keeping the nose down, or something like that... I kinda rule that out as I have watched another team, break the tires down off the rims/wheels, and stack them in a pile and would mark on them with special codes with a wax pen... So, at least that particular team wasn't swapping them in and out as per the temp example I theorized about... What is the scoop on this speed secret???? thank you folks... Dru

[@Peter-V_00]

Dru Bradley One reason could be if the tires were subjected to the forces of violent landings at half track.

[@drubradley8821]

@@Peter-V_00 the rigs they were running were every bit of 100 times what my budget team had, so, me ever experiencing these type of forces, is foreign to me, as per, what these top fuel and alcohol car do... do you suppose the rims get thrown out of balance as well or bent?

[@Peter-V_00]

@@drubradley8821 Could be, you know how it is, many racers go to extremes for light weight components, your suggestion makes sense.

[@rongravel4585]

They carry the wheels till half track and set the tire down at 150-190mph and it flat spots the tire in a minute minuscule amount and it give the car a vibration most guys drive threw and run em till there dead like us with just fun money not big money. Once they get 2-3 spots like that on the tire it actually slows the car on the top end. Me or you would never notice the difference. But they take every advantage to the extreme

[@drubradley8821]

@@rongravel4585 OH WOW!!!!! I would have never thought of that... Kinda like when aviation tires land, they get flat spots, although the tires get brought up to speed very quickly, the damage is already done, in the form of a flat spot... Granted, aviation tires are designed to deal with this issue with a bazillion inches worth of rubber in the footprint area, where as our skinnies, are not... Now thinking about this, I feel like a complete idiot, based on how logical it is for them to change them out now, as every single thing adds up to winning... Thank you, for the info!!!! Dru