9/6/08: Mission 15.99

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Kylehnat

Kylehnat

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kylehnat
Okay, so I recently had some extra zoom-zoom installed in my loyal automobile. Of course it's more fun to drive, and it feels quicker, but it must be quantified, or it doesn't count. About a month ago, I hooked up with a local Mazda club, and we headed down to Portland International Raceway for the Saturday night, run-what-ya-brung drag races. Having never done it before, I wasn't stellar, but improved a lot throughout the night, finally settling on a 16.48. A Road & Track road test listed 16.3 as the 1/4 mile time for an '04 Mazda3 5-Door, so I figured I hadn't done too poorly for my first time. Much attention was needed to the launch, as the super-sticky racetrack is none too friendly to transmissions and suspensions. To be cautious, I erred on the side of wheelspin, which surely hindered my times.

After some conversations with a few co-workers who also race, we worked out some techniques I should try to be better off the line. Hence, Mission 15.99 was born. Quite simply, the goal was to get the car into the 15's, where it belongs. Tonight, I had a go at it. I showed up in Portland with 100 lbs. less fuel, 10 lbs. less tire pressure, and more bravado (testosterone-induced stupidity) than last time.

I was one of the first on track, so I got to slither around in the burnout-box mush before laying down a less-than-impressive 16.99. No matter, as the track would surely improve. Fifteen minutes later, Run #2 pitted me against a Miata. I beat him off the line and through the 1/8th pylon, but he pipped me at the last second to take the win light. Of course, all I cared about was the time, and it was close: 16.07. Run# 3 proved to be no better, as I started to play with flat-shifting from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th, so I took it a little easy.

drag001.jpg

I wasn't sure if a praying mantis humping my tire was good luck or bad, but one thing was certain: if I wanted to meet the goal, I didn't need to be hauling his fat ass around.

The fourth run put me up against a feisty Eagle Talon. Again, I beat him out of the hole, and couldn't see him for most of the run, but right at the end, glory was snatched away. Or was it? On the timeslip, there was not a 16 to be seen! Mission 15.99 had been accomplished by a whole .008!

Still with half the night to go, I knew I could improve even more. On Run #6, I had a visit from the wheel-hop monster, and had to let up (I do quite like my axle in one piece). Thinking the run was toast, an obscenity was muttered at a rather high volume. However, upon reaching the line, I noticed that my speedometer needle had cleared 85 for the first time (indicated: it reads a hair low). Could it be? Why, yes, it was the fastest time after all!
drag002.jpg

15.98 @ 86.3 mph. The only thing better than 15.99 is indeed 15.98.

One last go, and I knew I'd go faster this time. I raced a Cavalier, the run was perfect, and for the first time ever, the win light came on in my lane! Sadly, the time was 16.1, but it was a fine way to end the night. After that, I re-inflated my tires (TPMS did not appreciate the 25 psi I ran with) and drove home.

IMG_0330t.jpg

Awww, ain't it cute? ;)

Mission Accomplished. :D
 
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Congratulations mate, I should aim for a similar time with the stock Ute, I found out she's not as fast as I hoped by some acceleration tests of my own doing, luckily it will respond well to mods. Still, 15s would be a good time I think. I'll probably end up out at Willowbank when my friend gets his VX.
 
Awesome mate, that writeup makes me want to take my car out to the drag strip even more, can't wait to see what it runs. The original plan was to get a new clutch first, as the one I have now doesn't seem to like launching hard to much, and it can only get riskier on a prepped track without the aid of wheelspin. Still, I think the urge might get the better of my wallet.
 
Congrats, Kyle!

Lucky me, I have a dragstrip within 10 miles of my house (DeSoto) so I should be able to test my car when I get it too:dopey:
 
nd 4 holden spd
I thought wheelspin was worse for your clutch.:confused:
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I meant risking it blowing up. With wheelspin, once your wheels are spinning, assuming you're not riding the clutch, most of the stress is on your tyres*. Without wheelspin, that stress is on the drivetrain, and unless it's well sorted, things blow up. The Evo's and Celica GT4's are pretty awesome, but you often hear about people whinging about gearboxes blowing on performance 4wd's, i.e. older WRX's, GTI-R's, 323 GTX's etc.

*Not talking about doing burnouts where you need to use the clutch to keep 'em spinning. Just about launching from a standstill.
 
^People like to add power without beefing up the drivetrain. Plenty of people break something at these events (ahem, mostly Hondas and Acuras :odd:).
 
