unhappy about my first trip to the track

[bidicamaro]

Went to the track for my very first time yesterday hoping for a decent time. I'm a CAI and shorty back exhaust 6spd with 4.10 gears and my times weren't great. No matter if I babied the clutch, brushed the tires or dumped the clutch my 1st and second gears were blowing off my tires. I did have street tires (285/40R17 Firehawk Wide Ovals). I also couldn't get an R/T to save my soul. I believe I was falling asleep at the tree lol.

R/T .653
60' 2.42
330 6.37
1/8th 9.55
MPH 76.25
1000' 12.26
1/4 14.53
MPH 99.29

R/T .732
60' 2.69
330 6.70
1/8TH 9.94
MPH 75.06
1000' 12.68
1/4 14.95
MPH 99.63

R/T 1.771 (FELL ASLEEP AT THE TREE FOR SURE)
60' 2.54
330 6.59
1/8TH 9.82
MPH 76.96
1000' 12.55
1/4 14.84
MPH 98.79

R/T .617
60' 2.36
330 6.39
1/8TH 9.63
MPH 75.01
1000' 12.38
1/4 14.69
MPH 98.19

R/T .400
60' 2.40
330 6.28
1/8TH 9.49
MPH 77.00
1000' 12.24
1/4 14.55
MPH 98.07

I did two other 15 second passes but one was a 3rd gear miss with a .156 R/T and the other i hesitated off the launch because i wheel hopped and backed off thinking something broke but the car wanted to make a pass anyways. Let me know what i need to do (other than sticky tires) to make this a lil better. Thanks all...

[Formula383]

First, don't get down on yourself. Dropping your ET's takes time and practice and even more so with a 6 speed. Second, don't worry about the R/T. Instead focus on getting your 60 ft right. Cutting 0.4-0.5 (2.0 range) of your 60 ft could easily get you into a high 13 with no other changes. Looks like your suspension is your enemy right now (sportline springs...ouch). Anything done there other than that?

[proace4]

Just what he said... Sportlines can contribute to your wheel hop. Anything suspension done besides the lowering springs? Reaction time doesn't affect et, but can win or lose races for you. Not a big deal yet though. Any videos of the passes? Most of the work needs to be focused on the 60ft! Get it down and you'll be happier.

[ZGOBYBY]

To be honest, your times are pretty typical. When I first went out, the best I could pull was a 14.40 with a 2.3X 60'. 60' is everything. Don't get down on yourself, please! Just take time to practice your launch and it should improve your ET drastically. You have a lot of ET to make up with your 60'.

Want to help cut your 60'? Get some LCAs and relocation brackets... cheap mod, and it helped me out A LOT.

[bidicamaro]

No other suspension mods other than that weird noise coming from back there. Gear wine and i believe my shocks are completely shot. I've been looking into making my own LCA relo brakets just got to talk the boss out of the steel. I've been wanting to box my LCA's for now as well since money isn't something I have much of. How are the sportlines contributing to wheel hop other than needing the LCA's reloctaed? I also noticed that I was launching out of 1st gear but when I drive on the street I'll only use 1st when either doing a slow role pull or taking off up hill since it's more anoying to shift that fast than to take off in second. Would taking off in second get me going a little better with minimum wheel spin? I do have videos of all but my first run (which was my fastest ) but I have to get the cable thingy for my camera. thanks all...:hmm:

[joelster]

What track were you at and what day of the week and time of day? Those 60-foot times need some work. Get those down into the 2.0 range and you've got yourself a 13 second car.

[bidicamaro]

Noble, Ok. The track is Thunder valley race way and I ran between 1pm and 3pm on the 13th... It honestly feels like 4.10 is just a bit much gear for me but if I went to a lower numerical gear (like a 3.73 or stock 3.43) would I be hurting myself? I want in the 13's before long. If I just wait for the light and do a hesitaion style start (like with a nasty R/T) my ET isn't affected is it? I want to get a good take off with min wheel spin or axle hop. Only my 4th time ever at a track and first time running at one.

[zooguy]

you form oklahoma .... sweet come up to the city (okc) some time an we can have a lil get to gather

[79LT1Monte]

Practice makes perfect on the launch, like everyone else said get that 60' down and you will be alot happier with those runs. And running 4:10's already I would stay away from the sticky tires until you have some jack saved up for a better rear end :shame:

[joelster]

Noble, Ok. The track is Thunder valley race way and I ran between 1pm and 3pm on the 13th... It honestly feels like 4.10 is just a bit much gear for me but if I went to a lower numerical gear (like a 3.73 or stock 3.43) would I be hurting myself? I want in the 13's before long. If I just wait for the light and do a hesitaion style start (like with a nasty R/T) my ET isn't affected is it? I want to get a good take off with min wheel spin or axle hop. Only my 4th time ever at a track and first time running at one.

That track is 1165 feet above sea level which is so-so. Basically the higher you go the worse the air. Denver is horrible for racers, while tracks at the coast near sea level are ideal. I plugged your times into a drag calculator for 1:50pm at that track. The DA at that time was 1368 feet. I plugged in your best time of 14.53 at 99.29 and it gave me a correction to

14.31 at 100.804

Basically that is what your car would have ran if you were at one of the better tracks in the country with slightly better air.

[BIGT94z]

my old daily driver 94 t/a a4 bone stock with a cai ran 14.1's all day in a 1300 da up here at kcir. with the m6 the key is launch. if you want to go to the 1/4 alot ditch the sportlines and get some brm or sam strano lowering springs (good multi use street/autox/drag springs imo)and lca relo's at least. imo getting the nitto dr would help since in all my experience with them they did not hook enough to break a 10 bolt. just my advice. your going to have to practice a ton to get that car in high 13's on street tires

[black heartbeat]

I highly suggest putting LCA relocation brackets in they will really help your wheelhop

[AChotrod]

Keep practicing and youll get better, some DRs will help you the most.

[IronOutlaw]

Im heading to the track soon and am not expecting to get out of the 14s. Mainly because of my limited ability to launch manual car. especially on our slick local track.

Also I have a hard time hitting third with the stock shifter while shifting fast.

[bidicamaro]

Hitting 3rd is no problem... Untill I try to? If im driving on the streets im golden... on a track... idk?? just don't work?

[IronOutlaw]

Hitting 3rd is no problem... Untill I try to? If im driving on the streets im golden... on a track... idk?? just don't work?

thats how I am. I can hit third until it really counts. Im wanting a better shifter real hard. :cry: