Practice, practice, practice!

driller

driller

El Presidente
Staff member
I had an opportunity to run at the track today at a private rental. Sure beats the average test and tune at the track. I managed 18 runs in 3 hours compared to 3 or 4 runs in 5 hours! :D

Nothing spectacular, just getting some practice time at the tree since it's been a little lean this year. The best I mustered out of the Blue Flame was a 13.66 @ 100.66. Average was 13.8 @ 99. Density altitude ranged 2000-2400 feet. Reaction times were hit and miss since I was trying different launch techniques, especially in the last hour of hot lapping, but overall I was pleased with the session.

I did finally find the "treadlife" limits of my Hoosier drag tires though. Looks like I'll need a new set, since I can now see the cords. :laugh:
 
driller said:
I did finally find the "treadlife" limits of my Hoosier drag tires though. Looks like I'll need a new set, since I can now see the cords. :laugh:
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I'm not sure how many more passes are left.

mini-image0_1.jpg
 
Some stats...

I reviewed my log and counted 128 passes on those tires.

At 5 seconds per burnout, say at 50 mph, that's about 9 miles of burnouts! :D

Add 1/4 mile each run plus 1/4 mile shutdown area plus 1/2 mile return road and another 1/4 mile to the staging lanes or pits... 1.25 miles each run times 128 equals 160 miles.

So I figure about a whopping 169 miles per set of tires. :laugh:

At $375 per pair, that's just shy of $3 in tire cost each run! :eek:
 
JP, Were you happy with the Hoosiers? Are you going to buy another set, or, are you going to try something else?
 
mlschultz said:
JP, Were you happy with the Hoosiers? Are you going to buy another set, or, are you going to try something else?
Click to expand...

I discovered the tires worn to the cords after the track event Sunday, ordered a replacement set Sunday night and I received them today. :)

Yeah, I'm happy with them. I think they're great for the track, they're lightweight and I get great traction from them.

I'll hopefully break the new ones in a few rounds at the SuperCoupe Shootout this coming weekend. :D

Hopefully they'll be "well seasoned" by SSHS7! :wink:
 
Hoosier Quick Time Pro Burnout Technique?

Hoosier Quick Time Pro Burnout Technique?

JP, I'm headed to the track with a new set of QTP tires. I could use a step-by-step burnout technique as this is all new to me. This is my guess; please tell me if I have no clue what I'm doing:
1. Drive around the water, then back the slicks into it. 2. Pull forward slowly. 3. Stop car, put into 1st gear manually. 4. Punch it, watch tachometer, gently back out of throttle back to idle. 5. Shift into D at idle (overdrive off). 6. Stage car at start line.

I'm most concerned about hurting the car through poor technique. I'm also wondering if I can just stage without the burnout. I'm thinking 20 PSI in each tire might be enough to grip the track without a burnout. It's not like I have 500hp here, but I do have 4.30 gears and a 3200 stall. Thanks!
 
Gravel Guy, the slicks will definitely work the best with a burnout. Your technique you listed is right on. I see you are from Sacramento, you should come down to the Thanksgiving Drags this Sunday at Sears Point. Gates open at 8am, it will be perfect weather wise and they prep the track really well! I would love to check out your car, I might run myself in the 96 which is almost stock.
 
gravelguy said:
JP, I'm headed to the track with a new set of QTP tires. I could use a step-by-step burnout technique as this is all new to me. This is my guess; please tell me if I have no clue what I'm doing:
1. Drive around the water, then back the slicks into it. 2. Pull forward slowly. 3. Stop car, put into 1st gear manually. 4. Punch it, watch tachometer, gently back out of throttle back to idle. 5. Shift into D at idle (overdrive off). 6. Stage car at start line.

I'm most concerned about hurting the car through poor technique. I'm also wondering if I can just stage without the burnout. I'm thinking 20 PSI in each tire might be enough to grip the track without a burnout. It's not like I have 500hp here, but I do have 4.30 gears and a 3200 stall. Thanks!
Click to expand...

VIDEO

1. With street tires on the front, I drive around the water box and back into it if possible. Not all tracks have the drive around option however. With the front skinnies, I drive through the water box.

2. I lightly spin the tires in the water then pull forward out of the water.

3. I put the car in second gear for the burnout.

4. With the brakes applied with the left foot, I punch the throttle with the right foot and maintain 5K plus on the tach for 3-5 seconds watching the mirrors for the smoke plume. Release the brake and drive out of the burnout before backing out of the throttle.

5. Stop short of the staging line and shift to drive. The OD and traction control has been off since the staging lanes.

6. Stage the car at the lights.

This works well for me with the Quick Time Pros. I generally have 16-18 psi in the tires. Start high(19-20 psi) and lower the psi observing the 60 foot times and how the car feels at the top end. Too much psi and you will spin off the line. Too little psi, the car will start to get squirrelly at the top end of the track.
 
Drag Burnout Practice

Drag Burnout Practice

Thanks for the help guys. Went to Sacramento Raceway today. The tips were helpful. I actually rolled out the the water box at idle, stopped, then punched the throttle & backed off the brakes completely. Not a big smoke show, but the tires warmed up enough to grab off the start line. That's enough for this weekend; no Sonoma, CA racing for me. Here's the best slip from today:

98 LSC, GravelGuy, Ron Brajkovich, 14.437, 94.573 mph, Sacramento, CA.
 
Any tips for a decent launch on stock tires (NOT slicks) if there's no room to drive around the water box? My first few runs the other day were 15.0/14.9, but then the water box consumed the whole lane and I couldn't get back below 16.5. haha
 
Patrick said:
Any tips for a decent launch on stock tires (NOT slicks) if there's no room to drive around the water box? My first few runs the other day were 15.0/14.9, but then the water box consumed the whole lane and I couldn't get back below 16.5. haha
Click to expand...

The object of your burnout would then be to dry the tires. Make sure you pull forward enough to be completely out of the water. Start the burnout and ease forward a bit during the burnout. Keep the burnout short(less than 3 seconds) for your street tires. Easing forward after starting the burnout keeps you on dry pavement - you only need to drift forward a foot or so. Moving too much will get you sideways.

Depending on your tires, another tip that often works with street tires and open differentials is to do a 'double burnout'. Again, follow the above with a short 3 second burnout, stop completely, roll forward another foot then do another short 3 second burnout. One tire will spin on the first burnout, then on the second burnout the other tire should spin since the first one should now have more bite. Now when you stage, both tires have grip and your launch should be much better resulting in more consistent 60 foot times.

I've seen a lot of street cars smoke one tire on the burnout, stage the car, then madly spin the other tire when they launch.
 
Race Prep

Race Prep

Serge,
Stock Exhaust, pipes cut past the differential. No mufflers or tailpipes. It's an ugly work in progess back there.
The 60' timer only worked in one lane, and on my slowest pass of the day (14.58et) the 60' time was 2.09. The car ran 14.43 to 14.44 all other passes. I must say after yesterday, Drillers times impress me even more. It's not easy to go fast!
Ron
 
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