Chris & Ken at the Gainesville Speedway

[69MyWay]

We took the 90 and Ken's 87 to Gainesville last night for some 1/4 mile fun. It was Ken's first time driving his car on the strip, and my first time back in a very, very long time.

I was shooting for the 12's, and Ken was just shooting to get a solid handle on the car.

The weather was perfect. I slapped on a pair of old 1985 Vette rims and tires to the rear so I could smoke them off. Ken kept his street tires on.

I had a full tank of 87 octane gas left over from communting that was about three months old.

Here is a pic on the way to the track.

 

[69MyWay]

Here we are off loading.

I figured if I trailered the car that there was no way it would break.

Well, I was WRONG. After five runs, there IS NO MORE CLUTCH in the car. More on that later.

 

[69MyWay]

Here we are having a little "track talk" before a time trial.

 

[69MyWay]

Nikki came down later to give some moral support and snap some pictures.

Here are my runs (they are terrible) in chronological order

1. 14.645 @ 104.35 mph
On this run I left on a 2.7 60 foot, and shifted into 6th instead of fourth at the end of the track
2. 13.638 @ 103.18
This time I ran a 2.4 60 foot, but something strange was going on with the car that I could not put my finger on
3. 13.4 @ 106.35 mph
Now this was more like it, but I still pulled right at a 2.8 60 foot. Hmm, do the math. There is my 12 second run had I made traction.
4. 17.899 @ 54 mph. Oooops, something went bad wrong here. It started when I realized that 1/2 of my wheel spin might well have been flywheel spin. I had virtually no clucth on this run. When I stopped to pick up my time slip I put it in first and could not get the car to move under any acceleration. I had to let it idle with the clutch out to eventually catch enough to move. I then built momentum and coasted the car right onto the waiting car hauler.

 

[69MyWay]

Bro_Ken made his first pass, then disappeared. A track worker said "Hey, your buddy with the other Vette has something leaking out of his car....real bad!"

I found Ken after my next pass, and found out he had a huge problem. There was oil everywhere. It looked like his power steering rack had broken the way it would spray when you reved the engine. Turns out I found a bolt on his x member. Kept feeling around and realized it was where on the old style block the fuel pump rod would run and is open to the inside.

I made up some sealant from electric tape, put the bolt back in the super hot to the touch engine, had him wipe the oil clean, and he was back on the track in 20 minutes. Nothing like emergency surgery in the pits.

Here he is running.

 

[69MyWay]

Ken Launching.......

His tires were not doing him any favors, and searching for that perfect launch RPM was tough. I could hear him bouncing off the rev limiter in the first 25, 30 feet of the track! Yet, he still managed to pull 109 mph while hunting and pecking for the next gear.

 

[69MyWay]

This was one of Ken's real solid runs. This car has solid mid 12's written all over it. This was a 13.4 run at 109. I think the car has about 114 mph and 12.6 seconds in it right now. Ken will have to work on his driving skills and tire combos (as well as I).

 

[RubyDropTop]

Great photos, thanks for sharing them. :cool What happened to your clutch, any idea?

 

[-=Jeff=-]

This was one of Ken's real solid runs. This car has solid mid 12's written all over it. This was a 13.4 run at 109. I think the car has about 114 mph and 12.6 seconds in it right now. Ken will have to work on his driving skills and tire combos (as well as I).

What were Ken's short times on that run? He has potential for 12's for sure with a 109mph..

I am running 12.74@110 with my miniram motor. This is with a 1.92 60'.

I also killed my clutch, btu the car it still driveable in my case, I drove it home from the track.

I am looking at a SPEC stage 2 with aluminum Flywheel for my next set-up

 

[Ken]

Skill?? What skill?

Ken will have to work on his driving skills...

I don't know why I want to embarrass myself by posting these...

Bro_ken

 

[RalleyRed]

Embarrass yourself?

Don't you remember laughing at me in Bowling Green?

Your times are pretty consistant, Ken.

You put a set of sticky's on that beast and your going to be scary!

Where are you now, Ken?

Rick

 

[69MyWay]

Hey, you are posting those because you did a DARN FINE job for your first time EVER drag racing that car! I think you did great. I think dragging is like riding a bike. Once you have done it, you don't really forget it. About 10 years ago I was at the drag stip all the time. Between the Fieros and the 85 383 stroker Vette, I was a regular down there. With that, I still had trouble getting back into the swing, especially trying to drive a stick shift. No point and shoot like the automatic guys.

I think you are a 12 second driver, it will just take a few more runs under your belt to get there.

 

[RalleyRed]

Chris,

You haven't taken Killer down the quarter mile yet have you?

I've got a feeling that you wouldn't have much tire spin with those huge sneakers.:L


Rick

 

[89ZZ4]

Ken - I'd love to see 109. Let my kid run mine for the first time at the track a week ago and the best run was 13.51 @ 104.77 with a 2.24 60' time. When you get that monster dialed in with a good chip and traction taken care of you will be able to get into the 11's. If I need tires with a 3.33 rear and BFG KD's not being enough you are going to have to go there also. I believe Jeff is using Drag Radials on his beast. The whole package has to balance out if you want to get serious - then there's always the extreme wear and tear on the parts like clutches, etc. The night mine ran it seemed like every other car was breaking down. 350+ HP and 350+ TQ and 3000+ lbs of car put a H--- of a shock load on the drive train especially with todays sticky tires.

Phil (aka 89ZZ4)

 

[Ken]

Don't you remember laughing at me in Bowling Green?

I never once laughed, or even thought of it. :nono As a matter-of-fact, I was thinking of how it was a good thing I had my trailer there for you Rick.

Thanks for the support guys.

_ken

 

[RalleyRed]

I'm only playin with ya Ken.

Though I do remember you saying that you were going to laugh until you realized that I was having more problems than not being able to hit 2nd gear.:L

I am sooooo glad that I didn't need your trailer, or worse yet need one to get back to NY.

It was great meeting you and I'm glad to see you made it home okay.

Rick