i just don't know why everyone thinks the conditions were so bad.a topspeed gtr ran 218. ob prestige lambo's ran 232. ugr lambo ran 220mustangs ran 200+ corvettes ran high 190's and 200 privateer and sponsor cars alike ran high 190+ into mid 200 mph. the surface of any runway will never be dragstrip quality. the sand on the runway was inevitable its florida. and the weather was cold but many dragstrips run into late nov /dec with 40* temps.

 

I did because I only cared about trap speed. They were not measuring ET. I just focused on trying to get a good launch

 

Yes some of the 2000 plus wheel hp cars ran crazy speeds. But still slower than at other half mile meets. The fastest car at the last one in Texas before Ocala ran 238

 

Compare videos of the event to videos from recent 1/2 mile events in California. Cars were being thrown across the track due to wind, and it seems no one could launch due to the temps and gravel. As opposed to Shift-Sector where everyone seemed to launch pretty well. I would imagine that everyones times would have been better if the conditions were better in Ocala.

 

you can pick the day you race but you can't pick the weather!. its racing. some days are good some are better some are rained out. on this particular day they ran approx 5 mph slower than the record runs in dallas in nov. the yr before. not every day is a perfect race day. we have better weather in may in ga but then we have 2500 d/a to deal with. doesn't make it any less fun.

and btw the fastest fwd privateer car on sun was a saturn turbo. 147. nothing earth shattering but i bet he was happy as can be. not every car is a record holder. could be the cars that didn't far as well had poor setups or needed that almighty driver mod.

 

I agree completely that lousy conditions are part of what makes racing racing in that nothing is guaranteed. Ours were just slower at this event then at the last event because the conditions were not great. Temperatures were cold with little traction and the runway was slick. By Sunday afternoon the temperatures warned into the 50s or 60s so traction as a little better although we still continued to slip

On average the cars just didn't fare nearly as well as in the last event. Which is why the top speed car was only 232 as opposed to 238 in the last event.

Clearly not all the drivers could've been incompetent. In my car's case we tried three different drivers of varying weights, five or different tire pressures and multiple assorted launch techniques. Our traps ranged from 158 to 161. One of our drivers is about 140 pounds an extremely experienced in driving high power cars speed events from Team Insanity Racing. He's not called the Lambo slayer for nothing.

Bottom line is the results were what they were and we did everything we could to make them the best possible. We'll be back at an event in the future to try again. Almost certainly with much bigger turbos.

My biggest disappointment with the event was not the weather. It was the lack of 991 turbos to race. I really hope to see a big turnout of Cobb/bydesign cars. But it was not to be. I know there will be a tremendous turnout at Shift Sector in February. I'm sure that people are already preparing their cars for that event. Should be stellar

I had a great time at the event and got to enjoy my passion with like minded people and friends. And I got to see many people from my other passion: road rallies. Had an incredible dinner on Friday night in Orlando with my friends from goldrush rally which I did in 2015 and an equally great dinner on Saturday night in Ocala with a bunch of people from the Corsa America rally which I intend to do in May.

 

one if the3 biggest differences that no-one has picked up on is ocala is an asphalt runway and ga, tx is a concrete runway. combine temps, oil from asphalt and sand and thats why you rarely have good traction in ocala. ga has no prep but full concrete and standing burnouts are allowed.

just food for thought. basically you run what ya brung on any given day. that day that was the best the car had. tomorrow will be different

 

Sorry, I've never done a 1/2 mile event, is it better to run on concrete? Traction better? Doesn't get as cold?

 

asphalt has oil and can roll with the spinning tires. concrete doesn't. most all the dragstrips have concrete to launch then go to asphalt or all concrete

 

Some stuff about asphalt vs concrete for racing:

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=210209

http://www.buildingspeed.org/blog/20...nt-vs-asphalt/

 

The better results at the last Shift Sector for same cars/same mods (my car's 161.67 at Jumbolair vs. Mark Blackwell's 164.4737 at Shift Sector -- both running GIAC Stage 2+ (same version), Champion intercoolers, catless exhaust and race gas and mine with a lighter driver than Mark for the fastest run) (they post an Excel spreadsheet of all results) cannot be explained by either altitude or runway surface. A 3 mph difference is a lot.

The last Shift Sector event I believe was held at the New Coalinga municipal airport. Like Jumbolair its main runway is asphalt. And it is 622 feet above sea level as opposed to 100 feet above sea level for Jumbolair.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Co...icipal_Airport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumbolair

The only variables I can think are: (1) the low temperature of the Jumbolair event which was a traction killer; or (2) my car just does not produce as much power as Mark's.

 

thats some good reading there. to also add to that dragstrips also use a very sticky prep that helps hook or "stick" to the track. the track i use typically sprays prep for the first 500 ft of the surface. i can't think of a single runway event that allows the use of prep since it will literally stick the surface to the tires


ocala had said they were going to use at the new street sweeper that purchased to clean the surface. did they ever use it?

 

Yes of course no runway would allow that drag strip prep.

I don't know if they used the street sweeper.

 

i agree. i think what some people don't realize because its called "side by side drag racing" that they think in terms of a drag strip and not a airstrip. the surface is vastly different and much longer.
no matter what the weather, prep or place I'm stoked they have it 6-8 times a yr! my goal is 200 mph this yr. hoping to get to clayton in may for some testing and french lick in. for a full 40 psi run on concrete to see if i can achieve the goal

 

At 40 psi you might actually hit that number