Fun Times at Bracket Racing

[pneumo]

After two months of non-stop deluge, it finally stopped raining here in sunny California. Me and a bunch of Bay Area DSM'ers met up at the track to see how fast the new mods get us, and some came out to see how slow they still were. The turnout was good, I counted 5 1G's and a 2G. It was very cool hanging out with everyone between runs, and thanks for cheering me on!
OK here's my results, and a report.

I took my Laser to the track. Its my daily driver, FWD. I installed a 2G maf and retuned it so I wanted to see what it could do. I predicted I'd get a
high 13 since last time out I did a best of 14.0@ 107mph. It's nice to
be wrong once in a while

My first run was a 13.3@ 107.7mph with a 2.33 60' time. So I surpassed
my expectations right away. Very nice.
Second run was a 13.4@ 111.6mph with a 2.35 60' time. I was very happy
to meet my other goal of going 111mph.
Third run was 13.2@ 112.1mph! Damn, it just keeps getting better!
Runs 4 through 7 were in the 13.3 to 13.8 range. I usually get 3 to 4 runs, plus the weather had just dried up so I thought that the track would be much more crowded than it was. It wasn't until my 8th run that something happened.

My Laser has stock size all season radials at 30 psi inflation pressure
and a stock front diff. No drag radials and no LSD.

Run #8 13.15@ 108.3mph with a 2.19 60' time! So close to a 12! As a
bonus I got to collect a third place trophy for bracket racing, too!
Very cool! It didn't bother me that I red lighted at the start since I came there to see what my car could do, so the trophy is icing on the cake.

Other mods include an EVO3 16G, EVO O2 housing, 2.5" dp and cat, 3" catback, 2G maf, Denso 660 injectors, cams out of a '92, balance shafts removed, small fmic with 2.5" pipes, EPROM ECU with my own tuning burned into it, plus a bunch of small details.

Another bonus was that I got to do some threshold braking and clip one apex at Sears Point (Infineon) Raceway after each of my 8 runs! wohooo!

 

[fastezz]

Wow nice times, I dont think I met you I drove the red 1g, the fwd one with a black fender, that was my first time running my car at a track ever so my 15.1 was actually what I was expecting as everyones first time is horrible. All I know is i looked up at the tree and saw the last light and said " o shoot" and dropped it at liek 2k rpms and got a 15.1 at 100mph with a 2.8 60ft ahaha. Well next time I will pay more attention and get into low 13`s as I planned too, well too bad I didnt meet you, good job on the times man.
Next time I wont have any huge boost leaks and I will be running 5-8psi more tuned.
Ryan

 

[Knockin1g]

Hey Dave! Once again congrats on the runs! AMAZING times on stock tires. Looking forward to seeing you break into 12's with your FWD next time at the track!

 

[fwdeclipse]

Hey great times with the FWD.So close to 12s which I hope i can get this year. Im running a similiar setup as you.How many psi of boost were you runnning and how much timing on your chip and what afr.

 

[alex99gst]

Congrats man , but what happened to the guy next to you that ran a 24.623? Did he break something on the launch?

 

[ldstang50]

awesome man, nicely done

 

[Knockin1g]

Congrats man , but what happened to the guy next to you that ran a 24.623? Did he break something on the launch?

Since Pneumo "red lighted" the tree the other guy (wrx) just calmly cruised down the track

 

[tstkl]

the one time I could have, but didn't go.... 6 people show up. How come when I go no one shows, yet when I don't, 6 of you guys swarm the place. I guess this means you have a helmet I could borrow next time, . congrats on beating the time I wanted to make with my awd...

(I still beat your 60' time in one of my first two launches at a track ever, but not by much, . too bad I missed 3rd three times that day, my 3rd is very hard to get into, compairitivly that is)

 

[pneumo]

Thanks all. It was a nice suprise to go that fast after other trips to the track turned out not so good. I guess I was due for some good luck. Good track prep helped, too.

It was sweet driving 75 miles to work and back today knowing I'm getting 32 mpg in a car that does low 13's. I like it! So I'm not sure if I want to mod it more and try for 12's. I have it tuned the way I like it. That's why I have the Talon- to mod it heavily and go fast, comfort be damned.

I was running 20 to 21 psi of boost with a few gallons of 100 octane unleaded in the tank. Timing started at 16 degrees at 5k rpm and rises to 21 to 22 at 6k rpm and above. I don't know the exact A/F ratio. The fuel map has been leaned out to about 10.7.

Before I ran against the WRX I changed my dial-in to 13.2. Then he asks if he could borrow the shoe polish, and he changes his dial-in to 13.2 also! I thought it was funny, and very cool that we would have a heads up race instead of starting at different times, like the 19 second Datsun I went against (yawn). So when he handed the shoe polish back to me I said, 'good luck' and shook his hand. I blew it at the start, otherwise it would have been fun to see me beat a modded WRX! Maybe next time?

