Less grip at Shakey?

[dbv8]

Any ideas?

I normally run my TVR Chimaera at York and with the aid of Toyo R888s with 14psi and a little nitrous regularly hit 1.9's and the odd 1.8 to 60 foot. A best of 12.14 @ 116.85.

I went to Shakespeare County on Sunday hoping for a stickier track and to run my first 11.

I was early on track and ran a 12.3 with a 2.0 60 foot and as the day progressed the sun warmed the track up to 111 degrees! The commentator spoke of good track conditions but no matter what i did i just went backwards struggling to better 2.3's and wheelspinning in all gears.

I heard there were PBs on the Saturday but people i spoke to on the Sunday were struggling.

Any ideas?

[Bigmouse]

The better the track the better the tyre you need to take advantage of it; the R888 is a good trackday tyre for roundy roundy racing, and is quite good on a marginal track for drag racing but on a 'good' track you'll need something with a proper drag tyre compound to take advantage of it.

The wheelspinning is evidence that a) the compound you have is no good for a drag strip in good condition, or b) you were overpowering the track. As it was only a Chimera I think we can safely dismiss option 'b' if the big HP cars were getting down the track

Contact Lee at LA Racing for advice on M/T tyres to fit your application if you want to make the most of decent track conditions; or try BFG drag radials that come in a variety of sizes

Edited by Bigmouse on Wednesday 17th June 11:16

Edited by Bigmouse on Wednesday 17th June 11:16

[BennettRacing]

dbv8 said:

Any ideas?

I normally run my TVR Chimaera at York and with the aid of Toyo R888s with 14psi and a little nitrous regularly hit 1.9's and the odd 1.8 to 60 foot. A best of 12.14 @ 116.85.

I went to Shakespeare County on Sunday hoping for a stickier track and to run my first 11.

I was early on track and ran a 12.3 with a 2.0 60 foot and as the day progressed the sun warmed the track up to 111 degrees! The commentator spoke of good track conditions but no matter what i did i just went backwards struggling to better 2.3's and wheelspinning in all gears.

I heard there were PBs on the Saturday but people i spoke to on the Sunday were struggling.

Any ideas?

Track is better for cars running slicks. Although if the track was that hot it can start to go away abit.

[dbv8]

Cheers guys.
At York they have twin lanes.
ie you have the choice to run on the prepared lane or off it.
I find it better on the concrete.

Ive been considering Mickey Thompson Street ETs but a little worried about clearance as they only come in a 26" dia min.
My usual road tyres are a 245/35/18 and the R888s are 225/50/16.
Im thinking of getting a pair of MTs in 255/50/16 to replace the R888s

Do you think these will do the trick?
What improvement do you think i could expect?

[liner33]

The track temp was high but the air was awful on Sunday i was helping a mate who normally runs 14.0-14.1 and best he got was a 14.8 , trying to get it any quicker just gave wheelspin

Did you have a blue TVR with two nos injectors but only one pair of solenoids???

Edited by liner33 on Wednesday 17th June 14:05

[dbv8]

liner33 said:

The track temp was high but the air was awful on Sunday i was helping a mate who normally runs 14.0-14.1 and best he got was a 14.8 , trying to get it any quicker just gave wheelspin

Did you have a blue TVR with two nos injectors but only one pair of solenoids???

Edited by liner33 on Wednesday 17th June 14:05

Yes that was me.
I never had a problem with power as i was running terminals of 116+
It was traction woes all the way for me.
I tried 2 injectors as i had them available and was experimenting to get better distribution. Not a bad result as i was getting over 90 bhp from 100 jets.

[liner33]

I run 116mph on 12.8's and 12.9's , i really do have a problem with traction best 60ft 2.10

It seemed like a typical RWYB track to me , it lack decent powerful stuff with slicks probably due to the Summer Nats being on the same weekend

Very well run , some people got 20 runs on Saturday so i hear

[Mustanglimey]

liner33 said:

I run 116mph on 12.8's and 12.9's , i really do have a problem with traction best 60ft 2.10

It seemed like a typical RWYB track to me , it lack decent powerful stuff with slicks probably due to the Summer Nats being on the same weekend

Very well run , some people got 20 runs on Saturday so i hear

With a 116mph terminal you have the potential of an 11 second car with the right suspension/tires/60ft.
Regarding the M/T post they will be a decent improvement over the Toyos. The big difference with drag orientated tires is the sidewall..you want sidewall in a drag tire.
A word of caution..once you start hooking up with sticky tires you will be finding any weak links in your driveline. Get a prop loop fitted and try to launch hard enough to get some spin or slip the clutch if your driveline is not upgraded, sorry I dont know much about TVR running gear. While your spinning your saving parts.
I was trying to launch on puny 235/60 BFG drag radials and managed a best of 1.78 60ft feeding it out the hole. I fitted M/T 28/10.5 ET drags (slicks)dumped it at 4.5k and the thing ran a 1.48 and yanked the wheels. But dont use drag slicks....or your be picking up parts.
M/T ET street radials are great tires..the sidewall is stiff enough for street use but they sure do hook...they are your best choice IMHO.

