Took my car to the track for the first time and...

[MassMustang]

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".

 

[UltraKla$$ic]

13's and 14's?????? People still go that slow at the drag strip??





















just kidding

 

[MassMustang]

13's and 14's?????? People still go that slow at the drag strip??


just kidding

Booooo!!!! ;^)

I guess my 3V is aging like me!

 

[Doug M]

Seems like your trap speed would be way higher with your mods as well. Good luck, keep practicing.I haven't even been to the track this year. Boo..Haha

 

[MassMustang]

Seems like your trap speed would be way higher with your mods as well. Good luck, keep practicing.I haven't even been to the track this year. Boo..Haha

I'm guessing heat soak affected the trap speed.

 

[lindertw]

Overall, it was really fun though. I now understand the frivolity in "bench racing".

glad you had fun! and yea, talking about what a car with "XYZ parts" can do and getting out there and doing it are two different things. keep with it, practice (and cooler weather) is your friend.

try to borrow a proper set of drag tires - that should wake the car right up.

 

[MassMustang]

glad you had fun! and yea, talking about what a car with "XYZ parts" can do and getting out there and doing it are two different things. keep with it, practice (and cooler weather) is your friend.

try to borrow a proper set of drag tires - that should wake the car right up.

So, maybe some 305/45/17 Mickey T Street ET R's on 17x10s will work better than my NT555's? They're about 27.8" tall. A bit taller than stock but much shorter than my current 295/45/18s. That should return more gear for me, meaning more torque, and the Mickey Ts would give more traction even without a burnout once warmed up.

NOTE: tire size calculators say the 305/45/17 is 27.8" and the Mickey T site says its 28.1".

I don't blame the tires as much though. Better tires would compensate for crappy launches, but there was an obvious lack of power last night. Cooler weather will certainly help!

 

[pacettr]

So, maybe some 305/45/17 Mickey T Street ET R's on 17x10s will work better than my NT555's? They're about 27.6" tall. A bit taller than stock but much shorter than my current 295/45/18s. That should return more gear for me, meaning more torque, and the Mickey Ts would give more traction even without a burnout once warmed up.

I don't blame the tires as much though. Better tires would compensate for crappy launches, but there was an obvious lack of power last night. Cooler weather will certainly help!

Just bought a set of those exact R's. Hoping it hooks like it looks like it should

I'm selling the 295/45 ET Street II's I took off with decent life left if you're interested. I also had good luck with the M&H in the past.

 

[cm581978]

Im in the same boat, spin city for me without proper tires.

 

[Riptide]

^^

Welcome to RWD and anything with 300+ hp. Manual transmissions make it even tougher.

 

[MassMustang]

Just bought a set of those exact R's. Hoping it hooks like it looks like it should

I'm selling the 295/45 ET Street II's I took off with decent life left if you're interested. I also had good luck with the M&H in the past.

I'd be VERY interested in hearing how you do with the new tires!

I'll shoot you a PM about the old tires. I think I'd want the same ones you just bought though.

 

[MassMustang]

Im in the same boat, spin city for me without proper tires.

I only spun once when bringing the rpms up to 5K and dumping the clutch. Too much with those tires. I had better launches slipping the clutch but a line lock might be super helpful. I rolled after I was staged. Annoying...

Practice is one remedy for sure. I wish I lived closer to NE Dragway! Being 2 hours away is just a bit too far for a Friday night. This could be a fun addiction, I mean, hobby!

 

[Sharad]

Tires alone will likely put that car in the low 13s.

 

[JeremyH]

If I'm reading your sig right, 4.56 gears + street tires + manual trans. Don't really expect better than mid 13's. Some good tires and cooler weather and you should be able to get it into the high 12's.

For reference, I ran 2.1 60/ft, 13.7 @ 104 with similar mods (street tires, kooks, cai 93 tune) on a 90 degree day, only I have 3.55 gears so I didn't shift to 4th gear.

 

[MassMustang]

If I'm reading your sig right, 4.56 gears + street tires + manual trans. Don't really expect better than mid 13's. Some good tires and cooler weather and you should be able to get it into the high 12's.

For reference, I ran 2.1 60/ft, 13.7 @ 104 with similar mods (street tires, kooks, cai 93 tune) on a 90 degree day, only I have 3.55 gears so I didn't shift to 4th gear.

Yupp, exactly what I have.

OK, newbie question. Can you launch with a line lock? Seems if I get better tires and a line lock, I can try launching at different RPMs without rolling forward. If so, anyone using something like the Hurst line lock with the button located on the shift knob? Effective setup?

 

[Badd GT]

line locks are good for heating up your tires, a 2 step is what you'd want to launch with.

 

[85GT 7.0]

Line lock

But you also set the line lock at pre stage then ease into the beams, it keeps the cars from rolling when staged. It doesnt take much brake pressure to hold the car for staging.

 

[MassMustang]

I guess the above two points are what I need to practice. I'd get staged, go to bring the RPMs up and I'd roll forward.

I see why many prefer autos for drag racing. I love the manual "feedback" driving though.

 

[skwerl]

^ Use your hand brake to hold the car when staging, if the track is pitched so that your car will roll otherwise.

 

[MassMustang]

^ Use your hand brake to hold the car when staging, if the track is pitched so that your car will roll otherwise.

Don't use simple common sense! LOL

I'll give that a try. I can release the e-brake on the 2nd light and launch on the 3rd light.