Originally Posted by nbdyfcnsqnc

What's the margin of error on these things? Or is auto racing totally unscientific?

Originally Posted by Alberto

Last time out @ the track, with my traps the highest they've been I picked up 23.X mph on every run in the last 1/8, I was doing 21-22 mph stock. Id say he had a crazy tailwind, or maybe his track doesnt measure trap speed but terminal speed? I dunno, do any tracks even do that?

Originally Posted by max2000jp

Bri, next he will tell you that there was a 40 mph tailwind. Something doesn't add up here....

Originally Posted by rednezz

Well then how do explain the other Z only picking up 21 mph on the last 1/8 mile when he is running in the lane next to me? He trapped 79.24 in the 1/8 and 100.56 in the 1/4. That is along with what your saying is normal. If the track equipment was picking up terminal velocity instead of trap or I had a strong tail wind don't you think his mph would be alot higher also?

Originally Posted by Alberto

You said it yourself in the lane next to you, we all know most tracks have a quicker lane, and just cuz one guy had a tail wind doesnt mean another did as well-or as hard that run, too many variables. Hey if your car did pull that hard in the last 1/8 thats good for you, Im not saying its not possible, but it is uncommon. Kinda like the guy on here that trapped 85 or 86 in the 1/8 and only 106 in the 1/4, he had a crazy high 1/8 for some reason....

Originally Posted by rednezz

I didn't realize there could be a difference in lanes. I will probably be running again later this summer and if I can I will run both lanes to see if there is a difference.

Originally Posted by Dave B

I'm convinced the air in the Northeast is composed of 20% nitrous in the Fall and Spring Take a look around at any auto forum (Corral, LS1.com, Maxima.org, G35driver.com, Clubsi.com, etc) and you'll notice the quickest cars for the mods reside at the following tracks (in no particular order):

1) Englishtown
2) Cecil
3) Atco
4) Rockingham
5) HRP - Houston
6) Byron
7) Sacramento
8) Orlando (Fall only)

Just take a look next time you read about a car pulling an amazing time for it's mods. Years ago I had a 94 Z28 that I raced at Kansas City KCIR. It went consistent 13.7s@101mph with 1.9 60 foots. I went to HRP for an F-Body event and was running 13.4s@103mph with 1.9 60 foots and no changes to the car and in hotter weather no less. I got back to KCIR and guess what? 13.7s@101mph. Some tracks are just faster than others. Period.

Originally Posted by Alberto

Maybe this guy I know in a stock Z will let me take a run down the track @ Cecil so I can set the stock record

Originally Posted by Integrity

The only thing nice about Capitol is where it is. 15 minutes sure beats that hour plus trek to get to Cecil. Funny thing is, from what I've read, Capitol actually has a lower elevation than Cecil. I guess track prep is everything. No question about which track has better traction. At Cecil I bogged with a 3500 rpm clutch drop on drag radials. At Capitol I'd spin all through first gear.



If you're talking about Richard, I don't think he's stock anymore. I talked to him the other day and he purchased some goodies from Altered Atmosphere.

Originally Posted by Alberto

Hehe yeah, he called me and told me about the stuff he ordered, but its not on the car yet....

Originally Posted by Dave B

I've got to agree with Brian here, picking up 24+mph in an NA VQ just doesn't make that much sense. I've been involved with drag racing for about 12 years now and have probably made over 300 passes in various cars (Mustangs, Z28, Maxima, G35) and I consider myself well versed in the way a 1/4 mile breaks down increment by increment in relation to the powerband and power to weight of a car. To gain 24mph in the last 1/8 mile (assuming traction isn't an issue) is very hard to come by and there are only a couple late model NA motors that I know of that is capable of such a feat. That would be the LS series motors from GM and the Viper. I don't think many of you grasp the significance of gaining 24mph+ in the last 1/8 mile.

The hard truth is timers aren't always accurate, especially trap boxes. Some tracks, though rare, don't average the last 66' to calculate trap so it's possible that the timeslips are showing true ending trap speed and not averaged trap speed. That can mean the difference between 1-2mph. Like Brian has pointed out, typical gains for a stock or NA modded 350Z is in the 20-21mph range with most in the 21.X range. That is VERY good and suggests great topend power. 19mph is typical for most cars. Breaking 23mph is reserved for cars with huge powerbands and torque (ie ellis-juan) or turbo cars (huge topend charge). I don't doubt the timeslips these guys have, but I do doubt the equipment. The ETs make sense, but the traps don't. 98% of the NA 350Zs (and G35s for that matter) gain 20-21mph in the last 1/8 and then there are a couple that are gaining 24mph+. It just doesn't make sense. That would basicially mean the 24mph+ trapping cars are making about 40whp more than the others and that the additional power only comes on after the first 1/8 mile. Sorry, that's not happening.

A great example to show this is my old Maxima. With an intake and y-pipe it went 14.6@96mph and gained 19mph in the last 1/8. I made about 80 passes with that set up. Then I added a JDM variable intake manifold and a JWT ECU. Basically what these two mods did was gain my car anywhere from 10whp to 50whp from 4800-7000rpms. The car ended up going 14.3@99 and gained 21mph in the last 1/8. As you can see, it took a lot of power to only gain 2mph in the last 1/8.

Originally Posted by 95snoozer

true story

we have trackls here that have had their radar box knocked out and it only measures the finish line MPH instead of averaging.


at the IHRA track 101 will drive over there and run 104... its just known and poeple say "i went 105 at alamo, so thats like 102 on a real track"

Originally Posted by typeR

well ill say this again...i concider my car similar to the 350 in some respects...3.5 liters...though im FWD auto open diff and heavier at 3700lbs i was picking up 21-22 consistantly on top ...after adding 20 hp 20 lb ft top to bottom and loosing 150lbs 50 of which was in the wheels...i gained 24.5 MsPH on top ...a couple variables you guys arent concidering is i previously was finishing at about 5500 rpms...now 6500...what gear is the auto Z in?...so my 20/20 hp/lbft gain is now more like 50/50?...meaning ...im crossing the line at 50 more hp than previous and id like to add...this pass was at Gainesville race way home of the gator nationals on super gas day with 7. second cars running and at 64*/40%

Originally Posted by BriGuyMax

So you're saying that your car with more revs to work with, more power in those revs, and different weight and gearing is more comparable to ONE stock 350Z than a vast majority of other stock 350Z's are?

You do know that extra weight inflates top end numbers by lowering your 1/8 mile traps, making it easier to make a bigger difference in the second 1/8 right?

Originally Posted by typeR

no im saying to the guy that says 24 mph gains are with held for super cars LS1s and turbos that he's wrong....what gear is the Z in and where in his power band might he be if he crossed the traps at 102?

Originally Posted by BriGuyMax

no idea what gear or what revs a 5AT Z is making @ 102mph.