Traction Tips
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 310
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From: Tomball Texas
Traction Tips
Rough night at the track for me folk. I run MT 305/40-18 street radials, I have a couple of low 1.6 60's resulting from being "up" on the converter before launch.
Tonight at the track no matter what I tried I could not hook off the line. I tried varying tire pressure 24, 22 and finally 20. I am not sure what to try next.
How long do you all heat the these tires? I need to remove the front sway bar, but I am unsure how much this will help. Any tips you guys can offer are appriciated.
A4 coupe 3200 converter and right around 500rw
Tonight at the track no matter what I tried I could not hook off the line. I tried varying tire pressure 24, 22 and finally 20. I am not sure what to try next.
How long do you all heat the these tires? I need to remove the front sway bar, but I am unsure how much this will help. Any tips you guys can offer are appriciated.
A4 coupe 3200 converter and right around 500rw
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,177
Likes: 84
From: Short Hills, NJ
It could've just been a bad prep night, moisture on the track or the tires starting to go away (even tires with visible tread remaining can harden/lose their 'stick', especially when hitting them with some power)...or all of the above.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 310
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From: Tomball Texas
I hope it is prep. I have less than 10 passes on these tires, only two of those passes hooked off the line and that was at a diff track.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Trial & Error !
There is alot of Trial & Error to getting your Launch technique perfected !
Track Prep and Conditions Have a Major Roll in IF your even going to hook up
I use line lock with a two speed burn out and have Very Good Results. Start off in first gear , bringing the RPM up to 4500, then into second gear till 5000 rpm . Let off the line lock and continue through walking out the burnout for another 5 ft. Tons off smoke
PS I run MT 305/40-18 street radials too ! at 20 psi and check tire pressure after each run , it does change with the heat built up !!!
Get great 1.70 launch for my set up, But Tire Life is
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Track Prep and Conditions Have a Major Roll in IF your even going to hook up
I use line lock with a two speed burn out and have Very Good Results. Start off in first gear , bringing the RPM up to 4500, then into second gear till 5000 rpm . Let off the line lock and continue through walking out the burnout for another 5 ft. Tons off smoke
PS I run MT 305/40-18 street radials too ! at 20 psi and check tire pressure after each run , it does change with the heat built up !!!
Get great 1.70 launch for my set up, But Tire Life is
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Last edited by danielf; Oct 2, 2011 at 07:30 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
On my old Vette, I run the MT ET street radials at 17-18 psi, do just enough burn out to see some smoke coming off them and let it spin half way up to the line..... on a 255/60 ET Street I go 1.53 60's on average. But my car is an auto and the chasis works pretty well...
I would say at a minimum you need to drop the air pressure to 18 psi, drive around the water and then back into it to keep the fronts dry. Stay in the dark grey "grooves" in the track (very important at HRP).
Track prep is real important, at HRP the track usually comes around after about an hour or two of racing....it sux early on in the night....too much VHT and not enough rubber down..
Even my fiancee's G8 went 1.92 60' at HRP on stock 245 Bridgestones on a good prep night.
Loosening the front sway bar a bit or removing the links all together may help get the weight up and on the rear.
I would say at a minimum you need to drop the air pressure to 18 psi, drive around the water and then back into it to keep the fronts dry. Stay in the dark grey "grooves" in the track (very important at HRP).
Track prep is real important, at HRP the track usually comes around after about an hour or two of racing....it sux early on in the night....too much VHT and not enough rubber down..
Even my fiancee's G8 went 1.92 60' at HRP on stock 245 Bridgestones on a good prep night.
Loosening the front sway bar a bit or removing the links all together may help get the weight up and on the rear.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 310
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From: Tomball Texas
The prep at Sealy is questionable at times.. I guess I need to drive out to RPR for the good prep! The downside is I just looked at my 7.1 runs and added my back half times and I would have ended up with the dredded 11.0x. I need more power! 
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 403
From: Portland OR
Just a couple of points.
17" drag radials will work better than 18" because for the same diameter, they will have more sidewall.
16" even better and so on. I know these won't easily fit the Vette.
A taller tire also helps a lot. The contact patch gets longer. I do not know how tall of an 18" DR is available. You don't seem to be lacking the HP to turn a taller tire.
Lastly, the Hoosier DRs are the best hooking. A thinly disguised radial slick.
TurboCorkey here on the board is using the 17" Hoosiers on his procharged A4 Z06 and has gone high 1.40s and low 1.50's. 10.0's @ 136 and as far as I know, the rear suspension is stock. 3.42 gears.
When you suspect the track, talk to the regulars who run similar times. They will be the first to bitch.
Ron
17" drag radials will work better than 18" because for the same diameter, they will have more sidewall.
16" even better and so on. I know these won't easily fit the Vette.
A taller tire also helps a lot. The contact patch gets longer. I do not know how tall of an 18" DR is available. You don't seem to be lacking the HP to turn a taller tire.
Lastly, the Hoosier DRs are the best hooking. A thinly disguised radial slick.
