A few weeks ago I went to Lebannon Valley dragway NY and raced for the first time. I was hoping for 13s but my best et was 14.33 @101mph.
my reaction time was horrible .632 and my 60ft time was 2.36. I only got 3 runs in. THe first run I was nervous and slowed down before the end of the track :o ( 14.6 @ 96mph) . The 2nd run was the 14.33, but I got bad wheel hop in first gear.

On the last run I let the tires down to 28psi, did a bigger burnout, and had a better reaction time. But the score board had an error and I didn't get a time slip.

I never had the car dynoed but is there anyway to guess how fast I should be running just from looking at the mph, 60ft, and reaction time?

I def. need more practice with the tree and launch.

Thanks,

L-82Kid

 

Reaction Time has nothing-to-do with ET:
the ET clocks start when the rear-edge of your front tire clears that stage-beam, which happens to be when the RT timers record their numbers.

You could sit in the beams until after the track shut-down, but it won't effect your ET:
I believe this topic may've been discussed in the "Bracket Racing Strategy" thread earlier this season.


Nice avatar, Milner.....

 

thanks for the info, I thought the time started as soon as the green light went off.

how bad was my 2.36 60ft? I have to drive 120miles to the track so I'm using street tires. I run 275/60 bfg.....several guys at the track told me these tires suck for racing.

John Milner is the man

 

If you plan on racing more than 2-3 times a year, get yourself a set of Nitto Drag radials.. they will hook up much better and your 60' should go to 1.9xx If you want even better traction try BFG Drag Radials.. they Will hook even better than Nittos but will not last as long...

& with either of the above drag radials use EXTREME CAUTION IN THE WET I use BFGs and usually need 2 sets a year....

BTW I live 100 miles from E Town and about the same from Lebanon Valley & drive to both on my Drag Radials..

 

How much more wear and tear will the drag radials put on my rear end?

I never trailer the car and would hate to break down 120miles away from home.

Somebody at the track (w/12sec monte carlo) told me that the key to bringing down my 60ft is in the carb. I have a 750 speed demon carb, I might mess with the accelerator pump cam.

 

Are you auto auto stick.. I'm guessing you are stick... you probably have a Dana 44 (if you are stick) and based on your ET your motor is stock, so with this in mind I think you will be fine with DR.

Also I personally don't agree with the other guy who said to screw with your carb... I think you need more traction... Carberation really shouldn't have much effect on 60' times..

If I were you I'd practice launching with the same tires you have on now.. you should be able to get a 2.15 with street tires & stock motor.. or very close to that..

Try and get a "FEEL" for your car on launch .. is it spinning, or bogging... don't worry about reaction times right now, learn how to get "consistent" 60' times... then once you have it down , you can work on improving them by going to a better tire, lower air pressure... etc..

With street tires go AROUND the water, and just do a small burn out to clean them.. no need to try & look like John Force.. all that will do is wear out your tires sooner...
good luck & keep us informed on how you are doing..

 

101 mph indicates pretty decent hp for a 75 L-82. Find a calculator and plug in your total weight and the mph and you will get a good estimate of rear wheel hp. I have heard that wheel hop can damage your rear suspension, so don't stay on it if you start hopping.

Your 60 ft time is really bad! Even with those tires you should be able to get it down to 2.2 or even 2.1. I am pretty terrible myself. Even with drag radials I haven't been able to get below 2.2 secs. If you got your 60 ft down to 2.2 you would have a good shot at running 13.9 @ 101 mph. There are lots of early 90s vettes (L98 engines) that run in the 13s @ 97 mph.

 

Here's a pic of me at the line.

the original block is out, I have a 350

9.5:1 CR
280/280 230/230 .487/.487 110LSA
Sportsman II heads (2.02, 200cc, 64)
roller rockers
rpm intake
750cfm speed demon carb

3.73 gears

ITs stick, borg warner 4speed


PRNDL Didn't we meet at carisle? You came over to talk with my father gtr1999.

 

 

I think my bone-stock '82 Cross-Fire went 2.35 short-time with the OEM 2.87s, and has-gone 2.11 with 3.73s on 'traditional' (non-sticky ) 255/60R15 BFG Radial T/A, just for reference-sake, but it is inconsistent as-Hell.....


Something-else to consider is what the car runs to 660', which should-be about 2/3 (x .64 ) of your quarter-mile ET, based-on NHRA factoring:
14-forties 'should-be' about 9.60s.....

.... he'll ALWAYS be the fastest in the valley.....

 

Your mph indicates that 13's should be easily possible with traction. It often depends on the track. Some tracks a prepped better than othere. In Bradenton, I had a few 1.83x 60' times on 255/60R15 BFG Radial TA tires..
At other tracks I didn't get below 2.20's...
There are very few tracks that take good care of their track condition for regular Test&Tune nights.. The best ones that I know are Carolina Dragway, Bradenton and Gainesville..

 

Of course!! Didn't realize "L-82kid" was Gary's kid! Yeah, I didn't give you any advice that day, but now all of a sudden I'm full of advice!

 

With your trap I would guess you are capable of 13.8x's.

Get your 60 foot down, that is where you are losing time.

Do you spin on the launch or bog?

 

on the first run I bogged. On the second run I spun the tires and got wheel hop. The 3rd run the tires spun but I didn't have wheel hop. I find it much easier to launch the car on the street. I just dump the clutch at ~2200rpm and it spins a little then hooks hard. I tried this at the track and the car dogged out of the hole.





I might go back to the track this sat. Lebanon Valley is having a test and tune from 10am-2pm. I'll prob be able to get like 2-3 runs in.
I'm at school in RI, so I'll have to drive 80miles home, to CT, on friday night, pick up the car and drive 120miles to the track.

 

Pardon me for jumping-in but I have to agree....great avatar Milner!

Good luck on your times! (I'm going to the strip for the first time in years so I'm just cruising for some tips).