The "BAD 05GT" Drag Racing Video Thread

[don_w]

I hadn't noticed the missing brake light... maybe the bulb is burned out. Good catch.

As far as the GTO goes, Donna had him on the tree slightly, but that car is deadly consistant, and he ran closer to his number than she did. He wins a lot of bracket race money at Barona. But in her defense, we had no idea what it would run, so we just stuck the 6.80 number on there for shits and grins.

 

[Mick Mach]

thats great Don and Donn! nice numbers on some nasty air!

 

[SC boss]

I enjoyed the vids Don, congrats on the new numbers!

 

[don_w]

Thanks guys!

 

[bscottie]

you sir have a bad ass ride and are a hell of a driver, as well as your wife! I enjoy every post about your car!

 

[don_w]

 

[don_w]

Fun Ford Weekend, Fontana, September 19-21, 2008

For the first time since October 2006, we got a chance to run a full 1/4-mile track. We were there for all three days (Friday through Sunday). Donna registered to run the Quick Challenge (QC) bracket class, and I was registered to run Ultra Stang (US). Our primary goal for the weekend was for both of us to come home with 10-second timeslips. As it turned out, that was not a problem. We both ran in the 10.60s on our very first runs on Friday afternoon!

The high temps were in the upper 80s all weekend, so while it wasn’t good air, it could have been worse this time of year.

Here are the videos from Fun Ford Weekend at Fontana. The videos marked with the asterisks (**) are my favorites.

Friday, September 19, 2008

** Video #1, Time 2:38 pm, DA = 3,850 ft:
Donna’s first run was pretty impressive right out of the box. Our camera was not focusing right (it was like that all day), so I had trouble seeing the scoreboard through it. But, if you look closely, you can see some daylight under the left front tire! And the final numbers speak for themselves… 10.627 @ 128.21, with a 1.526 60-foot time!! And that was with a density altitude of over 3,800 feet.

**Video #2, Time 2:56 pm, DA = 3,998 ft:
My first run turned out to be my best of the weekend (and best ever). Since the US class uses a 0.400 pro tree and I had never ran with a pro tree, this was a totally new experience for me. I never did get the hang of it too well. I tried to light the pre-stage bulb, then bring the car up on the converter, and then roll into the stage beam. I wasn’t too successful doing that consistently. But, that part aside, I was extremely happy to pick up my first ever 10-second slip, running a 10.679 @ 126.51, with a 1.516 60-foot time!!

Video #3, Time 3:23 pm, DA = Unknown
Donna’s second run was against a sweet 1970 Mach 1, and since it ran 10.71, it was a great match up between to fairly equal cars. Unfortunately, when Donna got up on the torque converter, it rolled the beams before the tree was activated, so she didn’t even get an ET for the run. Bummer...

Video #4, Time 4:07 pm, DA = 4,116 ft:
My second run slowed down a little to 10.802 @ 125.61, with a 1.587 60-foot time.

** Video #5, Time 4:30 pm, DA = 3,867 ft:
Donna’s third run was decent, and it got a little air again, too. She ran 10.729 @ 126.76, with a 1.580 60-foot time!!

Video #6, Time 5:03 pm, DA = 3,851 ft:
My last run of the day had a bad 60’ time, but I don’t know why. It only went 1.670, and ended up with a 10.811 @ 126.58.

 

[1Fast05Turbo]

Great videos. Thank you for sharing Don

 

[GT4Dino]

Donna needs to open an acct. here so her sig can reflect what the car is capable of!!!!!! Nice runs guys

 

[don_w]

Donna needs to open an acct. here so her sig can reflect what the car is capable of!!!!!! Nice runs guys

I have already told her to sign and post that 10.58 time slip!!

 

[don_w]

Fun Ford Weekend, Fontana, September 19-21, 2008 (con't)

Saturday, September 20, 2008

** Video #1, Time 9:21 am, DA = 2,711 ft:
On Donna’s first run on Saturday, the car all of a sudden developed a hesitation/sputter in first gear. Just before the 1-2 shift, it would just hiccup for a split second, nose down, and then pick up again. But, it still launched with the tire up, laying down a weekend best 60’ time of 1.516. Plus, Donna had a fantastic 0.006 reaction time. Unfortunately, the hesitation killed what could have been a great run, resulting in a 10.839 @ 125.40.

** Video #2, Time 10:01 am, DA = 2,723 ft:
The sputter happened again on Donna’s second pass. The car hung the tire again, and then ran a 10.737 @ 128.08, 1.565.

Video #3, Time 11:12 am, DA = 3,312 ft:
Again, the car hesitated in 1st gear and it was beginning to be perplexing. The timeslip showed 10.749 @ 126.67, 1.562. The GT500 in the other lane 11.499 @ 123.50, 1.845.

Video #4, Time 12:10 pm, DA = 3,365 ft:
Because of the hesitation on the previous three runs, I datalogged this pass to see what it might be doing. But, for whatever reason, it didn’t sputter. I ran 10.738 @ 124.80, 1.529.

