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1/4 Mile

  • Thread starter Thread starter caffinecobra
  • Start date Start date Mar 20, 2004

caffinecobra

New Member
Mar 19, 2004
61
0
0
Sacramento, CA
Mar 20, 2004
#1
  • Mar 20, 2004
  • #1
Hey all,

I'm going to drag my car for the first time tomorrow and wondered if anyone could give me some last minute tips on anything that might help me out. What rpm to launch at and how hard to launch are my main questions. Other than that I don't know what to expect. Thanks!
 

daver01

Founding Member
Oct 4, 2002
396
0
0
Lexington, Ky
Mar 20, 2004
#2
  • Mar 20, 2004
  • #2
what kind of tires u got?

on street tires, i was better off not dumping clutch; esp. since u have 4.10s also. i spun all through 1,2, & some of 3rd on that pass. kind of feather the clutch as u leave the line.

i'm still learning myself, but had much better results leaving at low rpm & rolling into the throttle. if u slam the gas with 4.10s & street tires, it'll be awhile before u get traction again. esp. @ track. its slick as chit.

have fun & don't break anything! u will be back very soon i bet.
 

stangman

15 Year Member
Jul 10, 2003
2,690
10
69
in a 3 bed, 2 bath
Mar 20, 2004
#3
  • Mar 20, 2004
  • #3
well unfortunately it's more of a trial & error type of thing, we can't tell you exactly what to do, cause different things work for different people.

but when you do get at the tree don't concentrate on getting a good reaction time (it play's no role in your e.t.), just concentrate on coming out of the hole. you'll just have to do it several times to get a feel for it. try starting at, leaving around idle your first time & then gradually increase the rpm's until you start breaking traction on take off. & then go from there good luck & have fun
 

caffinecobra

New Member
Mar 19, 2004
61
0
0
Sacramento, CA
Mar 20, 2004
#4
  • Mar 20, 2004
  • #4
cool, thanks for the advice. I'll post on how it goes and what I learn.
 

caffinecobra

New Member
Mar 19, 2004
61
0
0
Sacramento, CA
Mar 21, 2004
#5
  • Mar 21, 2004
  • #5
loved it! Thanks for the advice!

had 3 runs and spun/hopped through most of first and second on all three because of the street tires. This was fine since I was told that if I ran anything under a 14 I'd be kicked off the track since I don't have a rollbar, helmet, harness, and jacket and I have a ragtop. That being said my 3 runs went like this:

First run I had a terrible launch, shifted too late and redlined in 1,2,& 3, and I missed 3rd gear entirely (need a short shifter!):
60' 2.571
330 6.475
1/8 9.922
MPH 71.03
1000 12.812
1/4 15.182
MPH 95.20

The second run was much better. I hit all the gears and shifted earlier but still had no traction, even in 3rd for a bit:
60' 2.365
330 6.270
1/8 9.472
MPH 78.34
1000 12.173
1/4 14.460
MPH 98.64

The third was about like the second:
60' 2.424
330 6.355
1/8 9.520
MPH 78.95
1000 12.214
1/4 14.491
MPH 98.78

I think I need some drag radials but I think then I'd need a roll bar and all the other safety stuff... so it may be awhile. I'm thinking about switching to a solid axle and coil-over suspention...
 
X

Xanax

New Member
Mar 13, 2004
103
0
0
Mar 21, 2004
#6
  • Mar 21, 2004
  • #6
I say you did fairly we'll if your a newby to the track and don't
run at the track much.I can tell getting traction was your problem.
Street tires suck at the track I would get a set of Nitto DR's the
next time you go to the track or some suspension upgrades in your
case since your 4.10 gears are hindering your performance because
you are spinning in 1st,2nd,and 3rd.I say get a set of Nitto DR's and
heat them up till you see some smoke and go around the water box.
Street tires is what gave you the high 60ft times.With DR's you will
be able to lower your 60ft times if you heat them up alittle.I would do
suspension upgrades and a set of DR like Nitto or something before
you go back to the track again if I were you because your Cobra is a
easy 13 second car if you can get traction.Practice makes perfect so,
practice and practice on getting traction and sharpen your driving
skills.Good luck next time.
 

stangman

15 Year Member
Jul 10, 2003
2,690
10
69
in a 3 bed, 2 bath
Mar 21, 2004
#7
  • Mar 21, 2004
  • #7
i thought it was under a 13 prolly wrong though, all i have is a 1/8th around here. but don't even think about getting drag radials until you fine tune your driving skills a bit more. once you get more comfortable driving the car & getting better times then go for them, but until then practice, practice, practice concentrate on getting that 60 down & work on your shift points.

so are ya hooked now
 

caffinecobra

New Member
Mar 19, 2004
61
0
0
Sacramento, CA
Mar 22, 2004
#8
  • Mar 22, 2004
  • #8
Thanks! Yeah, that was my first time ever on a track but I do practice on the street every now and then

I'll keep practicing and see what I can do.

There was a guy there with an 03 Mach 1 with the exact mods that I have on my cobra (exhaust, 410s, chip, intake) who said he dyno's 295 at the wheels and he was running high 12s with drag radials. My car's heavier, but I dyno'd at 302 rwhp awhile back, before the intake.

So I'll work on my driving, then eliminate the wheel hop (either by using the cross brace from an 03 and aluminum bushings, or by converting to solid-axle), then finally I'll work on the traction.
 

JonJon

Founding Member
Aug 16, 2002
4,801
1
68
back in Marylands
Mar 22, 2004
#9
  • Mar 22, 2004
  • #9
c2see21 said:
i thought it was under a 13 prolly wrong though, all i have is a 1/8th around here. but don't even think about getting drag radials until you fine tune your driving skills a bit more. once you get more comfortable driving the car & getting better times then go for them, but until then practice, practice, practice concentrate on getting that 60 down & work on your shift points.

so are ya hooked now
Click to expand...
depends on the track
 

caffinecobra

New Member
Mar 19, 2004
61
0
0
Sacramento, CA
Mar 23, 2004
#10
  • Mar 23, 2004
  • #10
Hey jonjon, I can't open the file in your signature (jonjonvs300zx.avi). It says that the codec is not available. I tried media player, real player, and divx player...
 

JonJon

Founding Member
Aug 16, 2002
4,801
1
68
back in Marylands
Mar 23, 2004
#11
  • Mar 23, 2004
  • #11
caffinecobra said:
Hey jonjon, I can't open the file in your signature (jonjonvs300zx.avi). It says that the codec is not available. I tried media player, real player, and divx player...
Click to expand...
DivX should work but it's a 3ivx.com codec I think.
 
C

CottonBurnerz

Banned
May 10, 2003
1,554
0
0
Drink and Drive = Teh Lose
Mar 23, 2004
#12
  • Mar 23, 2004
  • #12
o? i never click on that link... i will now
 

JonJon

Founding Member
Aug 16, 2002
4,801
1
68
back in Marylands
Mar 23, 2004
#13
  • Mar 23, 2004
  • #13
CottonBurnerz said:
o? i never click on that link... i will now
Click to expand...
nothing exciting... 300ZX cuts a better light than me but I go faster in the 1/4
 
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