Just got back from Western Sydney International Dragway.
This was the first time I had attended a dragstrip as either competitor or spectator. I had a very enjoyable day and experienced some good, average and ugly 1/4 mile times. The car was completely stock with about 1/4 tank of fuel and carrying all items (spare / jack etc) that it contains during every day street driving. Reduced the rear tyre pressures to 24psi.

There were heaps of cars at the event, so that meant a 1 hour wait in between 1/4's in the middle of the day. There were very few stock cars there and some seriously modded beasts, cutting 10sec 1/4's. Also, amongst the bikes there was a turbo'd Hyabusa (spelling??) that ran in the high 8's.

Allright back on topic to describe my runs. First the Ugly:
Ran in the 19's after red lighting and being a newbie, I didn't know what to do, so I stopped, waited and waited and waited (thought that I would get a restart as my opponent had not started) and then after opponent went, I thought screw it and went hard - all to no avail when you sit just over the start line giving away 5s.
Also ran in the 18's after I stalled on the line - very embarasing. That was against a GTHO who ran a 14.886, so I was seriously p!ssed off at myself as I wanted to beat him.
To summarise, the Ugly was indicative of being a newbie to drag racing and not indicative of what the car can do.

Now the average:
First run of the day was a 14.562 at 98.02mph (157.75kph). I cannot remember much about this run other than the fact that I was very nervous. I remember getting some wheelspin at the start (not sure how many revs) and hitting the revlimiter also. By the end of that run, I was quite satisfied as I had just equalled the magazine times for the Z and my run was far from perfect, so there was a lot of improvement left.
My second run was a 14.94. I realised when I launched that I had left TC on as the revs droped to nothing. During that run I tried despretly to turn off TC but only managed to do so after changing up into 3rd, so that was a poor run.
From there, times got a little better. I dragged an SLR 5000 and beat him. Actually, he beat me down the track as I gave him a 0.7s start, but his ET was 14.664 and mine was 14.431 @ 98.08 (157.84kph).
I also took on a late model WRX. I had a much better R/T (0.223 v 0.753) and jumped him at the start, but spun too much. The result was a 60' of 2.369 for me and 1.953 for the WRX (damn those things are quick off the mark. I ran 14.475 @98.64 (158.75) to his 14.126 @97.17. He was behind me all the way and I thought that he would run me down by the end of the 1/4, but he couldn't. After the race the driver came and asked me if I was modded, because he was surprised he could not take me up top. He was a nice guy and he told me he had an exhaust from the cat back and a filter, so I was chuffed that he couldn't take me at the top end of the race, even with his mods.
Next, I ran his buddy who had a moddified and quick STi (new model). This was one of my best runs of the day, producing a 14.148 @ 100.14 (161.16). My 60' time was 2.242s (still slow) . The STi went hard initially but then backed off for some reason for an 18s pass???? I was ecstatic when I got my time slip and my missus was also jumping up and down in the stands.
The best was left for last however. I was up against a 12s monster, so I ignored it and tried to focus on my race only. Like all my other take offs, I spun too much for my liking, but still managed my best 60' time of 2.189s. I hit all the gear changes well, right on about 6,600prm and recoreded a 14.070 @ 100.18 (161.23kph).
when I got that slip.

I didn't have enought time for another run so that was it for the day. Considering that I was hoping for low 14s, before I went (but realistically thought I would only get about 14.3s), I was really very satisfied with myself.
Yes I would have loved to break into the 13s on my first foray into drag racing, but it was not to be today. In reality, to break 13s, all I would need to do is to get a 2.1s or less 60' time and I feel I can do that with a slightly better launch.

Finally, if a inexperienced newbie like me can run a 14s quater (and I have never raced anyone from a set of lights ,so I have had little experience with launching), then the mags should be ashamed of their 14.5s passes.

 

FARKIN HEY, Jelly!!!

As always

H

 

Well done. You must've spent the whole day out there.

So if you were getting too much wheel spin do you think it was because you were dropping the clucth (I'm assuming you were side stepping) with too many revs? If so do you know what rpm you were launching at?

Also being a drag noob what's red lighting? Jumped start? Rolled too far forward?

 

Jelly behind the wheel = spin spin spin!!!

I got there at 11:30 and left at 5pm.

I was trying to keep the revs between 2200 and 2500 and release the clutch quickly while mashing the accelerator (not really sidesteping). Now that I have had time to think, I should have been slightly less aggressive with the accelerator at launch but still use the same rpm to take off. That is, press the accelerator more gradually to the floor on take off. Will try this next time.

Red lighting is jumping the start before you get a green go light on the christmas tree. In a drag race, if you do that you're automatically disqualified and loose that race, but in street meets (I later found out), you just keep going and can still record a 1/4 mile time.

 

Isn't this event a street meet?

Drag racing is really the pro level comp stuff.

 

Yes it was a street meet. I loosely refer to it as drag racing as it is an organised event at a drag racing complex.
I interchange the terms street meet and draging and will probably continue to do so until the Z has been modded into a top fuel Z beast cutting 7s quaters - fat chance!

