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September 3rd, 2004
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Preparation: I went back in search of the elusive 100mph trap speed. In preparation, I removed as much weight as reasonably feasible:

Spare tire, lid, carpet, and tool kit (58.0 lbs.)
Owner's manual packet (2.0 lbs.)
Rear seat bottom cushions (21.0 lbs.)
Factory rubber (all weather) floor mats (16.0 lbs!!)
Subwoofer and fabric cover (19.5 lbs.)
Swapped fat 18" wheels for stock wheels & tires (26.0 lbs total)
Splash/sound shield below engine (5.0 lbs)

All totaled, that added up to 142.5 pounds less weight - wow. But, I added 4 gallons of fuel (32 lbs) when I had probably only used two last time, so that may have added ~16lbs, so my estimated net weight change compared to my previous dragstrip runs was 126.5 lbs. Still an impressive weight loss. The smaller/lighter wheels & tires have the additional benefit of less gyroscopic forces - they take less power to get into motion. I pulled the front turn signals out, since there is a hole that runs straight into the airbox behind, to create sort of a ram-air effect... grasping at straws, I know, but hey it can't hurt. I increased the front tire pressure up to 40psi; and dropped the rear tire pressure to ~21psi.


Track Conditions: Sunny and COOL! About 70-75F to start with, ending in the mid/upper 60's - great weather. Well, except for that damned wind - a steady 5-10mph with gusts of 15+, absolutely straight on against the cars going down the track. Ugh. I am convinced that cost me my coveted 100MPH Club decals. BTW - my GPS says the track is at 2700 feet above sea level.

Time Trial Report: I got three practice runs over an hour apart. For each, I shut off ASR and did a short burnout just in front of the water box. Then I turned the ASR back on (yes, ON) and engaged the snow chain switch. The first three runs went well - good launch, no excess wheelspin, decent reaction times (compared to my first night anyway). It was cool and windy so the engine cooled off VERY well between runs - 50-60C on the dash gauge when I got to the end of the staging lane.


Race Report: This was actual bracket racing. I was to estimate my time from the practice runs, and give that as a "dial in" time. I dialed in at 0.03 quicker than my best so far and hoped I wouldn't break out. Lined up, did a short (one wheel, grrrr...) burnout, and hoped for the best. The launch was mediocre - wheelspin started, but the ASR kicked in at around 20-25mph to keep it from 'getting away' like it would with the ASR disabled. My 60' times show that wasn't bad at all - almost the same as my first run with no wheelspin! The PROBLEM appeared at the 1-2 upshift. I'm not sure what happened. It felt like the tranny forgot to shift, hesitated an instant, then BANGED the upshift complete with tire chirp. Of course all it takes is a couple tenths and I was toast. I was 0.260 slower than my dial in and lost - meaning I had to go home. Of course, the guy I was running against (in a slower car) happened to be a Gold Cup champ and was using my class for extra practice. He ran 0.007 slower than his dial, AND cut a 0.062 reaction time - a complete pro! D'oh. Had I been against another amateur, I might have won and gotten another run, as the sun was just setting and ambient temps were about to dip into the 50's in another hour.

The Times:
Run 1: 14.212 99.54
Run 2: 14.191 99.32
Run 3: 14.089 99.31
Run 4: 14.314 99.21

Note the first/slowest run had the best trap speed. The last run was the one where the tranny screwed up, AND spun at launch, yet still managed an impressive trap speed. Full run data from the time slip is in the screen shot below, along with the AP-22 data in the second screen shot. The AP-22 was DEAD NUTS ACCURATE, whoo, I'm impressed with that thing.


Next Time:
** RENNtech chip to be installed
** Ice the airbox!
** Pray for a 10mph TAIL wind
** Change trans fluid and install Mobil-1 synthetic ATF (been meaning to do this anyway)

Must... get... into... 100MPH Club!!