Maiden Track Night

[patmckinneyracing]

Well after almost 2 years since the malibu ripped its driveshaft in half, as of two weeks ago, the car is out of the break-in period.

Tonight I will be heading to San Antonio Speedway for its maiden track night. I've spent the last two days tracing any last minute small leaks to pass pre-inspection and getting the timing down. So far the malibu has been eating everything on the street in a line and ricers trying to get away on curvy roads.

The big track meet I have with my Texas State Gearhead group isn't until Oct. 5th, but I figured I'd go early with a small group of friends to tune it and get some practice with Christine.

I will let you know how the new drivetrain works. So far the 700r4 and new engine setup have surpassed all my expectations and then some.

 

[Oldsmoletick]

Awesome, good luck! Get video if possible 8) .

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Only video I may have is gonna be taken off my roommates phone so hopefully it looks decent enough.

 

[ElCamMan515]

Good Luck Pat! Tear The Strip Up!

-ElCam

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Alright guys. It was a rough night all together at the track.

Right when I was rolling out of tech inspection, a damn evo blew a freeze plug and dumped antifreeze the entire length of the track and didn't get out of the groove. So that took an hour to clean that sh*t up.

Then I finally got to go down the track. The track manager was being a real douchebag and kept claiming I was dripping oil. When I rolled up just before I got into pre-stage, I got out of the car to check for any leaks. There were none. The guy refused to let me go through the wet box and kept telling everyone I was leaking, but could show no proof I was. Idk wtf his deal was.

Now for the stats. First run I ran a 14.2 and spun out bad going from first to second but not bad off the launch. Figure I'm running 215/60's all around that have a composition close to drag radials. But not being allowed to go through the wetbox and constantly being F'ed with by the track manager, I could not focus and my times started getting worse after the first pass.

On a good note, there was a kid close to my age out there racing his 79' silver malibu and I went head to head with him. He didn't break traction or anything, but I beat him the whole 1/4 mile even though I was spinning tire for most of the first 1/8th.

At this point the two things I need to do a box up the lower control arms, and find a set of wheels and drag radials dedicated for track use.

 

[JBreu]

Not bad at all Pat...Then drag radials will help you a bunch.What was your mph??

 

[patmckinneyracing]

98 mph

 

[khan0165]

very respectable Pat!
for a car setup for autocross, and skinny tires like yours, 14.2 is very quick.

What rpms were you shifting at? Did you shift yourself? What is the rpm range on your cam?

personally, I think it's fine that you didn't go in the waterbox... doing a burnout on tires is pointless, unless you toast them in 2nd or 3rd gear. It takes alot to get the heat from the tread to the tire compound. Anything less than that, and all you're doing is wearing down tread.

with the short 1st in the 700r4, I usually have to traction control myself off the line... I assume you had to as well... and you'll get a hang of it, and you'll start to see you 60ft times drop.

did you make any modifications for the track day? Like empty the trunk or remove any seats? How much fuel did you use in the tank? How was the tune? Any bogging or hesitation off the line? How well is your new stall working? Were you loading the stall at the stage?

I think you'll be in the high 13s on tires, and if you figure out your optimum shift points, you should be seeing over 100mph.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

very respectable Pat!
for a car setup for autocross, and skinny tires like yours, 14.2 is very quick.

What rpms were you shifting at? Did you shift yourself? What is the rpm range on your cam?

personally, I think it's fine that you didn't go in the waterbox... doing a burnout on tires is pointless, unless you toast them in 2nd or 3rd gear. It takes alot to get the heat from the tread to the tire compound. Anything less than that, and all you're doing is wearing down tread.

with the short 1st in the 700r4, I usually have to traction control myself off the line... I assume you had to as well... and you'll get a hang of it, and you'll start to see you 60ft times drop.

did you make any modifications for the track day? Like empty the trunk or remove any seats? How much fuel did you use in the tank? How was the tune? Any bogging or hesitation off the line? How well is your new stall working? Were you loading the stall at the stage?

I think you'll be in the high 13s on tires, and if you figure out your optimum shift points, you should be seeing over 100mph.

I was shifting the car myself. On the first couple passes I was shifting from 1st to second at 5k to compensate for the gear drop from first to second. Then the next pass I tried it at 4k to try and reduce tire spin, but there was really no effect and I ran slower. The problem I'm noticing is that going into second, rpms drop right on 2500 which is where my stall flash is and its dumping torque to my tires. RPM range on my cam is 1800-6200.

Figure I was footbraking, and on the line I held the rpms at 2500-2800rpm for launch. When I punched it there was a hesitant/dead spot. I still managed to keep my reaction time at .1 so it was terrible. Off the line I was not spinning bad at all and was hooking pretty good, but it is the first to second gear shift that absolutely kills me. I'll be spinning for over 100ft.

My 60ft times were 2.2 and 2.0 with 1/8th mile time being 8.6 and 8.9. I took all the crap out of my trunk and my battery is mounted back there to help with traction. My gas tank had little over a 1/4 of a tank.

Overall, this was a good way of figuring out where I need to make certain changes. The stall is working and flashes right at 2500 where it should. I think a 650 dp holley would make a difference as right now I'm running a 600 edelbrock which is great, but doesn't do well on the track. That and I need drag radials/slicks, cause all I'm doing the first 1/8th mile is spinning tire till I get into 3rd.

 

[monte ss496]

get your sixty foots under control and you will have a mid 13 second car in my opinion! 2.2 is spinning a ton of et away! definately try some drag radials b4 you go again! all in all a very impressive first time out! i love the car pat , your doing a great job on it! keep it up!