It's late. Almost 2:00 AM local. So the details, in their entirety, will be posted tomorrow. However, I had to share my enthusiam. I had 12 runs, and the last three runs were all high 14.1's. My best of the night was a 14.169@100.61. You bet that's gonna go in my sig, if we ever get them back...

gnite

 

100+MPH!!!

wow. Very respectable.

Congrats!

 

Told ya that cooler air was going to put you in the lower 14s. Congrats. Now you've become all aware of just how condition dependant the VQ really is. I think high 13s are in your future once winter is here.

 

As promised, here are the details.

I had been planning on another trip back to the track, specifically a 1/4 track, for a while now. I wanted to wait for better conditions(read cooler), and I got my wish. The gates opened at 9:00, but the track wasn't ready for runs until 9:40. At that time, it was about 45 degrees. Cheryl and I just happened to be the first in line, so we got were the first run of the night. At the end of the night, the temp gauge in the car registered 36 degrees. Cold.

I wanted to go again for many reasons, but mostly to answer a few questions. The vast majority of my runs have been down the eighth mile, so I wanted to see how my experienced-improved times equated to the 1/4. Also, I wanted to see how the car would respond to cooler temps. And lastly, I wanted to know how the car would compare to my buddy's SRT4.

Up until last night, we(the srt4 guy and I) had run eachother at least 20 times in the eighth, and although my ET's have consistently been better, I was concerned about his top-end versus my own, and I was worried about his FI'd four being even more responsive to the cooler temps than my car. When comparing our 1/8th timeslips, I consistently was trapping higher(by maybe 1 or 2 mph), and the deltas between 1/8th were greater than the 594's and the 60's(which I took to mean I was marginally walking him). You might ask why I worried about top-end, but we've all read stories about cars being dogs until third gear, then taking off. Looking at the gear ratios, I didn't think it would be the case, but I was still curious.

Anyway, here are my official details:
I was disappointed by the launch and the ET, but was surprised by the speed. I figured if I could trap 100, then I wouldn't be limited to a 14.6 for long. Because it was the first run, and there was ZERO track prep, we both had horrid launches. As for Cheryl's time, I don't know what happened.

First run against the friend's SRT4. I had a better launch this time, marginally, but I missed the shift from 3 to 4(first time at 1/4 since August, and first time I missed a shift in 20+ runs). Once I missed the shift, I just coasted. My trap reflects this. But even coasting the last few hundred feet, my ET was just 2 THOUSANDTH's behind the SRT4. His launch wasn't bad, considering the track conditions and it being his first run.


Ran the cert again. Screwed up the launch with extremely bad wheel hop, but so did the my friend. This time I missed the shift from 2nd to 3rd, because I was trying to speed shift. After the mis-shift, I re-engaged third after losing time and speed, but still had a respectable run considering the driver's screwup.

Ran the srt4 again. Another bad launch, and another mis-shift, this time from 3 to 4. So out of my first 4 runs, I screwed up 3. Horrid. I was trying to speedshift again, so I decided to just can the speedshifting the rest of the night until I got into my groove. Still beat the cert though.

On this run I thought I'd be by myself, until some random dude in an orange previous-gen mustang showed up. Got another bad launch, but had the best ET of the night at that point. At the time, I was getting pissed, because not only could I not hook up the tires, but I had not matched the trap speed of the first run, nor had I gotten lower than a 14.5. As for the mustang, after the run he just drove over to his group of friends, so I didn't talk to him. I don't know what was in it, if it was even running properly, or if he let off at the end of the run or not. It wasn't a GT, so I'm assuming it was a V6, and I also assume it was an auto. Disappointing nonetheless.

Ran the srt4 again. Beat him again. Almost best launch of the night at that point, and another 14.5, but I did trap at 99. That told me I still had room for improvement. But I was still extremely frustrated with launching.

Ran Cheryl and lost. Horrible launch, and she had a good run.

Ran Cheryl again, and lost again. Better launch this time, but same result.

Ran by myself so I could concentrate on launch rather than the tree. Launched at 3k, spun the rear-left tire all the way through first, and the right-rear hopped all the way through first. I had to shift to 2nd at 7k rpms and I hadn't moved 30 feet. Then I had a brainfart and shifted from 2nd to 3rd at 6k rather than redline. I knew I had just wasted the run. Then I got the slip, noticed my first 2.2 of the night, and my lowest ET. I was very confused.

This time when I launched, I dropped the clutch at 3k, applied enough throttle to not bog, then lifted for a split second to let the tires hook, then jumped on it again. I didn't do it on purpose, it's just how I reacted that particular time to breaking loose at launch. Well, it worked(best 60' of the night), and I got my first 14.1. It was a 14.198, but a 14.1 nonetheless. But I still hadn't trapped at 100 again yet.

Best run of the night. After the previous run, I figured on trying to launch the same way. I did(throttle-lift-throttle). Slip shows the rest. You know what the best thing about that run was? Cheryl's passenger(friend of the family) got on the walkie-talkie to let me know my ET before I even got the slip; I was so far ahead that they could read my ET/trap.

Last run of the night. Another 2.2, another 14.1, and another 100.

