Hot Rod Drag Week 2016 - Mission Accomplished
09-25-2016, 04:27 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Hot Rod Drag Week 2016 - Mission Accomplished
For those that might not know, I've competed in Hot Rod Magazine's Drag Week for the last several years. Each of those 3 years its ended with a grown man in tears as a result of a failure to finish. For reason's I'll keep private, this event is a very big deal to me. The previous years failures were all caused by fairly minor problems, however on Drag Week even a "minor" problem is a huge deal as you are completely on your own to get things fixed, wherever you might be, with only what you have brought with you.
Truth be told, this event is the single hardest privateer automotive event in existence. You think you know...but you've got no idea.
As in years previous, the event ended with tears running down my face almost uncontrollably. But this year....this year, those tears were joined by a smile running ear to ear under my helmet. This year....we made it.
Each and every day the car felt fresh as a daisy in the morning, after racing, and esp after the 6-7 hours worth of street driving. These drives are mostly two lane back roads through small towns, dirt/gravel roads, horrific traffic ect so normally things feel pretty beat after even just one day of racing/driving.
With my car I run 93 octane pump gas and at the track will usually throw 2.5 gallons of MS109 on top of the 1/4 tank of 93 just to be nice and safe. The car is tuned by Don (SlowHawk Performance Inc.) in Bridgewater MA and ZERO changes are made to the tune while we are out racing. That just goes to show you how solid the tune is from Don. My car will literally run 9.29-9.34 ANYWHERE in the country, in any air you throw at it.
The class I run in is Street Race/Big Block/Power Adder. BB is now anything over 430ci. This class has basically turned into a 8.50's bracket class as the cars are getting ever more hardcore. I can honestly say with great pride that I had one of the fastest/most true to form actual full street cars in the whole event.
As time is such a big deal in Drag Week I chose to soften the launch up even more than normal just to get rolling to insure a "one and done" run schedule. A such the 60ft times were crap at 1.50 average.
My final times were as follows:
Day 1, National Trail Raceway - 9.32 @ 151mph
Day 2, Summit Motorsports Park - 9.29 @ 148mph
Day 3, US 131 Motorsports Park - 9.29 @ 148mph
Day 4, Lucas Oil Raceway (Indy) - 9..33 @ 148mph (wheel spin)
Day 5, National Trail Raceway - 9.43 @ 150mph (bad air, everyone was slow)
Final week long average was 9.33 which put me 7th in a class of 16 cars. Not bad for a TRUE street car with every amenity and a 3650lb race weight on pump gas.
The only "work" that the car required all week was draining a half quart of oil out of the damn thing because I overfilled it at the shop and forgot to drain it out before the event. The hotel didn't need that ice bucket anyway right
Other than that the only thing that was changed from street to race was the tires, and adding in the door bars, and the parachute on the last run. Oh, and I do have to pull off the front air dam sides as they trip the beams.
For those that claim they have a fast street car on here....prove it. You can go ahead and stuff your 30 mile "True Street" cruise where the sun don't shine. Drag Week 2017 is right around the corner.
Who knows, maybe you could be behind the wheel of this car next season.....
. Yes, at this point its officially/unofficially for sale.
I'll leave you with the GoPro footage as well as some pics along the way.
Day 1 In-car:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvU5RvaltSM
Day 2 In-car:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCyOHA0IsgY
Day 3 In-car:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW6HpeOQ40U
Day 4 In-car: (Tire Shake)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGyuKfvUS8A
Day 5 Rear Deck - Laundry Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAq7UjK9YPI
- Travis
Truth be told, this event is the single hardest privateer automotive event in existence. You think you know...but you've got no idea.
As in years previous, the event ended with tears running down my face almost uncontrollably. But this year....this year, those tears were joined by a smile running ear to ear under my helmet. This year....we made it.
Each and every day the car felt fresh as a daisy in the morning, after racing, and esp after the 6-7 hours worth of street driving. These drives are mostly two lane back roads through small towns, dirt/gravel roads, horrific traffic ect so normally things feel pretty beat after even just one day of racing/driving.
With my car I run 93 octane pump gas and at the track will usually throw 2.5 gallons of MS109 on top of the 1/4 tank of 93 just to be nice and safe. The car is tuned by Don (SlowHawk Performance Inc.) in Bridgewater MA and ZERO changes are made to the tune while we are out racing. That just goes to show you how solid the tune is from Don. My car will literally run 9.29-9.34 ANYWHERE in the country, in any air you throw at it.
The class I run in is Street Race/Big Block/Power Adder. BB is now anything over 430ci. This class has basically turned into a 8.50's bracket class as the cars are getting ever more hardcore. I can honestly say with great pride that I had one of the fastest/most true to form actual full street cars in the whole event.
As time is such a big deal in Drag Week I chose to soften the launch up even more than normal just to get rolling to insure a "one and done" run schedule. A such the 60ft times were crap at 1.50 average.
