OLD_GOAT
08-15-2009, 07:10 PM
I decided to try the track again. I knew the weather would be crappy, but I wanted to see if the car would pick up some time by doing the shift trick and holding the car in 3rd till the end of the quarter. I had visions of 13.0 to 13.1 in my head.
Before we get started, let's touch base on her history. All runs at Houston Raceway Park.
************************************************
Pontiac G8 GXP A6.
BONE STOCK EXCEPT ROTOFAB CAI. 400 MILES ON THE CAR. 26 POUNDS OF AIR IN THE TIRES. ALL LAUNCHES BETWEEN OFF IDLE (750) AND 1,000 RPM.
5/29/09 2119 DA
1. 2.111 13.377 105.01
2. 2.185 13.448 103.94
3. 2.087 13.287 106.00
ALL RUNS THE CAR WAS GOING INTO 4TH ABOUT 100' FROM THE END OF THE QUARTER. THIS PROBABLY COST ABOUT .1 TO .2 SECONDS.
************************************************** **
OK, so here is what happened last night. On the first two runs (all runs made in sport mode, traction control off 26 lbs. of air in the rear tires) , after the car went into 3rd gear, I pulled the gear lever back to the minus sign, which was to hold the car in 3rd. Unfortunately it did not work out like I wanted it to. Both runs were made almost back to back. 3100 miles on the car, DA about 2300. Quarter tank of 91 octane, computer was reset 3 days ago due to 87 octane being run.
1. 2.082 13.435 99.61
2. 2.126 13.530 99.62
That's not what was supposed to happen. Looks like she hit the rev. limiter and just died at the end. As luck would have it, I had a real good lead on both a Camaro F body LS1, and some hot rod Mustang and got the win light.
Pissed off, I hot lap right after the first two runs, this time (and all the rest of the runs) in sport mode all the way.
3. 2.124 13.455 104.89
That's better, but not not what I was looking for. Run 1 would have been a 13.2XX run if the rev. limiter would have not come into play. As of this time, this is my best 60'. I got my mph back to a semi respectable level.
Time for some cool down for the car. About 30 minutes later, time to crank her up again.
Back to back runs. Maybe a 15 minute wait between the end of run 4 and running run 5.
4. 2.075 13.283 106.11
5. 2.119 13.431 105.32
Run 4, PB of the car in 60', time, and mph. Still went into 4th like the first night, Old Goat still wanting to keep her in 3rd, but with the stock tune, it is not to be.
I was going to head to the house, but the 13.283 kept me around for a bit more. Even thought it was night time, it was hot enough for people to be sweating and the lights had humidity all around them. A terrible night to race, but I am still learning the car, and as much as I want in the 13.teens or better, it is still fun.
Race 6, well I am about 3 cars from running and the car has been off for about 30 minutes. A beautiful Caddy CTS/V decides to join the busted rear end brotherhood and that shuts down the track for about an hour. Since I am 3rd in line, the car will get minimal heat moving into the staging lanes.
6. 2.072 13.312 105.07
Another good run, but it isn't really any different than races 3-5. The old goat did cut a really good .041 light, but I really wanted more.
************************************************** ****
Now that this is done and over, time for a couple of thoughts.
Everybody waits for a good negative DA. Me too, however, I can't help but wonder if a great DA would actually do me any good. From this context, with a great DA, it just seems like the car will go into 4th sooner, and I will still lose valuable time. Don't really know.
I know, I know, I know, a tune will fix all of this. At this time, I want to see what I can get out of her in the bone stock condition. The rotofab is going to come off, until I am ready to mod. Mods will be the rotofab back on, 1 3/4 or 1 7/8 ARH long tubes with high flow cats, then the tune.
Thanks to those who talked to me about how to hold 3rd, but at the end of the day, it did not help.
Before we get started, let's touch base on her history. All runs at Houston Raceway Park.
************************************************
Pontiac G8 GXP A6.
BONE STOCK EXCEPT ROTOFAB CAI. 400 MILES ON THE CAR. 26 POUNDS OF AIR IN THE TIRES. ALL LAUNCHES BETWEEN OFF IDLE (750) AND 1,000 RPM.
5/29/09 2119 DA
1. 2.111 13.377 105.01
2. 2.185 13.448 103.94
3. 2.087 13.287 106.00
ALL RUNS THE CAR WAS GOING INTO 4TH ABOUT 100' FROM THE END OF THE QUARTER. THIS PROBABLY COST ABOUT .1 TO .2 SECONDS.
************************************************** **
OK, so here is what happened last night. On the first two runs (all runs made in sport mode, traction control off 26 lbs. of air in the rear tires) , after the car went into 3rd gear, I pulled the gear lever back to the minus sign, which was to hold the car in 3rd. Unfortunately it did not work out like I wanted it to. Both runs were made almost back to back. 3100 miles on the car, DA about 2300. Quarter tank of 91 octane, computer was reset 3 days ago due to 87 octane being run.
1. 2.082 13.435 99.61
2. 2.126 13.530 99.62
That's not what was supposed to happen. Looks like she hit the rev. limiter and just died at the end. As luck would have it, I had a real good lead on both a Camaro F body LS1, and some hot rod Mustang and got the win light.
Pissed off, I hot lap right after the first two runs, this time (and all the rest of the runs) in sport mode all the way.
3. 2.124 13.455 104.89
That's better, but not not what I was looking for. Run 1 would have been a 13.2XX run if the rev. limiter would have not come into play. As of this time, this is my best 60'. I got my mph back to a semi respectable level.
Time for some cool down for the car. About 30 minutes later, time to crank her up again.
Back to back runs. Maybe a 15 minute wait between the end of run 4 and running run 5.
4. 2.075 13.283 106.11
5. 2.119 13.431 105.32
Run 4, PB of the car in 60', time, and mph. Still went into 4th like the first night, Old Goat still wanting to keep her in 3rd, but with the stock tune, it is not to be.
I was going to head to the house, but the 13.283 kept me around for a bit more. Even thought it was night time, it was hot enough for people to be sweating and the lights had humidity all around them. A terrible night to race, but I am still learning the car, and as much as I want in the 13.teens or better, it is still fun.
Race 6, well I am about 3 cars from running and the car has been off for about 30 minutes. A beautiful Caddy CTS/V decides to join the busted rear end brotherhood and that shuts down the track for about an hour. Since I am 3rd in line, the car will get minimal heat moving into the staging lanes.
6. 2.072 13.312 105.07
Another good run, but it isn't really any different than races 3-5. The old goat did cut a really good .041 light, but I really wanted more.
************************************************** ****
Now that this is done and over, time for a couple of thoughts.
Everybody waits for a good negative DA. Me too, however, I can't help but wonder if a great DA would actually do me any good. From this context, with a great DA, it just seems like the car will go into 4th sooner, and I will still lose valuable time. Don't really know.
I know, I know, I know, a tune will fix all of this. At this time, I want to see what I can get out of her in the bone stock condition. The rotofab is going to come off, until I am ready to mod. Mods will be the rotofab back on, 1 3/4 or 1 7/8 ARH long tubes with high flow cats, then the tune.
Thanks to those who talked to me about how to hold 3rd, but at the end of the day, it did not help.