Lousy drag day today

[Boss281]

Ever have one of those days at the track that nothing seems to work right? Best ET of the day was a 12.8, best 60ft 1.70. Nine runs, all over the map. Couldn't hook worth a damn with the tires squealing all over, breaking loose in 2nd more than I'd like (and once in third, a first), and not tire pressure/shock setting combo getting the job done.

These are the same 325/45-17 M&H tires that have yielded my best ET (with today, only 25 runs total), but I'm beginning to think that was a fluke and it's just too tall a tire. I'm pulling them off this week and selling them, and going back to a 26" MT ET Street Radial in 275/40-17. The MT 295/45-17s 27" tires that I used prior to the M&H seem to be temporarily unavailable, but they give me consistent 1.6x 60's. The slightly shorter tire will have to do as everyone seems to have them in stock.

Ah well, I'll just have to see how the MTs perform for me at Atco in August. Just needed to bitch...

John

 

[stkjock]

sorry to hear John... I know how frustrating it can be...

but how clean were ur rear quarters when you were done?

 

[kleistang]

how much would u sell them for

 

[fordracing]

Yeah let us know how much, I lost mine to a chunk of sheetmetal in the road a couple weeks ago.

By the way sorry to hear about your bad day.. But we have all had them.

 

[Boss281]

sorry to hear John... I know how frustrating it can be...

but how clean were ur rear quarters when you were done?

Thankfully I had Burnout Guard in the trunk because I had GOBS of rubber all over. The M&H's really smoke them up.

 

[Boss281]

how much would u sell them for

Let me grab some photos tomorrow and I'll post them up in the For Sale section.

Lots of treads left in those bad boys but just too tall for my HP and gearing...

JOhn

 

[don_w]

What gear are you running John?

 

[Adam@ST]

re tires

I know MnH has some shorter tires. I am pretty impressed with their tires. If they had the size I need for my car, Id be using them. I run MnH on my wifes car ,and they have produced the best ET's.

 

[Boss281]

I'm running 4.10s. After speaking with a few other folks that were at the drag day, many drivers with drag radials were having similar unexpected problems hooking up. While the DA can certainly impact overall ET, I'm having trouble understanding similar cause and effect for the 60ft, and think it's more likely related to poor track prep and perhaps the water getting dragged on by street tires. The track crew really kept the water box soaked, which I thought odd.

So it's really two problems: hooking up, which may or may not be tire related, and tire size. For the latter, I still think it's just too tall for 348hp. On two runs I tried launching at 4000rpm, instead of 5500-6000, and I still lost traction AND the car bogged something fierce until I got some speed going.

I need to think about this some more, but I've already ordered by MT ET Street Radials in 275/40-17, and want to try them on a different track Friday. There's no way I'm going to NMRA at Atco if I don't have the damn consistency down a bit more.

Also, I have a call into M&H support, and am talking with them Monday

John

 

[don_w]

For the latter, I still think it's just too tall for 348hp.

I would tend to agree. I think the 275/40-17s will better for you... they did for me pre-blower.

 

[ArtQ]

I need to think about this some more, but I've already ordered by MT ET Street Radials in 275/40-17, and want to try them on a different track Friday. There's no way I'm going to NMRA at Atco if I don't have the damn consistency down a bit more.
John

Even though our cars are similiar in HP you have gone a different way with your suspension. My M&H 275/50/17's seem to be perfect for my set-up with 24-26 psi on a good track.
You have the track bar, reloc bkts, and different shocks.
Are you trying alot of different shock and psi settings each run?
I like to set the shocks and pressures then spend 4 or 5 runs driving the car to the new settings.

If consistancy is a problem you may want to consider the True Street option being that those are averaged, you could have a shot at the 13.0 bracket win.
12.9-12.8-13.3 would be a 13.0. Just a thought.

 

[Boss281]

Hey Art.

I focused on tire pressure yesterday, and left the rear shocks at 7 (out of 10, with 1 being the softest), and launched 7 of 9 runs at 6000 rpm. I tried launching twice at 4000, but while I "hooked" I also bogged like crazy as I just didn't have the rpm to get going, again, I think related to the taller tire size.

Word on the club website is pointing to mediocre prep and excess water on the track from both overzeolous watering of the box and street radials dragging water onto the track. The club prez contacted the track personnel, who admitted to problems AFTER the 60ft:

"...he said the starting line was pretty nailed but out a ways the "groove" was thin due to the lack of wide tired vehicles (slicks) laying down adequate rubber and if you got out of that groove you would have traction problem... " then went on to say folks running real slicks had no problems.

Our track days are always fantastic social events, and you wouldn't believe the work the club officers put in to make this happen every month. By far the best drag day for the buck I've experienced. But it's the first time I've heard this kind of complaining about track prep from both casual street racers to folks with dedicated drag vehicles. Who knows????

 

[ArtQ]

The only time I ever had a problem spinning after the 60' was when the track was bad. Sounds like the track was the one with the consistancy problem. I have the same problem when I go on street nights the track is all over the place. Race days and T&T are always more consistant. The big tire slick cars really help make the track hook better.

 

[stkjock]

sorry to hear John... I know how frustrating it can be...

but how clean were ur rear quarters when you were done?

Thankfully I had Burnout Guard in the trunk because I had GOBS of rubber all over. The M&H's really smoke them up.

John... are you not using the collision wrap?

 

[Boss281]

John... are you not using the collision wrap?

Only when there is time the evening before. I completely forgot this round and was lucky I had the spray in the trunk.

 

[stkjock]

ahh... I've used a couple times now - works great!!! only takes a couple of mins to put it on....

 

[Boss281]

ahh... I've used a couple times now - works great!!! only takes a couple of mins to put it on....

here's a thought--store it in the trunk. DUHHHHHH. Just went and stock the box back there.

John

 

[stkjock]

/\ good idea!!!!