I've hit the track a few times in the past month and finally got a decent time that is worth posting. I'm going to post the times of all the runs I've made over the past month though incase anyone is interested. All of these runs were done on 93 octane pump gas, tuned by yours truly.

6-7-06
Hit the track for the first time since march. I was on my new 245-45-17 Nitto Drag radials. These tires are a huge improvement over the all seasons I had previously had on the car, but they are still not a slick by any stretch of the imagination. They made the car more consistent at the track, but I was still ot really able to pull off very good launches, I had to pedal the car in 1st and 2nd gear, 3rd gear was a dead hook though which was nice, as opposed to the all seasons which would spin til 4th gear (or the snow tires which would spin til 5th gear haha, those were a joke). These runs were made on a motor with a blown headgasket at about 110 psi of compression in one cylinder, the rest were normal compression.

Anyhow, I was able to make these runs on the DRs. If anyone has a question about a particular run ask me, I put notes about the run on all my timeslips these days. Density altitude started around 2200' and fell to around 1850 by the last passes I made. Race weight was 3104 with my tools in the car on a couple passes, then 3070 after I took the tools out. Here are the runs in the order that I made them:

13.27 @ 108.8 - 2.28 - 10.1psi (race weight 3104 w/ tools in car)
13.00 @ 115.1 - 2.23 - 11.2psi
13.12 @ 112.3 - 2.24 - 11.5psi (race weight 3070 from now on, no tools)
12.84 @ 112.6 - 2.07 - 12.9psi
12.93 @ 111.1 - 2.10 - 12.6psi - open cutout
12.79 @ 111.6 - 2.14 - 12.9psi - open cutout
13.16 @ 109.5 - 2.15 - 11.3psi
13.03 @ 113.1 - 2.24 - 11.7psi



6-17-06
Next time I hit the track was at "Midnight Madness" which is a street racing oriented theme. Because it is so street racing oriented, they don't put down water - YAY! So there I am on borrowed 26x10.5-15 ET Streets and I've got no water to do a burnout. So I did what I could without water. It wasn't very good but whatever. They are a definate improvement in consistencyand overall traction as compared to the Nittos, even without a burnout. I still have to pedal 1st gear and most of 2nd gear, though I can come out of the hole quite a bit more aggressively with even cold ET Streets. This is still on the motor with the weak headgasket, but because of some other issues I was having, I had to beat on the car ALOT to try to figure some things out, and the compression in the bad cylinder is down to 50psi of compression now, and I'm getting hesitation shifting into 4th on most runs. Race weight would have been the same as last time, 3070 or so with no tools in the car. All of these runs were with the cutout closed, I didn't bother to open it that night. Density Altitude pretty bad, started at 2600' stayed within 100' of that all night. Here are the runs in order.

12.63 @ 113.9 - 1.99 - 12.5psi
12.61 @ 115.9 - 1.98 - 12.6psi
12.63 @ 111.4 - 1.98 - 12.4psi
12.69 @ 112.6 - 2.01 - 12.5psi
12.58 @ 116.85 2.02 - 12.2psi
12.53 @ 112.5 - 1.97 - 12.6psi (best ET I'd pulled yet in the car, previous was 12.68 last fall)

So that was the end of the timed runs for that night. I did more runs but they were "street racing style" with a flag girl and the drivers negotiating for lengths, etc. It was kindof fun, but I'm at the drag strip for timeslips not to street race. First round I can't remember what I ran but it was slow.

Second round I ran modded SRT4 with lots of neon lights on it. The announcer said that he was the champion from the previous "street race night." They encourage light smack talking into the microphone before the race, so I told him I didn't think I could hang with all the neon lights and strobes on the Neon, and said it looked like he was having a rave in his car. The dude asked what I ran and I lied and said mid 13s and the announcer chimed in "Oooh I think he's got ya, he was running low 13s." The dude said he'd run me heads up which as fine by me I took him out of the hole (he was on BFG DR) and yanked him the whole track, I probably had 8 cars on him by the end.

