VitViper

iTrader: (1)

True story...

I got bored today and decided it was a good day to finish off the stock clutch in my 350. Well... not much of a good day, high 80's for temperature, I was happy I was able to match my times from trip to PIR at Woodburn. Sure enough I got a nice whiff of burnt clutch every run... oh how I hate the stock 350 clutch, you can't seem to be able to apply any power while slipping the clutch during the launch... My only decent 60fts involved letting the clutch grab and bog the car 500-700 rpms before I added any significant amount of power. Too much power and the clutch burns, even on one occasion causing my clutch pedal to stick straight to the floor until the revs on the motor came down (17.3 second 1/4 mile run thanks to that).

But that's beyond the point.... Woodburn closes up at 8:30 so I headed to PIR, which is just half an hour away. I arrive, pay my fee, get the car checked out and go stage. The wait is quite long and I notice a new RX8 in the line up at the front. I watch him run... 15.33 @ 91mph (6 speed... all I could see on it was aftermarket wheels, lowered, big *** wing, maybe exhaust). I laugh. I really have no love for those high strung wannabe sports cars. Well since I was in the back of the staging lanes, the RX8 pulls around and is only a couple lanes from me now. They guy keeps examining my car and talking to the twin turbo VR4 driver behind me. The VR4 driver and I hit it off, looks like he's going to be welding me up some test pipes for my car. He told me the guy in the RX8 was asking him if he was driving the 350 cause he wanted to race it. Well the RX8 guy came back my way and tells me he wants to race me (after I witnessed his whopping 15 second run???).

I ask him... "why?". Point at his car and go "15 second car", point at my car and go "13 second car". He waves me off and goes "whatever, they both run even times!" Now I'm not sure if he was implying my 350 was a 15 second car or what, but I laughed him off and go "ok, whatever". I let him arrange the race with the officials. I tell the VR4 driver "Watch me smoke this kid". He responds, "Do it", with a grin. We stage... I take my time with the lights (this is head to head racing) and still manage an r/t of .026 vs his .011. I was in no hurry... I simply left the line nice and easy so I wouldn't make any mistakes or drop the clutch pedal to the floor. However I pull a 2.27 60ft to his 2.57 so I jump him by a bit... And right off the bat first gear pulls just over a car on him, and after I hit 2nd it was murder she wrote. Poor little RX8 disappeared into my rearview like... well words don't describe.

I ran a 14.0 @ 101 to his 16.8 @ 87. He takes his time getting back in the staging lanes, but finally pulls in behind me. First thing out of his mouth "13, what 13?? You're so damn cocky". I just have a cocky grin on my face and laugh him off: "What, you want to see the multiple 13 second slips I have from Woodburn??". He replies with a "yeah right, these cars are even!". I just giggle some more, and pull out my 13.8 @ 102 from Woodburn and show it to him. He goes "what the 14.5?" (the pontiac that was in the other lane). I tell him no, I'm 378 with the 13.8. He responds with "but you're 435D!". I tell him, "Read the slip, this is at Woodburn, I'm 378 there, and 435D here at PIR". That almost shuts him up.... But he can't stop "Well my car is a 14.2!". I just laugh and tell him... not quite buddy (you'd be lucky to see stock RX8's run high 14's at PIR on street tires). Still he won't stop talking "well car and driver rated the rx8 the best all around car!" I respond with, "Go back to reading your magazines man", followed by another chuckle.

Now he was just BOILING over. This guy was beyond p*ss*d off, lol. He takes off with a big huff from the track with his gf in the passenger seat. The VR4 driver was a witness to it all and just laughed "Silly Kid".

LOL


BTW, my best tonight was a 13.80, with a new best trap just short of 102. DA was about 1700-1800 and couldn't manage better than a 2.14 60ft on the stock tires. Not too bad given I ran my 13.7 in mid 60* weather (600-700 DA that day or so) with a 2.15 60ft. For some reason I'm only gaining 19-20mph on the back half of the 1/4. My 1/8th mile traps are 81mph fairly easily, haven't done better than a 102 in the 1/4 tho yet (but it is improving). It feels like something is almost holding back the last 1/8th mile for me. The car's definitely got more in it.

JDMFairladyZ33

iTrader: (37)

Very good story. You've made my night/morning.

SuperBlack350z

iTrader: (59)

wow, what an idiot. So much talk. I'm sorry but you have to be an amazing driver to break into the 14's with the rx8. Good job on keeping your cool.

VitViper

iTrader: (1)

Made my night at PIR for sure, even with the horrible conditions there tonight, 2.2/2.3 60fts ftl

Not likely at PIR with a stock RX8. I watched modded STIs trap 107 and run 13.6~13.7. And modded SRT4's not able to break out of the mid/low 14s on street tires.

However the vr4 guy and I had a good long laugh at the kid's expense.

JDMFairladyZ33

iTrader: (37)

what did the VR4 guy run? (**love those cars if they dont break every other day)

VitViper

iTrader: (1)

I actually beat his g/f driving it. Took her off the line and she *almost* beat me at the end (damn it was moving fast towards the end). I ran a 14.008 @ 101 with a 2.3 60ft (ouch ), she ran a 14.081 @ 110 with a 2.7 60ft lol

He himself ran a 12.8 @ 110 with a 1.95 60ft. This was the run my clutch decided it would just burn instead of grip and my pedal sank to the floor, sigh. My car reeked of burnt clutch for an hour

JDMFairladyZ33

iTrader: (37)

Yeah I've had that happen before. I knew it was going to burn out so when it did I just laugh my *** off in the car going

mikecamp

Sounds like another RX-8 driver who doesn't want to accept the fact our car (I drive an RX-8) is underpowered and not a straight line vehicle. He deserved all he got for his embarrassing conduct. He needs to appreciate the 8 for what it is, I know I have--it's an extremely fun and easy car to drive fast, but it does have limitations like all vehicles. I'd like to pick up an old TR6 someday, but it ain't gonna be for straight line performance. People need to be honest with themselves.

phenforum

iTrader: (3)

awesome story. I don't understand the need to talk, or talk **** nonetheless. I mean if you know you're right then you can prove it easily. Did he seriously think his car was as fast as a Z? He's the one who's cocky for bothering you and talking **** about your Z.

Z-Gad

iTrader: (1)

LOL
The story made my morning as well !!

davidv

iTrader: (2)

Good story. I would like to see your times here competing with
1. Gooey
2. jdifolco.

https://my350z.com/forum/drag/233840-top-25-1-4-mile-times-for-tt-st-supercharger-nitrous-bolt-ons-stock.html

michaeljr6

iTrader: (14)

the ONLY good car mazda has ever produced was the RX-7.

the rest is meh..... prove me wrong b1tches

ajcool2

iTrader: (11)

My 4 door automatic 98 maxima beats rx-8's all the time. LOL

2007 Z

iTrader: (2)

I've only raced one RX-8 and it wasn't even close. The guy was like 10 cars behind me by the time I hit 100. I didn't know crap about the RX-8 at the time, so I got on the internet when I got home and looked. Almost 100 less hp!! The RX-8 rates down with the 6 cylinder Camaros as far as drag racing... I've actually pulled a 15.052 1/4 with a 6 cylinder Camaro before, but never less and had perfect track conditions that day near sea level with a temp of about 65 degrees. Sounds like the poor guy should've done some research before buying it, lol.

wasuber

iTrader: (32)

+1 I amost bought an RX-8 but then I did the research and ended up with the Z.

jdifolco

iTrader: (2)

Yes, we are all alone

VitViper

iTrader: (1)

I'm trying. I'm still stock as far as power mods go, but my trap went up 1mph this visit to the track. I have no luck launching the car from over 3k rpm, my clutch doesn't hold up at all At Woodburn I ran a bunch of 13.8's on a hot track compared to when I ran my 13.7 at PIR. A little better conditions and better 60ft and I'll get my low 13's.

CervanteZ

iTrader: (1)

What a cocky bastid! lol, should've put bet 2 large.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

LOL. You guys (2007 drivers) killed me in the Stock class pushing me from #9 to #14. But if you add, say, aftermarket intake filters, you get your own class.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

If you have any mod, including suspension, I think aceman will put you in Modified. Your ET is excellent. What hurts your performance is altitude. You cannot change altitude.