My drag strip results (bad)

Skorch

So last Friday I took my Z to the drag strip for the first time. I honestly wasn't impressed with my results. Granted it was 87º that night and the track wasn't prepared very well, not to mention the elevation of the track is 1,200 ft above sea level, but I figured I'd still do a bit better, considering I have intakes and HFCs. My best run of the night was 13.821@103.2 with a 2.171 60' time. I couldn't get traction to save my life, and when I did, the car bogged down. I guess it shows that I have some learning to do on how to launch it.

Apparently there was someone recording some of my runs, because today I got a message from my friend saying that my Z was on streetfire.net. Sure enough - here it is:

New Nissan 370Z drag racing at Firebired Raceway- Video

Note that my 13.8 times were not recorded in that video.

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'12 370Z + Sport | Stillen Gen3 Intakes | Stillen UD Pulley | Motordyne M370 | FI Exhaust | FI HFCs | 4.08 Gears | Uprev tuned

DIGItonium

What's your VDC setting? Also, how are the RE050A tires holding up for you?

I did a test run a couple of days ago and kept bogging 1st gear. Held around 2-2.5k, let go of the clutch (not dump), full throttle, I spun the tires a tiny bit, revs went down real low as if car was going to die, and then it started revving back up (hold on to the steering wheel!) towards redline before the 1-2 shift. Overall I wasn't being aggressive with the launch, so that probably caused the poor launch as well with VDC active.

It was quite odd. Once the car picked up, the acceleration was quite brisk.

I'm not much of a racer, but it's the first time since the 350Z I launched the car. Next time, I'm going to try to feather the clutch. It's not easy since I'm still adjusting my habits from the 350Z.

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wstar

With good launch technique, you should be faster with VDC off than with it on. You get ideal grip by having the tires just barely slipping (tires rotating very slightly faster than necessary for the car's current speed), and VDC won't allow you to sustain that condition.

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Skorch

I had the VDC turned off for all my runs. I learned that the hard way from owning a 350Z with TCS I think I coulda run better times if i had taken the time to let the car cool off a bit between runs. For my last 6 runs or so I had the car going one run after another with no wait in between. I don't plan on going again until this fall when it cools off a bit.. Wish I had come earlier when the temps were cooler.

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'12 370Z + Sport | Stillen Gen3 Intakes | Stillen UD Pulley | Motordyne M370 | FI Exhaust | FI HFCs | 4.08 Gears | Uprev tuned

travisjb

Hey Skorch, word definitely got around about your runs... I was at Big-O tires in Ahwatukee and one of the techs ran up to me and said "did you know there was a 370z at Firebird on Saturday?" He said he ran with you and took you ! He was very proud... I reminded him that whoever it was, they were prob driving a bone-stock car

Skorch

I didn't expect the 370Z to be so popular at Firebird. I had at least 15 ppl come up to me asking about the car. Even the announcer said that he's never seen a 370Z before.

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'12 370Z + Sport | Stillen Gen3 Intakes | Stillen UD Pulley | Motordyne M370 | FI Exhaust | FI HFCs | 4.08 Gears | Uprev tuned

The HACK

What were the rear tire pressures?

Skorch

I lowered it to 28 after a few runs.

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'12 370Z + Sport | Stillen Gen3 Intakes | Stillen UD Pulley | Motordyne M370 | FI Exhaust | FI HFCs | 4.08 Gears | Uprev tuned

ianthegreat

Haha me and buddy went the Houston/Baytown NHRA event last month. He drove his 370z. When leaving, waiting in a huge line of cars, this drunk dude comes up and slurs a ton of compliments towards his car. He then says in a slurred voice, "hey maaan this car is so nice imma walk next it all the way out." It was stop and go 2 miles in 100 degree weather with this guy stumbling around, he wasn't next to us when we finally pulled out so we chalked it up to the vultures finally getting him.

I'd say it draws some attraction.

Brazilbro

I just got back from the track and I'm also a little disapointed.. the car is stock and with a full tank of 93oct.. was running back to back 13.8's with a best of 2.01 60 foot. I was hopping for at least some 13.5's, the track was a little slick but still! highest MPH was only 102.. i was reving up to 4-4,5k and slipping the cluch. The shifts seem long, a short shift kit would be great for the strip, along with some slicks and MO POWER

One_Quick_Z

Try running with less fuel in the tank... when I go to the track I try to have less than a 1/4 tank

A full tank 19gallons is a lot of weight


DAN

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Sakred

even though you may have a bad launch the trap speed should be indicative of the cars power to weight. there are only a few reasons why your trap would be so low.

1) conditional. Weather, elevation etc
2) driver inexperience (which i think is the culprit here). The time its taking you to shift gears can be improved greatly. you can easily knock .1-.2 secs off of your shifts which will translate into better ET's and a better trap. Practice makes perfect.

Hammad

MightyBobo

I think your 60' is where you're losing most of your time. Get that down to a 1.9 and your 1/4 would improve greatly, right where it should be.

BTW, the magazines said 3000-3500 was the sweet spot for launching.

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Brazilbro

next time i go out ill try the 3k 3.5k launch, and the tank on emty and see what happens