Hitting the track Saturday

[EricG]

First time drag racing this weekend, IS350 will show and the E46 M3 said he would but there's a chance he will back out. My camcorder is old and the IS350 guy lent his newer one out so I don't know if we can video this...but anyway I'm looking for advice.

I know I can lower the rear tire pressure but I'll probably leave it as 32 psi. I'll try to learn the lights because I'm hoping to get several runs in but I get the idea of how they work.

How does someone with no experience with the equipment used make a 25-cent fan mod? Other than the fan mod, I plan on running it in everyday form. Weather should be nice, dry with evening temperatures 75-80. I'm stock with just a 185 tstat.

Eric

[NYC_SRT8]

Originally Posted by EricG

First time drag racing this weekend, IS350 will show and the E46 M3 said he would but there's a chance he will back out. My camcorder is old and the IS350 guy lent his newer one out so I don't know if we can video this...but anyway I'm looking for advice.

I know I can lower the rear tire pressure but I'll probably leave it as 32 psi. I'll try to learn the lights because I'm hoping to get several runs in but I get the idea of how they work.

How does someone with no experience with the equipment used make a 25-cent fan mod? Other than the fan mod, I plan on running it in everyday form. Weather should be nice, dry with evening temperatures 75-80. I'm basically stock with just a 185 tstat.

Eric

That 185 t-stat and 25 cent fan mode will help you a lot. I never lower my tire pressure so don't worry about it. I actually ran worst when lowering it. Turn the traction control completely off (hold down the esp button for 10 seconds). Drive around the water. Put the car in 1st (autostick), hold down the brake and slowly get the car up to 3500rpm and spin the tires for 5 seconds then let off the brakes and floor it to the staging light then slam on the brakes. If you past the lights reverse and stage (all four lights at the top will be lit). When both you and the other guy's staging lights are lit get ready to go. The tree goes down pretty fast. Put one foot on the brake and the other on the gas. If you have the 07 transmission flash put in in auto stick if not leave it in drive. When you see the 2nd yellow on the tree going down FLOOR IT. Garanteed victory...

If this is not clear enough PM me and I will give you my phone number.

[srt8danno]

Here is a thread JMatt made a while ago before the first time he went to the track. It has some good information that may help you out. I look forward to reading of your adventures! Have fun!

http://www.300cforums.com/forums/srt...ed-advice.html

[zmw]

also, take a tire gauge, be sure your tires aren't getting hot and over inflated, that WILL cause traction loss, as a whole because you are on street tires you should run at recommended pressures to make sure the contact patch is complete... being at 38psi on hot tires will cause a baloon effect meaning you're riding on the middle of your tire... if necessary deflate them to stay at recommended tire pressures but not lower.

Honestly, the most important thing is to have fun - if you don't want to worry about the tires and all that crap, don't - it's not gonna hurt the car, maybe just your ego if you lose

-Z

[JMatt]

Eric: What track? What day? What time?

Maybe I'll come down and meet you - show you all the SRT-8 drag-racing tips and tricks I've learned in the past 2 years.

[topfuel67]

I have a theory I haven't had a chance to track test yet. These cars are hard to launch hard without ripping the tires. I've noticed on the street if I launch with the A/C on and then immediately switch it off after 20 feet or so it really launches hard. If you give too much gas (around 1/2 throttle-A/C off) you'll rip the tires hard. At the track with the nerves at the light you'll tend to hit that throttle too hard and either rip em too hard or bog. Just my opinion. Make sure to switch the A/C off using the fan button so you don't have your interior vents running. I like to have the radio off and interior fans off so there's no power drain.

[JMatt]

Originally Posted by topfuel67

I have a theory I haven't had a chance to track test yet. These cars are hard to launch hard without ripping the tires. I've noticed on the street if I launch with the A/C on and then immediately switch it off after 20 feet or so it really launches hard. If you give too much gas (around 1/2 throttle-A/C off) you'll rip the tires hard. At the track with the nerves at the light you'll tend to hit that throttle too hard and either rip em too hard or bog. Just my opinion. Make sure to switch the A/C off using the fan button so you don't have your interior vents running. I like to have the radio off and interior fans off so there's no power drain.

1) NEVER have your A/C on at the dragstrip. People will want to kill you. A/C causes condensation - which drips onto the track, and ticks people off.

2) Most drag strips are tremendously stickier than any surface you've ever been on. With a stock SRT-8 at a good track I could almost never get any wheelspin. At the drag strip, wheelspin is only a big problem when you're around 500HP in our cars.

[EricG]

Eric: What track? What day? What time?

Maybe I'll come down and meet you - show you all the SRT-8 drag-racing tips and tricks I've learned in the past 2 years.

JMatt,
Sorry...I don't have the social skills to make an open invite but it would be great to have more SRT8's there! We are going to Tristate Dragway just outside Cincinnati:

Tri-State Dragway - Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana's Premier NHRA Dragstrip

Test and tune is Saturday(9th) from 5pm until dark. I plan on getting there at about 5 and trying to get several runs in, I know my wife wants to give it a try too - or at least I want her to get a little feel for what the car can do if she's ever behind the wheel when we need to blow someone away Think you can come?

Eric

[pipsmom]

Eric good luck at the track..I am excited for you..you and your wife have a great time and we want to hear all about your first experience..geesh I am all excited and I won't even be there...post pictures so I can feel like I was right there with you!