Phil1320
20+ Year Contributor
- 2,256
- 39
- Dec 9, 2002
-
Rocky Hill,
Connecticut
Hey all! I figured I'd open this one up, seemed to have some interest on the "first in the 10's" thread so I think this could be a great thread. This is open to anything related to the history of DSM Drag Racing. Pictures, stories, articles, statistics, etc. I'm fascinated by it.
It started so small, and continually got bigger, then grew in to a monster that pushed us out of drag racing classes or burdened us with restrictions in order to keep DSM's from constantly destroying the competition.
As stated elsewhere. I first was turned on to DSM's at Maryland International Raceway, Budds Creek, Maryland, July 4th, 1996. It was the Import Shootout hosted by EIP Tuning, the VW Tuner shop.
Being a VW guy, is most likely the reason I am today a DSM guy, and have been for more than 13 years. Without being a VW guy first, I'm not sure I would have known about the shootout, or paid any attention to the add if it was not VW related. So, the fact that I was a into the dubs, is the reason I was able to see the DSM's run at this event. And, they DID run. I was there to see, what else, I've said it 100 times now, VW's! I was a salesman for Acura at the time, and was gaining interest in the Integra GSR. As a matter of fact, I planned to purchase or lease one that summer. THANKFULLY, I went to this event.....
There were a few "quick" Honda's there. I remember about 13.6-14.3 ET's out of those cars. As far as the VW's, I remember a 1.9 L carburated NA Rabbit that pulled a 13.3 or so.
AND then, ALL the DSM's ran at once, and on average they were SO MUCH quicker and faster than all the other cars. I was like, "What the hell makes those things so fast?" Several 12, and 11 second cars! After watching those cars run down the track that day, I decided: Screw the VW's, I've done 10 years with them and it's time for a change. The thought of a new Integra was gone from my mind INSTANTLY. I was literally blown away by the performance of the Talons and Eclipses.
I remembered a friend of mine had a black '93 Talon ES while still in Maryland at the event. I couldn't wait to get back to CT so I could see what it felt like to sit in one. At the local cruise strip the following weekend, I got the chance to sit in it and I was SOLD. I loved the dash, the center console, the seats, the whole overall feel was just awesome and I knew I wanted the TURBO AWD version. I liked the '90-'91 body style TALON the best and wanted it in WHITE.
At the time, the only color I really wasn't that into was RED. I was looking in classifeds and in October of 1996, I found one that listed as one owner, 38k miles, and was about 25 miles from where I lived. I called the guy and set up a meeting. I headed out there with my friend Craig. On the way out, he was asking me what I knew about the car so far and asked what color. He knew I wanted white, he was also a WHITE ON WHITE fan. I had forgotten to ask what color it was We pulled up, and wouldn't you know, it was Red!
He was asking $8000. It had a crack in the windshield, the red paint was faded, and the rear wing and mirrors were faded some. It wasn't mint, but it was all there and had low mileage. Without delving too deep here. I ended up paying $7250 for the car, it booked in the $9000 range. Included in the sale were a '90 brochure, a '92 brochure, the factory repair manuals, and an engine pre-luber that was brand new in the box with a receipt for $389.00. I still have it and it is new in the box!
So, I drove it the first time and I was hooked. The only thing that was weird feeling was that active rear toe adjust when in the corners. It didn't feel quite as unsettled as the 4WS Honda Prelude, but, it sure felt weird to me after owning several very tight VW's.
So, within that month, the car was at the Drag Strip for the first time. It actually was within a week and a half I think. It was a super packed Saturday test n tune. I got 3 passes all day long. I tried a few practice launches on the street in the week leading up to the test n tune. I sucked at it in the beginning.
All 3 60' times were 2.0's
First pass ever was [email protected]
Followed by [email protected] - BEST RUN STOCK
and last a [email protected] - my slowest ET ever to this day!
The car was a strong runner right from the get-go had I been better at the launching, I might have matched CAR & DRIVER's 1/4 mile ET of 14.6 which is the quickest number in print for the Talon TSi AWD.
When I say bone stock, I mean BONE, air silencer still there, boost solenoid restrictor in, literally bone stock, full weight. I'll add some more on this later...
