first time at the track

[my_bd]

So I went to the local track last night, street legal night, my first time.

I wasn't too sure if I was going to try racing, was a bit nervous about it, but went in and parked in the pit area, checked out the cars, watched some races.
I was feeling out-of-place, most of the vehicles there seemed like older modded race-ready, very few new vehicles it seemed, and those big v8's doing 10 second runs, sheesh, unnerving.

But after I saw the sport compacts race I felt more confident seeing some 15 - 17 second runs, I figured i could fit in there.

I got my car 'tech'd or whatever they call it, it was funny,
first the guy says "What the hell is this thing?"
He was not impressed to hear it was a Saturn.
and then the guy looks under the hood and says "HOLY SHIT, THIS THINGS GOT A BLOWER!!"
so my car passed inspection fine.

While I was parked out on the pit area, nobody seemed too interested in my car, and I noticed some sneers and overheard a few snickers and comments about the Saturn.

well eventually I gathered up my courage and went for my first run, pretty nerve-wracking not knowing what to do and when to do it, but I fumbled my way through it anyhow.
I was racing against this very nice Audi S4.

I couldn't hear what the announcer was saying, and my mind was so busy trying to figure out what I should be doing, I also wondered what the crowd was thinking when a Saturn came on the line.

Things happen so fast in the staging area, they just rush you through there. I was looking down at my feet, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed the Audi taking off, and then I noticed the lights were green! Shit!
So I took off and managed a 16.0 - my very first run.
The Audi did 13.6

It felt good, it sure was fun.

When I returned to the pit area, I noticed a number of onlookers eyeing my car, and it seemed as though the offhand comments had gone quiet now.

My next run was against a Ralliart (I think),
this was my best run for the night (I had 5 runs), I did a 15.0 - knocked a whole second off of my first run, and I was only on my second run.
That was pretty exciting.
When I returned to the pits, I was getting lots of stares, and a number of people started coming over to check out this strange little beast.
I received lots of positive comments about the Redline. and those funny stunned looks when they heard it was all stock! haven't even started the mods yet! heehee!

the third run was a humbling experience, I was up against a Supra Turbo, and I guess I was feeling too gung ho, cuz I totally missed third gear, couldn't find any gear for that matter, (aacckk - where's the clutch!!), eventually found fifth, and finished with a 17.6. haha.

my last two runs were both 15.4, against a civic (I think), and a WRX.

so i went away with my 15.0, i thought that was pretty good for my first time out.

I can see an easy .3 - .4 gain is available at the start, my first 60' is averaging 2.3 to 2.7, and my reaction time (if it matters) is averaging 0.9 to 1.4

the big surprise to me was the damn wheel hop!
even with the torque brace it was hopping like crazy.
I don't seem to get any hop on a regular road, but on the track it was hopping like mad.
not sure why that is....

[Sp00ner]

Better traction on the strip than street... how tight did you make the brace?

[my_bd]

Originally Posted by Sp00ner

Better traction on the strip than street... how tight did you make the brace?

how tight? what part?

I basically followed the Ingalls instructions:
1. set the preload and lock
2. adjust length of brace from mount to mount so that there is no force applied to the brace when it is installed
3. mount brace
4. tightened the locknuts and all bolts.

Ingalls instructions

[clownhair]

2.7 60 ft....holy crap Time for some slicks!

[XxGarbSxX]

Hey man, nice times for a first-timer. I remember my first time at the track w/ my SC2. It was completely stock, and I had an auto so it made getting off the line pretty simple. You'll get better with practice. Definitely work on the launch because that will help your 60' times big time and also shave time off your E.T. Don't get discouraged if people laugh at you for driving a Saturn, just get to know the car and repeatedly show the nay-sayers your taillights.

[wolfie]

Hey atwilson way to go. Not bad for a first time at the track. I could not make it had to work over time.
Next time I'll try and hook up with you and go. I dont think your torque brace is adjusted quite right.

[Kirtsky]

Fun, isn't it???!


Don't woryy about the big boys. At my local track, there is a large segment of street vehicles running, hell last week there was even an 85 Blazer, the big one!
You will notice more, I'm sure.

Fun is to get a friend to go out and get lined up in staging next to each other. Tip, drive around the water box. Go on the last yellow. You most likely won't beat the light. If you hit it on the last yellow, you will be starting to move when the green goes.

[my_bd]

Originally Posted by wolfie

Hey atwilson way to go. Not bad for a first time at the track. I could not make it had to work over time.
Next time I'll try and hook up with you and go. I dont think your torque brace is adjusted quite right.

yeah I was watching for you just in case you showed up, that woulda been great having two RL's on the track.
looks like the next street legal will be july 8.

man the traffic was ugly heading out there, i didn't get there till around 7.

i'm wondering what to adjust on the brace, or tighten as spooner suggested.
the only adjustable thing i can see is to reduce the preload measurement to 12, 11, or 10 mm. and since i'm not getting any hop on a regular road i don't know how to test any adjustment.

[Blu_Redline]

Good runs. don't be surprised if you can't get any better times than a 14.70-14.80n and 2.25-2.30 60 footers on your dragstrip. It sounds like you have really decent traction there. I have tried every rpm and technique in the book and wheel hop is ALWAYS there and 2.3 seems to be the magic # for my car in the 60'. I do know that I can slip the clutch to eliminate the hop all together, but I don't want my clutch/pressure plate/flywheel looking like Aeain's. And I don't want to replace the clutch package just to get a wee bit better ET, I'm finding that autocrossing is easier on the car and it is better suited for it as opposed to drag racing.
Just my $5 worth.

[goofyguy]

The only way I was able to eliminate hop on the track conditions were over tighten the brace. Go past the Ingalls direction and just work it. If you have no hop on streets its doing it job. Now you have to give it perhaps 2-3 more turns for track use. Also you have to deal with the suspension setup our car has is not the best for track use. Im trying to figure out a way to end it all for track use but its proving to be tricky unless you torque the brace considerably.