gallery > Drag Racing 02/19/17

Where'd you race today?

My buddy Victor called me Saturday night and wanted to go drag racing at State Capitol Raceway on Sunday, 02/19/17, during a regular test-&-tune. For a split second I thought about riding with Victor to be pit bitch for his 2011 Corvette ZR1, but I ended up driving my RS separate!   :)

We arrived at State Capitol Raceway around 10:30am. Density Altitude was 606 ft. We both let our cars cool off in the pits for 45 mins. At 11:16am I got my first pass, second pass at 12:05pm, and a botched run at 1:09pm. The (2) clean timeslips are described below and can be found in the attached image. NOTE: THE TIMESLIPS REFLECT THE WRONG DATE, 02/21/17.

I passed 1000 miles on the odometer en route to the dragstrip! Time for the mods to begin!

Notes for first pass (13.501@101.87mph):

My very first pass in my RS down the dragstrip. Heavy front wheelspin on the launch and the predicted thud of the motor mount.

1. Engine/ECU/Exhaust/Suspension Modifications = NONE. Only Intercooler Flap removed!
2. Launch control ON. ESC + Traction Control ON. Sport Mode. Dampers Normal.
3. 45 minute cool down with hood up after the 35 mile drive over.
4. Tried to shift 6800 rpm 1st-2nd, 6500 rpm 2nd-3rd & 3rd-4th.
5. Pilot Super Sports. 41 psi front, 38 psi rear.
6. Half tank of 93 octane from Valero.
7. No weight reduction.
8. DA 750ft. Temp 65F.
9. 11:16am.
10. Bye run.

Notes for second pass (13.499@102.15mph):

Felt like way more front wheelspin than the first pass, but I was 0.025 quicker in the 60 ft.

1. Engine/ECU/Exhaust/Suspension Modifications = NONE. Only Intercooler Flap removed!
2. Launch control ON. ESC + Traction Control OFF. Sport Mode. Dampers Normal.
3. 45 minute cool down with hood up from first pass.
4. Tried to shift 6800 rpm 1st-2nd, 6500 rpm 2nd-3rd & 3rd-4th.
5. Pilot Super Sports. 41 psi front, 38 psi rear.
6. Half tank of 93 octane from Valero.
7. No weight reduction.
8. DA 762ft. Temp 68F.
9. 12:05pm.
10. Bye run.

Notes for third pass (XX.XXX@XXX.XXmph):

Decent launch with same amount of front wheelspin. 1-2 was good, 2-3 was good. When I tried for 3-4 the shift happened, but when I let the clutch out the revs shot up, I heard a pop, and a Service Engine Soon light (Engine Fault) came up on the information screen. I immediately put the shifter into neutral and coasted to the dragstrip turn off. The car was obviously confused, and it would barely accelerate once I got to the return road. I limped to the timing shack and picked up my timeslip. A slow drive to the pits and I shut the engine down. I got out to check for any damage, and nothing was found. A quick push of the start button and everything came back to normal. For a minute or so "Hill Assist" wasn't available, but it eventually came back. In my mind I know I didn't shift from 3rd to 2nd. I think my RS somehow hit an overboost condition as I was shifting into 4th. There wasn't any grinding. A quick check on the highway and all was well. I called it a day after that. A 35 mile return drive home awaited me, and I didn't want to take a chance.

1. Engine/ECU/Exhaust/Suspension Modifications = NONE. Only Intercooler Flap removed!
2. Launch control ON. ESC ON. Traction Control OFF. Track Mode. Dampers Sport.
3. 60 minute cool down with hood up from second pass.
4. Tried to shift 6800 rpm 1st-2nd, 6500 rpm 2nd-3rd & 3rd-4th.
5. Pilot Super Sports. 38 psi front, 38 psi rear.
6. Half tank of 93 octane from Valero.
7. No weight reduction.
8. DA Unknown. Temp 73F.
9. 1:09pm.