I went to etown last night and got five runs in. This was my best run(missing 4rth):

.669
2.282
6.310
9.640
73.40
12.496
15.039
87.28

It was going really well from the start. I saw that big 2.282 and I was soo happy that I'll finally run a 14. I shift from 1-2 @ redline, 2-3 @6,200 and when I go to shift from 3-4 @ 6k I MISS IT!!!!! I had a good 50 or more feet to go and I screwed it all up at the end! You can tell from my mph(87) that I missed 4rth.

So my question is, what do you think I would have run if I nailed 4rth gear and compelted the race??(Keep in mind that I missed 4rth at 6k rpm not redline)
-Paul

 

14.9 - 15.0 - we may never know ????

(15.0 @ 87 MPH ????)<---- is that possible ?

 

if you had 50 feet to go...after you missed it, did you try to put it in 4th after and finish?

if you shifted properly...or maybe even stayed in 3rd, you probably would have hit a 14.9

what were your trap speeds from your other runs?

 

d'oh!!!

Yup, probably a 14.8-14.9.

 

After I missed gear, I sort of was in shock cause I never ever missed 4rth before. Thats the easiest shift for me. I guess I was too excited. So after I missed 4rth, the car slowed down a little before crossing the lineso I think I definitely would've been in the 14s.

While slowing down to make a left I was beating the sh*t out of my steering wheel. I still don't know how I missed 4rth
-Paul

 

any more replies?? I was hoping someone would say that I would have run a 14.7 but oh well.

 

I know how ya feel. Last time at the track i pulled a PB of 2.19 60' then missed 2nd gear. I was not happy to say the least

 

You'd have run a 14.9 at best. The normal convention is 1/8 mile time multiplied by 1.56 = 1/4 mile time. To get optimistic you can use 1.55 or to get pessimistic you can use 1.57.

Missing a gear that late in a run isn't going to affect your time much, but will affect your trap speed bigtime.

Lets say you were 60 feet from the finish line when you missed the gear. So you went through the last 60 feet at an average speed of 87.28mph (your trap speed is the average of your speed over the last 60' of your run. that's how its calculated).

87.28mph is 128 feet per second. Now lets pretend you HADN'T missed 4th gear. Lets say your trap speed was 92.5mph. Thats 135.7 feet per second. The difference between the two speeds is just 7.7 feet per second. 7.7 feet per second divided by 60 feet = .128 seconds. This is a rough, and optimistic approximation of the time you lost by missing 4th gear. Keep in mind that you are gaining speed throughout the last 60' of your run on a normal run. So this measurement is optimistic. My guess is that you would have run about a 14.94 had you hit 4th gear like normal.

 

cool thanx a lot for the helpfull reply Neal.
-Paul

 

Don't shift into fourth.
I told you already but everyone else here seems to think it's a good idea and I'd like to know why? If you have 50 feet left just wind out 3rd.
Try it next time and you will run 14's


Ant

 

There probably won't even be a 'next time' for the max. I think I'm done with it I've beat on it enough. The last thing I want is to blow my tranny. Maybe if I get a new clutch and tires I'll go back.

But I know what ur sayin about leaving it in 3rd and most people on this org would disagree. Most would say the best (proven) technique for shifting is :

1-2 @ redline
2-3 @ 6.2 k
3-4 @ 6 k

I'm guessing this is cause our cars don't have much after 6k, especially in 3rd gear. So shifting to 4rth would put you back in the powerband but at the same time, it takes time to shift.
-Paul