First Time at Drag Strip - Looking for Tips

[Cutlass454]

This is my first post. I don't own a ZL1, but I do get to race one today. I am looking for suggestions and tips on optimizing my times.

This is not my first time on the track. I've logged hundreds of passes, but never in thus car.

The car is an auto. I'm interested in traction settings, with instructions on how to change them. I've read about putting the car in M and letting it shift. Is this the same for the burnouts or is it better to keep it in drive?

I'll let everyone know how it goes after today. Who knows, I may end up buying one after today.

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[Stephen12ZL1]

definitely leave it in "M" with traction control off and stability control off. You must hold the traction control off button for 5-7 seconds for both to be off. You will see two lights on the display illuminate to indicate both traction control is off and stability system is disabled. Do the burnout in "M" as well and you won't have a problem. Leave the paddles alone as the car shifts right at redline in "M". You should see an "S" on the display beside the odometer and on the heads up display. If you press a paddle by accident, you will then see M and the current gear selected. To go back into S just hold down the right paddle for a few seconds and display will indicate S again. First run don't "load up" too hard against the converter or you will blaze the tires and ruin your run. Go just slightly against the converter (approx 900-1000rpm) and then both gently and quickly squeeze the throttle to the edge of traction and let the car do the rest after that. Subsequent runs if the track is prepped well, increase the brake torque and try for a better 60'. Let the air down in the back tires to 22psi and this will help traction. These stock tires do fairly well after a 5sec or so burnout. Hope this helps and good luck!

[Stephen12ZL1]

report your track times please

[Cutlass454]

I'll post the slip when I get home, but the best pass of the day was 12.30 @ 114.5 mph. All 4 of my passes were in the 114 speed range. Best 60 foot was a 1.90, which is pretty good for a stock car with stock tires and less than 200 miles on the odometer.

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[Stephen12ZL1]

good job

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Cutlass454

I'll post the slip when I get home, but the best pass of the day was 12.30 @ 114.5 mph. All 4 of my passes were in the 114 speed range. Best 60 foot was a 1.90, which is pretty good for a stock car with stock tires and less than 200 miles on the odometer.

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Very Good, indeed! The tires make a world of difference. A good amount of heat (more than surface heat from burnouts) and some wear probably would have helped the times.

...I wonder who's car has this "interesting" break-in period?

[Cutlass454]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

Very Good, indeed! The tires make a world of difference. A good amount of heat (more than surface heat from burnouts) and some wear probably would have helped the times.

...I wonder who's car has this "interesting" break-in period?

The car was my Uncle's. He had a 2010 SS prior to this one. He went in to the dealership with a slow leak in one of the tires and they had a yellow and black one on the showroom floor. The next day he came home with it.

Not sure how my times compare with other bone stock A6's, but I was pleased and impressed. I would imagine a few hundred more miles would only help.

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[Stephen12ZL1]

Originally Posted by Cutlass454

The car was my Uncle's. He had a 2010 SS prior to this one. He went in to the dealership with a slow leak in one of the tires and they had a yellow and black one on the showroom floor. The next day he came home with it.

Not sure how my times compare with other bone stock A6's, but I was pleased and impressed. I would imagine a few hundred more miles would only help.

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Give us a run down of the weather conditions. Yeah, that car is tight. Give it until the 1500 mile mark and run it again. My first runs were in the 12.5 range at 400ish miles when it was 95 degrees and muggy.

[Cutlass454]

Temp was around 60* and according to the DA calculator, the DA was 1253 ft.

My initial goal was to run in the 12.20's, seeing that the fastest stock time was 11.77. When the first run was a 12.44, I thought that was a possibility. The mph seems to be a little on the slow side, but seeing that all runs were within 0.6 mph, that was all the car had to offer today. Maybe next spring I'll get another chance. Here's to hoping.


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[Cutlass454]

Thought I would revive this old thread I started last October. Spent this past Sunday behind the wheel of my Uncle's ZL1 again at the strip. The car now has just under 800 miles on it. Not sure how someone can drive a car like this so little.

Anyway, managed to set a new best with the car. It's still bone stock and I didn't even air the tires down. Ran a 12.19 at just over 115 mph. Double checked the air density for Mid Michigan Motorplex for Sunday and it was 1970 feet. Air temp was in the low 70's with a slight tailwind. 60' times were all 1.91 or lower, with the lowest being a 1.839. I gave the keys to my Dad, who was struggling with his blown 04 GTO, and he clicked off a 12.13 @ 116 and change. This was his first and only pass in the car and he was unbelievably impressed with the ease of how quick the car was.

All passes were between 115 anf 116 mph. I've looked at the ET chaets and cannot figure out how some are 4-5 mph faster. I did the ET correction calculator and my pass would turn into a 11.90 @ 118, so maybe they're closer to sea level.

Just thought I would share my new PB.

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[big dave]

Your calculation is right in line with what mine ran the first time I took it to the track.