Tony Mamo @ AFR
05-21-2007, 08:50 PM
I should have titled this thread “close but no cigar”….LOL
(Decided to title the video that!)
Finally had the opportunity to get to Bakersfield with the 383 in my C5 project car.
While I have known for some time now the car obviously has 10 second power (the engine and chassis dyno numbers both confirm that), getting that 10 second time slip in a manual trans vehicle can be more elusive than most realize. An auto with a converter is a far more effective tool if your ultimate quest is a low ET, but IMO there is nothing like rowing the gears in a high HP vehicle, and from a roll on the street, a good driver with a stick isn’t nearly at as much of a disadvantage. In fact, may even be better off as there will usually be more power available at the rear wheels thru the more efficient manual driveline.
Rewind to last Friday night….While purposely leaving late to catch some of the cooler desert air, I rolled into Bakersfield with my temp gauge still showing in the mid 80’s. So much for that killer D/A I was hoping for, but honestly my fault for not getting out a month or two sooner. By the time I did get to race the Density Altitude was hovering around 1800…..not horrible, but not great for a track some 650 feet above sea level.
Also, the pressure was on knowing more than likely I was only going to get one run….assuming a high ten or low eleven second pass I was sure to be escorted off the track for running quicker than 11.50’s without a rollbar (soon to be installed). Much to my dismay, when I finally got into the burnout box the switch on my linelock solenoid acted up. As soon as my rear tires flared up the car lurched forward immediately catching me off guard and stopping just past the starting beams. I backed up obviously and had to immediately switch gears on my launch strategy knowing that leaving close to 6000 RPM would blow away the cold tires. I ended up leaving closer to 4000 which actually worked well (considering the situation) slowly feeding clutch and throttle. Feeling the car hooking and under way I went WOT (briefly) till I felt the tires spinning, backing quickly off the throttle and back on grabbing second shortly thereafter. More tire spin in second but the car was at least spinning and accelerating at the same time. The ride down the rest of the track was also somewhat eventful (very “floaty”) because I was missing the extra 1.5 - 2 lbs of tire pressure the heat from the burnout box was suppose to add, ultimately leaving me with less pressure in the rear tires than I had planned for. You can really see the car moving around in the video at the big end.
End results….the 10 second slip eluded me by four hundredths of a second (removing one of my stereo amps would have been all it took!) but I was pleased with the trap speed (128.6) knowing less tire spin, more tire pressure, and being able to stay WOT with a more aggressive launch would have netted me probably another MPH or so edging me very close to a 130 trap speed in so-so air.
The short video includes a very candid groan (completely forgetting I was still taping) when I looked at my timeslip on the return road….it might be better than the actual run….LOL Certainly a lot funnier!
I’m going tens next time for sure, as my line lock situation will be handled and I will actually be legal with a roll cage so I can try a few different launch techniques and get a lot more aggressive with that as well I might add. BTW, the car ended up sixty footing a 1.72 but I was still spinning past the 60 foot mark indicative by the so-so eigth mile time and MPH compared to the back half quarter mile figures. Most of the better ET’s from 6 speed cars are accomplished leaving close to the rev limiter with proper heat in the tires and a well prepped track. Getting a low ET is ALL about the first 100 feet or so….a high trap speed shows your making big power, but a low ET is actually much more difficult to achieve because it takes into account so many other variables mainly related to chassis set-up, launch technique, and available traction.
Here's a link to the vid clip....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YLPEhoDvgiU
I know all of you have stories like this….just thought I would share one of my own. Gotta love racing….it’s always something.
Also, here is vid my buddy shot outside the car (from the rear) thats also pretty good (note the Nitto drag radials having a real hard time in the lower two gears). Im mostly pedaling it on the rev limiter (7350 RPM's) for most of first and a good part of second gear. Finally hunkers down and hooks nicely in third. Would have been a little better had I heated the Nitto's first but when Im real serious about my traction issues I normally just swap to my ET Street's....
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/88e9cf6c-9c48-4ce0-803f-49c851bf28ca.htm
Till next time,
Tony M.
