grtpmkn

WARNING: If you are offended/not interested in hearing about my Subaru WRX running in the 1320, do not continue any further. Otherwise, this was my experience at the track yesterday.


I made it to Mid-Michigan Motorplex (Stanton, MI) yesterday. Test-n-tunes were 10:00-4:00 for $15. I thought that would rule! But due to the MASS of cars there and the time spent drying the track, I only got 2 runs in before 3:00. Results were good and bad. I improved my 60' times alot (from 2.30-2.40 range in July to a 1.99 & a 2.01 yesterday). Temps were alot better (high 80's in July vs. high 50's yesterday). But where I blew it was with weight. I left my jack and spare and EVERYTHING else in the car (kids car seats, etc) and I had about 3/4 of a tank of gas. I ended up running a 13.988 @ 96.27 mph and a 13.989 @ 97.56 mph. Compared to my 13.965 @ 99.30 mph (with a 2.317 60' time) back in July, I think it is safe to say that the weight killed me. Oh well. There are a few tracks still open until the snow flies, so maybe I'll get another chance before then. I have two low-resolution videos but I can't really share them since they are too large to attach or email and I have no web host. Here are some sample times of some other cars running yesterday for comparison (some fairly surprising):

'04 Pontiac GTO - 14.30's
'02 Mitsibishi Eclipse - 16.20's
'03 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP - 10.20's
'01 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP - 9.80's
'01 Pontiac Firebird Formula - 9.90's
'88 Honda CRX - 13.90's
'03 Ford Lightning - 14.80's (something was working right on this guy's truck)
'04 Subaru WXR STi - 13.10's
'04 Honda VTX1300 (cruiser bike) - 14.20's
??? Kid's mini dragster - 13.40's
'77 Dodge Van - 9.70's (this thing was freaky yet looked fairly stock outside)

There were alot of "barely streetable" cars there running some incredible times, but I was watching the more "average" type cars times.

Scott

mr-mstng

Honestly, I thought the WRXs were faster, but like you said, the added weight may have hurt a little. Good 60 times! I went to the track here in PA on Friday night, And had an eye opening experience in what it takes to do well. The temp was 45° for the most part, but I got in about 13 runs or so. My best was a 14.124 @ 102.24. My 60 ' on that run was 2.264. :notnice: I was spinning the whole time. Next time (next year) I think I'll know what to do and how to drive it a little better.....I think.

BTW Scott, Grand Prixs running in the 9 and 10s??? Is that a typo?

grtpmkn

WRX's are typically mid-14 second cars bone stock with the average driver. Mine has a turbo-back exhaust, a K&N air filter and mild ECU tune. My excuse (if I had to think of one) is that I refuse to abuse the drivetrain/clutch, so my launches are a little soft. Some of the WRX forum guys are hitting 1.50-1.70 60' times, but they are riding the clutch hard or dumping it at high RPM's. Traction isn't a problem for me (though it was a major factor for most due to the cooler temps). In fact, I roll right around the burnout box without a single dry hop.

The GTP's in question DID run those kinda times. I have no idea what was done to them, but they were wickedly fast. Visually, they looked fairly stock except for slicks on the front and skinnies on the back. Sound-wise, they sounded evil. I was very impressed needless to say.

Evil_Capri

Very cool.

What do you RPM’s do you launch? Do WRX’s get much wheelspin in the 1-2 shift? I would expect not, but being it was cooler is it even an issue? Or was you loss of traction just on initial launch?

I hope to take the Mach out one last time, but the tracks are closing around me for the season.

mr-mstng

Wow, I could never dream of doing that! I'd be lucky with a 2.0.

10 sec Grand Prixs.....that's just sick.

mr-mstng

I have got the terrible 60' times down pat. Its the 13.70 I really have to work on.

grtpmkn

I rev it up to around 6500 (7000 redline), but upon releasing the clutch, I let it drop quite a bit and try to "roll off the line" as smoothly as possible without burning the clutch any. If I let it get under 3500 rpms, it will just bog out and give me terrible 60' times (which I did in July). Traction isn't an issue. Heck, I can't break my eighteens loose even on wet pavement (I'm serious, no fibbing here).

While I don't care to risk breaking anything on my daily driver, it was fun to make a run or two with it. If you get a chance, do it for fun. My buddy with his '03 Mach 1 went with me back in July, but he couldn't get it to hook up on the stock tires for anything. Still, he ran consistant 13.70's with terrible 60' times (pic of us running below):

Evil_Capri

Your buddy have a cold air intake in his Mach, i.e., headlight missing.

Must be nice not to lose traction in the wet.

Rob-

I ran my Mach in July with 84% humidity, and 82 degrees and got a 2.097 60ft. Of course I probably couldn't repeat that. In any event I'm sure you can get ~2.xxx. I just found out that one track around me closes this Saturday, while the other stays open through November. So maybe I'll have better luck too.

grtpmkn

Here's a few screen captures of one of my runs (since I can't find a program to convert my .mov file to a .mpg):

1st pic shows myself and a mid-'80s Monte Carlo SS (lumpy cammed 350, open headers and drag slicks) staged



Next pic shows us launching (my .095 reaction time to his .281)



I have to admit that this was a pretty good launch for me



And finally, here we are at the 60' mark (my 2.010 to his 2.217)



In the end, he got me with a 13.602@100.70 to my 13.989@97.56

Scothew

good looking runs! high 13's in a grocery gitter is friggin awesome!

jgsmuzzy

Can you call a WRX a gorcery gitter? It is still a rally car in disguise!

Very good start, you must have had him worried for a while!

Ooooohh 1000!!!