 

I imagine the insurance is going to be a problem on that one. When they ask you to list the mods just write "Everything, some panels still original shape.

 

I hit all the gear changes well, right on about 6,600prm and recoreded a 14.070 @ 100.18 (161.23kph).

That is awesome ... congratulations, you have a lot to be proud of especially this being your 1st time at the strip. Good trap-speed there as well, and indicative is a good run. I'm sure you could get into 13s without doing much different. A good trick (from what I hear) is to do a small burnout right before you get to the line (ie. do a practice start). Your tyres should be stickier and help you get of the line and up to speed quicker.

14.562 at 98.02mph (157.75kph) ... I was quite satisfied as I had just equalled the magazine times for the Z

There was prenty to be satistied about as that is a pretty good time as well. Though, local megs have a best of 14.32 @ 161kph.

the mags should be ashamed of their 14.5s passes.

The local mags publish an average of the runs, and often in both direction. Sometimes it is an average of best runs in each direction. Locally they do not publish the best times ... they do so in US and Europe though. 13.7sec is the best time for a US mag so far.

 

That is awesome ... congratulations, you have a lot to be proud of especially this being your 1st time at the strip. Good trap-speed there as well, and indicative is a good run. I'm sure you could get into 13s without doing much different. A good trick (from what I hear) is to do a small burnout right before you get to the line (ie. do a practice start). Your tyres should be stickier and help you get of the line and up to speed quicker.

Thanks David - I was fairly pleased with my times achieved towards the end of the day. BTW, I did a small burnout through the water box on each occasion. The problem was that the wheel hop was so bad that ultimately the burnouts got smaller and eventually was used just to scrub the tyres. My best runs came after smaller burnouts, so either that helped a little or my clutch / accelerator control improved. If it was the latter, I was still disatisfied with the amount of spin though.
I'm very confident of getting into the 13's next time.

The local mags publish an average of the runs, and often in both direction. Sometimes it is an average of best runs in each direction. Locally they do not publish the best times ... they do so in US and Europe though. 13.7sec is the best time for a US mag so far.

Well I averaged all the runs (exluding any stuff ups / TC on etc) and got 14.337, so that's about the same as the aussie mags. Only diff was that I ran into the wind on each run and did not get the benefit of running with the wind. Running with the wind may have dropped the average by 1 or 2 tenths.
If I can get a 2.0s 60' time, that will probably see a 3/10 improvement over the quater and a 13.7, so that is a believable time.

 

I'm very confident of getting into the 13's next time.

You are already so close, that you are practically there. I'm be really surprised if you're nor runing 13s after another visit or two to the drag-strip.

Well I averaged all the runs (exluding any stuff ups / TC on etc) and got 14.337, so that's about the same as the aussie mags.

hehe, that's a bit of a coincidence ... you could not get closer if you tried. Though, the mags have always gor some weird 'methodology' for the times. Like drop the ebst and worst and then average. Or average the best runs from each direction.

Another thing I just thought of, the local mags always run with 2 people on boad. I am not sure exactly what difference that makes over 400m, but it must make some. My guess would be in the order 0.3sec or so.

 

Yeah, carrying another 75kg would add at least 2/10ths, but that may be traded off with wind assistance???

If I average my best 2 runs, that gives a 14.1s. Add 0.2s for an additional passanger and you're at 14.3s, just like the mags.

OK, I give the mag reporters / drivers some respect then.

 

OK, I give the mag reporters / drivers some respect then.

I would not go that far ;-)

 

That's a dam dam fine results for a first run, well done, maybe removing spare wheel and jack will help you into the 13's plus the nervs will be under control next time.

David

 

Thanks David.
Loosing the jack / spare, having only 1/8 tank of gas and staying off the chocolates and running around the suburbs to loose 5 kg, should do it.
Ok, there's not much chance of me running (remeber I'm an old fugger that plays golf!) or staying off the chocolates, so I had better practice launching the car better.

DavidM - when I get into the 13's I will invoke my right to again bag out the magazine 1/4 mile testers!

 

Well done...you may recall my similar experiences to yours..

My best was 14.38 as a novice too...I'll have to go again now!!
Its a buzz isn't it?


Steve

 

Yeah it is addictive.
Let me know when you plan on going again 4wsboy, as i'd be happy to meet up with you there.
If there are others on the forum that would like to go 1/4 mile racing, then speak up and we could look at organising a my350Z.com meet at the dragway.

 

I'm not adverse to a bit of a burn - next two weeks a bit of a prob. though. I can't miss me golf batts days,though.

Keep me informed.

H is a bit of a boy racer too?

FROZZTY

 

Yeah, Id come out for a bit of stripping!!

As always

H

 

Well the next meeting is on Sat 22nd, but may be a problem for Frosty Fruit. The follwing street meet is 5 June.
I think I might go on the 22nd as I'm eager to crack into the 13's.

 

I'm keen to have a go. Just need to find a day where I have a few hours free.