And so the journey began. That's a bit of my history to open this up, some background on why I'm here and why I'm interested in DSM history.
Let's talk it up!
It started so small, and continually got bigger, then grew in to a monster that pushed us out of drag racing classes or burdened us with restrictions in order to keep DSM's from constantly destroying the competition.
As stated elsewhere. I first was turned on to DSM's at Maryland International Raceway, Budds Creek, Maryland, July 4th, 1996. It was the Import Shootout hosted by EIP Tuning, the VW Tuner shop.
Being a VW guy, is most likely the reason I am today a DSM guy, and have been for more than 13 years. Without being a VW guy first, I'm not sure I would have known about the shootout, or paid any attention to the add if it was not VW related. So, the fact that I was a into the dubs, is the reason I was able to see the DSM's run at this event. And, they DID run. I was there to see, what else, I've said it 100 times now, VW's! I was a salesman for Acura at the time, and was gaining interest in the Integra GSR. As a matter of fact, I planned to purchase or lease one that summer. THANKFULLY, I went to this event.....
There were a few "quick" Honda's there. I remember about 13.6-14.3 ET's out of those cars. As far as the VW's, I remember a 1.9 L carburated NA Rabbit that pulled a 13.3 or so.
AND then, ALL the DSM's ran at once, and on average they were SO MUCH quicker and faster than all the other cars. I was like, "What the hell makes those things so fast?" Several 12, and 11 second cars! After watching those cars run down the track that day, I decided: Screw the VW's, I've done 10 years with them and it's time for a change. The thought of a new Integra was gone from my mind INSTANTLY. I was literally blown away by the performance of the Talons and Eclipses.
I remembered a friend of mine had a black '93 Talon ES while still in Maryland at the event. I couldn't wait to get back to CT so I could see what it felt like to sit in one. At the local cruise strip the following weekend, I got the chance to sit in it and I was SOLD. I loved the dash, the center console, the seats, the whole overall feel was just awesome and I knew I wanted the TURBO AWD version. I liked the '90-'91 body style TALON the best and wanted it in WHITE.
At the time, the only color I really wasn't that into was RED. I was looking in classifeds and in October of 1996, I found one that listed as one owner, 38k miles, and was about 25 miles from where I lived. I called the guy and set up a meeting. I headed out there with my friend Craig. On the way out, he was asking me what I knew about the car so far and asked what color. He knew I wanted white, he was also a WHITE ON WHITE fan. I had forgotten to ask what color it was We pulled up, and wouldn't you know, it was Red!
He was asking $8000. It had a crack in the windshield, the red paint was faded, and the rear wing and mirrors were faded some. It wasn't mint, but it was all there and had low mileage. Without delving too deep here. I ended up paying $7250 for the car, it booked in the $9000 range. Included in the sale were a '90 brochure, a '92 brochure, the factory repair manuals, and an engine pre-luber that was brand new in the box with a receipt for $389.00. I still have it and it is new in the box!
So, I drove it the first time and I was hooked. The only thing that was weird feeling was that active rear toe adjust when in the corners. It didn't feel quite as unsettled as the 4WS Honda Prelude, but, it sure felt weird to me after owning several very tight VW's.
So, within that month, the car was at the Drag Strip for the first time. It actually was within a week and a half I think. It was a super packed Saturday test n tune. I got 3 passes all day long. I tried a few practice launches on the street in the week leading up to the test n tune. I sucked at it in the beginning.
All 3 60' times were 2.0's
First pass ever was [email protected]
Followed by [email protected] - BEST RUN STOCK
and last a [email protected] - my slowest ET ever to this day!
The car was a strong runner right from the get-go had I been better at the launching, I might have matched CAR & DRIVER's 1/4 mile ET of 14.6 which is the quickest number in print for the Talon TSi AWD.
When I say bone stock, I mean BONE, air silencer still there, boost solenoid restrictor in, literally bone stock, full weight. I'll add some more on this later...
And so the journey began. That's a bit of my history to open this up, some background on why I'm here and why I'm interested in DSM history.
Let's talk it up!