Scenario: A 3600 lb AWD car making 600 whp on the dyno and that is very quick 60-130 goes to the dragstrip. The car makes a few passes, and runs in the mid 13 second range every single time (with traps from 125-128). The driver has countless excuses including 'tune wasn't right' or 'couldn't get in gear' or 'couldn't launch well' etc.

The weird part is that the driver says that becuase he makes 600 whp, and is fast in the 60-130, his car is a '10 second car', not a '13 second car'. i.e. he is taking credit for what his car 'could' run before actually running it.

My contention is that to be a '10 second car' you have to actually run the time. Potential means nothing if unrealized. Further, if your car is tuned poorly and not well sorted enough to run through the gears, the quarter mile time will reflect the problems...and this might show you that the car isn't as well put together as true 10 second cars.


So that's the poll...what do you think? If a big dyno power car runs a mid 13 second time at the strip, do we just give him the '10 second' title anyway? Or do we wait until he ACTUALLY runs in the 10s first?

 

One thing is for sure: That's not a 10 second driver.

 

These cars aren't ideal for quarter mile racing. 1st and 2nd gear are extremely short, so high horsepower cars have issues with traction very easily unless running drag radials.

When I joined this platform, I noticed several guys posting trap speeds in the 130's and higher... but running mid-high 11's. From previous platforms I've been involved with, a 135 trap was good for mid 10's all day long.

So, some car that can run a 10 sec time can be beaten in a roll on race with a 996 that runs 11's or maybe even 12's.

To answer your question though, whoever the owner of that car is needs to stop bragging and then making excuses. He should concentrate on what the car is ideally suited for. 1/4 times don't tell the whole story.

 

^^^I agree that quarter mile times from one platform to another don't really translate that well. Your example of 130+ trap speeds only getting someone into the mid 11s is a good example.

However if you're comparing car to car within the same platform, the 1/4 mile is a great tool for evaluating how a car is putting the power down and for comparing delta.

In any event, I just wanted to clarify the 'lingo' for the person mentioned in the scenario the poll is about. You aren't a 10 second car (or 11 or 12) till you run it!

 

1/4 mile time is more of a drivers ability & the trap speed more of the car's power. 60-130 is more like the trap speed.

 

I run many 11.xxx at 148-149mph because I'm not willing to launch the car that hard. My car can be a 9s car but not willing to go there. So, for now I'm a 10s car.

 

Mid 13's @ 127mph??? LMAO! Sounds like a high horsepower fwd civic running spare tires up front.

 

Wouldn't that be a 14 second car?

 

This is simple. If it runs 13 second quarter miles, it is a 13 second car, period. It may have the POTENTIAL to run quicker, but not with the equipment behind the wheel. My car made 600rwhp on a Mustang dyno and ran 133-135mph trap speed. I only went 11.1, as I wasn't willing to destroy my axles trying. Even though I had the potential to run 10's, it was an 11 second car, period.

 

It takes a experienced driver in tune with his car and getting that traction in the first 60' that makes the most of a high powered car to use our cars to the fullest,, thus good times to show.

 

This is a ten second car! Bet it runs 13xx too!

 

Given the MPH, it's a 10 second car with a 13 second driver.

Later, Steve

 

the car is fast, but it might not be a 10 second car. a car can dyno high & run a good 60-130 because it makes some strong peak power but it might be a lag wagon and lose everything between (slow) shifts

 

Excellent point. It may also be poorly tuned with respect to the throttle..another quiet acceleration killer.

The car I mentioned in my example actually went 12.2 @ 128...but ran a 5.7 second 60-130 time. Then barked at everyone when they said he has a 12 second car.

Clearly a car with monster power. I think the tune has some problems however becuase the driver has stated that it just dies when it changes gears. He also blamed his driving, as did his tuner (nice guy lol). To avoid any gear changes, he did the 60-130 in 4th gear the whole way.

 

completely agree as long as equipment = current driver.