finally...gonna go racing!

Dave T(BADVENM)

Dave T(BADVENM)

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Well, I finally get to put the pedal to the metal this saturday. Theres a car show in Norton, KS and an informal drag race at the local airport that afternoon. The airport runway is concrete which should make for good grip. Unlike another car show with a drag race earlier this year, this one is for 1/4 mile from what I'm told. There arent any timing lights or anything like that, just a chance for the participants to run their cars.

I'll have my g-tech with me so at least I can get some idea of the trucks performance (hopefully the runway is flat). Anyway, I'm preparing a checklist of things to do (tire pressure, tailgate up, wing ON) and manuer in the bed for traction (not). Anyway, havent done any hard launches yet but I'll start out relatively low and build rpm's each run I can get. Any advice would be appreciated. For now I plan to shift around 5500 rpm. A friend is coming with me and I'll have him shoot some video for y'all.

I forget which one of you lives in Nebraska...it would be great for you to come down and join me! Norton is about one county south of the nebraska/kansas border.
 
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5500 will burn em that's for sure:D . You could prolly burn less and move more at a lower rpm?? :dontknow:

Practice, that's it!!! :star: i

Wizzy is from NE ...
 
For the Pirelli's stay about 22psi.
Note your DTE...I keep mine about 80 miles on her upon arrival at the track. Simple green on the tires helps a bit for grip.
Don't slip the clutch... if you can avoid it.
I launch @ 1500rpm, and make adjustments from there...depends on the track prep.
Relax into third gear if your running the OEM shifter.
Have FUN... it is what's most important.
I try to log each run on the back of the timeslip....
Temp, launch rpm, what tune I have loaded, ambient temp/humidity, tire psi,
DTE reading, and so on. It's nice to reference them after the fact to see if adjustments work, or not.

I also fold in both mirrors.

Have a great time!:driver: :vroam: :ciao:
 
Have fun, let us know how the truck runs. Video??? I would rather dump the clutch then slip it!!

-Red
 
Since this is just for fun they wont be logging times but the police/state patrol will report the mph to the announcer. I'll have the g-tech to get some idea of 1/4. Since its a runway it wont be prepped but should have better grip then the asphalt. I just want to open her up through 3rd gear full throttle. Who knows, since its a runway I may keep her open farther then the quarter mile :)

I'll drop the rears down into the 22-25 psi range, up the fronts about 10psi and see how she grips...then adjust.
 
It's really hard to tell how traction will be on an airstrip, but if by chance you have some sort of cargo bar, you may want to drop a 100 or 200lbs. in the very rear of the bed and use the cargo bar to hold it there. Maybe sandbags or something similar.

This kind of weight behind the rear axle can make a dramatic improvement in traction!:rock: The increase in traction could far outweigh the cost of carrying the extra weight.

If you DO decide to do this, DO NOT place the weight back there until you are at the track, and remove it when you leave the track. Then, if by chance you have to make any kind of panic stop/heavy braking on public roads, the weight won't push through the cargo bar and slam up against the front of the bed. Which means you won't have to change your shorts!:p :D

Just a thought.
 
My friend could lay in the back, then when we're done he can get out. I'll ask him, thanks for the idea :)
 
Hope the tailgate doesn't pop open when you launch!!!!:eek: :eek: :D C-Ya!:aetsch:
 
have fun....the mph from the trooper will tell you alot about the power you are making.....115+ is what you are looking for....:D

22psi
 
The "event" is not until saturday. Its a car show with drag racing later in the day at a local airport runway. No timing lights or anything, just law enforcement using radar to give the audience the competitors speeds. I'll have my g-tech with me. Also, a friend of mine will have my video camera for an "inside the cab" video and hopefully a few from the stands.
 
I hope to have video ready fairly soon of saturdays fun. Heres a brief summary:

Had to go through the "water box", which was ok, the spectators loved the sound of the truck spinning at 5000 rpm.

First run was an older clean chevy pickup with a little blower under the hood. He jumped ahead of me and instead of paying attention to my shifting I was watching him and he got me.

2nd run was against another car or truck I cant remember. My friend was shooting video of all the runs but on this one he couldnt look back far enough to see the vehicle. At the end of the quarter I was just reaching 6K rpm in 3rd.

3rd run I think was against a basically stock 5.0 Mustang (80sish). Anyway, once I hit second we couldnt see him any longer.

4th run was against a 70s 302 boss, once I hit 3rd he was falling behind quickly.

5th run was against a guy with a destrocked 400 that I barely beat in the Viper last year (1/8 mile). we lined up and of course he got me on the launch, I missed 2nd so I shut her down.

Last run was against a Z06, I wanted to see just how I matched up. This Z06 is not the newer ones that are out, I think its the previous generation. I had heard the announcer state his speed (per highway patrol) was around 105 mph. Now the airport runway was at a slight upward angle and the times I really didnt think were all that accurate. However, my best mph per speedometer and g-tech was 101.5 so I thought it would be a good race. Once we lauched at the line he instantly pulled ahead. No tire spinning, nothing. His traction control was off. My 2nd to 3rd shift was bad so I backed out and he got me.

Overall impressions were once the boost kicks in above 3K rpm I have to watch my shift points. The rpm's come up rather quickly and the truck pulls hard. I had quite a few compliments on how the truck sounded at the track. I hope the video will do it justice. It was fun beating some stock Mustangs and trying to give a Z06 a go (even with my extra 2000+ pounds of weight). I think the truck suprised a few folks...especially those who arent familiar with the SRT Ram.

Fuel mileage running at 70 mph both to the event and back (about 250 miles total) averaged around 17.3 mpg (6th gear around 1500 rpm). At the track I was averaging 5.1 mpg :)

The g-tech was giving me 1/4 mile times of 14.68-14.88 at 100-101.5 mph. Of course these are on the slow side and given the
Z06 was running around 105 mph should give an idea of the trucks potential on a prepped track which is flat and with proper timing equipment. The density altitude was 4700 feet. Rear tires at 22-23 psi. NOOOO problem lightning them up in first and 2nd gears :) I think one of the faster mph (per state patrol radar) was around 110-112 mph.
 
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Sounds like you had a great time. I live close to Denver and was seriously thinking about going, but it was raining cats and dogs Saturday morning, so I decided against it. Should have gone.
 
If I had Zex's tires and 1.6 60' times I would have done much much better. The biggest and least expensive item for improving my times would be the slicks/drag radials and the shifter at this point.
 
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