Goin to Capital Raceway tonight with my 2006 enth. Only have a Nismo catback. Will be running with full tank of gas, jack, spare, and girlfriends junk in the car.

Any Advice on launching on stock potenzas? What tire pressure should I set it to? I have both front and rears inflated to around 37-38psi. Has not changed since I brought the car home from the dealer.

Didnt break the car in like most of you guys did. I pushed the car hard straight out the dealer. I can careless if the car breaks down 3 years from the road as long as I enjoy every second of it til then. Hope that wont effect much at the track tonite.

What kinda times can I expect? This will be the first time the Z sees a track. As for track experience. Ive had roughly 100-130 total runs down the strip in previous cars. Very consistent in what I do. But each car is differs in their own ways.

Just need some advice and tips from experience Z drivers. If anyone in the MD/DC/VA area wants to go tonight, gates open at 5pm.

Weather is gonna be steady around 85+ degrees with around 60-70% humidity tonight. Ill post times and slips when I get back tonight. Wish me luck!

-Jon

 

I am by no means an experienced track driver, but I am curious as to why you are going to run with a full tank of gas, jack, spare and junk in the back?

Are you trying to establish a baseline with which to compare subsequent runs?

 

Well I forgot I made plans to goto the track tonite and filled up wednesday night. So yea I guess since this is my first time at the track im just gettin a baseline track time. Hopefully to be very consistent. Im going to sqeeze at least 5-7runs tonight. Already got a baseline dyno. Forgot the exact #'s but it was on a dynojet on a 100% humid storming 80+degree day...my best #s were 248.xxrwhp / 234.xxtq.

Let the mods begin. slappin on a JWT popcharger this sunday and a Nismo spoiler coming in next week. =)

 

I recommend that you begin with 30psi, then drop pressure before each run by 2psi. About 25psi should be fine. Considering the temperature and humidity, the staging pad may be like slip-and-slide. Work with the tires but don’t be too discouraged with 2.2 second 60 foot times.

Be safe and have fun.

 

thanks for the help davidv. ill take that into consideration. hopefully the track will be semi prepped tonight. I used to pull 1.9-2.0 60' with my fwd maxima all day there on stock potenzas

 

Tonight was crowded but I managed to get in 3 runs. I was a bit disappointed that officials were not allowing grudge match (pick the car that you want to race). Overall the track was well prepped, and I am pleased with my numbers. Best run:

60 feet: 2.08 seconds
ET: 14.00
trap: 101.58 mph

 

very strange ET. good 60ft, decent trap. looks like a mid to high 13 second run from the those numbers.

 

Hot weather (80 degrees plus) hurts my ET but I can still manage 100mph plus.

 

ok so what happend? Where you not happy with your times?

 

Ten long staging lanes were filled. Officials ran two lanes at a time. Time between runs was about an hour. If you wanted to race a buddy it was next to impossible to line-up next to him. But besides that, and considering the conditions, yes, I am pleased with my numbers.

 

I couldnt make it. Change of plans for the weekend and decided to head over to Borgata in Atlantic City. Couldnt refuse free weekend at the hotel and limo pick up and drop off

 

For some reason, I've always thought that your car was faster than mine.. I guess I can't do math or something..

Good 60' though. Are you on stock rims with aftermarket tires? How are you launching (rpm, clutch work, psi, etc)?

 

17-inch OEM wheels with Goodyear tires. About 28 psi and 2,500rmp. Hit the gas and release the clutch at the same time.

I have run better than 14.0 seconds. But that night 14.0 seconds was the best that I could do.

 

It probobly is, he has run a best of 13.4 @ 104mph IIRC-in better conditions and a different track.

 

What was your best ever, if you don't mind me asking? For some reason, I thought your best was a low 13.

Also, if you launch like that (at 2500 rpm, by clutch dumping and full throttle), don't you bog down a little once you catch traction or just spin all the way through 1st if you don't catch traction?

I'm asking because the couple of times I've gone, it was at least mid 90s and ended the nights with mid 80s with lots of humidity (above 70%). Even under those conditions, I got a better time than you did on your last time. I also have less mods, so I was getting confused. I'm not trying to boast or put you down, I'm just genuinely confused as I'm still a noob to the whole drag strip thing and the "ideal conditions."

 

Right, that's what I thought. But even then, the climate down here in Texas is worse than up there, so I shouldn't have beat his time in a worse condition. He has more mods also. So I wasn't understanding things. Also, what exactly was the better condition? What's an IDEAL condition? Glad you chimed in btw.

 

I am not dumping the clutch but letting it out pretty fast. If your times are better than mine, congratulations. That's cool. The only way to compare is to run heads-up against one another.


When you and I talk about ideal conditions, we are talking different languages. Friday night was fun night. I usually run Summit ET with a dial-in. Ideal for me is to dial-in 13.6 seconds and run 13.6 seconds. So it doesn't matter to me if I am running 13.40 seconds or 14.00 seconds. I have to run my time or be eliminated.

 

Its possible that you are a better driver than me. And if you are, great. With practice and reading hints here, I would like you to be better than you are now.

 

OK, I KNEW I wasn't imagining things when I thought that you were running better times than I was. I just got confused with your 14.0. Never mind. I MIGHT be a better driver but we'll never know for sure unless we run the same (similar) car under the same conditions.

I really hope I didn't come off as a jackass or anything like that sort. I was just honestly confused as to why I thought you were running slower when I was pretty damn sure you ran 13s before.

Anyway, hopefully, my driving abilities improve. Thanks for the clarifications.

 

Not at all. 350Z to 350Z comparisons are academic. I have to run my race and no one else's. So do you. So get out there and compete and bring home some trophies.