Taking your turbo car drag racing on a track can be a lot of fun, but only if you know what you're doing. If you don't, it can range from being an experience that's merely annoying to one that seriously makes you angry. Learning about how best to have a great experience drag racing your turbo car can only make the entire experience more fun.
Learning how to control your launch is the single biggest secret to getting a desirable result out of your turbo car on the drag strip. Since drag racing is done from a standing start, you'll want to get off the line quickly. To do this, you'll need to get as much power to your drive wheels as you possibly can.
Every car has a different optimal power band, so you'll have to experiment to see where yours is. Performing an efficient launch may require some spinning of your drive wheels and slipping of your clutch, which will cost you a small amount of power---but it's the fastest way to get off the line.
To launch as effectively as possible, put sticky tires on your car. Slicks are good if you're bringing your car to the track on a trailer, or if you're switching from street-legal tires at the track. If you'll be driving your car to the track, invest in some street-legal sticky rubber instead.
When you're at the start line, your biggest enemy is turbo lag. Turbochargers are great, but it takes time from the moment you press down on the gas pedal to the moment the turbocharger engages. The times will vary depending on your car's setup, but if you want to win drag races, you generally want that time to be as small as possible. To do this, you'll want to pre-spool the turbo. Hold the brake pedal down with your left foot while revving the engine with your right. If you've found out where your car's power band is, rev your engine just up to that point. Doing this will cause some strain on your engine and transmission, but as long as you time it well, it shouldn't be a major concern. This is called "power braking," and it will also help stabilize your car's RPM when the lights go green, and you launch your car down the strip.
