Why do some drag racers..........

[lankeeyankee]

Ive been around the dragstrips ever since I was a little boy. Ive drag raced over 23 years and alot dragracers say it to there opponent right before they pull out of the staging lanes, "Good Luck"
Why on gods green earth would you ever wish your opponent good luck? A lot of guys I have raced over the years will put there fist out also when they are saying good luck?
I never tell my opponent good luck nor will I fist tap them. It all depends on who it is, if its a racer that I have known for years and friends with I will then do a fist tap with them but NEVER wish them luck. If they say good luck to me before we put our helmets on I will say Be Safe, Have a Safe Run.. Am I considered rude if I dont wish you luck before we race each other for$$$$$ or dont fist bump you but just nod my helmet that I ackockledged you?
But, I will always go over to the person I race after and say good run and shake there hand.


What are your opinions on this, what do you do?

 

[heavybusa]

good karma.

 

[bigjack7679]

I feel where u coming from. I know guys that big time grudge race and they say everything possible except good luck. When there is 5k on the line you wish the worst luck possible. I hope he red light

 

[lankeeyankee]

I feel where u coming from. I know guys that big time grudge race and they say everything possible except good luck. When there is 5k on the line you wish the worst luck possible. I hope he red light

Yes! A lot of mind games goes on in the staging lanes. Dragracing is a lot of mental focus and concentration. When your dealing with a winning difference that can be .0001 I will use and play every card I have. I sure as hell dont want to build any confidence up in my opponent.
Some dragracers are quiet and to themselves, some have to parade around and be a social butterfly and tell stories, all kinds but most of the times most will wish me luck.
I have had nights to where I couldnt do wrong, racers redlight on me, break out by a country mile and never look back, break, miss a gear etc. So yes, dragracing I believe is 40% skill 25% equipment 15% luck.

 

[POWERHOUSE]

The nice part about sanctioned drag racing - at least back in my day - was that we went all around the country to different tracks and met the same people (for the most part) that were competing for points - in all the different classes. We would pit around each other, go out to dinner sometimes on Saturday night together, and race against each other in the finals the next day.

You always had help from other teams in the pit if you needed it, and even though we were competitors, we became friends as well. Our thing was to put on a show and win at the same time. Getting a "bye" run and advancing wasn't the same as two bikes doing their best side by side and you being the one that won.

When I whoop that I want to know I beat your best. So good luck to the other lane, really. You're going to need it!

 

[lankeeyankee]

The nice part about sanctioned drag racing - at least back in my day - was that we went all around the country to different tracks and met the same people (for the most part) that were competing for points - in all the different classes. We would pit around each other, go out to dinner sometimes on Saturday night together, and race against each other in the finals the next day.

You always had help from other teams in the pit if you needed it, and even though we were competitors, we became friends as well. Our thing was to put on a show and win at the same time. Getting a "bye" run and advancing wasn't the same as two bikes doing their best side by side and you being the one that won.

When I whoop that I want to know I beat your best. So good luck to the other lane, really. You're going to need it!

Ohh yeah I agree if your a regular racer your components and there pit crew are like family. Some are friendly with every one and some have there small little gang that goes out to dinner after the race and during the off season hang out. Yes close friends I would fist tap and of course talk chit in fun before the race. I am talking CASH races, money, not a friday night ho down for king of the hill sticker and a 3.00 plastic chinaman trophy and depending on how many were in ya may get a 150 bucks. Them races its hard for me to get into a competitive mode.
Yes some of my best friends today are the ones I met at the track 20+ years ago.
Example:
We are racing each other, I never seen you before your from out of town we are in the money rounds now, are you going to wish me luck before our run?

 

[lankeeyankee]

Just as in little league baseball we didnt shake hands and wish them luck before the game we waited till after the game and said Good Game!
When boxers get ready to fight do you think they say Hey Good Luck... I dont think so. they may fist tap but I dont think they are wishing the other luck.

 

[SKnight]

It's good sportsmanship for the most part but I'm also telling them that they'll need it, I just rarely say the last part.

My attitude is that when you're at the track we're buddies, I'll help with problems, even fixed another racers bike. But once I buckle the helmet your ass is grass and I'm the biggest meanest lawnmower you'll ever meet. Wouldn't matter if I'm taking the Busa up against a Ninja 250 or a Top Fuel car I'm there to tear your head off. It's a character flaw, doesn't matter what sport or where I am once the helmet goes on the proverbial switch flips and I become an animal.

So yeah even money rounds I'll wish the guy luck. I want them to have a good run, I want them to challenge me, some of my favorites are when I've run a guy down and beaten him on the big end. Half of the fun is knowing they gave me a run and I still whipped them.

 

[GNBRETT]

When boxers get ready to fight do you think they say Hey Good Luck... I dont think so. they may fist tap but I dont think they are wishing the other luck.

lol I was thinkn the exact same thing but seeing two MMA fighters right before a match. they want to rip heads off and tear each others heart out. but thats just the competitor in them vs. really being angry.

but I think there may be mind games that can be played by saying good luck. like makn the the other guy seem like he may need it....:nervous:

 

[skydivr]

It's just plain-ole good Sportsmanship....

