Took the '78 to the strip yesterday

pasvorto1 · 09-26-04, 12:26 PM

A bunch of us headed up to Rock Falls Raceway, Rock falls, Wisconsin (used to be Amber Green) yesterday. It was "Muscle Car Day". I thought I would see what the Vette would do. I was figuring on mid 16s. It is an L48 automatic.

My 1st run was bone-ass stock. It turned a 17.047 (reaction time was .650). That was with me staring in Low and manually shifting the automatic.

2nd run. I just punched it in Drive and let the car do the shifting. I watched the tach. It always shifted at the red line. More consistent than me. Anyway, that time I turned a 16.727 (R/T was .605). Better time, still sleeping at the lights.

3rd run. I read somewhere that the difference in the 185 hp and the 220 hp models was a different air cleaner and exhaust. So, I removed the air cleaner top cover and the filter. Turned a 15.375 (R/T .721) Much better, still asleep at the lights.

4th run, last time trial. Track getting hot. Turned a 15.543 (R/T .554). Same range, but I am getting more alert.

It was 1/2 second bracket racing for the eliminations. I chose the 15.5 - 15.99 bracket.

1st race. Ran a mid 60s Chevy malibu. It had 283 stickers, but I know the guy. It has a 350. He got the hole shot (R/T of .366 vs my R/T of .688). I passed him just before the light. However I turned a 15.427 (vs a 15.732). I was under by bracket by .078 seconds, so I was eliminated. He lost the next round.

I headed for the consolation rounds. I won the first round with a 15.57 (vs a 13.024). Thank God for handicapping. 2nd run I won with a 16.054 (vs a 17.78). He was a monster SS 396. He lost control and almost went in to the railing.

Now I was in the final 16 for the consolation run. If I win this one I get a trophy. Cool.

I pull up next to a early 60s Plymouth Fury. He runs in the 13s. When he was next to , even with the windows rolled up and a helmet, his engine echoed in my skull. I was to his right. When we were flagged up to do our burn outs, he cut in front of me and jumped into the right lane. That was the lane I wanted, Bastard! My R/T went down to .399, I wanted this one. His was .212. I got a big head start. Anyway, he passed me in the last 60'. I did a 15.848 (vs a 13.079). Had I been in the right lane, I probably would have turned around 15.5 and won. Bummer.

Had a fun day, though. Lots of great old muscle cars. I was happy. I lost my elimination round cause I was too fast. The car turned a second faster than I thought it would. Made it into the top 16 consolation. Not a bad day. Now I have a baseline for any stuff I do to it.

Too bad they only have these once or twice a year.

Yoda · 09-26-04, 01:12 PM

pasvorto1,

Great reading, I was right there with ya... good job, and most of all you had FUN

Enjoyed reading your Drag Racing experience

Bud

81 Corvette · 09-27-04, 08:49 AM

ithstupid:

Nice story.

Glensgages · 09-27-04, 09:14 AM

Good story, glad you enjoyed yourself!

Zora didn't build these cars to be "trailer-queens" and show cars.....

Stallion · 09-27-04, 11:17 AM

Hmm...so that's what a bone stock '78 runs. Question though, him being an auto and me being a manual, would my ET be higher or lower?

Yoda · 09-27-04, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stallion

Hmm...so that's what a bone stock '78 runs. Question though, him being an auto and me being a manual, would my ET be higher or lower?

Owning a 4-speed

I'd like to say that the 4-speed would be faster BUT... there are so many things to consider! Things like consistency, reaction time, track temp, ambient temp, car setup, altitude etc.. In most instances, experience at the tree and reaction times will be the difference between winning an losing, when everything else is equal.

Bud

pasvorto1 · 09-27-04, 11:46 AM

Yep. Called the "hole shot". I tried manually shifting and letting the car do it. The car was morte consistent. If I had a manual, I'm not sure if I would have done better, as the tach showed it shifting at the redline each time. However, with a 4sp (vs the 3sp auto), the lower gearing might have gotten me going faster. I suspect the 3.08 rear end could be "beefed up" a bit and make quite a difference.

Stallion · 09-27-04, 12:51 PM

Okay, how about this situation. The same conditions, the same exact car (I know, this is hypothetical), and the same exact driver in each car. They both (the same person) have the same reaction time and all conditions are the same, except one is an auto and the other is a 4-speed. Who would win?

pasvorto1 · 09-27-04, 01:15 PM

I would put my m oney on the manual. Justr because it would probably get a better start (with lower gearing).

Glensgages · 09-27-04, 01:52 PM

Strictly comparing "car-vs.-car", I'd think the stick-car would have a slight performance advantage, due to better gear-multiplication of-the-line, and being able to adjust the 'shock' of the launch.

For consistency and bracket-racing, the automatic would be prefferable.....

John Doe · 09-28-04, 02:00 AM

I am astonished that your air cleaner was costing you 1.5 seconds!

pasvorto1 · 09-28-04, 07:53 AM

Me too. But the time slips tell the tale.

79-L-82 · 09-29-04, 09:21 AM

Also, if you read any mags, they usually post slower times for the autos.
Gearing of the trannys plus I believe most autos rob a little more power to operate.
In other words, the exact same combo and HP at the flywheel would have slightly less power at the wheels than a manual.

Stallion · 09-29-04, 05:42 PM

Yes, I remember reading that a manual sucks 15 hp off the flywheel, and an auto takes 20 hp.

Paranoid · 09-30-04, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasvorto1

Me too. But the time slips tell the tale.

I remember reading, in the 60's, car magazine drivers/testers would routinely remove the air filter and turn the lid upside down & reattach to achieve better 1/4 mile times..