DanielRicany

So I finally got my car out to the track. Unfortunately, I only got one run in before something broke.

First run, I backed into the water box, attempted to do a burnout and couldn't get the car to stay still. Put the gas to the floor in second and my foot hard on the brake and it stalled. I launched at 2500 RPM on the 2 step, slight spin, almost a dead hook. I imagine because probably all the "burnout" did was dry of the water and nothing else. I shifted at 6000 RPMs consistently on every gear. Nice fast shifts. My time slip reads the following:

R/T .513
60' 2.058
330 5.695
1/8 8.632
MPH 85.09
1000 11.146
ET 13.258
MPH 108.11

Second run came up and this was bad... backed into the water box, put it in first gear this time, dumped the clutch at 5000ish and started to spin, all while the car moved up to the starting line. Backed up to try again and the same thing happened. Pulled to the starting line, staged, put the 2 step on, foot to the floor, accidentally turned off the 2 step right before the clutch engaged and the RPMs went to 5000-6000 and the car started vibrating like crazy as I left the line. After I came to my senses of what was happening I realized that I was hearing a loud rotational clunking from the left rear. Turns out that tore apart a brand new U-joint, only has maybe 200 miles on it. The trunion caps were gone, the tow truck guy said there was a ton of aluminum shavings on the track, worse than a brake lathe. Got it towed off the track and noticed the steering wheel was crooked as I was moving. Got the car towed back to the shop and under further investigation I discovered that the left rear wheel has excessive negative camber and excessive toe in. So hopefully only the U-joint broke and maybe knocked it out of alignment. Otherwise something else had to bend or break.

My first run down the track was a lot of fun. I wouldn't have minded this happening if I had gotten maybe 10 runs to see what the car can really do. Oh well, probably won't be back at the track for a while.

JrRifleCoach

Nice run. Tough luck all in one night

blackozvet

is your car black ?

DanielRicany

Nope. It's red.

ghoastrider1

Daniel, I have seen you post in here a bunch, usually on the positive side of what ever the post was about. Glad to see you finally made it to the track. ( Took mine to the track for the first time this year also). yea Man, its a blast. Glad to see those times, quicker than those mustangs that were blowing my doors off. You put the grrr back in corvette. lol. I ran a best of 14.037. You would have had a good view of me in your rear view mirror. Congrats nd if you ever make it to indy, lets go racing some wensday nite.

Tom400CFI

I'm glad that you finally made it to a track too. Bummer about the breakage but I'd bet your alignment is due to the broken U-joint. Remember that your axle shaft IS your upper control arm. That is no longer connected to your knuckle.


Next time you go to the track, you need to slow it WAY down. Not your car...you. It sound like your driving technique was "hand grenade"....which is understandable on a first time out. The first time basically feels like one big panic attack!

You need to not worry about your ET's, your RT, and probably not even your launching, to start with....focus on a procedure for running the car. Make your procedure become a habit while also establishing a solid TRAP, that will give you a foundation for ET expectations. Once you start getting comfortable with this, then you can more effectively shift your focus toward good driving that results in faster times, w/o breakage. You shouldn't be breaking things w/ 13.2/108 results. I'd also get rid of that 2 step. Just DRIVE the car out of the hole.

Last, IDK why your car was creeping forward on the burn out. Shouldn't do that at all, but especially so w/wetted rear tires. Are your front brakes working right?

Again, glad to see that you got out and did it. Hopefully all you need is a $15 u-joint.

.

Vic'89

The MPH shows me a potential mid-12 second run.
What were the weather conditions ?

Vic

DanielRicany

Was like -650 DA. Perfect weather.

DanielRicany

Also, the things that were broken were a u joint, stub axle, and half shaft. The knuckle is pretty messed up but it's only superficial.

96 lt-4

If your running street tires you don't need to go in the water at all.Just spin them over to clean off any debris.Drag radials or slicks then yes get them wet and then do a burnout but not in the water box.
Get a line loc to hold the front brakes.

ghoastrider1

I went slower using the water box. I also went slower when upper the RPMs at the line. ( auto) just spun to much. BUT, BUT, it was fun.

blackozvet

well its not that then, black cars usually do that sort of crazy sh*t !

DanielRicany

I think that the tires were worse off here than on the street. I think they were probably wet and still cold. That's why they spun on the track. (The headlights are not broken, I turned them off incorrectly.)

cv67

x2
Learn to drive the car toss the electronics
Dont dump the clutch at 5k in the box
Street tires, you get them real hot they just grease up and can get slipperier
Like they said just skip the box give em a quick clean off and learn to slip the clutch like you would leaving an intersection quickly, as it starts to grab lay into the throttle progressively go from there.

Get some junk rims with some 15 in M/T drag radials with a sidewall bet you hit the 12s or damn close. no need esp on street tires to let tons of air out it just cups the tires and you lose contact patch
Have fun!

ghoastrider1

Looks the folks taking the pics where having a good time as well. Gonna have to get a buddy to do that for me... that pic is great.

DanielRicany

I have Nitto NT555R drag radials that I was using... 315/35/17.

Tom400CFI

I didn't see much wheel spin there....looked like I pretty decent run. Car looks and sounds good.

I stand by all of my advice above.

9T3VETTE

Sounds good

cardo0

Well thats how it goes. U race. U break parts. Car is just telling u what u need to know. Thx for sharing.

93Rubie

What are your mods?

IMHO, and from fact, you should be able to pull better 60's on tires like that. I can pull 1.9X's on 255/40/17 Dunlap ZII's.....which are a great 200TW auto-x tire but hook pretty good at the strip too!!

I doubt Atco has bad track prep. PRP is pretty sticky as of late. I wish I had air like that around here. I need to do more drag strip stuff again........