Z Club Drag Challenge 13th May

[Rob Gaskin]

Thoughts from a 1/4 mile novice, open to debate of course:

• It's a great way to find out how quick/slow your car is.
• When you've had two or three runs nothing much changes unless you modify the car.
• Unless it's completely dry there's little point in 'running' so the whole day can be frustrating.
• Spectating is quite interesting.
• You can queue a long time for a 15sec blast
• It's tough on the transmission
• It's a good social occassion and less of a risk than track days
• It's cheap to enter and uses little fuel

So to be honest until I fit an LSD or Webbers I probably wont give it another go. However I'd like to see how quick my recently aquired Golf VR6 is compared to the 240. As I said, for comparison between cars or mods it's great.

Steve, You have been really impressive and running great times now but if your car was still the same spec as when you started would you be as keen?

I'm not negative about drag racing or the people who do it, it just isn't a big enough draw for me.

Good luck everybody and I hope the weather is kind to you.

 

[Wyn]

All that work and for what?

That looks a nice car, does it actually work then Mr .... or do you just look at them?

I’ll be there in my 240
Not saying I’m running it mind, just incase ol man pmac does me

 

[SKiddell]

Hi rob, just a few thoughts on your thoughts

When you've had two or three runs nothing much changes unless you modify the car.

I've been running now for 2 years and clocked up over 70 runs and I am still trying to get my launch right -- everything changes every day.

but if your car was still the same spec as when you started would you be as keen?

I honestly can't answer that Rob, but I do know that when I first started I have a pristine A1 car, once I was hooked I realised that the Z was for driving not polishing so decided to see just how fast an NA car can go and now its a long way from A1 but hey thats the price you pay to have a car thats quicker than some so called "super cars"

 

[chunk]

All that work and for what?

That looks a nice car, does it actually work then Mr .... or do you just look at them?

I’ll be there in my 240
Not saying I’m running it mind, just incase ol man pmac does me

Be good to see you again Wyn!

Rich

 

[Wyn]

Be good to see you again Wyn!

Rich

Rich
Are you tellin me you are now TT'd all up !!

 

[chunk]

Rich
Are you tellin me you are now TT'd all up !!

I wish buddy!! Im still lots of £££'s and days away from that yet im afraid!

I'll just be visiting in the NA tomorrow (oohh today) and i wont be running that cos of a couple of minor niggles!!

It's all good fun this Z lark

Rich

 

[Wyn]

Rich

Ok

My 240.. sort of .. but not really a 240z ...

Tell you what, you do the steerin n I'll do the pedals


Gotta be worth a Z point if nothin else lol

 

[zedhead260]

Thoughts from a 1/4 mile novice, open to debate of course:

• It's a great way to find out how quick/slow your car is.
• When you've had two or three runs nothing much changes unless you modify the car.
• Unless it's completely dry there's little point in 'running' so the whole day can be frustrating.
• Spectating is quite interesting.
• You can queue a long time for a 15sec blast
• It's tough on the transmission
• It's a good social occassion and less of a risk than track days
• It's cheap to enter and uses little fuel

• True, and cheaper than a rolling road power run.
• Things do change that you may not notice on the road. If you start losing half a second from your usually consistant times then you know something is wrong.
• There's usually something there of interest and it's nice to see what other cars run as a comparison
• Yeah, that can be a bitch sometimes - get there early.
• hmmmm, maybe but it never caused me any problems.
• True and it's always fun racing your mate.
• True (could be cheaper though)

But remember the drag challenge is there so you can collect points and win some money - so you don't have to constantly modify your car.

It's just a bit of fun really, and at least the cars are getting used and showing people what they can do.

 

[240z]

Rob, I think you are right apart from this point

When you've had two or three runs nothing much changes unless you modify the car.

I think it took about 4-5 runs before I started to get the hang of it, but then I think as the weather/track conditions changes you will have to adapt to suit. I think I am starting to get the hang of the starts, being a lot less aggressive, but my gear changes under pressure were pretty poor..

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Rob, Ok, probably better than a compression tester and cheaper than a rolling road session I can see that.

Phil, I've done very few runs, my total experience is 2 0-60 sprints at TRAX (Silverstone) and 4 runs (1 day) at Santa Pod.

At Silverstone I did 5.57 out of the box and then 5.55 (bit flattering because you're already moving when you break the timing beam).

At the Pod I think my start was as good on the first run as the last! I got the impression on both days that I had done my best and so no point in doing anymore.

