Fun @ Shakespear County Raceway.

[Butuz]

Was going up with my mate as he is in the Pro Street Drag series @ Shakespeare.

As we were going to Castle Coombe first for Japfest and then going to the drag racing - I took my car too.

Of course It wasnt long before I was looking at my car, and looking at the strip, and thinking "hmmm" it is a RWYB too so anyone can put their car on....

So in a moment of madness I got in my car and drove into the scrutineering bay - the scrutineer asked me if I was intending to take all my camping gear out the boot? I said nah just gonna do a run or two. The scrutiner then rephrazed the question - take all of that crap out the boot haha ok I ssaid but now I am not going to be able to set my tent up at the top of the strip?

So there we go - my car is passed - I go to the office and sign in, pay my £15 for unlimited runs.

Nervously - I head to the queue. Only there is no queue - just my mate driving on to the strip ready to run (it was early TBH!) so I followed. He did a massive burnout, I didn't. He ran. Now it was my turn. I honestly had no idea what the hell I was doing - I had no idea how the traffic lights worked or anything - the marshals eventually realised I was a total newbie and directed me forwards and backwards until the two "ready" lights came on. So rev her up - and then the green go go go!!!



Vroom! What fun!!!

The first two runs I did - I messed up in my newbyness as I saw two checkered flags and lifted off. Unfortunatly they are teh chequered flags for the motorbikes which run 1/8th miles - so I was lifting off way too early!!! On those I did a 14.5 @ 60mph odd and a 13.9 @ 90mph odd. Lol!!!!

Now I new what to do - I kept accelerating all the way past the 1/4 mile. Got a 12.9 @ 109mph followed by a 12.85 @ 110mph.

Not too bad! At first I was a bit dissapointed with that I don't really know why for some insane reason I was saying to buffy oo lets see if we can get into the 11's - he did look at me a bit funny - but after being reminded that my time is as fast as something like a Ferrari F360 Spyder - and Gary @ GT Art said - "that's good when I started I was running 14.5s with 600bhp" I came to realise that thats a pretty good time for a standard car.!

Next round - I am going to take the spare wheel out and let my tyres down. Hope to do better!!!!

Butuz

[IainB]

On those I did a 14.5 @ 60mph odd and a 13.9 @ 90mph odd. Lol!!!!

Now I new what to do - I kept accelerating all the way past the 1/4 mile. Got a 12.9 @ 109mph followed by a 12.85 @ 110mph.

A 12.9 on your first day out - thats seriously impressive!!
How did you find the experience?
And.....at the top end, dont lift off until well past the finish, as they work the terminals out on another marker past the finish line (not that im saying keep your foot in for another 1/4....as you will end up in the field...but dont lift as soon as you see the line)

[Mblaster]

Sounds great fun

Those 1/4 mile times are about the same as my 0-60 times!

[BenW]

They're a lot quicker than my 0-60 times lol!

What powers the car running?

[Butuz]

A 12.9 on your first day out - thats seriously impressive!!
How did you find the experience?
And.....at the top end, dont lift off until well past the finish, as they work the terminals out on another marker past the finish line (not that im saying keep your foot in for another 1/4....as you will end up in the field...but dont lift as soon as you see the line)

Thanks mate that means alot coming from you!!!

Ok next time will keep my foot down till I hit something

I was nervous as hell at the start to be honest. But by my 3rd run I was just really enjoying it. On my 12.85 run i did a 1.9sec 60 foot and 0.35sec reaction time. It was only after the event I was told that reaction times are not taken into your time!! Next time I will spend more time on the launch and get everything as i want it rather than just trying to get good reaction times.

I have not had the car on a dyno but it should be producing roughly 400bhp at the fly. I've done 2000 miles on the new engine now so it is all run in.

Overall it was great fun and now all I can think about is how to make the car faster. I can see how things get out of hand in drag racing!!!

I am going to do the following for next round:
Try and stabilise boost pressure - its spiking a bit and I think I lose boost above 6000rpm.
Possibly get the ECU remapped.
New air filters
Reduce pressure in tyres - was running 30psi all round - been told to drop to about 18psi all round.
Possibly change the wheels - the split rims on there are really really heavy in comparison to the standard wheels. May try standard wheels with new tyres at some stage.



Butuz

[GAteKeeper]

Is death free or do you have to pay extra for that??

Na nice times mate, wish I could afford a car with anything like that enjoyment.

GK

[sleepyhead]

Ahh drag racing

Those times you posted are very good

It does get addictive when you start wanting to best your own times, even worse when you are competing with mate...

Good thing I found drifting more fun (even though I am sooo bad at it)...breaks the car just as easily though.

Do you have the timing slip to post up? Be interesting to see speed and time at each measured point.

The 1/4 mile drag run is a good indication of comparing power vs other cars on the same day, rather than do the willy waving of a (possible compromised) dyno sheet. ie the terminal velocity is a good indication of power.

Are you going to Santa Pod Butuz?