TurboCorkey here on the board is using the 17" Hoosiers on his procharged A4 Z06 and has gone high 1.40s and low 1.50's. 10.0's @ 136 and as far as I know, the rear suspension is stock. 3.42 gears.
When you suspect the track, talk to the regulars who run similar times. They will be the first to bitch.
Ron
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 2
From: port monmouth nj
Just a couple of points.
17" drag radials will work better than 18" because for the same diameter, they will have more sidewall.
16" even better and so on. I know these won't easily fit the Vette.
A taller tire also helps a lot. The contact patch gets longer. I do not know how tall of an 18" DR is available. You don't seem to be lacking the HP to turn a taller tire.
Lastly, the Hoosier DRs are the best hooking. A thinly disguised radial slick.
TurboCorkey here on the board is using the 17" Hoosiers on his procharged A4 Z06 and has gone high 1.40s and low 1.50's. 10.0's @ 136 and as far as I know, the rear suspension is stock. 3.42 gears.
When you suspect the track, talk to the regulars who run similar times. They will be the first to bitch.
Ron
17" drag radials will work better than 18" because for the same diameter, they will have more sidewall.
16" even better and so on. I know these won't easily fit the Vette.
A taller tire also helps a lot. The contact patch gets longer. I do not know how tall of an 18" DR is available. You don't seem to be lacking the HP to turn a taller tire.
Lastly, the Hoosier DRs are the best hooking. A thinly disguised radial slick.
TurboCorkey here on the board is using the 17" Hoosiers on his procharged A4 Z06 and has gone high 1.40s and low 1.50's. 10.0's @ 136 and as far as I know, the rear suspension is stock. 3.42 gears.
When you suspect the track, talk to the regulars who run similar times. They will be the first to bitch.
Ron
thinly disguised 255x50x16 is what i use.
1.405 best 60ft to date on a 100 shot turned on at 4200 in 1st a 1.344. 18 to 19 lbs air no sway bar wheels up
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
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From: League City Tx
I have never had any luck hooking at Sealy.... Also Sealy is 1-2 tenths and 1-2 mph slower then HRP in the same DA..... I have tested this twice on one of my street bikes that was running 10.0s@140-141 at HRP in 500' DA.....that same bike at Sealy was 10.10s-10.20s@138-139 with no changes to the bike or riding style and 60's within .05. I have done this test back and forth twice....
I think your car will be very close to 10.90s@127+ at HRP in decent air <1000' DA.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
Something else I find amusing is your car sounds AMAZINGLY close to my old vette when going down the track...... Eventhough the engine combos are polar opposites, I would swear your car was mine by sound once out down the track some... Crazy how something so different can sound so similar...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIkFIlgkqmA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIkFIlgkqmA
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Tomball Texas
Something else I find amusing is your car sounds AMAZINGLY close to my old vette when going down the track...... Eventhough the engine combos are polar opposites, I would swear your car was mine by sound once out down the track some... Crazy how something so different can sound so similar...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIkFIlgkqmA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIkFIlgkqmA
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 310
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From: Tomball Texas
I have listened to it a few more times, I think they would sound the same idling if my car had a cam..
What exhaust did you run? My car has headers through high flow cats and then PRT mufflers, so basically straight pipe from the high flow cats. I love the way my car sounds, I get compliments at gas stations all the time!
What exhaust did you run? My car has headers through high flow cats and then PRT mufflers, so basically straight pipe from the high flow cats. I love the way my car sounds, I get compliments at gas stations all the time!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
I have listened to it a few more times, I think they would sound the same idling if my car had a cam..
What exhaust did you run? My car has headers through high flow cats and then PRT mufflers, so basically straight pipe from the high flow cats. I love the way my car sounds, I get compliments at gas stations all the time!
What exhaust did you run? My car has headers through high flow cats and then PRT mufflers, so basically straight pipe from the high flow cats. I love the way my car sounds, I get compliments at gas stations all the time!
An LSx with a cam is a lot more choppy then what my car is at idle.....
I MAY try to make it to RPR Friday night, if I show up, Ill come find you... I wont be racing though as the tranny in my Z06 is broke.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Tomball Texas
Mine is pretty quiet really....quiet at idle and around town but opens up a bit at WOT..... I run 3" mandrel bent, 3" x pipe, to 3" hooker aerochamber muffs and 3" square tips...
An LSx with a cam is a lot more choppy then what my car is at idle.....
I MAY try to make it to RPR Friday night, if I show up, Ill come find you... I wont be racing though as the tranny in my Z06 is broke.
An LSx with a cam is a lot more choppy then what my car is at idle.....
I MAY try to make it to RPR Friday night, if I show up, Ill come find you... I wont be racing though as the tranny in my Z06 is broke.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 2
From: port monmouth nj
Let me know if you are going out there. I would like someone to be at the line to make sure I am not pulling water up there. The last few launches felt like I was on ice, the only explanation I have is that I must have dragged some water on my front tires. I mean, my car will smoke the tires on the street, but it at least feels like the tires are trying.