Baseline Runs on the 1/8 mile track Tonight

[SYTECH]

As many of you know, I recently purchased 1990 #36 from a gentleman in NC

Tonight was the 1st trip to the track (1/8 mile) and it gave me the opportunity to see how different this 6 speed shifting was going to be

Before the Callaway I had spent the past several years with a 2000 Ford Lightning (supercharged / automatic), an 87 Grand National (turbocharged / automatic), 1991 GMC Syclone (AWD / turbocharged / automatic), a 1992 GMC typhoon (AWD / turbocharged / automatic, and lastly an 87 Grand National GNX (turbocharged / automatic)

Now I had this automatic / power adder launching technique down cold

But launching with the 6 speed is a different beast in itself

With the various turbo / automatic cars / trucks....I was pulling consistent 1.65 to 1.8 60 ft times

My best launch tonight (if you could call it a launch) was a 2.0 sec 60 ft time (ET streets set at 20psi). The ET Streets were taller (about an inch in diameter) than the stock Goodyears that were on the car, so i'm sure this lowered the 3:45 gearing down a bit

Once I grabbed second gear, the car pulled like crazy, and when i went into 3rd the pull kept right on going

My best time tonight (stock vehicle / 91 octane / full exhaust w/cats) was an 8.5 seconds at 87 mph

I was happy with the MPH, but the ET kinda sucked

I know that I can free up some power with removal of the cats, bumping the boost up slightly, a wonderbar upgrade, etc

What else have people done to make up the slow times (60 foot times)?

I even tried the last run with the street tires back on but i had a mishap with the shifter and managed to do a great 1st to 2nd shift and when i went to shove the stick up into 3rd I went back into 1st , stood the car on its nose, had to re-clutch / re-shift and by then the run was history

I know that it is a matter of practice, but I'm really missing my "AUTOMATIC TRANNY" about now

Anyone have some advice

Later

Ray

 

[*89x2*]

As you are discovering, the rear wheel drive combined w/ the torque does not make for a great 1/8th mile car - Are there any 1/4 mi tracks close by??

 

[90Callaway]

I was happy with the MPH, but the ET kinda sucked

That about sums it up and is to be expected. A good launch is going to be nearly impossible. A six speed twin turbo is probably never going to ET very well in the 1/8 mile. These cars aren't even good at running 1/4 mile! Even though a couple (at least one?) have managed to get into the 10's with auto transmissions.

Now from a roll... watch out!

 

[SYTECH]

1/4 Mile Track Runs Scheduled For 03/25/05

Next Friday I am taking the car out to California Speedway's 1/4 mile track

We have the track reserved for the afternoon (100 vehicles, 100 bucks a piece, all the racing you can do from 2:00 pm until 11:00 pm)

Plus, It will give me more chances to play with my awesome (Ha!) speed shifting abilities, and let me see how the car pulls up to the 100 - 115 mph range without spinning my head in a 360 degree circle looking for a highway patrolman to come and haul my a$$ to jail

I kinda figured that the launch issue was kinda the norm, but ya can't stop a country boy from wishing

I remember the last time I took the GNX to the track I was able to destroy the vettes & vipers off the line and up to the 1/8 mile, but, after that the modded vehicles would pull on by leaving me wanting to open the door and use my Fred Flintstone foot power to go just a little bit faster....lol

What is the best way to heat up the tires with a 6 speed?

I can drop the clutch in the water box, get the tires spinning, but the car wants to push on thru before I can get on the foot brake and feather the throttle

Has anyone installed / used a line lock, and if so, was it a pain in the a$$ to install

I had them on all my other vehicles so that may be the way i finally go

I'll post some times / speeds after next weeks runs

And depending on my mood after that night, I just might start looking for an Aerobody / AUTOMATIC / 89 Callaway Coupe to trade my car in for...

Later

Ray

 

[SurfnSun]

Ray, when youre in the box....right after you dump the clutch, get your left foot on the brake pretty hard. It takes practice. That will keep the car in the waterbox for you.

 

[GerryLP]

I wonder what is driving the 1/8 mile drag tracks to flourish? When I was in my teenage years, the only tracks I heard of were 1/4 mile. And I do know now that some famous strips were 1/8 mile. However, now a days, it seems that the Tuner crowds are opting for 1/8 mile drag racing. Is it less wear on the cars? :confused

GerryLP:cool

 

[SYTECH]

Why the 1/8 mile tracks?

