Hello all,

Here's a thread from the past related to my car's poor performance:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=920517
(I've since done a tune-up except for changing the spark plugs which I'm still trying to figure out how to get to...)

I went back to the track hoping for better results this time since the temp was cooler (50 degrees), the humidity lower (50%), and my car mostly tuned up.

First run down the track, I got good traction and had a good run except for the fact that I let off the gas before the finish (it was dark, first time on that dragstrip for me, I couldn't see the finish poles).

Here's the result:



I'm wondering, how is it possible that I had a slower reaction time than the 'stang, pulled way out ahead of him, he pulled on strong during the 2nd half, I let off the gas early which put him out front, he finished a couple car lengths ahead of me & I still got a time better than him even though my mph was down to 93 with my gas off? Maybe it works out mathematically but I can't figure out how that is possible...

I guess I'm suspicious of the accuracy of the 14.3 time which seems too fast though it would indicate that, had I not let off the gas, I would have finished close to 14.0. Another reason for my suspicion is that, on my 2nd run, I lost a little traction but otherwise had a "good" run and finished with a 14.5 at 98mph. (I ran a 3rd time but their clock messed up so I went home, to keep from ragging on the car too much in a day).

If the 14.3 is accurate then I'm pretty happy about the improvement over last time but, if not, I'm starting to wonder why my car runs at least have a second slower than most stock LT-1 C4s.

Just wondering... Love the car regardless

btw, the next time that 'stang ran a 14.1

 

look at the short time's

 

What running temp was your car at. Any more than 170 and you will start to see declines in your times. Other than that, is your car a six speed? If so it could be how your shifting or even more so what rpm you're launching at. Keep on trying, with every time out to the strip your times will get better mainly because of your start.

 

The almost 1/2 sec you sat at the lights will make the difference.
Looks like the driver.
You need to make sure the car is in the same lane and same temp when you launch to see if it's the car or you .
If you look close you slowed down at the 1/8 mile mark.

 

The temp was under 200 on the first run but up around 220 on the 2nd... I've noticed that the car gets hot pretty fast, something I should check in to (thermostat problem?).

It's an A4 so, though I'm willing to admit that it could be the driver, I can't imagine how I could be doing something wrong with the pedal to the metal. I'm putting the lever in 2nd & changing it to 3rd plenty of time before it auto shifts there.

RedC4: How can you tell that I slowed down at the 1/8th? Is the discrepancy between 330ft & 1/8th mile more than usual? If so, I'll have to check my power in that 78mph range...

 

Two factors Your 60' time is much quicker than his,his wheels must have been spinning.
The diff in mph to his showed you let off the gas just a little or you shifted to soon.
The vet loves the temp around 170 to 180 degrees.Only when drag racing,runs better on the street when about 200 degrees.
Next time put the trans in drive and leave it there.The car should give you a quicker time.
When you shift you can't tell if the shift is the same every time.
If you are stock you should not even need 4 gear.
Don't power break the car on one run stage and stomp on the gas,the next run only power break just enough to take the slack out of the drive train. The 3nd bring it up to about 1000 and see if that hurts or the run is faster.

 

It works out perfectly, mathematically. The reaction time (RT) is not a part of the ET. YOU start your ET clock at the same time you shut off your RT clock. You ran a .195 (14.5568-14.3618= .195) faster ET, but you gave him a .3392 (1.0058-.6666= .3392) head start. If you subtract your .195 better ET from his better by, .3392 RT, (.3392-.195=.1442) you can see that he beat you to the stripe by .1442. The "MOV" (margin of victory) was .1442 as represented by the "Finish Margin" at the bottom of your slip. It works perfectly.

RACE ON!!!

 

Hey, good to see another Austinite with a Polo Green C4! Great looking car! Did you run your car at SAR?

 

turn your car off.
open the hood.
have a friend hold the gas pedal to the floor
look at your throttle body, and see if you're actually getting full throttle
if you aren't, use the little black adjuster on the throttle cable between the TB and the ASR to sinch up the slack

make sure you are not open-throttle when he lets off the gas pedal.


this was what went on in mine. serious loss of horsepower.

 

Times may depend on how much the opponent bought off the timekeeper with beer. :-)

 

sorry, drag dummy here.... what does ET stand for?

 

ET = Elapsed Time - how long it takes to cover the 1/4 mile.