Ok here we go. I went to the track for the first time ever last night. My car has only a couple of bolt-ons that are in my sig and I'm still running on street tires (kdw's).

I plan to add a TCI 3500 TC, Tranny cooler, Nitto 555r DR, SFC and DSL this winter. Then come spring I'll hopefully have some nice 12's to report

So I'm at the track and have no idea where to go or what to do. I was at route 66 raceway in Joliet, Illinois witch is about 600 feet above sea level. I was meeting two friends who both rode motorcycles but were not running them. I was gonna borrow one of thier helmets for my track runs.

I started out by getting there a little late (6:15 p.m). Then my friend told me It was $25 for racing so I had thirty bucks on me. What he failed to mention was it was $25 at the tech and another $10 at the initial gate. So here I was short five bucks. So I park and go searching for my buds to borrow five bucks from.

In my excitement I forgot to ask for a helmet and the tech asked to see it. BAH! I had to get out of line and go find my friends and get a helmet. I found them and got what I needed. Then I see my car about to get towed. apperantly I parked where I was not supposed to when I went to hunt my friends down.

But I got to the car in time and got back to the techs. After that I got in line and had a good forty-five minute wait while the motorcycles and sub 10 drag monsters did there thing. This was totally cool though. I had a blast talking to other drivers and checking out all the cars. So we finally start moving and I creep through the line in anticipation of my first run ever.

By the time I was motioned to approach the waterbox area I was breathing heavy. I could feel my heart rate jump as I felt the pressure of wanting to perform well. I drove around the waterbox and did a fast 2 second burnout for debree. I approached the line and saw the first staging light go on. Then the second lit and the tree went down fast.

I had planned to stall my A4 to 1500 and feather a launch but I was so nervous and the tree lights went much faster then I expected. Next thing I knew it was green. The LS1 z28 next to me took off and I was like ackkk and floored it from idle.

I spun some but not too bad since my converter is still stock. I could hear my car screaming through the dynomouth as my rpms hit the top of first and the car shifted into second. My heart was pounding through my chest as I checked the speedometer. 70, 80, 90 and finally inching over 100 as I hit the end. I let off the gas and noticed my hands were a little shakey. But it was such a rush.

The Z28 beat me but I didn't care. I knew my reaction time sucked but I didn't care. I had a feeling my 60' time left something to be desired but I didn't care about that either. I had made my first pass and I was no longer a track virgin, woohoo.

I couldn't get a look at the board so I had no idea what my time was until I got to the time slip booth. Here it is:

R/T 1.024

60 2.108

330 5.805

1/8 8.776

1000 11.337

1/4 13.511

MPH 103.79

I was excited but to be honest I was a little disappointed. I figured with the lid/ssra/dynomouth I could have gotten a 13.3 @ 105. But I see there was lots of room to improve my 60' time so it's not all bad news.

I got back in line for what would be my only other run since they were gonna close at 10 and it was all ready after eight. My friends came over to congratulate me. Apparently they were betting I would get upper 14's or low 15's my first run.

I thought now that I know how fast the tree counts down I can be prepared for the next run and shoot for my 13.3. Hold on because this gets real ugly, real fast.

I look over to see I'll be lined up with some 4 door honda. He had no helmet so I figured he was over 14 seconds unless it was his first run but the car didn't look or sound fast. I lined up and went to brake stall to 1500 and I got over zelous and inched a bit too far forward. I was motioned to come back and I put it in reverse and backed up.

The tree started and I through it in gear and quickly stalled up to about 2000 and when it hit the last yellow I hit it and spun like a ****. I red lighted too as if to add insult to injury. Then I notice my car is not moving. I get traction finally and notice I'm bouncing the rev limiter. I PUT THE CAR IN 2 INSTEAD OF 3. So I thre it in three and floored the gas. The Honda got a high 14 while I pulled in a very impressive 17 second time slip.

DOH!

There was no more time for any more runs so I threw that timeslip in the trash, put my tail between my legs and hope it's at least a week before I have to see the two friends that witnessed that tragic desplay of patheticness.

Oh well, Better luck next time.

 

Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. That "story" isn't unusual for someone who has never been down a drag strip - especially considering the potential of your car. Like everything else that takes a little coordination and concentration, the only way to get better is to practice, practice, practice!

Sure was fun though, wasn't it?

 

That may be a bad 60' at your track with an auto... But I had a heck of a time getting that 60' time with my BFG KDW at my track with an M6, so I wouldn't be disappointed. That is a pretty good 60' for stock tires IMO. Going to the track tomorrow with Nitto DR and we'll see how much I can improve my 60'. I know on the street they grab more... enough dropping the clutch in 2nd to scare me into thinking I'm gonna break something.

Good run BTW. You can pummel Mustangs all day with that time.

Brian

 

Great story Darren. $35 to test and tune is a total rip off. I just went tonight, paid $15 to run, and ran 7 passes with a total of about 10 minutes in line.

You'll get alot better with practice. You live close enough to come on up to the CZ28.com M8 event at Stanton,MI. You'd get in all of the runs you ever wanted in one day. The record is right around 50 passes And be spending the day with a bunch of cool f-buds.

 

Wow that sounds awesome AL. I may just do that. Not too far of a drive and it sounds worth it if I go for the whole day. Plus I enjoy meeting other F-bod enthusiasts.

 

I would look forward to meeting you.

And any of the rest of you guys that want to race in MI in October.
Can you say negative DA