Racing the Vee for the first time this weekend

[Mercutio]

This weekend I'll be at the Southern Super Heavyweight Shootout racing the Vee for the first time. In fact, I almost never drag race at all. Does anyone have any tips for tire pressure, launch or anything else for a nearly stock 05 Vee?

[CtsVrod]

Dont Drop the Clutch/Launch Hard... Unless you wanna blow up your rear end.

[jonecap]

I took my '05 stock V to the track and had to leave at idle due to terrible wheel hop. Be careful on the launch.

[BacDoc]

I read somewhere....28psi and use "competitive mode" and don't speed shift second IIRC.

[CORNER CARVER]

Doesn't competitive mode disable or desensitize stabitrac.

I would think dropping the air pressure slightly 28 lbs would be ok but no more with radials. Or leave tire pressure alone.

I personally would turn off just traction control. Control wheel spin with the throttle and let the computer keep it in a straight line if things get ugly at any point. The chance of getting sideways on a dragstrip is not very likely but there is still the chance. With that being said I would only turn off stabilitrac when there is ample runoff room. With yaw contorl on, if there is a situation of un-recoverable magnetude, it might not be catastrophic.

[CTSV_510]

Yes, there's no reason to use competitive mode, just traction control off is fine.

[BacDoc]

Thought someone mentioned that Comp Mode would help limit wheel spin and actually posted better times as a result? Maybe it was bs, maybe I've lost my mind?

[CTSV_510]

Originally Posted by BacDoc

Thought someone mentioned that Comp Mode would help limit wheel spin and actually posted better times as a result? Maybe it was bs, maybe I've lost my mind?

You haven't lost your mind, I remember someone saying that too. It just doesn't make sense because as long as you're going straight, comp mode is the same as just T/C off.

[Mercutio]

Thanks guys. My other car is a 95 T-Bird SC, so I know all about IRS wheel hop.... I'll be interested to see how the two cars compare at the strip.

[07CTS-V]

Launch it at 2000 rpm, you'll be fine!!!

[Mercutio]

I made three runs at the test and tune tonight and the car just felt like an absolute dog. In order, my passes went like this:

14.59@99.39, 2.345 60 foot (first time ever racing this car)
14.43@98.01, 2.287 60 foot (hit the rev limiter at the top of third)
14.49@100.17, 2.401 60 foot

I will fully admit to being a mediocre driver at best, but really? This was it? I tried a few different traction control settings looking for a better launch, and nothing. I tried stepping up my rpm and riding the clutch to get me off the line, and that only helped a bit. Leaving the line the car just has no guts at all. But the MPH is really puzzling me. I have to ask, when people say they're running low 13s at 108 or so stock, I assumed that to be on street tires. Is it? So...any opinions as to what gives?

[jugz ss]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

I made three runs at the test and tune tonight and the car just felt like an absolute dog. In order, my passes went like this:

14.59@99.39, 2.345 60 foot (first time ever racing this car)
14.43@98.01, 2.287 60 foot (hit the rev limiter at the top of third)
14.49@100.17, 2.401 60 foot

I will fully admit to being a mediocre driver at best, but really? This was it? I tried a few different traction control settings looking for a better launch, and nothing. I tried stepping up my rpm and riding the clutch to get me off the line, and that only helped a bit. Leaving the line the car just has no guts at all. But the MPH is really puzzling me. I have to ask, when people say they're running low 13s at 108 or so stock, I assumed that to be on street tires. Is it? So...any opinions as to what gives?

+1...what hapened

[CTSV_510]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

I made three runs at the test and tune tonight and the car just felt like an absolute dog. In order, my passes went like this:

14.59@99.39, 2.345 60 foot (first time ever racing this car)
14.43@98.01, 2.287 60 foot (hit the rev limiter at the top of third)
14.49@100.17, 2.401 60 foot

Ouch. Did you empty all the sandbags out of the trunk?

[Mercutio]

Originally Posted by CTSV_510

Ouch. Did you empty all the sandbags out of the trunk?

No, but since the actual race is tomorrow I'd sure love to know what's up...

[CTSV_510]

It's hard to say. Have you had the car on a dyno before? Are you completely stock?

[07CTS-V]

Mid 14's is not right for any V. I think it might have been the 3 dead bodies in the trunk.

Seriously though, maybe it's your launch technique.

Hold 2000 rpm's and let the clutch out as fast as you can while putting the accelerator to the wood. The car should slightly squeal the tires for about 10 feet and launch good.

[Mercutio]

Originally Posted by CTSV_510

It's hard to say. Have you had the car on a dyno before? Are you completely stock?

The car made 354 RWHP on a Dynojet. Those numbers are probably optimistic I know, but that's what that dyno said it made. Stock except for K&N.

[Mercutio]

Nope, the car never got faster. My practice and competition runs went like this, in order:

14.48@102.19, 2.534 60 foot (best mph of the weekend)
14.66@98.91, 2.378 60 foot
14.47@100.67, 2.446 60 foot
14.67@101.24, 2.610 60 foot
14.67@99.22, 2.474 60 foot
15.05@98.65, 2.583 60 foot (this run was every bit as awful as it sounds)
14.71@100.94, 2.562 60 foot

Traction seemed to get worse and worse as the day went on. By my last few runs I was getting mad wheelhop in first and second gear and some wheelhop in third. I couldn't believe how bad wheelhop was. I flat out couldn't drive the car, as indicated by the 60 foot times. Again, I'll take full blame for being a lousy driver, but I was still kind of amazed the mph was consistently low. There was another 05 Vee there today, and he didn't fare much better--I saw him run 14.3. So I have to ask: how on Earth are people getting low 13s and 1.9x 60 foot times on street tires?

[CTSV_510]

What tires do you have on your car?

[Mercutio]

Stock size Goodyear F1GSD3.