I'll bet it has to do more with "real estate" costs (and the ever encroaching housing developments) than it does with less wear and tear on the vehicles

1/8 mile tracks are great for tuning / launching and practicing short time runs

Not much happens after the 1/8 mile mark except white knuckle gripping and waiting for the finish line

Of course, I'm talking about my slow a$$ experience of finishing at 115 mph or less, and not those high speed folks with chutes and higher speeds to content with

Now if only I could figure out how to shift without feeling like I had 4 legs shoved into the drivers footwell area...lol

Later

Ray

 

[Vettelt193]

I wonder what is driving the 1/8 mile drag tracks to flourish? When I was in my teenage years, the only tracks I heard of were 1/4 mile. And I do know now that some famous strips were 1/8 mile. However, now a days, it seems that the Tuner crowds are opting for 1/8 mile drag racing. Is it less wear on the cars? :confused

GerryLP:cool

it is cheaper for everyone, the track is less... less land, less concrete, less to dry up etc.

For the cars, it is far easier to get a low HP car to run decent in the 1/8 mile with gearing changes and a few other mods. If you gear your car to top out at 90 MPH, you will rip through all the gears in the 1/8th, and have a decent time with far less power than it takes to get a good time in the 1/4

 

[callaway4fun]

I would be careful running the car at the track. We here have arlready seen a Callaway lose to the 1/8 mile track and it was VERY COSTLY. You really have to be carefull you do not damage your car. The improper shift will kill the car. Please be careful as these cars are very few and are Very Expensive to fix just ask Callaway1988 he is rebuilding his car after the original owner BLEW IT UP at the 1/8 mile track. Just be careful Good Luck

I'll bet it has to do more with "real estate" costs (and the ever encroaching housing developments) than it does with less wear and tear on the vehicles

1/8 mile tracks are great for tuning / launching and practicing short time runs

Not much happens after the 1/8 mile mark except white knuckle gripping and waiting for the finish line

Of course, I'm talking about my slow a$$ experience of finishing at 115 mph or less, and not those high speed folks with chutes and higher speeds to content with

Now if only I could figure out how to shift without feeling like I had 4 legs shoved into the drivers footwell area...lol

Later

Ray

 

[*89x2*]

I'll bet it has to do more with "real estate" costs (and the ever encroaching housing developments) than it does with less wear and tear on the vehicles

1/8 mile tracks are great for tuning / launching and practicing short time runs

Not much happens after the 1/8 mile mark except white knuckle gripping and waiting for the finish line

Of course, I'm talking about my slow a$$ experience of finishing at 115 mph or less, and not those high speed folks with chutes and higher speeds to content with

Now if only I could figure out how to shift without feeling like I had 4 legs shoved into the drivers footwell area...lol

Later

Ray

it is cheaper for everyone, the track is less... less land, less concrete, less to dry up etc.

For the cars, it is far easier to get a low HP car to run decent in the 1/8 mile with gearing changes and a few other mods. If you gear your car to top out at 90 MPH, you will rip through all the gears in the 1/8th, and have a decent time with far less power than it takes to get a good time in the 1/4

Definately cheaper for track operation and investment costs - but only 1/2 the ride


As mentioned above, these cars are not 1/8th mile cars - legend has it, the owner of a certain burgundy 1988 ran, and ran his car down an 1/8th mile track, and didn't let the oil that was in the crankcase cycle and cool the turbos :eek
By the end of the day, the car he was trying to sell went from a forty thousand dollar car, to a four thousand dollar auction bargain :eek
I am glad it has been ressurected though, as it is back on "turbo power"
- as Callaway4Fun says, be careful!

 

[GerryLP]

Definately cheaper for track operation and investment costs - but only 1/2 the ride


As mentioned above, these cars are not 1/8th mile cars - legend has it, the owner of a certain burgundy 1988 ran, and ran his car down an 1/8th mile track, and didn't let the oil that was in the crankcase cycle and cool the turbos :eek
By the end of the day, the car he was trying to sell went from a forty thousand dollar car, to a four thousand dollar auction bargain :eek
I am glad it has been ressurected though, as it is back on "turbo power"
- as Callaway4Fun says, be careful!

My first impression was that these 1/8 mile tracks are surfacing due to accommodate "slower" cars and capitalize on a bigger market (even the soccer-moms could drive their Minivans through it after dropping off the kids at the game). Today's Jr. Dragsters, I believe, are not raced to the 1/8 mile -it would take that much longer to complete the race and once the faster Jr. racer gets past it's opponent, the race is virtually over. However, I thought that perhaps there was a different motivation that is driving their popularity.

GerryLP:cool

p.s. edited spelling on "accommodate" and "virtually" :ugh