[dbv8]

Ive figured there is an 11 in my car even on the R888s on a good day, i had a couple of 12.1s at Yorks last meeting.
I will go with the Street ETs and practice feeding the clutch. Like i said i usually hit mid 1.9s and have hit 1.8s so even 1 tenth at 60 foot will get me in the 11's.
As for the drivetrain im only getting 237 @ wheels + 100 nitrous (the car weighs just over 1000kg). The cossie T5 box is ok at this level, the weak gear is 5th but is not used as im crossing the line at nearly peak power in 4th. As far as the prop and shafts are concerned im not sure but havent heard of others breaking them. Maybe i will be the fisrt

[liner33]

Mustanglimey said:

liner33 said:

I run 116mph on 12.8's and 12.9's , i really do have a problem with traction best 60ft 2.10

It seemed like a typical RWYB track to me , it lack decent powerful stuff with slicks probably due to the Summer Nats being on the same weekend

Very well run , some people got 20 runs on Saturday so i hear

With a 116mph terminal you have the potential of an 11 second car with the right suspension/tires/60ft.
Regarding the M/T post they will be a decent improvement over the Toyos. The big difference with drag orientated tires is the sidewall..you want sidewall in a drag tire.
A word of caution..once you start hooking up with sticky tires you will be finding any weak links in your driveline. Get a prop loop fitted and try to launch hard enough to get some spin or slip the clutch if your driveline is not upgraded, sorry I dont know much about TVR running gear. While your spinning your saving parts.
I was trying to launch on puny 235/60 BFG drag radials and managed a best of 1.78 60ft feeding it out the hole. I fitted M/T 28/10.5 ET drags (slicks)dumped it at 4.5k and the thing ran a 1.48 and yanked the wheels. But dont use drag slicks....or your be picking up parts.
M/T ET street radials are great tires..the sidewall is stiff enough for street use but they sure do hook...they are your best choice IMHO.

I know and you are absolutely right but as it is my drivetrain is on the limits , driveshafts would break at the power I am producing if I was to use slicks or drag radials

[funnycar]

The track went away with the heat at Shakey on Sunday, we were running 1.8 60ft's in the morning but down to 2.2's late afternoon with 100+ degree heat in the track,that was on Mickey T's drag radials. Air conditions also lost us 3mph at the big end during the day. We're not complaining though, great to be at a track enjoying sunshine, especially after last year.

[dbv8]

Its interesting you say you lost 3mph in the afternoon due to bad air.
I was still managing to run 116's in the heat matching my previous bests on cooler days.
I guess i must be getting more from my nitrous system after a few tweeks.
Cant wait to get to York on the 4th July now with good power and stickier rubber.

[Mustanglimey]

If you got to the track regular and are gonna run sticky tires a prop loop is very cheap insurance. I imagine The TVR has a chassis so shouldn't be hard to get one done. Its one of those things that you will probably never need but a good investment for regular a RWYB'er.
Stout times by the way

[dbv8]

Prop loops a good idea. I will get it sorted.
I run in the 'Hotrod Challenge' at York and was warned that when i do start running 11's i will have to have a roll bar to comply with regulations.
Hopefully this should be delivered and fitted before the 4th.
Ive also been cooking in the car lately with no aircon, windows up, roof on, sleeves etc.
Now im getting a roll bar i can run with the roof off but will need arm restraints apparently.
Wheres a good place to buy these?

[Mustanglimey]

I would have thought Andy Robinson racecars, hauser racing, websters, etc; Or most motorsport dealers like demon tweeks.
I cook in mine, can only open them really with the door open because of the cage.
Can't put a price on your safety.

[Barry B]

dbv8 said:

will need arm restraints apparently.
Wheres a good place to buy these?

Contact Ed Yates, he runs the Ramraider II injected alky slingshot in the Wildbunch and runs a company called DS Racewear. He's a sponsor of SCR and Eurodragster.. click on his link from the news page on Eurodragster.

[Eddh]

I was struggling massively with grip down at Shakeys last weekend. I take it you are on about the same RWYB event?

[dbv8]

Eddh said:

I was struggling massively with grip down at Shakeys last weekend. I take it you are on about the same RWYB event?

Sunday 14th of June i was there.

Taking delivery of a pair of 255/50/16 Mickey Thompson Street ETs today.
These should help at York on the 4th/5th.

One small word of warning however, take no notice of the prices on LAs website.
They are quite a bit more expensive!

[gonzo the great]

Watts linkage dear boy, watts linkage! Fit this system and you can hook up on a school playground, you do need a bullet proof rear end though, tyres can be of less importance [to a degree] when you run this system you can set the percentage of rise and install the traction you need, remember all tracks are different and require different setup to get down them, and it has to be said that no place has grip like york raceway [on the start line] plenty southern racers from the 80/90s went home with busted rear ends and transmissions thinking the place had no grip!

[jimpson]

I like Shakey, I ran a PB on that sunday