"Drive it like you hate it"
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,016
Likes: 31
From: Little Egg Harbor N.J.
"Drive it like you hate it"
Last Sunday I had my first taste of racing at ATCO. The guys from the Forum told me I had to drive the car like I hated it in order for it to go fast. In the sixties and early seventies car manufacturers built the hi-performance cars to withstand that type of treatment. Are the newer Corvettes built to withstand this type of treatment as well or have they become "soft" in their evolution from street bruiser/musclecar to more of a sports car/grand tourer?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: "Drive it like you hate it" (1996Z15)
Welcome to the club of 1/4 mile enthusiasts. Hope you had fun; I still remember the rush that first day at "legal" racing, over 4yrs ago. Try it a few more times and you too may be hooked on the vib. Plus it's a great way to spend a Sat afternoon and meet some good people with common interest.
A vette is a sports car with quality components but racing it will take a toll, eventually. It's part of the adage "speed costs"; and so does racing. But then that's one reason I bought my Vette and it gives me much pleasure.
And BTW, the old muscle cars gave it up when beat upon sufficiently too. I would hasten to say that todays Vette is far superior to the old Detroit iron. Of course once you begin adding power at any component in the drive train you need to consider the "system" to assure longevity.
When I drag race I don't drive it like "I hate it", I drive it to win. That includes setting the best tire pressures, doing a mild dry burn out to clean my streets, picking the best launch line, "driving it" off the line (not just mashing the go pedal), letting the A4 do the shifting and playing the top end game.
Of course I run full synthetic motor oil, have fluids changed regularly and service areas that show they need it.
A vette is a sports car with quality components but racing it will take a toll, eventually. It's part of the adage "speed costs"; and so does racing. But then that's one reason I bought my Vette and it gives me much pleasure.
And BTW, the old muscle cars gave it up when beat upon sufficiently too. I would hasten to say that todays Vette is far superior to the old Detroit iron. Of course once you begin adding power at any component in the drive train you need to consider the "system" to assure longevity.
When I drag race I don't drive it like "I hate it", I drive it to win. That includes setting the best tire pressures, doing a mild dry burn out to clean my streets, picking the best launch line, "driving it" off the line (not just mashing the go pedal), letting the A4 do the shifting and playing the top end game.
Of course I run full synthetic motor oil, have fluids changed regularly and service areas that show they need it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,872
Likes: 3
From: Wilmington NC
Re: "Drive it like you hate it" (65Z01)
man.. beat that thing to death..., they hold together pretty well.. if you bone stock you will have no problems.. they will handle what you dish at them with in reason!! hope you enjoyed it.. it addictive isn't it!!! =)
Chris :cheers:
Chris :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 27,818
Likes: 8
From: CT
Re: "Drive it like you hate it" (lcvette)
That's the truth! To get the best out of it, you have to pound it! :D It's a good thing now and then.
Though I don't do it as often as some on here, it is a VERY good feeling soaring toward the finish line at WOT(Especially nearing 120 MPH).
I PROMISE I will make more than two runs this season. :yesnod:
Though I don't do it as often as some on here, it is a VERY good feeling soaring toward the finish line at WOT(Especially nearing 120 MPH).
I PROMISE I will make more than two runs this season. :yesnod:
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: "Drive it like you hate it" (1996Z15)
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I baby my car and it treates me real good.
Anyone ever see me beat on my car??????????????????? ;)
I baby my car and it treates me real good.
Anyone ever see me beat on my car??????????????????? ;)
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 25
From: Long Island, NY
Re: "Drive it like you hate it" (1996Z15)
I drive it hard, but also give it the proper maintainence.
Also, you can't be afraid to break something.
If it is going to break, so be it.
Just replace the broken part with something stronger.
Vic
Also, you can't be afraid to break something.
If it is going to break, so be it.
Just replace the broken part with something stronger.
Vic
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,016
Likes: 31
From: Little Egg Harbor N.J.
Re: "Drive it like you hate it" (lcvette)
man.. beat that thing to death..., they hold together pretty well.. if you bone stock you will have no problems.. they will handle what you dish at them with in reason!! hope you enjoyed it.. it addictive isn't it!!! =)
Chris :cheers:
Chris :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: "Drive it like you hate it" (1996Z15)
You're screwed. Welcome to the club of having no money. I took my car to the track to "see what it would". Now 67 horsepower, 40 pounds or torque, and a full second off my ET later I'm still looking for more power and am completely broke.
I WILL have a set of heads before the end of the season this year.
I don't think drive it like you HATE is quite right. I drive a FORD like I hate it. How about drive it like you STOLE it?
I WILL have a set of heads before the end of the season this year.
I don't think drive it like you HATE is quite right. I drive a FORD like I hate it. How about drive it like you STOLE it?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
Re: "Drive it like you hate it" (1996Z15)
For me there's only two throttle positions FULL and NONE. Once you are going as fast as you need to, set the cruise control!
If something breaks, you fix it (enhance it) and move one, hopefully a bit quicker.
If something breaks, you fix it (enhance it) and move one, hopefully a bit quicker.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: "Drive it like you hate it" (mn_vette)
Drive it like you hate it! That's the way dude. Quoted from Mr Panuzzo himself.