Well, the East coast DSM shootout was canceled a couple weeks ago and It was going to be my first run at a track EVER in my life. Been to plenty of tracks, just never raced. I was so bummed that I decided to go to Cecil County Dragway tonight. It was fun. I'm not sure what to think about my times though, I thought I could have done better.

My first run was the better time and speed.
R/T .169
60' 2.446
330 6.866
1/8 10.45
mph 68.22
1000 13.537
1/4 16.107
mph 88.28

The second run was crappy. I peeled out off the line like a MADMAN.
R/T .315
60' 2.599
330 6.957
1/8 10.530
mph 68.26
1000 13.619
1/4 16.193
mph 88.13

I'm just not sure what to make of the numbers. One thing that made me really happy was my very first reaction time .169. Actually both my reaction times beat either of the guys I ran against....but I really though I could do better than 16.1. I think I should be able to get the 60' time down a bit right? Isn't 2.4 a little high?

One other thing, is Cecil County ALWAYS that friggin full. 2 runs in 4 hours is just FRUSTRATING. So many cars - over 200. It's the closest track is why I went. I was hoping to make alot more runs than that. Is that a normal amount of runs at a track on Wed. night?


95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
Jeep TB writeup - http://www.dimensia.com:81/jimbo/JeepTBfor2gnt.html

to get any runs at cecil, you have to be there when they open so you can be first in line and then you can get a few runs there...that place does get frustrating....i dunno if anywhere else is that close....so where do you live?? harford or cecil? i used to live in bel air, i am gonna make an effort to get to cecil next time i'm home.....anyways...those aren't bad runs....just need to work on the launch....like most of us....but you did better than i did my first trip out :thumbsup

Thanks Justin. I live in West Chester PA, about an hour away from the track. My parents house is 10 miles away from the Dragway - right over the line in PA. On Sundays you can hear the big cars run from outside of their house.

Do you know if Maple Grove or Englishtown are any better for getting more runs in? I think those are the only other tracks that I would probably consider close to me...unless there's some tracks I don't know about. Are there any in MD close to Cecil County?


95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
Jeep TB writeup - http://www.dimensia.com:81/jimbo/JeepTBfor2gnt.html

And people say drag racing is so easy. :P

Your 60' time is killing you. Your 1/4 trap speeds are similar to those running in the 15.6-15.8 range if you can get it to hook up.

Yeah, if you can hook it up off the line, bringing your 60ft down by one tenth, results in taking off about 2 tenths in your end 1/4 time. Using stiff shocks in the rear, soft up front, take as much weight out of the rear end as possible, and use good, sticky tires, and that will help tons. If you can get like a 2.2 60 ft, that means you "should" see about a 15.6 1/4 mile. If you can nail a 2.0 60ft, you can hit a low 15 sec 1/4. Hitting a 2.0 60ft is pretty darn hard though with FWD. Even harder with a turbo! For your first time, i'd say you did very well :thumbsup

Thanks guys. I really appreciate this.

I'll keep working on it. Next time I can loose the spare, cause I still carry that around.

I made these runs with my 16" Oz rims, but I still have my 14s. I was thinking about getting some Nitto's on a pair and using them on the front for race day. I saw a civic hatchback there with 18s on the rear and 14s or 13s on the front. I really want a set of adjustable shocks(and pro-kits) as well. Honestly though the tires/springs/shocks are taking a back burner to my exhaust/IC piping/gauges. I'm about a grand away from finishing the turbo system.

There are a couple of things I can do more immediately to get a bit more power. I JUST finished machining a spare intake for an extra rail of injectors. It's port-matched and polished as well. I can put that on as soon as I fabricate a rail mount. That should help. I also have a Bosal header sitting around in the garage collecting dust. I got it right before I decided to start in with a custom turbo system. I'll see what I can do about throwing that on soon. I think that should help a bit too.

Would it help to lower the pressure in my front tires? If so, what's a good pressure to run?

Also, if someone could give me some guidence on the burnout. I tried to it, but they were SUPER UGLY! Should I or shouldn't I do one? How the hell should I do it - lock the e-brake? I didn't lock the e-brake. I guess that's like our line-lock right? I saw some people just go around the water, but most of the Mustangs/Camaros were line-locking.


95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
Jeep TB writeup - http://www.dimensia.com:81/jimbo/JeepTBfor2gnt.html

You are much closed to Atco than E-town or Maple Grove I believe. Last time I was there I got 8 runs in. Thursdays aint too bad because it is a muffled car and bike deal. No race cars.



1998 Eclipse GS,Hahn Stage 2 Turbo Kit w/ Missing Likn and Vortech SFMU,TurboXS Type H RFL,Corbins Digital A/F Gauge,Apex N1 Exhaust, Nuespeed Short Shifter,Autometer Boost,EGT and A/F

For street tires, dont burn out at all(no tire smoke). When i went to the track, I found decent traction by just doing a very small tire spin, mostly to build just a tad bit of heat in the tire, and also to clean off any dirt, crud, and leftover water from the water box. If you do a tire smoking burnout on street tires, that gets them too hot, and greasy...you will have no traction at all when you launch. Now, if you get some Nitto's, then you can light them up through the waterbox! They NEED heat to get them to hookup. From my experience, which isnt that much hehe, is drag racing on street tires is just plain difficult. Getting traction, and hooking up for low 60ft times is hard, esp for 5 speed, turbo FWD cars...But my technique running my street Toyo Proxies: Drive into the water box, then pull out of it, pull up the e-brake, then rev up high rpms, then drop the clutch rather quickly. As you start to spin, let off the ebrake, and keep spinning the tires a small amount as you move forward.

Thanks Lonnie. I have no idea why I didn't think about Atco - that is closer. Brain fart I guess. That sounds MUCH better - no race cars. Those damn things take sooo long to run, and it seems like they get higher priority. There were at least 20 at Cecil County on Wed.

Thanks for all of the advice Matt. That helps tremendously.


95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
Jeep TB writeup - http://www.dimensia.com:81/jimbo/JeepTBfor2gnt.html