track questions??

[R350]

going to the track tomarrow with some budds . just want to see what times ppl got on the 1/4 mile. i got a 03 model. aem cai and full greddy evo 2 exhaust. if you name your times please tell me what year you have. also 1st time at the track so some tips to please

[evildky]

stock should run about a 14 flat

[R350]

stock should run about a 14 flat

hmmm hopefully around there ....got any usefull tips?

[HeavyDuty]

Are you just going for test & tune night or are you doing grudge matches or what?

If it's 'heads-up' grudge match stuff then it's human nature that 'treeing' your bud (leaving at the green light with a perfect reaction time (R/T) of a .500) will be of more concern than if you just concentrate on making the best run you can. (You'll be more satisfied with the latter.)

DO remember to turn your traction control off.

DON'T do a burnout in the water box. Roll through it slowly then do your burnout after the water.

DO remember to fasten your seatbelt AND roll your window up.

DO remember to turn your a/c off.

DO push your car through the staging lanes, don't drive it through as you're waiting.

The timing of your run only starts as your front tires allow the timing light beam to reconnect. You'll first break the beam (staged, both 1st & 2nd yellow lights on) then when you drive off it will reconnect and start the run. So...if you're not in a grudge match with another car, concentrate on your launch rpm (noting when the car bogs, then increase that rpm until you blow the tires off ((spin)) then reduce the lanch rpm until you get the ideal start.)

Shift when you feel the car stop pulling in the rpm band, but if then if you can help it, let the last gear you're in stay until the rev limiter if you're close to the end of the track. Shifting into (4th?) at the end will hurt your time significantly.

Increase the pressure in your front tires to max and decreasing the pressure in the rear slightly ("bagging" the rear 6-8psi) will help you not to spin at the start, yet have the least amount of rolling resistance up front.

That's the short story, don't be afraid to ask someone who does it regularly to "read" your slip, noting your R/T, 60 foot time, 1/8 mile, 1000 foot, and finally your 1/4 Elapsed Time and MPH. Doing that will help you realize what area you need to adjust your driving to decrease your ET and increase your MPH 'trap speed.'


Modified by HeavyDuty at 1:50 PM 9/18/2009

[C-Kwik]

DON'T do a burnout in the water box. Roll through it slowly then do your burnout after the water.

On street tires, a burnout isn't going to be of much benefit.

However, if one must, the proper way to do it in a RWD car is to drive around the burnout box first. Then, if you want to use the burnout box, you back into it. If you want a dry burnout, you do it just in front of the box. The reason for going around is that your front tires will pick up water and leave a track of water where your rear tires will be and could compromise traction. Do note that some tracks don't allow you to go around the box.

[Watermelonwarrior]

Great advise HeavyDuty!

[HeavyDuty]

On street tires, a burnout isn't going to be of much benefit.

LOL, but that's 1/2 the fun and most everyone else does it "just to knock the marbles off."

Where I'm from they won't let you bypass it. Mostly I didn't want him to do one *in* the box. Legitimately, no reason to do one period in this case.

[evildky]

a quick spin through the burnout box will make sure your tires are good and clean before rolling out onto the trackbite

lower your tire pressure a few lbs to increase your contact patch, on street tires I wouldn't suggest lower than 25 lbs

[R350]

thanks for the tips everyone. it was all very usefull. 1st run i got a 15. 4 but becuase i messed up big time . second a 15.3 last a 14.2

[HeavyDuty]

thanks for the tips everyone. it was all very usefull. 1st run i got a 15. 4 but becuase i messed up big time . second a 15.3 last a 14.2

What was your trap speed on the 14.2 run? 98.7?

[R350]

What was your trap speed on the 14.2 run? 98.7?

nah it was 99.46

[evildky]

sounds liek someone was spinning tires

[R350]

sounds liek someone was spinning tires

hell yeah i was lauching at 3k rpm's but that was to hight my tires just spin for days.. on the last run when i did 14.2 i tired at 2k rpm's and it went pretty good!!

[Retired Chief]

I've never raced at a real track so I'm ignorant to the recommendations and racing etiquette. Most are pretty obvious but 2 of them I'm unsure of. Why not burnout in the waterbox and why push your car through the staging lanes?