 

[lankeeyankee]

It's just plain-ole good Sportsmanship....

Thats why after the race I will go over and shake there hand and say good luck win or loss.

 

[outlawbusa]

It's just plain-ole good Sportsmanship....

If you are having fun, why not be social about it!

If I hot lap 20 runs in a night, I do not get serious about winning or losing...it's all in fun

If you are digging deep in the pockets and pulling out a serious race then my mind is not going to be on fist bumping and I doubt the other person will be feeling the finger push either.

 

[Stevo80]

If I have never seen the guy I'm running, I really don't even give him the time of day. That's the way it is around here. Instead I'm examining every piece on his bike before the run out of the corner of my eye! From there, it's all about focusing on the light and the rest is history! After if we see each other I will tell someone good run, etc., but that's about it. On the other hand if someone wants to talk shizzit, I got that covered too! I don't think I have ever told anyone I was about to run "good luck" though. I would love to have a good race, but I still want to win! lease:

 

[Ludicrous Speed]

I say "be careful"

I am superstitious, though not as superstitious as I used to be when running my car. Sometimes I would tie my shoes before every round!

 

[lankeeyankee]

I say "be careful"

I am superstitious, though not as superstitious as I used to be when running my car. Sometimes I would tie my shoes before every round!

Supersticous.. LOL!! I can remember me and race partner were heading to a race 500 miles away, we got about 150 miles from the track and it started to rain he turned on the wipers and i said TURN THEM WIPERS OFF IT WILL CONTINUE TO RAIN IF YOU LEAVE THEM ON!! true story I used to be real bad with it. Not so bad now. But bracket racing is all about being consisten in what you do on every single pass.
I always put my right glove on before suiting up in the staging lanes.
Be a funny thread to start so this one doesnt get all clusterfuk'd

 

[dadofthree]

It was once called sportsmanship. But that was long long long ago in another galaxy. Trash talk is what we offer today

 

[RYC1966]

If it was me I would say good luck for the sport of it....if your in staging lanes getting ready to run i'd say a new guy is just being nice...also who knows how the run will end up...if you drift into the other lane / break / mess up the other guys run it is also polite to say sorry / pay for the mistake

throws his helmet at Kenseth's No. 17 after ... - YouTube[/url]

 

[snowprophet1]

I am usually pretty humble before racing (where as some others brag about how fast there stuff is and who they're going to beat, etc), but I'm friendly and check out the others' setups, etc. I usually end up doing real well, along w/my brother, and end up talking to people and making friends. Some have actually invited us to sand dune trips, snowmobile trips, etc. The last atv drags I went to, I saw a guy I met before who also has a porting business like myself, and we talked for a while. As my brother waited in line for his run, the battery must have shorted a cell, and we were dead in the water, before he even got a single run. That porting guy I befriended last year went through all of his buddies/people he did work for, and came up w/a battery we could rig to get my brother by. As it turned out, my brother took 1st in his class, and split the winnings w/the guy who lent him the battery ($140)! I took a first in my class, and the other two that we came up with took 2nds!
I don't suck up to anybody before a race, but I like to listen in to all the stories people have and how wrong their hp figures and speeds are, and just say "wow, that's really fast" etc, when you know they're really far off! Thats half the fun.

 

[lankeeyankee]

I guess I just say what I mean and not what is "politically correct" Do I really want to wish luck on someone I am racing HELLZ NO! I hope he messes up, red light, cant hit his shift points anything to give me the advantage, Do I care about him, NO! I dont hope or wish he blows an engine or has an accident no, I just hope he is safe and doesnt blow an engine, to me that means Be Safe not luck I wish luck to my friends that goto a Casino or any other type of betting games which relys mostly on luck. I never was good at saying "what your supposed to say cause someone started it and followed it.

Tonight after winning 5 rounds only one guy said "Good Luck" before the race, he was also on a GENII Busa, Ive seen fist pumps and exchange of words as we were waiting to pull out from the staging lanes..
But all 6 racers I raced I went over to them after the race and said Great Run and shook each one of there hands even the guy who beat me. But dont expect me to pist pump you are wish you good luck before we head out to race..
Yes I know some just race here for fun, pay big money and travel to do road race courses together which are for mostly bragging rights and to continue the Team Gixxer Smack Talk thread.
Ya know tonight there was no money involved.... but we had time trials and eliminations so maybe I am just competitive, rude, mean, disrespectful I dont think cause if anyone needed help at the track tonight I would do I could to help them,,, now if it was in the staging lanes before we pulled out.... Hmmmm ya better hurry up stopwatch is running and I could use a free pass

 

[dragonbusa]

If some says good luck to ya, you could just reply yea good luck your gonna need it punk!