First time at the track..very embarrasing

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May 9, 2006 | 06:14 PM
  #1  
Yup so i went to the track... got a 15.1 @96 mph. Sounds ok right well it not really good coz i have a vq35 .

Reaction 0.765
60 ft 2.46
1/8 9.87
1/4 15.1 @96 mph

I only did one run coz my brakes got real stiff on me and i swear i thought i was not gonna brake in time. I had to pull my hand brakes real hard to slow down my car. The stiffness stayed for a good 15 min then my brake pedal felt normal again. Guess i'm gonna have to change my rotors and pads.
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May 9, 2006 | 06:34 PM
  #2  
ouch! sorry to hear, I landed a 15.2@91mph with the 3.0 the 1st time I went to the track, and I though that was bad. But you have a 3.5! so there's no excuse! Go back after fixing your brakes and make up for it.

Also have you dynoed? 96mph is pretty low compared to what other 4.5 geners are trapping.
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May 9, 2006 | 06:57 PM
  #3  
Your trap seems kinda low too, did you miss a shift or something?
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May 9, 2006 | 07:12 PM
  #4  
15.1 on a vq35 wow!! thts bad
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May 9, 2006 | 07:18 PM
  #5  
Quote: Your trap seems kinda low too, did you miss a shift or something?
I don't know what you're talking about. The trap speed is high for that ET. Common A32 5MT's trap about 91-93 at that same ET (15 ish)

A33B 4AT's do high 14's at that same trap(If they're very lucky). But I do agree, the entire slip is low for a VQ35 A32.
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May 9, 2006 | 08:02 PM
  #6  
hmm are you peeling out? if you have heavy 18in rims that could slow ya down. I would expect 14.5 with 18s
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May 9, 2006 | 09:45 PM
  #7  
something's definitely wrong with your car. Are you using vq30 cams? what rpm are you shifting at? 60' looks horrible, and so does the trap. i ran a 15.1 at 91 mph with slipping clutch, and 2.3 60'
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May 9, 2006 | 10:25 PM
  #8  
Quote: I don't know what you're talking about. The trap speed is high for that ET. Common A32 5MT's trap about 91-93 at that same ET (15 ish)

A33B 4AT's do high 14's at that same trap(If they're very lucky). But I do agree, the entire slip is low for a VQ35 A32.
I'm talking about his trap being low since he has a VQ35.
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May 9, 2006 | 11:29 PM
  #9  
Well i did launch horribly coz the guy working at the track kept telling me to move forward a bit then stop then move forward again. by the time i was "well placed", i hear the civic beside me peel off. It happened so fast. I looked quickly and saw the green light and just took off. I didn't even get to see the yellow light dropping down. I know for sure that in 1st gear my 18's were hopping maybe 3/4 of the gear. I set my tire pressure to 30 psi. They were at 35. The tire max psi is 44. Maybe I should also shift harder and faster. I know i don't shift as fast as i can because i blew my old one.
What i'm going to do differently next time:
-1- Ignore the guy working there. I rather start 1 foot behind but be ready to launch
-2- Put my 16's on even though they have winter tires.
-3- Have my brakes checked first coz the end of the 1/4 mile scared the sh*t out of me. I really thought i was gonna go straight and fall in the ditch.
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May 9, 2006 | 11:31 PM
  #10  
BTW if i had a 60ft of 2.3 . What could have been my 1/4 mile time? And would my MPH been better if i did not hop so bad at the beginning?
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May 9, 2006 | 11:53 PM
  #11  
Don't forget to check for a vacuum leak (at or near the power brake canister). That might explain both the brakes and the low trap speed.
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May 10, 2006 | 06:15 AM
  #12  
Thats the second time I've heard something happen to someones brakes. It sounds wierd and I hope it never happens to me. Not being ready is most likely the reason for your bad time. I'm pretty sure if you got a couple more runs in you would have gotten better times.
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May 10, 2006 | 08:04 AM
  #13  
Quote: -1- Ignore the guy working there. I rather start 1 foot behind but be ready to launch
start a foot behind? you have to move forward to trip the sensors for the staging lights.
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May 10, 2006 | 10:46 AM
  #14  
Quote: What i'm going to do differently next time:
-1- Ignore the guy working there. I rather start 1 foot behind but be ready to launch
-2- Put my 16's on even though they have winter tires.
-3- Have my brakes checked first coz the end of the 1/4 mile scared the sh*t out of me. I really thought i was gonna go straight and fall in the ditch.
Everybody has bad runs and with just 1 it's even tougher.

Please DO NOT ignore the starter, he's there for your safety and that of others. As you do more starts it'll become easier. Ignore them and might not get to run again either.

Winter tires may work. Just check that they're speed rated to handle the abuse.
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May 10, 2006 | 11:17 AM
  #15  
Quote: start a foot behind? you have to move forward to trip the sensors for the staging lights.
I know this is off topic but that is the est avatar in the world.
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May 10, 2006 | 07:30 PM
  #16  
Thx for the input guys !! Brought my car to the mecanic and he says that my caliper seized temporarily due to the heat of the brake fluid. Anyhow, I ordered 300zx rotors calipers and brake pads. Also, I'm going to flush out all the DOT3 brake fluid and put some DOT4 instead. Gonna go back to the track and give it another try.

DAVESZ, thx, I was unaware that there was a staging light. I thought it was the guy in the tower that presses a button and the light start counting down.
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May 10, 2006 | 09:41 PM
  #17  
Quote: DAVESZ, thx, I was unaware that there was a staging light. I thought it was the guy in the tower that presses a button and the light start counting down.
Thats funny.
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May 11, 2006 | 07:45 AM
  #18  
I would definately check your knock sensor and its harness. I was trapping almost 10 mph higher than you, something is wrong. You should easily be hitting 100 mph. The KS can easily take a 5 mph chunk out of your trap speeds.
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May 11, 2006 | 08:44 AM
  #19  
Quote: BTW if i had a 60ft of 2.3 . What could have been my 1/4 mile time? And would my MPH been better if i did not hop so bad at the beginning?
Don't worry, it was your first run. Anyhow the trap does seem a tad low. A 2.3 60ft, probly a few tenths off.

Quote: 15.1 on a vq35 wow!! thts bad
Not as bad as some of my runs. My first time resulted in a 15.4 @ 98 with a 2.6 60 ft
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May 11, 2006 | 12:07 PM
  #20  
If i shifted faster throught the gears with a short shifter, would it help increase the mph? I feel like i'm rowing a heavy boat. BTW thx nismo3112, It reassures me to know that with maybe a bit more practice i could hit the 13's one day like u.
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May 11, 2006 | 01:33 PM
  #21  
Quote: If i shifted faster throught the gears with a short shifter, would it help increase the mph? I feel like i'm rowing a heavy boat. BTW thx nismo3112, It reassures me to know that with maybe a bit more practice i could hit the 13's one day like u.
Cam it and go for 12's.
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