The DSM drag racing event prep and debrief thread

[Ludachris]

I know the racing season is winding down, and we already have a "What you did with your DSM today" thread that a lot of people post in, but I wanted to create an ongoing thread specifically for the drag racers, where they can share quick updates on what they're scrambling to get done to prepare for an upcoming event, or where they can share the glory (or carnage) from their most recent event. What worked out, what didn't, what you'll address for the next race.

Though it makes sense to have these kind of posts in your build thread, this kind of thread would be fun, and easy for people to participate in.

So post some photos and videos of your last minute project work before your next big race, or share the highs and/or lows from your last event. We want to see it.

 

[Ludachris]

The timing of this thread makes it great for all those who raced at the Shootout to post their stories. @311GSX @Dusty Landrum @OscarTheTurd @ATEAV8 and others, chime in.

 

[jdxnc]

While I have not been able to do anything with my car this year, I have been trying to use my experience to help others with their cars, so I'll share that.

This past weekend my buddy(nemesis) Aaron got his car out to the 3rd round of SSPA Quebec after missing the 2nd due to some issues with the car.

He made some big changes this year similar to mine, forward facing 73.9mm TPC turbo, brand new engine and a lot of other small things and it's been a lot to get refined to finally work. He finally got the car on the dyno a couple days before the event and put down a SOLID 1014whp at 50 psi, so it had some major potential but the track is a whole different animal.

We had to find the sweet spot to get it off the line, that took a couple hits, bogging the 2 first attempts but trapping near 160mph. On the 3 launch the car finally left semi decent, putting down a 1.55 60' and landing him his FIRST 8 second pass with an 8.92 @ 163! Solid but I knew this setup had a lot left in it.

Now Aaron runs a Fueltech FT450, which had exactly half of the i/o of the 550 I run, I highly advise no one run the 450 on a drag car, it's extremely limiting. It also lacks support for a strain gauge. When I looked at the logs, he was falling nearly completely out of boost on every shift and about a second to recover to the 45 psi the car was running at. Now he's completely out of inputs at this time so I start looking at something we don't need to steal an input for a clutch switch to allow him to flat shift. Everything log I looked at the fuel pressure was perfect so I hastly wire the top clutch switch into the input for the fuel pressure and make the ECU changes to give a 0.1s -15 degree timing cut as soon as the clutch switch is activated and raised the launch RPM just a hair more. He goes back out and does his thing. Car leaves with great 1.41 60' and pull off an 8.69 @ 163! The clutch power cuts worked flawless, instead of dropping nearly 30 psi on each shift, the car only lost 4-5 psi on the shifts!

Next round he's up against a very fast Civic who qualified with an 8.12, he's got his work cut out for him. I made a few more tweaks to the tune, made the shift cuts even tighter and pulled a little more timing on the 2-step. Car took off like a rocket, nailed a 1.29 60' and finished off with an 8.55 @ 164. Sadly it wasn't enough to beat the Civic but that was a hell of an accomplishment none the less. We didn't raise the boost all weekend, only kept refining what power was there. Round 4 is in 3 weeks and what we can pull off.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[Ludachris]

While I have not been able to do anything with my car this year, I have been trying to use my experience to help others with their cars, so I'll share that.

This past weekend my buddy(nemesis) Aaron got his car out to the 3rd round of SSPA Quebec after missing the 2nd due to some issues with the car.

He made some big changes this year similar to mine, forward facing 73.9mm TPC turbo, brand new engine and a lot of other small things and it's been a lot to get refined to finally work. He finally got the car on the dyno a couple days before the event and put down a SOLID 1014whp at 50 psi, so it had some major potential but the track is a whole different animal.

We had to find the sweet spot to get it off the line, that took a couple hits, bogging the 2 first attempts but trapping near 160mph. On the 3 launch the car finally left semi decent, putting down a 1.55 60' and landing him his FIRST 8 second pass with an 8.92 @ 163! Solid but I knew this setup had a lot left in it.

Now Aaron runs a Fueltech FT450, which had exactly half of the i/o of the 550 I run, I highly advise no one run the 450 on a drag car, it's extremely limiting. It also lacks support for a strain gauge. When I looked at the logs, he was falling nearly completely out of boost on every shift and about a second to recover to the 45 psi the car was running at. Now he's completely out of inputs at this time so I start looking at something we don't need to steal an input for a clutch switch to allow him to flat shift. Everything log I looked at the fuel pressure was perfect so I hastly wire the top clutch switch into the input for the fuel pressure and make the ECU changes to give a 0.1s -15 degree timing cut as soon as the clutch switch is activated and raised the launch RPM just a hair more. He goes back out and does his thing. Car leaves with great 1.41 60' and pull off an 8.69 @ 163! The clutch power cuts worked flawless, instead of dropping nearly 30 psi on each shift, the car only lost 4-5 psi on the shifts!

Next round he's up against a very fast Civic who qualified with an 8.12, he's got his work cut out for him. I made a few more tweaks to the tune, made the shift cuts even tighter and pulled a little more timing on the 2-step. Car took off like a rocket, nailed a 1.29 60' and finished off with an 8.55 @ 164. Sadly it wasn't enough to beat the Civic but that was a hell of an accomplishment none the less. We didn't raise the boost all weekend, only kept refining what power was there. Round 4 is in 3 weeks and what we can pull off.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

That's a hell of an achievement for the first real runs on a completely new setup like that.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Dusty Landrum]

Here is my recap from this years shootout..

Welp, got back safe from The Shootout 2025 and need a little while to decompress. But here is my quick experience from this year..

This year felt different at the shootout. I think everyone kinda felt it. The event seemed more about the people and the cars more so than any one I have been to before. Usually it’s rows of parts slinging and oil stains, but this year seemed more about cook outs and laid back conversation… and I freaking loved it.

I was also extremely honored to help Bobby Gould with FIBA Motorsport attend this year and I couldn’t be more proud. Him and his wife truly exhibit what makes this community so amazing and I know they will continue to help all of us out.

Next was the racing.. this was the first time I have ever truly drag raced and I have to say.. I’m hooked. Everyone.. I encourage each and every person to enter a class next year. Who cares if you win or lose, 12.5-quick 32, just go up and watch those lights drop and have fun. Don’t let your car just be a pavement paper weight.

I can’t say enough about this community and the friendships I have formed through it. Everyone jokes about the F&F family lines.. but it’s true. I truly always feel welcome no matter how big or small the group or person is. Thank you everyone and already scrambling for next year 2026.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[Dusty Landrum]

The timing of this thread makes it great for all those who raced at the Shootout to post their stories. @311GSX @Dusty Landrum @OscarTheTurd @ATEAV8 and others, chime in.

One this I felt different about this year tbh, was the lack of dsmtuners representation and conversation around the site. I’m not sure what has caused this other than the migration to Facebook??

 

[Ludachris]

One this I felt different about this year tbh, was the lack of dsmtuners representation and conversation around the site. I’m not sure what has caused this other than the migration to Facebook??

That's partly my bad for not sending out decals to the Morrisons this year, but sad to hear about the lack of conversations. I know a few people bought shirts for the event with their username on them.