So I went to the track for the first time ever with my cobalt, lets just say, I SUCK @ driving!! lol

I got a best time of 15.1 and my 60 foot was 2.35.

First time ever to the track, but still, I did about 5 runs and that was my best.

Im not sure what im doing wrong, but I am getting a lot of wheel spin..

How should I be launching this thing? Are my 60 foots bad? Any help lol.

 

its your first time youll improve man! and your sixty foot is not great, but seems wheel spin is probably what your problem is, takes practice thats all, search for tips

 

Yah it sucked. everytime my heart started pounding lol, and I got a heavy foot as soon as I saw the green light I stepped on it to hard I think instead of just givin it lightly until traction.

Im not goin again until I get my intake on, but Im going to a sideroad for an hour or so to practice my starts to get it down pat lol.

 

Which track did you run at?

 

you need to learn how to drive it before you add more horsepower man

 

meh, im not gonna wait to put on my intake lol, ill put it on its just the launch, do better next time.

I have an issue though, on my way home i noticed theres like a whining noise when i move it in 1st/2nd/3rd gear, only when the car is moving, but when i got my girlfriend to rev it with hood open it sounds normal, just when im driving it makes a whining noise that I can hear.. And theres an odor coming from the car, even 3 hours after the track.

 

I found that this car was much much easier to drive with a shift light. The stock tach is not even close to accurate, particularly in 1st gear. Your 60' isn't all that bad, but you are definitely leaving some on the table with your shifting. I went 14.8 with a 2.40 60', so your 60' is worth at least that with some good shifting.

A couple suggestions for the next time you go. Remove your spare tire. Run with only 1/4 tank of gas. And drop a couple pounds of air pressure out of your tires.

 

ya I didnt check air pressure, I had full tank of gas too lol.

I didn't know it made that much of a diff.

 

Well I found out why my times kinda sucked even though my 60 foots weren't as bad as i thought.

After my 15.1 run, my times with the same 60 foots were all 15.4-15.8...

I was just testing my car out again on side streets drivin slowly to see if I could hear that noise and my car still smells everytime I drive it..

Then when I gave it from 1st/2nd when I switched to 2nd, and was stepping on the gas, the car kinda lagged for about a second before it picked up any speed at all.

Oh well Ill find out whats wrong tomorrow. Thanks for advice guys!

 

Mine did that when it was new as well. Not anymore though.

 

Ive had it for over a month now... I dont think thats new..

 

BTW, did yours also smell everytime you drove it? :P

 

The first 10 or so times I got onto the gas it smelled.
Mine was bogging now and then for the first month or so as well.

 

Your 60 foots are not bad. when I say that I mean for a stock car, street tires, etc. but it can be improved upon and helps lower the amount of wheel hop you get.

1. air down tires to 24 PSI this is no joke do it.
2. do a burn out. the guys at the track should be able to teach you.
3. get a little aggressive after you do this.

I did this and my 60 ft went from 2.34 to whats in my sig. only mod I have is a K&N drop in filter. Keep your engine cool (I turned on the heat full blast to help out if needed too.

it will get better. worst of the day was almost 15.5

 

I don't know how you guys are all gettin 2.35 and worse 60ft times. All my mods are in my sig, and I consistantly get between 2.18 and 2.35. NO damper yet, NO bushings or any other type of motor mounts......? I know I can drive my car but I'm no Pro driver. Only taken 12 passes in it so far and my WORST 60 ft is a 2.39 Been at two different tracks in both 60 degree rain delay overcast/and dead sun 80+. I can't wait to get this Ingalls damper on!!!! Can anyone say 2.1 or better 60 ft with my mods?!? I'm stoked.
Stage II en-route baby!!!!!! 2 flat? :P

P.S. my tire pressure @ track is 38 in rears and 32 in front

Best of luck

 

You shouldn't really do a burnout with street tires. It's bad for the tires, and it isn't very effective.

 

thanks for help guys

It will be lower, im taking it to dealership tomorrow morning to find out whats wrong.

 

well you have done more runs than me, and you have more mods than me.

