1st time to track (Correction Drag Strip)

[XH29N0G]

Made it to the track for my first and only run today.  Enjoyed it and hope to return in the not too distant future.  

Don't think I did the car justice.  I had a fair amount of spinning and hit the rev limiter on the 2-3 (possibly the 3-4) shift.

Others were way faster.
 

[cdr]

very cool!!!     

[alfaitalia]

Cool....practice makes perfect. It always confuses me when you guys call it the track. In the UK a track is a loop with corners and straights. What you call the track we call the strip...or even dragstrip!

[Kern Dog]

I agree. A track is a road course. A Strip usually means a section of something, usually straight. Landing strip, Drag strip, paper strip. etc.
Congrats to the OP though.   

[cdr]

I  call it the track also.   

[Lennard]

I  call it the track also.    

How dare you!

WIKIPEDIA:

Converted airfields

The boom in motorsport flared after WW2, when many airfields particularly in Great Britain were left without further use. The most famous British track - Silverstone - is one after being a WW2 Class A Airfield, as areCastle Combe and Goodwood Circuit's. The long runways were perfect for drag strips such as at Santa Pod Raceway, and circuit layout usually creatively combined parts of the runways and the surrounding perimeter taxiway. This type of track also appears on the popular motoring show Top Gear, which is filmed at Dunsfold Aerodrome, in Surrey, England.


So it's one and the same. Carry on!

[cdr]

I  call it the track also.   

How dare you!

LOL!!! no kidding        

[alfaitalia]

Just another case of of our "two great nations separated by a common language" I guess. It just took me a while to understand why so many of you where taking your wobbly (as stock at least) Chargers around race tracks.....then I realised you weren't! Lol.

Lennard...that is a very odd wiki post as none of those tracks mentioned ever did drag racing (by coincidence I live close to Goodwood racetrack which still has a fully functioning airstrip in the middle of it!......but it's grass so no good for drag!.....very odd when I go to track days there with light aircraft just missing me!). Accept Santa Pod which is just a drag strip (no race track) and is probably the most famous strip in the UK. Been down it a few times on various motorcycles...but never a car. I can't think of any track in the UK which also has a drag strip......but someone is bound to prove me wrong!!

[XH29N0G]

Wow,  OK drag strip.   I'll fix it.  

Guess that just goes to show you how much of a  newbie I am.  

Anyway,  Still enjoyed it and hope to go back.  



My wife said "no, no, no" when I returned, and then said "maybe you should bring your son there, and his friends, they are building cars"  They are building them for an engineering club.  So all is good at home.  

Now I have to tell my dad.  He used to go to the air strip.  I learned about that at the dinner table in a conversation between him and my grandfather (mom's side)- apparently they both went to the same air strip.

[charger chris]

Wow,  OK drag strip.   I'll fix it.  

Guess that just goes to show you how much of a  newbie I am.   

Anyway,  Still enjoyed it and hope to go back.   



My wife said "no, no, no" when I returned, and then said "maybe you should bring your son there, and his friends, they are building cars"  They are building them for an engineering club.  So all is good at home. 

Now I have to tell my dad.  He used to go to the air strip.  I learned about that at the dinner table in a conversation between him and my grandfather (mom's side)- apparently they both went to the same air strip.

[BSB67]

Made it to the track for my first and only run today.  Enjoyed it and hope to return in the not too distant future.  

Don't think I did the car justice.  I had a fair amount of spinning and hit the rev limiter on the 2-3 (possibly the 3-4) shift.

Others were way faster. 

Congratulations!  Glad you had fun.  If you were on a street tire and a 4 speed, then you did real real good for a first outing.

What rpm is the limiter set at?  You might need to bump it up.

Me and my friends have always called it "the track".

[XH29N0G]

I had the limiter set at 6000 RPM.  My engine has hydraulic lifters and power peaked on the dyno at 5300 RPM.

I am still learning and my mindset is to watch the speedo rather than the tach.  I know where it is at 5500, but wasn't shifting there.  My 5300 rpm (corrected) shift points should be 34,52,77, and then run up in 4th.  (I shifted closer to 40, 60, 90 which is 6000)

The tires are 255 60 MT ET street radials.  Not the largest, but stickier than street tires.  I did not expect them to spin, but they definitely spun in 1st, but I think they held in 2nd.

I did not sidestep the clutch or speed shift.  Old habits die hard and I know I let off the gas when I push in the clutch.  I am sure that someone else could have driven it better.

Still, I am looking forward to doing this again.

[Bronzedodge]

The dragstrip local to me - the famed Cecil County Dragway, which has a long history, is commonly called "The Track" by the local racers. 

Great results for a first outing!  Congrats!

