Went to the Steet Wars (Imports vs USA) event at Englishtown NJ this Saturday. Bracket style racing. Place was packet with 500 tech cards sold. There were 96 cars in my class.

I entered the totally stock 2.2 auto ‘07 Cobalt on street tires in the 15.0 and slower class. The car was very inconsistent with ET’s all over the place. First time shot I was -.075 RT, 2.640 60’, 14.114 1000’, 16.857 ET at 81.73 MPH. My bad on the light but it was my first time out this year. Kept everything the same for the second time shot .036 RT, 2.643 60’, 14.234 1000’, 16.993 ET at 81.55 MPH. Car was staged in the same spot but ran .136 slower. Not good. The car got to cool down before the first time run and was hot for the second. I decided to let the car idle in the pits for the rest of the day.

Round 1: The air got a little worse in the almost 3 hour wait for eliminations. I dialed a 17.03. I decided to cut a very conservative light against the faster 15.5 opponent. I mustered a .088 RT and 14.341 at 1000’marker. The other car way in front so I tapped the brakes hard for a winning 17.143 ET at 71.41 MPH. His loosing .127 RT and 15.330 ET at 89.22 MPH. I got the win on my opponents break out. Opponent took the stripe and lost.

Round 2: Calculated that the last run’s ET would have been 17.07 without the brakes. Left the dial-in of 17.03. I got to leave first against a 16.00 car. My .047 RT and 14.033 at the 1000’marker let me again tap the breaks hard to tighten up my lead. I got the win on a 16.994ET at 65.56 MHP. The competition was .162 RT, 15.954 ET at 86.25 MPH. I took the stripe and got the win on a double breakout.

Round 3: Calculated that the last run’s ET would have been 16.79 without the breaks. I dialed 16.79 for round 3. I once again got to go first against a 15.00 car. With my .031 RT and 14.082 at the 1000’ marker, I was able to lift and coast in from there with a 17.314 ET at 53.70 MPH. My opponent gave me a gift by fouling out with a LB3A. He left before the third amber and I had the win light before I was at mid track. Opponent took the stripe but lost due to his foul.

Round 4 (12 cars left in the class): Calculated that the last runs ET would have been 16.84. I dialed a 16.84 against a 17.10 car. I got to chase this one down. I pulled a .063 RT and 14.904 at the 1000’marker. I got in front of the other car then did a top end dance (on the breaks) taking the stripe by .0148. Crossing first with a winning 16.940 ET at 76.71 MPH. Loosing car had a .172 RT and ran 17.105 at 76.47 MPH.

Round 5 (6 cars left in the class.): Calculated that the last runs ET would have been 16.85 so I dialed a 16.84 to be “safe”. Again I got to wait and let him go first with his 18.89 car. My .054 ET and 14.094 at the 1000’ marker let me get in front just before the finish line. I lifted off the gas and took the finish line stripe. My opponent’s .053 RT and 18.921 at 72.87 MPH was good to take the win on my mistake of taking him by a MOV of .0326 (I took the stripe by a fender). I ran a 16.838 at 80.92 MPH and lost on my breakout. I went .002 too fast and lost the round.

This was only the 2nd time out with a totally stock Cobalt. I came up a little short this weekend loosing a little early. Payouts started with the next round. Cobalt needs a little work to make it more consistent and needs to leave the line .020-.030 quicker. A pair of drag radials, a 160 degree thermostat, and a manual switch for turning on the cooling fans. I need to work a bit on my top end racing. Cobalt does have bracket potential.

 

sounds cool, id like to bracket race sometime after my turbo install later this month

 

i was gunna go but had to work, my friend stephanie wanted to go with her civic hatch, a import and a domestic, but then my other friend wanted to go too with his trailbalzer ss but couldnt go so no one went, next time we are going to an event

 

Sounded fun, looks like bracket racing goes to who know their car best.

 

cliff notes

 

round 5 - you left first against an 18.89s car??? methinks you meant he left first but either way, sounds like you got the bracket racing downpat homie, keep up the good work!

 

Woops fixed the type.

 

some one was "racing" an 18.89 car? I think I could run the 1/4 faster... lol
gotta luv bracket racing