The burnout — the one thing every red-blooded gearhead this side of the Milky Way galaxy has performed at least once in their time for the pure thrill of it. Well, that and, it produces smoke, and despite our status as earth’s most intelligent beings, we’re as mesmerized by smoke as a kitten is a cardboard box.

Because virtually everyone can and has done it, it seems quite elementary. Power-brake the vehicle, roll into the throttle and let it eat. For greater effect, throw down some water, perhaps even have your buddies hold the car in place. But thermal deal isn’t so simple.

For many a drag racer, the burnout is done over a distance to not only heat and clean the tires, but to lay down a fresh layer of rubber across the patch of racing surface they’ll be launching from. And even with a wide set of slicks under the car, it’s not as easy as it looks, catching even the best of them off guard at times. Remember, you’re spinning a wet set of un-treaded tires at upwards of 150 mph while moving at speeds far less — it’s a bit like gunning your rear-wheel drive car in the ice and trying to keep it straight as it hooks left or right.

Tampa, Florida racer Eduardo Ortiz learned just how quickly things can get away from you at this weekend’s Import Face Off in Bradenton, Florida, when he lost control of his brand-new 13B rotary-powered Toyota Starlet and struck the wall during the burnout, turning the car into it side in a wild scene on the starting line.

The Starlet, built by Eduardo and his father, Indio, at their Tampa-area body shop, was preparing to make just its third pass since completion, but the duo were dealt this setback and are already in the process of making cosmetic repairs to the body with plans to be back on-track by the end of the month.