I went up to Lebanon Valley today with some friends. One of the local shop owners rented the track out from 10 to 5 so we all went up and made some runs. I went up with the Vette and, given 'my' view of how I shift all I set for a goal was 13.6 or better and some semblance of consistency. I had no idea how it would turn out!

I've got details of everything below, but my question relates to the wisdom of removing my air filter at the track. I'll probably try it next time to find out if it makes that big of a difference (since it's already a ram-air under the car) but I wanted to hear some of the voices of wisdom on this as far as possible debris and if it's worth the risk.

Ok folks, how about this - first time on a track EVER and I run a 13.51 @ 108.83 Get this - I came out of the hole with traction control still on (DOH!) I slapped my hand down on the button and than reached for the shifter and power shifted into 2nd and away I went. I was really surprised I did that well.

Here are my bests for the day
r/t - .827
60' - 2.150
1/4 and mph - 13.056 @ 109.52

that best time was my last run for the day which also happened to be the last one before the track closed. I got the chance to play around with my launches a bit and the best way I did was to launch from ~1500. It'll spin the tires for maybe 5 feet and then grips hard. I take first as high as it will go and power shift into 2nd.

The only problem I had with my ETs was that I kept redlining 3rd JUST before the traps. When I held onto 3rd I ended up with average of high 13.2 to 13.4 whereas when I hit 4th I was able to pull the extra few tenths and make several 13.1 and 13.0 passes.

I had a blast but felt sorry for so many of the guys with blue ovals. Three of them went so far as to strip their entire interiors from the cars except for the driver's seat and were still making best times in the 14.2 - 14.6 range. There were two faster mustangs. One ran a 12.0 and another ran an 11.3 which I thought was really impressive. One had juice and the other had a Vortech of indetermined size.

Me? I had a 100% stock 2000 Corvette coupe 6-speed. My only 'performance' mods have been Borla mufflers and a Vortex ram-air kit. And I was making my runs with the heavier full-body top instead of the glass one, PLUS I was hauling all of my food, video recorder, camera, cleaning stuff, 3/4 tank of gas, and drinks! Not to mention my sorry carcass.

All in all a very good day. Next time I'll keep the tank low and leave all my crap in the pit. And here I thought those magazines were bluffing when they said Corvettes could do 12s! I always thought they put a professional driver in the car and beat it relentlessly to get those times. I don't think they fibbed those numbers anymore

SO - what kind of gain, if any, do you think there would be for me if I were to remove my air filter? Enough to maybe make the difference of 13.056 and 12.9xx?




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1991 RS LT1
every imaginable bolt-on, and an all-forged 355 on the way with an ATI following in '01

2000 C5 Coupe
black/black 6-spd, optional polished rims, 'mostly' stock....

"So what DOES the back of a Mustang look like?"

 

considering the huge filter set up used in the vettes, i'd say not much. i don't see it hurting it to remove it for track only though. just don't tell the dealer. most tracks are fairly free from dirt and dust and your maf should have a screen in it to stop big stuff. but i doubt you'll gain much. by the way, just got the Z06 in on the 20th, prepped it on the 21st and got to put about 15 miles on it myself. what a blast. should have no problem getting 12's out of what you have now. did you ice the intake??

 

Nope, no ice. I didn't try any tricks. But by the next time I hit the track I will have bypass the TB and relocate the mat. I am also considering headers and a Hypertech programmer, but not in the immediate future.

Like I said, next time I'll get more into it and try a few weight-saving tricks and maybe come home with some 12 sec time slips.

 

I pull my air filters out at the track every time.

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'91 Z28 Blue/Silver ZZ4/ZF6
335.9 rwhp 374.9 rwtorque