Help, First Timer Going to the strip.

[Crowbie]

I think i'm going this friday to Steele, Alabama (My local dragstrip) and its my first time. I'm mainly going to see how the whole thing operates and what to expect costs of entering and so forth.

My main issue is this..

I have a 66 Impala 4door. I have built the 355 with flat tops, stock heads, 268 duration cam, stock lift, Taylor wires, HEI Proform distributor, accel shorty u-groove plugs, stock altenator, headers, dual turbo thrush exhaust mufflers, 195*F thermostat, a Professional Products Power+Plus intake Cyclone rated from idle to 5000 rpms and an edelbrock 1406 600cfm performer carburator with a 10" k&n filter (no top filter, yet), stock fuel pump, 12* BTDC timing, and I run 87 Octane for daily driving. All running on a Aluminum Case Powerglide with a TCI 2200 RPM stall converter.

Some punk in a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT running a Cold Air intake and POSSIBLY a turbo, i couldn't hear one when he was revving because of the moderate exhaust that i think he may have had, called my car slow and a piece. What I want to do is I am wanting to challenge him at the drag strip.

I want to know all the little things I can do to bolt on, adjust, and smoke this kid. All i know is that I should unbolt my exhaust to have my headers flowing freely and to dump all my tools and unnecessary things from my trunk and cabin area to lose weight. Is there anything else I should do to prepare for this like running High octane fuel? or letting air in/out of my tires for greater traction? Close all the windows for (as if it would help) for aerodynamics and wind drag? Please help. I need all the little bolt on things and tricks of the trade to squeeze all the juice out of this mouse. I want to put this punk in his place. I know my car is ugly as crap but I know she can get up and go.

I'm talking about a budget of about 200-600$ after my tax return. I am not doing NOS in any way. I don't think I can properly handle it since I've never done it.

If theres anything else about the car you'd like to know it can be found here: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/799586/3