Wicked Weasel

After another weekend at WGI I am totally hooked on road courses and HPDEs. My car was set for the 1/4 mile last year and I am tearing it all apart so it will be better on road courses.

The 4.10s just required too much shifting at WGI to be even somewhat competitive so I am surprised I am saying it, but I am going back to the 3.42s.

Also adding all the cooling I can. That includes brakes, oil, tranny, and bigger radiator.

I have 10 more scheduled track days and hopefully the new setup will make them even more enjoyable.

I would like to say thanks to all the people here that chime in with suggestions on what to do and what not to do. One great suggestion was the T-Hooks for towing. Man life was much easier after that suggestion.

varkwso

Welcome to the dark side. My wife has mentioned, lately, that a mistress would be a little cheaper in the long run than my track addiction...

Budget lots of money for track consumables...

0Randy@DRM

Up north here in MN, BIR has a long fast roadcourse. It has a share straight away with the drap strip. Every lap you get to the run the 1/4 mile but from a roll. Welcome aboard, I knew you were getting close.

Randy

yakisoba

Heh. Welcome. Glad you decided to go the cooling route. I think that's setting up for the long term. Just got an oil cooler from DRM adn will be installing it shortly.

The main track I go to, TWS, is an old superspeedway. You can't use the whole oval because it's not fit, but the main front straight is banked quite a bit. It's a blast to climb up on that thing and just leave your foot on the floor. Most relaxing time on the course. Stay cool and learn fast!
--Yak

MitchAlsup

This is why I am not a participant in drag racing. Its a cost (as in time) benefit (as in jollies) ratio:

In HPDE road racing, you show up, and get to run 20-25-30 minutes every 1.5 to 2 hours. At the end of the day, you have spend a whole 90-120 minutes driving the snot out of your car. At the end of a day at the drags, you have spent 1 minute driving the snot out of your car.

freefall

yeah, you're pretty much screwed now.

Wicked Weasel

After a few HPDEs last year I knew I wanted to do more of them. I originally thought that I would be doing both 1/4 mile and HPDEs, but my heart is really not into 1/4.

Sure it is fun for 11 seconds, but as mentioned, I then have to wait 1.5 hours before the next 11 second run.

Now after a session I need 1.5 hours to calm down, check my car over, think about different areas of the track, ask people questions about how they handle those areas, and also check out other cool cars.

I am glad that I went to Spring Mountain this year and now I am getting ready to book a September trip for Level II.

Wicked Weasel

I know. I talked to ECS today and Chris said I just love to spend your money

thats ok - know anyone that needs some semi-used 1/4 mile equipment...

Maineiac

Bob



Don't forget the spindle ducts. Don't get me goin'.....

AU N EGL

I still run lots and lots of 1/4s or is that corner though corner?

any one can go fast in a straight line, but going fast though corners and cosistantly lap after lap take skill.

Wicked Weasel

the ride back from WGI was one of the funniest discussions regarding the spindle ducts

Wicked Weasel

I do agree, but I also give credit to the guys running 1/4 mile times sub 10s. The end of the road comes quick at those speeds and there is a lot to be said about having enough ***** to stay in it.

As with us seat time is important to understand the car and for running faster 1/4 mile times. Even I improved from 12.1 seconds to 11.4 without making any chances to the car.

That being said it does take a lot more concentration to run consistant lap after lap on a road course especially a WGI where there are so many turns. 1 guy over the weekend needed 3 sessions just to remember what type of turn was coming up next.

AU N EGL

Especially learning to go flat out through the bus stop. that is when it is nice to make a small map of the track and tape it the center of the steering wheel or over the radio.

Or you could just do what Falcon does:

95jersey

Kiss your IRA goodbye! There is no turning back.

yellow01

Turning and braking is so much more fun than mash-n-go

Wicked Weasel

but I bought those cheap vinyl numbers like you suggested

Wicked Weasel

I thought it was Brake and then turn

yellow01

That explains what I was doing wrong!

Lancer033

The group I AutoX with over here has a 1/4 mile and AutoX going at the same time, I'll go down the 1/4 once or twice a weekend just for the hell of it, but all I care about is the AutoX part.

Drag racing seems more like a sport for mechanics than drivers to me. The only thing to learn is how to launch the car. Past the 60' mark, it's all car.

Maineiac

Bob...

You need to add a seat to your list of things to get, especially if you want to run a HANS.

A race seat makes a WORLD of difference.