First time at the strip - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

himmy33 · 04-13-2015, 12:31 AM

Well I experienced my first day at the drag strip. It was a blast but I sadly only got two runs in. The track prep was horrible. First time using launch control. Couldn't get out of the hole for anything. Reaction times are terrible too. Cant wait to go back next Sunday! The opponent was a new 5.0 GT automatic with some type of track bar in the rear and a minor tune. First race I won by a 1/4 car length. The second I was asleep at the tree big time and couldn't catch up. What do you guys think? Discuss

DA was 2157.

himmy33 · 04-13-2015, 12:33 AM

Dont know why the pic posted sideways... help please

dtwolcot2 · 04-13-2015, 01:21 AM

No offense, but those are not good times. Lets try and figure out what went wrong. Even with bad launches you should be in the mid 12's. For example when I had stock tires and a bad launch (2.2 60') I was running 12.6.

Did you use a ptm mode? Auto or manual? If auto did you put it in manual mode? cause if left in drive it will start in 2nd gear. Are you idling for long periods of time going through the staging lanes building up a lot of heat?

Seriously not trying to be rude. Just wanting to help.

himmy33 · 04-13-2015, 01:46 AM

No offense taken. That's why I'm here is for pointers

. I was in PTM mode 5. Manual and using no lift shift. First run I short shifted pretty bad. Second run was better shifting near redline. There was excessive idle time before runs and I think he soak was a big factor. Temp was 212 if I remember correctly. Ambient temp was 51 degrees. I was little disappointing with the numbers but still had a great time. I know I have a lot of room for improvement and can't wait to get back out.

Raven87 · 04-13-2015, 06:37 AM

While yes, the car is capable of much better runs, you did well for your first time out on a poorly prepped track while learning to launch and shift. Not bad and do not get discouraged!

Heat soak will definitely impact the power so that is probably part of the issue. But your goal to focus on is getting the 60' time down. That is a horrible 60' and indicates both a traction issue and launch issue.

Keep practicing, avoid wheel spin, and don't bog the car. It takes a LOT of practicing but you will do better. Drag radials will help and make sure your tires are clean.

Do NOT get your street tires wet in the burnout box. Drive around it if you can to avoid trapping water in the grooves and sipes of the tires. Just give them a quick dustoff (assuming you are using your stock GY's) and go.

Drag radials you want and need to warm them up with a good burnout.

Have fun and keep us posted.

vicnkathy · 04-13-2015, 06:54 AM

The gy tires need a burnout to warm them up also, just no water as stated before. Water gets caught on the tire and in the wheel well. It just takes practice. Your times were lost in the first 60'. Have fun and practice. It's a low to mid 12 second ride bone stock.

dtwolcot2 · 04-13-2015, 10:40 AM

The heat soak is probably a big contributor. Engine coolant temp isn't as important as IAT's but there is no way to monitor them unless you purchase something. I use the Dashlogic and have the temps displayed in the HUD and try to get to the burnout box with iat 1&2 below 100. If you don't have a way to monitor let it sit 45 minutes between runs to cool off

Try a good smokey burnout in 2nd gear if your using the stock rubber. I found out they needed a lot of heat. Way more than the MT drag radials.

Try ptm4 with the stock tires and launch control at first until you get the hang of it. When using launch control dont dump the clutch, let out on it like you would driving from a stop.

Use no lift shift and preform the shift at 6k rpm too avoid hitting the rev limiter.

If you do all those things and hit all the gears there is no reason not to run mid 12's. You said you were going back on Sunday so good luck and let us know how you did.

JamesZL1 · 04-13-2015, 05:00 PM

I have yet to meet a person with a stick that has ever liked the launch control feature (now that I have said that I will get 50 guys telling me that they love it). I went 11.6 @ 121 MPH on the stock GY F1's. I reduced the pressure to 24lbs and then skipped the water box, lit the tires up REALLY good and I mean really good before they would stick. The only way I knew they were hot enough was at the end of the burnout when you let off the brake, you can feel the tires grab and then bark at you. I put my car into PTM 3 or 4 and just load the transmission up enough to load the suspension (maybe 1300-1500 RPM), then when I see the 3rd yellow light, I hit it. I have an A6 car, so mine starts off in 2nd gear and you have a different gear set then I do, so launching the M6 is a little harder, if you can get a good launch and get the car to hook, you should get a decent 60' time under 2.0 (the more the better). You will also lose time on each shift unless you get really good at banging through the gears. Good luck, have fun and stay off the walls!

dtwolcot2 · 04-13-2015, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesZL1

I have yet to meet a person with a stick that has ever liked the launch control feature (now that I have said that I will get 50 guys telling me that they love it). I went 11.6 @ 121 MPH on the stock GY F1's. I reduced the pressure to 24lbs and then skipped the water box, lit the tires up REALLY good and I mean really good before they would stick. The only way I knew they were hot enough was at the end of the burnout when you let off the brake, you can feel the tires grab and then bark at you. I put my car into PTM 3 or 4 and just load the transmission up enough to load the suspension (maybe 1300-1500 RPM), then when I see the 3rd yellow light, I hit it. I have an A6 car, so mine starts off in 2nd gear and you have a different gear set then I do, so launching the M6 is a little harder, if you can get a good launch and get the car to hook, you should get a decent 60' time under 2.0 (the more the better). You will also lose time on each shift unless you get really good at banging through the gears. Good luck, have fun and stay off the walls!

