I am going to the track next weekend to get some 1/4 mile times.
I have never been to a track before, ever. I am your average driver. What are some times i should expect? what should be my goal? I see all these folks on this board pulling 12.1's and 12.2's stock with their 01's. I dont want to aim that high because if i do, and knowing i am only average at driving, i might get dissapoitment. So, any help from the experts that have gone throug this stage? thanks guys
I will be running a 01 Z06 with a K&N airfilter and the 2002 airbox lid. ($100 worth of mods)
I have never run at the track but with my G-Tech and a 02 I run about 12.5-12.7. I am an average driver. Times get better the more you practice. A lot of the times you see are on drag radials!
Zilicious, don't set your expectation too high. If this is going to be your first time, you'll probably by lucky to get into the mid to low 13s. Seriously.
When your driving a 400 hp car its hard to control and put the power down. "Hooking up" off the line seems to ALWAYS be a problem for most inexperienced drivers. And it there in the first couple of hundred feet or less, that you can give up a whole lot of elapsed time. The next hardest thing is getting into the rythym of shifting while accelerating as hard as you can make the car go. It is all to easy to miss a shift. Practice shifting as quickly through the first four gears before you arrive at the strip. When ready
to go down the strip, watch your shift point. I'd shift by 6200 maybe a bit higher, but don't take it to the redline. If you do, you are going to bump the revlimiter - GUARANTEED - and there goes even more lost time.
The main thing is just have fun, and don't take it too seriously. You'll get just as much out of seeing "how fast" your car goes once you go through the finish line trap, as "how fast" it took to get there. 110+ is respectable for a stock Z.
Please let us know how you do after your first time at the drags.
The first couple of times down the track are going to be the scariest. I wouldn't worry about your times. I would concentrate more on learning how your car is gonna handle on track
There are alot of things to learn with your first track day. How tech works, staging lines, staging lights, etc. If you tell the track officials it's your first time at the track they will usually walk you though it.
People post just there best times for the most part therefore have more practice.
I have to agree with Drpipes most stock Z06's on street tires are not going to be running 12.1-12.2. I ran one today with mod's and tires running 12.4-12.5.
Most important think is to have fun.
Then again my hubby says he has created a monster in me
dsinned, totally agree. I think I am an okay 1/4 driver. I have been down plently of times with other vettes, also had a 10.50 E.T. blown 5.0 mustang. After reading everyones posts I was expecting to go 12.20's or so with a "out of the box" 2002. Didnt happen. My best pass was a 12.82@115 w/ a 2.001 60 foot time. Now, it was a 94 degree summer day, and by the time I got to the line my car was running 235+ water temp.
I believe I could have went 12.30-40's if it was a colder day.
Zlicious, I would expect your car to go high,high 12's or low 13's. Let face it, even at that, we got one of the fastest "out of the box" cars on the road. great feeling, isnt it...
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EB/M.Red, Slammed 2in., OEM Chromies, Daily Driver, (F1 street tires, 100% stock trim), Born 3/2002
I went to the track this weekend with my 01 Z06. I have many
bolt on mods from a Halltech Tric to full exhaust mods and I achieved my personal best this weekend with a 12.31 run at
116.41 mph. I do have BFG drag radial also.
It comes down to experience, track conditions, and then mods.
hey guys, thank you so much for the opinions.
I totally agree with everyone. I am not expecting to get anywhere in the 12's since this will be my first time. I am going to have a lot of fun. I am not all serious about it, yet i will try my best.
You are right about keeping the 400 HP beast on the road without going sideways. EVERYTIME i punch it off the line (just on normal roads), my car ALWAYS goes from side to side in the first 2 gears. I have to learn how to make that go away, but at the same time, not let off the gas too much so i dont loose time. Many things will come into factor as everyone stated. This will be a great experience for me, and i will for sure let everyone know how i did. Thank you so much for your support guys.
I really would like to see my car go 11.99 or better. I think with the combination of a few bolt-ons, drag radials, nice fall day, DRIVING THE CAR WITH NO MERCY :-) I can see these times. we'll see. My car is a daily driver so I cant go too nuts.
Zlicious, first of all , I agree with the others. Don't expect to change the world your first time out. My best run the very first time was 12.88 and my 60' numbers sucked.
Lots to think about when you start out....roll up your windows, make sure seat belt is tight, make sure car is in Comp mode, etc.
As Ric (powershifter) would say, its all about practice.
One of the earliest pieces of advice I got for 'off the line hooking up' was....pretend your leaving a stop sign fairly fast and when the tires grab...slam on it.
As far as burn offs...I used to do only a slight burnoff (with stock tires) to bring tire temps up to tracktemp and clean the tires. Ranger (who gets some really great times) said that he does a full burnout even on stock. Back up to the water, get back tires just a little wet, pull up and do a 3 or 4 second burnout. That's his method anyway.
The most important thing is to have fun!
WARNING!!......if your anything like me, this is very contagious and will lead to a lot of track time and 'mod money'
I have been down the 1/4 6 times my first was 13.2. My last was 12.64 i am stock with a vararam only. I think I can do a little beter My best 60 is 2.092. This is the only car I have ever drag raced on any track. You gotta love this car.
DO NOT BURNOUT, Just simply roll through the water, then "snap" the clutch a few times to burn the water off. Not too much though, you DO NOT want to heat the clutch up, it will slip.
I was laughing. My first time out there was this moron driving a 02' coupe. He would do these "top fuel like" burnouts all the way past the start line. The worst driver Ive ever seen. His best time all night was a 15.30 and to top it off, he heated the tires up so much, so many times, they were all warped. Brand new car w/ 800 miles that needed new rear tires. He thought he was all cool doing it too. idiot.
Electron, you'll have to take up that debate with Ranger. I never burned my stock tires that much but he gave that method on a post recently. Since he and Ric have posted the best 1/4 times (not counting heavy mods), seemed like worth listening to.
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My best 60 is 2.092. This is the only car I have ever drag raced on any track. You gotta love this car.
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