Tonight I headed to the dragstrip at Portland International Raceway with my friend Dan Smith, owner of the "Silver Bullet." The Bullet is a 13.8-second-quarter-mile 1969 300SEL 6.3 -- the fastest known 6.3 in the world.

Since acquiring my 1994 E500 a month ago or so, I have been on a constant quest for increased ETs and decreased quarter-mile times.

Last weekend I was able to obtain a 14.351 second quarter mile, at a terminal speed of 97.56 MPH, with a 60' time of 2.243 seconds. While not bad, I knew clearly that the car is capable of better times than this. Over the past few weekends I have been experimenting hardcore in order to find ways to decrease the 1/4 mile runs.

I'm happy to say that tonight I achieved a new record with a stock 1994 E500. That record is 14.137 seconds at a terminal speed of 98.44 MPH.

In fact, out of seven runs, I obtained 14.1 second runs on 3 of them, with two 14.2, one 14.3 and one 14.6 run on the rest of the night.

Statistics for the two fastest runs are as follows:

Reaction time: 0.576, 0.575 seconds
60': 2.174, 2.181 sec
330': 6.006, 6.012 sec
1/8 mile: 9.143, 9.153 sec
MPH: 78.05, 78.00
1000': 11.850, 11.865
1/4 mile: 14.137, 14.158
MPH: 98.44, 98.46

My third-fastest run, a 14.169 second quarter mile, had an ET speed of 99.30 MPH, my fastest time of the night.

With careful practice and analysis, with aim of continual improvement, honed over dozens of runs, here are the technique and modifications I have done to achieve these times:

- deactivate ASR by unplugging underhood
- addition of RENNtech EPROM to replace stock LH fuel injection control EPROM
- lower tire pressure from 32-33 PSI to 24 PSI
- "dual burnout" technique, smoking tires 4-5 seconds in chlorine-water burnout box; pull forward, repeat on dry pavement before starting line (cleans then heats tires)
- use 80-90% throttle off the line
- start in first gear; shift maually between 6,000 and 6,500 RPM
- Use mixture (50-50) of Chevron Supreme 92 octane gas with VP 103 octane race fuel
- Have approximately 1/4 tank of fuel in the car
- Use bag-ice on top of the intake plenum/airbox cover for approximately 30 minutes between runs

Ambient temperature tonight was medium -- approximately 60 degrees. Each 10 degree drop in temperature results in an approximate 0.1 second ET drop.

All runs were done using 225-55/ZR16 Michelin Pilot street tires on stock 16x8" 8-hole factory wheels. Next season I will run drag tires, whcih I expect will reduce times by 0.3-0.4 seconds additional.

The biggest problem I have had traditionally has been launches. The wheelspin with traction control disabled has been so bad, if the throttle is not feathered at launch, easily allows one to "blow" a launch.

Tonight I went a long way to solving this with street tires by reducing tire pressures to 24.5 PSI on the driver's side tire, and 24.0 PSI on the passenger side. This helps provide a little extra "bite" with the limited-slip of the rear end.

Cars taken tonight included several 5.0 Mustangs, including a 4.6 liter Mustang Cobra. I also beat a "General Lee" type Mopar that was heavily modified, and lost to a heavily modified C4 Corvette (vintage approx 1997-1998) by 0.008 seconds. We were neck and neck the whole way.

Two more weekends for race season here at PIR. I expect with colder weather to obtain a 14.0 second quarter-mile time.

Reporting from Oregon!



Cheers,
Gerry