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Staging Lane Cooling Advice

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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 07:50 AM
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Default Staging Lane Cooling Advice

What do you C5 drag racers do to aid cooling between rounds in the pits and staging lanes? I really don't care for the dripping plastic bags of ice sitting on the intake plenum like my Mustang friends. I note our fans don't run when the motors are off like some other cars. Can this be programmed? Would it help at all? Other tips and tricks?

Thanks in advance.
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 08:27 AM
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I am currently using nothing.
If you go round robin you won't have time to cool the car anyway so it is best to pay attention to the temp of the water and trying to get it consistent even if it means you have to let it get higher in the first round to match what you would have if you go round robin.

For turning the fan on , there is a relay under the hood you can trip to run the fans. I have done that too.

Programming an earlier turn on time for the fans with a lower temp stat will also keep it cooler.

Some folks have used a "racing cooler" which is a gel filled bag on the intake.
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 08:29 AM
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Originally Posted by BIGMAC
What do you C5 drag racers do to aid cooling between rounds in the pits and staging lanes? I really don't care for the dripping plastic bags of ice sitting on the intake plenum like my Mustang friends. I note our fans don't run when the motors are off like some other cars. Can this be programmed? Would it help at all? Other tips and tricks?

Thanks in advance.
Best advice I can give you is to run HOT if you're bracket racing. Too inconsistent to try and run at different temps while trying to keep it cool. Often you just don't have time between rounds.

To answer your question you can program your fans to come on earlier or hook up a manual switch.
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by REDGAR
I am currently using nothing.
If you go round robin you won't have time to cool the car anyway so it is best to pay attention to the temp of the water and trying to get it consistent even if it means you have to let it get higher in the first round to match what you would have if you go round robin.

For turning the fan on , there is a relay under the hood you can trip to run the fans. I have done that too.

Programming an earlier turn on time for the fans with a lower temp stat will also keep it cooler.

Some folks have used a "racing cooler" which is a gel filled bag on the intake.
Looks like we posted at the same time. How do you trip the relay?
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 09:03 AM
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I have a 160 thermostat, & a switch to manually turn on the fans with the motor off... I also have use Racing Cooler gel filled bags.. I manage to get my car down to 165 - 170 before each run... even at the last race when I went 6 rounds.

The trick to getting it cool is get in the lanes & shut the engine off.. & let the fan run.. & DON'T start the engine for more then 5-10 sec at a time... when the line moves forward.. just wait until there are 10+ spaces.. start it hit the gas & shut it off instantly.. & coast ahead.

When you get to going under the tower also leave the engine OFF..until you can pull up 4-5 spots & again shut it off quick.. I leave it off while the pair in front of me are doing their burnout.. & only start it when the kid under the tower signals me to go to the water box..

Bottom keep it OFF as much as you can..
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 09:46 AM
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I run my fan between rounds. Also I spray the outside of the radiator with water from a garden sprayer. Every 10 to 15 minutes I start the car, for up to a minute, to circulate the water that has just been cooled, out of the radiator and into the engine, which moves hotter water from the engine into the radiator for the continuing cooling routine. It's amazing how cool you can get your engine after 3 or 4 cycles.

RACE ON!!!
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI

I run my fan between rounds. Also I spray the outside of the radiator with water from a garden sprayer. Every 10 to 15 minutes I start the car, for up to a minute, to circulate the water that has just been cooled, out of the radiator and into the engine, which moves hotter water from the engine into the radiator for the continuing cooling routine. It's amazing how cool you can get your engine after 3 or 4 cycles.

RACE ON!!!
I think you and JP are nuts! Nice guys, but nuts. Why go to all that trouble when all you have to do is run hot? Just makes no sense to me. If we were running various stock classes heads up then I could agree.
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Special K
How do you trip the relay?

Stick your foot out when it comes by.


