Here it is the middle of May before my first runs at the track for the new season of drag racing.
I joined a group at a private rental at Mason Dixon Dragway in Hagerstown, MD. After rain for 2 days it was a gamble whether the track would open. Gates were open at 8am and the track was ready to go shortly before 9am.
After prepping the car, I managed a total of 14 runs in 2-1/2 hours, methodically trying to hone the skills and tweak the car for best launch and ET. Had it been a bracket session, I would've done well since most of the runs were within a tenth of a second.
No best ETs to brag about, here's the best of the morning runs...
60' - 1.958
330' - 5.713
1/8 - 8.842
MPH - 432.96(I just noticed it... LOL)
1000' - 11.562
1/4 - 13.856
MPH - 98.41
The weather could've been better as the density altitude ranged from 2700-3000 feet according to hourly readings I took. The barometer was falling all morning with a low pressure system approaching. The biggest issue however was driving into the wind which started as a 5-7 mph breeze but got stronger as the morning progressed, averaging 11-17 mph with higher gusts. As such, the trap speeds seemed low with only a sole run trapping 100.08 mph early in the day. Track conditions were not the best either as I detected spinning off the line several times.
All in all it was good to be out and smelling rubber again.
On a side note, in the early morning drive to the track, a Taurus SHO started nagging me, blowing by passing me then slowing down while I was simply cruising along at a leisurely pace. After a couple fly bys, I decided I had enough and simply pressed the go-pedal harder as he closed the gap from the rear. He tried to overtake me a time or two 'til when he really had it wound up he managed to nearly pull alongside the Lincoln before I noticed him. This time I mashed it and opened the cutouts at the same time. The thunderous noise and abrubt acceleration must have taught him a lesson as he obediantly tagged behind like a good pup and didn't challenge the lead anymore.
I joined a group at a private rental at Mason Dixon Dragway in Hagerstown, MD. After rain for 2 days it was a gamble whether the track would open. Gates were open at 8am and the track was ready to go shortly before 9am.
After prepping the car, I managed a total of 14 runs in 2-1/2 hours, methodically trying to hone the skills and tweak the car for best launch and ET. Had it been a bracket session, I would've done well since most of the runs were within a tenth of a second.
No best ETs to brag about, here's the best of the morning runs...
60' - 1.958
330' - 5.713
1/8 - 8.842
MPH - 432.96(I just noticed it... LOL)
1000' - 11.562
1/4 - 13.856
MPH - 98.41
The weather could've been better as the density altitude ranged from 2700-3000 feet according to hourly readings I took. The barometer was falling all morning with a low pressure system approaching. The biggest issue however was driving into the wind which started as a 5-7 mph breeze but got stronger as the morning progressed, averaging 11-17 mph with higher gusts. As such, the trap speeds seemed low with only a sole run trapping 100.08 mph early in the day. Track conditions were not the best either as I detected spinning off the line several times.
All in all it was good to be out and smelling rubber again.
On a side note, in the early morning drive to the track, a Taurus SHO started nagging me, blowing by passing me then slowing down while I was simply cruising along at a leisurely pace. After a couple fly bys, I decided I had enough and simply pressed the go-pedal harder as he closed the gap from the rear. He tried to overtake me a time or two 'til when he really had it wound up he managed to nearly pull alongside the Lincoln before I noticed him. This time I mashed it and opened the cutouts at the same time. The thunderous noise and abrubt acceleration must have taught him a lesson as he obediantly tagged behind like a good pup and didn't challenge the lead anymore.