First time at any strip in about 10 years, too. I spend all of my motorsports time at road courses, but Zmax Dragway is right down the road and I've been curious about this car. Trifecta tuned, custom CAI, rotated trans mount, Dunlop Direzza DZ102 tires. No launch control, no no-lift-shift. Conditions not ideal, mid-80s temps and over 80% humidity. My best ET was a 14.265 @ 102.35 with a 2.467 60'. Best 60' time in 9 runs was a 2.395 and best trap speed was a 104.65.

I tried a few different ways to launch and couldn't find anything I was happy with. Babying it off the line was the worst and leaving the stock tune on (cruise control button) for first gear didn't make a difference. The best thing was to feather a little out of the hole to get moving and just let it spin the tires through 1st gear. I want to go back when it's cooler and lower humidity. I'm not happy with the ETs, but I do like my trap speeds.

This was my last pass. 14.418 @ 104.02

 

Are you stock except for tune? Also have you ever tried NLS? I really don't know much about it but it did seem to bog a little between shifts getting turbo to spool back up. Nice pass.

 

No other power mods than the tune and CAI. I have never even tried the NLS, but I'm willing to now. It does take a bit to pick back up between gears when shifting traditionally. 3 shifts = lots of lost time.

 

Here is a 14.352 @ 104.11. 60' 2.413. I think I might have shifted 1-2 a little early because I was worried about bouncing off the rev limiter. With the wheelspin, it's hard to tell when it's time to shift. I think that's why my best 60' time didn't turn into my best ET.

 

That's rough.

Try rolling into the throttle. You're just making more heat and reducing the already limited grip you have. Spinning launches only work with slicks.

I was hitting 14.3, 2.4 60' @101mph stock on old tires with 100 degree heat.

 

With NLS? I just tried it this afternoon and I really should have used it last night. I might go back next weekend. I'll try easing it out of the hole and keeping wheelspin to a minimum. It takes serious right foot discipline. The surface at the strip didn't have the grip of road asphalt.

 

With NLS. It makes a difference but not as much as a solid launch would. You trapped higher than me so it means you'd be faster with a good launch.

When launching don't dump the clutch and modulate with the gas. It just doesn't work. Hold throttle more steady and use the clutch.

It's a balance of the two. You don't want to bog but spinning is almost worse.

 

Thanks. I'll try launching that way next time.

 

Bottom line is you will struggle until you can get any grip in 1st and 2nd. All that spinning is killing your time. Try and take off like you would from a quick stop light and slightly load the car with the ebrake at the line. I only nls 3-4th because I run 4.45 gears and 2nd gear comes too quick. Tons of broken 3rd gears by other guys means I also don't nls 2-3 either. Here is a run I did on slicks for you to see what it's like to get traction, even though i still spun 1st because I didn't have the air let down far enough.

 

What was the 60' time on that pass?

 

2.05 I think because I spun out of the hole. I've gotten 1.95 so far but I've only ran once in slicks. Will be going back a few more times this fall now that I know what to do. Hoping for 1.85 and a clean pass. Should put me at about 12.40-12.50. If I nls all the gears it would be low 12's.

 

Wow, that's quick. Ever use a traction compound or tire conditioner? I ordered some Thor Oil Goat P. I figured it's worth a shot to try to rejuvenate my tires. I want to try it on my track car anyway.

 

I have not. These cars are so light and carry so much torque even at low rpm that tires are critical. You may also try peewee footballs in the rear springs to try and slow weight transfer.

 

Oh yeah, found some grip over in the prepped lanes. In low 70s temps, 70s humidity, I ran a 13.238@108.39MPH on my 2nd pass. 2.256 60'. In 11 passes, I spun the launch only a little a few times. I got wheel hop one time with too much slip. I was scared of that and erred on the side of bogging. Ran many mid-high 2.2x 60' and many 13.3x and 108.x trap speeds. 109.65 max. I'm really happy about this. I'm retiring this car from drag racing. I use it for my daily and I love it. I don't want to break it.

This is my 13.238 pass. The Marauder in this video left 0.709 seconds before I did. I don't care about RT. Ain't nobody got time for that.

I was happy to get 186. I used 86 when I ran this car at road courses. Seemed like a good sign.

 

That's a huge improvement. Nice passes.

 

Nice job! It's fun running cars down at the top end due to running about 10mph faster than they are.

 

Hitting that on my 2nd pass got 12s in my mind. After a bunch of 13.3s and not seeing my 60' go down a lot, I knew I'd have to really put a lot into the launch if it could happen. Wasn't worth the risk. Thanks for the advice, guys.