I don't feel that on a track day, I can always think of somewhere to improve.

If someone like Mike, Pete, Steve or Dean etc ran my car at the Pod I don't think the difference would be that great from me (I may of course be completey wrong). However if Matt, Charles Barter, Dave Jarman, Ben etc took my car around a circuit I'm sure the difference in time from me would be immense! So I'm more drawn to trying to improve my track skill rather than drag racing.

Also at the end of the day for me cornering is what gives pleasure.
I suppose all this is about people getting their kicks from different things! As they say it's a good job we're all different.

 

[SKiddell]

Rob

I truly think there is more "depth" to this Motorsport (yes it is motorsport) than most people give credit -- maybe its naivety, or maybe its just plain denial.

Example
Today I couldn’t get below 13.8, traction felt great but try as I might it just wouldn’t happen, everything went through my mind, weather, the valve clearances I had done at 2 am in the morning -- the way I had tied my shoe lace's, we even debated it over the lunch break. After lunch, one of the Pro mod cars ran up the strip and I followed within about 5 mins - hey presto I ran a 13.5 second. Once I got my timing slip the reason became glaringly obvious from the 60ft time (prompted by Mike's observation), the big difference was -- the one thing I had taken for granted and dismissed -- traction, before the Pro car ran they prepped the track and applied fresh glue, the Pro car ran and applied fresh rubber on top --- et voila good traction -- obvious after the event, but how do you know that on the few times you ran you got perfect traction (this is just one example of the many variables that most people are oblivious to). What rpm did you launch at, did you try varying this What were your tyre pressures, did you try dropping them, what were your shift points, at what rpm does your engine achieve peak power, what gear did you cross the line in, what fuel were you using, what plug gaps have you tried, the list goes on, but I already know the answers.

Rob you say

that I had done my best and so no point in doing anymore.

after only 3 runs, your having a laugh right , followed by

If someone like Mike, Pete, Steve or Dean etc ran my car at the Pod I don't think the difference would be that great from me

Theres that N word again, trust me it would (I would'nt be in that list as I am still an apprentice)-- for the same reason that every Skyline we saw today were doing 14+ seconds passes in 13 second cars -- they cant launch, because they only do it once in a blue moon, it’s the same reason that it takes more than a kick about with the kids to be a good footballer.

 

[zedhead260]

Also at the end of the day for me cornering is what gives pleasure.
I suppose all this is about people getting their kicks from different things

Don't we all Rob - look at my rebuild thread; you think I go to that effort if all I want to do is go in a straight line?

The best thing in the world would be if we had access to something like the Top Gear Test Track where we could all play (and have a Hall of Fame for it). And, lets just say for arguments sake; you get the fastest time out of all of us - would you stop playing ?

 

[SKiddell]

Round 2
For those delirious with excitement, here is a very very brief round up of round 2
Despite the prospect of poor weather (which held off )
An excellent days motorsport was had
S30's made a good showing with 3 turning up
Me, Mick and John -- 4 if you count super TVR modified Wyn.

S32's were represented by Pete McDonald and Hasib "should I launch now" Khan

And for once 2 -- yes 2 S33's were playing, looks like Mike has a little competition on his hands with TheMinel putting in several respectable mid 14's runs.

Competition for reaction points was amasingly hot with at least 4 people running well under .3 seconds for the big points

A huge congrats goes to Wyn who lost his drag racing cherry in style with a cracking 14.3 (one of many runs ) this car has big potential and with the right tyres could easily get in the 13's.

 

[Steve J]

I am absalutly gutted! I forgot all about this, I was hoping not to miss any this season, didnt realise till I looked at the organiser this morning before I went to the 300zx mids meet. SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!!!!

 

[TheMinel]

was great to meet everyone! now where's all those pics!

 

[Wyn]

... now where's all those pics!

Looks like you got lucky

Just a few ...

1st run I think n I get to play with this ...

....... Mind you I did'nt wyn
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Dunno how this one slipped in

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Till next time

 

[pmac]

Top set of photos Wyn.
We wont tell your missus about that last one......























If ya buy us all a drink! LOL

 

[TheMinel]

nice ones! mine are here: http://www.350z-uk.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=65

loved the blue of that Gallardo!

 

[Wyn]

loved the blue of that Gallardo!

What Gallardo

 

[chunk]

Nice pics Wyn!

Mr Minel, You need a log in to see your pics!

Cheers Rich