lafingas

Last night took my stock 04 z enth. out to the new zmax dragway in Charlotte NC. Also last night was my first time at the strip in 5 years. Id like some advise on my time slips and what I can do to improve.

Weather Conditions:
60 degrees with slight breeze - perfect weather imo
30% humidity

Car specs:
33lbs - tire pressure
rear tires were 225/45 Kuhmo Ecsta AST
*Bone Stock*
6 spd
stock lsd
* also left spare tire in trunk with about 30lbs of tools & 1/4 tank of 93 octane

Times:

Run 1: 3k rpm launch
r/t - .676
60' - 2.251
1/8 - 9.362 mph - 77.39
1/4 - 14.391 mph - 97.35

Run 2: 3.5k rpm launch
r/t - .235
60' - 2.491
1/8 - 9.617 mph - 77.97
1/4 - 14.625 mph - 98.43

Run 3: 2k rpm launch
r/t - .889
60' - 2.207
1/8 - 9.251 mph - 78.60
1/4 - 14.212 mph - 99.65


***Note: no missed gears or hitting rev limiter. Had major issues with wheel hop. MAJOR ISSUES WITH WHEEL HOP. Any advise on launching technique and wheel hop issues would be appreciated.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

First a thumbs-up for going to the dragstrip. You ran 100 percent better than the wannabies.

The car is running OK picking up 21 MPH in the second 660 feet.

Your key area for improvement is the same as 90 percent of new racers: 60 foot time. If I get wheel hop I abort the run. Hop breaks stuff.

freedonutss

iTrader: (14)

After you launched at 3k did you feather the clutch or did you jsut drop it and mash the gas down all the way? With stock 225/235 you have to feather the clutch and gas. Dont just drop the clutch and mash the gas you have to play with the throttle until you get traction.

EDIT: I noticed that your running 225 in the rears... isnt stock specs 235? is there a reason why you went 225 in the rear?

Chasecbc

iTrader: (2)

just for comparison i ran 14.01@100 with a bad 60 foot. i dont remember exactly but around 2.6. i also had problems with wheel coming out of second. you just have to practice and feel it out. don't slam into the gear then slam the gasoline, go part throttle until you have traction then open up. oh my car was a bone stock 03 touring with bald tires

lafingas

preciate the replies....i went with 225 bc it was slightly cheaper...when u mean feather the clutch...do u mean "ride" the clutch?...if so wont that burn your clutch out?

My driving technique was dumping the clutch and full throttle....yea next time I will try n play with the throttle....


Also is the wheel hop related to my driving style of dropping the clutch and flooring it?

davidv

iTrader: (2)

Wheel hop is a never ending discussion. It’s a symptom of independent rear suspension. The tires grip slip grip slip sending shocks through the rear suspension. Springs and shocks do not get sufficient time to rebound.

Fairlady_z33

iTrader: (56)

IMHO your not that bad need more improvement on the launch, trap speed is fine about average mph for stock 04 6sp. Yeah the dump the clutch and smash the pedal technique no worky with stock tires. Try to launch at 3k and slip it like you where coming of a red light in traffic but with quicker slippage so you avoid burning the clutch. If you want to dump and smash get your self a set of rx7 fd rims with some micky thompsons et streets and that would cure most of the wheel hop since they have a soft compound and a big side wall.

freedonutss

iTrader: (14)

Yes you have to slip the clutch a little bit but dont immediately drop the clutch. Also dont apply 100% throttle with the stock 225s when launching, you want to apply enough throttle to get you a good start but at the same time you dont want to be excessively spinning your wheels or hopping them. I have 275s on my rear and I have to control my throttle or ill wheel hop like crazy. Ive also heard that solid differential bushings help to reduce wheel hop but side effects are you will hear more gear noise due to the solid bushing.

afwiggith

Even though you're getting better times than me in the 1/8th (I'm working on it though, lol) I do see one spot that I can help you with...reaction times. I'm assuming that it's not a pro tree (all yellow lights on at once and then green), but you don't really say whether the best is 0.000 or 0.500.

Either way, for my reaction times (my times sucked, but my reactions were consistently 0.1 or below, best of 0.007) I would start my launch not when the green light comes on, but when the last yellow just shuts off. If you're a couple thousandths of a second to soon, you'll red-light, but if you get it right you're right on the money.

Maybe I should have spent more time working on my launch then trying to get a perfect reaction time, lol...

Ruff Z

iTrader: (8)

Reaction time only matters in braket racing, it has no effect on your elapsed ET. I'd work on launching and the rest of the run first.

For the wheel hop, as others have stated, slip the clutch and ease into the gas. Quick and steady transition from clutch to gas.

lafingas

thanks for the feedbak