Advice for beginner wanting get into drag racing?

Watch how others do their burnout, and stage up. Where their cars trip the pre-stage light, and stage light. If your unsure if your car will pass, just go to tech and try, they will inform you of what catches their eyes. I did this, and they said "next time have two throttle springs, and take your hubcaps off". I went and my 1st pass was in a 150 dollar winter beater '73 swinger 318 2bbl that missed. 16.72 at 81 mph. Yippee! Fast facts are all cars need the battery anchored and a radiator overflow.