Help a Drag Race Noob....

[Jaak]

So here's my best time at Napierville, yesterday. I actually enjoyed watching the taillights of the guy in the lane next to me!

So going down this, I understand the reaction time and I got that down to .093, as I understood myself, the car and the light timing better (still need practice, what a shame!).

60 ft time, is that an indicator of how good your launch is? Does it tell anything else?

1/8 mile, what does that tell you?

MPH, I understand is a direct relationship to car weight and HP, but how accurate and reliable is that relationship?

Overall, what does it tell you about this SRT8 (and the terribly green driver?)

Thanks for the feedback guys, this stuff sticks for me a lot better if I live it than if I just read it.

Jim (Still smiling!)

[stevesrt8]

wow, one of the best Magnum SRT8 times I've seen, great job! I'm sure you didn't turn that with those Foose wheels!

Your 60 ft. is typical, actually better than many. Shows you know how to soft pedal out of the hole. Our cars suck at 60 ft. anyways, so means little. These are hard cars to launch.

But a terrific first time, imagine how you'll be with a little practice!!!

[Jaak]

Holy Crap, are you serious?

Yes, I was running with the Foose Nitrous on...

[MikeEast]

In my (limited) experience, a sub 2 second 60' time leads to a real decent low-to-mid 13 second run. Torque is king at that point, and the 100+ mph numbers show some nice top end horsepower.

Looks like the other got you at the start by a teeny little bit and then started pulling away. That was a real nice run for both of you though.

Folks say to leave 'on the third yellow', but I've found that it's more like 'leaving at what point' during that 3rd yellow. It's on for a full half second, lots of time to screw up there. The closest to a perfect light I've ever gotten is a -.008 and a +.020.

And I've /never/ gotten below 2 seconds for a 60' time...someday though...

Mike

[MAGFX]

Congrats, Jim, on finally getting your ride to the strip.

...I had no doubt that those particular Foose wheels were going to be fast!

Looks like fun was had by all this weekend. I spent all (and I mean all) day Saturday helping a fellow LX'er build (partially) and install a 426 in his ride.

[themongrel]

As a dragracer (see post #75 >> Fastest car that you have owned/own)

I can tell you to leave when you see what you "feel" is full bright on the 3rd yellow. If you see green you are late. I have found with my R/T If I come up on the converter to a slight load just after the "stage bulb is lit" (i.e. 1000 above idle) the hammer it at which point I am between .000 to .015 on a regular basis. Also you must find a place to stage and do it the same every time (shallow, middle or deep)

As far as 1/8 mile times, we use it in the dragster to compare how the track is holding up, if the relationship to A/F is where I want it to be (how consistant the car is from the previous runs). IMO the real important numbers are R/T, 60'. 330", 1000', & 1/4 mile.

Hope I did not confuse you to much

[Hemi31]

In my (limited) experience, a sub 2 second 60' time leads to a real decent low-to-mid 13 second run. Torque is king at that point, and the 100+ mph numbers show some nice top end horsepower.

Looks like the other got you at the start by a teeny little bit and then started pulling away. That was a real nice run for both of you though.

Folks say to leave 'on the third yellow', but I've found that it's more like 'leaving at what point' during that 3rd yellow. It's on for a full half second, lots of time to screw up there. The closest to a perfect light I've ever gotten is a -.008 and a +.020.

And I've /never/ gotten below 2 seconds for a 60' time...someday though...

Mike

The other guy wasn't trying hard enough

[Jaak]

The other guy was on a sunday cruise and I'm thankful for that! LOL! But he makes great burgers!

[Hemi31]

The other guy was on a sunday cruise and I'm thankful for that! LOL! But he makes great burgers!

LOL....I need to start selling E-Tickets at the track........lol

[HEMISFEAR]

Nice times Jaak. My first runs at the track in St. Thomas yielded best times of 2.13 60' time, 13.21 ET(108.00mph) and 109.80 MPH albeit on different runs for the et/mph categories. I could not for the life of me get that 60' time below this mark and I tried a lot of different things except for leaving it in drive and leaving ESP full ON. I tried 1000RPM launch, 1300 RPM launch, 1500, and at idle rolling out and mashing it. Dropped my tire pressures in the back to about 27 and pumped the fronts up to 48. Icing the intake helped every time if I did it in between runs. Temps that day were 70 degrees with significant humidity. Can't wait to go back with my Coolit mod, Corsa CB, Afe Intake and B&G II. Looking at June 29 or 30th if anyone else is interested. The track was quiet and I could have ran the car 25+ times that night if I didn't feel bad and it was a rental! Woot! If you can get your 60's down below 2.0, you may be very close to a high twelve. Now get that B&G dammit!

[Jaak]

You know, that's what I like about this place... There's always someone there to help you spend money! LOL!

I'm looking at www.bgperformancepcm.com right now! Hemiwagn ran a 13.00x and I think he had his stage II in. We have a bit of a friendly rivalry as both cars were built the same week. Well not so much a rivalry as some friendly teasing I first started. When we first dyno'd, his was marginally less in HP than mine and the only difference between the two was the Magnaflow cat back, so I joked about red paint putting out more HP. But I know he has deeper pockets so I don't ever expect to catch him especially after seeing him almost get in to the 12's! LOL!

Erik it was fun watching your SRT8 from the other lane. I'm happy I didn't know then, that you weren't really trying!

Oh, and the left taillight flickered...

Mike, thanks for your comments, that makes sense to me.... I think this is part of it, gaining confidence in what I do know as actually being correct. So if you all agree on the wrong things, I'll really get screwed up early. LOL!

Jonn, would have loved to see you there. I figured the Foose were the wrong wheels to be running, but I was there to learn and have fun, so I wasn't about to change back to the stock rims!

Phil, on my best time, I actually launched part the way through the second last yellow and staged as shallow as this newb could manage. I did have the TC loaded but I don't recall where it was. I guess whatever the stock stall is?

Heck when you're doing it for the first time, there's a million things you're thinking about. Like turn off the damn ESP after starting the engine. Wish it would stay off when you turn it off! At least for the runs...

[Hemi31]

Jaak you did a hell of a job for your first time out.13.1 is very respectable for an SRT.My reaction times and launches could have been better but I was too busy watching you guys have a blast.It's always fun watching someone on their first track outing and seeing them get hooked.

[higshemi-less]

Jaak, congrats on the time again... Be sure to post in the time slip database and compare your times with others.

[Jaak]

Thanks guys, I really didn't have a concept, so Fred, I did just that, to compare...

So what counts, the list as it is, or the list with documentation to prove it? LOL!

[higshemi-less]

Well, I guess you just have to take peoples word for it I guess. Unfortunelty not everyone can post their slips I guess. I'll have to troll threw and see where you stand pal.