Kylehnat
^People like to add power without beefing up the drivetrain. Plenty of people break something at these events (ahem, mostly Hondas and Acuras :odd:).
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That's true, but in most cases an upgraded clutch holds up well enough. Not that many fwd or rwd cars (talking genuinely daily driven here) blow gearboxes as regularly as some 4wds. The 323 GTX gearbox disintegrates if, for example, you look at it angrily. A good friend of mine has one, his list of things done to the car looks like:

VR4 intercooler
external wastegate
410cc injectors
2.5 inch exhaust
4 gearboxes, 2 of them giving up the ghost in traffic/not under stress.
 
My Audi's driveshaft was presumably torn off by an overzealous previous owner. After I fix it, the differential locks will be staying OFF unless there's snow on the ground.

Anyway, well done, Kylehnat! Drag racing isn't really my thing, but I'm glad you met your goal and it sounds like you had a blast. :)
 
Congrats and good write up. Not sure if you were ever told but the best way to run street tires is to actually over inflate them about 5-10 lbs. Under inflating them like you did actually creates less traction. So you might be able to knock a little off next time buy inflating the tires. 👍'
EDIT: Also hopefully you stayed out of the water (burnout box) with the street tires.
 
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Kylehnat
How does that create more traction?
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When you underinflate street tires the inside of the tread tends to cup inward. This will only allow the outer part of the treat to make contact which means thats the only amount of traction you get.
To prove this set your tire pressure to 20psi and do a burnout. Then overinflate your tires and do another burnout. Now look at the marks on the street. You will see a lot more tread on the road with the over inflated tire. Even a tire properly inflated will cup inward on a hard launch or track abuse. To prevent that you overinflated them 5-10 psi. I do the exact same thing on road tracks with my street tires and it makes a massive difference with traction.
Like I said, this is only the case with street tires. The most important part is do NOT do a burnout in the water with street tires. Drive around the water and do a quick spin to get the debris off the tire.
Here is what the tire looks like underinflated and overinflated.
EDIT: I changed the pic to indicate where the tire would contact the road.
 
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CAMAROBOY69
To prove this set your tire pressure to 20psi and do a burnout. Then overinflate your tires and do another burnout. Now look at the marks on the street. You will see a lot more tread on the road with the over inflated tire.
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That's interesting, but wouldn't longer tyre marks indicate a longer burnout, i.e less traction?
 
slidesquad#1
That's interesting, but wouldn't longer tyre marks indicate a longer burnout, i.e less traction?
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I didnt say longer I said the design of the tire mark. Look at the picture. The area you see contacting the road is what the mark will look like.
EDIT: I changed the pic to indicate where the tire would contact the road.
 
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Touche. I misinterpreted that.
I'd always been under the impression that you overinflated tyres at the track not for greater traction, but to prevent you from bogging down when launching.
 
slidesquad#1
Touche. I misinterpreted that.
I'd always been under the impression that you overinflated tyres at the track not for greater traction, but to prevent you from bogging down when launching.
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Glad you understand now. Do you have Forza 2?? If you do as I described in Forza 2 it will show the tire wear indicated as red marks exactly as I showed above. Another reason I love that game. :sly:
 
It makes sense, though it depends a bit on the construction of the tire as well. Maybe I'll find an abandoned parking lot somewhere to find the ideal pressure :trouble:. Having to wait an hour between runs at the strip is not the most efficient way to try lots of setups :lol:.
 
I'll assume from the picture that your aftermarket wheels are at least one inch bigger than the OEM's... You might get a tenth or two (in ideal conditions) if you switch back to the smaller wheels. Bigger wheels and tires, aside adding unsprung weight (in most cases, unless you go with $$$ forged wheels), will also lengthen your gearing due to the fact that they're bigger, even if the overall diameter of the wheel/tire combo is the same. Worth giving it a try just for fun!

After that you'll probably get hooked up on trying to make it faster and faster, so just go ahead and strip everything out of the interior, remove an headlight to make a "ram air" effect duct, then the engine work will start, you'll get meatier tires, make the suspension a bit more stiff, and it just goes on and on... And then you'll realise, with your 12 or 13 second timeslips, that you just spent the better part of 10k (or more!) on an econobox... Yep, I've been there before. :p
 
My wheels are 18" (stocks are 17"). You're right about the gearing, and no, I can't put the stock wheels back on, as they now have Blizzaks mounted to them. Overall diameter is a hair bigger (18/45 vs. 17/50). On my list of things to piss money away on are competition tires mounted to 17's (once the wheel hop is cured). The new wheel/tire combo is noticeably lighter than the stock ones were, also.
-Fred-
And then you'll realise, with your 12 or 13 second timeslips, that you just spent the better part of 10k (or more!) on an econobox... Yep, I've been there before.
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Too late :p...5K is already gone. I've made a vow to myself that I won't go too hog-wild with this car until it is no longer my daily driver. That should give me a couple more years of discretion...hopefully :D.
 
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