Why do so many chase RWHP instead of track times?

[jrpxxii]

Originally Posted by J.C.

Aside from all this, you know what the best part of going to the track is? The friends you meet that become your second family. I've got racing friends that we meet every two weeks for a beer, have been to my wedding, attended my wifes baby shower, and will no doubt be there to see our first child when she's born. The memories from all those years and the friends I've gained are what makes going to the track worth it for me.

I am really glad you brought this up as I have made so many great friends and everyone is there for the same reason to enjoy their cars and hangout. It is truly amazing how helpful the racing community is as they will give you their shirt off their back if you need it. As for people thinking there is no skill in going straight, there is so much more to it. I wish everyone could strap into an 8 second car and I will bet the last thing they have to say is it was boring. I love drag racing and this is what american hot rodding is all about I enjoy any form of motorsports period but for ME I love chasing that ever elusive e.t.

[Dominic Toretto]

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

So after cruising thread after thread I keep seeing a trend of people going after big RWHP numbers instead of chasing a better ET & MPH.

Who says those people getting more power are NOT also trying to get better ETs and 1/4 times, or are you just assuming that?

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

I mean anyone can throw enough money at a car and get a high dyno number but I'm more impressed with an awesome track time (especially if done on a small budget).

It's far easier to do what you're doing since you are doing it with a cheap budget. So to say "Anyone can throw enough money at a car and get a high dyno" is true but, it is far easier than that to go the cheap route like you are describing you have. Not knocking it, just sayin.

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

So what do you guys preffer a high RWHP car with crappy/no track times or a low rwhp car with awesome track times? And why?

Why are you assuming people that want high horsepower cars want "crappy/no" track times? Hardly anyone that responds to your question directly is going to say "yes I want to spend $20,000 in engine mods to go mediocre around a track."

-Alex

[kiteman]

track wear is the worst wear on your car. rear end, transmission, tires, etc. i'd much rather have more power and spin on the street. spin is damage control on your drivetrain that you are trying to avert on a drag strip.

[SUX2BU]

Originally Posted by Dominic Toretto

Who says those people getting more power are NOT also trying to get better ETs and 1/4 times, or are you just assuming that?



It's far easier to do what you're doing since you are doing it with a cheap budget. So to say "Anyone can throw enough money at a car and get a high dyno" is true but, it is far easier than that to go the cheap route like you are describing you have. Not knocking it, just sayin.



Why are you assuming people that want high horsepower cars want "crappy/no" track times? Hardly anyone that responds to your question directly is going to say "yes I want to spend $20,000 in engine mods to go mediocre around a track."

-Alex

People do. Read the replies, there are plenty of people that prefer rwhp to track times. I'm not saying you strictly have to pick one or the other (that's why you can pick more than one choice in the poll).

If it's so easy why aren't more people doing it? Most builds I come across are spending thousands more to go as slow or slower than me.

Again, people can pick more than one option in the poll.

[Blu Ray]

Originally Posted by calbert1999

I'm with you bro'. I don't give a rats ass about how fast my car is in a straight line for a few seconds so I can post stickies online.
My goals are all about overall performance on a road course (for fun), and when I'm on the highway and some guy showing off to his rent-a-girl in a "mortgaged" euro-ride doesn't want to let me pass to get in the lane to exit, I get to put his ass in place and go on about my business while he makes phone calls to his dealer complaining that he just got his ass served by a vehicle that cost 1/10th. of what he paid.

YESSS, "Mortgaged Euro"..."rent a girl" well said bro!!!

[Muscle SS]

It's kinda like how I have a 64g iPhone 4s but I've only used 3-4 gigs of memory and all I do is go on this forum, eBay, and check my emails. I may not use the potential of my device, I look badass with my big boy iPhone 4s. Likewise, it's sweet to say I push nearly 400 hp to the wheels, even though I'm often going less than 50 mph. I just like having something that's badass

[CWI]

Originally Posted by v6sonoma

Anyone get get faster track times by gutting a car and tossing on some fat sticky tires. I'm more impressed with cars that go fast and are still enjoyable going out to dinner and a movie. Big HP will always mean faster than stock.