Third round I ran another previous champion, a DSM that was running mid 11s t over 120 all night so I knew I was in trouble. I wanted 8 lengths and the hit but the dude would only give me 4 because I was on a "slick", when the parties can't agree on the terms, they ask the crowd, which was apparently made up of his whole crew because they were all yelling about me being on a slick. Anyways the 4 lengths was decided upon and I knew it was over unless he messed up. Well it was me that messed up, I went when the tree came down (they have to start the tree first so that the win light will light up on the boards at the other end, so they can see who won, even though you don't get an accurate time). So instead of waiting for the flag girl I was concentrating on the tree like I'm used to and I went on the 3rd yellow. As soon as I launched I realized this and slammed on my brakes to stop, hoping they would start the race over. It was too late by this point and he'd already launched and blown past me so I just ran out the 1/4 just cruising. So ends my street race escapades.

I have a few of the above runs on video by the way, but they are on a digital camera video mode, so they aren't terribly awesome, and I don't have the 12.5s on video, just some 12.6s.



Tonight 7-5-06

Now for the decent times. i put a fresh motor in 2 weekends ago, out of a 96 i30 with 80k miles on it. Compression is all good across all 6 cylinders yay. I was running the ET Streets again tonight but this time it was just normal test and tune so there was water for me to burn out in. Race weight was 3047lbs (less gas I think, and no tools of course). I chose to go tonight rather than wait til friday because I knew the density altitude would be better today. DA was 1830' when I made my first pass, and fell to 1230' by my last pass.

Here are my runs for today, in order.

1.94 60'
8.10 1/8th
90.73mph
12.45 1/4
115.94mph
10.7psi
Still spun 1st gear even with burnout. I was spinning 1st all night still. Cutout closed, 12psi cold in the slicks, did a mediocre burnout.


1.90 60'
8.00 1/8
91.80mph
12.33 1/4
117.16mph
12.2psi
Turned boost controller on, it was off before. Poor burnout, 12psi hot in slicks.


1.90 60'
7.94 1/8
93.99mph
12.18 1/4
120.30mph
14.1psi
Decided to up my game a little on this run. Opened the cutout, let the car sit for an hour. The higher boost is from cutout only, didn't touch the boost controller.


2.02 60'
8.09 1/8
92.81mph
12.38 1/4
118.10mph
14.2psi
Someone had laid some fluid on the track just before the finish line. I spun to redline about 50 feet before the line. Scared me, I though I'd broken 4th gear. Talked to a couple other guys and they said the exact same thing happened to them, so I was relieved. Did a really good burnout on this one but someone was slow getting off the track so I ended up waiting like a minute while staged, good burnout wasted.


2.05 60'
8.20 1/8
92.95mph
12.51 1/4
115.73mph
13.9psi
Spun really badly in 1st gear on this one and thus shifted early to second, resulting in a 2nd gear bog - reflected in the times for the entire run.


1.94 60'
7.99 1/8
93.74mph
12.23 1/4
120.25mph
14.1psi
Based on the relationship of 60' to ET, I probably could have gone a little quicker than my 12.18 if I'd sixty'd the same as I did before, on this run. Spun first gear pretty bad on this one, pedalled it though and it worked better than shifting to 2nd obviously. Ran down a Buick Grand National that went 12.27 @ 110.3 on a 1.84 60' and better RT on this pass. Was a darn good run.

1.97 60'
8.01 1/8
93.93mph
12.24 1/4
120.01mph
14.1psi
Again, based on the 60' compared to ET, I might've been able to go a tiny bit quicker still (a couple hundredths maybe).

So finally I have something decent to show for my efforts.

 

Sweet Neal, good to hear things are straightening out a little bit. Good runs, hopefully you can get some videos soon.

 

so im guessing you need to find a way to bring down the 60's and you could get into the 11's. nice work, looks like some pretty fun runs

 

Good job Neal. I think we all knew the car was faster than your previous times indicated. I'd say the car's capable of 11's too based on your traps. Sounds pretty silly on the street racing thing if you ask me. Just race with the tree the way it's meant to be for Pete's sake.

Good show on the SRT-4 though, it's fun smoking them isn't it? I've beaten a few also but not usually by 8 cars unless the driver sucks off the line. lol.

