First time at the strip tomorrow, tips?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
First time at the strip tomorrow, tips?
I'm sure there's a few good threads around here if someone wants to point me in the right direction. I'll be heading to Pittsburgh speedway with a few friends tomorrow. I've been on a roadcourse a few times but never the drag strip. My goal is to have fun and hopefully land somewhere in the low 12's for my first night out. It's an M7 mag ride car. So far my best launches on the street have come from a 2500 rpm launch and have yielded several 4.1-4.3 0-60 times. Any higher rpm and it spins too much and is slower.
A few questions.
1. With the better grip afforded by a prepped strip should I launch with a few hundred more rpm? I definitely don't plan on using launch control. I will of course turn off traction control but not stabilitrak. I will also be utilizing the no lift shift.
2. I've seen several people suggest on the stock tires to go around the water box and just do a small burnout stopping at the first sight of white smoke. Does this sound right?
3. Would a more compliant suspension setting such as touring or sport be better for weight transfer and potentially better times?
4. What tire pressures are recommended? I've seen 28 psi rear, what about the front?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks
A few questions.
1. With the better grip afforded by a prepped strip should I launch with a few hundred more rpm? I definitely don't plan on using launch control. I will of course turn off traction control but not stabilitrak. I will also be utilizing the no lift shift.
2. I've seen several people suggest on the stock tires to go around the water box and just do a small burnout stopping at the first sight of white smoke. Does this sound right?
3. Would a more compliant suspension setting such as touring or sport be better for weight transfer and potentially better times?
4. What tire pressures are recommended? I've seen 28 psi rear, what about the front?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks
Last edited by ziominix; Jun 11, 2015 at 11:14 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 873
Likes: 86
From: Katy Texas
if you have the PDR, try it. Also try the launch control at least once, it will not give yoy the best time, but you will get some ides on how the car launches. go around water box and small burnout, stock tires do not need a lot of heat, they will spin easily anyway.max the front tire pressure on tire sidewall, rears will be a trial and error thing, 28 is a good starting point. Watch the 2-3 no lift shift as it ids the harder of the shifts to do quick..most of all, have fun, do not try to cut a quick reaction time, it doesn't matter, concentrate on a good launch and clean shifts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,204
Likes: 17
From: Fayetteville North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '15
if you have the PDR, try it. Also try the launch control at least once, it will not give yoy the best time, but you will get some ides on how the car launches. go around water box and small burnout, stock tires do not need a lot of heat, they will spin easily anyway.max the front tire pressure on tire sidewall, rears will be a trial and error thing, 28 is a good starting point. Watch the 2-3 no lift shift as it ids the harder of the shifts to do quick..most of all, have fun, do not try to cut a quick reaction time, it doesn't matter, concentrate on a good launch and clean shifts.
I have found that treating them like a drag radial works best, roll through the water, short spin to get them wet, burnout until white smoke is rolling off, dry hop to make sure they're clean, then stage.
IMO 2500 is way too high, I always advise people to start on the "bog" side of the perfect launch and not the "blew the tires off" side of the perfect launch. Turn all the nanny stuff off and bring it out easy from 1400 or so, each track is different and each day is different for a given track. It will take you a few passes to get used to not only the car but how the track is behaving that particular day.
I cut a 1.68 60' time in track mode, and it still transferred weight really well. I have heard people launch in Touring mode to maximize this but track worked best for me.
I ran about 28-29 psi in my rear and 36 front.
I have an auto so it's a little different for me, but you should be able to get your 60' down into the 1.8's by the end of the night with a little practice.
Have fun!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 873
Likes: 86
From: Katy Texas
I have not launched the vette yet on the track, I know on the street , even when warm I can blow the tires off rolling into 1st and into 2nd. but the track does have prep to it that is sticky
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,204
Likes: 17
From: Fayetteville North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '15
It goes to show you that GM really stepped up the tire selection on the C7 as far as performance goes.
I was able to run 11.08 on a 100 shot on stock tires with zero wheelspin, the only reason I didn't push it harder is because my window switch is (still) on backorder.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the advice so far guys. Just curious though on the launch rpm, since I'm able to successfully launch from 2500 rpm on the street with a quick hook up and very little spin, would that not work equally as well on the track?
Like I said this has yielded me several 4.1 to 4.3 0-60 times which I gauge as being a decent launch. It seems to only drop a few hundred rpm while hooking up. Or is the best launch going to come from no rpm drop during the hookup? I can see the wisdom in starting lower and working your way higher until you find the sweet spot, I'm just wondering if being under 2000 rpm is going to yield a slower time.
Like I said this has yielded me several 4.1 to 4.3 0-60 times which I gauge as being a decent launch. It seems to only drop a few hundred rpm while hooking up. Or is the best launch going to come from no rpm drop during the hookup? I can see the wisdom in starting lower and working your way higher until you find the sweet spot, I'm just wondering if being under 2000 rpm is going to yield a slower time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,204
Likes: 17
From: Fayetteville North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '15
There's more to the launch than the rpm you start at, so that's why you may be experiencing different results.
Some people go WOT as soon as they let the clutch out and some people gradually push the pedal down. Also how fast you let the clutch out makes a big difference and whether or not you slip it.
If it works on the street give it a try at the track, you can always make more passes and you won't run your best time right away anyway.
Get some video!
Some people go WOT as soon as they let the clutch out and some people gradually push the pedal down. Also how fast you let the clutch out makes a big difference and whether or not you slip it.
If it works on the street give it a try at the track, you can always make more passes and you won't run your best time right away anyway.
Get some video!
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