With 530Hp under the hood, my car is still my dd and it is still enjoyable to drive around town, more so in my opinion. Only downside is it's difficult to idle through a parking lot due to the cam. The clutch is forgiving enough to take care of that though. Other than that it is a pleasure to drive in all other regards.

I have never had my car on the track. I want to give it a couple runs to know what it will ET at. The only time I went to a track it was 106F and high humidity, wasn't much point to even put my car through the lights under those conditions.

[Rockit_z28]

It is all personal preference. I love to race and my mods were based on racing. I probably have some of the lowest dyno numbers on here with my mods, but the combination works at the track where is it important to me.

Then you get into the debate of how dynos are different, tracks are different, and the impact of DA on both of them.

I need a mod for driver improvement more than more HP.

[J.C.]

Originally Posted by Rockit_z28

I need a mod for driver improvement more than more HP.

+1!

If you're bracket racing, at the end of the day you're really racing yourself. That's what I love about the sport, always challenging yourself and improving on your skills as a driver. Same reason why I target shoot as well. You can spend the money on a precision rifle, but your results all depend on how you can handle the gun and adjust for wind and elevation.

Now, if you're heads up racing, thats a different story....make sure to get off the line first and hope you got more in your motor than the guy next to you!

[Padre]

Originally Posted by jrpxxii

I am really glad you brought this up as I have made so many great friends and everyone is there for the same reason to enjoy their cars and hangout. It is truly amazing how helpful the racing community is as they will give you their shirt off their back if you need it. As for people thinking there is no skill in going straight, there is so much more to it. I wish everyone could strap into an 8 second car and I will bet the last thing they have to say is it was boring. I love drag racing and this is what american hot rodding is all about I enjoy any form of motorsports period but for ME I love chasing that ever elusive e.t.

There is no camaraderie on the dyno. Plenty at the track.

Plus, I love "the chase". Shaving off a tenth or two by improving myself or the car gives the thrill of accomplishment. It's the whole package: performance measurement, personal achievement, and friendship.

Padre

[jeremywilson18]

I just want a neat daily driver. No racing for me

[hunterv6]

Originally Posted by jeremywilson18

I just want a neat daily driver. No racing for me

+1

[IOMZL1]

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

If it's so easy why aren't more people doing it? Most builds I come across are spending thousands more to go as slow or slower than me.

You clearly place a high priority on cost vs. performance or overall value of what you have done, which is cool.

Some people may choose to buy a part that is more expensive because of the looks of it, or the brand, or whatever even if it doesn’t represent the best value. So someone may spend more for the top of the line forged wheels vs. the wheels you have chosen which represent a better performance /$ value ratio. The more expensive wheels may actually perform slightly better but at a much higher cost, so this doesn’t represent as good of a value.

Or some people might choose to buy a part that won’t provide as large of a gain as another part because they’d rather have it. For example, people might choose to get wheels vs. performance suspension components because you can see the wheels and they only have so much money at the time.

I guess my point is that while you think it is great that you are beating people who have spent more, others don’t necessarily see it this way. They perhaps could have spent less but chose not to, etc. This is probably along the same reasons that you chose a convertible when the coupe would clearly be the better choice for performance and value.

[SUX2BU]

Originally Posted by IOMZL1

You clearly place a high priority on cost vs. performance or overall value of what you have done, which is cool.

Some people may choose to buy a part that is more expensive because of the looks of it, or the brand, or whatever even if it doesn’t represent the best value. So someone may spend more for the top of the line forged wheels vs. the wheels you have chosen which represent a better performance /$ value ratio. The more expensive wheels may actually perform slightly better but at a much higher cost, so this doesn’t represent as good of a value.

Or some people might choose to buy a part that won’t provide as large of a gain as another part because they’d rather have it. For example, people might choose to get wheels vs. performance suspension components because you can see the wheels and they only have so much money at the time.

I guess my point is that while you think it is great that you are beating people who have spent more, others don’t necessarily see it this way. They perhaps could have spent less but chose not to, etc. This is probably along the same reasons that you chose a convertible when the coupe would clearly be the better choice for performance and value.

I didn't mean it like my build was better than anyone else's. It was just a reply to the guy I quoted. He said it's easy to go as fast as I have by spending as little as I have. I don't think it's easy, it's very challenging in fact and that is why I am so proud of my build. I know this type of build isn't for everyone.