Drag Racing Technique Improve your track times

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Old Aug 4, 2008 | 11:10 PM
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Convertables

Hope I'm in the right place.Does anyone have experience racing with a convertable.Got my eye on a 95 Trans Am.Will the top get ruined,or even stay on?Many thanks.
Old Aug 5, 2008 | 12:41 AM
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Uh, I'm pretty sure to be legal to be driven on the street the top can't fly off. Actually, I'd bet my life on it.
Old Aug 5, 2008 | 08:07 AM
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Oh I ment at the drags over 100 mph.Might throw a blower on because the car is cheap.Many thanks.
Old Aug 5, 2008 | 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Fatdog2
Oh I ment at the drags over 100 mph.Might throw a blower on because the car is cheap.Many thanks.

Ran a 95 formula vert for a couple of years. Be aware you can't go faster than 13.50 without a roll bar. Not a problem for a stock car. With the 2.73 gears, I bumped the 1-2 shift to 50mph as was able to race in second gear crossing just under 6k at 97mph with 14.5- 15.0 ETs'. It is kinda scary when a 9 second car passes you on the top end going 145 ish.

FYI the tops are made to stay on. You do have to stop to put the top up or down.

Last edited by kazman; Aug 5, 2008 at 12:01 PM.
Old Aug 5, 2008 | 04:06 PM
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It'll stay on up to 100mph. Much over that and I think I'd run with it down.

P.S. My run was with the top up.
Old Aug 5, 2008 | 07:40 PM
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They allow you guys to run with the top down!? They don't at firebird international raceway.
Old Aug 5, 2008 | 08:28 PM
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rules are alot stricter for verts. check nhra rulebook.


If you want to seriously drag race do not get a vert. they are alot heavier too.....so your blower etc. is probly going to be very dissapointing compared to other people with similar mods
Old Aug 5, 2008 | 11:20 PM
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Originally Posted by kazman
Ran a 95 formula vert for a couple of years. Be aware you can't go faster than 13.50 without a roll bar. Not a problem for a stock car. With the 2.73 gears, I bumped the 1-2 shift to 50mph as was able to race in second gear crossing just under 6k at 97mph with 14.5- 15.0 ETs'. It is kinda scary when a 9 second car passes you on the top end going 145 ish.

FYI the tops are made to stay on. You do have to stop to put the top up or down.
Many thanks everybody.By the way,was it a 62 big block Nova doin the passin?Scares me just to look at em.Many thanks.
Old Aug 6, 2008 | 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by LSWHO
They allow you guys to run with the top down!? They don't at firebird international raceway.
A roll gage.
Old Aug 6, 2008 | 05:32 PM
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Converts can go fast, without damaging the top. This one ran low 8's in the 160's.

Old Aug 6, 2008 | 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Injuneer
Converts can go fast, without damaging the top. This one ran low 8's in the 160's.

question on that car.....did the cage have to cert. any different that a roof car?

funny car loop and kidney bar?
Old Aug 6, 2008 | 11:12 PM
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There are many 7 second convertibles out there. Mustang and F-bodies.

Stock tops..
Old Aug 6, 2008 | 11:24 PM
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George's car has a standard cage - no different that a coupe, with a bracket welded on for the chute release lever. If was a bit difficult to get it certified, because they insisted on the 3" requirement over the helmet, and with the roof limitations of the convertible, and George's height, we had to drop the Kirkey seat down on the floor. I've got a picture of the car with the top down, somewhere.
Old Aug 6, 2008 | 11:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Injuneer
Converts can go fast, without damaging the top. This one ran low 8's in the 160's.

You are always there when we need you.Many thanks Injuneer.
Old Aug 7, 2008 | 12:02 AM
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Dude, that car looks slow.



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