So I went friday to Richmond dragway to see if different launching techniques could net me a better time. I had a buddy of mine that rode with me and before I told the guy at the gate he is my crew chief and they said ok no charge for him. This time they charged him. Oh well whatever.....
So I go to do my burnout for my first run and I litterally get sideways with only half throttle....I thought to myself "that's pretty weird but whatever", knowing this launch was going to suck. So I do what I can and stalled it up to 2000 rpms and I spin like there is no tomorrow. I still punch through the spinning and finish the race. As I cross the line, my check engine light comes on and the car backfires. I get my timeslip and it was embarassing... 12.8 @ 107....the exact same time I ran without the converter, torque arm, and new transmission.
Disgruntled, I go back to the pitts to give it another try. As the night goes on I am talking with some people and I wanted to know how this GSX Eclipse was launching here. That way I would know if it was just me or did the track suck that night. As I stroll over to the GSX I see it has Hoosier's on there. Real slicks....not just the ET street type I have but real ones. The guy told me the best he had been able to pull off all night has been a 1.94 60 foot. Wow....
My advice to the people in Richmond and surrounding areas....dont go to Richmond. With a bigger converter and some suspension work I couldnt get a better 60 foot. However in MIR....I was hooking on 1.7's all night, not varying by more than .03 in my 60 foot times.

Now what I am beginning to wonder is that when I was at the track and thought I needed a bigger converter b/c I only got a 12.8 ETwith the S10 converter on a 1.97 60 foot....Was it the track or was it the converter? IIRC EVO's werent hooking up the last time I was there either...

 

I would venture to say that the RIR track sucked the big one that day. I'm suprised that the GM event was there and no one mentioned the poor track conditions. I guess they take care of it when there is big money involved.

 

Richmond Dragway is ran by good folkes. I've been going there since I was in high school. I wouldn't call it garbage at all. Now that being said, street nights there are what they are "street nights".

You get 100 r!cerz and 150 bikes dragging water out of the burnout box, you get sh!tty conditions. Ill agree it is frustraiting, but it is what it is. You just cant go out there on "kill" mode off the line. For instance, I ran my wifes SS and was able to run a 11.20 with a 1.65 60ft barely flashing the converter. I took it easy outta the hole. I go out there on friday nights to have a good time, not necessarily looking for my best number. If you want that you need to go on saturdays when the race cars are out there. And telling someone at the gates your passenger is your crew chief for a 12 second car? Your mad because they charged you 12 bucks for him..Come on man lol

 

Well i will say this....it was friday night street night at MIR a couple weeks back and that is when I got my best time.
And the reason I was upset bc of my passenger being charged was b/c the last few times I was there they asked me "Are you having this guy as your chief" I said yes and they let him in for free. I wouldn't have been mad if they charged him before, but to change it out of the blue....that is what I am upset about.

Also, I did go up there the Saturday after street race nights and still same thing happened. Well it isnt like it matters anyway....I'm leaving US soil to Japan for two years anyways. I will try to come back to run the car but one thing is for certain: It wont be Richmond Dragway. It will either be MIR or the track in Dinwiddie.

 

I have never been not charged for other people in my truck. We have been racing a lot this year and no matter what the entry fee is they always charge us. What was the weather like on the best run and what was it like on the crappy runs. Track temps are a big part, humidity, everything. Your "crew Cheif" should know these things. Good luck in Japan and hope it goes well when you get back.

 

The weather was pretty similar...within 7* IIRC. Humidity was a bit lower at Richmond than MIR.

 

from what I understand, if there is no real event that weekend, they don't really prep the track for the friday night street events.