** Video #5, Time 1:39pm, DA = 3,711 ft:
This was Round 1 in the Quick Challenge bracket race. Because the car was unpredictable, we decided to dial in Donna at 10.73. The SN-95 in the other lane was dialed in at 11.20. Donna got 0.036 advantage on the tree, but took a little too much stripe losing a double breakout race. But, after seeing the scoreboard flash the numbers, I didn’t even care about her losing. She put up the all time best pass for my car… 10.581 @ 128.42!!! Wow!!! What a run!

Video #6, Time 3:38 pm, DA = 3,726 ft:
Adam and I lined up for this pass, but the mysterious hesitation returned on this run. All I could muster was a 10.816 @ 125.97, 1.529. Adam had some tire spin and some issues with the blower, and limped down to a 10.595 at 139.37.


Sunday, September 21, 2008

Video #1, Time 9:14 am, DA = 2,605 ft:
On my first run on Sunday, the car hesitated twice in first gear. This double sputter resulted in the worst pass of the weekend, 11.035 @ 126.68.

Video #2, Time 10:57 am, DA = Unknown
My second run only got as far as the staging beams. The starter motioned for to shut it off, because fluid was pouring from the car. It turned out later to be a leaking coolant hose that runs under the supercharger. This is a video of the end of our FFW…

 

[Ken3030]

Nice videos and it was great to have you and Donna out at Fontana.

 

[stkjock]

nice vids Don, looked like you treed the guy hard in your first run friday even tho u were on a new tree.

10.58!! Nice run Donna..... guess Don has to trim down to get sub 10.6

 

[don_w]

Nice videos and it was great to have you and Donna out at Fontana.

It was awesome hanging out there with you guys. And thanks again for everything you loaned us... especially the overnight parking "garage" and the battery charger!!

BTW, did you see this post: http://www.s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=127535#post127535

Donna got a great video of your Camaro carrying the front wheels about 100+ feet down track!

I also have a video of your disputed qualifying run if you want to see it. haha

nice vids Don, looked like you treed the guy hard in your first run friday even tho u were on a new tree.

10.58!! Nice run Donna..... guess Don has to trim down to get sub 10.6

Thanks! And even though I wasn't happy with my RTs on the pro tree, I still think I left first on every run except one. haha. Oh, and the run I made on Sunday morning was on a more familiar 3-amber sportsman tree, and I managed an 0.023.

 

[stkjock]

btw- fix that brake light!

 

[don_w]

Does it bother you that much? hahah

 

[stkjock]

Does it bother you that much? hahah

nahhh... just cracking nuts!

but seriously... a cop looking to break balls might care!

 

[Ken3030]

Your welcome anytime. Thanks for the video that is the only one we have and the car will not be doing anymore of those wheel stands. I oredered some wheelie bars today. I am tired of fixing headers and oil pans.

 

[don_w]

1/8-Mile Drags, Qualcomm, October 3, 2008

We went back to RaceLegal at Qualcomm, except this time we were running the track tune. Racing here is always a challenge, since the “track” is really just a parking lot. And there are a ton of cars with street tires there. So traction is always been hit and miss. However, it wasn’t hooking too bad considering where we were.

We made a total of sevens runs, six of which were better than the previous best ever at this track, including al all-time best for an 1/8-mi anywhere.

Here are the videos from Friday, October 3, at Qualcomm. The videos marked with the asterisks (**) are my favorites.

** Video #1, Time 6:58 pm, DA = 1,397 ft:
My first run turned out to be the best of the night, and the best ever ET on an 1/8-mile track. After a track-best 60’ time of 1.581, I ran a 6.798 @ 102.98. The MPH was also an all-time 1/8-mile best. Whatever was in the other lane struggled to a 14.716 @ 50.96.

** Video #2, Time 7:14 pm, DA = 1,393 ft:
Donna’s first run of the night ended up being a new personal best for her on an 1/8-mile track. After cutting a good 0.553 light (on a 0.500 tree), she tripped the beams in at 6.830 at 102.51, 1.611. The MPH was also an all-time 1/8-mile best. The pick-up truck running against ran 12.217 @ 56.31.

** Video #3, Time 8:16 pm, DA = 1,419 ft:
After the last pass, I noticed that the radiator fan had quit working. So, we had to allow for additional cool down time in the pits. Plus, I left the heater on during the runs to help keep the car cool. On this pass I was lined up against out friend Dan’s ’68 Camaro. In the past, we had always be evenly matched, and this was no exception. I got up on the converter to much, and the car rolled in deep, and then spun on the launch. Both of us left a little early (me by 0.01 second more than him), but since I spun, he had made that up almost a full tenth in the first 60’ (my 1.703 to his 1.618). I reeled him in, and got him by a couple car lengths at the stripe. The numbers were 6.962 @ 102.02, to 7.133 @ 97.19. These side by side runs are the best!!

Video #4, Time 8:56 pm, DA = 1,351 ft:
Donna’s next run was against a Neon SRT “jelly bean”. Both of them roiled in real deep, putting out the top bulb, and Donna went waaaay red. I think going in that deep cost her in the 60’ and the ET. The 60’ was only 1.706, and her timeslip said, 6.940 @ 102.51. The Neon ran 9.285 @ 81.81, 2.349.

Video #5, Time 9:42 pm, DA = 1,447 ft:
Now it was my turn to go red again… three in a row for me. haha. The 60’ foot was pretty good (1.592), but the car dropped off a couple hundredths to 6.850 @ 102.27. The other car (with the ironing board on the trunk) ran 9.782 @ 71.65, 2.156.

Video #6, Time 11:02 pm, DA = 1,451 ft:
On this pass, I took my son with me. With a passenger, I had to run slower than 8.50. So, the plan was to go all out to 1/2 track, then get on the brakes and let the other car come around me. Mission accomplished. After I nice 1.594 60’ time, I got on the brakes haldway down, and ran a stellat 10.704 @ 26.22. Yep… 26.22mph. Normally when you see an ET of 10.7, you expect 126mph… not 26mph. LOL. Anyway, the other car ran 8.668 @ 78.80, 1.949.

Video #7, Time 11:37 pm, DA = 1,414 ft:
On the last run of the night, the car stumbled badly in 1st gear for some strange reason. Not sure why. Anyway, I ended up running a 7.087 @ 99.77, 1.669. The other car ran 9.481 @ 73.77, 2.265.

 

[don_w]

1/8-Mile Drags, Qualcomm, November 21, 2008

After a 7-week hiatus away from the track, we went to RaceLegal at Qualcomm for what turned out to be a short evening. All in all, the car ran decent, and fairly consistent with all five clean runs in the low to mid 6.80s. But the humidity was quite high (70% to 80+%), which offset the cool temps (55 to 61 degrees), so no new personal bests were set. My car just hates moisture in the air.

We made a total of six runs, and then had to shut it down. On the last few runs, my radiator cap was not sealing and was blowing coolant all over the engine. On pass #6 it got so bad, that the car started misfiring at the top end, and the water temp started to climb quickly. Funny how a $6 part can end your night at the track.

Here are the videos from Friday, November 21, at Qualcomm. The videos marked with the asterisks (**) are my favorites.

** Video #1, Time 7:04 pm, DA = 755 ft:
My first run was against a Corvette on steroids. This is a low 6-second car and was out on me by a couple car lengths, when for some reason he clicked it off early and I passed him at the end. I had him on the tree by 0.037, and ran a 6.843 @ 102.27 with a 1.592 60-foot time, with the Vette slowing to a 6.974 @ 69.22, 1.471. Guess my wife and son didn’t realize he lifted based on their comments at the end of the video.

** Video #2, Time 7:28 pm, DA = 743 ft:
Run number 2 for me was a solo. Even though it got out of the groove on the launch, it still turned out to be my best pass of the night. After 1.595 60-foot, it ran 6.831 @ 102.50. So, the first two runs were with a hundredth of each other.

Video #3, Time 8:14 pm, DA = 540 ft:
Donna first run was a disaster… as was the auto focus function on the camera. haha. She got it up on the converter way too much, and rolled the beams. Then the car blew the tires off, resulting in a spectacularly horrible 60-ft time of 2.086, and an equally poor timeslip of 7.323 @ 102.51. The SN-95 Stang in the other lane ran 8.637 @ 83.48, 2.184.

** Video #4, Time 8:59 pm, DA = 529 ft:
Even though my camera focus issues remained, Donna’s effort was much improved. This solo run resulted in the low ET of the night, as well as the best 60-foot time ever at this track. She ran 6.807 @ 101.81, 1.566.

** Video #5, Time 9:37 pm, DA = 253 ft:
My next run was against a turbo Brand-X’er. After grabbing 6/100 on the tree (0.549 to 0.612), I kept pulling away from him. I ran 6.859 @ 101.35, 1.599 to his 7.613 @ 79.22, 1.655. Now my first three runs were less than 0.030 apart, and the 60-foot times were all 1.59x. I like that consistency.

Video #6, Time 10:17 pm, DA = 224 ft:
I’m not even sure what was lined up next to me on this run… maybe an old Datsun B210??? Anyway, this is the run that caused me to call it quits for the night. The car started breaking up on the top end (you can hear it on the video), so I lifted. And before I could even make the turn at the end, the temp gauge was going up fast! I pulled over and shut it down, and took a look under the hood. There was coolant all over everywhere and steam billowing out. I thought it blew a hose or something. But nothing was running onto the ground, and the origin was definitely the radiator reservoir. So I flipped the water pump and fan on, and the coolant temp dropped to 180 degrees in less than a minute. I slowly idled back to the pits. Oh yea, even though I lifted, it still ran 6.861 @ 98.68, with a 1.588 60-foot (my best of the night). Yet another consistent timeslip. Next time we go to the track in two weeks, I’ll be running in the bracket races for sure!