my first time drag racing (long post)

[cwerdna]

I made my first trip to the drag strip on Wednesday over to SIR (Seattle International Raceway) at an ImportMix drag event in my stock 2K2 Max GXE (obviously auto).

I was able to get 12 runs in and I did better than I thought I would, be I'd like some advice. Out of the 12, I won 9 of them. I left my car in D the whole time, no manual shifting. I beat a couple Integras (1 was a 94, not sure of the rest, definitely between 94-01), a stock 95 Miata, a Prelude (not sure of the year, definitely 97 or newer), an old VW Jetta GL, easily beat a Civic Del Sol, and I totally smoked this Accord w/a coffee can (94-97 model year). I think the Accord driver either sucked and/or car sucked. His 1/4 mile was 18.167 @ 78.54 mph vs. my 15.468 @ 92.36. It was pretty fun smoking all these cars w/just my stock auto Max.

I did get whomped by a riced up Civic (14.674 @ 98.71), an innocuous looking Civic (no coffee can, no spoiler, 13.836 @ 110.91), and a modded VW Rabbit (14.566 @ 101.06).

There was a guy there w/Skyline that did it in 12 flat!

My best run is below (against a V6 Altima SE auto w/an intake), I won by 0.2494 seconds even though his 1/4 mile was better, but his reaction time was worse. Here's the stats:
R/T 1.040 [not so good]
60' 2.500
330 6.608
1/8 9.972
MPH 73.63
1000 .000
1/4 15.314
MPH 93.14

My car has stock Goodyear Eagle RS-A P215/55R16 tires. I couldn't tell how badly I was spinning the tires since I had no external observer to gimme feedback as to how much to modulate the throttle. Is that a crappy 60' time? The best I registered in another run was 2.414.

I didn't torque brake in any run as I I didn't wanna kill my transmission and car any worse than I already was.

I'm thinking when I go back next time I might take out my back seat and if I can, I'll take the spare tire out and store it w/someone else not racing. I'm not into modding and probably will leave my car stock. <ducking for cover>

My tires when I checked recently were at 33 psi front/30 rear as recommended by the cubby sticker. Should I maybe lower the front pressure a bit and raise the rear pressure?

[Nealoc187]

did you spin the tires or bog the engine off the line... because whichever it was, your launch needs serious attention. you are good for 14s with a decent launch.

[cwerdna]

Originally posted by Nealoc187
did you spin the tires or bog the engine off the line... because whichever it was, your launch needs serious attention. you are good for 14s with a decent launch.

I think I was spinning the tires quite a bit but I couldn't tell since I had no external observer and all I could hear was screeching at the beginning (not knowing if it was coming from me or the other guy). You think I could get into the 14s w/o brake torquing? Should I have my tire pressures set differently?

[craaaazzy]

what do u mean u won by .24 secs but he had a better 1/4 mile? i can see if u got him off the line and got to the finish line first while ur 1/4 mile time was slower compared to his. i'm just confused on where the .24 came from...

yes, lower ur front tires to at least a 26, some will say lower. pump up the backs to the max, take out us spare, etc, like u said. just decreasing the front pressure will give u a better 60' time and probably drop u .2 secs at least. good luck ur next time!

Originally posted by cwerdna
I made my first trip to the drag strip on Wednesday over to SIR (Seattle International Raceway) at an ImportMix drag event in my stock 2K2 Max GXE (obviously auto).

My best run is below (against a V6 Altima SE auto w/an intake), I won by 0.2494 seconds even though his 1/4 mile was better, but his reaction time was worse. Here's the stats:
R/T 1.040 [not so good]
60' 2.500
330 6.608
1/8 9.972
MPH 73.63
1000 .000
1/4 15.314
MPH 93.14

[cwerdna]

Originally posted by craaaazzy
what do u mean u won by .24 secs but he had a better 1/4 mile? i can see if u got him off the line and got to the finish line first while ur 1/4 mile time was slower compared to his. i'm just confused on where the .24 came from...

The Altima's times were:
R/T 1.397
60' 2.456
330 6.517
1/8 0.000
MPH
1000 12.749
1/4 15.205
MPH 92.73

At the bottom of the printout it says, "Right 1st .2484". I was the driver on the right. He 1/4 mile time was 15.205, mine was 15.314. But his reaction time was 1.397 vs. my 1.040. Reaction time isn't included in 1/4 mile time. My faster reaction more than made up for his faster 1/4 mile.

[Nealoc187]

You don't necessarily need to lower your front tire pressure. The only time I lower my tire pressure is if I am getting severe wheelhop... I have made 85-90 passes in this car (I don't have my spreadsheet of 1/4 mile times available right now, otherwise I could say exactly), and there is no correlation between tire pressure and 60' time (and ultimately 1/4 mile time) for me.

I have a feeling that the tires you heard screeching were yours. When you hear that, try letting up on the throttle a little. After a few runs you will be able to tell if you car is accelerating at its maximum potential or just spinning.