PDA

View Full Version : First Time On The Track!



Ross
10-30-2005, 07:46 PM
Let me thank Wes Chain for getting some of us together at Houston Raceway Park on Sunday night. Wes, me, Sam (Rauder) and Brian (Dead Vic) met and had a great time.
This was my very first time ever racing on a track, and it was a fun and "learning" experience. There is a lot to learn in a short time when you first drive onto a track, and I found out quickly that experience plays a big part in how well you do.
To begin with, my car is running well after the new torque converter install, but I don't have a chip or tune right now, so I'm shifting really slowly. I wasn't sure how the combination of gaining the new TC and losing the chip would affect me, but I was about to find out.
My first run, I started from a dead punch, and I was horrified that I ran 15.3. I thought my car would be faster than that.
My next run I did a power brake at about 2000 RPM's, and ran 14.8. Big improvement, but I still wasn't happy.
I made three more runs, all of them in between the 15.3 and 14.8.
I can tell that the car is shifting very slowly and smoothly, like it did when it was stock, and I don't know how much of an improvement in time a chip or tune would make with crisper shifts. Gotta do something about that, though. Maybe Santa Claus will bring me a tuner. Who knows, after all of this time, I may break down and go for 4.10's, too.
A lot to learn in one night, and a strong desire to get a lot lower in times, but I had a great time with some great guys.

DEFYANT
10-30-2005, 07:51 PM
You had fun? Good! Thats what counts.

The more you go the better you'll get. Ignore any naysayers.

texasvic
10-30-2005, 08:06 PM
I really wish I could have been there with you guys.

:banana2:

Glenn
10-30-2005, 08:06 PM
Ross:

A MM with your mods should do in the low 14s with little effort. 4:10s should push you into 13.9+ along with a good tune and proper firmer shifting. You could be losing .4-.5 second just from soft shifting. Keep up the work you will break into the high 13s.

Glenn

Rider90
10-30-2005, 08:39 PM
You could be losing .4-.5 second just from soft shifting.
Glenn
I second this. With my Predator installed my speedo will jump 5 or so MPH at the 1-2 shift lunging me forward and chirping the rears.

DeadVic
10-30-2005, 10:49 PM
Hey Ross, had a great time! My best time of the night was my first run after driving 70 miles to the track. 14.3 @97MPH. Not bad for a tune and some gears.

Ross
10-31-2005, 07:50 AM
I figured I was losing something (maybe 1/4 second?) on each "soft" shift. That would be a loss of 1/2 second in total time, which is huge. I really need a tune to get that time back, which would put me in the low 14's. If I went with the gears, that should take me to the very low 14's, or maybe close to high 13's, at least in my uneducated way of figuring.

Ross
10-31-2005, 07:53 AM
I really wish I could have been there with you guys.

:banana2:

Stay in touch with Wes. I really think that he wants to get a MM/Panther group more active around here. It would be good to see you, Alan, and some of the other Houston area guys.

Alan
11-05-2005, 11:08 AM
Maybe we can plan to all get together soon. I tend to burn the candle at both ends and have a hectic schedule but it would be nice to see other MM owners. Haven't seen you since Ennis, Ross.