Pholicious

iTrader: (4)

It really depends on the track and conditions but assuming its a half decent track and your not running in the desert you should have no problems running 13.99<

My track only puts traction compound down the first 60ft and not much at that so gives you an idea

ksuberk54

iTrader: (2)

I'm going to Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kansas and they say it's kind of a slower track. The guy I'm talking about was running 13.7 in his old 2000 Z28. He also said the density altitude always sucks and that with it being my first time going that 14.5 will be my best time. I'm really hoping for 13.99 or better though. I know it's going be hot (80-85) so that won't help things or my lack of experience at a drag strip.

Pholicious

iTrader: (4)

Forget what everyone tells you no one around here has / knows about 350z's so they all thought it was a high 14's car too I proved them wrong time and time again.

Its all seat time my friend and a half decent tire / drag radial / slick. Get those shifts down with our finicky gearbox

ksuberk54

iTrader: (2)

I'm going to go practice this afternoon and Friday afternoon before I go so I'm not busting out terrible time after terrible time. Though, finding a straight road with no traffic is always hard. What's the best way to launch? rev to 2k rpm and drop clutch when the last yellow lights up? As for tires, I have Federal SS595 265/35/18 all around that are just a couple months old. Should I do a burn out before my first run and that's it or what?

Pholicious

iTrader: (4)

Every car will be different but I launch at 2800rpm and slip the clutch a little.

Do not dump your clutch, preload it then slip it a little for a good launch.

Lights won't matter unless your racing, your time only starts when you cross the line.

Just spin your tires over to get the debris off, doing a burnout won't help street tires. Drop your tire pressure 2-3 psi at a time until you find what works good for you. I run 22psi (Rear)

ksuberk54

iTrader: (2)

We'll see how Friday goes. The elevation is 954 ft and it says it's going to be 80 degrees with 80% humidity and it's supposed to rain sometime between 6 and 7 but that's it and the track opens at 6:30 so hopefully they don't cancel it. It would suck to drive an hour to get no time on the track. I plan on going later anyways around 730ish and race until 10 when it starts getting cooler out (75ish). I still hope for under 14 sec. I'll post my results in this thread and my build thread after. I also thought about getting a K&N drop in intake before I go instead of running on my stock paper filter. Is $50 worth it?

davidv

iTrader: (2)

How about practicing at the dragstrip. Thats what test and tune is for. No one cares if you run 13 or 18 seconds.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

No. Run the car as is.

Pholicious

iTrader: (4)

Get there right when the track opens and practice all day and by the time weather gets good if your gonna run that time you want you'll have a better chance because you already got the practice in, practicing on the street is different than at the track. All those conditions matter some but were N/A so the effect isn't as bad as a turbo vehicle. I was still running 13.7 when it was 40 degees celcius out and with very high humidity.

The filter might make a difference on the dyno but will make nothing noticably on the track. Do it if you want to have a filter you can just clean and reuse.

ksuberk54

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the advice. I had to look up what 40 degrees Celsius translated into (104 F).

ksuberk54

iTrader: (2)

Went to the track tonight for the first time. I'm somewhat disappointed with my time. I ran 14.8 my first pass and then lowered the rear tire pressure to 30, I should have lowered it more. I then mis shifted like three in a row. My best time all night was 14.356. I really need to improve my 60 and it starts with ny launch. I haven't quite figured out what rpm to launch at. I was doing 2k and slowly letting off but I was still burning out every time on 265/35/18's. Any advice? I think I might just need more wheel time and some slicks snd a better drag strip than Heartland Park Topeka.

R/T..... .492
60' ..... 2.289
330.... 6.185
1/8 .... 9.363
MPH... 78.28
1000... 12.072
E/T..... 14.356
MPH... 99.83

Pholicious

iTrader: (4)

Looking at your times I think your shifting slow, if you can post up a video.

2.2 60ft puts me around 13.7+ 2.1 gets me 13.5+ and your mph is wayy down

For launching I launch at 2800 or so rpm and slip the clutch but don't floor the gas soon as you go let it catch traction first.

Keep putting in the seat time you'll get there.

ksuberk54

iTrader: (2)

I can tell u that HPT is known to be a slow track. I can also tell u that I was shifting okay because I was breaking loose between shifts all the way thru third.

Pholicious

iTrader: (4)

Try to smooth out your shifts, spinning is not good for times good run though man keep at it and maybe try another track next time

ksuberk54

iTrader: (2)

Ill try to smooth out my shifts by doing it slower to see if that works. I think just more experience, less rear tire pressure, smoother shifts and a different track on a slightly cooler day could get me to where I want to be.

ksuberk54

iTrader: (2)

I do have a question though. I purchased a helmet before I went to the drag strip because they said I needed one if my car goes 13.99 or quicker so I got a cheapo HJC off craigslist. It turns out it's an M2000 and it expired last year. Is there any place that can/will update the expiration date and put a new sticker in there or do I just have to buy a new helmet?

Pholicious

iTrader: (4)

You can't update it because its not something you can rebuild but if its not in rough shape just keep using it unless your track is actually checking the expiry on your helmet..

ksuberk54

iTrader: (2)

They did check it last night but they said I could use it last night and that I should get a new one before I come again. I guess I could always play dumb or say my car is slower than 13.99 or something. I actually stopped using the helmet last night halfway through since I wasn't breaking 14 and it was getting in the way. No one seemed to care

Pholicious

iTrader: (4)

Just grab a new helmet then there not expensive or keep running 14s up to you =P

ksuberk54

iTrader: (2)

I was looking through my time slips from last night and man, HPT is a slow track. One of the passes I made last night i did 14.8 and the guy in the other lane did 13.9. His 60' was 1.9 and he still only ran 13.9. Crazy stuff. I also noticed that my last pass I ran 14.42 and had a mph of 99.90 and when I did my 14.35 before that my mph was 99.83. I thought that was weird. I'm hoping that if I can get a 2.0 60' and get more experience and use a better track I can definitely get into the 13s.