What rims were the 26x10.5-15 ET Streets mounted on? What was the weight/offset/backspacing/fitment like? Could you turn without scrubbing the fenders etc? I'm really considering moving to a 26x10 so just looking for some thoughts on fitment/rim choice.

I do the same thing with my timeslips too, scrawl run notes on them otherwise I'll never remember which one was what and what changed etc.

 

I guess this is the long post you were referring to last night when I called you. We need to brainstorm some ways for you to reduce weight transfer in order to cut better 60' times. A 1.75 60' would get you well into the 11's. I see mid 11s in the fall when you add the new parts you are working on.

 

Let me know when you want to know how to run 11s with 120mph traps.

 

I see this 350Z cruising around the Aurora area with a APS TT kit which is capable of 11s. The car is Silver and had a license plate of "VOGZ". The distinguishing characteristic of this 350Z was a rainbow sticker in the window and a bumper sticker that said "I support gay marraige" on the rear bumper. Maybe Neal can cruise around and find this character!

 

excellent runs, you are a 11 second car for sure because i trapped 12.1@114mph. you have some good end power there

 

I had to go to sleep so I signed off last night.. nice runs

 

Dandy - They are on 15x7" K1s, same wheel as yours I assume. They don't rub at all, they are I30tMikeD's, I've borrowed them until he sells them since he won't be doing any racing down in OKC. I've had 15x8" Weld Prostars with the same tire on, 5.5" backspacing (BriGuyMax's wheels and tires) and those don't rub either.



Biglou- thanks, yeah I want to get some vids but only have this crappy digicam, and when I'm there by myself it's hard to video and drive at the same time.

Jason - yeah I have some ideas but I'm gonna have to get some welding done if I want to implement them.

Hooper - yep I need to get the 60's down, I've cut better 60's in my NA car on stock clutch with way less power obviously.

CMax - wow I didn't know you'd gone 12.1 @ 114. What was your timeslip like on that run? is that your best pass? I thought your best time was like 12.9 @ 111or something, Nice work. My car actually isn't that fast on the top end though really, still using USIM and I shift at 6000rpm even because it just feels like it dies out up top. When I get my custom IM made though that'll change and it'll be retarded up top. On that pass I trapped 94 in the 1/8th so it's pretty strong in 2nd gear and 3rd gear but kindof starts wheezing up top.

Luke - yea i figured that, no prob.

Brian - let me know when you want some pictures of your mom or sister in compromising positions. Oh and get a new cell phone you pos.

 

So you think the new motor made the majority of the difference?
Damn fine job! Any details about the custom IM you're getting?

 

I think being able to do a burnout and the new motor made most of the difference.

No real details as of yet since it hasn't been designed yet but it'll have some sweet billet aluminum fuel rails built in housing some deatschwerks 650cc top feeds (either 350z style or domestic style), and it'll be a very short runner/large plenum design. It shouldn't cover the rear bank at all and it'll have to relocate the iacv and tb as a result. It'll be perfectly port matched to both the LIM and the TB, flanges measured and cut on a CNC by a fellow .org member.

 

when i ran the 12.1 i blew my motor at the end of the run that's why my trap was low. i was running a 100 shot and 11lbs, the timeslip is fading away now lol, so i have to wait till i do it again. even though you felt a power lost 120 mph traps aint that easy. i had some extensive work done since then so hopefully i can run low 12's safely now. im sure if i use slicks i can nail it everytime, but time will tell.

 

Nice Neal, there's quicker times there for sure.

 

That mani sounds nice. The street race thing sounded funny, sandbagging is the name of the game.

 

Nice neal! 11's soon!!!

 

Very good read, that sounds like one heck of an interesting track you race at, im not sure if i would end up gambling or racing there ? lol !

Congrats on the 12.1, any ideas on getting the beast to 11.9999? I guess in drag racing we focus on going faster but you got to be more than happy running very low 12's.

 

remember when we were happy just to crack 14's lol, boy have things changed.

 

Here are the timeslips for the 12.1 and also for the street boost setting pass.

 

wow great times neal. those are some huge traps too. nice job!