sailsmen
10-11-2015, 05:43 PM
State Capitol Raceway Sunday Test-n-Tune
I have been watching the weather for some cooler temps. The forecast is for 75* and 60% humidity. Meets my criteria of under 80*!
I call a friend of mine, Chuck, to see if he wants to ride along and he says yes. Chuck is a car guy and our paths have crossed many a time, more about that latter.
At 8;30am we ahead to Test-n-Tune at State Capitol Raceway in Port Allen, LA early this Sunday morning to make the gate opening for 10:00am. It's gorgeous day and we get a chance to catch up.
I drive for an hour and a half in full street trim, like I drove her off the lot new. The only prep at the track is to let the air out the rear tires to 18 psi.
I walk the launch area to find the groove, it's about the same on both sides. I make note of where the water box is, so I can back up into it.
I pitt behind the grandstands so I can easily walk over and see the cars run. I check my tires to make sure there are no nails in them from the ride up and engine for leaks.
I pull in one of the lanes for street cars at the staging lanes, there are only a couple of cars. The rest are in the pitts. There are Pick Ups, Mustangs, Pontiac GTOs, Camaros and Corvettes.
The track official signals me to pull up to near the launch area and I do. The track official then signals me to get on the launch pad. Nobody else is ready to run, so I am solo.
I drive around the water box, back up into it and wait for the track officials signal to do my burn out. He signals and I pull up slightly out of the water box, jam on the brake and stab the throttle until I see a large amount of smoke billowing out of both rear wheel wells. I then ease up to the starting line exactly on the groove.
I am busy staring at the tree and go right past the starting line. I haven't run in 2 years and I am not focusing on the right things.
I back up and try again, focus on the third yellow, I go with a soft 1,500rpm launch, smash the accelerator.
I scan the gauges as I go down the track, everything looks and feels good. I get up to speed. I see the finish line, but this is too much fun! I run open throttle to over 125mph and then brake hard for the turn off.
R/T 0.246
60'1.912
330 '5.294
1/8 8.076
MPH 86.44
1,000' 10.495
ET 12.525
MPH 111.59
I pitt, check for leaks let air out the rears to keep it at 18psi and watch other cars make some runs.
Time to go again, I line up next to a 2014 Mustang with a 2.3L Twin Screw Whipple Supercharger.
I am in the left lane and try to focus on backing into the water box, pull up, burn out, creep to the first yellow lites and barely inch until the second yellow lites. I focus on the 3rd yellow and smash the throttle. I get the jump with a .132 Reaction Time to his .194. At the 60' I am even with a 1.845 to his 1.788.
Then he steadily pulls away with an 11.109 @126.20 to my 12.374 @112.55.
It's obvious I am not launching hard enough due to not bringing the RPMs up high enough prior to launch. My 2 year hiatus is showing, still got some rust to knock off.
Same routine in the pitts.
I am now determined to launch hard. I pull up next to a 2004 GTO LS1. The second yellow lites and I bring the RPM up. Darn it creeps forward and I back off the throttle, but it's too late I red lited.
Now, I start with a low RPM and a soft launch. My 60' is 1.994 to his 1.883. He crosses first at 12.189 @114.73 vs me 12.432 @113.06.
I know what I need, PRACTISE, A hard Launch!
I decide it's too hot and time to watch others run.
A Camaro ZL1 keeps running mid 14's? A late model Corvette runs 13.4 with some slippage.
We watch some rails run in the high 6's. A trailer Mustang, full cage runs high 9's.
We decide to head back
It's really interesting how both Chuck and our lives have crossed over the years. Chuck is from Ohio and grew up on a farm. He was always working on cars, when it broke he had to fix it himself because he had no money. He used to Drag Race a 1969 442 and an original Shelby GT 500.
One New Years Day he woke up looked outside at the snow and told everyone good by, ending up near New Orleans.
In 1977 my father told me find a used 2 door BMW to buy for the family to drive. I found one in the classifieds and we went to see it. The owner insisted we meet Chuck, who had an import repair shop. Cars were in the shop a lot back then so I go to know Chuck.
I had a 914 VW-Porsche that I hired Chuck to build the engine for Autocross. He had a mechanic that was on a Porsche Racing Team and he did an excellent job on the engine.
Circa early 1980's Chuck had a Maserati Dealership and then I lost track of him. In 1987 I was looking for performance parts for an MR2 and someone recommended a particular parts store. I walked in and Chuck says I never stop hearing your name, I married Jane, Susan's older sister. I dated Susan in HS and she had 2 older sisters who also favored me.
I didn't know Chuck when I was dating Susan and we were not in the same group, Chuck being 8 years older.
20 years latter in another town I am at a block party and walks in Chuck! He didn't know the host, the friend he was with did.
Coincidentally a few years ago we both moved to the same town. A month ago I see Chuck again at Walmart. I get his number when he tells me he wants to take a ride to the drag strip with me.
Ohh, and by the way he is no longer married to Jane.
Now the truth is I always liked Susan, Jane and Pam alot.*
*Paul Simon
When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It’s a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn’t hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s
A sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to a photograph
So mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away
If you took all the girls I knew
When I was single
And brought them all together
For one night
I know they’d never match
My sweet imagination
Everything looks worse
In black and white
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s
A sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to a photograph
So mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away
Forgot to take a Pic at the track so this Billy Bobble Head will have to do;
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_7814.jpg
I have been watching the weather for some cooler temps. The forecast is for 75* and 60% humidity. Meets my criteria of under 80*!
