I'm going to E-town tomorrow to meet a friend and I've decided to do a few time trials with my TL.

I'm hoping anyone who's dragged their 5AT car on a strip might have some suggestions for launch technique. I'm used to racing my '69 Dodge Dart, but I'm sure the TL will require a different technique.

My plan is to do my first run with traction control off and in auto, probably power-braking to around 2,000 RPMs.

My second run will likely be same as first except manually shifting a few hundred RPMs below redline.

Subsequent run technique will be dictated by the results of the first two runs.

Any suggestions to prevent me from embarassing myself would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Heat your tires up (hopefully, they are stickier than the stock units). If you start to spin the tires, lift up just a little, then get back into it. You'd be surprised.. most people when first driving on a track (or street racing) will lift up too much then nail it again. Not only does this cost time, but it can also bring on more wheel spin.

Since you have an automatic, you don't need to learn of lauching and shifting techniques for a manual. Good luck and post your times.

 

Oh, another thing. If you are sitting in the pits a bit between runs, raise your hood and consider taking along a bag of ice (a well sealed bag is best). Put the ice bag on top of your intake manifold with a towel between the bag and the manifold.

Also, consider removing a lot of the plastic shouding around the top of the engine area.. this holds heat.

 

where on LI?

 

SouthernBoy:

Thanks for the tips.

I'm hoping to avoid heating up the tires to save wear and tear, but I'll know for sure what I need to do after the first run. I still have the stock EL-42s on the car (only 6,300 miles).

I won't be icing down the intake, but I will be opening the hood between runs. I'm not planning to compete, just to do time trials, so I'm not too worried about shaving off that last .05 second!

I haven't raced since the late '90s, but I always varied my technique based on weather, track conditions, and the tires on my Dart. I'm wondering about people's experience with launching a 5AT TL on the track, but I'll probably have to use what I know from piloting the Dart and make it work for the TL.

I'll post results if I manage not to screw things up.

Thanks again!

 

Not on LI. Long Island Dragway closed a few years ago.

I'll be going to Englishtown Raceway in Old Bridge, NJ. My friend is going to a Corvette event there, but there will also be time trials and open racing so I figured I'd watch him run, practice some racing photography, and give the TL a shot on the 1/4 mile.

Come on down if you've got some time.

 

Where you from on LI then. Im in Nassau. Five towns area.

 

Farmingdale, near Routes 109 and 110.

 

5AT's seem to crawl, so try footstalliing the engine up while holding the brakes, and see if you can come out at a higher rpm.... do you know what I mean? I'd do one run letting the car shift itself and then a run where you shift it. If you can go at least 99mph that's not bad.

 

Too late!!

 

I ran three time trials on Saturday.

My first was with traction control off, leaving the transmission in "D" and power braking to around 2,000 RPM. Ended up with a 15.09/92.75MPH.

My second run was same as first except for manually shifting at approx. 6,000 RPM. Ended up with a 15.23/93.25MPH.

My last run was botched when I accidently shifted to 4th at 4,000 RPM. Ended up with a 15.67/88MPH.

I was disappointed that I didn't end up in the 14s at mid 90s trap speed. Part of the problem was wheelspin off the line, and the rest is poor reaction times and my not knowing how to launch the car properly.

Chances are I would have made it to the 14s with a bit more practice, but I was also holding back a bit because I don't want to break anything. I save the hard strip driving for my Dart.

There were a number of modified Civics/Integras/S2000s there running decent numbers. My friend was there for the Corvette Challenge so I got to watch a lot of 'vettes running in the 12s.

There were plenty of modified G and W body (FWD) GM cars running 13s, and a previous generation Maxima was running high 15s in the high 80s.

My favorite car of the day was a nice looking '73 or '74 Dodge Dart Swinger, slant six and automatic transmission. He was running 21 second quarter miles in the low sixties, but he kept at it and made it through the first round of eliminations!

 

not bad

 

Yeah, I know...it would have run better if it were Anthracite Metallic!

 

Since i got my falken tires, i never heard my tires screech no have i had any slip. Im not flooring it BUT i am aggressive on the throttle. I wonder where can i go in Toronto Canada to race my car legally (closed course) Any canadians know?