So, before everybody starts telling me that my launches suck, and tell me how to do it, stop. I realize I couldn't launch. The last time at the track(1/8th), I couldn't launch either. But for about 30 runs I was getting consistent 2.2's, with a few mid 2.1's thrown in for good measure. The last two track events have been AFTER I rotated my tires front-to-rear, and the only two events under 70 degrees. Hell, if I could have gotten a 2.1 on any of those last three runs, I just *might* have gotten a 13.9. I've read time after time that I should feather the clutch rather than drop it, but I refuse to do it because as a rookie stick driver, I'm sure abuse the clutch enough as it is. With that understanding, I'm willing to accept 2.2's and 2.3's, but not anything worse than that.

Also, in the interested of full disclosure, I have modded the car just a bit from the last trip. Since then, I've added the k&n drop-in, and I'm now running (used) kinetix cats. Don't know how much of an impact these mods had, but there it is.

All in all, I had a blast. Not listed in my timeslips, Cheryl got a 14.5, and her best trap was a 97. I was very proud of her, her car, and I'm really starting to respect her kumho's. As for my friend in his SRT4, it was bittersweet. All of my questions were answered, but I wish he could have performed better. At this point, I don't know if it's the car, or the driver, because there were a few bone-stock SRT4's running high 13's at the same strip in the summer(alabama heat+humidity). One positive for him though is the fact that his was was with him and rode with him most of the night. She really doesn't like me, and for some reason, is very competitive with me *by proxy*, meaning she wants him to beat me in everything. After last night, I won't be surprised to see him start to mod his ride.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention an acquaintence from our previous g club was there in his 04 5AT z. I'm not fully aware of all the track prep her performed, but I know he removed his passenger seat. He was at the dyno I posted about a few months ago(at that time, 243/233 IIRC), and his best run of the night was a friggin 13.3!!! I don't know his trap on that run, but on the two runs I watched, he was trapping at 103.

 

I appreciate your support, but 13's are not in my future. Winter is already here, at least it was last night. Also, as I mentioned in my other post, I've determined that the best 60 foots I'm going to get on my current street tires are 2.2's/2.3's. Once I've hooked up, there's not a lot of room for improvement. If I shift properly(that stretch of three misshifts notwithstanding), and I speedshift, I'm frankly not going to get faster. My traps indicate I might shave off another tenth, but that's about it. My point is, that with me driving, I've hit the upper limits of the car in it's current form.

After my first time at the track, I posted all the gory details and claimed that my goal was a 14.1 sometime in the future. With the combination of cooler temps, a few mods(possibly, not sure of the effectiveness of the mods), and more experienced, I've achieved that. Along with determining my car's performance in regards to my friend's SRT4, I've accomplished what I set out to do. right now, another trip to the track just seems anticlimactic, at least until I get that new revup mod

 

Drag radials and some prep would get you 13.7s. 102mph traps are good for 13.6-13.7 with a 1.9 60'. The super cold air really worked against your traction. If it was 50-60 degree air, 13s would have been yours. I'm glad Cheryl got into the 14.5s. I knew her car could do it. 14.3s would be hers if she could get better traction.

 

Nice runs Trey.
I enjoyed reading your detailed and objective report of what must have been a fun and rewarding night. You've got the car well dialed in and I was also impressed with your wife's driving. I am sure some more practice with your launches and quicker shifting will make a difference and get you down a tenth or two. It will be interesting to see the rev up mod difference.
Reading it makes me want to find a track and see what my '04 will do.I have not drag raced for about 23 years now though and back then not much either! The nearest track to me is about four hours away unfortunately.
Good luck with the car. Mine is going into hiberantion soon for the winter.

 

Congrats, that's impressive that you ran 14.1 at 100mph with a 2.3 60 foot time! Your car was pulling hard on that run! Get some Nitto drag radials and get that G35 into the 13's!

 

Well it was a fun trip to the track most certainly. Trey was incorrect though (not completely his fault) - my best run of the night was a 14.623. Strange thing though is that my best trap speed - 97.24 - was on one of my worst times of the night. I really like that track SO much more but we had major traction problems . Guess you gotta take the bad with the good.

 

All of the runs where you guys are spinning like mad and trapping high #'s tells me one thing: YOU NEED GEARS !!!!!!

 

Why do they need more torque multiplication? They need traction.

 

Ok, I'll feed the troll, JUST THIS ONCE !!!

If they are spinning their tires and still trapping higher than a clean launch, the car either isn't getting into the powerband fast enough, or falling out of it after the shift. A numerically higher rear ring/pinion will exacerbate the traction problems in 1st gear (which can be modulated) but the new rear ratio will keep them in the meat of the powerband for the rest of the run.

Hell, you might even pick up a few MPH of top speed, as the overdrive now becomes a usable gear, too.

Didn't your simulation software tell you this?

 

I don't know if 3.90's will make a G35 trap more MPH because you will be somewhere in 4th gear as opposed to being at the end of 3rd. If 3.90's put you at the end of 4th than it might be possible. Stock G35's are geared very well for the 1/4 mile because the tranny ratios are so aggressive, the rear end gear can be kept relatively mild 3.31 for the 5A's.

 

Not trap speed, but top end. (6mt)

On a 5AT, it should help both ET and trap.