Ive been to the drags 4 times in my Maxima. Last friday was dissapointing as well. Not only did I get one run in the wait was forever.Only one out of the 4 times I went, I have I been able to get my car out of the 16s. The funniest part, the 2nd time I went when I got a 15.1 was before ANY serious modifications. This was some time last year. My first time to the drags I found out what was wrong. There was a nail in my rear tire and I was running on a whole 9 PSI the entire time. THe second time at the track was good.

My third time at the track, I was expecting to break 14s, mostly due to the Y pipe and the ShopVac Intake. Nope, didnt happen either. This was back in march when it was freezing cold. I dont think they had the track prepped cause it was very very slippery. I had my car chirping 3rd gear, which it NEVER chirps 3rd gear. My final run of that night I ran out of gas going down the track. I felt the engine bogg down as I looked at the E light shining in my face. The runs before that, I was missing shifts and doing all sortsa stupid things.

So now, at my forth time at the track, after waiting forever, I get an entire 16.3. This is after my 60K service too, when I changed out the oils and sparkplugs, which made huge differences. The excuse for this one, is that I didnt even smoke the tires in the burnout box, which means I rolled up to the line with totally wet tires. I spun totally thru 1st and a good way through 2nd with the car going absolutely no where. This sux, it really sux. I'm embaressed. When I raced my mom's 98 v6 camry automatic, it NEVER got below a 15.7, but it bested a 15.4.

Needless to say, this is very dissapointing. There was a riced out sentra running high 14s on friday, and all sortsa other stuff that embaressed my time. I just need to go up to the track when there is no one around so I can finally perfect going down the track. I see all of you guys running mid 14s on naturally aspirated Maximas and I think to myself what am I doing wrong...Maybe my ShopVac intake isnt as effective.. maybe I need the courtesy B pipe, maybe I need the aftermarket suspension setup... but that still doesnt explain my 15.1 run when I was almost totally stock. Supercharger has been my goal for a while, who knows maybe by next year...

So either A) I'm a really bad driver or B) there is something wrong with my car or C) I have very bad luck or D) all of the above

On a side note, I washed and waxed my car today for the first time in months cause its finally nice outside, and what does it decide to do the instant I get finished? It RAINS! Just my luck. Oh well at least the wax is there for protection... and I forgot to clean the tires. I'll follow that post by Avalon Racing on how to clean wheels and tires...

 

Want some cheese with that whine

Seriously, you need more practice. It took me about 16 runs down the track to get into the 14s. There isn't anything wrong with your car. The first 3 times to the track I was only running 15.4-15.6@91mph (Y-pipe, HKS intake and muffler). Now with much better driving, new struts, a B-pipe, a stock muffler, Poorman's CAI, and better tires, I am consistently hitting 14.8s with a three random 14.7s thrown in.

It is very important that you have good struts all around. Lots of rear squat kills off the line traction.

I launch at 3300rpms with my 16s. When I had 17s and 235/45s, traction was nearly impossible to come by. Big rims and low profile tires absolutely suck for drag racing. I can launch at 4000rpms on the street with my 215/55 Yokohama Avid V4s vs only being to launch at 2000 with my old 17" setup.

The Poorman's (OSCAI) does work. I've proven that it works just as good as the POP setup and I'm pretty sure it will work as good as the PR CAI. I recommend doing the Poorman's CAI 2.0. I swear my car is quicker. I'll verify at the track on Wednesday night


Dave