 

[RMDZidane]

Hey Dave, it's Ron the guy who was tagging along with the 'crew'. I had a good time quizzing you on your timing strategy and ROM burning. Congragulations on the trophy
Judging by how many of the other cars were performing, LS1 Vettes running 103mph, your trap speed really stood out.

 

[pneumo]

Hey Dave, it's Ron the guy who was tagging along with the 'crew'. I had a good time quizzing you on your timing strategy and ROM burning. Congragulations on the trophy
Judging by how many of the other cars were performing, LS1 Vettes running 103mph, your trap speed really stood out.

Hi Ron, yeah, it was a good day at the track. I hear you about the top end pull. I was so busy concentrating on my shift points and driving that I didn't really FEEL how fast the car was. On the way home I did a 2nd and 3rd gear pull while merging on the freeway and I was suprised at how hard it pulled!

The other guys are so close to getting their cars sorted out and getting some fast times. Paul really needs an eprom and an external wastegate. Danny needs a real boost controller and to check for boost leaks. Alex? go back to fwd? I always found that racing at the track helps to shake out the weaknesses in the car so I'd know what to work on next. That's how ya get faster!

 

[Knockin1g]

Alex? go back to fwd?

Haha, that's so true it's sad.

 

[T9S1i]

you are damn right about the boost leaks!!!! but im happy with a 13.50 @101.7 with a spike to 22psi then leaking down to 15 and holding there...
I also made all my goals for the track that day so for me it was successful. Broke into the 13's, trapped 100+, 1.8 60ft's, shifting was better (besides when i missed 2nd on the last run) i got 3 REALLY good R/T's... .015, .064, .0xx (i forget the last one), and last, the bonus, not one car that i raced passed the finish line before me.

The friday after the track, i drove the car in san francisco at night without touching anything and was boosting like 25psi!!! ahhh... regardless, i flipped the switch back down and held SOLID 15psi and ive only driven the car once since that night. Im trying to take the car to pauls shop to get the kinks worked out... my battery drained and doesnt want to hold a charge now.
Anyways, i'll get these problems worked out, throw some more 100octane in and tune for SOLID 20 psi and see if i can get low 13's or break 12's. I think that i had to pull timing and was getting that knock from the boost leak. When i fix it im going to try for full timing and a better a/f ratio and see what happens!

Anyways, congrats dave! i was really impressed to see you run those times with your car! Staying that late was fun, i havent had an excuse to watch the races until the end like that in a while so it was a good change.

 

[pneumo]

Welcome back to tuners, Danny. Yes you had some good times, too. It's fun racing against a car that runs almost the same times. Your car is coming along nicely. I think once those issues are fixed you'll be in the 12's for sure. You'll be faster than my DD by far.

I have a new goal to work for next. I have to smog my Talon, so I'm going to put it back to stock so it passes easily, then see if I can get it into the 12's with the stock 14b, stock IC and pipes, stock 450 injectors, stock cams.

 

[T9S1i]

Sounds like a fun goal. (except for having to put it back to stock). And i'll be there at the track with you every step of the way man! I have no doubts that you'll be able to pull it off. After seeing what you've done with the laser, your goal with the talon would not suprise me.
So if you hit 12's with all that stock stuff, are you going to upgrade heavily back passed what you had in it before and go for low 11's? You said that your setup right now is pretty much maxed out and you wanted more...

Whats funny is i have a feeling (with your skill/luck) that you will have your car in almost stock form running 12's before my car does!! I thought we were going to be close again with the laser and my car and you demolished me! I bet it would have been a lot closer if i could have held boost though!

Anyways, best of luck, keep me updated!

 

[pneumo]

Sounds like a fun goal. (except for having to put it back to stock). And i'll be there at the track with you every step of the way man! I have no doubts that you'll be able to pull it off. After seeing what you've done with the laser, your goal with the talon would not suprise me.
So if you hit 12's with all that stock stuff, are you going to upgrade heavily back passed what you had in it before and go for low 11's? You said that your setup right now is pretty much maxed out and you wanted more...

I've already started on it. It's gonna kill me to see such sweet mods sitting on the bench with stock parts on the car.

Whats funny is I have a feeling (with your skill/luck) that you will have your car in almost stock form running 12's before my car does!!

bah it's not luck or skill, I just dump in 100% c16, crank up the boost, lean out the fuel and make sure the timing is high. A full 3" exhaust helps, too

I thought we were going to be close again with the laser and my car and you demolished me! I bet it would have been a lot closer if i could have held boost though!

I didn't think my Laser would be that fast either! It was a nice suprise. I usually go slower than I expect. Your times were darn good for the boost level(s) you were running, too.