My final times were as follows:
Day 1, National Trail Raceway - 9.32 @ 151mph
Day 2, Summit Motorsports Park - 9.29 @ 148mph
Day 3, US 131 Motorsports Park - 9.29 @ 148mph
Day 4, Lucas Oil Raceway (Indy) - 9..33 @ 148mph (wheel spin)
Day 5, National Trail Raceway - 9.43 @ 150mph (bad air, everyone was slow)
Final week long average was 9.33 which put me 7th in a class of 16 cars. Not bad for a TRUE street car with every amenity and a 3650lb race weight on pump gas.
The only "work" that the car required all week was draining a half quart of oil out of the damn thing because I overfilled it at the shop and forgot to drain it out before the event. The hotel didn't need that ice bucket anyway right
Other than that the only thing that was changed from street to race was the tires, and adding in the door bars, and the parachute on the last run. Oh, and I do have to pull off the front air dam sides as they trip the beams.
For those that claim they have a fast street car on here....prove it. You can go ahead and stuff your 30 mile "True Street" cruise where the sun don't shine. Drag Week 2017 is right around the corner.
Who knows, maybe you could be behind the wheel of this car next season.....
. Yes, at this point its officially/unofficially for sale. I'll leave you with the GoPro footage as well as some pics along the way.
Day 1 In-car:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvU5RvaltSM
Day 2 In-car:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCyOHA0IsgY
Day 3 In-car:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW6HpeOQ40U
Day 4 In-car: (Tire Shake)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGyuKfvUS8A
Day 5 Rear Deck - Laundry Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAq7UjK9YPI
- Travis
09-25-2016, 04:47 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Aug 2014
Location: Richmond VA
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St. Jude Donor '18
That.Is.Awesome!!
Did you trailer it to the Midwest from Massachusetts, or drive it?
I think I would like to do this one day.
My buddy Frank Saporano runs the twin turbo BBC teal/white Nova Wagon who completed last year, but ate a valve this year. He has another Nova coupe which has also completed it before. And a guy on the Lincoln Mark V forum I belong to also took his Mark V on the run this year as well.
Did you see any big diesel trucks doing the run?
I don't know what I'd have more fun running it, my 77' Lincoln or my C5.
Did you trailer it to the Midwest from Massachusetts, or drive it?
I think I would like to do this one day.
My buddy Frank Saporano runs the twin turbo BBC teal/white Nova Wagon who completed last year, but ate a valve this year. He has another Nova coupe which has also completed it before. And a guy on the Lincoln Mark V forum I belong to also took his Mark V on the run this year as well.
Did you see any big diesel trucks doing the run?
I don't know what I'd have more fun running it, my 77' Lincoln or my C5.
Last edited by Sydwayz; 09-25-2016 at 08:37 PM.
09-25-2016, 05:20 PM
#3
Drifting
Thread Starter
That.Is.Awesome!!
Did you trailer it to the Midwest from Massachusetts, or drive it?
I think I would like to do this one day.
My buddy Frank Saporano runs the twin turbo BBC teal/white Nova Wagon who completed last year, but ate a valve this year. He has another Nova coupe which has also completed it before. And I guy on the Lincoln Mark V forum I belong to also took his Mark V on the run this year as well.
Did you see any big diesel trucks doing the run?
I don't know what I'd have more fun running it, my 77' Lincoln or my C5.
Did you trailer it to the Midwest from Massachusetts, or drive it?
I think I would like to do this one day.
My buddy Frank Saporano runs the twin turbo BBC teal/white Nova Wagon who completed last year, but ate a valve this year. He has another Nova coupe which has also completed it before. And I guy on the Lincoln Mark V forum I belong to also took his Mark V on the run this year as well.
Did you see any big diesel trucks doing the run?
I don't know what I'd have more fun running it, my 77' Lincoln or my C5.
I trailer the car out there. I've got WAY too much tired up into Drag Week to drive it out and risk some A-hole crashing into it.
- Travis
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Sydwayz (09-25-2016)
09-25-2016, 06:22 PM
#4
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Member Since: Mar 2001
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Cool story and congrats on finishing the event this year. Quite the accomplishment based on your description of the event.
Just curious where did you get the hood insert? That looks really good on the car.
Just curious where did you get the hood insert? That looks really good on the car.
09-25-2016, 08:01 PM
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
- Travis
09-25-2016, 11:17 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Wow who was next to you on that first video! I have a pewter FRC very familiar looking - including all the noise while staging - that's what threw me off the most - not being able to hear your own engine. Great accomplishment and thank for teaching them to respect the C5!
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trayack (10-03-2016)
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trayack (10-03-2016)
09-26-2016, 06:20 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Pro Mechanic
Congrats!! A great accomplishment that obviously meant a lot to you! 
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trayack (10-03-2016)
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trayack (10-03-2016)
09-27-2016, 11:53 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
Congrats !!!
I'm with you
I've completed DragWeek 6 times in a true street car.
It's not easy being fast AND reliable.
Anyone can build a fast car.. but can they really drive it ???
Had to miss it this year due to health reasons..
Hope I can get back for DW 2017 !!
I'm with you
I've completed DragWeek 6 times in a true street car.
It's not easy being fast AND reliable.
Anyone can build a fast car.. but can they really drive it ???
Had to miss it this year due to health reasons..
Hope I can get back for DW 2017 !!
The following users liked this post:
trayack (10-03-2016)
The following users liked this post:
trayack (10-03-2016)