It doesn't take long to beat traction control. I never use it anymore.

revobasher · 04-13-2015, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesZL1

I have yet to meet a person with a stick that has ever liked the launch control feature (now that I have said that I will get 50 guys telling me that they love it). I went 11.6 @ 121 MPH on the stock GY F1's. I reduced the pressure to 24lbs and then skipped the water box, lit the tires up REALLY good and I mean really good before they would stick. The only way I knew they were hot enough was at the end of the burnout when you let off the brake, you can feel the tires grab and then bark at you. I put my car into PTM 3 or 4 and just load the transmission up enough to load the suspension (maybe 1300-1500 RPM), then when I see the 3rd yellow light, I hit it. I have an A6 car, so mine starts off in 2nd gear and you have a different gear set then I do, so launching the M6 is a little harder, if you can get a good launch and get the car to hook, you should get a decent 60' time under 2.0 (the more the better). You will also lose time on each shift unless you get really good at banging through the gears. Good luck, have fun and stay off the walls!

Did you find the PTM mode make that big of a difference at the strip?

Also, are you in D or M? T/C off?

CoupeSS · 04-13-2015, 10:58 PM

Okay, not into the big drag strip scene, I was under the impression my SS could run in high twelves, and reading these posts it says a ZL1 should be in low 12's.... So with a good driver where would my L99 place ?

dtwolcot2 · 04-14-2015, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoupeSS

Okay, not into the big drag strip scene, I was under the impression my SS could run in high twelves, and reading these posts it says a ZL1 should be in low 12's.... So with a good driver where would my L99 place ?

Well a good driver in a ZL1 is in the 11's with the best being a 11.5 I think with stock tires. I think stock l99's are a 13 sec car while the LS3 is high 12's. SS' manuals are faster while in the z autos are faster

jessrayo · 04-14-2015, 08:00 PM

I have the manual and made probably 25 or 30 passes on stock tires. But at the time I had around 800 whp. If you are easily overpowering the tires in multiple gears, (I did) then the car will be faster with traction control on. You just cannot feel it spin as fast as the computer can and by the time you feel it and back off the engine may be bouncin off the limiter on uncontrolled wheelspin and the engine rpms will have to come back down before the car will hook up again , either that or you short shift a gear at the limiter and bog out the higher gear..... my point is, if you can't control the spin turn the traction control on.

If you really want to get good at drag racing, buy some drag radials. I think there is very little benefit to trying to learn to control wheel spin. Watch the Fast videos of anyone and there is NO wheelspin except in the burnout box. If you are spinning tires you just need better tires if you want to go faster.

Not a great quality video but you get the idea.

himmy33 · 04-15-2015, 04:11 AM

I will take these pointers into practice come Sunday. Hopefully I can get some video too so we can see exactly what is going on.

Also does anyone know how to rotate the picture I posted?

04-13-2015, 12:31 AM	#1
himmy33 Go Cougs! Drives: 2012 Ashen Gray ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 230 View My Garage	First time at the strip Well I experienced my first day at the drag strip. It was a blast but I sadly only got two runs in. The track prep was horrible. First time using launch control. Couldn't get out of the hole for anything. Reaction times are terrible too. Cant wait to go back next Sunday! The opponent was a new 5.0 GT automatic with some type of track bar in the rear and a minor tune. First race I won by a 1/4 car length. The second I was asleep at the tree big time and couldn't catch up. What do you guys think? Discuss DA was 2157. Attached Images Last edited by himmy33; 04-13-2015 at 02:15 AM.

04-13-2015, 01:21 AM	#3
dtwolcot2 Drives: 2012 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: GA Posts: 167	No offense, but those are not good times. Lets try and figure out what went wrong. Even with bad launches you should be in the mid 12's. For example when I had stock tires and a bad launch (2.2 60') I was running 12.6. Did you use a ptm mode? Auto or manual? If auto did you put it in manual mode? cause if left in drive it will start in 2nd gear. Are you idling for long periods of time going through the staging lanes building up a lot of heat? Seriously not trying to be rude. Just wanting to help. __________________ 11.633 @ 118.85 Stock M6 Drag Radials

04-13-2015, 01:46 AM	#4
himmy33 Go Cougs! Drives: 2012 Ashen Gray ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 230 View My Garage	No offense taken. That's why I'm here is for pointers. I was in PTM mode 5. Manual and using no lift shift. First run I short shifted pretty bad. Second run was better shifting near redline. There was excessive idle time before runs and I think he soak was a big factor. Temp was 212 if I remember correctly. Ambient temp was 51 degrees. I was little disappointing with the numbers but still had a great time. I know I have a lot of room for improvement and can't wait to get back out.