I only did one burn out and got my 2.269.
With out burn out I had two 2.66 (nasty wheel hop), one 2.35, and two 2.34. Now that I will air down and burn out I will relearn how to start with more agression and I will be consistenly be below 2.3.
The burn out and tire pressure made a huge difference.
Oh and one more thing. I am obviously not as good as lauching this car than you. I no doubt in my mind that the car could do better. but I went to get a baseline of some sort b/4 stage II arrives.

 

yeah your right and your wrong. IMO from my experience I will always do a burn out. the lauch was superior. I tried 4 runs without and one with. I got my best 60ft with the burn out.
I will agree with you it is hard on the tires, but also the cars sub-frame, axles shafts, park brake, and the complete driveline while your at it.

bottom line - IMO it worked for me and was found very effective. I can see myself getting to 2.1 with practice.

 

no a super big burnout is ineffective, by doing a short little burnout you are raising tire temp slightly, and getting dirt off of the tire

 

REPOST with new info.......Read the bottom in CAPS for new info:

I don't know how you guys are all gettin 2.35 and worse 60ft times. All my mods are in my sig, and I consistantly get between 2.18 and 2.35. NO damper yet, NO bushings or any other type of motor mounts......? I know I can drive my car but I'm no Pro driver. Only taken 12 passes in it so far and my WORST 60 ft is a 2.39 Been at two different tracks in both 60 degree rain delay overcast/and dead sun 80+. I can't wait to get this Ingalls damper on!!!! Can anyone say 2.1 or better 60 ft with my mods?!? I'm stoked.
Stage II en-route baby!!!!!! 2 flat? :P

P.S. my tire pressure @ track is 38 in rears and 32 in front

Best of luck

I ALSO DONT DO A BURNOUT......NO WATER. GO AROUND THE WATER PIT AND JUST GIVE THEM A SUPER QUICK SQUEEK. MY MODS I'M CONSISTANTLY GETTING 2.2-2.25 60
FT TIMES AT ABOVE TIRE PRESSURE. PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT 24LBS IN THIER TIRES.....MAYBE. THINK ABOUT IT..WHEEL HOP IS A RESULT OF YOUR WHEEL "HOPPING" NOT ROCKET SCIENCE... ADD SOME DAM PRESSURE AND THEY MIGHT SPIN A SMALL AMOUT, BUT ITS WAY EASIER ON YOUR CAR AND EASIER TO FEATHER THE CLUTCH AND GAS TO MAKE THE WHEELS CATCH FOR BETTER 60 FT TIMES IF YOU DON'T LAUNCH PERFECT.
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Current Mods:Removed trunk bowtie, Viper alarm, 15% tint, Eibach Sportline 1.0/1.3 drop, K&N CAI, Corsa 2.5 Sport catback

Personal bests with above mods: .009 RT , 2.18 60FT , 14.59ET , 99.82 MPH
(all on about 7/8 tank of fuel) OOPS

Mods in the works: Date to be done:
GM Stage 2 w/2.8" pulley on order-late June or early July?colder plugs late June or July
mid 13's here I come!!!

 

Well I will try again. I dont think more HP will shorten the time. so I will try both - no burn out and with burn out. airing tires and no airing tires. See which is better. It will depend on track prep too. Our track is super sticky. a sub sec drag racer told me today that it is one of the best prepared tracks he has raced on. He has traveled but he is not full time racer.

 

***UPDATE***

After my 2nd run, my transmission blew.. I noticed the car was kind of acting up but I was wondering why my times sucked even with decent 60 foots!

Dealership ordered me a new transmission yesterday, they say by friday I should have it ready to go. Then back to the track to test! They said the fluid overheated and the inside cooked or something.

Anyways, thats my update :P

 

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums//showthread.php?t=9518

^^ There's my guide to launching at the track for a little extra info. That 14.1 was done only w/ a K&N intake.

 

sweet, thanks

Is this really unusual that my tranny went so fast?

Like they said the fluid was leaking and overheated, therefore the inside fo the tranny overheated.

Why would that happen on my first visit to the track and in so few runs..

I didn't drive it anyway unsual at all...