I had been looking forward to taking my Z to the track ever since I bought it. I did some research on launching and times for stock before I went. I know I'm just a rookie at this so, some help would be great.

I was consistantly running 14.7's with around 2.2-2.3 60ft. and my best trap speed was 95.4. It was a little discouraging at first to see these times after reading about guys hitting 13.7, 13.9. I felt like I was hitting the gears pretty well, chirping through second and third. I know the biggest area I need to improve in is my launch. I couldn't hit it perfect. I'd either spin or bogg down. I launch the car at just under 2000, dropping the clutch and slamming the throttle to the floor. Sometimes I'd get too anxious and hit the gas too soon and spin the tires. Other times I'd force myself to lay off it too much and I'd bogg down. I still have the stock potenzas with around 30 psi so, I know I'm losing some grip there.

There were a couple other z's there that had exhaust (not sure what else), and they were running in the low 15's. That made me feel a little better. Basically, I just want to get better. I know weather and altitude has an effect on the performance. Being in Memphis, altitude shouldn't have anything to do with it, but it was 91 and muggy that night. I don't know how much that would affect my times. Thanks in advance for the help...my mods are listed below.

 

if it was 91 and 100% humidity id say that time equals more around a 14.2-14.5 time frame

 

Well the other drivers just plain suck to run low 15's.

Try lowering your tire pressure to around 24psi or lower.
Your launch RPM seems about right, you might be able to go to 2500 with the right tire press. Not sure cuz i never dragged in the stock tires.

Instead of slamming the throttle try easing the clutch out and get going and kinda roll into the throttle. It stops the bogging. Unfortunately you either bog or break traction. Bogging eats up more time. On street tires a 1.99x 60 ft is not imposible but it does take a lot of effort. When I had Headers. intake exhaust my best was a 13.90x @ 101mph. Good luck

 

On my stock rubber I pull 2.0-2.1 in the 60ft, 8.9-9.1 1/8th with a 13.89-14.0x in the 1/4. Since you was using a low rpm to launch at. I recommend trying to feather your clutch at 3.5-4.5k, but try your best to stay at 4k. That should definitely get your 60ft time down and you need to shift faster without grinding gears. You can chirp your tires when shifting at redline and popping the clutch but that doesn't mean your shifting is fast. Practice that's all the advice I can give.

 

thanks! I agree....practice, practice, practice is what I need. I appreciate the help. When you let out on the clutch through second and third, do you let out completely or just enough to disengage it?

 

also...has anyone else experienced a big change in time due to warmer temperatures? If so, what were the the times?

 

Ive been to the track here when it was 100 outside and ran a good .3-.5 seconds slower.

 

yes, my best time was 14.2 @103 when the temps were around 50 degrees. Everytime i've been this summer i cant get any faster than a 14.3 @ 99mph.

 

I have the exact same issue. I ran (stock) 14.2 @103 with a crappy 2.3 60' when I just bought the car in the spring. Since it's been hot and muggy I've dropped my 60' down to 2.10, but still can't get under 14.3, or over 101 mph. I think the humidity has been around 85-90% each time I've been this summer.

 

In 75 degree temps I ran 13.13 @ 107 and 13.16 @ 106. In 95+ I ran 13.1 @ 105. My times were the same but my traps were down.

 

nope i ran my best 12.7 when it was 93 outside. One thing that works is putting ice on your plenum in between runs, that thing gets so hot and heatsoaks fast.

 

Stock, my best 60' was 1.996 so it is possible, I can't speak much for your launching technique from good old 5AT-ville, but just keep practicing.

 

I think you may be able to improve your time to 14.5 reasonably (w/o powershifting), but will require a 2.2 60 or better. The weather in TN isn't that great, hot and humid (I'm right there right now on an Audit trip). I would think that the drag strips are better preped than California, too bad I couldn't bring my Z and try.