[BSB67]

 My 3500 shift points should be 34,52,77, and then run up in 4th.  (I shifted closer to 40, 60, 90 which is 6000)

If these 3500 rpm correlation points are correct, then you were shifting way to low.  Not sure why you would have been in the limiter as you shifting at about 4000 rpm. 

Funny, the only gauge I see when dropping the hammer in the tach. Once I'm in third I'll glance at the oil pressure

[XH29N0G]

My 3500 shift points should be 34,52,77, and then run up in 4th.  (I shifted closer to 40, 60, 90 which is 6000)

If these 3500 rpm correlation points are correct, then you were shifting way to low.  Not sure why you would have been in the limiter as you shifting at about 4000 rpm.  

Funny, the only gauge I see when dropping the hammer in the tach. Once I'm in third I'll glance at the oil pressure

Oops, I transposed it.  the 5300 RPM shift points are 34, 52, 77.  I have 4.30 gear in the rear. I need to train myself to watch the tach.  I used to, but I think it is from day to day driving.

[Challenger340]

Made it to the track for my first and only run today.  Enjoyed it and hope to return in the not too distant future.  

Don't think I did the car justice.  I had a fair amount of spinning and hit the rev limiter on the 2-3 (possibly the 3-4) shift.

Others were way faster.
 

Good for you    Sounds like you had alot of fun !

Don't feel bad about how or where you shifted with the 4 spd, it happens.
That said,
nothing like a trip to the Drag Strip to illustrate just how slow a 4 spd is compared to an Auto/Converter setup for a lower ET number.
Not saying a 4 Speed isn't way more FUN on the Street, cool to shift when driving, etc., etc., THEY ARE !

But for a Drag Strip "ET", you will always be up to 1 sec slower using the 4 spd vrs an Auto/10" deal on the 4.30 gear shifting @ 5500 rpm.

[XH29N0G]

nothing like a trip to the Drag Strip to illustrate just how slow a 4 spd is compared to an Auto/Converter setup for a lower ET number.
Not saying a 4 Speed isn't way more FUN on the Street, cool to shift when driving, etc., etc., THEY ARE !

But for a Drag Strip "ET", you will always be up to 1 sec slower using the 4 spd vrs an Auto/10" deal on the 4.30 gear shifting @ 5500 rpm.

Yes, this is now crystal clear to me.  And I have all the more respect for those that can shift better and faster.

[DAY CLONA]

Made it to the track for my first and only run today.  Enjoyed it and hope to return in the not too distant future.  

Don't think I did the car justice.  I had a fair amount of spinning and hit the rev limiter on the 2-3 (possibly the 3-4) shift.

Others were way faster.
 

Very respectable for your first time out on the "track" (I've always called it the track as well), most would have been 1.5-2 seconds slower than your times, your times will improve as you become more familiar and comfortable on the "track"    

[cbrestorations]

yeah if you are not real specific or grammar is not correct there are some people on here who will nit pick the hell out of you and totally ignore the topic at hand. every one i know who drag races calls it the "the track" could be used for any type of racing, even r/c cars. 90 percent of the people who have chargers dont take them to road courses but drag strips. anywho...sounds like you had a good time

[XH29N0G]

Thanks.    I'm glad I finally went.

I also don't mind being corrected.    

[BSB67]

Good for you    Sounds like you had alot of fun !

But for a Drag Strip "ET", you will always be up to 1 sec slower using the 4 spd vrs an Auto/10" deal on the 4.30 gear shifting @ 5500 rpm.

Bob, I'm not sure exactly what situation you are talking about here.  The situation of an inexperienced guy in street trim can lose 1 sec. of et do to launch/tire spin.  Some practice, and the 60 ft times will be close to an automatic, and the 4 speed car will mph better.  It just takes more skill with 4 speed.

[1974dodgecharger]

Good for you    Sounds like you had alot of fun !

But for a Drag Strip "ET", you will always be up to 1 sec slower using the 4 spd vrs an Auto/10" deal on the 4.30 gear shifting @ 5500 rpm.

Bob, I'm not sure exactly what situation you are talking about here.  The situation of an inexperienced guy in street trim can lose 1 sec. of et do to launch/tire spin.  Some practice, and the 60 ft times will be close to an automatic, and the 4 speed car will mph better.  It just takes more skill with 4 speed.

YUP.....

[GOTWING]

If you can get that 60' time down that will make a huge difference. 

[greenpigs]

Thanks.    I'm glad I finally went.

I also don't mind being corrected.    

Good stuff and glad it went well.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Love stick cars. Prcatice gets the shifting down. Before you know it you wont lift at all and you wont even be able to hear the rpm increase during shifts.

