Landracing Forum

East Coast Timing Association => ECTA General Chat => Topic started by: jjolly on June 13, 2015, 06:21:57 PM

Title: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: jjolly on June 13, 2015, 06:21:57 PM
So, I ran my first LSR, had no real issues, (other than a dead battery), made passes of 117, 128, 150 and 175 to earn my licenses and got the B CGC record. My first pass was the first time I had ever driven this car since building it. I put it on the trailer in Michigan and put it in tech then in staging. I was really happy with my weekend! 
  About the 1/2 mile..Will we use the same starting point? 1/2 mile feels a bit more like a drag race and traction early will be more important in trying to reach top speed. Can we not start on the paint? 
 
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: ronnieroadster on June 13, 2015, 10:33:15 PM
From what i understand the starting point will be where the drivers meeting took place Saturday morning around the pickup truck. Just across form the sign in trailer etc. Staging I gather will be on the runway just to the left of that location. The 1/2 mile distance will then be timed at the same finish line location used for the full mile runs.
   Should be a fun time a bit shorter in length to get up to speed but with a gear change and a bit of traction fast runs are possible.  :cheers:
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: jjolly on June 15, 2015, 10:17:27 AM
thanks for that, will we be able to heat the tires?

Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: ronnieroadster on June 15, 2015, 04:39:42 PM
For the mile runs as you know no burnuts are allowed I would think that would also be the case for the half mile runs but Im not sure. Consdiering how the concrete runway is groved for rain run off I think that would damage the tires doing a burnout.  :|
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: jjolly on June 15, 2015, 07:41:01 PM
If trying to attract drag cars, street racers, sport bike's, outlaw farmtrucks or murderous nova's, I think a burnout box will be necessary.  I do not need to heat the tires to go fast but I do think over all it might be safer to allow a quick burnout behind the starting line rather than doing a 150 foot burnout during the timed pass..
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on June 15, 2015, 08:23:39 PM
Wow, a burnout box.  Hadn't thought of that.

Would a drag car really need to launch that hard for a 1/2 mile?  I'd think it would be wiser and safer to just hook up and smoothly lean into it.

 :?
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: edinlr on June 16, 2015, 12:08:30 AM
As many cars that I saw trying to make hard launches for the mile, I can only imagine the enthusiastic starts for a 1/2 mile course.  My guess is there will be plenty of video opportunities that weekend.
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: Jack Gifford on June 16, 2015, 01:40:37 AM
... I'd think it would be wiser and safer to just hook up and smoothly lean into it...
You need to get to the drags more often, Chris! Heating the tires via a burnout is a huge factor in having them "hook up" during the actual run.
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: Stainless1 on June 16, 2015, 09:54:05 AM
Jack, have you walked on a dragstrip lately.... hope you had your shoe laces tight....  :roll:
My guess is they are not going to spray the runway with VHT... like the dragstrips

They do have stuff you can spray on your tires to make them softer and bite better but as the drag racers learned you don't go as fast smoking the tires as you do without tire spin.  Doubt they will be giving 60 and 330 ft times...  :-D
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: sabat on June 16, 2015, 10:35:13 AM
I'm pretty sure the runway is still used for planes, and the folks that run the place are kinda finicky about the condition of the surface - so I'd guess there will be NO burnouts. Clutch tuning and throttle modulation only :)
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: Speed Limit 1000 on June 16, 2015, 12:58:20 PM
I would think that rubber would be built up where the air planes touch down.
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: dw230 on June 16, 2015, 01:06:32 PM
That rubber may not match your tread width.

DW
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: Peter Jack on June 16, 2015, 01:11:42 PM
Checking on Google Maps one runway is decommissioned. I would assume that's the one used for racing. The number on the runway is "x"ed out indicating the runway is not in use.

As long as everyone is following the same procedure it shouldn't matter whether a burnout area is provided or not.

Pete
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: sabat on June 16, 2015, 02:10:38 PM
You are correct Pete, my mistake. Maybe the new owners are more open to burnouts, but I know Joe Timney did not approve.
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: Joe Timney on June 16, 2015, 09:14:01 PM
The no burnouts was for concern that there wasn't any way to protect the people and vehicles behind the starting line. Ohio has a very rough concrete with rain grooves running across the track...it would never really build up with rubber.
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: jjolly on June 16, 2015, 10:09:47 PM
The rubber isn't needed on the track, just need to heat the tires to help get better bite. I suppose if its a problem I'll just lower the air pressure a tad and see if I can keep her straight!
 :cheers:
Title: Re: 1/2 mile short course..
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on June 17, 2015, 12:19:31 AM
... I'd think it would be wiser and safer to just hook up and smoothly lean into it...
You need to get to the drags more often, Chris! Heating the tires via a burnout is a huge factor in having them "hook up" during the actual run.

Infrequently enough to lose track of the terminology.

"Hook up" isn't precisely what I was thinking.  More along the lines of getting the car rolling with the least amount of wheelspin and rolling into the throttle as smoothly as possible would, I think, be the most advantageous approach, especially if it's a drag car.

I'm certain some folks will be changing out rear ends for this event, but I would think a good strategy would be to put the least amount of stress on the drivetrain as possible to keep the engine from overheating.  These cars are going to spending a lot more time in high gear against the wind than normal.

I'll be interested in seeing what strategies folks use.