My back still sore from the hard leave i couldnt sleep. I got up and rewatched the video. Then i saw it. When the car left and the weight transfers to the rear the tires squat. Quite a bit too. Coupled with the wheelie it looked like the tail bone of the rear lower frame rail was at ground level. Could it have actually hit and that is why it felt so hard. Hard to tell from the blury video but it is awful colse and the car bounces twice on launch. Showed my wife this morning. This afternoon we got a mirror and put it under the car. Sure enough in the centre left side is a 4 to 5 inch long road rash on the lower rear section of the lower frame rail hoop. Now what? More air in the tires? I hate to. It is hooking great at 7 PSI. Leave lower on the converter. Maybe but why? The launch is the best place to reduce ET (because you are going the slowest) I have a set of 29 inch high tires with only 3 runs. Would they be to much for the car? I ran them before these and times preconverter were similar. That would get me almost an inch and a half higher off the ground at the rear but then what if I still get a full wheelie it will be worse. I think I need a wheelie bar spring type to soften it if it does come that high but not so strong as to ruin traction. Maybe that and the taller tires together might work best. The tires will affect the actual gearing but like I said before it made very little difference before so since i own them I will try them and the wheelie bar. Right now I am thinking the other tires on a set of Torque Thrusts would be nice! Don
When you get your first time slip, please post it. I would like to know how you compare with like cars in Tulsa. There are a couple of /6's here (soon to be three). car#1 .411 reaction 1.648 60 ft 7.138 ET@ 594 FT 7.651 1/8 ET 87.71 1/8 MPH TSI Timing system 2000 plus
Don Here are some #'s from one of our SDRA cars. 261+(272) chevy, PG, 3 Roch. 1bbls. Rt .176 60 ft 1.727 330 ft 4.871 1/8 m 7.555 @ 90.58 1000 ft 9.931 1/4 m 11.980 @ 109.15 @ Tulsa Raceway Park Car owned and driven by Bob Hindman
Claymore. That sounds like good advice to me. My back still hurts from the wack. I think you are right on. I have brand new 29.5 in the shop with three runs on them.They are almost 1.5" higher and a bit wider too. I could probably run them at 10 and hook good without the huge squat. I think I will add a couple of wheelie bars just in case. I think I would be ok gearing wise since I ran these earlier before the converter and ET was no different. I did lose 1 mph and I havent got it back even though I am almost now a second faster in ET. The long stroke slant six is not a high RPM motor. Just under 6000 is more than enough. Other really good reason to run them is I have them and they are paid for. But you're right . If I could swap them for a set of wider ones same hieght and run a bit more pressure I would be good. I lowered the pressure til I got ful contact. Maybe even a wider rim would solve that. Also I am sitting here thinking I did not check pressure Sat which is inexcusable. It was a cold day and last time I ran it was in the 90Fs. Maybe I check that first. I had then 7 PSI both sides. Tulsa Boys. Thanks . Looks like we are all in about the same ball park which makes for great racing! I see I need to sqeeze mine just a bit more yet. It is out to 246 cubes . Any pics of Bob H,s car?
I watched your videos Carl. I felt your joy. I remember my first p*** in the Sr dragster like it was yesterday. And it keeps getting better. I raced more this year than in the last 10. All the best with your car too. i keep an eye on you. Don
Don Go to (search) "Senile Ole Men", 5-4-2009. on HA/GR site. also "tulsaracewaypark.com", photos; center pic of the three in upper right sec. of the Home page. select tnt of most months plus oct Nitro Nationals. Lots of pics there.
Don Go down to the bottom of this page, find the Highlighted bar that says "Hokey *** Message Board". Click the down arrow to open, find "HA/GR" and click on it. That should put you there. Good Luck.
I did. Took a picture of the road rash from the wheelie. Not severe but when you realize this part of the frame is normally almost a foot from the ground it has no reason to be marked at all. Don
I am still here . It got real cold so i quit working in the shop for a bit and went to me other hobby Also HAMB but without the B http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWvKgFl1lAw I like making stuff I guess. The Wx is now improving and I was in the shop a bit yesterday. I have to get back at the SR dragster soon. I have to pull the trans and install the A&A gov package so the trans will auto shift to 6200 . I have realized I am just too uncoordinated to drive, brake and shift at the same time. Most of my drag racing career I wrenched and had a driver but I am not giving up this seat till I have to. It is just too much fun. Don
Good to hear you are gettin back in the shop, thats one thing about the middle left coast we get to work all year long. I'm thinkin about changing my converter this year thanks to you.........
Been a long time since an update. I put in a govenor kit from A &A trans so the trans shifts at 6000 if i want. currently set to shift at 5800. The auto shift deal with this works real well. Pop it in drive and hang on! I ran the tire pressure up last race to 10. No neg afffects so i will leave it there. I wish there was a Growth tire in the 10 inch width. Car could use one. These slicks are zero growth for doorslammers (so you dont rip the fender.) Had a wonderful time at Picton Airfield. Was able to run a 454 FED with Hilborns and bested him 2 out of three. He is a bit slow on the launch but still I expected to get annilated but was actually able to hold him off. Last run i left real bad for me and that was all he needed to sneek around at about 3/4 track (We ran the full 1/4) Never did a full launch all weekend. Didnt seem to have my wits about me .(It was too hot out. Hi 90s 97F and above) I dont function well in the heat having been a victum of heat stroke . This year I had a new cam made to my specs. and did a real serious rework on a new head. So far so good. No times at Picton this race. However it was exciting inspite of all that. Sitting on the line with a new head and a cam you speced yourself way out in a spec that no one has ever tried in a 6 cyl previously and not knowing if it will work, all the while listening to the deafening sound of a BB Chevy on Hilborns thundering beside you is a bit un-nerving. When the Arms dropped I nailed it from just off idle and I was GONE. He about threw in the towel right then. Second run he gave it the old college try. Last run he caught me. My only wish is that someone, anyone, would build another 6 cyl rail so i had one to run against. In the meantime I will just nibble away at the big guns. ;>) I will just have to take little bites. Don