First time at the drag strip.

[JNeidlinger]

Took my car to friday night test and tune up here in Michigan for the first time ever. This was my first time driving anything down a drag strip.

The car is pretty much completely stock... except for a complete tune-up, and a BBK cold air intake, and MAC shorty headers, done soon after I got the car ~1.5 months ago.

Turned consistent 15.10's @ 92 mph... track temperature was 120 degrees and the air wasnt good. I also could not launch without some nasty wheelspin all night. I tried just slipping the clutch and rolling out until I could grab traction at WOT, but my times were just worse when I did that. I guess I wasnt the only one having problems with traction, because two cars were totalled that night, and one guy had to go to the hospital.

Anyways is this pretty much what a stock 94-95 5.0 runs? I was really hoping to get it into the 14.9's, but i'm sure that wouldn't be a problem on a cool night with good air.

Also, I know whats next on my list: a good shifter! Man I missed alot of shifts with that sloppy stock shifter. You really realize just how sloppy it is once your being demanding of it on something like a dragstrip. Especially after its been used for 13+ years!

 

[94CobraPace]

HaHa on the shifter. Yes it becomes more of a factor when used harder.
Practice, practice and more practice. That is how you get better, called the driver mod. Those times are not that far off considering the temputure. First mod when going to the track are sticky tires.
Hope you had a good time and go back again real soon.

 

[Venom351R]

Thats not bad for your very first time ever. I was in the 15's when I ran my bone stock GT for the first time. Now many trips to the track later Im much better at it but still have a long ways to go.

 

[94v6GT]

Took my car to friday night test and tune up here in Michigan for the first time ever. This was my first time driving anything down a drag strip.

The car is pretty much completely stock... except for a complete tune-up, and a BBK cold air intake, and MAC shorty headers, done soon after I got the car ~1.5 months ago.

Turned consistent 15.10's @ 92 mph... track temperature was 120 degrees and the air wasnt good. I also could not launch without some nasty wheelspin all night. I tried just slipping the clutch and rolling out until I could grab traction at WOT, but my times were just worse when I did that. I guess I wasnt the only one having problems with traction, because two cars were totalled that night, and one guy had to go to the hospital.

Anyways is this pretty much what a stock 94-95 5.0 runs? I was really hoping to get it into the 14.9's, but i'm sure that wouldn't be a problem on a cool night with good air.

Also, I know whats next on my list: a good shifter! Man I missed alot of shifts with that sloppy stock shifter. You really realize just how sloppy it is once your being demanding of it on something like a dragstrip. Especially after its been used for 13+ years!

post the the numbers on the timeslip for us. and what RPM were you shifting at?

 

[Black95GTS]

Nice times brotha! Find some better air/temps (120!!) and some more seat time and there's no doubt you'll be under 15. Couple of things to focus on that people over look...

1. Line up straight! When you mow the lawn, you focus on a point far off in the distance and aim at that, to guarantee straight lines. Do the same when you are staging.
2. I rest my left arm on the door arm rest and lock the steering wheel in my left hand... this helped me stay in a straight line. I actually stole this tip from KillerCanary.
3. Air down your rear tires to 25ish PSI and burn them out a little. Will help them get sticky.
4. Push the car down the staging lanes and don't start it up till your about to run... cooler engines will run faster, especially if its 120 out... on this note, you can wrap some ice in a plastic bag, then wrap that in a dish towel, and put it on your upper intake. This will help cool your intake. Don't rest the plastic directly on the intake though, it will melt, trust me, I know.
5. Pull your seat up as far as you can comfortably go. There is a reason NASCAR drivers practically have the wheel against their chest. The closer your hands are to your body, the better your hand eye coordination is. This will help with that sloppy stock shifter too.
6. Shift around 5200 tops. You should end the run at around 5300 winding out third gear with a stock differential and engine.

Keep at it! The first time I ran at the track, I took an 11 second grand national and ran 13s with it. Everyone sucks at first.

Adam

 

[gcomfx.com]

Practice, practice, practice. Even us AODE guys can get better with practice. Good tips so far... and I second the posting a full timeslip. There is valuable information on the WHOLE slip.