Went to Bithlo Dragstrip Last Night

I have the red 98 Z28.

All four runs against the same guy. 2002 Firebird WS6 Trans-Am
I redlighted on the first run. -0.87

First Run
http://www.landscapedynamics.com/images/Bithlo%209-23-2005.wmv

Second Run
http://www.landscapedynamics.com/images/Bithlo%209-23-2005%20(2).wmv

Third Run (very slight heating of tires. VERY SLIGHT)
http://www.landscapedynamics.com/images/Bithlo%209-23-2005%20(3).wmv

Fourth Run
http://www.landscapedynamics.com/images/Bithlo%209-23-2005%20(4).wmv

Pretty damn good night.
New best. 13.72@103.XX
I can’t launch my car to save my life.

60' times?

1st, 2.125
2nd, 2.199
3rd, 2.233
4th, 2.286

As I said, I can't launch my car to save my life.

As I said, I can't launch my car to save my life.

I used to think the same thing until I went to Bradenton Motorsports Park.

Their track prep is better than Bithlo's. I usually cut consistent 2.1-2.0s on street tires with no airing down.

Your car pretty much has the same power mods as mine, so you've definitely got more in it than a 13.7. Is yours an auto. or manual?

1st, 2.125
2nd, 2.199
3rd, 2.233
4th, 2.286

As I said, I can't launch my car to save my life.

Judging by that, it looks like the track went away after each pass. The 1st one isn't a bad 60' - I assume you were on regular radials and have a stock TQ converter. It's hard to do much better than 2.00 w/ a stock verter unless you do lots of weigth reduction.

Looking at your mods.....Do you have an adjustable TQ arm? If so, what did you set pinion angle at. I would have thought better 60 ft with tq arm and lca- although bithlo does suck. Anyways, I'm sure it will come around as you get used to it.

Matt

Judging by that, it looks like the track went away after each pass. The 1st one isn't a bad 60' - I assume you were on regular radials and have a stock TQ converter. It's hard to do much better than 2.00 w/ a stock verter unless you do lots of weigth reduction.

Regular radials, Kumho Ecsta's 275/40/17's at 26 psi for the first run RPM 1800, 23 for second RPM 1000, 22 for third RPM 1000 and 22 for fourth RPM 1500. Stock TQ Converter.

Question: I always thought that lower PSI helped with traction, but in my case it didn't. I'm guessing my problem was lack of track prep between heats. Is this correct?

Looking at your mods.....Do you have an adjustable TQ arm? If so, what did you set pinion angle at. I would have thought better 60 ft with tq arm and lca- although bithlo does suck. Anyways, I'm sure it will come around as you get used to it.

Yeah it's adjustable but I can't remember what I set it at. Maybe it's -2, but I'll have to get under the car and double check that number.

I'm planning on going to Moroso or Bradenton in a few months, so hopefully I'll get a better launch at one of those tracks. I hear that they are loads better than Bithlo.

Lower tire pressure helps to a point, after that point it begins to hurt. The tires will actually cup and the outer edges will be mostly what is making the contact patch. I never ran my regular radials much lower than 26-28 psi. Anything lower seemed to cause me to spin more and killed MPH. Basically you have to experiment and go with what works best for you.

You can chaulk up lack of track prep for some of it, and as the night goes on, the humidity sets in - the dew settles.

Didn't realize that 26 was pretty much as low as I should have gone. That would explain a little bit. Also this was during the after effects of Rita still hitting over here. Orlando was getting pounded while I was at the track. That hurt a bunch right there.

I'll just go to a different track or the same ona better night. Hopefully should work better then.

I'll post vids when they are made.

Thanks for all the advice.

Orlando has always been hit or miss for me. G'ville and BMP are the "magic" tracks that always seem to hook. Basically you'll need to experiment with tire pressure. I've run 26-28 one night and hooked decent, then next tiem I spin and had to add air. There is no right or wrong pressure, use what works.

It's funny, I live one town over and have never bumped into you out on the road. I think I saw your car once at Hooters on 436 about 2-3 years ago. Back when they had the MCO shows.

I hardly ever drive my car these days. It's a garage queen. Got a daily driver about two years ago, so that basically explains why you don't run into me.

I did attend the MCO shows back when it was first made, I was part of the group that started it. Darren, Jared, and I. But due to difficulties in my own life I left.

I will take your advice about the other tracks. I want to go to a good prepped tracka nd see if I can launch there. I know that once I get drag radials and a line lock it will help. Plus TQ converter and other mods. I'm just trying to get all I can out of the car now. That's all.

I'm looking into getting something to drive during the work week myself. My car draws too much attention, and has caused me some problems with the law. I feel eventually I will need a truck for work as anyhow.

I went to the one MCO meet, then the drama unfolded on the message board. After that, I believe things simply fell apart.

It's good to have a plan for the car, drag radials and a converter will be very rewarding for the cash outlay. I wish I had done my converter first. Last weekend @ BMP, a WS6 with a lid, Yank 4000 stall, and slicks went 12.5 - his previous best before the converter and slicks was 13.5

Can't argue with that, approx. a full second and 3 MPH gain.

bradenton is by far a better prepped track. on my stock goodyear 245/50-16 tires i made my first 11 second pass there. 11.97 with a 11.99 on the next round. best at osw was 12.2xs.