Disaster at the DRAG STRIP - Coupe related!
Disaster at the DRAG STRIP - Coupe related!
Well, I was going for my last run of the night (best all night was a 13.7@107-and yes, traction DID suck) so I decided to hit an '04 Z06 vette up to see if he wanted to run. He agreed and we lined up. Now, mind you, toward the end of the night I started speed shifting (the art of shifting without letting off the gas at all) to try to lower my ET's cause I couldn't get out of the whole worth CRAP! Anyway, normally I would only speed shift in 3rd and into 4th, but this race I decided to try in 2nd too because I knew I would need everything I had and a bad run by the vette to win. I shot out of the whole and we were neck-in-neck, then I shifted to second and got the stick stuck between 1st and 2nd (unfortunately a bi-product of speed shifting if you're not experienced at it). Well this gave the vette (who's fastest time of the night was a 13.0@112-yes traction was BAD) a chance to fly forward about 2 car lengths while I was fiddling with the shifter. Anyway, we got to the end of the track and I was about 3 car lengths behind him when I noticed his rear end starting to get a little squirrelly. Now, being from the road-tracking world, I knew exactly what to do and that was to SHUT IT DOWN. No sooner than I down-shifted and started to brake, did he completely lose it and 180 into my lane hitting his front driver side corner into the wall. Then, he proceeded to scrape the driver side of the car against the wall for another 100 yards or so. Immediately, the emergency worker came out in me and I came to a stop and ran over to his car. He took off his helmet and just shook his head in disbelief. Once I realized he was okay and the Ambulance was there, I jumped back in my car and exited the track to let me friends know that I was OKAY. The vette damaged the driver side of the body, bent his rear axle and that was about it. I'd estimate about $5-7k worth of damage. After everything was said and done, I went over to where they were hanging out at the end of the track assessing the damages to see if there was anything I could do to help. He was real cool about it and said that it was nothing I did (which I knew)...In conclusion, I'd love to say that vette got so worked up that a blown G35 might beat him that he lost control and crashed trying to beat me...but the reality is, he had me beat and just lost his car on a poorly prepped track with no traction. By the way, I chirped EVERY gear from 1st through 4th on that track, if that says anything about the traction.
Originally Posted by neffster
What a story.
Glad you came out of it unscathed.
Originally Posted by chops
Randy, Glad your ok!
What kind of 60' times were you getting?
Were you on street tires?
What kind of 60' times were you getting?
Were you on street tires?
Last edited by GlenRoseFireFighter; Sep 6, 2005 at 02:14 PM.
Glad you're ok! Toyo T1-R are very sticky, but don't play very well in the cold. They are on national backorder for two months. I just replaced my rears with T1-S cause I didn't want to wait.
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Damn Randy it sounds just like the last time I went to the drag strip.
Bald azz S03's
60' times of 2.3 +
1/8 mile times of like 8.8" (track was damp and no 1/4 mi runs)
azz handed to me by an EVO getting 1.7 60' times (my trap was much better)
I may try it again this Friday night!
Bald azz S03's
60' times of 2.3 +
1/8 mile times of like 8.8" (track was damp and no 1/4 mi runs)
azz handed to me by an EVO getting 1.7 60' times (my trap was much better)
I may try it again this Friday night!
Originally Posted by roneski
Sounds like missing that shift probably saved your butt. 

With all the money in your ride, I think it's time to step up to some drag radials mounted on light 16s. You'll be amazed at how much better the car will hook and how much ET you'll shed. There's no dishonor in running sticky tires at the track. You're hindering your cars performance by running 19" tires on a surface that's made for drag rubber. Drag tires/rims are the best $400 invest you can make in improving ET and consistentcy.
Originally Posted by Randys_G
Well, I was going for my last run of the night (best all night was a 13.7@107-and yes, traction DID suck) so I decided to hit an '04 Z06 vette up to see if he wanted to run. He agreed and we lined up. Now, mind you, toward the end of the night I started speed shifting (the art of shifting without letting off the gas at all) to try to lower my ET's cause I couldn't get out of the whole worth CRAP! Anyway, normally I would only speed shift in 3rd and into 4th, but this race I decided to try in 2nd too because I knew I would need everything I had and a bad run by the vette to win. I shot out of the whole and we were neck-in-neck, then I shifted to second and got the stick stuck between 1st and 2nd (unfortunately a bi-product of speed shifting if you're not experienced at it). Well this gave the vette (who's fastest time of the night was a 13.0@112-yes traction was BAD) a chance to fly forward about 2 car lengths while I was fiddling with the shifter. Anyway, we got to the end of the track and I was about 3 car lengths behind him when I noticed his rear end starting to get a little squirrelly. Now, being from the road-tracking world, I knew exactly what to do and that was to SHUT IT DOWN. No sooner than I down-shifted and started to brake, did he completely lose it and 180 into my lane hitting his front driver side corner into the wall. Then, he proceeded to scrape the driver side of the car against the wall for another 100 yards or so. Immediately, the emergency worker came out in me and I came to a stop and ran over to his car. He took off his helmet and just shook his head in disbelief. Once I realized he was okay and the Ambulance was there, I jumped back in my car and exited the track to let me friends know that I was OKAY. The vette damaged the driver side of the body, bent his rear axle and that was about it. I'd estimate about $5-7k worth of damage. After everything was said and done, I went over to where they were hanging out at the end of the track assessing the damages to see if there was anything I could do to help. He was real cool about it and said that it was nothing I did (which I knew)...In conclusion, I'd love to say that vette got so worked up that a blown G35 might beat him that he lost control and crashed trying to beat me...but the reality is, he had me beat and just lost his car on a poorly prepped track with no traction. By the way, I chirped EVERY gear from 1st through 4th on that track, if that says anything about the traction.