Last edited by LOTAHP; Aug 16, 2005 at 11:31 AM.
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Special K
I think you and JP are nuts! Nice guys, but nuts. Why go to all that trouble when all you have to do is run hot? Just makes no sense to me. If we were running various stock classes heads up then I could agree.
Bob... your a betting man... I'll make a friendly wager Next race (Sept 3rd) we'll both make 3 time shots...you run your car anyway you want.. I'll run mine like I have been... The winner will be whoever has the "Smallest difference between the slowest & fastest run"
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Special K
Looks like we posted at the same time. How do you trip the relay?
Stick a piece of paper in the relay to break the the contact for a little while

I don't do it anymore though. Just one more thing I don't have to worry about any more
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Red96Coupe
Bob... your a betting man... I'll make a friendly wager Next race (Sept 3rd) we'll both make 3 time shots...you run your car anyway you want.. I'll run mine like I have been... The winner will be whoever has the "Smallest difference between the slowest & fastest run"
I hate to do this to you in public JP. But you're on. How much? $5, 10, 50?
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Red96Coupe
Bob... your a betting man... I'll make a friendly wager Next race (Sept 3rd) we'll both make 3 time shots...you run your car anyway you want.. I'll run mine like I have been... The winner will be whoever has the "Smallest difference between the slowest & fastest run"
John, don't waste your time. You don't have to prove anything to any one. You have more round wins than anyone in CC history. Your win record speakes for it's self, if cooling the car downs works for you who cars what other "OPINIONS" are.
You have nothing to gain by betting, just go and run your race.
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by mackeyred96
John, don't waste your time. You don't have to prove anything to any one. You have more round wins than anyone in CC history. Your win record speakes for it's self, if cooling the car downs works for you who cars what other "OPINIONS" are.
You have nothing to gain by betting, just go and run your race.
I think JP was talking to me. You got money riding on this? John, you're starting to be a pain in the azz.
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Special K
I think JP was talking to me. You got money riding on this? John, you're starting to be a pain in the azz.

Hey Bob, just who the F--- do you think you are????????
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by mackeyred96
Hey Bob, just who the F--- do you think you are????????
I'm the guy that JP was talking to. Do you ever mind your own business?
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Special K
I'm the guy that JP was talking to. Do you ever mind your own business?

I thought this was an open forum where we can exchange ideas and views.

Have you changed the rules on that?????

If you only want to talk one on one maybe you should that it off line.
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by mackeyred96
I thought this was an open forum where we can exchange ideas and views.

Have you changed the rules on that?????

If you only want to talk one on one maybe you should that it off line.
I got a better idea. Butt out.
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To Staging Lane Cooling Advice

Old Aug 16, 2005 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Special K
I think JP was talking to me.

& Mackey was talking to JP whats your point?


I prefer to keep run the car hot myself since after going a few rounds time to cool down can become an issue, especially when running more than one class... plus it's just one less thing to worry about

However, I would not bet against JP


I think the "real" thinkg here is both methods can work well. It's just a matter of which one you prefer. Jp's cool down method works for him, but one thing nobody picked up on is He's only cooling the car down to 165-170 which is not very cool. People will often try to get to the burnout at 140-150 which takes longer to do.
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by 1996LT1
& Mackey was talking to JP whats your point?


I prefer to keep run the car hot myself since after going a few rounds time to cool down can become an issue, especially when running more than one class... plus it's just one less thing to worry about

However, I would not bet against JP


I think the "real" thinkg here is both methods can work well. It's just a matter of which one you prefer. Jp's cool down method works for him, but one thing nobody picked up on is He's only cooling the car down to 165-170 which is not very cool. People will often try to get to the burnout at 140-150 which takes longer to do.
My point? It's a loooong story. You don't have enough time.

Read what JP posted. I didn't say a thing about his method not working. I said it didn't make any sense to me. Still doesn't.

JP decided to come back and smack me around a little. I appreciated it. Guys like him make life interesting. He offered to make a friendly wager. To me that's anything under a hundred. I don't know what it means to him. I accepted his offer and asked for clarification.

That's when someone else decided they had to defend JP's honor. Not sure what that was all about.

Back to the wager. I'm waiting on JP to make the next move. He started this and I'm going to finish it. He claims he can make three runs and cover a spread closer than I can. He can't. He knows it. That's why he's being so quiet.
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Special K
That's why he's being so quiet.


Don't count on it... At his age he has to take naps in the afternoon so he has enough energy to eat dinner. He'll be back in a few hours or less
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