auto or manual

[funkyboogalooo]

which is preferred in a drag car? Say I was to buy a street car that I wanted to drag (not really competitiviely) should I go auto or manual?
M

[Nitrohaulic]

Automatics are pretty much universal in the states unless someone is using a high performance car that happened to come with a manual. Two speed powerglides are by the norm in bracket racing where consistency counts due to only shifting once, often even in heavier cars that would perform better with the lower first gear of a three speed. Another factor that's often in that example is that the two speeds are cheaper because of the volume they're used in.

I'm betting you'll have more initial expense in a manual, more headache fitting the car for clutch linkage unless it already came with one, and a car that's more likely to break parts.

Of course, the downside to drag racing a street car with an automatic is what stall converter do you go with? A lower one for the street or a higher one that's better suited for the track? Dittos with matching that to your cam, low vaccuum power brake problems (which an extra reservoir can be added to help with) if that's too big, etc.

I'm not a big fan of trying to do both with one car anymore.