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Was practicing drag launches on a rougher textured country tar-chip road near where I live.
i could dump the clutch at 4000 rpm, half ride the clutch a little (which im sure isnt good for it) and get great traction in first on my supercharged 93. Toyo proxes r888 315/35r17. Little wheelspin
last time i was at track, (with all their ‘prep’), i couldnt dump the clutch >3000 rpm without just sitting in place and spinning on those tires.
Is it the surface that makes all the difference (rough texture - better traction vs. smoothed down from constant launching start area of dragstrip)
What gives?
(and before i get a bunch of replies from self-righteous idiots about how i shouldnt be ‘racing’ on a road - understand I dont live in the traffic light congested area you do, so no - there is noone i am inconveniencing or being rude to other than the cornstalks and trees lining the roads.))
Quite a while ago I had a '68 firebird with a strong 462, 4 speed, 4.56 gear and raced at Humboldt IA 1/8 mile. The start was on concrete and then it went to asphalt. I spun some on the concrete, but once I hit the asphalt it was very slippery. I actually backed off in both 3rd and 4th gears because it was sliding so bad. Even when I got back into it in 4th gear it was still spinning through the end of the 1/8th mile.
On other tracks it was not as bad, but I still got more spin than normal.
Suspension, Tires, Driver, that is why no prep drags are so popular. Not every one can do it. I've watched slow cars crash ( 9 sec 1/8 mile) , and while they were crying about poor track prep the next guy up runs 6's in the same lane. Clint Eastwood said it best, " A Man's Got to Know His Limitations."
On a dragstrip, I think you are supposed to warm the tires with a burnout and then they will probably grip much better...?
Ill dry spin the tires just a chirp.
Since they have a pattern, i dont use the water box.
The toyo proxes r888 is not a drag radial but tons of the c6/7 supercharged and gt-r guys are happy with the drag grip of them.
my point is if im looking for a drag race best ET, id get it on one of these country roads around me vs. the dragstrips around me it seems. They are all just spin, spin (thompson and salem - havent been to the new dragway 42 redone about 4 yrs ago. Or norwalk)
that said i will draw the line on street racing (even by myself) My car traps just over 120. Im not going to do that on one of these roads here.
Even if its just me, a simple bump on one of these roads would be disaster
I think the traction at the drag track is ABOUT the same as what you get on the street.
I think the "problem" is one of perception. On an empty street, all by yourself:
1. What are the consequences to your ego if you blow a launch? Zero. No one saw, just do it again. Also, who cares? You have unlimited tries.
2. What are the consequences at the track? A bunch: People are watching -spectators, other car drivers, track staff. There is another car in the lane next to you; you don't want to blow tires with him there. You paid money and have limited runs...each run...THIS run, needs to count/matter!
3. You don't leave when you want to. Light turns green...it's panic time, you dump the clutch. Oops.
That's my opinion. I've thought the same thing for decades. I show up to the track, make my first pass, blazing the tires all the way through 1st. WTF??? Car don't do that on the street! Well....it probably has a lot more to do with my state of mind and how I ACTUALLY launch the car (compared to how I WANT to launch the car). "Proof" of that is that w/a few more passes and a little more composure, I drive the 60' times down to a respectable, if not impressive number for the combo.
The traction is there... you just need to become more sensitive and find/exploit it.
Your method was different, were were riding the clutch on the country road and so the trans wasnt getting full power, much was being wasted on slipping. Dump the clutch on the road and the same thing will happen.
That said, most drag strips strive for consistency in pavement more so than max grip. Florida roads have seashells in them, you end up with HEROIC grip due to that. But its inconsistent and tears tires yp. Us as the night goes on, the drag strip will get too much heat into it and get slower.
Street tires on the strip suck. What I have found is that what hooks on the street doesn't at the track.
On the track you have so much rubber and other stuff. Also think about it. Are your tires cold at the track? My bet is they are stone cold. On the street you just drove a bit and get some heat in them and I bet you did multiple launches in a row on your country road.
I used to fight for traction running low 8's while other friends were blazing in the 6's with no traction issues. As said it was tires, suspension, and overall car setup and driver. They knew their car better than I did, I'm sure.
Like you I would drive around the water box and then back in just a hair and then do a little clean off. Street tires get slippery if you try and put too much heat in them with a big burn out.
Your method was different, were were riding the clutch on the country road and so the trans wasnt getting full power, much was being wasted on slipping. Dump the clutch on the road and the same thing will happen.
That said, most drag strips strive for consistency in pavement more so than max grip. Florida roads have seashells in them, you end up with HEROIC grip due to that. But its inconsistent and tears tires yp. Us as the night goes on, the drag strip will get too much heat into it and get slower.
Florida roads are weird and these fresh seashell paved roads are similar to the tar chip.
When its wet, ill brake in one section - have great grip. Then there will be a new older, worn down section of pavement, that i will continue braking into (same effort) and wheels lock up/abs
What Tom said, even my stock L98 did that.
Get a real drag radial heat them up good and see what happens. Some will post their brand xxx are sticky cause they spent money or dont have enough power etc.
If your car traps 120 you need them period. My weekend car would be undriveable with any sort of st tire
Burnouts or spinning on the st is for kids and the YT crowd
05-23-2019, 09:41 AM
Why are dragstrips so slippery?
