1/8th Mile Strip (Qualcomm) ... results aren't pretty
 

UPDATE: now have video of two runs against my buddy's STG 2 (exhaust, intake, tune) STi. I went 1-1.

So I took the Z out to the 1/8th mile drags at Qualcomm this weekend. I haven't been to the strip in many years and this was my first shot with the Z. The only mods I have are FI exhaust and I have about 2000 miles on the car. Also, based on what I have been told by people, Qualcomm is a slower track.

Best results: 9.4 at 78.94 MPH, with a 2.35 60' time.

I had an absolute hell of a time. I couldn't get a clean launch to save my life, spun through first with horrible wheel hop nearly every time. :mad: The only semi-clean launch I got was going from about 2500 RPMs, but I bogged just a bit and it wasn't a particularly fast run. Anything over 3000 RPMs gave a smoky first with wheel hop.

Speaking of wheel hop, despite having my traction control off, I couldn't get a good burnout going either. My buddy told me that in the 350Z, he would have to pull his ABS fuse to get a decent burnout. Anyone know if that's the case here? No matter what RPM I dropped from, I would get initial spin, then some hop, and then the power would just die even though I was pedal to the floor. It occurred to me that I may have been using too much brake, but I doubt it given the consistency. I could do a standing burnout in my M3 using the same method easily. Maybe I was starting the burnout from too high an RPM?

I also grinded the 1-2 shift a few times. I couldn't catch a break. Not sure what the deal was.

Notwithstanding all of the unpleasantness, I definitely had fun, and was able to best my buddy's STG 2 STi wagon once (based purely on my better reaction time) with a few other close races. He puts down about 305-310 AWHP and he was trapping around 80-81 with an ET of 8.8 and 60' of 2.0.

Need lots of practice :shakes head: But all is not lost, got come cool pics and video.



Me and my buddy's STi
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/6...4ba8f74a_b.jpg

My ride
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5335/7...4b056a49_b.jpg

Chasing down a bad time
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7275/7...a25fa36d_b.jpg

Smoky lights
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5342/7...e06f353a_b.jpg

Moment of introspection
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/7...fa1fca17_b.jpg

Hey good job Nix- I haven't gone to a drag strip yet, but I will tell you that our cars won't let you do standing burnouts without some modification (search or others can chime in here).

Its the safety brake override, pull the brake light fuse

Thanks. It was driving me crazy. I will look into it.


Does that mean no brake lights while it's out?

edit: it appears the answer is yes, no brake lights: link

Anyone know a good drag wheel/tire combo for the Z?

Bump for new video!

Even my little, tired NA autocross 350z went 8.33 in the 1/8th...

:)

Practice makes perfect...

Haha, yeah, no question I need practice. However, like I said, Qualcomm is a slow track. I am glad my buddy was there with his STi as a barometer, and I still have my old times from my previous M3 and STi as a basis for comparison. I may try to hit another 1/8th mile in the area to get some comparison times ... but with drag radials and the brake fuse pulled! :driving:

the 350 was difficult to do a burnout in, even w/ VDC off, taking out the fuse solves the problem but no more ABS ;)