PS….Check the rearview mirror for a refection of the glow in the shift light set to come on at 7200
(Decided to title the video that!)
Finally had the opportunity to get to Bakersfield with the 383 in my C5 project car.
While I have known for some time now the car obviously has 10 second power (the engine and chassis dyno numbers both confirm that), getting that 10 second time slip in a manual trans vehicle can be more elusive than most realize. An auto with a converter is a far more effective tool if your ultimate quest is a low ET, but IMO there is nothing like rowing the gears in a high HP vehicle, and from a roll on the street, a good driver with a stick isn’t nearly at as much of a disadvantage. In fact, may even be better off as there will usually be more power available at the rear wheels thru the more efficient manual driveline.
Rewind to last Friday night….While purposely leaving late to catch some of the cooler desert air, I rolled into Bakersfield with my temp gauge still showing in the mid 80’s. So much for that killer D/A I was hoping for, but honestly my fault for not getting out a month or two sooner. By the time I did get to race the Density Altitude was hovering around 1800…..not horrible, but not great for a track some 650 feet above sea level.
Also, the pressure was on knowing more than likely I was only going to get one run….assuming a high ten or low eleven second pass I was sure to be escorted off the track for running quicker than 11.50’s without a rollbar (soon to be installed). Much to my dismay, when I finally got into the burnout box the switch on my linelock solenoid acted up. As soon as my rear tires flared up the car lurched forward immediately catching me off guard and stopping just past the starting beams. I backed up obviously and had to immediately switch gears on my launch strategy knowing that leaving close to 6000 RPM would blow away the cold tires. I ended up leaving closer to 4000 which actually worked well (considering the situation) slowly feeding clutch and throttle. Feeling the car hooking and under way I went WOT (briefly) till I felt the tires spinning, backing quickly off the throttle and back on grabbing second shortly thereafter. More tire spin in second but the car was at least spinning and accelerating at the same time. The ride down the rest of the track was also somewhat eventful (very “floaty”) because I was missing the extra 1.5 - 2 lbs of tire pressure the heat from the burnout box was suppose to add, ultimately leaving me with less pressure in the rear tires than I had planned for. You can really see the car moving around in the video at the big end.
End results….the 10 second slip eluded me by four hundredths of a second (removing one of my stereo amps would have been all it took!) but I was pleased with the trap speed (128.6) knowing less tire spin, more tire pressure, and being able to stay WOT with a more aggressive launch would have netted me probably another MPH or so edging me very close to a 130 trap speed in so-so air.
The short video includes a very candid groan (completely forgetting I was still taping) when I looked at my timeslip on the return road….it might be better than the actual run….LOL Certainly a lot funnier!
I’m going tens next time for sure, as my line lock situation will be handled and I will actually be legal with a roll cage so I can try a few different launch techniques and get a lot more aggressive with that as well I might add. BTW, the car ended up sixty footing a 1.72 but I was still spinning past the 60 foot mark indicative by the so-so eigth mile time and MPH compared to the back half quarter mile figures. Most of the better ET’s from 6 speed cars are accomplished leaving close to the rev limiter with proper heat in the tires and a well prepped track. Getting a low ET is ALL about the first 100 feet or so….a high trap speed shows your making big power, but a low ET is actually much more difficult to achieve because it takes into account so many other variables mainly related to chassis set-up, launch technique, and available traction.
Here's a link to the vid clip....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YLPEhoDvgiU
I know all of you have stories like this….just thought I would share one of my own. Gotta love racing….it’s always something.
Also, here is vid my buddy shot outside the car (from the rear) thats also pretty good (note the Nitto drag radials having a real hard time in the lower two gears). Im mostly pedaling it on the rev limiter (7350 RPM's) for most of first and a good part of second gear. Finally hunkers down and hooks nicely in third. Would have been a little better had I heated the Nitto's first but when Im real serious about my traction issues I normally just swap to my ET Street's....
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/88e9cf6c-9c48-4ce0-803f-49c851bf28ca.htm
Till next time,
Tony M.
PS….Check the rearview mirror for a refection of the glow in the shift light set to come on at 7200