I call a friend of mine, Chuck, to see if he wants to ride along and he says yes. Chuck is a car guy and our paths have crossed many a time, more about that latter.
At 8;30am we ahead to Test-n-Tune at State Capitol Raceway in Port Allen, LA early this Sunday morning to make the gate opening for 10:00am. It's gorgeous day and we get a chance to catch up.
I drive for an hour and a half in full street trim, like I drove her off the lot new. The only prep at the track is to let the air out the rear tires to 18 psi.
I walk the launch area to find the groove, it's about the same on both sides. I make note of where the water box is, so I can back up into it.
I pitt behind the grandstands so I can easily walk over and see the cars run. I check my tires to make sure there are no nails in them from the ride up and engine for leaks.
I pull in one of the lanes for street cars at the staging lanes, there are only a couple of cars. The rest are in the pitts. There are Pick Ups, Mustangs, Pontiac GTOs, Camaros and Corvettes.
The track official signals me to pull up to near the launch area and I do. The track official then signals me to get on the launch pad. Nobody else is ready to run, so I am solo.
I drive around the water box, back up into it and wait for the track officials signal to do my burn out. He signals and I pull up slightly out of the water box, jam on the brake and stab the throttle until I see a large amount of smoke billowing out of both rear wheel wells. I then ease up to the starting line exactly on the groove.
I am busy staring at the tree and go right past the starting line. I haven't run in 2 years and I am not focusing on the right things.
I back up and try again, focus on the third yellow, I go with a soft 1,500rpm launch, smash the accelerator.
I scan the gauges as I go down the track, everything looks and feels good. I get up to speed. I see the finish line, but this is too much fun! I run open throttle to over 125mph and then brake hard for the turn off.
R/T 0.246
60'1.912
330 '5.294
1/8 8.076
MPH 86.44
1,000' 10.495
ET 12.525
MPH 111.59
I pitt, check for leaks let air out the rears to keep it at 18psi and watch other cars make some runs.
Time to go again, I line up next to a 2014 Mustang with a 2.3L Twin Screw Whipple Supercharger.
I am in the left lane and try to focus on backing into the water box, pull up, burn out, creep to the first yellow lites and barely inch until the second yellow lites. I focus on the 3rd yellow and smash the throttle. I get the jump with a .132 Reaction Time to his .194. At the 60' I am even with a 1.845 to his 1.788.
Then he steadily pulls away with an 11.109 @126.20 to my 12.374 @112.55.
It's obvious I am not launching hard enough due to not bringing the RPMs up high enough prior to launch. My 2 year hiatus is showing, still got some rust to knock off.
Same routine in the pitts.
I am now determined to launch hard. I pull up next to a 2004 GTO LS1. The second yellow lites and I bring the RPM up. Darn it creeps forward and I back off the throttle, but it's too late I red lited.
Now, I start with a low RPM and a soft launch. My 60' is 1.994 to his 1.883. He crosses first at 12.189 @114.73 vs me 12.432 @113.06.
I know what I need, PRACTISE, A hard Launch!
I decide it's too hot and time to watch others run.
A Camaro ZL1 keeps running mid 14's? A late model Corvette runs 13.4 with some slippage.
We watch some rails run in the high 6's. A trailer Mustang, full cage runs high 9's.
We decide to head back
It's really interesting how both Chuck and our lives have crossed over the years. Chuck is from Ohio and grew up on a farm. He was always working on cars, when it broke he had to fix it himself because he had no money. He used to Drag Race a 1969 442 and an original Shelby GT 500.
One New Years Day he woke up looked outside at the snow and told everyone good by, ending up near New Orleans.
In 1977 my father told me find a used 2 door BMW to buy for the family to drive. I found one in the classifieds and we went to see it. The owner insisted we meet Chuck, who had an import repair shop. Cars were in the shop a lot back then so I go to know Chuck.
I had a 914 VW-Porsche that I hired Chuck to build the engine for Autocross. He had a mechanic that was on a Porsche Racing Team and he did an excellent job on the engine.
Circa early 1980's Chuck had a Maserati Dealership and then I lost track of him. In 1987 I was looking for performance parts for an MR2 and someone recommended a particular parts store. I walked in and Chuck says I never stop hearing your name, I married Jane, Susan's older sister. I dated Susan in HS and she had 2 older sisters who also favored me.
I didn't know Chuck when I was dating Susan and we were not in the same group, Chuck being 8 years older.
20 years latter in another town I am at a block party and walks in Chuck! He didn't know the host, the friend he was with did.
Coincidentally a few years ago we both moved to the same town. A month ago I see Chuck again at Walmart. I get his number when he tells me he wants to take a ride to the drag strip with me.
Ohh, and by the way he is no longer married to Jane.
Now the truth is I always liked Susan, Jane and Pam alot.*
*Paul Simon
When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It’s a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn’t hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s
A sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to a photograph
So mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away
If you took all the girls I knew
When I was single
And brought them all together
For one night
I know they’d never match
My sweet imagination
Everything looks worse
In black and white
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s
A sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to a photograph
So mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away
Forgot to take a Pic at the track so this Billy Bobble Head will have to do;
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_7814.jpg