I made it out to my local track today. Not the best day to race, 86* and muggy as hell. Unfortunately I got there late, and only got in 2 runs, the first of which my time didnt even register. Well, here comes the embarrassment...

Run 1 "ABORTED"

R: +.3802
60': 2.6053
1/8th MPH and ET: 11.1555@63.95
1/4th MPH and ET: -------------

Run 2
R: +.4180
60': 2.6250
1/8th: 11.0422@64.39
1/4th: 17.1221@82.46

Both runs I launched at about 3k, tires spun clear thru 1st, even after burnout.

Guess I have some work to do...

its not bad dude, my fastest has been 17.6... slow really, and sad...

my only mod is a catback exhaust, so i cant complain.

Yeah I guess I could say its not the slowest 420A, but I was getting beat by v-tec civics running 15s. This winter Im looking to getting a 55mm tb, udp, cams, and coil/wires.

If you did a burn out in the water box that hurt your traction. The water will stay in the thread and keep the tires wet causing you to spin. I ran a low 16 with a few mods. My 60' was around 2.49 I beleive. Practice is the only thing you can do to get better.

2.6 60' is pretty bad. Work on your launch, and those times will come down a significant amount.

I wasnt really even in the water box. I just backed up far enough that I could spin em a little to heat them up. Apparently that did nothing. Ill have to buy a set of rims and old, sticky tires next time. I havent launched a manual before last night, so I will have to work on that. But 2.5 - 3K is where I want to be right? I just really thought I would atleast be in the 16's. Shit my Volvo ran a 16.5 with a boost leak and a bad tune on 12 psi.

I dont know about launching at 2.5-3k rpm, for me it doesnt work, the car boggles, and then it starts pulling. I tried that launch and ran 18.1xx... The way I launch is rev to 4-4.5k and dump the clutch, thats what has gotten me my best times. Keep in mind I have 18's on my car, and new tires, so...

Yeah I have the stock 16's and 6 month old radial stock size tires. My car didnt bog whatsoever launching at the RPMs I did, but it did spin clear thru first. Thats what contributed to my horrible 60'. I think Ill have to find some old, sticky tires for my next time down there. New tires are great on wet surfaces, ok on dry. The older they get the better on pavement and worse on other surfaces.

Launching these cars is not an easy task. Been there done that. I think the best 60ft time I could muster was a 2.2. The key to launching these cars quickly, is to feather out the clutch in 1st. Dont ever dump the clutch. You will either bog or spin like mad. I'd try for around 3500-4k rpm, and gently but quickly let off the clutch to just get the car moving out of the hole. Once you get the car moving, fully release the clutch and give it more gas. Dont floor it. Once you get moving a decent amount in 1st, you can then put it to the floor. A quick shift to 2nd, wait a second, then floor it. If you launch correctly, your rpm's will stay about the same from dead stop, till you fully let out the clutch. Just be aware that slipping the clutch for that perfect launch is going to heat it up really good. Make sure your clutch can handle it! It really is a fine art.

Oh and about the 60ft time, for every one tenth you take off of it, you take off approx 2 tenths at end 1/4 time. All of my drag experience proves this to be true, assuming a clean run.

Thanks for the info. Ill try that next time I go. Hopefully Its a little faster. If I hit the 16.0 mark with it Id be happy for now.

Mods or Admins, apologies for thread being in wrong forum. Thanks for moving.

Practice, practice, practice. Get that 60' down. You should at least pull a 2.3. That means about .6 off your total ET. Also, lower your front tires pressure to around 18 psi. Finally, don't spin through all of 1st. Once you start spinning slowly let of the gas until you catch then go back to WOT.

Hope the next time you get to track things get better!

Wow thanks for the tips guys. Your time slip gives me some hope too. It CAN be done! lol. Ill have to bring my pancake air compressor with me next time so I can drop the air to run and fill them back up when I leave. Its about 25 miles from the track to my house. When I first saw my times, I said I wasnt going to go back, but now I cant wait till next wednesday to go back and go for better.

Just remember that dropping tire pressure only really works for tires that have a taller sidewall. Low profile tires,like most on 16" + rims are considered low profile. Dropping pressure on a low profile tire will actually hurt more than help..been there done that too lol. A 15" wheel would prob be best on these cars for drag racing. The stock 14" RS wheels work good too..although a bit on the narrow side. A stock 14" wheel with stock tires, drop the pressure, and it will actually hook pretty good with a good launch.

I have the GS aluminum 16's but my tires are huge. Someone actually asked me if my car was AWD because of how big they are. They would definately widen a little if I let some air out.

Holy crap guys not to be a bad guy but that is a horrible time. I ran a 2.2 60ft and ran a 16.8 on my first launch and then went home i didnt even practice. I have a bad vaccum leak to.

Mods Done At The Time

Weight 2600
Hacked Muffler
Intake

Keep it to constructive criticism, or don't post. This isn't about oneupmanship.

Don't feel bad. My first time at the track I ran an 18.5 (atx but whatever). keep at it and you will improve.

when i use to have my 97 gs i took it to the track. all i did was hollow out the cat, and made and intake out of rv sewer hose. i still had the stock muffler. i lowered my air pressure in my tires a lil and drove out around the water box not even heating my tires(16" gs wheels). it ran 17.1 all night long once i got a 17 flat tho i realy wanted a 16 out of but it wouldnt happen. now i have a 97 neon i took it to the track and it ran 16.1 with 17" low pros and very few mods. I would like to take my fiance's 97 rs to the track to see wut that runs. i ported out and rebuilt the head, it has a pretty fresh shortblock, a header, testpipe, 3" catback, underdrive pulley, throttlebody modified from and automatic neon, short ram intake, msd coil and wires, and i also ported out the intake manifold where the injector humps are. it as 17's on it also so again traction will be an issue im hoping for some 15's out of it tho. slipping the clutch out in first is definatly wut you need to do to get a good launch