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.