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going to the drag strip first time what should i aim for and any tips for running her
So i finally got my car finished and i am going to run my car for the first time at my local 1/4 drag strip. Currently my power numbers are 357 rwtq and 354 rwhp putting me around 420 crank for both. Its a bolt on 99 6sp with no gear changes. Also i will be running new hankook ventus tires when i run.
from my research i should run around 12.5 or lower if i drive perfectly but i am hopping to break 11.9 eventually with my setup.
What numbers should i be running with my setup and what should i aim for when i get better at it. My goal this week is just to break 13s.
Any tips on how to launch the car properly and at what rpm and how to get the best numbers i can.
Aim for the area of black tarmac between the walls, not the concrete barriers themselves. ;-) Sorry, couldn't help it. Best of luck to you, and be careful launching. Someone w/a new C7 grenaded their trans using launch control. I know our C5's don't have it, but still something to be mindful of.
Aim for the area of black tarmac between the walls, not the concrete barriers themselves. ;-) Sorry, couldn't help it. Best of luck to you, and be careful launching. Someone w/a new C7 grenaded their trans using launch control. I know our C5's don't have it, but still something to be mindful of.
Dam I thought rubbing the concrete barriers added speed. Yeah I saw that with the c7 but it was linked to the launch control I believe. Miine does not have that fortunately.
If you've never been, throw your expectations out the window and just have fun. Launching the car correctly will take time, especially with a manual transmission. If you get wheel hop, get out of it quick so you don't break anything. Again, have fun and keep it between the walls!
I am pretty versed at the dragstrip with this: but when I run my stock vette which is an auto I was limited to having traction control ON as with it off had severe rear wheel hop. I also just left it in drive rather than trying to manually shift the auto, I would stage as shallow as possible and leave when the 2nd amber goes out. Good luck and looking forward to hear what it runs.
I am pretty versed at the dragstrip with this: but when I run my stock vette which is an auto I was limited to having traction control ON as with it off had severe rear wheel hop. I also just left it in drive rather than trying to manually shift the auto, I would stage as shallow as possible and leave when the 2nd amber goes out. Good luck and looking forward to hear what it runs.
Thanks its a 6sp so i am going to have to learn to launch it properly.
It may feel like the clutch is slipping too but that is most likely your tires spinning......and don't worry about the smells they will go away lol. Took mine 2 weeks ago and ran a 12.724 but tires were spinning through second gear. Only ran it once due to curiosity.
I have approximately the same power (about 400 at the crank),.....I ran 12.69, 12,78 and my best 12.67. The biggest deal is a good start and your 60 foot times,.......find the RPM with max torque and the ability to take the initial clutch grab, not bog and not spin the tires and pull smoothly to redline before gear change. I found 3200 to 3500 RPM is pretty good to achieve just that. But you have to experiment. Here is a run before all modding.
I have approximately the same power (about 400 at the crank),.....I ran 12.69, 12,78 and my best 12.67. The biggest deal is a good start and your 60 foot times,.......find the RPM with max torque and the ability to take the initial clutch grab, not bog and not spin the tires and pull smoothly to redline before gear change. I found 3200 to 3500 RPM is pretty good to achieve just that. But you have to experiment. Here is a run before all modding.
Reaction time doesn't affect your elapsed time; so don't worry about cutting a light unless you are trying to beat the next guy to the end
Roll out is the distance you have between setting the staging light and breaking the beam. Increasing your roll out gives you more forward motion before the clock starts. You will have a prestage and stage light come on. Nudge up SLOWLY until the second set starts to flicker. That will give you the most room and most 'shallow' stage.
Always roll up in gear and on the brakes to keep the driveline preloaded. Any sudden take up of slack when you launch can increase chances of damage.
If you can avoid the burnout box on street tires, do so. Street tires will carry water. I try to drive around and do one right after the box in good rubber. If you have to go through water, use 2nd gear and spin them until you see smoke then drive through. Don't overheat street tires or they will be greasy and spin.
Don't bother lowering tire pressure on a street radial. The stiff sidewalls make the tire cup at the center and you will lose contact patch. Going 1-2psi OVER will actually yield the largest patch on squat.
If your car is lowered, make sure you are staging with the tire and not your chin spoiler. Your spoiler will often cause your roll out to be too short. Whoever is running the tree can point you in if you ask.
Roll your windows up/ ac off
Use clean clutch fluid and bring a baster/reservoir and fresh fill if you are going to make a ton of passes. It will get dirty in a hurry and lock you out of gears.
Launching will vary by car an tire. I usually end up with a hard slip @1800-2300 depending on how the track hooks.
.1 decrease of your 60' time is worth .2 at the big end. Work on bringing the car out smoothly. A 1.9 is a decent 60' on street tires.
The Internet is a poor benchmark. All tracks are different and every run is made at a different density altitude or DA. You can use Dragtimes online to see your DA calculator for your track on the day you race. It will also provide corrections.
In 3900ft DA on a slippery track I will run 12.7 @ 114. In good air 150ft DA I've gone 12.2 @ 118+. So don't lose your mind over it.
Practice makes perfect. Make sure to have fun.
Also if the car starts to wheehop CLUTCH IN IMMEDIATELY. Just abort the run. No sense breaking parts.
I remember the old days running my Camaro, my left leg would shake so bad I thought it would fall off. (pressure plate was on the stiff side) Still think it was nerves and it never went away, well until the last yellow anyway, funny part is I loved it !!!!!!!!
I've got basically the same power (352 RWHP, 356 RWTQ), 6spd, and I also went to the track for the first time ever a few weeks ago. Best time I was able to get was 13.7.
Yet folks are talking about doing mid-12's with these numbers? Yikes. My car needs a driver mod, STAT.
Or I suppose I could be positive about it and just take it as an excuse to visit the track more
09-22-2016, 09:45 AM
going to the drag strip first time what should i aim for and any tips for running her