[XH29N0G]

Love stick cars. Practice gets the shifting down. Before you know it you wont lift at all and you wont even be able to hear the rpm increase during shifts.

Just a little scared about the not lifting thing.  Probably should be more scared about the launch. 

The only car I have speed shifted on was a 1980 diesel rabbit and that reved pretty slowly 

Will the limiter on the MSD 6AL keep it safe?

Hoping the weather is nice this weekend to try again.

[GOTWING]

Love stick cars. Practice gets the shifting down. Before you know it you wont lift at all and you wont even be able to hear the rpm increase during shifts.

Just a little scared about the not lifting thing.  Probably should be more scared about the launch. 

The only car I have speed shifted on was a 1980 diesel rabbit and that reved pretty slowly 

Will the limiter on the MSD 6AL keep it safe?


I feel your pain, my dad had a 1980 dasher diesel omg it was dangerously slow ! I would use it when I ran out of gas money as a teen. ( I drove my charger normally ) I remember going up a bridge I would turn off the ac to give it a little extra boost in power.

Hoping the weather is nice this weekend to try again.

[taxspeaker]

Excellent-glad to see the results!

[XH29N0G]

Made it back today.  The first run was better (13.2 104 and change).  I missed the 2-3 shift on the second run and it was slightly worse (13.9, 99).  I also had a chance to glance at my A/F gauge at the end and it read 14.0  I decided to stop.  Check more on the A/F, but definitely plan to return.  The 1st pic shows the cars around me in the line up (somehow I ended up in a group of dodges).  The second one is of the first time slip.   I was caught off guard by the tree, and shifted earlier 4800-5000.  There also was about a 10 mph headwind.  
 

[cdr]

awesome!!!!

[BSB67]

 

What carb? what A/F when cruising?  Might be as simple as upping the secondary jets.

[XH29N0G]

BSB67,

Thanks,  I also was thinking about upping the secondary jets.  

The carb is a Quick fuel Q-850 with annular boosters.  

My notes say the jets are 69/primary, 78 secondary, high speed bleeds are 31 & power valve is 10.5

I set it up this way on 2nd and 3rd runs.  Looking at them in total, I had it running mid 13's for a/f and wonder if when it finally ran up in 4th where there is more time on the main circuit that it went a touch leaner (I think it was also higher RPM).  

My A/F when cruising is currently high 14's and low 15's (the OD (5th) has cruise near 2000 RPM).  

[c00nhunterjoe]

Msd will prevent an overrev depending on what pill you put in it. 1.7 60' is respectable on those tires behind a stick car. Af could be as simple as jetting, but also what fuel pump are you running?

[XH29N0G]

Thanks for the idea.

I am running a carter M6903.  I replaced the fuel pump pushrod and fuel pump this last spring (the previous pushrod wore down).  The car has 3/8 inch fuel lines.  

Unfortunately, I do not have a pressure gauge currently installed to check fuel pressure during the run.  

I think Jets are probably the most logical place to make a change.  Looking back through my notes when I was selecting the jetting using 2nd and 3rd gear WOT bursts is that the A/F wasn't that far from where it ended up in 4th on the last run.  (It was settling in to a/f (on the gauge) of 13.2 to 13.7 in 3rd.)

[BSB67]

Thanks for the idea.

I am running a carter M6903.  I replaced the fuel pump pushrod and fuel pump this last spring (the previous pushrod wore down).  The car has 3/8 inch fuel lines.  

Unfortunately, I do not have a pressure gauge currently installed to check fuel pressure during the run.  

I think Jets are probably the most logical place to make a change.  Looking back through my notes when I was selecting the jetting using 2nd and 3rd gear WOT bursts is that the A/F wasn't that far from where it ended up in 4th on the last run.  (It was settling in to a/f (on the gauge) of 13.2 to 13.7 in 3rd.)

Use the gauge for info, and to not melt down your motor.  DON'T use it to decide what is right for WOT.  Use actual track data for that.  There is a good chance that what the internet computer jockeys tell you verses what your car needs for max power might be two different things.

[c00nhunterjoe]

   ive seen jet changes pick up 2 mph at the track on back to back runs when the computers say everything is perfect.

[XH29N0G]

Use the gauge for info, and to not melt down your motor.  DON'T use it to decide what is right for WOT.  Use actual track data for that.  There is a good chance that what the internet computer jockeys tell you verses what your car needs for max power might be two different things.

This is nicely worded and a good point.  

I will see if upping the jets make a difference, but will only go larger because the A/F is telling me I am already getting a little close to lean territory. 

At my stage, other variables (like my ability to launch and shift) are likely an even bigger issue for time and speed.

[BSB67]

Yes. Tuning can really only begin with any real meaning after you get the car reasonably consistent.

Right, not leaner.