Went to the track today

'69Stang

Founding Member
Sep 28, 1999
1,130
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Metro Detroit
Well, it could've been a lot better all the way around. I wet to the dyno earlier in the morning (Alternative Auto) and netted a 292 rwhp and 307 rwtq on a Dynojet (see sig) and figured that would get low 13's. Not even close. I made 3 runs and they were all 13.8's with MPH at the quarter of about 106.8 MPH. My first 60 ft. was 2.3, and the other 2 were 2.1's.

The worst thing was the 1-2 shift; I first shifted at 6200 RPM's and just blew the tires off the car, I mean the rear end fish-tailed to the right and then to the left and I just tried to keep it pointed straight :eek: Happened each time. I dropped the 1-2 shift the next run to 6000 RPM's and the same thing happened. The final run I figured why not try 5500 RPM's on the 1=2 shift and that was the worst run of all from a safety stabdpoint - I had to partially let off the throttle so not to lose control and plant the car in the wall. Ridiculous. I probably should have tried one more run and held 1st to 6500 RPM's so that the shift into 2nd would have been past the torque peak maybe alleviating some of the pressure on the tires. But by then I was giving up and a little spooked, too.

Coming off the line the 1st time I let the clutch out gingerly at 1500 RPM's and waited to mash the pedal a bit which netted the 2.3 60 ft. The next time I launched with full engagement of the clutch at 2000 RPM's and a quicker engagement of the accelerator pedal resulting in a 2.1. The last time I left at 2500 RPM's with a similar 2.1 60 ft. It's funny, when the tires are just spinning between gears it feels like the car is standing still. I feel like I lost half a second on those runs.
Anyway, I guess the BF Goodrich 235/50/18's with 25,000 miles on them just aren't getting the job done. Maybe some wider tires and some BMR LCA's next.

Overall it was fun, and I think the 106+ MPH indicates low 13's are within reach with some good (better) driving and traction.
 
The MPH is there... just need better shifts and launches. With similar mods and MPH's, I hit 13.5 with 2.1 60's. Tomorrow I'll find out what my new suspension mods and drag radials can do.
 
im sure your aware but DRs will cut times drastically, i run with a guy at home who has an 05 pushin over 550 and all he does for traction is run DRs. according to who you talk to the stock suspension is a lot better than people give credit to. a guy on another forum ran 11.2s on stock suspension
 
Traction/tires

Brown spit8: Yea the DR's would be nice but this is my daily driver and Michigan is a pretty inclimate environment 4+ months out of the year. I'm thinking a good set of all seasons? Any recommendations on a tire upgrade? I could probably go with Blizzaks for January thru March.

I'm telling you, it was crazy the way the tires broke loose on the track with the back-end fishtailing everywhere.
 
If your current tires are all season rated and you don't want to go with DR's, then get a set of ultra performance summer tires. Recommended are:
Bridgestone Potenza G009
Bridgestone RE050
Goodyear Eagle F1-GS D3
Goodyear F1
Kuhmo MX
But you may still have to experiment with pressures, and your 1-2 shifting, e.g., slamming the pedal to the metal vs. quickly squeezing it after shifting, depending on track conditions and ambient temperature.
BTW, LCA's are designed to prevent tire shake(wheel hop), not tire spin.
 
Ski: Thanks for the tire recommendations, and I thought the LCA's helped with traction and wheel hop. I'm glad you clarified that I was toying with getting some, but I have noticed no wheel hop.

DarkFireGT: what suspension mod's are you doing?