Longhornd00d's Drag Racing Notebook

[3VPOWA]

After a forum member informed me of a track located in Lufkin, my brother-in-law and I decided to drive out to see what our cars would run in the 1/4 mile. Neither one of us had ever been on a strip before.

My car (pictured below) has a JLT CAI, Brenspeed 93-Octane tune, exhaust listed in my sig, a MGW short-throw shifter, and a raptor shift light. I was running on Nitto 555 275/40/R18's (street tires) at 32 psi. I removed the spare tire but everything else was left alone. I was also running with 1/4 tank of fuel.

It was 59F out with 29% humidity.

My bro-in-law has a practically stock 2007 Cobalt SS that's lowered with a fart-can on it. His best was a 14.35 at 98.5 mph for the day.

Results from my FIRST ever run on a strip:

Reaction: 1.3901
60 ft: 2.2148
1/8 ET 9.4712
1/8 MPH: 78.95
1/4 ET: 14.3508
1/4 MPH: 98.53

I was nervous as shit during this run. I had no idea what to expect. And I think my times show it.

I ran 11 more times, running ~ 13.5 at 103 each time.

On my last run of the day, I decided to try to "launch" the car ~ 4500 RPM. The result:

Reaction: .6745
60 ft: 2.0063
1/8 ET: 8.5798
1/8 MPH: 83.36
1/4 ET: 13.2332
1/4 MPH: 105.41

My second best was:

Reaction: .6313
60 ft: 2.0956
1/8 ET 8.7183
1/8 MPH: 83.27
1/4 ET: 13.3625
1/4 MPH: 106.79

I noticed the car spun a little in second while going down the strip. I'm thinking I need a stickier tire.

And this stuff is addicting. I cannot wait until I go again. I think before next time I'm going to make sure I have some type of drag radial as well as LCA's put on the car. The wheel hop was horrible.

Edit: Forgot to add the car has factory 3.55 gears.

 

[Alter Ego Trip]

Congrats. Welcome to the next addition, lol.

 

[Steedman07]

Grats!, now get in the 12's, and let the journey begin..

 

[VTXFrank]

Yep, it is addicting as hell. I've not been to a strip running my own car in a long time. I'm setting my ride up for AutoX, but I still plan on running it at the strip just to get my skills back.

Your car is beautiful BTW. That picture in front of the train engine is AWESOME. I wouldn't mind having a hi-res version of it to put in the rotation of wallpapers on my desktops. One of your avatar pic too!

 

[topbliss]

great times.. Almost in the 1'2 with a mild bolt on 4.6!! Excellent

 

[Mike K]

Now you fucked up because it's damn addicting. There goes your money

 

[2011BaseGT]

Went to the track for the first time - very happy with my times

Badass man!

 

[VTXFrank]

Now you fucked up because it's damn addicting. There goes your money

ROFLMAO!!!! Shit but ain't that the truth!!

 

[3VPOWA]

Congrats. Welcome to the next addition, lol.

Thanks! lol I'm thinking some LCA's to help with the wheel hop and tires next.

Grats!, now get in the 12's, and let the journey begin..

I want to get a 12.9 next. I'm thinking a better tire would help me get there maybe?

Yep, it is addicting as hell. I've not been to a strip running my own car in a long time. I'm setting my ride up for AutoX, but I still plan on running it at the strip just to get my skills back.

Your car is beautiful BTW. That picture in front of the train engine is AWESOME. I wouldn't mind having a hi-res version of it to put in the rotation of wallpapers on my desktops. One of your avatar pic too!

Very addicting! I honestly can't wait until I go again. And thank you. Send me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll e-mail you what I have.

great times.. Almost in the 1'2 with a mild bolt on 4.6!! Excellent

Now you fucked up because it's damn addicting. There goes your money

Yea, but unfortunately I have to balance that between my new found addiction and school.

Badass man!

Thanks!

 

[Steedman07]

Yes, get a good drag radial on there, heat them real good, and launch it hard and you will get your 12.9, or better. Good luck dude..Oh a d make sure you drop the air pressure too.

 

[3VPOWA]

Yes, get a good drag radial on there, heat them real good, and launch it hard and you will get your 12.9, or better. Good luck dude..Oh a d make sure you drop the air pressure too.

Awesome! I think I'm going to try to find someone selling a used set of stock rims to put them on.

Also, would LCA's by themselves help with the wheel hop? I don't really want to lower the car since the roads around here are horrible. After all of the searching I've done on the forum most people say yes, but they usually are lowered at the same time.

 

[stretch]

when are u going back?

 

[BAKnBLK2010]

LCA's will do the trick on the wheel hop. You don't need the relo brackets.

 

[S197 GT]

First Time Ever at a Dragstrip!

I remember the first time I went too.

I was so damn nervous my leg was shaking on the clutch, and could not settle it down all day!

Pretty hard to get consistent tes with your leg bouncing with anxiety!

 

[Mike K]

I still get a raised heart beat and jumpy leg after about 100 passes. It's always a rush no matter how fast your car.

 

[3VPOWA]

when are u going back?

Maybe in a month or so? I'm going to go whenever my bro-in-law has a weekend off and I have a weekend where I'm free from exams and whatnot. He's wanting to run his worked over '91 Eclipse and I want to get some better tires for when I run again.

LCA's will do the trick on the wheel hop. You don't need the relo brackets.

Sweet. That's what I like to hear!

I remember the first time I went too.

I was so damn nervous my leg was shaking on the clutch, and could not settle it down all day!

Pretty hard to get consistent tes with your leg bouncing with anxiety!

Yea, my legs were shaking when I first lined it up!

I still get a raised heart beat and jumpy leg after about 100 passes. It's always a rush no matter how fast your car.

I love the rush! Especially when the car sticks and you can feel the car just fly.

 

[Steedman07]

I still feel my heart beating a mile a minute when I am staging, lol..I breath wicked heavy inside my helmet...

 

[2011BaseGT]

Yeah, it's amazing what a rush it is. People at work look at me like i'm crazy when I tell them I race my car. I just smile and invite them out! In fact, my boss just got a new M3 and has started talking shit. Wondering if I should slaughter him or not

May be a career-limiting move as they say.

 

[Bad Intention]

Congrats. Drag racing is like Lays potato chips once you start you cant stop.

 

[bloodybobber]

Nice job for a first time! I allways wanted a 12 sec ride growing up. I had a 289 65 4 spd Mustang that I built to GT350 specs and it would go 14.30's on street tires and a 13.0 with open headers and 7" wrinkle wall slicks. Never got my 12. That was early 70's. I now have an 08 GT 5spd stick and would like my 12' now! I need suggestions on launch rpm, clutch release, tire pressure, burnout etc. on stock 17" P Zero's. Which yellow can you leave on with a shallow stage. After seeing your results it sounds doable in cool florida winter air. I imagine summer heat won't let that happen. What will it take to get 12 sec times? Tires? I have not been down a track since the 70's but I can still remember the goose bumps and the rush as open headers sing as the lights count down!