MassMustang
forum member
It kinda sucked. The best I could squeeze out of her was 13.9 @ 103 mph with a 2.1 60-foot and 0.27 RT. (mods in my signature below)
Things I learned from my first experience at the track:
- I've got some learning to do (read as "driver mod required" LOL)
- You can't drive your S197 in 3 hours of traffic in 80-degree weather and race 30 minutes later. My Hurst shifter felt burning hot to the touch for a while!
- You can't make 3 runs within an hour while your car is still suffering from heat soak. I had to get 3 runs in before it REALLY got busy though.
- Don't forget to let air out of your street tires. Most recommended dropping 16-20psi from what you normally run. For example: if you run at 32psi, try 16psi (I run 295/45/18 NT555's on the rear).
- Don't jump in the water box with street tires, only slicks or true DRs.
- Practice, practice, practice!!!
At least I saw others with manual 3V S197s running high 14s and some Challenger R/Ts running in the 15s on street tires. So, slightly disappointing as I think my car is capable of 12.9 under the right conditions and with some tweaking, but she needs a better/smarter driver. Overall, it was really fun though. I now understand the frivolity in "bench racing".
Things I learned from my first experience at the track:
- I've got some learning to do (read as "driver mod required" LOL)
- You can't drive your S197 in 3 hours of traffic in 80-degree weather and race 30 minutes later. My Hurst shifter felt burning hot to the touch for a while!
- You can't make 3 runs within an hour while your car is still suffering from heat soak. I had to get 3 runs in before it REALLY got busy though.
- Don't forget to let air out of your street tires. Most recommended dropping 16-20psi from what you normally run. For example: if you run at 32psi, try 16psi (I run 295/45/18 NT555's on the rear).
- Don't jump in the water box with street tires, only slicks or true DRs.
- Practice, practice, practice!!!
At least I saw others with manual 3V S197s running high 14s and some Challenger R/Ts running in the 15s on street tires. So, slightly disappointing as I think my car is capable of 12.9 under the right conditions and with some tweaking, but she needs a better/smarter driver. Overall, it was really fun though. I now understand the frivolity in "bench racing".
Last edited: