I am going down to Seguin Wednesday with a friend and his group of Mustang owners and have been pondeing running the Z.

This would be my first time driving (if my nerves don't prevent me) on drag strip.

Not sure if I am ready (still learning to drive this car). I have found out that it is way to easy to spin the tires- even under load in second if I am at 3200rpms and gun it i break loose! I have 50% tread left on the Potenza's so I need to learn to feather it I guess for maximum hookup. Anyways any advice is appreciated or even a link to drag ettiquette so I don't do something stupid and embarrass myself.

Thanks!

 

Here's some advice you could read:
www.rangeracceleration.com

FYI, there is no need to do a burn-out on the stock Potenza tires. Just do a quick wheel-spin to remove all the rocks and other debris that may be stuck on the tires. Have fun and post your time-slips!

 

a. The objective is safety and fun in that order.

b. Watch some cars staging. Where is the staging line? How does a car light the Christmas tree with the front tires. Take your time and follow the officials instructions. Don't be rushed. Officials recognise new racers and will give them a break.

c. Look at the run-off and return area. Is there one exit or two: one on each side? With a single exit give the car in that lane the right-of-way. I have seen more incidents in the run-off than any other place at the dragstrip.

d. Traction can be a problem for every car whether 100 or 1,000 horsepower. If the front of the car points the wrong way, back off the gas. You are in control.

 

Thanks Guys..........I will look at the link for sure. I am scared to do this and If anything happens to the Z my wife will..........well ya'll know what she'd do! More importantly is I am afraid I may like it too much then knowing my nature ......I will become obsessed at Mods and Racing

One more stupid question. I don't want to assume I think I know the answer for sure but.....what is meant by "speed shifting"? Is there more to this than disengaging clutch quickly changing gears and engaging clutch again?

 

There are several speed shifting techniques. One is a modified street shift where the clutch is partial disengaged during the shift, and the throttle is never completely OFF.

The technique becomes apparent with practice.

 

So where is the timeslip?

 

We were not able to go last Wed. We have had rain here in Austin for a week. I haven't even been able to drive our Z for over a week because of the rain. I live in the country and have a 1000' driveway and when it rains you need a 4x4 to get out sometimes! Needless to say I have been jonesing to take it or my motorcycle out!! If all goes well weather wise we are going to attempt to try again this Wednesday!!

Haven't read much about the rear ends on our Z's.......how do they hold up??

 

If you ever come down like on Friday let me know, I will go with you to run as well.

This Friday though I am a bit busy.

 

Traction on the street and traction at a properly prepped track are two totally different things. I've never tried to launch a stock Z in 2nd gear @ 3200 rpms at the track, but I seriously doubt you are going to break loose there. In second gear at 3200 rpm at the track you are probably going to bog. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. In either case, you will surely get better traction at the track than you will on the street.

Don't worry about running the best time you can until you feel comfortable at the strip. Get a feel for the tree. Get a feel for the launch. Get a feel for the entire strip (the ride is different than the street). Then worry about beating the tar out of everyone.

 

^^
Yes you can spin your tires while you're in second gear. In fact, it' not a bad idea because you accumulate more speed while in second gear. The last time I went to the track, my friend used the second gear technique to spin his tires. And the spin was excellent.

 

I didn't say you couldn't spin in 2nd gear. I'm saying I seriously doubt they will spin launching at 3200 rpm. What rpm did your friend launch at? Sure they'll spin if you drop in at 7500 rpm, but how long is your stock clutch/tranny going to last doing that?

 

Yeah you didn't say you couldn't spin in 2nd gear, you just doubted it.

BTW, my friend is a forum member username: Britx. It's an 03 with over 50,000 miles if I recall. Stock except for intake and exhaust. He ran 13.7 with his stock clutch, the same clutch that you thought wouldn't last b/c of his second gear spinning.

 

You don't want to break traction by more than a few percent.

Usually if I spin shifting to second the car goes sideways and I lose a lot of time off my usual 330. That leads to a slow run for me.

Watch your 330' times more than anything once you get the comfortable with the tree. I spent a long time watching 60' times but just ended up bogging the car 100' out. Started watching 330' times and AFAIK have the fastest 1/8th mile time posted for any stock Z. Veetec had 3 mph more 1/8th mile trap speed (weather temperature difference) which explains why his 1000' and 1/4 mile E.T.'s were faster than mine.

 

Obviously you can't read, or are too lazy to do it. I said "you will bog launching in 2nd gear @ 3200 rpm at the track". Not that it wasn't possible or that I doubted 2nd gear would spin at all.

You also still did not answer my question about what RPM your friend dropped in at. The stock clutch is NOT going to last if you're dropping in at 7500 rpm, I don't care what gear you're in.

I've done 100's of runs with a LS1 SS Camaro, which produces loads more torque than a Z and a 2nd gear launch isn't even the best way to launch that vehicle when stock. So I know launching a stock Z in 2nd isn't the most efficient way to launch either. Ask the top 5 stock 1/4 mile times listed on this site what gear they launched in when they got their top time, I can assure you that it wasn't 2nd gear...

 

Whoa slow down. There's a misunderstanding. I was talking about spinning tires to clean the debris off. I thought the OP was asking if it was ok to to do like a burn-out in second gear to clean off the tires.

I don't need to ask the top 5 racers, I would never launch my car from second gear, I know that would result in a bogged situation.

 

Okay, my bad. I don't understand using 2nd to clean the debris either, but to each their own I suppose. I thought you meant launching in 2nd...

 

In second gear you can accumulate more speed, resulting in faster rotation. Not that it really matters, but I'm just letting people know that there are people that do that.

 

All,

I was not talking about launching in second gear- I was just trying to convey that I could not believe that under power in second gear with my VDC off I can still break the tires loose on the street-if I really goose it at about 4200 rpms. And I am not talking about dumping the clutch either in second as this will for sure spin em. I am referring to "softly" shifting into second and then "stomping" the footfeed. -Hope this makes sense.

I went Wed nite and my first run (ever) was a nervous 14.30. Second run was a 14.32.- I was so nervous I forgot to take of the VDC!

Anyways I think I am hooked cause I love it-what a rush!! My best time of the nite was 13.90!! My car with me in it and just over a 1/4 tank of gas was 3565 lbs according to their scale.

I need to work on my hole shot and launch but hope to improve my ET to get a 13.20 (if this is even possible stock)!!

All in all it was the most fun I had in a long time! My buddy's stock 03 Cobra (supercharged) ran a 11.9!!!

I didn't see any other Z's out there either, but I hear Friday nite is pretty packed! We are planning on going on Next wed again, sure makes it a tough Thursday at work though!

Davidv-will post timeslip as soon as I figure out how to in the drag section!!

p.s. anyone have a supercharger for sale!!

 

I've never been to the track either, and it will probably be a little while until I do, but it's always good to know...

How exactly do all of you prefer to launch off the line (specifics please)? And how does that differ from what you would do on the street? (theoretically speaking of course...not that any of you or myself ever would street race...)

 

You did good.