04-13-2015, 06:37 AM	#5
Raven87 C'mon- really? Drives: Looking for a ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nortwestern Ohio Posts: 1,966 View My Garage	While yes, the car is capable of much better runs, you did well for your first time out on a poorly prepped track while learning to launch and shift. Not bad and do not get discouraged! Heat soak will definitely impact the power so that is probably part of the issue. But your goal to focus on is getting the 60' time down. That is a horrible 60' and indicates both a traction issue and launch issue. Keep practicing, avoid wheel spin, and don't bog the car. It takes a LOT of practicing but you will do better. Drag radials will help and make sure your tires are clean. Do NOT get your street tires wet in the burnout box. Drive around it if you can to avoid trapping water in the grooves and sipes of the tires. Just give them a quick dustoff (assuming you are using your stock GY's) and go. Drag radials you want and need to warm them up with a good burnout. Have fun and keep us posted. __________________ Steve 2018 Camaro 2SS 1LE Black #3805 - SOLD

04-13-2015, 10:40 AM	#7
dtwolcot2 Drives: 2012 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: GA Posts: 167	The heat soak is probably a big contributor. Engine coolant temp isn't as important as IAT's but there is no way to monitor them unless you purchase something. I use the Dashlogic and have the temps displayed in the HUD and try to get to the burnout box with iat 1&2 below 100. If you don't have a way to monitor let it sit 45 minutes between runs to cool off Try a good smokey burnout in 2nd gear if your using the stock rubber. I found out they needed a lot of heat. Way more than the MT drag radials. Try ptm4 with the stock tires and launch control at first until you get the hang of it. When using launch control dont dump the clutch, let out on it like you would driving from a stop. Use no lift shift and preform the shift at 6k rpm too avoid hitting the rev limiter. If you do all those things and hit all the gears there is no reason not to run mid 12's. You said you were going back on Sunday so good luck and let us know how you did. __________________ 11.633 @ 118.85 Stock M6 Drag Radials

04-13-2015, 12:33 AM	#2
himmy33 Go Cougs! Drives: 2012 Ashen Gray ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 230 View My Garage	Dont know why the pic posted sideways... help please

04-13-2015, 06:54 AM	#6
vicnkathy Account Suspended Drives: 2014 Subaru Forester Turbo Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NY Posts: 536	The gy tires need a burnout to warm them up also, just no water as stated before. Water gets caught on the tire and in the wheel well. It just takes practice. Your times were lost in the first 60'. Have fun and practice. It's a low to mid 12 second ride bone stock.

04-13-2015, 05:00 PM	#8
JamesZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 A6 Camaro, 2015 C7 A6 Z51 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 396	I have yet to meet a person with a stick that has ever liked the launch control feature (now that I have said that I will get 50 guys telling me that they love it). I went 11.6 @ 121 MPH on the stock GY F1's. I reduced the pressure to 24lbs and then skipped the water box, lit the tires up REALLY good and I mean really good before they would stick. The only way I knew they were hot enough was at the end of the burnout when you let off the brake, you can feel the tires grab and then bark at you. I put my car into PTM 3 or 4 and just load the transmission up enough to load the suspension (maybe 1300-1500 RPM), then when I see the 3rd yellow light, I hit it. I have an A6 car, so mine starts off in 2nd gear and you have a different gear set then I do, so launching the M6 is a little harder, if you can get a good launch and get the car to hook, you should get a decent 60' time under 2.0 (the more the better). You will also lose time on each shift unless you get really good at banging through the gears. Good luck, have fun and stay off the walls! __________________ Roto-Fab CAI, Texas Speed Headers, Texas Speed X-Pipe, Texas Speed LS3-B Blower Cam, Metco 9.10" Crank Pulley, Metco 2.5 Upper Pulley, ID 850 Injectors, LPE Ported Throttle Body, Alky Control Methanol kit, E2 Catch Can, 610HP / 608 Torque.

04-13-2015, 10:58 PM	#11
CoupeSS Drives: 2013 Coupe 2SS/RS Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Temecula Ca Posts: 132 View My Garage	Okay, not into the big drag strip scene, I was under the impression my SS could run in high twelves, and reading these posts it says a ZL1 should be in low 12's.... So with a good driver where would my L99 place ?

04-15-2015, 04:11 AM	#14
himmy33 Go Cougs! Drives: 2012 Ashen Gray ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 230 View My Garage	I will take these pointers into practice come Sunday. Hopefully I can get some video too so we can see exactly what is going on. Also does anyone know how to rotate the picture I posted?